In search of upscale Asian food in midtown Manhattan, I check out Tao Uptown restaurant on the advice of (and, indeed, with) the Youthful Adventurer, who happens to be a twenty-something professional now. But will this be an appropriate place for a mommy-and-me dinner or will the restaurant be chock full of urbanites prowling for adventures of their own?
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The Ambiance of Tao
I briefly reflect on our choice as we enter the dimly lit restaurant and I peek into the cocktail lounge full of well-clad sophisticates yakking it up over martinis. I would have loved Tao Uptown in my own single-urban-professional years.
My eyes adjust to the darkness as the hostess leads us to the dining room. I feel like we are wandering through an ancient temple, following our guide to revelations unknown. The Youthful Adventurer is a repeat customer here; he has already alerted me to what lies ahead—a giant golden Buddha. How big could it be?
Sixteen feet high as it turns out. This space was once a stable for the Vanderbilt family and later a movie theater with balcony. The ceiling at Tao Uptown is quite distant from the floor.
The Appeal of Tao Uptown
It’s fun to be in a restaurant where the atmosphere itself serves as a conversation starter. We quickly run through our very limited knowledge of the Buddha. We then move on to the difference between tao and zen. That turns out to be a bit more complicated than we anticipate, so, for a break, we turn to the menu.
How Is the Food at Tao NYC?
Asian restaurants are great choices when diners have mixed preferences as they tend to offer great vegetarian options as well as meat and fish dishes, and Tao Uptown is no exception. While I go for steamed vegetable dumplings and pad thai with tofu, the youthful one chooses pork pot stickers and red snapper. I like to wash it all down with a lychee martini. My dinner date opts for iced tea.
Service is subtle and not rushed, which is both surprising for a midtown restaurant at rush hour and welcome. We feel no pressure to finish quickly and move on.
For Bashful Adventurers
Reservations are most definitely recommended.
Solo adventurers should enjoy this restaurant as well. The towering buddha provides plenty to contemplate. If you plan to read at dinner, be prepared for dim lighting.
We found this restaurant suitable at many levels—perfect after a day in the city, great for date night, and appropriate for well-behaved children.
Tao Uptown, 42 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022
—Lori Tripoli
Lori Tripoli is the editor and publisher of Bashful Adventurer. Based in the New York City vicinity, she writes about travel for a variety of publications. Contact Lori at loritripoli @ bashfuladventurer.com.
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