Mavens
Vegas
Vegas
Mavens

Tao Asian Bistro at the Venetian

Just The Facts, Please.

Location

Venetian

Dining Hours

Sunday - Thursday
5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Friday & Saturday
5:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Chef

Ralph Scamardella

Cuisine

Pan Asian

Price Range

Expect $35+ per person.

Suggested Attire

Dressy

Notes

From Tao's Website:This "Asian City's" décor includes lush velvets and silks, waterfalls and century old woods and stones, and a hand-carved 20-foot-tall Buddha floating peacefully above an infinity pool complete with Japanese carp.

Sample Menu Items

From Tao's Website: Following the tradition of Asian cultures, we have designed our menu for sharing. We suggest that you pass our plates amongst your friends and companions and embrace this custom as well.

Crunchy Spicy Yellowtail Roll with Crushed Onion Rings $10
King Crab California Roll $12
Alaskan Salmon, Crab and Avocado Roll $12
TAO Angry Dragon Roll with Eel & Kabayaki Sauce $14
Fried Soft Shell Crab and Shiso Roll with Yuzu Mayonaise $14
Spicy Smoked Salmon Roll with Sweet Wasabi Sauce $14
Chef's Roll with Tuna, Salmon, Tobiko and Tempura Flakes $15

Soy Ginger Glazed Salmon with Udon Noodles and Spinach $20
Thai Fish Hot Pot with Lobster, Scallops, Shrimp, Squid and Clams $23
Braised Spicy Shrimp with Chive Flowers $25
Grilled Rare Yellowfin Tuna with Flash Cooked Bean Sprouts and Scallions $25

Kobe Beef Cooked in a Ginger Scallion Broth with Wasabi Dipping Sauce $26
Filet Mignon Cooked in a Ginger Scallion Broth with Wasabi Dipping Sauce $12/per oz.
12 oz. Grilled Kobe Ribeye with Yuzu Cilantro Butter $88
Black Pepper Sizzled Filet Mignon with Udon Noodles $26

Mavens Overview: Tao

Tao Asian Bistro at the Venetian is part of Tao's 42,000 square feet complex, which in addition to the Bistro includes a nightclub, an ultra-lounge, and banquet facilities. The place is trendy, on an industrial scale.

The Internet Buzz is favorable for ambiance, the place exudes a, seen and be seen feel. Unfortunately the food leaves many patrons wanting and expecting more, especially in relation to the high prices. Remember to get a ticket stamp from your server to get admission to the nightclub.

Internet Buzz: Tao

The restaurant is a two-story space, with tables overlooking a wall of candles and a giant Asian statue. Tao has no shortage of things to discover. It seems as though every time you turn a corner or look a different way there is something new.
I ate here at the bar since we were going to the club afterward. It turned out to be a great idea, not only for the convenience of being downstairs from the club, but also because the food was pretty good and the atmosphere was very fun. The decor was awesome and the layout of the bar/lounge was cool, except it gets really crowded before the club opens.
The decor was nice and all but honestly, it's a little too dim in their for me. Sure, it sets a mood blah blah blah, but I'm not going to be in any mood but seeing an optometrist after I have to strain my eyes looking at the menu in dusk-like light.
Prime Rib was way overcooked, server was especially rude and management was not much nicer. Never going back to eat there.
This place is overrated and definitely overpriced. I know I know, we're in Vegas blah blah blah, but shouldn't a meal be AT LEAST bearably good if it's going to cost so much?
we did a family style dinner with about 1-2 drinks each and after tip came to about $100 each and I felt like I hadn't eaten much food. The others felt the same...which basically means Bling bling for not much
My favorite thing about Tao is the ambiance. The place is immense and finely decorated. From the moment you walk in, there's just so much eye candy. From the rose-pedal baths to the giant Buddha and wall of antique opium pipes, the whole place just feels like a place you'd want to be seen in. As far as sushi goes, the rolls left a lot to be desired, especially at the prices they were fetching for them.
My sushi was pretty good, but for almost $20 I was kinda hoping that I would still be talking about it. The pad tai noodles seemed really dry and were missing some major flavor.
Amazing sushi. The yellowtail was especially yummy. It gets a little crowded but you can get a stamp for the associated night club and not have to wait in line. They have an awesome dessert sampler complete with chocolate buddhas and huge fortune cookies. The actual fortune cookies are awesome in and of themselves.
TAO is a gorgeous restaurant! Servers were very attentive. Here are some of dishes we had: Chilean Sea Bass - The first few bites were delicious. The bass was like butter. After that, the sauce really sank in and became a bit overwhelmingly sweet. Crispy Tuna Sashimi Roll - PERFECTION! Wasabi Crusted Filet Mignon - I wasn't too fond of this. It was too buttery for my taste.