What to order at Zuma, TAO, Mr Chow and Philippe Chow
Our recent dining notes: Zuma’s miso black cod, sushi at TAO Uptown and Downtown, Mr Chow on 57th Street and Philippe Chow’s Peking duck.
A useful restaurant recommendation should tell you what to order and why you might return. These four choices begin with dishes we have actually enjoyed, from Zuma’s miso black cod to the Peking duck at Philippe Chow. The notes come from our editor’s recent meals; restaurant links provide current location and menu information.
This is a short list of recommendations, not a ranking of every restaurant in New York. TAO’s two Manhattan dining rooms are considered together because the experience at both forms part of our assessment. Prices and holiday menus need a separate check when you reserve.
Zuma New York: order across the kitchen
Zuma earns its place for the balance between sushi and cooked dishes. The miso black cod is the first thing we would return for: consistently delicious in our experience, with the accompanying dipping sauce a particularly successful part of the dish. A meal here need not depend on raw fish alone.
The spider rolls were another highlight, and the appetizers and salads gave the table good reasons to keep sharing. A recent tomato salad was excellent. Our preferred approach is to give the cooked kitchen as much attention as the sushi selection: black cod, a roll and a salad make a more interesting starting point than ordering only from one part of the menu.
Our observations here concern Zuma New York. Its New York sample menu lists black cod marinated in saikyo miso and a dynamite spider roll with soft-shell crab. Consult the location’s current menu rather than assuming identical dishes throughout the group.
Our order: miso black cod, spider rolls and a salad alongside the appetizers that appeal to the table. Zuma New York.
TAO Uptown and Downtown: the food keeps pace
At both TAO Uptown and TAO Downtown, the service has been a strength in our experience. Food has arrived quickly and with consistently good flavor. That combination matters when a dinner needs to feel generous without losing momentum.
The Chinese dishes were the main focus of our meals, while the sushi rolls were surprisingly good and deserve a place in the order. The drinks menu is another reason to consider TAO for a social dinner. We would order across the kitchen rather than treat sushi as an afterthought.
TAO’s broader identity is an Asian bistro, with menus that extend beyond Chinese cooking. The Uptown menu includes dim sum, seafood and other dishes; the two dining rooms should still be booked as specific locations. Uptown suits a Midtown plan, while Downtown puts the evening in Chelsea. Choose around where you want to be afterward.
Our reason to return: flavorful food, good rolls, drinks and dependable service across both visits. TAO Uptown · TAO Downtown.
Mr Chow on 57th Street: a strong meal at the original New York address
The recent meal at Mr Chow on East 57th Street was excellent. Dumplings, egg rolls and main courses all made a strong impression; the quality held across the order rather than resting on one standout dish. For a group that wants high-quality Chinese food, it is an easy recommendation from these dining notes.
The 57th Street restaurant opened in 1979 and is at 324 East 57th Street. That is the original New York location, distinct from the restaurant’s international origins and its other branches. The address matters when making a reservation: this assessment concerns the 57th Street meal.
We would begin with the dumplings and egg rolls, then choose main courses for the table. The meal’s quality gives us good reason to return and explore the menu further.
Our starting order: dumplings and egg rolls before the shared main courses. Location and reservations.
Philippe Chow: make the Peking duck the reason
The Peking duck at Philippe Chow was excellent: delicious, high quality and the dish we would specifically recommend. It gives the meal a clear center. If duck is what brings your group together, this is the order to plan around.
Our existing report, Philippe Chow at 20: Duck, Dancers and a Toast on Fifth Avenue, documents the October 6, 2026 anniversary celebration with original photographs and films, including duck service. That was the twentieth-anniversary occasion. It provides the context for this recommendation without turning one celebration into a claim about every ordinary dinner service.
The restaurant’s own introduction also highlights Peking duck. When reserving, ask about the current portion, preparation time and any advance-order requirement for your chosen location. Those details can affect how the rest of the table orders.
Our order: Peking duck. Use the anniversary report for the event photographs, and the restaurant for current reservations and menus.
Choose for the meal you want
For our next order, Zuma would start with black cod; TAO with a mix of cooked dishes and rolls; Mr Chow with dumplings and egg rolls; and Philippe Chow with duck. Those are four different starting points for a dinner, supported by actual meals rather than a list assembled from popularity alone.
For a holiday reservation, confirm that the dishes you want remain available. Read our Thanksgiving weekend guide for planning the wider visit, or browse Restaurant Reviews & Dining for more food coverage.
Keep reading
Paris · Art, Dining & Nightlife
Art by Day, Paris by Night: Where to Eat and Go Out During Paris Art Week
A five-day Paris dining and nightlife route for October 23–27, 2026, with Art Basel, Loulou, Caviar Kaspia, Manko and the late-night addresses to know.
Dining & Travel
The table before the party: how to book Miami’s sought-after restaurants
Carbone, COTE, Mandolin and Casa Tua: four different evenings, official reservation links and a practical plan for dining around Miami’s event calendar.
New Year’s Guides · Travel
Times Square New Year’s Eve 2027: viewing parties, restaurants and a warmer countdown
Compare indoor ball-drop views, dinner parties and rooftop packages for December 31, 2026, including Bowtie Bar, Marriott Marquis and The Knickerbocker.