Tao Garden — Restaurant in Chandler

If I could give 0 stars, I would. We had one of the worst restaurant experiences we’ve ever had. My husband’s dish was so over-salted it was completely inedible. I ordered the lemon chicken, expecting the traditional sauce made with lemon, garlic, soy, and a thickener. Instead, I was served a dish that was clearly just a sweet-and-sour style sauce — reddish-orange, tangy, and absolutely no trace of lemon. I never order sweet-and-sour because I don’t care for it, so this was extremely disappointing. The drinks were just as bad. The iced tea tasted like watered-down coffee scrapings, so I politely asked for a Coke instead. Unfortunately, the Coke tasted off as well — all syrup and barely any carbonation. The only thing that was remotely acceptable were the cream cheese wontons. On top of the poor food and drinks, the prices are far too high — $3.00 for a soda and overpriced dishes that were not edible. I also need to note something very important: I am deathly allergic to shellfish. I always make a point of checking with the server to ensure that shellfish and non-shellfish items are cooked in separate oil and with separate utensils. We felt reasonably comfortable eating here since the menu had a very limited amount of shellfish, and I didn’t think oyster sauce or lobster would make its way into a lemon chicken dish. However, the language barrier was so severe that I could not be confident I was understood. That is extremely concerning from a food safety perspective.

We ate very little of our meals and politely told the server that the food quality was very poor. Our plates were still nearly full — clearly showing we weren’t just trying to get a “free meal.” Instead of addressing the issue, the server disappeared and never came back. After nearly 10 minutes we went to the counter, where the full bill was handed to us. When my husband reasonably pointed out that it didn’t seem appropriate to charge for inedible food and terrible drinks, the manager or owner came out, threw her hands up, and loudly said, “What’s your problem?” This behavior was shocking and extremely unprofessional. She repeatedly insisted the food was “authentic Chinese food,” which it was not. Authentic Chinese food is not over-salted, lemon chicken is not sweet-and-sour, and soda should actually taste like soda.

To top it off, she told us to “just look online at her reviews.” My husband rightly said he doesn’t care what’s online — the food we were served that night was horrible and inedible, and the way we were treated was unacceptable. At that point, I simply asked him to pay the bill and leave. I rarely leave negative reviews, but between the food being wrong, two different drinks being undrinkable, one dish so salty it couldn’t be eaten, my concerns over shellfish handling not being understood, and the manager’s completely inappropriate behavior, I feel it’s important to warn others.

With the number of excellent restaurants in the greater Phoenix area, places that serve poor food at high prices and treat customers with hostility instead of respect should not expect to last. We...

I had eaten here a few times and liked it. After today, I will NOT be returning. First off the food was only ever "ok" but the lunch deals were great, so I wasn't too picky if I got eggrolls that tasted like they came premade and frozen... Today, as my 5 yr old and I were eating, the place was empty except for a table of what seemed to be employees hanging out. At that point I wasn't sure. two guys are talking loudly, having a conversation that seemed heated, when one of them gets up, starts aggressively and loudly spewing the N word and F bombs, repeatedly between other incomprehensible mumbling... He turns, SPITS ON THE FLOOR cusses some more and goes to the restroom. I was thinking, "Are they going to kick this guy out, or is he a friend of the employees?" I was actually afraid he was about to "Start something." He comes out a few minutes later and continues with his N and F words, then disappears into the kitchen! As if the profanity wasn't enough, his aggression was actually scary, and someone who WORKS IN THE KITCHEN, SPITTING on the floor in the dining area, has got to be the most repulsive thing I've seen as far as scary restaurant experiences go. What does he do in the back where no customers can see him??? I have worked in restaurants for years and have seen a few faux pas, but this was horrifying! I really wish I had seen that before we ate! I still feel gross!

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14 reviews

1.0 star rating

10/20/2017

I had eaten here a few times and liked it. After today, I will NOT be returning. First off the food was only ever "ok" but the lunch deals were great, so I wasn't too picky if I got eggrolls that tasted like they came premade and frozen... Today, as my 5 yr old and I were eating, the place was empty except for a table of what seemed to be employees hanging out. At that point I wasn't sure. two guys are talking loudly, having a conversation that seemed heated, when one of them gets up, starts aggressively and loudly spewing the N word and F bombs, repeatedly between other incomprehensible mumbling... He turns, SPITS ON THE FLOOR cusses some more and goes to the restroom. I was thinking, "Are they going to kick this guy out, or is he a friend of the employees?" I was actually afraid he was about to "Start something." He comes out a few minutes later and continues with his N and F words, then disappears into the kitchen! Even if I didn't care about profanity and political correctness, his aggression was actually scary, and someone who WORKS IN THE KITCHEN, SPITTING on the floor in the dining area, has got to be the most repulsive thing I've seen as far as scary restaurant experiences go. What does he do in the back where no customers can see him??? I have worked in restaurants for years and have seen a few faux pas, but this was horrifying! I really wish I had seen that before we ate! I...

Value, value, value. That is what this place provides in abundance - delicious Chinese food at a very reasonable price. Walking into the place, it looks like a slightly aged version of an Americanized Chinese restaurant, but the clientele that frequent the establishment that are engaging in beautiful Mandarin conversations around the room add an air of authenticity to this otherwise unassuming restaurant. If you want a great deal, go there especially during lunch, where the specials include soup, egg roll and crab puff with your entree well under 9 dollars. The service is friendly and prompt, with none of our food ever taking very long to come out, and when it does, is beautifully presented, hot and fresh. My particular favorite is the Mongolian beef, but every thing I have tried is has been tasty, and the non-lunch menu items have also been worth the fare. The beef and broccoli was presented with a thoughtful arrangement that surprised me--I had expected just a random pile in the middle of the plate. This isn't a high-end high-dollar restaurant by any means, but the facilities are clean and comfortable, with a homey wood paneling throughout. The parking is ample in a shopping center that is declining a bit in popularity, so access is very easy. Stop by this place for lunch and you won't be disappointed...