Tao Las Vegas: NYC Dining Mecca Has Landed On The Strip
LAS VEGAS – Tao landed in Las Vegas with a bang, opening with a weekend long celebrity event in September 2005. Festivities included Jermaine Dupri’s birthday party with friends like Mariah Carey, Usher, Janet Jackson and Nelly joining in on the celebration, and a grand opening the next night, which brought stars such as Paris Hilton, Chelsea Clinton, Adrien Brody and Tara Reid to Sin City. This $20 million design-driven dining and entertainment complex in The Venetian Resort~Hotel~Casino has already proven to be a hot spot like its sister venue in New York City. Owners and noted restaurateurs Marc Packer and Richard Wolf have brought to Las Vegas a multi-faceted and multi-story “Asian City†housing a restaurant, banquet facilities, lounge and nightclub in 44,000 square-feet.
Design & Décor
Guests are transported from the City of Sin to the Pacific Rim with Tao’s lush velvets and silks, waterfalls and century-old woods and stones. An extensive collection of Buddha statues watches over every corner of Tao, including a unique reclining Buddha and Tao’s signature 20-foot Buddha that “floats†peacefully above an infinity pool complete with Japanese koi. The nightclub is accented by a moat bar, adorned with breathtaking red chandeliers and a Monk Bar decorated with a wall of almost 300 hand carved monks and candles.
Food
Executive Chef Sam Hazen has developed a menu for the 400-seat restaurant incorporating culinary components from China, Japan and Thailand. Signature dishes include offerings from sea, sky and land including Chilean Sea Bass Satay with Wok Roasted Asparagus, a preparation of Peking Duck that consistently receives accolades and Kobe Beef Shabu Shabu along with a full sushi bar. Tao’s substantial and versatile private function space offers those congregating for business or pleasure an opportunity to savor the culinary creations as well.
Drinks
Tao also offers an extensive menu of delicious specialty cocktails, including the Tao-tini, Tao Love Potion #9, the Fiji Apple Martini and the Tiger Lily, as well as sake flights specifically designed to compliment Tao’s menu, or to be enjoyed on their own.
Nightlife
Managing Partners of the Tao Nightclub, Jason Strauss and Noah Tepperberg of New York City’s Marquee fame, ensure that nightlife reigns supreme at Tao with enticing options to indulge any mood. A chic lounge downstairs serves as a gathering spot ideal for cocktails and conversation, with DJs spinning eclectic beats nightly. The lounge has become the hottest place in Vegas every Tuesday and Wednesday with the weekly “Temple†and “Vinyl†parties featuring the expert music mixing of Omar Galeano, while Tao’s delicious sushi is served until 1 a.m. For those craving a high energy, DJ driven atmosphere, the 10,000 square-foot Tao Nightclub is the place to see and be seen, with three full-service bars, two main rooms playing a variety of hip hop, house and rock ‘n’ roll music, and state-of-the-art audio and lighting systems. For guests seeking ultra-VIP treatment, the nightclub offers eight private skyboxes, each featuring European bottle service, a mini-bar, an espresso machine and banquettes with secured purse drawers. A voyeuristic design throughout the nightclub allows people to see the entire venue from almost every point in the room, while sexy performance vignettes, including nearly nude bombshells taking rose petal baths, can be seen nightly. The nightclub also boasts a 40-foot outside terrace with awe-inspiring views of the famed Las Vegas Strip.
Celebrities
Celebrity-filled events are a constant at Tao, past events include Tommy Lee’s birthday party; the after party for the UBID For Hurricane Relief Event attended by stars such as Nick Lachey, David Spade, Seth Green, and Mila Kunis; a Los Angeles Lakers pre-season party; and the Billboard Music Awards “After After-Party,†where music phenomenon Pharrell Williams hosted some of the industry’s hottest stars, including Gwen Stefani, Kanye West, R. Kelly and Lil Jon.
Tao is located on the Grand Canal Shoppes level of The Venetian Resort~Hotel~Casino at 3377 Las Vegas Boulevard South. In addition, Tao conveniently offers guests an exclusive valet located directly in front of The Venetian. For reservations and information, call (702) 388-8338.
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