If you are looking for dinner with a “wow” factor, Tao is the place to go! With two locations in Manhattan’s most exciting neighborhoods (uptown on the upper east side and downtown near the meatpacking district), it is the perfect place to kick off a fun night out.

Tao is known for their giant Buddha statues anchoring the cavernous dining room. The atmosphere is somewhere between a club and upscale restaurant with moody lighting, sleek table settings, and an impressive menu of Asian-fusion dishes. 

I love to order the shrimp pad Thai here. The shrimp are huge and perfectly cooked, and the noodles are tossed with a tangy peanut sauce. The sushi here is also excellent!

It gets very busy at dinner time, so a reservation is highly recommended. And keep in mind that it’s a trendy restaurant, so go ahead and dress up for your dinner!