Tao Signature

I’ve eaten at Tao a few times, only because it is the closest restaurant to my office. The décor is nice but the food is about what you get in the food court at the mall. They have tried to improve business by updating the menu and offering all kinds of specials but what the really need is a new chef.

Tao Signature is a very nice restaurant but not as nice as some places, such as Kai. The food was extremely flavorful. I tried the ginger beef, spring rolls and pork balls, they were all fantastic.
The restaurant is definitely Westernized but I don’t hold that against them. You would be hard pressed to find a fully authentic restaurant anywhere. I have had better food at other places but this place is not bad at all and I have nothing against western flavor. It is not expensive at all and the service was fine.
I also heard that they might open a sushi bar soon so I think I will definitely try this place again.

Tao Signature offers a variety of Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Thai dishes. The first thing you will notice is how upscale the place looks when you walk in. This is one of the rare times you will find a greeter in an Asian restaurant. The lobby is huge, and the dining area is very sleek — low lighting (but not too low) with rich colours. The menu, while not huge, offers a good variety for anyone who enjoys Asian cuisine. You’ll find noodle soups and vermicelli bowls, grilled meat dishes, tempura, and Chinese standbys like lemon chicken and ginger beef.
We decided to order off of the special lunch menu. I had grilled beef with rice — although listed on the menu as having steak sauce, the dish has been changed to lemongrass. What I got was essentially a small steak that was grilled to perfection, slicked and served with a mound of rice. The meat was tender and flavourful, if not a little too salty. The rice was plain and somewhat dry, which was remedied with soy sauce that our enthusiastic server quickly brought when asked.
My companion had shanghai noodles that were stir fried with beef. The beef looked similar to mind — thick, juicy, and plentiful. He said his food was great, but had a little too much sauce.
We started our meal with an order of vegetable tempura. The light batter was crisp and the portion was perfect to share. I loved how the sipping sauce was served in a wine glass. It is little touches like this that sets Tao Signature apart. To drink, we had Shirley Temples (I have never had one and wanted to try it), one of the many non-​alcoholic beverages available. There is also an extensive drink list.
Lunch specials are served until 4 p.m. and come with wonton soup. Most of the dishes on the menu are reasonably priced but slightly higher than in price than other Asian places (for example, a bowl of phở is around $ 9 rather than $ 7). However, you are paying for quality, service, and ambiance.
Tao Signature is definitely a must-​visit if you are looking for and Asian dining experience in the west end. I would even recommend this as a destination spot. The food, service, and place itself was remarkable.