Sunday, 05 April 2009

• Tao

  42 E 58th St.
  New York, NY 10022
  212-888-2288
  http://www.taorestaurant.com

  One of the most highly rated restaurants in New York by both critics and my friends is Tao.  Even though I've been living in New York for over a year I never went to Tao because I figured it's just the usual Asian restaurant.  But since I had family visiting me in New York, it's time to try out something good:

  

  Their huge statue stands almost 2 floors high and can't be missed.

  The bar is really busy.  Mostly from people waiting for their tables.  We had a 45 minute wait even with reservation.

  

  There is both a lower level and a top level (pictured):

  

  Both have a great view of the large statue and the ceiling wallpaper.  I hear that the ceiling doesn't say anything but random nice looking characters.

  Satay of Chilean sea bass with wok roasted asparagus:

  

  The sea bass was cooked well so it wasn't as tender as sea bass you get from Nobu.  The sea bass actually resembled more like halibut.  The asparagus was impressive as it wasn't old and stringy.  It was a tad dry on the surface but still moist insiade.  $17

  Crispy lobster and shrimp dumplings with ginger jian kong sauce:

  

  No one in my table could taste the lobster or shrimp.  It tasted more like mushroom inside.  I wasn't impressed for a $16 dish.

  Chinese broccoli with black bean sauce:

  

  Unlike other Asian restaurants you only get the stem of the broccoli.  It wasn't dry and not stringy.  It's tasty but I wish there was more for $10.

  Salmon sashimi with avocado, cripsy onions, and sweet & spicy sesame sauce:

  

  A few thinly slice salmon lies underneath all the onions.  It's really tasty for $14.

  Crispy soft shell crab and shiso roll with yuzu mayo:

  

  The rice was tightly packed.  I could only taste about quarter of the crab legs in the 5 rolls.  The soft shell crab at the fast food restaurant at pacific mall is a whole lot better and cheaper than $17.

  Kung Pao Chicken:

  

  My first time experiencing kung pao chicken is PF Chiang and it wasn't a pleasant one.  Now I'm ordering it again but at Tao.  But what a difference it makes.  The chicken was well done chunks of large white meat.  The sauce was sweet and spicy and mixes really well with the rice.  It's a small pricy dish at $26.

  Omakase of Sushi and/or Sashimi (Chef’s Choice) (small):

  

  Fish was fresh but nothing unusual and won't match sushi from Sushi Dai in Japan.  Maybe I got the cheapest sushi choice at $35 so I got the most common fishes.

  Their signature dessert with giant fortune cookie (12), Assorted Ice Creams and Sorbets (8), molten chocolate cake (10), Chocolate Raspberry Wontons (9), Mandarin Oranges, Fresh Berries
  Pineapple & Lychee Fruit (9):

  

  Wow!  This dish is very popular and has everything I want for dessert!  The little mochi-like ice cream dumplings were great.  Fruits were so sweet and ripe.  The molten chocolate cake was really good but isn't at the same league as Nobu or Roy's.  The giant fortune cookie is a nice touch but everything else is much better tasting.

  The service was adequate and doesn't match the price you pay.  The wait is long for a seat.  The prices are very high for very little portions.  Most dishes taste good but as you read from my review above, some of them don't stand out let alone impress.  I recommend giving Tao a visit since so many other people like it but I be warned that it isn't amazing food.

  Eric Tummy Points: 3.5 out of 5

  • 4:00 PM
  • 64 Views
  • 4 eProps
  • 3 Comments