TAO - (Near Los Angeles, CA)

Kiu Siu Excellent farm to table California cuisine served at this casual chic restaurant. We were a party of 4 and enjoyed their cocktails, wines, appetizers to share and main dishes. The food here was outstanding, with well thought out flavoring to highlight the freshness of the ingredients. We will definitely return.

Marissa WT We had a wonderful meal for a friends 40th birthday at the Sky Room this week. Our server David was phenomenal! The atmosphere of the private room we were in surpassed our parties expectations. I had the special of short ribs which were perfectly cooked. The honey nut risotto was delicious, the flat iron steak was another favorite. From the wine to the cocktails it was a delight. I would definitely come back again on another trip to Long Beach.

Louisa Moore Due to its location in a more hoity-toity area of Southern California, this Houstons location attracts a lot of "see and be seen" types as well as the "ladies who lunch." Never in my life have I seen more designer handbags, clothes, and shoes than I have at this restaurant (not to mention plastic surgeries, LOL). That being said, Ive never felt out of place in my Chucks and Kohls jeans. This Houstons offers plenty of free parking, which is one of the major pluses of dining here! They also accept reservations, which I highly recommend. Otherwise, you could be facing upwards of a 90 minute (or longer!) wait at busy times. I usually eat here during lunch, and its just as crowded as it is at dinnertime. As with other locations, the service here is top notch. Professional, efficient, and welcoming, Ive always been pleased with our servers. My go-to menu items are the cheese toast appetizer and the house made veggie burger. Both are excellent (and pricey), but worth it. The cheese toast isnt really big enough to share (I could eat the entire plate myself), but its high quality. Nice, melty cheese on crunchy bites of toast...you cant go wrong. The veggie burger is one of the best in the world. Its made with beets, so it "bleeds" when you cut it. This gives it the appearance of a big, juicy burger although its made from vegetables. Im not sure the exact ingredients, but it looks like it has oats, rice, sweet potatoes, and other good stuff. I love to get broccoli as my side, and I feel like I have a very healthy meal. I usually take half to go because its a large portion and, considering the high quality of the ingredients, its more than satisfying! The menu is filled with so many yummy sounding things, and I dont think you can go wrong with anything you order. Budget around $80 for a nice lunch for two without booze.

Amani Dining at The Boathouse on the Bay was a wonderful experience. The restaurant’s setting is stunning—waterfront views that make you want to linger long after the meal. It’s the kind of place that feels both elevated and relaxed, perfect for a special night out. The food held up beautifully to the atmosphere: • Lobster Mac and Cheese (9/10): rich, creamy, and indulgent with fresh lobster throughout. The flavors balanced well without being overly heavy. • Caramelized Brussels Sprouts (10/10): perfectly roasted with a slight crisp, sweet yet savory, easily one of the highlights of the meal. • Boathouse Wagyu Burger (8.5/10): the quality of the meat stood out—juicy, well-seasoned, and served hot. While the burger itself was excellent, the fries felt a bit underwhelming in comparison and didn’t add much to the dish. The atmosphere was enhanced by a live band playing timeless classics, which made the dining experience feel even more special and memorable. Paired with the waterfront views, it created a relaxed yet elevated vibe that’s hard to beat. Beyond the food and music, the service was attentive and welcoming, making the entire evening seamless. Watching the sunset over the water while enjoying good food and live music is something I’d highly recommend. This is a place you come for both the flavors and the atmosphere, and it delivers on both.

Gabriela Cadena Loved our first visit. Thanks Marques for your excellent tips and service. Best were the churros for dessert and the cioppino. the ginger beer and rum cocktail was delicious. Will definitely have to return.

Dakota Crow Hands down, top food I’ve had and on top of it all was gluten free. I’m GF and the fact I had options outside of changing the bun, or just a burger is first win but I had fried chicken, gravy, Mac and cheese, bread and they weren’t subs it was just their menu. Sammy was an INCREDIBLE waitress and took care of us and added to the evening. It was all so filling and for the atmosphere and food it was fairly priced. We are visiting but would 100% go back, it was delish! You must go. And she brought a blanket out for us since we sat in their outdoor seating