. . "0"^^ . . "2007-08-18T00:00:00"^^ . "0"^^ . "4"^^ . "0"^^ . "everyone loves buddha, right? who doesn't? tao's got one, a 20-foot golden buddha gracefully staring down at you. now, that's what i'm talking about. this is vegas, baby, and it's all about money. FYI, tao was the highest grossing indepenent restaurant in the US in 2006. ($55 mil, that's $16 mil more than No.2). they must be doing something right.\n\ntao's service was surprisingly great although we arrived 8-ish without reservation. we were seated promptly with courtesy. our server was super nice and informative, as he explained every single dishes we've ordered as they arrived at our table.\n\ninterior deco was as usual. check it out for yourself on their website. \n\nsome of the dishes we've tried:\n\nsmall plate: thai stuffed shrimp with garlic, lime, and thai chili sauce \nsmall plate: satay of chilean sea bass with wok roasted asparagus\nwasabi crusted filet mignon with tempura of onion rings\nchef's roll\ndesert: chocolate zen parfait\n\nthe food was all excellent, but this place is really more about the vibe and the people-watching. tao is a popular destination for private parties among celebrities. the bill came out to be around $130, including a couple of drinks. not bad for a fun dinner in vegas.\n\ni would definitely visit there again next time i go to vegas."^^ .