"What It Is: Even if you’ve never stepped foot in a clubstaurant in your life, chances are you’ve heard of Tao. The massive Asian-themed restaurant conglomerate has locations in NYC, Vegas, Chicago, and even central Connecticut, making its Hollywood opening in 2017 fairly inevitable. In 2018, Tao was the highest-grossing restaurant in the country—a humbling stat that only the great Britney Spears can sum up. Verdict: Cultural appropriation, oily food, and stadium seating inside an indoor restaurant—Tao really does have it all. The reality is a night here provides a completely serviceable clubstaurant experience, and if you’re looking for an epic Vegas-tier space in LA, Tao delivers. But you’ll also eat food that’s slightly worse than what you’d find at PF Chang’s, drink fruity cocktails with no alcohol in them, and stare out at a crowd who definitely all have Starline bus tours booked for tomorrow." - brant cox
