Tao Chicago Reviews

WORST BIRTHDAY DINNER EXPERIENCE!!!!!! I am visiting Chicago for the first time and I decided to take myself out to dinner at TAO for my birthday-WORST DECISION!!!! I arrived to TAO and I was greeted with a complimentary shot from the waiter which was a nice gesture. I put in my order in and it came out pretty fast. I received one of the dishes and it wasn’t what I thought I ordered so I politely sent it back and ordered a different dish. I had to put that order in with a different waiter because my initial waiter was not within sight for a good number of minutes. My initial waiter comes by after I received my new dish to ask if everything was alright I said “YES”. Let’s just say that would be the last time I see my waiter at my table. I am not even exaggerating when I say it was close to an hour before “ I” decided to get the attention of another waiter because mines was nowhere to be seen. At this point my food was cold, my cocktail was empty, and my water was low. This was ridiculous!!!!! Normally, someone comes over and ask if you would like to order another drink or order dessert. I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ORDER MY BIRTHDAY DESSERT !!!!! I was so exhausted and furious that I was not waited on or checked on by my waiter for close to an hour. Again, I asked a random worker passing by if they could bring me my check because my initial waiter has not checked on me. I get my check and then I am waiting a good 15mins no one comes over so I get up and head up the front to try and pay my bill. The young lady gets a manager and before I can explain what happened he takes the check book and runs it over to someone. Rude AF!!! Another manager then brings my check book and my card and he’s thanking me for patronizing the establishment. **Inserts eye roll ** . I proceeded to tell him what happened and he states “ I see we offered you a complimentary shot”. I didn’t realize that a complimentary should make up for terrible service. He then offers me a drink at the bar and I DECLINED !!!!! Alcohol will not solve the terrible service I received here and of all days it was my BIRTHDAY!!! I was really looking forward to my experience here and I was DISAPPOINTED. I have never experienced a wait time of close to an hour where your waiter goes not come to check on you. He was waiting on every other table but mines. I don’t know if me being “SOLO” had anything to do with but that is what it felt like that. Also, I came to find out once I left that my boyfriend who was out of torn was calling the establishment to surprise me by paying for my dinner. He too waited over an hour before someone emailed him the documents required to Authorize a credit card over the phone. By the time they sent him the email I had already paid and left the establishment. TAO you sure did let a birthday girl gown and I will never patronize your establishment again.

In town for a women's event and went to Tao on Friday night. Ambiance was incredible Food was delicious, crab fried rice was my favorite. Staff was wonderful. Attention to detail was appreciated. Great selection of unique cocktails... Will definitely be back next time I am in town (if not again before I leave!!)

A large group of us had a closed event at this restaurant in Chicago. The ambiance is inviting and the food was excellent. Staff was friendly and attentive. While I loved all of the entrees, I would recommend the Wagyu steak; it was awesome.

Went here for my birthday. We booked via OpenTable and even put in a note please give my girlfriend a good experience. We ordered our drinks and the waitress has no knowledge about the wine or food menu. We got our food and the Cod was pretty good, everything else is not- especially the Lobster Pad Thai that the waitress recommended ( I can’t believe I paid that much for a Less than average Pad Thai). Didn’t see our waitress most of the time, my boyfriend told her it was my birthday and she brought us an ice cream with candles but not even a “happy birthday “ from her. Overall, the place is over hyped and over priced. Definitely won’t come back. Beautiful interior though. Good to go one time and never come back.

I experienced Tao Chicago this weekend and o was amazing. Amazing ambiance , great big ceilings, fantastic food and awesome atmosphere! The best sushi I have experienced so far! We also attended the night club that was tight and HOT!

This was our 2nd Tao experience after Vegas and I tell you this place is far better and a energy of different level. We ordered some dumpling and Satay ( the best we had ) along with some Sake.

Very special decor, with seating on different levels - which is fun. Good food, good service. club was closed on Sunday - but heard it is great.

We visited TAO Chicago in September. Good ambiance and nice Asian decoration. Good choice of Asian cuisine with dishes of different countries and styles adapted tu US taste. Place is a little bit noisy and dark, so it's a nice place to spend a night with friends, but not the best for a full gastronomic experience.

Upon entering the solid wood doors, you walk up a flight of stairs and are greeted by the host who walks you to a visual extravagance. It is simply visual stimulating and the experience gets better as the evening progresses. The shrimp tempura and tuna tartar appetizers were excellent starters. The lobster roll with chipotle was average. The duck fried rice and chicken pad Thai were very good. But the show stopper was the black cod entree. All cocktails were perfect and service was more than excellent. Great dining experience for couples or large groups.

My first st and last time in this place. I came to Chicago for a business trip. I went with some friends to the place. At first everything was excellent food is good. At the end of the night I went to the toilet and saw that a girl wanted to enter, there was a long waiting line, she asked permission nicely , I and other ladies let her pass. The lady who is in the toilet asking for money, not very happy, let her pass. When I got out of the toilet, I realized that the lady of the toilet was forcing her to give her some dollars to use the toilet, she called security because she did not had cash money, they would take her out of the place. Later, I saw that they treated her extremely badly. They took her to the bar and from there they beat her. I tried to help but everything went so quickly, I was watching everything no one did nothing to help her. She was scared I saw her. Honestly, I am shocked it was terrifying to see her crying and with a big massive prepotency they beat her, like she was a criminal, she just wanted to go into the toilet, that's all. And everything got out of control. If that's how they treat women and their customers. I prefer not to go again because one as a woman has the risk of the same thing happening to you. THERE IS NO RESPECT TO THE WOMAN, Not human rights!!!!!!, ladies don't forget to have a lot of cash for this woman in the toilet because if you don't have money she will beat you and call security, put you out of the place. What a experience in Chicago woouuw Unforgettable . If it's supposed to be an exclusive place, they shouldn't even put this girl in the toilet asking for money. It's" Tao Restaurant" they should do it for free, like a service for all the woman that need the toilet.

First and foremost I really like the TAO group and their product in various cities across the country! Bringing the concept to Chicago was very exciting ! The place is absolutely stunning and it’s worth checking out just for the ambience aspect! While the drinks were delicious and the service was great, when it came down to the food I was left extremely underwhelmed across the board. The food was overly sauced and everything was too sweet! I would return back to their nightclub that’s connected to the restaurant but I would grab dinner someplace else.

Celebrating engagement. When the waiter found out, we got a "special" table and all sort of extra service like a really nice desert. Wonderful place and delicious food.

We went to Tao Chicago for my birthday dinner last night and then into the nightclub afterwards. I don't even know where to start with how absolutely perfect the entire experience was! We had a 7:30 dinner reservation. We arrived EARLY around 7:00 on to have a look around. They apologized for our table not being ready, and I reminded them that we were really early so no problem! They comped us drinks at the bar so immediately I was wowed. They restaurant is absolutely spectacular!! The bar area is so sexy and comfortable, I could have sat there all night! We were seated at EXACTLY 7:30 pm at one of the best tables on the floor with spectacular views of the whole restaurant to people watch and to be able to watch the cool light show on the massive statue on the rear wall. Now, let's talk about the food...first of all, the selection of menu items is so expanse, we could not decide so our server, Michael, gave us phenomenal reccomdndations based off of our likes. My husband loves fish, I do not. My husband had seabass. It was absolute perfection. I had filet. The filet was one of the smoothest, most unbelievable piece of meat I have ever had! I have eaten at many of the top steakhouses in Chicago and major cities, and this blew all of them away! We also had the 8 greens fried rice and brussel sprouts. I tell my husband, he makes the best brussel sprouts...well, sorry, my love, Tao Chicago holds this award now. A bartender we met recommended the 8 greens fried rice. My whole life I never ate vegetables until about 10 years ago so I would have never ordered this all green dish in my past life. I took one bite, and my brain exploded! I have never tasted anything so unique and amazing! I don't even know how to describe it?? You HAVE to try it! During dinner, we have no fewer than 4 Managers check on us and make sure everything was perfect. There are so many employees walking around and Managers watching every move. It is extremely impressive! The employees are some of the most well trained, high level, top notch people I have ever met. Every single one of them is attentive and all over their responsibilities. Dessert: I mentioned it was my birthday...well, they just nailed my favorite birthday dinner EVER!! They brought a 2 foot platter to the table that had a fortune cookie with chocolate and vanilla mousse inside, orange Mandarin cheesecake, chocolate lava cake with an edible chocolate box over it, vanilla ice cream, cut up fruit with dragon fruit that looked like dice, and homemade panfried bread pudding donuts with caramel sauce....AND they left this whole freaking tray on our table for the TWO of us!! I thought we were supposed to pick one item and this was their display tray!! NOPE!! That was my birthday dessert!! My brain had already exploded and now it just blew up! Picture me trying to figure out which was the best dessert item. Well, I can't help answer this because every single item was better than the next, and then I went back and ate 2 and 3 more bites of each one. I knew we were going to the nightclub afterwards so I had no intention of taking a doggie bag after dinner. I could NOT let any of the food go to waste so I embarrassingly asked an employee who was not waiting on us to please wrap everything up and walked out with a bag of food. I gave it to the coat check to put on the hanger with my coat.😂 To sum it up, Tao Chicago is utter perfection in every single aspect of a restaurant, bar, lounge, and more importantly the employees they hire. If you want an amazing experience, this is it.

We had an exotic and marvelous dinner at Tao in Chicago. The food was delicious and the menu very extensive. The prices are on the high side but are reasonable. The décor is amazingly spectacular. The clientele is very attractive. It has a great bar scene as well. The wait staff is very charming and professional. The location is terrific on Dearborn Street in the Gold coast area. We highly recommend Tao in Chicago

We had a sensational dinner at Tao. The menu was varied and the prices while high were not unreasonable. The drinks were also excellent. It is a very high energy restaurant with a beautiful clientele. The décor is spectacular. The wait staff were professional and charming. The location is excellent at the corner of Dearborn & Ontario. We highly recommend Tao Chicago

Not as good as the one in Vegas, however it is a really great restaurant. Good food, atmosphere, music and staff. Would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for something a bit more fancy and upbeat in Chicago. The grilled branzino was to die for.

This building used to host a night club which was hot in 90s ( Excalibur). It is first time for me to visit this place after it turn into restaurant and I liked it. I love the design inside ( even though it is a little bit too dark for me). Especially in the bathroom ... so your are not sure of it is cleaned or not). Anyway food was delicious and i would recommend this place to a yes one .

Tao is always an excellent alternative for eating well and having a good time. Beautiful place, setting, music and food

Whether you’re visiting the city, going on a date, having a family dinner, or in the mood to party with friends there is honestly no better venue in Chicago than Tao! The atmosphere is breathtaking, food and cocktails are AMAZING, the service is incomparable, and overall feels the most exclusive and luxurious. Whether you’re visiting Chicago or living in the city they have a perfect balance of dine-in experience in the restaurant, that can also be followed by dancing and celebrations in the nightclub with the best deejays, music & talent!!! All in one building! Definitely recommend!!! 🎉♥️

The securities are THIEVES . They told me “ you can get your stuff back when you leave “ which was fine with me, I’ve never had a problem anywhere else. But when leaving, they told me that they don’t have my belongings. Never got my things back, nobody else offered to assist me when I was panicking trying to find my things. They were however rushing me to leave when I just was trying to get answers. With this being said , they allowed their security to STEAL MY BELONGINGS. Don’t go to this grimy establishment.

My family and I came for dinner the night after Thanksgiving to celebrate a birthday. Not only was the whole restaurant beautiful, but our waiter and many other workers were very attentive and had amazing service. We ordered the peaking duck and it was to die for would 10/10 recommend. We did it as a multiple course family sharing style and could not be more pleased. The banana pudding is a must-try.

Those of us of a certain age remember when this place was a happening music hangout...re-imagined as a trendy restaurant. Food was actually very good, definitely a place to be seen.

If you're looking for a club in the city with top-of-the line service, amazing music and drinks that'll make your night go from great to extraordinary then Bottle Service is exactly what you need. The DJs are stellar as well! They have an elegant dress code so it's classy all around while also being fun enough not worry about a thing.

I have nothing but great things to say about this beautiful spot! The ambiance is so chill, dark, romantic, filled with great people & amazing service! Ive came here with my husband so many times for our birthdays and Anniversary & we cannot get enough! The music is poppin’ lol & the fooooood!! You cant go wrong on the food. We have tried the Gyoza, Honey glazed Salmon, Chilean seabass, chicken fried rice and so many more! Lastly, the drinks!! Sooo tasty and well portioned with the alcohol! This is a place everyone should try at least once! I love Tao! Ps they also have a night club & a lot of famous DJs and artists perform occasionally!

Since it was our first time there, we asked for some suggestions. They gave us some of them, and we told them that they brought us whatever they considered to eat. We were four people, but they brought us food like for ten people. Although the waitress took a couple of dishes, the amount ended up being absolutely disproportionate and consequently the bill was also disproportionate.

Went here for my husband's and I 8th year Anniversary. Loved the food, the ambiance and the customer service was great as well. Been wanting to try this restaurant in Houston but unfortunately they closed down. I have been recommending this restaurant to everyone I know visiting Chicago.

If you are someone who thinks bottle service equals a great time and good value, then ignore my review. If your ears have superhuman signal-to-noise processing, then ignore my review. If you think that servers singing "happy birthday" in loud voices, a la Applebees, hoisting lit-up signs, aligns with your fine dining expectations, then ignore my review. If you plan to spend at least twenty minutes figuring out what you plan to wear, so you can be seen, at just the right table, then ignore my review. And I say all of this seriously: I understand that some people might enjoy that sort of vibe and be less concerned about value for money, less concerned about fine dining. In that case, you can read all the other four- and five-star reviews, and you will likely enjoy the experience. We had four diners. Alcohol was not the major factor in the high price of the meal: one round of cocktails, one bottle of wine at roughly $70, and one bottle at roughly $150. We foolishly listened to the waiter and ordered the chef's choice. The food kept coming, and the waiter never really checked to see how we were doing with the portion sizes (to know when to stop). The dishes were delicious. That was the one positive side of the dinner, besides our most excellent company. But the dishes were too many, and they appeared to be some of the more expensive dishes on the menu. Hence the $900 total, including tip, for four people. I have eaten at most of the Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago, and the price tag here was excessive in comparison. The restaurant is VERY LOUD. We had to lean in at the table to hear each other. And no, none of us have feeble hearing. On the point of being loud, a couple of times servers held up a big neon-like sign and sang happy birthday, out loud. One of the signs said "Happy Dirty Thirty." I think that speaks to the type of people who like to eat here, and whether you would or would not like to eat here. I personally can appreciate raunchiness at the right time, but not at a $900 dinner. The restaurant is also crowded – people kept bumping into the back of our chairs. Perhaps OK at a crowded bar, but not at a $900 dinner. This is a place I would visit for a cocktail or two, soak up the atmosphere -- there is tons of energy -- and then dine elsewhere. If you want great Chinese/Asian food with shared plates, in a less hypercharged atmosphere, where you can hear the guest next to you, IMHO check out Duck Duck Goat instead. You will be happy with the $500 you saved.

The interior is BEAUTIFUL! I cannot even express how beautiful it is. Dark, sexy, the perfect spot for a date if you don’t need to talk so much :-)(much noise). The waiters are so friendly. Mine brought me another drink for free after I tipped mine over after gesticulating too much. (And I couldn’t even blame the alcohol:-)) We had the tasting menu. I wish they used the option to show off their food better than they did. We paid 100 bucks per person and 50 of those was for a filet of beef that was good but not so good. 40 bucks was for some Thai fried rice that didn’t thrill me equally. That left us with 110 usd that gave us some other dishes- some of them was justified by the price, others not. That was the only disappointment. It could have been perfect if we left there with the feeling of well spent money. I would definitely go back!

This was a delicious, sensual, uplifting, happy place. We had the crispy orange chicken, the green rice and a sushi roll. Everything was delicious. Emily, our wait person was wonderful. Highly recommend asking for her. Loved the decor, the music, the ambience. So happy we dined there while in Chicago. Oh, loved the people watching. Women beautifully, fashionably dressed for a fun evening. The Goddess of Compassion was definitely watching over us.

If in Chicago, this is the top spot to go. Make a reservation for an unforgettable dining experience. The gorgeous ambiance, the professional staff, the stunning historic building, the works of art drinks, the exceptional food…and so many more positive things to say. I was here in 2018 for a work event and it amazing then. I went yesterday for dinner in August 2023 and it was even more amazing. So happy this restaurant is in Chicago as no other restaurants can dare to compare to Tao! I forgot to take pictures of our delicious meal because we ate it too fast. And a nice word about the professional staff. They go above and beyond from the moment you come to their big historic doors. You’re greeted right away by everyone and treated so well. It’s like being in Japan with regards to the high level of respect and service by the managers, servers, door staff, and security given to customers. Simply a wonderful dining experience.

This place is disgusting, we tried the lobster pad thai which the lobster was super chewy, the steak was also horrible, the steak was low quality, we also had 2 sushi rolls which were good. I think this place needs to retrain the chefs to cook food correctly. Not sure where the reviews for this place must of been paid for or something. I give this place 0 stars that is how bad it is!

Great service and ambience. The food is almost similar to any high end chinese restaurant except that Tao has a mixture or variety ranging from sushi to surf, dim sum and turf to Mandarin (Peking duck).

Was visiting Chicago from London and wanted to visit Toa. Its a big place, fantastic décor. Music was great and the place was packed. We didn't eat at Tao but went for drinks and dancing. Friendly staff (security were even lovely too). Classy place. Would definitely go back.

An additional star for the obvious: the decor. Our waiter demanded we order everything up front. Even when we said "we'd like to figure it out as we go along."...it was met with downright harrassment. Everything was a fight. Lots of demands. And he liked to disappear. You have to remember: it's a Chinese restaurant that serves sushi ... all at about 5x the price of what anything would cost elsewhere. The friend chicken wings for example were the kind where the skin slips off the chicken and on to your lips as you bite....fatty poorly cooked skin that just wasn't fried properly. Try Crisp in Chicago to experience true experts at fried chicken that is done right at 10x less. Everything otherwise so bland. Had to send salad back for complete lack of taste altogether. As for the winner items that tasted good? Yellowtail jalapeno was sliced so thin that eating it is over so fast that you realize you need to order another just to feel proper. For this place to work, the crowd mustn't know where to get it better otherwise. They have to be dumb too: $72 for Peking Duck at Tao that feeds two people....or better Peking Duck for 6-8 people at Sun Wah for $40. Every dime of their mark-up goes towards the insane real estate overhead and not the food. Place looks great. Service stinks (disappearing and combative waiter) and food beyond mediocre. Enjoy the dinner bill vs. normal chinese takeout. Same food.

I love Tao and I am always pleased with their professionalism and attentive service. Great ambinet and delicious selection of food made for everyone's taste. Always recommended it. Keep the good job guys!

Our friend celebrated his birthday here! The food and drinks were good. The photo ops were wven better.

We had dinner at Tao for a nice family gathering. We were very impressed by the decor and main dining room which is a showplace. The waitstaff was attentive and friendly and knew the menu completely. The food was superb—we shared the dumpling platter and a special soft crab roll. We also had Hong Kong noodles and a fish and vegetable dish. The desserts were excellent as well—-banana pudding with Banana fried donuts on top. The experience was great—you should know that this is very expensive for Asian food but it is a showplace and a special occasion type of restaurant.

Excellent choice, the food was delicious! WoW, I have to come back to simply one of the best restaurants of my life!

Just wow! We loved it here. Great atmosphere & beautiful interior, amazing food choices and the dessert was delicious! However, I do think the waiter could have advised us we may have ordered too much! Nevertheless, we will return and highly recommend visiting.

Been to TAO NYC and Vegas - was very happy when I found out they opened one in Chicago. Went with two girlfriends and we had a blast. As always amazing service and a very fun vibe!! Love that fortune cookie - worth it every time.

We had dinner here last week. The decor just plain wows you. Upon entering there is a mural featuring a beautiful Chinese woman. The main dining area is a few steps down from the entrance. The lighting is subdued and the decor makes you feel like you have left the streets of Chicago and entered a beautiful restaurant somewhere in an upscale part of China.You have been transformed. The food is delicious! We had the 5 spice beef short ribs, tempura fried green beans and egg roll apps followed by entrees including fried house noodles, a shrimp dish and Peking duck. We split one desert, chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream as we were quite full. There is an adjacent night club as well. The food is very good but the decor amazes.

Setting is amazing! I personal found the service to be rushed, and that they want the tables turned over as fast as possible. The food portions are very big, Entree would be for sharing. Had the chilli sea bass for the starter highly recommend cooked perfectly. Again as in most places in Chicago the wine is very over priced.

Good Asian fusion food. The oysters are delicious so is the Wagyu steak. All of this of course comes at a hefty price. What is nice is that they basically beg you to take the chopstick rests back home.

I absolutely loved visitng Tao this was an amazing experience for me and my girlfriends visitng Chicago for a girls trip weekend. It was perfect!!! From the service down to the food and even the club right next door. Devine!!

I thought the place was amazing at first but honestly I will never go back. I saw how the employees beat, humiliated and discriminated against a tourist because they didn't like her accent! I have never seen so much racism in a place like this before.

The best sushi in Chicago hands down. The service is also great and so are the noodle dishes. It is in a convenient location off miracle mile and has something for everyone. Highly recommend!

The moment you set foot in Tao you are impressed with the high celling dining room and very interesting décor with a big statue at the end of the room with changing color illumination. The service is a bit lacking details whereas the food is very good and interesting. They serve Asian, Japanese and Chinese food including sushi. We had Salmon tartare, crispy rice tuna, soy chicken, Mongolian beef, spicy shrimp, Honk Kong noodle and some sushi. They were all tasty. Great experience…

Went here for Father’s Day and boy, what a let down this place was! We were in and out in under an hour! Absolutely ridiculous! Service staff did nothing to make it special for Fathers Day. The waitress was mostly MIA. The whole place is extremely dark! Waiters kept sneaking up behind your chair the entire time we were there to get by to other tables. Arrange your dam* tables properly so they don’t have to do this!! Food was okay but not worth the $$$ they charge. Avoid at all costs!

Celebrated a friends birthday at Tao. The ambience is excellent. The layout, decor, diverse music playing. Food was great(spicy tuna tartar was so good), dumplings were a tad bit doughy to me, poke was also good. Drinks were okay however served the purpose. Dinner was excellent; it’s suggested to order individually however each plate be shared. The Szechuan Potato’s and Short Ribs were to die for, sushi good, scallops were good, black pepper & Orange chicken good also. Didn’t go into the nightclub only visited the restaurant but overall a pretty cool spot for all occasions. I will definitely return.

We went there for a business meal and were very impressed by the food but were extremely disappointed in the service. We had the kitchen decide our menu which was fabulous. The service was very lacking. We had to wait a very long time for our drink orders. And wine (expensive wine) was ordered well in advance but we didn’t have it initially with our food. The atmosphere is fun and has a lot of energy— but the lack of service for this highly regarded restaurant was disappointing. Unfortunately I can’t recommend going there.

We had a dreadful dinner at Tao in Chicago. To give you and idea how dreadful, this is only the 2nd "1" rating I've given in over 200 reviews. This dinner was to celebrate our anniversary. The server asked us to order all our dishes at one time at the request of the kitchen. She assured us that the dishes would come out at reasonable timing. We ordered 3 appetizers and 2 main courses for the 2 of us. That's a lot of food. It got served in 35 minutes. We were finished in less than an hour. It was a disaster and we complained to the General Manager. She took off the bill our cocktails. The food actually was delicious. Just the whole evening was a disaster.

Fun bar atmosphere, loud restaurant, hip and trendy and people come dressed up, although casual is fine too. Great menu - food is terrific. Manager and staff are nice and well trained to handle the crowd and issues. Everything we had was very good. This place lives up to Vegas one and I think is better than NYC one. A tad pricey, but food is great. The upstairs night club is just like a Vegas club. Parades of sparkling bottles going toward table service, lights, lasers, pounding music and a young crowd. Worth a visit.

Amazing space..hard to believe the old Excalibur was here...view is majestic when first arriving at the dinner level below...bar and other areas are on top...very busy for weekday night. Server suggested his "favorites" from the confusing menu. Interesting, every recommended dish was the the most expensive of that area of the menu! Sushi was excellent...fish and bbq chicken were also very good. Service was rushed...Lots of staff running around to fill water glasses, etc. It is a Wow! place that does have good food. Pricey but what else is new?

The food experience here was excellent!! I can’t wait to come back. We had a group of 9 for a business dinner and we sampled several of the starters. We all enjoyed every single morsel of food. Wish I would have taken more photos. We had about 4 rounds of various types of foods. It was all incredibly delicious!

We were a group of people and had a set menu with a large selection of various specialities to share. Everything was outstanding. I particularly remember the satay seabass, the rare tuna, Teppanyaki ribeye.

Stopped there on a Saturday evening. Reservations for restaurant should be made in advance. Although we had a reservation for dinner after 9 PM, we got there early and sat in the lounge. We let the hostess know and she said she would make an attempt to seat us earlier but didn’t happen. Thant was ok. Ambiance and decor are very nice. Looks like they gutted the old Excalibers and did a great job. House music was really good. Enjoyed great cocktails (Nirvana and Tao Tinis). Tried a few apps with drinks which were ok (edamame and tuna poke). Service was a but slow. Only saw 2 cocktail servers even though the place was filling up. Prices are not cheap so be prepared to drop a few hundred just for that. Anyway finally got called for dinner. We were sat at adjoining 2 tops in the aisle. Lots of traffic. Tables are squeezed together pretty tightly so lots if bumping. Waiter was good and cordial but also busy. Ordered a bit more food and watched other meals being served. Everything looked really good, but honestly just fancy Asian fusion (read expensive Chinese and Japanese cuisine). We then proceeded to the nightclub as it is new, trendy, and hot. Paid $60 for 2 VIP bracelets. Not bad as it got us right into the nightclub although the lines had not started to form yet. It was about 1030 pm. I understand they are open until 4 an which is good as Chicago needs some more late not spots in that area. Went through at least 4 screenings to get in including a scanning of my drivers license which I did not like too much as well as a security search. This is actually a good thing. Anyway, get upstairs early and guests are just starting to arrive. Younger crowd as you could imagine. For seating, there seem to be just private couches with table service. These are to be reserved in advance and prices vary depending on the entertainment or DJ. Heard they can go up to $10K for a great DJ. Asked if any were open and one of the guys said yes on first come/first serve basis but would have to move if someone else showed up. There were 2 of us and we didn’t plan in staying all night so we just left after checking out the place. The manager at the restaurant which is separate graciously refunded the money for the wristbands. In summary, ambiance in the restaurant was cool as was the music. Lounge service just ok. Never understood why you wouldn’t have more staff to sell more cocktails and food. Food was ok. Nothing spectacular. Cocktails were good. Place is trendy and hot right now. This would be a decent place to go with couples. That’s how I would do it next time. Younger crowd. Kids must have some good $ these days. BTW-even though there is supposedly a dress code, saw some people, mostly guys, with jeans, gym shoes, some hats or beanies, flannel shirts.

I could give zero stars, I would. Probably the worst Chicago dining experience I’ve ever had. Our server only came around once every 30-45min. Took forever to order dinner and when the entrees came, they forgot one of the dishes and then it took 45 more minutes to get the forgotten dish . They think they can get away with this because they charge $35 per person to make a reservation and then comp a dish here and there . Beware

Restaurant with excellent design. Quiet and tasteful environment. Great food. Good wine letter. Price within fair. Reception service did not meet Ace expectations, because it took 1 hour to sit us, with tables available.

When we arrived, the pr looked at us with a cocky look. Terrible as a first impression. Then, the waiter who brought us the main dishes, forgot to take out the entrés plates. And she even look at us, like " Wgat do you want ? " After, one of the waiters broke a small bottle near my friend. She almost got broken glasses in her face. Terrible service, and food was good. But staff in TAO Chicago should learn what is customer service and good service with the staff from TAO NeW York.

Food was good, but nothing exceptional. The most disappointing part was the service. They were not busy at all, the place was more than half way empty, but we had to wait for everything long time. We were almost done with dinner when the manager showed up and strictly asked us to leave right away because other people are waiting. There were many empty tables! We stood up and left. On our way to the door we stopped to take a few pics and put coats and purses on the chair by empty table. Got yelled for that by one of the employees, because they have to clean tables. So, do not not touch! Not friendly, cold atmosphere to say at very least. Rude!

Nice hotel facility.beds very comfrotable.swimming pool very nice.ground staff very helpful.Room service facilty good

the atmosphere was amazing great music the food was to die for a little pricey but worth the fresh seafood i will definetly be back

Upscale Place, Good Food and Fantastic Decors. Good food presentation and Quality is outstanding. Fast services.

Ambience was incredible. Vibrant, exciting. Service was terrific. We had a very large group. Food service was perfectly timed to serve all tables together. Freshest ingredients. Amazing flavor. Fun atmosphere.

Awesome decor and entrance. Place is very themed as oriental and had a great atmosphere. We hit the Sunday brunch and we were blown away with the quality, selection, taste and overall dining experience. We normally don’t do buffets but this is next level as almost all stations have servers opening lids and serving you. Carving stations of beef, pork belly, duck was great. Omelettes made to order were exceptional. Sushi and seafood were very fresh and had a large variety. I loved the hand carved beef, pot stickers, bacon fried rice with orange chicken. Soooo many things I couldn’t get 1 of everything. Duck tacos were fire as well as the puffed and stuffed TAO branded dumpling thing. It’s over the top and the desert bar with a tower of different macaroon’s, chocolate fountain, and a couple dozen different small bites of cakes, pudding, and such makes this place a steal! Would come back to Chicago just to have this brunch again. Cleanliness and quality is very high.

We have visited Tao Las Vegas many times and always had a great experience, so when we found out there was a Tao Chicago, we could not wait to go. We arrived about an hour before our reservation to have a drink or two in the lounge/bar, however we just sat around for 30 minutes waiting for a server to show up (and I even had to ask the bartender if there were any servers!). When one finally arrived, she didn't seem to even want to take our order and had virtually no knowledge of drinks. After about 40-45 minutes we finally had our drinks, but they made the Cosmo all wrong. We asked a bartender to remake it (since no servers could be found again), and she acted like we needed to fill out a "change order" and have it processed to get the drink remade! I also asked both hostesses whether they had any high top tables, and neither had any idea what a high top table was! And the hostess failed to call us at our reservation time, so we had to wait about 15-20 minutes past that time to get our table. Seriously, this place needs MUCH better management and training! Once seated for dinner, our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive, and the food was very good and the atmosphere amazing. While we will probably return for dinner at some point, we probably will "pre-game" somewhere else.

The place is run by a bunch of totally incompetent front staff, we had to wait for over an hour even after having a confirmed reservation on a weekday. Ambience is truly one of a kind and will continue to mesmerize you while you are there. Dessert (fortune cookie) was crappiest, filled with white mousse, without any flavors and random fruits, a whole lot of nothing for $26+. A huge let down.

The interior of the restaurant is genuinely worth a visit. Go there for a drink only. The food is so sub-par that it ranks with cheap Chinese restaurants. Very (!) disappointing. They have copied recipes from other places and did it poorly. Nothing original.

I've been inside this building many times when it was Excalibur nightclub and this historic building which dates early 1900's was once the Chicago Historic Society. They have maintained the historic exterior, but wow the interior now houses what will become one of the best restaurants in Chicago for food and atmosphere. This place will set revenue records for a restaurant in Chicago. Book early and book often (oops that voting in Chicago). This newly opened restaurant has become in just month's time the place to see and to be seen. Reservations a must and we booked 3 weeks earlier for a 5:15pm seating time. Great service and the main room is breathtaking to behold. Its red carpet experience gliding down those stairs to your table. We tried many items on the menu and all were delicious. The sea bass spears (I forgot the name given on menu) were out of this world. It will become their signature dish is my prediction. Highly recommend. Book early. We shall eat here again on our next trip to Chicago.

The decor of the place is beautiful, but we were a party of 5 and we were sat down in a small table, the restaurant was with only 8 tables, was early. The waiter ask us to order everything at once, I think he was tired. The food is not great, NY place is better. A napkin felt to the floor and the waiter picked up and put it again in the table. We ask for a red wine Bordeaux from 2005, a bottle with that age has to be decanted.... I think they don’t know what it’s a good wine!!!! I won’t come back, I recommend Roka or Sunda.

The place is very nice, it pity that at times the music was so loud that it did not let you talk well. The food varied and very good, minus the dessert that reached the level of the other dishes. My main complaint and why I didn’t drop points, was that in an accident the waiter dropped the dessert tray with fire and everything, on me, thank God nothing happened but the blow to the head and dirty laundry. But the manager didn’t get to say anything, or even apologize, only when one of us faced him, was that I appreciate it at the table. The staff only cared about cleaning the floor and not even a napkin could give me.

Went with a coworker. We ordered a bunch of small plates to share. Food was very good (some better and more creative than others, but all good). The food came out in two waves so that we didn’t get it all at once, which worked out perfectly. The server was very attentive. The format and the decor of the restaurant is super interesting, with seating on different levels. Great place for a photo op too.

Had reservations, seated and waited 20 minutes before anyone came by. Expensive considering the service. Not sure it is worth returning.

Loved every we had at Tao. Great restaurant for a date night and loved the Tuna pringles, filet, dumplings, spicy tuna on crispy rice and the creme brûlée.

A broad selection of various Asian cuisine with enough choice for everyone. They spent a lot of money on decorating this place, but the food is good too. We’re locals and will be back.

I really cannot think of a worse dining experience. A friend booked this and we were told that this was a difficult difficult reservation to get and it would be a special restaurant. The reception was rude and they refused to seat us until every member of the party was present in front of them. We were waiting for one person and could have started ordering. There were many unoccupied tables, but they insisted that this was their policy. The place is incredibly cold, dark and loud. This used to be a dance club and it has that feeling. There are weird stadium seats above the tables that seem to be for spectators having drinks and watching you eat. The music is terrible. Service was superficial and haphazard. Our waitress did a number of disappearing acts and only showed up briefly to recommend the most expensive items on the menu. The drink choices were limited and expensive. The waitress had no knowledge of what was available behind the bar. This is some of the worst food I’ve been served. Some of the appetizers were reasonably tasty other quite expensive. The entrées were abysmal. They served us an Indescribably creepy deep fried fish. The description our server gave of the fish and the one on the menu bore no resemblance to the plate that came to the table. It was like something you’d be served on a bad night at red lobster. The mochi dessert should be called “mushy” as it was a flavorless slimy mess. The bill was 800.00 for 6 people with only a few cocktails. After dessert, the waitress tried to sell us membership cards and an app to eat at the restaurant again or in other places around the country. At the end of the evening, we went out to pick up our car that had been valet parked. The valet cost $25 and they only except cash. I went back in to see if I could get cash on my credit card and the reception staff told me to go to an ATM at the drugstore around the corner. Avoid this place.

In Chicago for ALL Star Weekend, a really busy weekend for the City and Tao, I was thrilled that we were able to visit Director of Operations Brendan McManus and to see the Restaurant he was sent from new York to establish. He was an amazing Manager in new York who we met for years and always demonstrated excellence in his operations and customer staff (and who we considered a friend) and this gave us a opportunity to visit him (he fit my wife, celebrating a Birthday weekend, in for dinner) and to see his operations. WOW if you thought NYC was amazing what he has done with Chicago not only with the restaurant but nightclub (he granted us VIP status for a 10 minutes visit so we could see how adult kids enjoying the club…who he granted access)! Everyone local we spoke to that weekend, including the concierge at the Hyatt Regency who couldn’t fit us in, told us that Tao is considered the place to be and you could see if by how dressed up everyone was. First the restaurant is on a grander scale than NYC but is run extremely efficiently from the front doorman who had our reservations on a list and quickly got us in, to the front desk which were swamped that weekend but very gracious and welcoming to of course Brendan who so busy, made it a point to escort us to a table and then later stopped by to get us to the club later. He hasn’t changed and its so awesome to see the Tao Group has such amazing executives running their properties. Even though we had eaten earlier, we had to try the sea bass which has always been our favorite along with vegetables and as usual Brendan arranged for a nice dessert with a candle for my wife. Felipe our server was efficient and very polite. An amazing night and wonderful to see Brendan again being successful in Chicago.

Decor is amazing (similar style to Buddha bar in Paris), food and service were very good too. We had sushi and cocktails, both of them of good quality. It deserves your visit.

Booked this restaurant based on recommendation and this didn’t disappoint.. we arrived a little early so has a drink at the bar before taking our table. Liked everything about this restaurant, decor was on point, meal was excellent as was the service. Definitely worth going if you like Chinese Asian food

The main dining room is just a very cool looking room and the ambiance is awesome. However, we were seated in the bar area and the music was so loud that conversation was hard. The food was ok, but not great and is definitely way expensive for what it is. Drinks were negligible - but also very pricey.

Amazing from beginning to end! This group of restaurants has won my heart as it’s consistent solid service with amazing food. I need to try the one in Vegas next!!

Great quality Asian food and great fun atmosphere! I recommend for nice group dinner party... The place is big and busy but it can be cozy too!

This was my first time here. It was a bit intimidating when you enter but the atmosphere and decor was great. The service was top notch. The Alaskan Halibut was cooked to perfection and the side dishes were great.

This place is out of this world! Great decor, great music (on-site DJ plays really cool music) and awesome for Fusion Asian food to be paired with a great selection of drinks! Best is to share dishes: Sea bass, chicken satay and wagyu beef and the sushi/rolls are unbelievably good! Leave some room for dessert with the giant fortune cookie filled with chocolate mousse and with fruits (including my favorite dragon fruit)!

A place to see and be seen. Loud music, busy atmosphere, huge place with different areas. We sat at a low table beside the bar. Super uncomfortable to eat. It’s not about the food and having a nice dinner, but going to a party. I liked the food but it’s not a place I would be back. Not overpriced but the average price in a good restaurant.

Beautiful place but we waited 15 minutes to get a waitress. In the course of two hours the waitress came back twice when I wanted her there 20 times. The food was so over priced.. A complete nightmare. The bill should’ve been $50 and it was 600.

Cool, low-lit, high-ceilinged space. Service was slow due to a servers' meeting (early evening). Good sea bass, outstanding asparagus appetizers. Good Champagne by glass.

I’ve been anxious to visit this new hot spot since it opened. The first impressions don’t Disappoint! They did a great job on that cavernous space that create a really special place that exudes great vibes! The service was excellent and our server Matt was very attentive without being intrusive. His knowledge of the menu was impressive! The filet with a bone marrow sauce was delicious as well as the sushi we ordered. The Dim Sum was disappointing as well as the octopus. And my first martini arrived at the table lukewarm. When my server asked me if I wanted another one I mentioned that I wanted it ice cold and he apologized and said that he would have replaced it had I mentioned it sooner which I greatly appreciated. Fun and exciting night nonetheless!

Great service but food is overpriced. My teenagers hated it and barely ate anything, Most food overly sauced and sweet (sea bass appetizer, orange chicken, potstickers). Definitely overpriced. $50 for beef and broccoli? Never again.

Looking for a night out with the longtime spouse? This place is for you! Lots of different ages, all dressed differently, with a killer ambience, great music from the DJ and unique lighting, makes for a great night of people watching and total enjoyment. Add that the food was the BEST I have ever eaten anywhere in the country and it made for a FABULOUS anniversary dinner! Get a variety of the small plates instead of ordering a big entree, such that you can try a variety...besides, it makes for a more romantic dinner when sharing all with your partner! The sea bass is OUT of this world, it’s no wonder they are known for it. You MUST try it. The five spice ribs melt in your mouth. The shrimp tempura, oh my. The Chinese noodles didn’t disappoint either! We finished with creme brûlée donuts and ice cream and again, more delight. I was concerned about dress code, as I had heard of the celebrities going up to the night club. We saw everything under the sun with the diverse age groups, from cocktail dresses to jeans and heels with jewelry. We stayed 10 minutes away at The Blake and it was truly a memorable evening. I had heard it was pricey, but honestly, the food was that good and it was worth it for the WHOLE experience. Other longtime married couple will understand that dinners can get to be a bit boring....not here! Go have some fun while enjoying a great meal.

We were celebrating my daughter-in-law's birthday and also my son and his wife's first wedding anniversary! Food was excellent and the atmosphere was great! Enjoyed the evening. Lots of vegetarian choices.

A fabulous place for Chinese, Thai and Japanese food and Sushi. The decor is impressive but the place is very noisy. Variety of food and options for vegetarian too. Green fried rice and Asian Green are very tasty. Service is very quick and staff served with smile. Must visit while in Chicago!

Made a 12:30 pm reservation. 1:10 rolled around and we were still not seated. We had a lot planned and this put a real wet blanket on our day, so we left. Will never come back.

From the moment you step through the door of the former Chicago Historical Society building, you are blown away with the beauty and intricately designed space. Similar to the sister Tao restaurants in New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, the space envelopes and enchants. And then there’s the food - creatively and masterfully prepared cuisine - with plenty of options for vegetarians. Service was very good, despite a full house. Everyone in our group absolutely loved it! One tip - ask for a booth in order to be able to see all of the action while you take full advantage of the ambiance.

This place is fabulous. From the super heavy large entrance door to the lovely host staff, and the feel of the large elegantly decorated dining room... what a fun, exciting first impression! The menu is so full of excellent choices. Fresh seafood, great sushi, but many rice dishes and delicious small plates. Service was outstanding. Go hungry!😀

Tasty and trendy! This is a large, loud restaurant with a huge menu and a party atmosphere. I tried a number of small plates and I enjoyed everything I tried.

What a beautiful redo of the former Excalibur club. The ambience makes you think that you are in very upscale Vegas type restaurant(they do have locations in Ca, NYC, and Las Vegas). Diners are encouraged to listen to staff who will guide them on proper shared place suggestions; Felipe did a great job. We enjoyed the pot stickers , spring rolls and Chilean sea bass on a skewer. Entrees were fantastic cod and a whitefish of some ilk. The dessert which was chocolate with lite wafers and berries was fantastic.

Went here with family and friends to celebrate birthday. Decor is just superb and it’s a great experience. Over all very good experience. We had a reservation but we had to wait for a bit to be seated. Waiting lounge is beautiful and good opportunity to take pics. Decent selection of vegetarian dishes. I recommend going for ambience and decor.

Beautiful lively atmosphere with great music. Service was excellent despite being very busy on a Saturday night. Although we had an 8:30pm reservation, we did have to wait for our table but just chilled out with a drink at the bar. Started with a Ruby Red Dragon (delicious) and Bubbles and Berries cocktails. Seated an one of the best tables (elevated). Extensive menu - ordered chicken satay and spicy tuna tartar on crispy rice - both delicious. Ordered a selection of sushi and sashimi - all good. The desserts were very impressive with a beautiful presentation - molten chocolate cake and a giant fortune cookie were to die for!

Traveled from Toronto. I have always wanted to visit a TAO location so I was happy to visit. Made reservations on the same day online which cost $35 per person (this was applied to the bill afterwards). Food: 10/10. Tasted amazing!!! Tried the dumpling sampler, the shrimp maki, the tuna on crispy rice and the lobster pad thai and they were all absolutely delicious. Had the house sake - strong and delicious, paired so well with the meal. Service: Our server was awesome. He was kind and made great recommendations. He checked in periodically and was kind to change our plates between dishes. Value: Great value for the food. Good portions. Very filling tasted amazing. Atmosphere: GORGEOUS. Such a vibe. Lighting and decorations were gorgeous. They sat us in a booth overlooking the entire restaurant and we genuinely appreciated this as this was our first time here and it was such an experience visiting from Toronto. Comfortable seating / tables. Music was good. Didn’t get to visit the bar so cannot comment on that. The only disappointing factor was that we were looking forward to also visiting the TAO night club but was unable to due to it being closed on Mondays. I believe they are only open Thurs-Sat. But I will definitely return if I am ever back in Chicago. Overall, I’d return for the delicious food, drinks and vibe.

Probably one of the hottest restaurants right now in Chicago. Incredibly vibrant ambience especially as you enter main dining room. Stadium style seating overlooking main floor with incredible lighting. Excellent cocktails. The food was a true surprise. Definitely recommend.

Tao offers a great ambiance with excellent music. Food was great with many choices to choose from. If you like dumplings they were very good also Mongolian beef was delicious. Wine chart and prices were reasonable

We just happened upon Tao while walking near our hotel. The front entrance let us know that the restaurant was going to be special. The front doors are old and ornately carved. Inside the restaurant is dark with lots of candles and low lights. The main seating area is tiered down to a main floor, almost like a small theatre. It looks like a movie set and like a place to see and be seen (although it was quiet when we were there.) We did take out and the service at the bar was very friendly and swift. The food was very good— fresh Asian fusion flavors.

Ate here recently with a group of friends. Our group was too large for a single table in the main dinning room (for a private room, they wanted a $2,000 deposit). The atmosphere is very high-end and the place was packed. The dining room is set-up with a staircase (that features some seating) leading down to a sunken dining room, which had plenty of tables. There was at least one private dining room that over looked the dining room (there might be more). As for the food, we opted for the tasting menu, which provided more than enough food for our two tables. IMHO, the cuisine is Asian fusion and we had an assortment of familiar dishes (spring rolls, edamame, fish, red meat (beef and pork), chicken, various sushis and vegetarian dishes - all of which were delicious and featured Tao's unique execution. The service was terrific. Plenty of attention for drink re-freshes including water refills). They have an extensive wine list as well. They did inquire if anyone had any food allergies, which was a nice touch. Only slight drawback on the service is that the tasting menu was so much food - more than we needed. If I had to do it over, we would have asked ahead of time exactly what constitutes the tasting menu. But this was relatively minor in the great dining experience had here.

This restaurant is like a work of art. The decor is so beautiful and interesting. Even the ceiling is beautiful. I ate in with my daughter. She ordered sushi and said it was the best she has ever had. High praise as she eats sushi often. I ordered from the hot menu: a chicken dish and a pork rice dish. The portions were huge and the food was very good, but honestly, for the price, I could have gotten something very similar at a chinese take-out for 1/3 the price. Also, our server was not super friendly or polite. I think here you don't really come just for the food, but for the experience.

I went here for my birthday this week - I live in Chicago and have passed this spot many times. The decor and atmosphere was definitely cool, and the servers were super warm and friendly. The food, however, was some of the worst I've had - the shishito peppers came out raw, the avocados were underripe, and the vegetarian sushi was so disgusting and warm (!?), I left the entire plate. My husband and I were both planning where to get pizza by the end of the dinner. The quality of the food was extra disappointing, given that it's priced like a Michelen-starred restaurant. I shouldve saved my money and gone to one of the many amazing Asian restaurants in my neighborhood, like Sushi Dokku, Momotaro or Omakase Yume.

First - this building, the former Chicago Historical Society building, is a standout in the downtown area. So much character, inside and out. It has housed several interesting restaurants over the recent past. Tao make excellent use of the space, both the open areas and the nooks. I attended a private dinner and we were seated in a small open dining room that easily accommodated our group of 15. The dinner itself was four courses of a wide selection from the restaurant's menu, ranging from sushis to steaks. Every bite was terrific, although I think they may rely a bit too heavily on salt to kick it up. But I gotta say, the flavors and textures were excellent. The sea bass on a stick just melts in your mouth. Even the desserts were creative and tasty. Presentation of every platter and dish was beautiful. The wait staff was very friendly, very helpful, and really efficient. Overall and excellent evening.

I Doordash my order to the hotel and it arrived in around 45 minutes. It was packaged perfectly and the food was still hot. I was amazed at how delicious the food was. Highly recommend the orange chicken, pork dumplings, and brown rice. It is priced a little in the expensive side but extremely worth it.

We celebrated my daughter’s 21st birthday here. The food was exceptional as was the service. The interior is super chic and the vibe is trendy with lots of energy!! Can’t wait to return!!

We visited Tao October 27th. We were celebrating our 10 year Anniversary that weekend in Chicago, and decided to spend that Saturday at Tao's since we loved the one in Vegas so much. It met our expectations extremely. We had such a great time at Tao. The food was delectable, as no the service was impeccable!! They were on top of everything. I love how in tune with everyone needs the staff was. We had a great waiter. I also loved how some of the staff would come and speak with us, ask us how are meal was, or just engage in conversation. The only downside was our reservation was for 8:30, and we didn't get seated til after 9. Other than that it was great. We had an amazing night at Tao, and can't wait til our next visit.

Stopped in with friends. Reservations undoubtedly needed, as this place gets packed. Amazing interior and ambiance. Just fascinating is allI can say. Waiter and support staff were excellent. We had Edward and he was great. Offered suggestions and background on the restaurant, food, menu and drinks. We started with several appetizers: sea bass satays (we ordered these twice); pork potstickers (excellent); chicken satay (excellent). Then for entrees our table had the lobster fried rice, lobster pad Thai, chicken pad Thai, and the Tokyo filet. All were very good, and I would order any of them again. A little pricey, especially the cocktails, but well worth it. Can't wait to go back. It's the old Excalibur place.

Good ambiance and setting for a meal and drinks. Perfect setting and amazing service! Loved all of our food and drinks! Definitely recommend visiting for any occasion

The vegetarian dishes are delicious and those that aren't vegan can often be made so. The spices were nicely mixed and offered a nice departure from much of the Chinese food offered in many restaurants. We each had a cocktail. Their Boketto Mule was a less sweet and just sour enough take on the Moscow Mule. It was refreshing. The staff was enthusiastic in sharing their thoughts on the menu. They were attentive but not intrusive. The atmosphere was above and beyond fabulous. Walking down a few flights of steps into the main dining area, you end up surrounded by decor, complete with projected images. There is a DJ who does a great job keeping the music upbeat without making you feel like you are at a club.

On a recent trip to Chicago (our first), we took our granddaughter to the newly opened TAO Chicago to celebrate her birthday. Our reservation was for 6:00 and the restaurant was already quite busy. The Asian inspired interior is stunning with a large staircase leading down to the main dining area. We ordered several small plates of shishito peppers, edamame, lobster and crab spring rolls and satay of Chilean sea bass which was excellent! I had glazed salmon served over a bed of haricots verts. My husband had the orange chicken and a side of triple pork rice. No bread or salad is served with entrees and sides are a la carte. For dessert, we shared the molten chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream. Granddaughter had the giant fortune cookie filled with chocolate mousse on one side and white chocolate mousse on the other surrounded by fresh fruit (cookie actually comes with a fortune tucked inside). The food was amazing and service impeccable! I highly recommend TAO Chicago for a unique and memorable dining experience.

We walked in without a reservation about 6:30 on a weekend evening and sat at the sushi bar -- at the furthest corner tucked away from the crowd and LOUD music. Tao restaurant architecture and ambience is fascinating. Apparently the restaurant was a nightclub in a previous rendition - and it seems as though this is the vibrant atmosphere Tao has maintained. My husband and I were among the oldest people eating there ~ it definitely is a place for those who want to people watch, not have a 'dinner conversation' and appreciate very loud contemporary music in a crowded huge place! Our server was very attentive. And, while helpful in answering questions about the menu items they suggested (and we agreed to) was way too much food. The portions are substantive -- but very good! And, yes, it is expensive as other reviewers have noted. An interesting one- time-only experience. Personally, I would spend that same amount of money in a quieter restaurant where a quiet conversation is possible -- which is not the purpose of Tao.

Great environment and aura in this place. The lighting was soothing and there was great music playing. We received great service and enjoyed a delicious meal. Definitely going back the next time we’re back in Chicago.

Very beautiful ambiance and food is delicious but the service extremely slow. Not everyone would enjoy pace line that .

I went to Tao with a group of 6 friends to celebrate a birthday. We ordered a number of it share, including sea bass, sushi, rice, noodles, and shrimp tempura. Everything was delicious, and the portions were generous.

great food and ambience; multiple rooms to have private parties, excellent choice for companies, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers

It was an amazing time eating there. Ambiance was good. The music was great. And the food was really good for a crowded trendy restaurant. Great sushi

Celebrated a friend's birthday here and the ambiance is amazing. First thing to note is that there is valet parking but I used a parking app and had a 3 minute walk and saved money. There is some on street parking but you pay for that as well. Now to the atmosphere, you really feel like you are walking into a temple or a bad guy bar in a movie. Which isn't a bad thing, it's very cool how the lighting is tons of soft light, good music and open spaces and definitely has several great visuals around the restaurant. From the door to the host to the bar to the waiter, everyone had good energy and was friendly and helpful. The food is pretty much al la carte, so expexct things to be on the higher end. That's kinda expected for Downtown Chicago! The food wasn't bad, in the excitement of knowing we were going out, there won't be any foods pics because we were hungry! We were a group of 9 and we all ordered a variety of things. We had the Brussel Sprouts but there were unwhelming, the five ribs were about 6 slices of a rib, tasty sauce and a few pieces were tender and delicious. The sweet and spicy were good, nice sized but didn't seem much different from sweet and sour shrimp. And finally, the bbq duck fried rice, it was a hearty portion but it was shredded duck, I expected bigger pieces of duck. I didn't taste the bbq in it but it was fresh and fluffy and had veggies in it. I'd go back, as I like to give a spot 2 or 3 visits before I make a final call.

Amazing! Thank you, Ethan!!! Great, personable experience. Fried rice, noodles, cocktails, appetizers and the service - exceptional!

The decor is dramatic, the vibe is cool, the service, top notch, and the food, superb. The only bad part is, there were too many delicious dishes to choose from. I’ve already made my reservation to return!

Tao Chicago is definitely a must when visiting Chicago. Both the food and cocktails were exquisite. My mouth is watering as I type this review. Whether you’re vegetarian or pescatarian, there is a great selection on the menu. I highly, highly recommend this restaurant!

Although the restaurant is quite spectacular, located inside a church space, surely, as for the food, we expected a little more. Everything we asked for, we liked it, but there was nothing that stood out too much. Budha Bar style decoration, luxurious, spacious and with a nice bar for a drink. Price pulling high and correct service.