While I was exploring restaurants to try in New York, Tao was one that definitely got my attention. The reason was simple – they have a massive Buddha statue in their dining area! And no, this restaurant isn’t in a temple. Tao is an Asian cuisine restaurant in Midtown East that’s close to the Southern side of Central park. The interior of this restaurant is breathtaking because their Asian decor is all very captivating and impressive. Probably the coolest restaurant I’ve ever been to!
To quench my thirst from the 90 F weather outside, I got a Love Potion #9 to drink. And yes, I did fall in love with this drink. It’s a mixture of Bacardi Razz, cranberry juice, and red bull, so it’s sweet with a bit of an energizing kick as well.
Love Potion #9 ($12.5)
My friend got the Ruby Red Dragon, another great drink on their menu. This colourful drink consists of grapefruit, citrus, and pomegranate, so it’s very sweet and fruity.
Ruby Red Dragon ($12.5)
Both me and my friend ordered the 3-course prix fixe lunch from Tao for $26.50 because they were comprehensive and extremely good in value. I got the Spicy Thai Seafood Dumpling Soup as my appetizer. I really liked how the soup was not overly spicy and that the dumplings had generous amounts of seafood inside them.
Spicy Thai Seafood Dumpling Soup (prix fixe)
My friend opted for the Satay Chicken with Peanut sauce, another Thai-inspired appetizer. The chicken was very tender and went well with the peanut sauce, however it was just a tad bit dry.
Satay Chicken with Peanut sauce (prix fixe)
For my entree I got the classic Chinese Kung Pao Chicken. It was overall probably the best kung pao chicken I’ve had, and I was a fan of the texture of the rice. Then again, it’s the only “gourmet” Kung Pao chicken I’ve ever had. However, this entree could’ve been better with less sauce – I’m typically not good with heavy seasoning.
Kung Pao Chicken (prix fixe)
The entree my friend got was the Hanger Steak with Miso and Asian spiced Fries. I failed to see how this dish was Asian, but nevertheless it wasn’t bad, other than the fact that the fries were quite ordinary.
Hanger Steak with Miso and Asian spiced Fries (prix fixe)
My dessert was the Zen Parfait. Again I failed to see how this was Asian, since it was just mainly ice cream and chocolate. It wasn’t a bad dessert, but it was nothing extraordinary.
Zen Parfait (prix fixe)
My friend’s dessert was a lot better, it was the Banana Pudding. This pudding was soft and had a very strong banana taste to it, making it very delicious and unique. I was almost tempted to order another one for myself!
Banana Pudding (prix fixe)
And like all Chinese meals, this one ended with a fortune cookie with an “inspiring” message”.
Fortune Cookies (free)
My experience at Tao was fun and memorable. The ambiance of this restaurant was wonderful and the food was pretty good. But with that being said, I hesitate to say that Tao had authentic Asian food – I almost want to say that it’s Asian fusion. They do offer dim sum on Sundays though, but unfortunately that timing couldn’t work out for me. So if you’re looking for a meal to remember in the Midtown area, Tao won’t disappoint!
- Amazing ambiance interior decor
- Lunch prix fixe was at a very good value
- Not authentic Asian
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