TAO RESTAURANT (New York)

Tao Restaurant (New York) has all the pretensions of a high profile restaurant from the moment you enter and see the 20's, 30's and 40-somethings from tourists, to working joe's, to wall-street types, models and all mingling at the bar sipping their $15 cocktails. The decor is nicely done with their impressive four-storey Buddha that seems to be watching over every patron, or their very posh nicely lit bathrooms.

The bar gets packed easily and is a good place to people watch while waiting for your table or just enjoy their pricey potent cocktails. If the bar downstairs is full, go upstairs to the 'secret' second bar, it's less crowded.

Picture: Mizo-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass with Wok Vegetables

Atmosphere:
Stunning! High energy and high decibel place sorrounded by loud bass boom of woofers. Great to impress friends, people watch or to meet and mate. Has become very touristy of late but still very trendy, has great music and a lot of fun.

Service:
Impersonal, sporadic and rushed but attentive. Even after making a reservation be prepared to wait and wait and wait.

Food:
There are only a handful of good pan Asian fusion dishes - Crispy Tuna Sashimi Roll with Edamame, Sashimi of Kobe Beef with Fresh Wasabi Sauce, Mizo-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass with Wok Vegetables, Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce, Banana Pudding - tempura bananas with fortune cookie crust, Giant Fortune Cookie filled with white & dark chocolate mousse.

Recommendation:
Dress to impress. Great for NYC newbies, group of friends or for happy-hour.

Price:
$50.00 minimum per person without drinks

Thoughts:
Will surely return to Tao Restaurant. More so for happy-hour!


TAO RESTAURANT (New York)
42 E 58th Street (between Park and Madison)
New York, NY 10022
(212) 888-2288

$$$

Clockwise: Crispy Tuna Sashimi Roll with Edamame, Jumbo Shrimp Tempura with Garlic-Chili Sauce, Banana Pudding - tempura bananas with fortune cookie crust, and Chocolate Spring Rolls with Kalamansi Sauce.