FEELING hungry? How about some award-winning Cantonese cuisine?
Tao Cantonese Restaurant in Padgate topped the table in our search for Warrington’s Best Restaurant 2022 and it’s not surprising when you see what’s on the menu.
There’s crispy shredded beef coated in a Cantonese sauce, speciality dim sum and appetisers and deluxe prawn toast with so much prawn filling that it’s difficult to see the toast!
Since its launch at the end of April, the Best of 2022 competition has named winners in 20 in different categories.
Top honours for hair, nails, beauty, fitness, gym, children and independent shop have been given out as well as those for fish and chips, pies, pubs, beer garden, café, breakfast, afternoon tea, roast dinner, pizza, burger, curry and dessert already decided.
In our last category, we were looking for the town’s best restaurant and Tao took the number one spot beating off tough competition from several of Warrington’s popular restaurants.
Owner Vanessa Song opened her new restaurant on Padgate Lane at the beginning of March 2020 and after just two weeks, the global Covid-19 pandemic forced her to close the doors for several months.
With only being open for a few days, Vanessa couldn’t provide takeaway or deliveries of the restaurant meals and had to wait until restaurants were allowed to fully open before welcoming customers back.
Vanessa said: “We were a new business and just finding our feet when Covid-19 hit.
“We hadn’t had time to perfect our recipes and our dishes and didn’t feel that we could offer alternative options to dining in the restaurant.
“We re-opened in September 2020 with limited bookings so that people could get used to eating out again and feel safe.”
Tao promises timeless yet innovative Cantonese dining that is creative but authentic and the talented team is always coming up with new dishes and adapting old ones.
One review on their Facebook page said: “This is an amazing place – so welcoming with super attentive staff who aren’t overbearing.
“The food is five star - it’s the best we’ve had in a long time.”
Vanessa said: “We are so happy to win this award and it means so much to us.
“It’s recognition of everyone’s hard work and dedication to the restaurant since we opened.
“We have the best customers and the support they have given us since day one has been humbling.
“We always strive to share our love of food and provide a destination that will create special memories for everyone.”
Tao is open six days a week between 5pm and 10pm Tuesday to Friday, from 5pm until 11pm on Saturdays and between 3pm and 10pm on Sundays.
The Tao Sunday Feast offers customers the chance to try different things on the menu, encouraging diners to be a bit more adventurous and taste dishes that they wouldn’t usually order.
For more details go to facebook.com/taopadgate
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