TAO

I went there last night for dinner. Since I read some reviews before I go, I was expecting a nice restaurant with good food. However, after last night visit, I would not go back to that restaurant. The food was not as good as the reviews. They put heavy taste of sauce over the food. The food portion was very small and not worth the value. The waiters keep checking on you every 30 sec., which makes you feel the rush. If you want to find a cool place to drink and hang out, you might want to go there, but if you want a nice comfortable dinner, this is not the place.

If you are coming to Tao and get the noodle or vegetable dishes, prepare to be disappointed. Pad that is WAY better at a thai place (try sa-woy or topaz). The great dishes are the beef entrees (wasabi encrusted filet, seared sirloin) chicken, and shrimp. The dumplings are good too. For dessert, I promise the molten chocolate cake will not disappoint if you like chocolate. Plus, the portion is generous. I have been here over 10 times, so I have tasted it all. The atmosphere is beautiful, and the staff (waiters) are gracious. BUT, be sure to make reservations at least 1 weeks and a half ahead of time. If you show up the night of without a reservatin after 6p.m., prepared to wait, or not eat at Tao at all.

The $24.07 lunch is year-round not a once in a while special. The Temple salad is huge. I order the dressing on the side, and ask for the wonton chips to be withheld. The salmon (next) is also a large serving. You must order the dessert at the beginning too or forego. More choice than they need to provide. I hear the site was former movie theatre. It is just a little too dark in the drinks area. Sometimes I can't recognize who I am waiting for.

After hearing the 'likes' and 'gripes' about Tao, I decided to see for myself. Two of my girlfriends joined me for an early dinner (6:30pm). We were seated right away when the third person arrived. We ordered edamame; tasted like all edamame: good. I ordered a Saketini and my friends had Pinot Noir. The Saketini was so-so. We ordered the Spicy Tuna, Spicy Yellowtail and Shrimp tempura rolls. They all tasted blah. Too many flavors were blended together that I couldn't pin-point any distinct taste. We also ordered the Pad Thai with chicken and my friend had Green beans with black sauce. The beans were incredibly lacquered with a thick brown sauce and tasted like nothing. The Pad Thai was decent but didn't stand out. The server was complacent. He asked us if we wanted dessert and promptly returned with the check. It wasn't as loud as people previously wrote. The decor was alright and the lighting, especially in the lounge, was hazy and dark but it worked because everyone looked really good looking - even though they weren't. Lots of tourist-type people staring at the Buddha in awe; strange. By the time we left, around 7:45pm, the place was packed and incredibly hectic. I would certainly never dine here again unless someone else paid for it and even then I would suggest elsewhere.

I went there for my birthday dinner with two friends and it really was a great experience. But, as everyone noted below, you will wait for quite some time after your reservation time. My advice: make your reservation 15 minutes to a half hour earlier than you want it and even if your whole party isn't there yet, ask other people waiting to say they're with you so you can at least get the beeper. By the time they actually call to seat you, your party will have arrived. Now onto the food, the Kung Pao chicken was very tasty, although the amount of chicken in it wasn't so much. We loved the chicken and water chestnut dumplings (the shrimp and lobster dumplings were good, but not outstanding) and the sushi was fresh and delicious. The molten cake, which was a bit too small to share, was incredible. The atmosphere is breathtaking, even though it's a little Disney-ish. All in all, enjoyable, but I don't know if I'd go back if I had to pay for myself!

Went to tao on friday night, had to wait about a half hour before my reservation was ready, and had a few drinks at the overly packed bar area. She drank the chardonnay and i had the zengria.. the sangria was delish. once i got to the table, there was a live saxaphone player whaling out, it was quite entertaining. to the inportant part, what i ate: it was the Miso soup-- Ok.. but was very expensive for one serving of miso soup.. the shrimp and lobster dumlings.. AMAZING... had the pork and veg. spring rolls.. REAL GOOD.. the dipping sauces were as good as the rolls.. had the pad tai.. was ok, nothing special and again too expensive for a simple dish, and had the king crab california roll.. very good, but not worth 12 dollars for one roll.. all in all.. besides the price of the meal.. the food and atmosphere is amazing.

I have been to Tao several times, and your food experience is all in what you order. Any of the beef entrees are mazing, as are the dumplings and kung pao chicken dish. The noodle and sea food pot dishes are boring and overpriced. The seared tuna is perfectly done, and my friend said the sea bass was one of the best she's tasted. As for desserts, if you don't try the molten lava cake, you are cheating yourself. The giant white and dark chocolate mousse fortune cookie with mixed berries is good also. Martinis are good too...lychee, tao tini, chocolate martini (great with dessert), and mango mandarin do not disappoint. Atmosphere is purely sexy and luxurious, place to see and be seen. Think Sex and the City.