Kerbside pickup
Yes
TAO Downtown Restaurant in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
No-contact delivery
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Reservations required
Yes
Temperature check required
Yes
Staff wear masks
Yes
Staff get temperature checks
Yes
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great cocktails
Yes
Great dessert
Yes
Great tea selection
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Organic dishes
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Seating
Yes
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Atmosphere
Cosy
Yes
Romantic
Yes
Upmarket
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Lunch reservations recommended
Yes
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Usually a wait
Yes
Payments
Debit cards
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 212-888-2724
Site: https://taogroup.com/venues/tao-...
Site: https://taogroup.com/venues/tao-...
Opening hours
- Monday:5PM–12AM
- Tuesday:5PM–12AM
- Wednesday:5PM–12AM
- Thursday:5PM–12AM
- Friday:5PM–1AM
- Saturday:5PM–1AM
- Sunday:5PM–12AM
Comments (199)
The place is fabulous! Decor us amazing, large space good drinks. I had berries and bubbly and a passion fruit drink and a glass of wine. it was delicious. The food was great had the beef Mongolian and lobster fried rice which was great. The music selection was amazing!!!
Tao was supposed to be one of the highlights of our trip and ended up being one of the biggest disappointments and it was 100% due to our server with pretty terrible service. After we were seated, it took a good 10 minutes for our server to stop by the table and ask if we wanted drinks. We wanted to start with drinks and an appetizer, but he informed us that there is a time limit and that we couldnt put in separate orders and had to order all of our food at the same time. Our server came back and got our food orders and then disappeared for what seemed like 30 minutes. No refills on water or other drinks, our food was brought out by a food runner, and the server we had didnt stop by to ask how everything was. When we caught him and asked if we could get some service and waters at our table, he proceeded to tell us that he thought we didnt need refills since there was already some water in our glasses... it was a very bizarre experience and we were shocked with this experience.The food and drinks on the other hand were excellent. The lychee martinis are superb, hands down best drink in the house. The beef and broccoli was also amazing. The Asian spin on filet wasnt overdone and the temperature was perfect.I really wish we could have enjoyed the overall experience considering how good the food was.
Took my mom here for her birthday. Such a nice environment. Our waitress was very nice polite and attentive. I am aware other reviews had poor service form some staff I’m glad we didn’t have that experience. They do check for vaccine status at the door so please make sure your have that. We had an early reservation so we weren’t close to people social distance and all much appreciated. Over food was great the Tao tini was awesome as well. Would definitely recommend for a celebration or a nice dinner date. Prices are expensive for this area but to me it was actually worth it. Expect at minimum $50 pp
Amazing place!!! Make sure you have a reservation if you want to seat down and enjoy the place, unless you just want to get some drinks at the bar (the bar has no seats). Very cool environment, food is delicious and music is nice too. Friendly staffs as well.
Classy, trendy, and delicious. The service was excellent and I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a date night spot, a night out with friends, or even business. Vegetarian and vegan options are available and fantastic.
Beautiful restaurant but service is alright, My water cup was filled only twice during entire dinner. The server forgot to put send our order to the kitchen so we kept waiting and waiting, she thought we were done eating and dropped off our check. That was a terrible experience at TAO! But when food came out, it was pretty good. They dont have options to make food spicy, the chilli oil they bring out is not spicy. But overall i did enjoy my time here
The atmosphere was out of this world! The decor and art was amazing to look at. Easily a very attractive part of the restaurant. The food selection is diverse enough for anyone to find something theyll like. The food itself was top tier. I had the hong kong fried noodle and let me say the portion size easily could feed 2-3 people. The vegetables were crispy and fresh while the noodles were expertly cooked and evenly coated in a great sauce. The meat which is chicken and pork is wonderfully tender and full of flavor. I look forward to returning to this location and any other that I may run across.
My husband and I enjoyed the atmosphere, music, food and drinks. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary so he made reservations. The waitress was so nice and very professional. I would definitely recommend TAO Downtown and we’ll be back soon.
Great ambience and decor, okayish food, horrible service!We visited Tao for my birthday celebration and it was sad to see staff ruining all the efforts of my wife. Some staff members were super rude and arrogant - like the lady at the checkin counter, or the one that brought our drink. We ordered regular water and it had some fizz and smell in it. Would highly recommend ordering bottled water. She was too arrogant to acknowledge this. After that, one and the other things kept on happening. We had to focus on our night, so we had to move on and focus on our night but didn’t expect such a horrible service. The restaurant is loosing its grace and there are so many better options in town. Enjoy the ambience and move on!
Incredible decorations and ambiance. Even if everything else was awful still it should get 5 stars, but everything else was amazing as well. I had low expectations from the food but it was delicious. Service was excellent. And surprisingly it was not as expensive as I thought it would be. Must check in if in New York.
This is a pretty large restaurant and dance club. It’s somewhat confusing to navigate inside, as they have wooden wall separations that function as doors. However they do have plenty of staff that will direct you in. There is a separate entrance for the night club vs the restaurant.The ambiance is very cool. The music/noise level indoors is high, so it’s hard to carry conversations if you are in a group setting. The drinks were $20 each, and made well, with a good variety of choices. The service was good. We had to ask a few times for extra soy sauce but they came around regularly for water and to clear out dishes. The food options were varied as well, and everything we tried was good. From vegan dumplings to lobster pad Thai, black pepper chicken, filet mignon, egg rolls, spicy yellowtail tuna sushi, hot and sour soup with shrimp toast, and chow fun. Food also came out in a reasonable amount of time. Molten lava chocolate cake was also an excellent dessert choice. Entree prices were reasonable, although you can easily build up your drinks tab.Would definitely recommend. We went on a Monday night, and it was still packed. I imagine it’d feel even more crowded on weekends.
Excellent place with a great vibe, good drinks and tasty food. All of this makes for a great experience! Fav drinks were the tao-tini and the spicy mango cocktail. The vegetable dumplings were delicious and well flavored. They had a DJ playing some great music all throughout the night and it was a fun place to be for a Monday night! This place would be a great place to celebrate with a large group a they have large tables.
Visiting NYC with some friends and had a great experience at Tao. Very welcoming from the moment we got in. The dinning room was stunning. The service was outstanding our boy Gino was on top of everything. The giant cookie was a great end to a delicious dinner. He even gave us some club recommendations that were open that night for us to try. Gino we wanted you for our great idea for one more drink.
I personally never had a bad experience here. I go there all the time and I usually go Thursdays and weekends, amazing sushi and good drinks. I love the vibes in there after mid night music is always fun and after dinner hit the club next door. Excellent service and over all everything was good
Food was amazing, wagyu bursted with flavor and melted away with each bite. Wife got the Salmon which she loved and they had chicken gyoza which was great because she doesn’t eat pork which is the normal protein choice for gyoza. Got a few more sides but the pictures were too blurry so I left them out. The drinks were also delicious and I wish we had room for desert but we were both stuffed. Atmosphere was very nice, seemed a bit dark at first until our eyes adjusted. Server was very nice and made the whole experience enjoyable, sorry I didn’t catch his name or I would give him a shout out too. This place jumped up to the top of my list of favorite restaurants.
Fun atmosphere. Live DJ. Great and tasty food. Made a mistake and booked the wrong day but they were very accommodating and got us a table.
FOLLOW MANY Google maps recommendations, I really wanted to try the Place and the food.My girl and I we cane without Reservation....The offerd us to dine in the back lounge room ..EXTREMELY uncomfortable to dine there...( you pay the same amount as the main room but sit in EXTREMELY uncomfortable sofas, could atlist provide a pillow for the back support)The Decor ... Amazing ....The drinks are good.. A bit $$$ 😐..The FOOD TR❌️IBB❌️LE !!!The Salmon for $38 was test less Extremely dry !!!The Duck with rice ... same story, completely test less...I guss When place get popular they forget about the main mission the Food...I cane hungry waist $150 left hungry 😩I personally would never get back for food
Love the food here! Great menu and generous portion sizes - you may need a doggy-bag. Beautifully laid out. Relaxed ambience. Staff are professional. Definitely worth a visit!
I like this place more than the uptown one. As I enter it is not as a chaotic and pack with customers. The walk down to the check-in, it is another dark and perfect to set the mood for a dining experience.While waiting for your table, I suggest you head to the bar where you can get a drink before hand. This place is pretty spacious. Every footage is maximized for usage so standing around isn’t much option.We were lucky to get a Table here because of a birthday party for a friend. And to start off, the service is top notch. The waitress we had she knows everything about the menu. And she comes around very often to check on all the guests.As this is my third time coming here. I actually enjoy the food here. It is not the best but much better than the other Tao. The food is honestly a mix of Chinese and Japanese. I think about sushi rolls and dimsum. But honestly I would just come here for the drinks. The lychee martini especially the spicy one is amazing. They can make a pretty good old fashion as well as a penicillin. I will just stay with a few appetizers.
Everything I had here was delicious. The short rib was amazing, the seabass on skewer was mouth watering. The atmosphere is great. If I were to nitpick, they can improve there choice of icecream with desert, it was not the best vanilla icecream. The shrimp lettuce wrap can use a bit more flavor.
All of the food is first rate, accessible Asian fare. We started off with pan fried pork potstickers. This was followed with Wagu beef Yakitori, which is very tender. The Shanghai fried rice with shrimp, pork and egg got rave reviews for its presentation. The egg was fried extremely thin and then wrapped around the rice. Chives came out of the center to give it a bit of flower-like presentation.
Sweet 16th dinner for my daughter with a couple of her friends. Nice experience food was good. The ambiance was really nice, very trendy. Great appetizers.
Tao Downtown is such an incredible restaurant. I really enjoyed the food and the drinks, and especially the service. My servers were incredibly gracious and kind to my friends and I. Its easy to get there, the trains are close by, its in the heart of downtown New York City. Its such a beautiful neighborhood. Its usually busy here because it’s popular
This place is amazing. The atmosphere doesnt look like it would be much from the outside but when you go inside it is super cool and unique with great vibes. The staff was fantastic including our waiter, Dave. He was very helpful with our food and drink selections and did not steer us wrong. We started with edamame and shishito peppers which were both delicious and I ordered a house special of filet mignon fried rice with fresh asparagus and zucchini, it was outstanding. My friend ordered the lobster pad Thai which was also spectacular. We each tried a couple cocktails too that were very good and actually worth the money. We all loved everything about this place, even the bathrooms. We will definitely be coming back! Probably our favorite meal in NYC!
Best dessert ever!!!The vegetarian dumplings were really good! But I didn’t like that much the sushi.
I’ve been to Tao downtown over 5 times and each time has been phenomenal! Even on a night without a reservation, they always manage to get me a table. The food is amazing and the drinks are good.
Went for the first time with a group of friends. Food was well worth the price. My favorites of the night were the steamed veggie dumplings, Mongolian beef, and the banana pudding. The Mongolian beef tasted as if Jesus hand picked the cattle himself. Lol!! It was so fresh and packed with flavor. Top 5 banana pudding. If I didn’t know, I would’ve thought someone’s southern grandma made it. Overall 10/10 dining experience. I cannot wait to return
I have spent some of the most amazing times and met some of the most amazing people at this restaurant including workers and guests. My favorite dishes here are chicken cashew and dumplings with mushroom sauce.
Beautiful !!Our dinning experience was amazing. Beautiful view from the moment you walk in. The food was amazing. We had an amazing time on our date. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area.
Food, music, martinis🍸🍸& atomsphere all perfect! We tried an assortment of dishes, including vegan- all delicious!
I was so looking forward to eating here but it didnt hit the mark for me. The decor and music was fantastic— probably the best thing about my experience. But we had to wait 20 min past our reservation time. We sat at the bar to wait. My friend got her drink promptly, but I had to wait 20 min for the bartender to pour my sake out of a can and into my glass. No apology or anything, he just kept making drinks in front of me. The food was good but not spectacular--and the portion sizes were really, really small for the price. We also sat at this table that was literally on the stair case and strangely short. Im 59 and basically had to sit with my legs to the side-- it made for an awkward eating experience. The server for my table was really great. But the security at the door was very rude. Tao was completely packed, but Im not understanding how, given my experience. I likely wouldnt return or recommend
We had reservations and still had to wait 45 min. It is a beautiful place with a great vibe! We went for girls night and it was very hard to talk to each other over the Dj. Food was good
Hands down this is one of my favorite places in the city. This restaurant decor and ambiance is impeccable. Great service. Great food. Cocktails rocking. Desserts are yum. Definitely recommend going here.
Great ambiance. Great drinks. Service was pretty good. First plate was cold.
The ambiance was simply breathtaking, and the food was absolutely delicious! The staff was just the icing on the cake. Of you havent been, your missing an experience!
Tonight was my first experience but it was amazing. The food is great...lots of flavor. The music is great. Definitely a place to visit if youre in NY. Bring your checkbook....😁
NYC IS BACK! DJ with plenty of People Watching opportunities is just the beginning. The food and drinks are incredible.Do yourself a favor, stop by the e downtown location if you are ever in town.
Having dinner at this restaurant is an unforgettable experience from the moment you step through the doors. The decor is mesmerizing with extravagant details, 20+ft. high ceilings and an incomparable ambiance. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and professional. The music was soooooo good and the food was beyond delicious. This restaurant is a must-see and the food is worth every penny.
Delicious food, great music, picturesque environment. I really enjoyed my birthday dinner here this is the perfect place to come for a lively upscale dinner with great drinks and great food. However beware of the table limits.
Excellent food and service. The drinks are well made and the portion sizes are quite good. 2 entrees and a starter are enough for 2 people to walk out happy and full. The ambience is excellent as well, though the music volume can be lowered down a bit.
Food was delicious, ordered chicken lollipops (sooo good), avo salmon roll (ok) and yakushaki? Roll (sooo good).Vibe is fun def recommend!
Really delicious! Presentation was great as was food. Love how fried rice was served in the egg shell. Sushi amazing. Wonderful sake menu. Skip the cocktails very fruity touristy.
Beautiful decor, nice staff, great food and good looking diners (self excluded)
Here for my girls bday.Food ambiance staff & price where great.Just wish they would have gave some type of concession to the club if you dined for yor bday.Also lychee in drink was not so fresh looking
Very cool atmosphere with club-like music and food was very good, not bad for NYC prices either.
You should come here for drinks and atmosphere only. The food is meh. ANd they charge 10$ a person for reservation but you dont get that money back for your bill. China Town has way better food for far less. Overrated
This place is nice but pricey. The drinks were good but pricey. The food was good but pricey. This is a nice spot if you are taking out a date or you want to eat somewhere fancy. Supposedly your entree is enough to share with people at the table. The entree was big but still pricey. One thing I did like was the music. The place does have a DJ. Overall you are coming to this place for the decor and the experience. Because you can find a nice inexpensive Chinese restaurant serving the same food. They have one vegan option but no vegan entrees. You could ask for them to make one of the veggie dishes vegan upon request.
A very nice restaurant and see that they have thought of the design, but in it all the good things end. The service here is simply not good. We searched for the waiter for half an hour and when we wanted to order from someone else it was not possible and said we had to wait for our waiter.I waited for my portion for more than an hour, while all the gate people who were with me had already received their portions .All the dishes I tasted were tasteless, the food here is bland. Unfortunately the dishes are not worth the price
Celebrated our daughter’s high schoolGraduation here with family and close friends. Food and service were okay. One of our orders got mixed up and given to another party and we didn’t get our order until the end because they got busy. Very pricey, paying really for the atmosphere. But It was a good place to celebrate.
Great place filled with great vibe! One should definitely try their sakes. Food was amazing too.
I have been Tao on several occasions and this time I was there for my moms birthday. The vibe & ambience is trendy but in terms of food in my personal opinion the quality has gone down. It almost felt like I was eating food from a hole in the wall kinda chinese restaurant for over $500. I will go back for drinks again but not for food.
Celebrated my birthday here with a small group of people. Restaurant itself is very beautiful and high class. The food is delicious- I highly recommend the lobster pad Thai, miso cod, spicy tuna on crispy rice and oysters. The waiter was very attentive and accommodating especially for one of my friends who has a gluten allergy. We all had a great time :)
This place was amazing I went here for a 40th birthday it was so well planned not sure if they do this for all the group parties but the food was amazing every single dish that came out was on point the desert was my favorite!
One of the high end restaurant in NYC with interior art and decor. All wooden and stone arts. Food was great. Love the bamboo steam dumpling.
TAO is one of my favorite restaurants. The food is superb and the decor is filled with endless detail. Going to TAO is an experience not just a meal. Its pricey and if you go with a group Id suggest sharing appetizers and entrees rather than each person ordering individual meals. This allows everyone to experience more dishes and you wont have to order as many.
The food was a 10. Now, we waited at the bar for our table. We ordered drinks. Our poor bartender attempted to make our drinks and 3out of 4 glasses was dirty AH. Lipstick stuck on there. It was giving, Ikdw you not charging me $20 a drink for dirty glasses something I noticed folks wasnt even checking. It made me sick 🤢. Yall need to chill on the high priced drinks that are not really that special! Please charge me $20 if u are using imported liquor from Japan to make my cocktail other than that its not Giving what i should be paying!Lets talk about the atmosphere! A 10. The service 10! Music 🎵 💯🎶. The food was delicious. We came to celebrate a NYU graduate mad the spot Gave what needed to be Given so we will be back.. love loveAlso the Asian Ribs.... Order them and be pleasantly pleased! Mouth watering and I dont even eat meat, but I ate that! 😂😭
The restaurant was beautiful, and the vibes were great, but the wait time for the food was ridiculous! The waitress forgot my first drink, and when she came with the drinks for the people I was with, she asked, Did you still want your drink? I would think so since I ordered it. Anyway, we got our appetizers in a timely manner and those were great but when it came to getting our main course it took what felt like 30 minutes to an hour. I understand it being busy, but thats unacceptable. If she had kept us updated on our food, I would have been more understanding. When one of us complained about the wait and asked for the manager, the waitress started sending flirtatious looks and being overly friendly. Very weird... All in all, the food was good, but I dont think Id go back anytime soon...
We came here to celebrate an important birthday. Slow start as we kept waiting for more than 30 minutes before we saw the menus. The restaurant is very impressive and huge. Food is well presented but far from fantastic. Where TAO falls short is service. We were felt rushed but told we could take all the time we needed. We were presented the bill/check without asking for it, again told no rush at all. We settled and then wanted a green tea to help digestion and were told youve actually been at the table for nearly 3 hours. Unfortunately we had already settled the bill and with the seemingly obligatory tip. We certainly wouldnt have been generous had we had such a stupid comment before settling the bill. Ruined it for us. I guess TAO is modelled on a once-only experience... if that is the case, it certainly succeeds. My advice to TAO is: must try much harder.
Overpriced restaurant with terrible service. Food was nothing special if not worse. Service sucked. I asked for more water and never got it. Someone at my table asked for sauce and didnt get it either. HOWEVER, at home I noticed that we were charged for 2 drinks we never ordered! (you would say I should have checked my receipt, and it is my fault but it is too dark in the restaurant to see the menu or receipt). I am not sure if it says so on the menu but my $38 salmon comes with no side dish unless you call 5 peaces of string beans a side dish. Apparently if you want rice you have to order it separately for another $19.... I loved decoration of the restaurant, it does look really nice.
Super great ambiance and nice entrance with lots of good spots for photos. Free coat and bag check when you first enter. I recommend the cantonese cauliflower if you enjoy and sweet and sour taste.
The food is so amazing. The experience was great, only downfall is the over crowding but who can blame them for being such a vibe! The desserts were spectacular. I highly recommend the Sea Bass. Its top notch!
Impeccable customer service, staff courtesy and kind. Food is always yummy, fresh, hot and soo flavorful!! 1st time I had orange 🍊chicken and it taste like candy wit a hint of orange--sooo good.Hot and sour soup was very yummy!! Lomein was tasty, felt like it was more bean sprouts than lomein though, a bit bummed over that. But the veggies included we soo good.Always a great time. Most importantly, the playlist was Popping!!! All great hits!!
All of the food choices are shareable and everything is delicious. That atmosphere is not casual, you have to dress to impress. However the limits covid-19 puts a damper on things, with that being said you can only sit at your table for a hour and a half. So I suggest your dinner party should look at the menu before hand and order immediately as to enjoy you time with out the rush. The staff is super helpful and attentive. Its great for a birthday celebration, graduation, or even date night. I hope this helped 🙂
Ok first of all, WOW at the venue itself, the layers and levels, designed very well for an experience. Although I had reservations, I had to wait at the bar for 30 minutes or so (I assume that’s normal in NY?). Very busy, great entertainment space, it is more like a supper club. Service was pretty good considering the traffic. The food is good but not exceptional in comparison to the expectation of the place itself. Overall impression is you come here for the venue, the crowd and for a good time.
Bustling and fully packed on a Monday night. Food, ambience is top class. Do remember to take your vaccination cards which they check at the entrance.
Really enjoyed our time there, food and drinks were great and the atmosphere and aesthetic are brilliant.
I absolutely love the vibes. Perfect for a girls night out! Amazing food and drinks. I know it definitely gets busy here, but its worth the wait! Reserve ahead of time.
The food and vibes were great. Drinks were super tasty as well. Maybe a little overpriced. My biggest gripe would be about the host staff- they were kinda rude, off putting, and unfriendly. Not how I wanted to be greeted for the experience I was looking forward to.
This is one of the best restaurants in the entire city. The dishes are exquisite, creative, tasty.You can find lots of good food in the city but almost no restaurant can provide an ambience that TAO does.I’m lucky that this restaurant is in my neighborhood.Highly recommend!
Went with my lady. She got a dessert that was smoking... literally.It was really dope. Decor was a visual pleasure...and do was she 😁Definitely go. Food was worth it and the DJ mixed it up with 90s and the latest bangers.
Wow Tao is incredible! A trip to New York is not complete without visiting Tao. The views are incredible and the lighting just makes you feel like you are on a movie set!
Worst place to eat. I went for a friend of a friends birthday dinner and literally ate nothing because it was crazy expensive for tiny portions of what looked like mediocre PF Changs. Its super dark and an awkward dining space that was designed to be a dance floor. If youre there at any point nearing 8, staff is rude and rush you along because they have to clear the tables for a dance floor. I did have a $22 vodka cocktail which was weak and completely bland. DO NOT GO HERE. It is a tourist trap with bad food and drinks and rushed service.
Had a great time the last time I visited Tao 6 months ago. Changing the rating based on my recent experience. Went to celebrate a special occasion and felt like the service was both rushed and inadequate. Did not enjoy the attitude of my server as much who had the audacity to choose the tip (20%) without confirming with me. Maybe its time for them to buck up!
The decor was amazing. The food was great. With that being said, the music was not only too loud that we could not hear each other or the waitress, but she couldn’t hear us either. When the main course was delivered, mine was nowhere to be found. After about 10 minutes the waitress came over to see how everything was, and we told her I never got my food, she said she didn’t hear my order. Another 10 minutes later I finally got my food, but my husbands food had gotten cold due to him waiting to eat when I hot my food. It was a very disappointing experience since we were looking forward to it since planning our trip to New York.
The best in the business hands down; a lot of restaurants out here trying to mimic Taos Vibe… come here and you won’t be disappointed.
4 stars only cuz I thought food and drinks were too expensive: Good but nothing outstanding. 20 bucks for a cocktail or USD37 for a salmon with tiny veggies....? Not too sure about that.However, the place itself is amazing!!! Service was good too. If you have big bucks to spend, definitely a really good option.
Food was excellent. The experience itself was questionable, as it was loud and clear they were urging us to have dinner and leave for the next shift to come. Could be, and should be, improved. Next to that: I made a reservation at TAO Downtown, paid 20 dollars upfront, had dinner (not the best experience, the food was good though), they cancelled my reservation on Open Table and I did not receive the 20 dollars back on my bill. I would like to file this complaint and get my 20 dollars back.
We went for my birthday which my girlfriend put a long more in ahead of time but they did nothing. The food is mediocre at best - a Chinese five spice snapper is really just crispy fish nuggets. One extra star for cool design interior and good martini
Whats not to like here? The place is overly excessive with the theater style setup of the dining hall and statue up front, but thats also why you are coming here. Great vibe, but can come off a bit pretentious.The food is quite good in some areas. They appetizer dumplings were 🔥 but the entree noodles were pretty standard. We also had the salmon, which was very well put together.
Always a good time at Tao. We sat at the lounge area and David was excellent and super friendly. We will be back.
This place is the perfect combination good music the food and the attention is the best
Guys. Guys. You need to go. Yall, this place is insane. The food was so good but because the plates were so large I couldnt finish it but I did take it home. YOU NEED TO TRY THE FORTUNE COOKIE DESSERT LIKE DAMN. The only thing is since the restaurant is lower level you will not be getting no wifi nor data working but I highly doubt anyone will notice if you are with someone. Just go. Go at least once. I, on the other hand, am going again. Bet!
Amazing place with magical vibes. True food is delicious and delectable. The presentation and preparation is impeccable. The wait staff is very friendly and accommodating. The drinks are a plenty. And after all the food and beverages one can just walk a few feet inside the restaurant and dance the night away at the club
Incredible! Went there 2 nights in a row while staying in the area, and loved it. The interior design is so unique and absolutely stunning all around, the rainbow roll was so delicious and the fish was top quality, and the bread pudding donuts are just too good for words- could’ve easily eaten multiple servings of them. It is a very pricey place, but if you’ve got the money to spend I highly recommend it. Excellent service too, not like the Buddakan place across the street that’ll subtly deny you seating if you aren’t dressed up in makeup and heels. The staff here doesn’t seem judgy like that, just attentive and friendly.
Very Disappointed. Very expensive for how bland everything tasted. Service felt rushed when they said they wanted us to order everything at the same time. Chicken was off in the fried rice pictured here. Sweet spicy shrimp was nothing but sweet. Beef Mongolian was the only dish that was decent.
The hot spot to go in New York. Great vibes, good music, good food. The service could use some improvement, servers looked overwhelmed.
Came here on Valentines day 2022. Food was just ok, I wasnt too impressed with it. Youre obviously paying a premium here for the vibe of this place, which I admit was very nice. Although I didnt like how closely packed we were to other couples. The tables were awkwardly close to each other where we could hear the entire conversation of our neighbors. No social distancing here. The DJ played the same songs a few times while we were there. The giant fortune cookie was a bit gimmicky, they gave us the red velvet one and it was too sweet for my taste. The triple pork fried rice was just ok. The ribs were a very small portion and super fatty. I did enjoy the buns and shrimps though. The Tao-tini was decent as well. Our servers were quick and efficient. I loved the projection show on the Buddha and all the art, decoration of this place. Id recommend checking this place out at least once.
A little pricey but superb quality and waiter did a great job providing suggestions and shared dishes for the table.
Very cool place with great vibes. it was a pleasure, great food, great service, the waiters were nice and helped with picking the dishes.the whole experience was great with the cool place. live DJ music and nice people.
This was my first experience at Tao Downtown. I have enjoyed many celebrations over the few years at other locations and this visit was no different. I was promptly seated upon arrival and the flow of everything was perfect. The food was delicious as always. We had a selection of food (shanghai fried rice, sushi, chili dumplings, chicken satay, chicken lollipop, chili chicken and other dishes). Almost everything is meant to be shared. The dessert platter was amazing as always. Out waiter was very sweet as well. I will definitely be going back.
Worth all the hype. Oh my God, the Cod! Food was bomb, service was on point and atmosphere was perfect! I think this location is better than the old downtown Tao, and def more fun than the uptown one. Totally worth it!
I dont recommend this place. Ive been there twice. One time in 2018 and one time in 2022. Both times were bad experiences to me. The security guards are very nasty, and kind of aggressive. I saw a situation where people were kicked off for no reason. I also saw a woman at the bar who pushed another woman and the security didnt do anything. There are free tables with plates RESERVATION and no one sits there at all, no one all night. A dangerous, dark, dismal and suspicious place. STAY AWAY FROM!!!PS. The first time I went there, was similar to the second time, and I went there the second time just because of my friends bday, and I tried to be nice to her. NEVER EVER AGAIN!!!
2 stars for overpriced menu, just a fancied up chinese and Japanese food. Im sure youre paying for the gorgeous atmosphere and not the food. Just note that even with a reservation theres good 20-30 minutes wait, for servers to be ready not for a table.
Amazing place. Fast service and nice staff.
Great to go with friends and share many food options.
Amazing decor, food was really great, the Cod glazed miso was the highlight of the dishes, we really like the Ahi TUNA too and the chicken satay, but the fried rice with lobster was to salty. Service was inexistant, except the bussers that were great and efficient. We will have an amazing experience but the service was lacking. But overall go try it, it is BEAUTIFUL
Dined here for my 30th birthday. I wanted to eat here 3 weeks prior but they were all booked. If you want to come here and you have a big party, book weeks in advance. They book up quick despite how big the restaurant is. Its beautiful inside though. Reminds me of Spice Market from a few years back. Theres a beautiful tunnel you walk down before you get to check in and then walk on to the dining floor. There is a lot to choose from on the menu and we tried a little bit of everything. Everything was delicious. Definitely get the giant fortune cookie! The bathrooms are interesting... theres even a bar inside. The service was great. Our waitress was sweet, helpful and made sure it was all perfect for my party and experience.
They are more focused on seeing which customer has more money than on giving good service. I usually eat California roll everywhere I go and this restaurant was not going to be the exception so one of the dishes was that which had something similar to a scale that I had to remove from my mouth after feeling it, we wanted to make sure that the waitress knew about but she was nowhere to be found. after that I ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail ... it was good ... when ordering another one I realize that it was the same glass that the waitress had taken and Im sure because it brought a piece of candied ginger to which I had taken a bite. Anyway, the place is very nice but the experience was not so pleasant, I do not think I will return. the price is too high for the level of service.this was about a year ago but i havent changed my mind 😆
Delicious desserts, great atmosphere, tons of drinks and tons of fun…
This place was absolutely stunning, I love the Asian ambience. Went on a Saturday night and it was extremely packed, I suggest reservations. Overall great music and drinks.
Food was ok, small portions. Waygu steak was very expensive, I dont think it was worth it. I expected a lot better for a $94.00 piece of beef. I ordered Chinese broccoli twice, both times the waiter forgot it.
The waitstaff was horrible, forgot some of our order didnt really pay us any mind when they came with the food they throw it on the table like we were dogs N run away and that lobster was not all of that I found hair in my stuff
We made a reservation 2 weeks before my sister’s birthday. Social distancing was on point although they had to close at 10 pm. The ambiance and the food was perfect for the occasion and not too pricey we ordered appetizers drinks and main course with a platter of dessert. Overall amazing
Nice atmosphere and good service. Food is amazing and worth the price. Special occasion!!! Drink menu could improve.
My favourite Asian in NYC. If you go to NYC you must try this restaurant, we’ve been going for years and it’s just amazing! The food and service is incredible. A+
The restaurant is GREATThe food is very good
Great ambiance! Loved the food! Giant fortune cookie was delightful 😋Was not a fan of the lobster rice though
Came for Valentine’s Day dinner - food was amazing besides the tuna tar tar & white rice. best drink is the TAO Tini. of you try to make a reservation, try to make it for inside because the outside portion of the restaurant is absolutely freezing and not warm at all
The food at Tao is always top notch. The environment makes half the experience. We usually come for special occasions and always have a good time. Today happen to be restaurant week so we all got the 3 course special and got to try almost everything.Chicken, salmon and beef. All taste great, chicken slightly on the dry side but the flavor is still very good.
This place is awesome!!! Great food and service
Food was stupendous. Definitely recommend the glazed salmon & the lychee martini drink . Somewhat pricey but worth it. Went to celebrate my birthday & my bday dessert was even delicious😋. I had to go again cause I was craving more of their tasty dishes
Loved Tao! The atmosphere was awesome! If you arent one for low lighting then this place may not be for you. We had the spicy tuna tartare (and a second round), lobster roll, shrimp pad thai, and orange chicken. For dessert we had the bread pudding doughnuts and potted carrot cake. For drinks we had the Tao-tini and Tao-jitos. The Tao-tini was my fave especially if you like sweet drinks. Everything was delicious! We liked the spicy tartare the best that we ordered a second round. Usually I take pictures but everything looked so good we just dug right in. I did happen to get pictures of the desserts.
This place is too good to enjoy a nice meal with your friends. I visited them for an evening meal and the place was pretty full. Their are quite a few different seating options. We had ordered as per few recommendations and bothe the dishes were absolutely great. The prawn and chicken were cooked aptly and the taste was so good.
Hello I am writing to inform you of an unpleasant experience that I encountered at the downtime location on Sunday. We called to see if there were any reservations needed and what time food would be served until. The woman proceeded to tell us that food was being served until 11:45 and when we asked for the wait ir if a reservation was needed she said she didn’t know. Nevertheless, we showed up in an Uber because we are not from NY and when we arrived we were told we couldn’t be seated. No more Spaces. I told her we just spoke to a hostess that didn’t give us that information and we traveled about 10 mins to get there. Even then she turned us away with nothing and not even a recommendation. I am highly disappointed because I was looking forward to dining and experiencing Tao in NY but that is not good customer service and the hospitality was lacking.
I booked 3 days ago through open table app 4 people tao experience at 8:30pm and it turned out they called me the day of my reservation saying that they booked me for 5:30pm. I told them I booked for 8:30pm and they said they was something wrong and they cant have us another time they will call me back. It turned out I had to called over 5 times they couldnt do anything I asked to speak to the manager he was not helpful, he said all he can do is book me for 6:45pm its my boyfriends birthday, my dad had cancer and it was the first night out since he went out of the hospital I was very excited to do this and they blow it away. VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE SERVICE
Ive been to TAO Downtown a handful of times over the past few years. I can confidently say that its the better of the two TAO locations in terms of ambiance. The long tunnel entryway, grand staircase, and high ceilings offer something very unique to New York City.The menu has changed over the years but Ill first recap a visit retroactive to May 2018, followed by some general recommendations.Salmon Sushi - as a sushi lover with high standards, I think the sushi is good at TAO but prefer some of the other smaller shareable dishes. Never disliked any of the sushi but also never came away remembering any of the rolls.Crispy Rice Tuna - one of TAOs signature dishes. MUST ORDERChicken Cashew - tasty but nothing special and somewhat difficult to eatGrilled Rare Tuna - ehh, wouldnt order again. There are better fish dishesLemongrass creme brûlée - very good as are all dessert optionsRECOMMENDATIONS:Edamame and/or Shishito Peppers, especially if youre with a bigger group. Served hot and liberally salted. Almost standard procedure to have one or both on the table.Chilean Sea Bass - that miso glaze will dominate the table conversationPork Potstickers - Its probably the single best item on the menuLobster Wontons - absolutely delicious. Lobster wontons with shiitake mushrooms in a ginger scallion broth. Are you kidding me? Order thisCrispy Orange Chicken - crispy exterior, tender interior, delicious orange sauce, and steamed baby bok choyNot a cheap place but a lot of the shareable dishes are great value and better tasting. Also, the staff is incredibly kind and hardworking. Their diligence is noticeable throughout the building. Enjoy.
Had a very nice Birthday dinner with family. Meal size is pretty fully for one person, nice decor and friendly staff. Very good collection of wine, ofcourse a bit pricey. The meals were expensive but delicious. I wish we had more options for food and rolls. The service was good
Though the food is good enough, the decor and vibe is a little outdated and tone deaf. Would recommend the bass and sushi but the pad Thai was not worth the price.
Tao is always an awesome meal. Their food is top notch and no doubt about it. Kinda expensive but worth it if you have the means.
If you are looking for a party place this is it. Great atmosphere and music. The food was ok. Ive had better sushi at ETC in NYC.
Had a great anniversary dinner. The food was delicious, the customer service was exceptional, and the ambiance is something to experience. Definitely recommend going here.
Good place overall. Nice ambience. Service was 👍
Amazing experience in the meatpacking district of Manhattan. Massive place (a bit loud for deep conversation) with lots of small rooms overlooking the main floor. Pan-Asian describes it well. A great mix of flavors served up well by excellent staff. Pricey and worth it. Be sure to call ahead for reservations.
It is not a bad restaurant. We enjoyed the settings a lot. We tried 2 starters, 1 code fish and the chefs choice of 99$ sushi.Unfortunately the food wasnt as good as we anticipated. The starters were okay, a bit too much sugar and teriyaki sauce on the chicken satay and the meat itself was not of the finest quality.The code fish was amazingThe sushi was no more than okay... We were two and we probably shouldve ordered a smaller dish because we didnt finish the everything.All and all - it wouldnt be my first choice for a good Asian. But maybe it was just a week evening for the chef...
Excellent place 100% must go in NYC.Amazing food and staff service.About the food I can only say it’s just delicious, full of asian flavors. Glazed salmon was a safe option, but the lobster was absolutely amazing.Take a look on the design and each single detail around the main room, it’s just amazing how it is built.
Obviously good food & drinks but the service is always a little unsatisfactory. I guess because they constantly have a lot of costumers they can’t be as attentive to everyone but it’s become a constant thing the past few years
Tao Downtown puts many other restaurants to shame. It turns every dinner into a party where you’ll want to find an excuse to celebrate life. The Asian cuisine is done perfectly, with multiple signature dishes that you will not find anywhere else in the world. The dessert platter is over the top, delicious and will have the whole table talking for weeks. The decor and vibe is half Buddhist temple, half exclusive high-end lounge with an energy that is simple indescribable. About $65 PP. The bar, which has some of the best cocktails I’ve ever tasted, is the perfect place for casual dates or meetings, and requires no reservation. Tao is the place where you come to celebrate life, accomplishments, enjoy friends and family and leave feeling ready to conquer what’s next, and of course, the world-class Tao club downstairs.
Wow just wow. If you want to impress a date take them here. Vast restaurant, amazing decor. Amazing food.Servers suck in my opinion. Didn’t have a clue what halal was. And had the personality of a potato. Everyone can have an off night but they just dragged like a wet mop.Black cod best taste and worst would be the dragon. Expensive place but worth it for the odd night
We went on a Wednesday night and the place is busy. We sat at the sushi bar as the place is fully booked. The waiter was friendly and service was good. Food are delicious and portions are reasonable. The five spice pork rib is delicious. Love the restaurant environment.
This place was gorgeous! We shared my daughters 24th birthday here and had a great time. The good and drinks we wonderful but the service was the best.
My husband and I had dinner here. We enjoyed every moment. The food was so delicious.
Unique setting. We were rushed from the moment we got there and left. Service and food not at par with the price. Would not recommend
Gorgeous space with excellent service. Food was delicious, and if you’re celebrating they treat you extra well. The giant Buddha sits in meditation over the koi pond and gives the space a calming and elegant vibe.
Great spot, you can order a shared platter to try more than just the wagoo steak.. ideal spot for a work social event
Loved the food and I had a great time. Chicken gyoza was amazing and I ended up ordering a second order of it. Ill definitely come back to this play. Its a bit pricey but the food is delicious and a great place to take a date. Highly recommend it.
Visited as loved the LA spot. Food was delicious as always. Dumplings were really tasty and the spicy eggplants were one of my favourites. Service was fast and server knowledgeable with menu. Always best to book in advance for a table between 7-10pm when the vibes are best. Mango chilli cocktail had really nice flavours.
Great atmosphere and music. Unbelievably Delicious food and great desert. Very friendly service. Got seated immediately with reservation. Very large portions, good enough for two.
Brought my boyfriend here for his birthday and we always come back for the Lo Mein together!!Ive been here a few times now and it always feels as special as the first time! The artwork in the space is always a wow factor, and the seating on the staircase is super unique and interesting.The service is professional and doesnt bother you too much while youre dining which we greatly appreciate.If youre not looking to dine, they have a bar which is equally as amazing to sit at with a friend, guest, or partner. I love TAO Downtown!
The ambience is phenomenal. The drinks are alright. The food is good but for the price it could be better. The crispy pork buns were really tasty. The chilli chicken was not chilli enough. The Pad Thai was drenched in honey. The vegetable dumplings were so-so.The dessert was absolutely amazing!! It was a warm chocolate cake.However it is worth a try for the ambience and the dessert!!
Absolutely love the decor in this place, nothing comes close - it is very upscale and luxurious. The food tastes great as well, they have a wide variety of cuisines to choose from. The only let down for me is the pricing is not justifiable to the taste of the food - you can have better food for less in NYC.
Tao is the food temple of Asian food.We arrived with many expectations at this restaurant, many people told us that they eat amazing there, we had to go and find out.We start with four entries; Tuna tartare, octopus sushi, chicken lollipop and chicken gyoza like dumpling.I had already eaten the tuna tartare in other restaurants, I hoped that here I knew the same or better, and it fulfilled my expectation, it is great. The chicken lollipop is very tasty! But the best was the Gyoza, a balanced flavor and at its right point. My disappointment came from the hand of the octopus sushi; the texture was very hard and lacked flavor. I would not order it againWe continue with three main courses: Mongolian beef, Thai duck rice and drunken pad Thai with lobster.The Mongolian beef has been the best dish I have eaten this month, balanced flavors, a soft meat and a very nice presentation, highly recommended!The Thai duck rice, very tasty too, but the one who takes the best place was the Pad Thai with lobster... a fantastic, hearty, very balanced and tasty dish, a very nice presentation.Before we left, we ordered a creme brulee. Very nice but it was a lemon pie mixed with cheese cake .... that is not a creme brulee, however it is very rich.In Tao you can expect superior food quality, adequate attention times and the best: the place ... incredible details that make you feel in an Indue temple.Highly recommended this restaurant!
Went here after visiting the auto show.With toddler and wife.We absolutely loved this place didn’t get seated in the main area but in the lounge and bar area.Loved the food!!!!Loved the drinks!!!Loved the vibe!!!And loved the service!!!A bit on the pricier side but what do you expect for a premier Asian restaurant in trendy Meatpacking!!!Can’t wait to go back for Mother’s Day!!!
This place is located in the lower Manhattan, one of the famous pan asian restaurant in New York, We went to this place for dinner on weekday ( Monday) it was crowded, we did take a reservation. So i advise people to take reservation.This place is little on expenive side but totally worth the money, we tried variety of food being a team and loved most of it. This place has an excellent am ambiance.The dishes i highly recommend is the peking duck, the coconut desert, ahi tuna starter - this were my favourites among the thing we ordered. The cocktails were also really good. The one i would not try again is the three way lobster.I would go back here back 😊
Came here for restaurant week and what an absolute beast of a place. The food was perfectly prepared, tasted beyond amazing, and had perfect portions. On top of all that the wait staff in the atmosphere was top notch. Definitely worth of the visit if youre willing to spend the money.
Place is absolutely amazing. The food is over the top , we had the 93 dollar steak, lettuce shrimp cups, Peking duck, lobster egg roll, and the best item was a spicy cauliflower. The decor is just perfect with a big beautiful buddha. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. I dont think the price was bad. $550 for everything. Not cheap, but worth it.#adamnotis #maybillmelgar #power
Came here to party and I had a really fun time. Service was pretty good at our table as well. It was really crowded for a while and suddenly the crowd lessened. I enjoyed the music as well. Very nice upscale club to go to. Would definitely come back again to party with more friends.
Excellent service, the food was great, the ambiance was quite exquisite.... You have to make a reservation and pay $100 to hold it; but the money goes towards your meal. I went on a busy night so the place was packed. They had us waiting for our table even though we reserved from days before but everything else made up for the wait.... 5⭐s I would definitely go back there.
Great food. Big place. It gets very noisy and the music gets too high for people who want to have dinner and talk. If you want to experience a calmer dinner then go earlier like around 6:00
Great place with amazing decor. Food and drinks are amazing, albeit on the pricier side. You can enjoy their full menu in the wait lounge. Lots of great photo ops. I consider this an upgrade over Buddakan across the street.
Good food, great ambience, and good service. Tried the restaurant week menu and had a good experience. Food was tasty and had decent portion sizes. The restaurant was packed even on a weeknight and my only gripe is that the table we were seated at was so close to the other tables that it offered close to no privacy for conversation. For the price of food here I expected an exceptional experience and it just fell a little short.
Do not hesitate to try the TAO experience!Delicious food, very good presentation, nice people, friendly service .The whole concept is terrific.Must try the orange chicken and the triple pork fried rice!
Went on a Saturday night at 8:30PM and it was PACKED. Reservations are highly recommended. We got lucky and were seated in the lounge area by someone who saw us struggling to find a seat, props to them.Once seated, service was very quick and attentive. Food came out relatively quick for the quality that it had. Had roll and some gyoza for apps, main was BBQ duck fried rice. Very well made. Definitely higher quality than take-out. The dishes actually come as sizes for sharing, so be mindful of the portion. One can always take whatever is left home. For dessert, had the creme brulee. Also share size, couldnt finish it.Overall it was just a very good experience. From the ambiance and decor, to the attentiveness of service. Will go back again.
TAO is absolutely stunning. Their interior decoration is amazingly beautiful. It is recommended you get a reservation and arrive early for it. While you wait to be seated they send you to their bar area and as well as their dining area it’s beautiful. Their drinks are delicious but a little too pricey. I went with a group of friends for my friends birthday. Their food was absolutely delicious and their dessert was mouth watering. Again a bit pricey but definitely a spot to go for a dinner date or special occasion. Definitely will try and visit again soon.
This is the first restaurant in NYC I felt unwelcome as soon as I checked in , informed the receptionist that my company can’t attend this dinner , immediately I told to waited in sushi bar, after I asked other receptionist should I get a seat cause I made reservations already , then I finally seated but no menu to bring on my table , I waited almost 13 min then my waitresses finally came , she had a smile , warm & welcome, totally different attitude compare the front desk! But still gave me the wrong drink , but she did changed it afterward !The second waitress came after my main course served , she was the same attitude just like other the pretty girl in front desk!Only the manager more concerned the performance over all!Because this is the first day of restaurant week, also my first try out too, I ordered from the special restaurant week menu , more worst , soup too salty & sour , Main course so so , the dessert banana pudding too creamy too fat , 2 spoons in mouth I lost appetite, right away I miss my favor place in NYC, regret to get out my comfort zone , at 7 pm this restaurant start filled up more people , the noice much worst than dining in McDonald, lol.. the only place you can hide be peaceful enjoyable is the bathroom chair !The best place in this restaurant in the bathroom, quiet , nice & clean , the lady did a great job also helped to take some pics made my day & dinner more warmer & pleasant, If u like more fine , classy & intimate dinner, more higher quality cooking , please go to else where , this is not your shoe , may be good for big party people , not picky for high quality food , see the pic below:
Been here multiple times and we always had a fabulous time. The place is huge with amazing ambience and a very beautiful Asian style decor. Its on the pricier side like any other trendy lounges in the city. The food is good and so are the drinks( really expensive cocktails though). Perfect place for celebrations as they have huge tables for big groups and also for dates. They do take reservations which is great because this place is almost always packed. Ive also visited their other locations in the city and those are great too with some really gorgeous decor and beautiful ambience.
An amazing experience! i made reservations for my anniversary a couple weeks in advance, and we were so happy we came! the food was amazing, the ambience was amazing! and the drinks even better! we ordered several different things off the menu & they were all amazing. highly recommend the beef mongolian w/ the lo mein, chicken satay & the lobster wontons. all 10/10! and my favorite drink was the TAO-Tini. i can’t wait to come back again.
The food was great. The server was polite and attentive. I recommend the Peking Duck for two, the Lobster fried rice and a Lychee martini. Thank me later😊
Average experience.As a beginning, we had to wait 20 minutes to be sitted, even though we reserved a table a month in advance.Food was good, but nothing special.The place itself is beautiful! But it was freezing in there, and REALLY loud.Service was not good, the waiteress was impatient, and it took forever to find her.
First thing you notice about this restaurant is its design - it is very high-end and impressive and sets the good type of atmosphere.The service is pretty good, the waiters being very professional and helpful. The food itself is also pretty good, but isnt something outstanding. The prices are fair, but are definitely not cheap.If youre looking for a highly stylish restaurant with good food and prices that arent too expensive - this would be a decent choice.
This is place is really amazing. Must visit place, their service and quality is really great. Must try is the Firecracker shrimp. We love this place the ambiance, food, atmosphere is really fantastic.
The Food here is great. We Have our work party here every year right near Christmas time and all the food is great. I really need to come here for straight dinner and not just for a party!
Everything is super, service, atmosphere, delicious cocktails and food. worth visiting this place. I love
Both hostess were not clear about what space was available for sitting (walk in). The servers never let us know we were in the wrong space even when we asked for a menu - we lost around 20 minutes waiting in vain. We headed out to the bar and the accommodations were just meh. Tao uptown was a little better for a walk in.
Ive passed this place on many a bike ride,But I never knew what was inside.And Ill probably never try the food.So I hope you dont think its rude for me to rate themWhen I cant fairly love or hate them...(Id love to help support the staff and try this placeBut my Visa card would laugh and spit in my face...)Just sharing what Ive seen as I go pastOn my after-dinner walk or a fast cycle by:Tons of outdoor tables and festive lightsBring eager diners on warm September nights.Theyre Covid setups young and scene-y.But, hell, 19 bucks for a martini?(And an eye roll for their $16 eggroll.)Still, its lovely out there, in the fresh air… for now.Whats the plan for winter, Tao?
Chase date night package plus an extra order of lobster wontons that were so amazing! Food is so great just like you are there. 10/10 would def do takeout from them again. Thanks for staying open!
Vast seating, great statues of Buddhist Spiritual figures, tasty food, lemon grass creambule was very tasty. Service is too fast, some food items were not hot when served?
Security needs to be trained. Awful customer service. As the 1st point of contact, you initiate the client experience. If you lack interpersonal skills then seek employment with something that has nothing to do with customers. The way they were speaking to the customers walking in and out was unacceptable. Your job is to ensure that all customers entering the location show you their vaccination card along with matching ID and ensure public safety within the the restaurant. It’s not your job to question anyone about anything other than that. You are simply a security guard ( still a civilian). Date of visit 1/28/22 first and last.
Its been a long time since i had a bad culinary experience like this one today. Boiled noodles swimming in sweet sauce as dessert. Uneatable.The dish was replaced with fried stired rice and with chicken, carrots and vegetables. A pointless dish. I had to pour the whole bottle of soy to eat from hunger. Chicken gyoza is good. Chicken satay is not bad and nothing more. A souffle dessert that was not baked enough The spilled chochlate is a mixture of unbaked dough with chochlate. If you ask yourself what is the interesting sauce on the side of the dessert . I believe it is syrup to treat cough. The place is crowded and unpleasant to sit. There is a feeling that you can eat from the plate of the table next to you. We came back with no voice. the bad acoustics and the noise of the people forced us to shout. Prices are high. Even if the management responds it will be my worst memory from New York. Send the owner to the Far East or even to China town to learn how to prepare Asian food. Apparently the chef never ate Asian food before. TRUST ME TOURISTS !
Food and experience was very nice but just as we payed the bill I saw something moving from the side of my eye. It was a mouse, plain and simple. I did not want to make a spectacle so I quietly waited to speak to a manager. The manager never came instead sent someone in their place. (this was approximately 2:30 AM Saturday February 5th, 2022) I shared what I had seen and the response I received was “I don’t see a mouse” followed by “the manager is busy doing manager things”. I was not sharing what I had seen to receive any compensation. I simply wanted to alert them before other patrons saw the mouse. My discreet approach was ill received. The person who was sent to “help” was nothing short of rude, condescending and unprofessional. The mouse offended me less than this person’s demeanor.
Horrible experience, had reservations for over a month to celebrate 2 birthday parties on 1/22/22 (and paid a non refundable deposit to reserve our table). We get there the guy at the front was so rude and nasty about the fact that we were not fully vaccinated, we all had our cards and we explained the situation and he did not care at all. He was extremely rude, didn’t allow us in, didn’t even give me the chance to speak to anyone regarding the circumstances, I literally begged him and explained- its not like we didn’t have any vaccines, I was missing one dose, which has been fine for every other establishment I’ve been to in NYC. But he was on a total COVID power trip. He ruined two birthdays, and my future patronage of Tao. I also called to explain the situation so that I would at least somehow be able to get my deposit back, and the girl on the phone was also rude. You would think it was NYC back in 2014 when businesses could afford to be disgusting to their customers. We were a table of 4 women, we ended up going down the block, waited over an hour for a table, but had a great time… spent $700 on dinner, such a shame that we didn’t get to spend it at Tao.
The Spanish looking bartender guy rude! FIRE HIM! Stupid rules: unless all Members of group not there, you are not allowed to sit on your table. They try to make you leave in 2 hours, which is really stupid!!!
Great place, the design is gorgeous. We came after 23:00 and the place was really nice, the music was awesome. The most important thing of course was the amazing food.Really recommended
Great food, awesome atmosphere.This is the place to be in!
Beautiful ambience, good music and absolutely delicious food, drinks are on the expensive side, the most basic margarita at whooping 23 dollars, it might be worth it if the ingredients were fresh, just keep that in mind when ordering drinks, but the food quity and flavors definitely makes the visit a must when in NYC!
One of my fav restaurants in the city! Been here multiple time. Amazing ambience, decor and vibe, great food and great cocktails. The small chopstick holders are super cute! The pad thai , dim sum platter and of course the giant fortune cookie are my fav.
This place is awesome. The food is great; everything I order was very teasty. Highly recommend. Very good atmosphere. Good service. You must order a place. Go after 23:00 .. good price.
Love the experience of coming here with new friends to see them awe at the beautiful decor. The food is excellent and the service is impeccable. Always an enjoyable time@
What a wonderful Dinning experience. Beautiful Dinning experience. The tuna & crispy rice, Mongolian beef, potstickers, triple pork fried rice are all excellent choices.
Definitely a place to go for dinner,either with lots of friends or just dinner for two. My daughter and I sat at the sushi bar.All the servers were very friendly and gracious.The food was outstanding! I really liked the ambiance as well,it was a large space but not too big or noisy.Allthe guests around us were having a great time. Im going to try to go again next time Im in the city.
Loved the food and the drinks. Ambiance was amazing too - their design and decor certainly help. Our server was super friendly and helpful, which we appreciated. What we didn’t appreciate were the prices - super high and not worth it in my opinion. Still recommend trying out this place though, just prepare to pay big bucks for a good dinner.
First time I went to an upscale restaurant, I had fun, the atmosphere was great. The food was good, my date and I got 2 deserts, one of the deserts did not taste good at all.
I noticed they kept sitting people of color in the lounge areas instead of the floor. Even if they came with full parties and paid for reservation. That’s so disrespectful especially because tables in the lounge are so low they have to bend and eat.
Very cool experience for a nice night out. Busy but not overcrowded. Sat at the sushi bar and ordered a king salmon roll, crispy rice tuna, the olive fried rice, and spicy chili chicken. Everything was very solid. I absolutely adored the king salmon roll. Rice was cooked perfectly with fresh asparagus and salmon. The crispy rice was also very yummy. I would recommend sticking to the items with fresh ingredients though, I wasn’t a huge fan of the chili chicken with heavy breading and a super sticky sauce with undercooked onions. However, the ambiance and great sushi still earned it a solid 4 stars in my book. Not to mention the service at the sushi bar was friendly and prompt.
Love it! The food tastes great, the service is very good and the portions are very big too! Desserts are great , you can split! It is always good to be back!
The beautiful design was a jaw dropper when I walked into the dining room. The food was flavorful, beyond my expectations. The presentation of the black rice was nice and again the taste was fresh and did not disappoint. Great service too
Great food and beautiful restaurant but terrible service. You will have to try hard to enjoy the experience as they attempt to rush you out as quick as possible for the next turnaround. Wont split the bill. Forget your drink orders. Demand that you order all food on one go, instead of ordering apps first and waiting to eat them before ordering main course.
The food is delicious, you should try sushi and also sweet and spicy shrimps. the environment incredible. the best desert molten lava.
Such a beautiful restaurant and delicious food
My boyfriend came here last Halloween weekend. We were staying at the hotel above it. This restaurant was an amazing experience. If you happen to be in Manhattan I definitely recommend coming here. The whole atmosphere is breath taking from the entrance to the stairs to your table. The food was very tasty as well. This is definitely a great date night spot. The drinks weren’t too expensive and they were not shy with putting the right amount of alcohol.
Total reviews rating 4.4
199 Reviews for TAO Downtown Restaurant 2023:
Review №1
2022-02-06Had an amazing time here with my wife and our friends. Location wise very accessible with the A, C, E or L train. Its a great restaurant with a great ambiance. This place is packed like all in one place. Restaurant, bar and a club all in one place. Although food is on the pricey side (in my own opinion) the taste will definitely give justice to the price as food is delicious and its a big portion (we shared food). Will surely comeback here and recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a great place to dine and enjoy.
Review №2
2022-06-11This place has such an ambiance. The dim lighting and construction of the structural pieces in the restaurant is breath taking. We tried the waiters recommendation for sushi (yellow tail and the crispy tuna) both amazing choices . I tried the lobster. and shrimp spring rolls that came with sweet and sour sauce. Very flavorful and the outside was crispy yet flaky (8-10). For my entree I had the Drunken Lobster noodles (10/10) which was great and I paired it with the miso cod. The cod does have a bit of extra saltiness to it but that in itself was tasty along with a side of spicy eggplant. The eggplant was phenomenal and gets a 10/10. For dessert I had the carrot cake that was shaped in a plant pot. I love the idea for the carrot cake and flavor wise it an 7.5/10. I felt like the crumbs placed on the carrot cake ( to mimic soil) were to crunchy and took away from being able to enjoy the creaminess of a carrot cake. The outside layer of the plant pot is made up of chocolate which was too much sweetness for my liking.All in all this place was amazing, I had a great time and I would definitely be returning.
Review №3
2022-05-17Not being from New York, I had always heard a lot about Tao from my friends in New York & I finally decided to pay a visit to check out if it was worth the hype. I am happy to share that it not only met my expectations but actually surpassed my expectations. The vibe and the ambience is top notch & classy. The food was delicious especially chicken gyoza & chicken wing lollipops. Being a big fan of desserts the banana pudding didn’t disappoint as well but I would say not the best. As far as drinks, litchi martini stood out the most but they do have a good range of drinks as well. Overall, a wonderful experience and would stop by every time I am in New York.
Review №4
2022-03-22I’ve been there twice for birthday celebrations and I loved it both times. The ambience is so soothing, they are very patient when taking your order and explain whatever you might not understand.Now the food, it’s awesome, plus it can be shared amongst yourselves. We were allowed to bring the cake in both times and they lit up the candles for us and brought it to us after our meal.
Review №5
2022-01-22Food was not the best but I enjoy the cocktails and I absolutely love the ambiance. Our server David was awesome! He was really nice and attentive. My experience coming back the second time was much much better. Thanks to our server for being great!
Review №6
2021-12-03Going for the first time is definitely a unique experience. The detailed decor inside is absolutely beautiful. Its recommended you check your coat in. We had reservations but even with reservations it still took 45 minutes to be seated. Be ready to pay when you come here for anything you get! My cocktail was $25 and it wasnt worth $15 by the taste. We ordered orange chicken with fried rice. I wasnt fond of the orange chicken. If Im being honest it tasted like I ordered chicken from a Chinese place up the street and they just put it on a nice plate for which we paid $36 not including rice. Plus it was overcooked but we didnt make a fuss. Again I would recommend to go for a one-time experience. And that was all it was for me and will be for me... A one time experience.
Review №7
2022-04-19Great atmosphere. I went for the first time for a birthday celebration and I was surprised to see that it was a chill and inviting atmosphere. I am not a fan of Asian food but this food was delicious! It was a really nice dinning experience. I am looking forward to go back again.. I really enjoyed the salmon and the lobster fried rice.
Review №8
2022-03-25This place is incredible. It’s even better than the Uptown location. I guess because it’s larger, has more secret decked out cubbies & sections. This place makes u feel like you in another world. Amazing!They no longer require proof of vaccination & masks to be worn.My waiter was proactive, happy, attentive, gave great recommendations & literally served us.My food was well done, presented beautifully & tasted sooo good. My favorite was my carrot cake dessert. It looked beautiful & was entirely edible.I’m so in love with TAO, I will be back OFTEN!
Review №9
2022-02-28Spot has a great reputation, and it’s a cool place to go back to from time to time- there’s a great vibe throughout the entire time, the food is awesome and the staff and service are great.The downtown location is definitely much better than the location uptown, hands down.The lounge at the restaurant is also a cool spot to just to grab a drink before they sit you at the table.Thank you guys at Tao Downtown 🤙🏼
Review №10
2021-11-30Food - very good.Decor - great.Service - poor.Seems set up more for groups than couples.Host sat us in a dark corner (after putting a note on the reservation stating we were there to celebrate), took asking 3 people just to move us 2 tables along into some light. Noticed others were brought there & had the same complaint... Either they dont care or are oblivious.Waiter was friendly & could offer advice.For the price, expect a more cohesive team & experience... Wouldnt return in a hurry.