TAO Restaurant at Mohegan Sun will be designed in collaboration with award-winning architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, which has worked with Tao Group Hospitality on 16 previous projects, as well as on various projects across Mohegan Sun. “We are beyond excited to have Tao Group Hospitality join our impressive and growing list of strategic partners for our flagship Mohegan Sun property.” “Aligning with highly-sought after and recognized brands with goals mutual to ours is a key component to sustaining a successful integrated entertainment resort,” said Mario Kontomerkos, Chief Executive Officer for Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment (MGE).

TAO Restaurant’s beverage program caters to Asian tastes with creative, approachable craft cocktails and a robust saki program. Guests will be able to dine on offerings from the sea, sky and land, with signature dishes that have become synonymous with the TAO brand such as the Satay of Chilean Sea Bass, Lobster Wontons, Peking Duck, Crispy Snapper in “Sand” and highly-lauded Tuna Sashimi Pringle.

A main feature of the décor is a 16-foot-tall statue of Quan Yin, the Buddhist goddess revered by the Chinese, which overlooks a live koi pond.Ĭhef Ralph Scamardella, a Tao Group Hospitality partner, will oversee a menu that includes such signature Tao dishes as the Satay of Chilean Sea Bass, Lobster Wontons, Peking Duck, Crispy Snapper in “Sand,” and Tuna Sashimi Pringle.Įvery night, at least initially, a DJ will contribute to the atmosphere Tao seeks to create, McManus said, adding, “The idea is to transport you to the world of Tao.The kitchen will be helmed by Partner/Chef Scamardella featuring a menu of elevated Pan-Asian fare. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant, which has seating for 300 people, comprises 3,800 square feet of main dining and circulation space, a 1,600-square-foot lounge and two 700-square-foot semiprivate dining rooms. When Tao started booking reservations three weeks before its scheduled opening, it took 1,300 of them in the first 48 hours, he said. “We’re spacing things out at first, then we’ll slowly ramp up,” McManus said.

In recent days, Tao has served Mohegan tribal members and invited guests in dry runs.Īnticipating operating at 50% capacity during its first few weeks, Tao has hired 75 employees and hopes to add about 50 more when fully open. This is a game-changer.”īrendan McManus, director of operations for Tao Group Hospitality, which operates restaurants and nightlife venues under a number of brand names, said the pandemic presented some challenges, including the need to prepare restaurant staff via virtual training sessions. “We’re trying to create reasons to come to the property,” Hamilton said of Tao’s being added to Mohegan Sun’s culinary mix. This is Tao’s sixth incarnation, the others being in downtown and midtown Manhattan locations and in Chicago and Los Angeles and at The Venetian resort casino in Las Vegas. “With the state’s restaurant restrictions lifting, we think this will help speed our recovery.” “Construction slowed and materials were scarce - at one point, glass was hard to find - but we never stopped, and I think we’re opening at the perfect time,” said Jeff Hamilton, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager. Mohegan - While COVID-19 caused restaurants at Mohegan Sun and everywhere else to shut down and then gradually reopen over the past year, it did not significantly alter the casino’s plans for Tao, the Asian-themed restaurant set to open Tuesday just off the Sky Tower’s hotel lobby.Īll through the pandemic, work continued on the new bistro/lounge that’s been tucked into space formerly occupied by Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain. TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge, a new Asian-themed restaurant at Mohegan Sun.

Tao mohegan sun opening date