Spiritual Dining at Tao Asian Bistro, Las Vegas

If you ever get to stay at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, it’s hard not to see all the ads for Tao Asian Bistro. Leo and I failed to get into the nightclub the night we arrived, but he wanted to give their “Spiritual Dining” a chance, so we ate dinner here the night before we left.

Apologies for these dark photos – the lighting wasn’t very bright but I didn’t want to use flash and disrupt other people’s dinners. It actually gives you a sense of the romantic and cozy atmosphere that the restaurant delivers.

Tao is huge. And I love their asian-themed decor. But it looks like it’d be impossible to get a seat without a reservation. They just get THAT much traffic, and we still had to wait about 10 minutes before getting our reserved table. Our server Darren was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu and specials. There were LOTS to mention. Just like Sushi Roku, we discovered that it’s customary (at least in these fine dining places) to have two servers: one to take your order and check-in, and the other to bring you your food and drinks.

It took us forever to order, but because it took us 5 mins. to figure out we had to close our menu to order. Lesson learned! I started off my appetizers with an Orient Express cocktail ($13) with Kahlua and Vanilla Liqueur.

My bamboo steamed vegetable dumplings (which were green!) and crunchy cucumbers (Japanese style, bitter like ginger) for $10 satisfied my grumbling stomach quite well.

Bamboo steamed vegetable dumplings and crunchy cucumbers

My main was Buddha’s Harmonized Vegetable Feast for the Minor Gods, which was an entree-sized udon in sesame & black peppercorn sauce with red pepper, onions, bok choy, asparagus, and brussel sprouts to top it off ($17). A vegetarian feast indeed. The dish came in a bowl which made it less messy than it probably would have been had it come on a plate, but I wasn’t expecting the amount of spice. Still, a great veggie entree (maybe the only veggie entree!).

Buddha’s Harmonized Vegetable Feast for the Minor Gods

Leo’s main: Kung Pao Chicken ($26)

Tip: The restrooms say “Yin” and “Yang.” Yin is for the women and Yang is for the men.

Darren offered us a menu of “temptation” which was the right word for it. I could barely get any more food in my stomach so I wanted ice cream. And I got to choose 3 different scoops: White Chocolate & Yuzu, Cocunut, and Green Tea with almond cookies and even Pocky sticks ($8) – bonus. The thing is, I think the Yuzu (a Japanese fruit much like tangerine) was overpowering the white chocolate, or else they were two separate flavours and they brought me the wrong one. I couldn’t finish the scoops anyway, because we also got two chocolate fortune cookies!

Leo’s fortune: “Love is the answer, but while you’re waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty good questions”
My fortune: “Fulfill one secret fantasy”

If you can’t tell already, Tao Restaurant, Nightclub, and Beach (a poolside experience) all have that sexy zen vibe.  The Vegas magazines say this restaurant is only a $30 meal, but we spent about double that including drinks, appetizers and dessert.

Tao Asian Bistro is truly a religious dining experience as they say. Liking Asian food is a must, and you’ve gotta love the the 20-foot buddha fountain and ancient pipe display on the wall.  I’m really glad I dined here on my trip – it’s a restaurant like no other I’ve seen in any of my travels.

Middle Child by the 20-foot buddha statue fountain

Tao Asian Bistro
inside the Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
1 (702) 388-8338
taorestaurant.com/lasvegas

*Reservations recommended

Tao Asian Bistro is also located in New York, NY. See taorestaurant.com for more info.