Tao

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42 E. 58th St.
New York, NY 10022

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(212) 888-2288
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Carry Out

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Food & Dining

Reviews
( 70 )
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( 54 )
( 43 )
( 57 )

Best

On my recent trip to Manhattan, wanted to indulge in some fine cuisine so on Saturday we made reservations at Tao. Like everyone else has pretty much said, the wait is extended, n...

Worst

Overdone concept - between the Buddha and the DJ playing the most BORING and UNINSPIRED techno I think I've ever heard. But have to say it matched the food and the service! Noth...

SKIP IT 4/18/2006

Manhattan offers too many resturants that offer better food and better service for the same price. SKIP IT. Don't make the same mistake I did. Pros: Big Buddha Cons: service, hostess attitude more
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Not a place for a light meal!!! 4/11/2006

A business colleague and I thought we would stop in and talk shop over a light meal. They threw us upstairs to a make shift sushi bar in the back corner. This is understandable since we weren't having a big dinner. The waitress couldn't give us any reccomendations and ignored us most of our stay. Food was mediocre at best. I would not reccomend the seaweed salad. The cherry on top was when they had two new girls who had nowhere else to sit but our seats, the hostess had them stand within one foot behind us and wait while we paid. Ambiance is stunning. However, ambiance is probably the only reason why people still visit this restaurant. Pros: Ambiance Cons: Poor Management more
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Awesome!!!! 3/21/2006

I was in NYC with a huge group of friends. We made reservations for ten people and were seated quickly. We only had to wait about 20-30 minutes. The food was awesome. Everyone ordered a different plate and we all shared. Everything I tried, I loved!!! The crowds are heavier on Fridays and Saturdays so we went on Sunday night and it was not crowded at all. The services was awesome and the food came out very fast. It's a bit pricey but totally worth it. I also have a lot of other friends that have eaten there and loved it. Pros: Food, Decor Cons: Price more
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worth every penny 3/13/2006

I loved Tao. I made reservations about 5 or 6 days in advance, and they had our table ready within 15 minutes of arrival. It was the perfect amount of time to enjoy a drink and do a little people watching at the bar. There were only two of us dining, so we shared two appetizers and split an entree. Everything was melt-in-your-mouth delicous. The seabass was the best I've ever tasted and the lobster dumplings were to die for. Our waiter was courteous and attentive, and our bill (including two Tao-tinis) was only $88. I will definitely go back. Pros: Food, atmosphere more
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Despite the hype and the scene it's GREAT 3/12/2006

I'm not one to be into the type of scene perpetuated by the lounge-like atmosphere and ""young-professionals"" crowd. However, despite the hype and the throngs of fridays and saturdays, I have been really delighted with the food, service and over all experience of Tao. The chilean bass is something I have come to dream about. The cocktails are also wonderful. And as an overall experience, the noisy, dimly-lit scene is something that, while not a reason for me to go, doesn't stop me from coming repeatedly (especially on a low-key Sunday) Pros: the food, cocktails, dessert Cons: crowds more
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hype hype hype 3/6/2006

foods not bad but its not great. this place is definitely hyped up and the crowd has become very bridge and tunnel. i still love the buddha and the food comes out SUPER quick. but sometimes it feels a little too much like a factory that churns out food and drinks as opposed to an intimate dining experience. anyway. food is fine. people watching is fabulous! Pros: people watching Cons: cheesy crowd more
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Had a BLAST!!!! 3/5/2006

Just went this past Saturday for a girlfriends birthday!!!!! Everything was great- minus a couple of slick remarks from the waiter!!!!! Overall, Tao is a definite must-try!!!!!! Pros: Food, Mango Martini, Scenery Cons: Loud Music, Waiter more
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stylish 2/19/2006

Tao is a very stylish place, great interior. Food is awsome, although they're all pricy. Try the sashimi! they're really fresh. One of the best Lychee Martini on the planet. Music is a bit too loud, and lighting is a bit too dark. but it's a nice place to impress your date. oh, and the kobe beef at tao is a bit overrated, you can grab better kobe beef elsewhere :p Pros: hip, sashimi, drinks Cons: expensive, dark, kobe beef more
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Fabulous Every Time 2/1/2006

I have been to Tao 5 times, and each time it has been great. The longest we have had to wait to be seated was 25 minutes, and it was 8:30 on a Friday night. But forget getting in without getting a reservation 2 weeks in adbvance. The food is awesome(the desserts are great, too), and the staff are extremely nice. Atmosphere takes your breath away. I highly recommend it. Pros: food/drinks, atmosphere more
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All atmosphere.... 1/26/2006

I just went to Tao today for lunch since it's restaurant week. I ordered the steamed vegetable dumplings, kung pao chicken, and chocolate & raspberry wonton noodles. First of all, let me just say this place looks a lot bigger on the website than in person. The atmosphere is great, the music is nice, and it's great for a group of friends or a date. The food was okay, and my overall opinion was it was OKAY. It is pricey, and i did enjoy everything, but I wouldn't go back. The service was alright, but you get better service with a group, or at least it seems that way. Pros: atmosphere, drinks, bathrooms Cons: price, service, crowded more
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It's all about the food for me. 1/26/2006

First and foremost, the food is great. The fortune cookie dessert is now my all time favorite NYC dessert, and I have eaten a lot of dessert. The space is beautiful, it really is, but they really need to do something about the sound. The roaming bongo player--though very good-looking--did not help the situation one bit. We walked out hoarse. Seeing that we had to wait for our reservation for 30+ minutes, we had quite bit of time to watch the social experiment in the lounge. It was like watching a car accident. I have never seen so many desperate scenesters in one place before. Pros: Fortune Cookie Desser, Beautiful Space Cons: The scene, The sound, The wait more
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Perfect For Drinks, Not Food 1/23/2006

Tao is beautiful. Upon entering you realize that the restaurant is much larger than it seems on the outside. My favorite part of the restaurant was the large buddha and lotus pond. Unfortunately, the food fell short of my expectations, the kobe beef was sauteed in a way that made it too salty and nothing else I ordered really made my stomach beg for more. On the upside, the bar was happening and filled was good looking people. The waiters and waitresses are great eye candy as well. Overall, I would go for drinks but, the food seems a little overpriced in relation to taste. more
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An overall pleasant dining experience. 1/14/2006

I went to TAO with my girlfriend last March. We had ninja sake, lacquered roast filet of pork, thai fish hot pot, the angry dragon roll, pad thai noodles, and the molten chocolate cake for dessert. The food was good overall and service was fast. Although we made reservations weeks in advanced, we still had to wait approximately 30 minutes before being seated. The ambience seemed more like a nightclub than a restaurant. We didn't expect it to be romantic but was also didn't expect that type of atmosphere either. This restaurant is definitely better for groups than couples. If we decided to come back we'd likely bring our friends along. Pros: convenient location, good food Cons: price, wait for seating more
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The Emporer has new clothes. 1/7/2006

The epitome of New York pretense. The Emporer has new clothes and he wears them at Tao. Pros: atmosphere, decor Cons: pretense, overrated, loud more
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Trendy but great great food! 1/2/2006

Usually you lose food quality the trendier you go, but not at this place. We went here for our New Years Eve dinner and had a great time...we were the last seating before the New Years Eve crowd...great service, didn't rush us out, food was unbelievable...second time here and had a great experience both times....Love it! Oh and the DJ spins great music there. Pros: Decor, Food, Service Cons: Pricey, Gets booked up more
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Very Disappointed 12/30/2005

I was visiting New York City with my sister and we went to Tao and I had the sushi I have had better sushi in Little Rock, Ar. I order the eel and I think they must have forgotten to put the eel in. No taste of eel at all. They were like vultures in trying to get us out of there. I was eating on my salad and the guy came over there 3 times to take my plate. Finally I got tired of him asking so I told him to go ahead and take it. When we were eating out fortune cookie we wasn't done and he came and just grab it. My sister had the shrimp plate and absolutely no taste to it at all. It was very over priced for the quality of food. Pros: ambience Cons: bad quality of food, bad service , expensive more
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Enjoy the ambiance not the food 12/25/2005

I dont personally recommend the food there it wasnt special or any thing.. I prefer having drinks there the ambiance is amazing if you are single this the place to be.. its kind of expensive though but its worth a visit more
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User review by nia821 11/19/2005

While this place might once have been chic, exclusive, and perhaps even classy, it is now a mecca for tourists and B&T crowds. For a place that some still consider very trendy there were MANY tacky outfits on the prowl last night! Furthermore, the staff (well, one staff member) was unbelievably rude. I placed my sweater on the tree on the top of the steps that leads to the 2nd floor b/c it got too hot & he says to me, ""We can't have that here."" There are more professional approaches. Unfortunately, no one has given management the message that this place has lost its luster. It's not as appealing as it was when it opened. The drinks are still fabulous! Haven't eaten there. Pros: Buddha Cons: Rude staff member more
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Outstanding Food 10/24/2005

The food was fantastic, the drinks outstanding and a great atmosphere! Prices were great also. Pros: Great Food, Decor, Trendy more
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good for groups, not for romantic dates... 9/18/2005

Went 9/17 on a busy Sat night to celebrate our anniversary. Our reservation was at 7:15pm but parking was impossible so we were late at 7:35pm. There were about 4 girls upfront, 2 were nice & friendly but the other 2 were very good ignoring their guests. We were seated on the 2nd flr after 10mins wait. The design is very eclectic but space is cramped, you can barely sit & get up with their seat arrangements. The music is loud & definitely not good for conversations. The waiter who served us was nice & entertaining, food is good but not something to die for, price is alright except for the drinks which cost more than our food. I would recommend Tao if you go out with a group of friends who likes to be seen & see people as well. Pros: good for group dining, friendly waitstaff, people watching Cons: crowded, no parking, not romantic, loud music more
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Menu for Tao


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Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Wed: 11:30am-12am, Thu-Sat: 11:30am-1am, Sun: 1pm-12am
  • Payments: Diner's Club, Discover, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Midtown, Midtown Center
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