Tao is somewhere we had been once before in New York. We were impressed then, and we were this time round too. Although it’s part of a chain, and the décor was much the same, the atmosphere was completely different. We don’t mean that disparagingly, it’s nice to be predictable sometimes, it’s reassuring, and you know you’re most likely in for a good night.
The Tao is popular, very popular, so booking is a necessity. We heard people saying they had been waiting an hour for a table, so we were glad we had booked ahead. We were seated almost immediately by a friendly waiter and were immediately presented with a menu.
Service was fast, but not too fast that you felt hurried. Just efficient with a seeming desire to not keep you waiting. We ate exactly the same food as we had in New York. It had been to such a standard that we wanted it all over again.
That meant we started with chicken satay and ribs. These were Asian inspired, juicy and covered in sauce. The satay sauce was rich, and had that thick peanut taste. The ribs were just sweet enough and had enough meat on the bone to sink your teeth into.
Main course was orange chicken, fried rice and sides of vegetable tempura, French beans and broccoli. The chicken was deliciously succulent. Well-cooked but not dry, and the sauce made my mouth water. There was plenty of meat, all of it white, and enough for two to share.
The fried rice and sides were balanced and set the tangy sauce of nicely. They offset the sickly sweet orange sauce perfectly. The rice was perfectly cooked, a small give in the bite, but not chewy. Getting fried rice right is an art form. On more than one occasion it has been too greasy or undercooked. Here is was perfect.
The Tao restaurant isn’t somewhere to go if you like quiet, relaxed dining experiences. It’s a lively, loud place where the music from the bar and club pervade into the dining room. If you like that sort of thing, it only adds to an excellent experience.
.jpg)
The Bill: £96 per head
