Dramatic Chinese-French fusion w/ Michelin star. Expect theatrical plating & unique textures; a spot for special occasions.
Will Hartman reviews Yingtao, a Hell's Kitchen tasting menu restaurant offering a dramatic blend of Chinese and French cuisine, perfect for special occasions.
This Hell's Kitchen establishment offers a dramatic and theatrical fine dining experience, blending Chinese ingredients with French techniques. Expect meticulously plated dishes focusing on delicate flavors and varied textures, with highlights like silky soy milk custard and creative takes on traditional desserts. It's a place for special occasions, though some find its style a bit too serious.
The cuisine is a refined blend of Chinese flavors with French techniques, presented in a fine-dining tasting menu format. Dishes like silky soy milk custard, crab noodles, and a reimagined nian gao dessert are highlighted positively. While some reviewers find the flavors dull or portions small, and a few note a more Western influence than traditional Chinese, the creative preparations and textures are generally well-received.
"Dishes like the soy milk custard with celery root, crab noodles with egg yolk and smoked tobiko, and a creative nian gao dessert are specifically praised. A duck dish with Peking influence and a spicy chili oil ice cream cake have also been noted positively."
Customer sentiment is largely positive, with many recommending it for its fine dining experience and creative Chinese-French fusion cuisine. However, a few reviews note that flavors can be dull or portions small, and some feel it leans too heavily into Western fine dining aesthetics.
Important Note
Some reviews suggest the restaurant may lean heavily into Western fine dining aesthetics, potentially overshadowing its Chinese roots. One reviewer found it to be the most 'bootleg' Chinese restaurant they'd visited.
"The author attended a tasting at YingTao a few years ago and found it to be a positive experience overall. While there were a few dishes that missed the mark, the tasting menu was creative and enjoyable. The staff were also very receptive to feedback."
Positive"Yingtao is listed as a recommended, albeit pricey, option."
Neutral"The author has attended a previous collaboration event at YingTao and plans to attend their 2-year anniversary. They anticipate the event will be enjoyable but do not expect a large quantity of food."
Neutral"Yingtao was also the first restaurant that came to the commenter's mind."
Positive"Yingtao is listed as a recommendation for a special meal."
Positive"Yingtao is described as the only Chinese spot on the Michelin list and is critically reviewed as the most 'bootleg' Chinese restaurant the commenter has ever visited."
Negative"The commenter suggests Yingtao, a Chinese restaurant with a Michelin Star, as a more intimate fine dining option with better food and cocktails compared to Buddakan."
Positive"Ying Tao is considered great for solo diners and fits the desired vibe, although the menu might be unique."
Positive"The tasting menu at Ying Tao, seated at the front bar, is recommended."
Positive"This user listed YingTao as a recommended Chinese restaurant in the area."
Positive"This commenter recommended Yingtao as a good option for a special dinner."
Positive"This user suggests Yingtao as a one-star option worth stopping at."
Positive"This commenter found Ying Tao to be very solid and enjoyed it, contrasting it with The Musket Room which they found forgettable."
Positive"This user had a positive experience at Ying Tao, enjoying the service and a unique spicy chili oil ice cream cake, despite it being before its Michelin star. They found the environment more laid-back than other options."
Positive"This commenter states they have never been to Ying Tao."
Neutral"This user was unimpressed by Yingtao, finding it more of a Western-style fine dining experience. They recommend Tuome instead for fusion, or JuQi, Blue Willow, and Uluh for a more traditional but elevated experience."
Negative"The original poster acknowledged YingTao's photos looked very non-Chinese, agreeing with the previous comment's sentiment."
Neutral"This user found YingTao to have French influences rather than being purely upscale Chinese, with only a tofu dish being memorable. They shared this for a balanced perspective."
Negative"This user had a very satisfying experience at YingTao for their birthday."
Positive"YingTao is suggested as an obvious choice for upscale Chinese dining, noting its expensive tasting menu and unique positioning."
Neutral
