Recommends

noodlecat

Joined 7 years ago

Lovely Setting but Disappointing Food. My boyfriend and I went to Tao b/c of the rave reviews. The ambiance is very nice, elegant but cozy too. The servers seemed forgetful but were really sweet so that was forgivable. The imperials rolls were really tasty but we were disappointed by the entrees. I got the vermicelli with pork: the pork was dry, chewy and kind of tasteless, and the noodles had a stale cardboard taste. I don't even remember what my boyfriend got, it wasn't that memorable. We don't plan on going back but perhaps we went on an off night!

Recommends

jemago

Joined 7 years ago

Best garlic noodles.... I am a regular at that restaurant. Either by myself (it's quiet and the service is really not intrusive) or with my friends or customers. I love everything except tofu (there's a wonderful ratatouille with tofu but i usually request a no-tofu ratatouille). I can almost eat a Bo Bun everyday, it's a warm salad with veggie and beef, very well-balanced and it cost ten bucks, it's even better with some fresh Thai chilies...New-York steak is my second favorite, they cook it medium, so i have to insist to have it rare. At my last visit, I was amazed by the garlic noodles, very tasty and wonderfully executed. I remember having had garlic noodles in the past as a side dish, with no veggie, but this one could be a main dish. I'm not a dessert eater, but my guests are happy with their cakes. So go for it, you'll find something for your taste and the price is reasonable for the quality.

Recommends

deedee80

Joined 7 years ago

Great Vietnamese-French fusion for large parties!. I had dinner here with a group of 15 for a birthday party, and it was lovely. The hostess and waiters were attentive and enthusiastic. And the food, though i usually shy away from fusion, was a delightful balance of the Asian and European flavors. I'll definitely be back!

Recommends

emou

Joined 7 years ago

New vietnamese fave: Steak or duck?. Tao Cafe is quite an interesting place for vietnamese cuisine. Who expects to eat steak? Or confit of duck legs? As for desserts, I go for the Frenchlike desserts rather than the strange but wonderful vietnamese sweets. Those are the dishes that I remember from a ten-course meal I had there with a group of friends. Besides that, everything was good and fresh. Go for it!

Recommends

vivu

Joined 7 years ago

My new favorite place to dine. This is my new best place to have a casual "noodles time" with my friends (my favorites: the forever Bo Bun with minced beef and the Mi Ga with spicy chicken...yum) or less casual "date time". The decor is pretty and romantic. Service is gentle and not intrusive.

They are not open for lunch, c'est dommage.

Recommends

3cua

Joined 7 years ago

Best place to dine. By far, this is a best Vietnamese restaurant in SF. Food was delicious. The atmosphere/ambience is perfect for a date. In addition, service was great! I had no problem with service at all (not like other previous reviews-bad days perhaps.) I would recommend this restaurant for everyone to try out.

Recommends

cpreble

Joined 9 years ago

Pretty Good. The food was all pretty good. I enjoyed my meal and other I tasted at the table. The service was pretty crappy. They took drink and apetizer orders for some of us but just ignored the others. Then they forgot an entire meal and one person in our group had to sit there waititng for them to make his while the rest of us had our meal.

Recommends

cecileforman

Joined 8 years ago

back to simplicity. Lovers, friends, parents, children, everyone can feel welcome at Tao Cafe, where the food is simple but subtle and soothes a palate made weary by too many heavy meals. The setting is relaxed but elegant, the pace unhurried and friendly.

Recommends

daguirre

Joined 8 years ago

Excellent Vietnamese Cuisine. Tao Cafe serves delicious food that is a colonial combination of Vietnamese and French flavors. There is nary a dish on the menu that is less than exquisite. I especially like the claypots of halibut and prawn while my wife loves the warm salad. The lovely ambience and reasonable prices make Tao Cafe an excellent choice.

Recommends

bacua

Joined 8 years ago

User review by bacua. This is a great place for dining. Good foods and great service. And the price is right!