We first came across Tao restaurant when they gracefully thanked us for our lovely review via Instagram. Very kind, but confusingly premature — considering we had never actually visited. Intrigued, we decided to see for ourselves (for real this time) what was going on at Newmarket’s newest Asian eatery.

Promising simple, fresh and seasonal fare, these aren’t the greying Chinese dishes that have been known to grace our tables come takeaway night. Tao, tucked onto the quiet Davis Crescent is a contemporary fusion restaurant serving refined oriental fare that is beautiful in both taste and looks. Dropping in for lunch we were instantly taken by the seven-strong dumpling line-up, swiftly ordering one of each, and though hard-pressed to pick a favourite, the squid ink-dyed seafood parcels stuffed with bass, scallops, calamari and prawn couldn’t have been on the table for more than a few seconds. With ‘classics’ like fried noodles and curry chicken too and nothing over $13 on the midday menu, the new spot makes for a sensibly delicious lunchtime outing.

Come dinner, a new selection of authentic Chinese dishes come into play. And as ordering ‘one of each’ probably isn’t all that logical, we’d suggest you go for the crispy fried tofu that arrives in a sticky mess of chilli sauce, and the braised pork belly with scallops and pesto that will go down as the most elegant iteration of surf and turf we’ve possibly ever seen. With dishes like the sweet and salty house salad offering respite from the heartier mains and the delightfully dangerous ‘Tao Creation’ cocktails to wash it all down, this modern restaurant is an all-rounder.

Though it may have taken us a little while to get to Newmarket’s newest Asian eatery, now that we have, we can officially tell you, it’s well worth the trip.

Opening Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-late