Like TB says, Little Italy is pretty much gone. It's down to just about 2 or 3 blocks: Mulberry Street between Canal and Grand Streets. It used to spread west to the Village, east to the Bowery, and north all the way up to Houston Street. Not anymore.

Aside from Chinatown ever expanding and the Italian immigrants all moving to suburbia, the rents down there, even by New York City standards, are ridiculous. In Soho, a one bedroom will easily set you back about $2,000 a month. $3,000 in some of the newer dwellings. If you have a family, fuggetaboutit. You're talking $5,000 a month for a three bedroom.

Still, there are a few decent restaurants, if you can stand all the tourists. If you feel you must go, you're better off going during the day or early in the evening.

Last I heard, the Ravenite is now a woman's shoe store.

Frank Vincent doesn't own Rao's, Frank Pellegrino does. He played the Fed on The Sopranos, and he's an asshole. Don't expect to get near that place. As TB says, it's all the way up in East Harlem and it's probably the most overrated restaurant in the free world. You could probably get a drink at the bar during the afternoon if the bartender is in a good enough mood, but why bother?

Let me know when you're coming in. If you decide against renting a car, I can pm you with details about a reasonable car service.