This is quite an overdue review (mostly because I forgot I came here!) Regardless, I have much to say about this touted celebrity-sited venue.
Alan, Cheney, and I wanted to go out for “fine-dining” lunch during restaurant week before school started. They chose TAO and I was excited because TAO is one of the more famous restaurants in the city. Its lavish decor sets it apart from most other restaurants because they offer a dining experience like no other.
Indeed, the decor was grande. From the stunning light outside, you walk directly into a very dimly lit room (reason why pictures are of pretty bad quality). Immediately, the 35 ft (we estimated) Buddha greets you even as you walk up the winding staircase to the second floor. Everything gives off a very serene temple-like vibe. I give them 5 stars for the ambiance. But from there, it goes down.
All three of us opted for the pre-fix lunch menu which is year round, priced at $24.95. We all got the Peking Duck Spring Rolls which looked crispy and light, but really were heavily flavored under the mask of hoisin sauce. We could see the duck, but we couldn’t taste it and that’s such a shame because duck is such a great meat. For the entree we all ordered the sauteed sirloin steak served with potatoes. Once again, it was extremely salty. Alan asked for medium and they gave him rare. After they took it back, they piled even more sauce on it until it looked like it was dripping in hoisin soup or something. Good steak shouldn’t need sauce like that. If you can cook it properly, its natural flavor comes out from its juice. That’s the taste you want, not some generic sauce that you can buy for less than $5 at your local asian grocery store.
Dessert, however, was fantastic. Then again, I don’t know how you can screw up dessert. I think the pictures can speak for itself in this area.
Overall, I would never go back again. TAO was rated as the most “overrated” restaurant in NYC and I feel its true. It’s like buying an IPOD. You know that there may be better products out there, but you buy it for the brand name and for the social status. It’s the same with TAO. You go not for the food, but for everything else.
MENU
42 E. 58th St.
New York, NY 10022
Near Madison Ave.
See Map | Subway Directions 
212-888-2288
You should also check out:
- An interview with Terry Chen of “Filled with Sweets”
- Co. Pizza
- Crif Dogs (take 2)- best hot dogs ever
- Saturday brunch at Locanda Verde
- Bobo in the West Village
