TAO Downtown NYC – Dinner and a Party

If you’re looking for a fun, trendy place for dinner in NYC, you should definitely check out the new TAO Downtown. After making your way past the intimidating doormen, coat check, and hostess stand, you’ll find yourself in what seems like a dinner party that The Great Gatsby would throw.

Heart-thumping music, chatter, laughter, and silverware clinking on plates fills the air inside the main area of Tao, along with the savory aroma of Asian cuisine. The first thing you’ll notice is a lounge area with an appropriately lounging Buddha statue similar to the actual one in Wat Pho in Bangkok. But the real spectacle to see is the enormous stadium-like seating area that has tables down the middle of its elongated steps that lead down into the main dining area.

Tables are set for as little as two to as many as twenty guests on the main floor, with comfortable booths flanking the sides for a more intimate dining experience. Wherever you’re sitting, you’ll be sure to notice the towering multi-limbed statue that stands whimsically in front of the entire back wall of the venue. Highly advanced technology creates a performance of lights and graphics on the statue, which make it appear as if its face were moving, and things like birds or water were appearing on it.

The food is a performance itself. The lobster dumplings were to die for in a semi-sweet, buttery mushroom sauce. We shared several rolls amongst the table, my favorite being one with tuna, salmon, and avocado with tempura flakes on top. The tuna sashimi with watermelon was also delicious, especially with the added kick at the end.

Previously I said I’d never be able to eat Pad Thai ever again after having the most amazing bowl of it in Bangkok, but the Pad Thai at Tao did a pretty decent job at replicating the delicious dish.

Although there are many critics that say Tao isn’t a great place to eat and that the service is bad, I would have to say that my overall experience was a good one. We spent almost three hours eating and chatting and overall the atmosphere made it a lot of fun.  The only downside I would have to say about it is that it can be quite pricey, especially with a large group of people.

Address: Maritime Hotel, 92 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Phone:(212) 888-2724

Hours: 5:00 pm – 2:00 am

Menu: taorestaurant.com