Asian-themed Tao, opening Tuesday, next up on Mohegan Sun's restaurant menu
Mar. 21—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.
All through the pandemic, work continued on the new bistro/lounge that's been tucked into space formerly occupied by Bobby Flay's Bar Americain.
"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. "With the state's restaurant restrictions lifting, we think this will help speed our recovery."
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.
"We're trying to create reasons to come to the property," Hamilton said of Tao's being added to Mohegan Sun's culinary mix. "There are more things here than gaming. There's distinctive food and beverage. This is a game-changer."
Brendan 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. In recent days, Tao has served Mohegan tribal members and invited guests in dry runs.
Anticipating operating at 50% capacity during its first few weeks, Tao has hired 75 employees and hopes to add about 50 more when fully open.
"We're spacing things out at first, then we'll slowly ramp up," McManus said.
When Tao started booking reservations three weeks before its scheduled opening, it took 1,300 of them in the first 48 hours, he said.
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. 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.
Chef 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.
Every 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. ... It's vibe dining."
