Tao Restaurant - New York: Located on 58th Street in Manhattan, next to the Four Seasons Hotel, sits the fantastic, bombastic Asian restaurant, Tao New York.

We had 8:30 dinner reservations so we arrived at 8:15 so we would be sure not to miss our table. As I had expected though, our table was not ready and they told us to have a seat in the bar, as it would be thirty minutes before it would be ready. In a trendy place like this, thirty minutes normally means an hour or more.

Share this review on Facebook.

We headed over to the over-packed bar and fought the crowds to get a drink. After grabbing a cocktail an oversized, light eggplant-colored, upholstered bench in the bar opened up and we were able to grab a seat as we waited. Surprisingly, they actually had a waitress who even came and checked on us two times while we waited. Typically, its every man for himself, as far as service goes.

My surprises did not end there. After waiting about thirty-five minutes our table was ready and they escorted us through the crowds to a perfectly located table. Only then did I realize just how beautiful Tao New York really is. Gorgeous would be an understatement.

A huge 16-foot Buddha dominated the trendy dining room. Beautiful hardwood floors staged the seemingly endless rows of tables and just added to the elegance and beauty of the décor. The lounge music that played just loud enough to be heard over the buzz of adjoining tables, added to the lively atmosphere but did not over-power as can easily happen at a busy hot spot like Tao.

The Pan Asian menu specializes in Hong Kong Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisines. The selection of Sushi and Sashimi was astonishing as was the quality, freshness and cost of all their dishes. We tried a wide selection of Sushi and Sashimi as well as a Thai dish. They were all so good we had trouble deciding which one was our favorite.

Service at Tao New York was top notch as well. Fast, friendly, efficient, we could not have asked for anything more.

If you have not guessed by now, my visit to Tao New York was Fantastic Bombastic. Service, food, atmosphere, value for the money, location, décor all were beyond my expectations. Yes, there was the obligatory 'hot spot' wait, but I will be the first to say, the wait was worth it.

The next time you are headed to New York, book a table at Tao New York and be prepared to be wowed.

Join us on Facebook!

5 Star and Luxury Hotel, Resort,
Restaurant, Airline and Travel Reviews,
Advice and Information - Independent and Unbiased