lintv - Tao Fusion Restaurant

Tao Fusion

Restaurant Review
by the lintv team

New kid on the restaurant block is the sleek and modernist restaurant Tao Fusion - a Chinese and Japanese Restaurant blended smoothly into one.

the main Bar Street drag, with splendid views of Theoskepasti Church. If you are seated at the front of the dining area, you have a perfect vista of the sky as the sun goes down. Also in its favour is the fact that it has wheelchair and pram access and does not use monosodium glutamate (MSG) in its cooking.

The striking exterior is both modern and classy. Inside is no less elegant with a red and black colour scheme and minimalist style furniture which complements designer lighting. A point two in its favour is that it is one of the few Paphos restaurants with smoking and non-smoking sections.

Eastern cuisine and the wine and beers are chosen to compliment the subtle tastes and textures of Tao's menu. Once our drinks were ordered and a generous plate of prawn crackers had arrived at the table, Dimos, the young and energetic owner, told us the story behind Tao Fusion. Why open a restaurant serving Chinese/Japanese food in Paphos? The answer is without doubt "to raise the standards of oriental cooking in Paphos".

the delicious dishes described in the menu, Dimos suggested ‘Vegetable Spring Rolls’ and ‘Toasted Prawns with Sesame’ to start.

The geometric lacquered Japanese style tables were spaciously positioned with room for privacy. Traditional chopsticks were placed on the table, but neither of us felt brave enough so we used the delicate cutlery in keeping with the restaurant's fine style.

The chefs are plainly a painstaking and dedicated team of culinary artists...when you see how the dishes arrive adorned with freshly sculpted beetroot pieces and carved carrots that resemble spring flowers in bud...you will see what we mean. The spring rolls were suitably delicate, served with a mildly tangy sauce which set off the flavour perfectly. As for the ‘Toasted Prawns with Sesame’ the crunch of the sesame seeds on the succulent prawns and toasted squares was delicious.

While we were waiting for the main courses, Dimos told us about how he became a restrauteur. With a pedigree in hospitality working as a barman for his uncle for many years, Dimos clearly thrives within the catering business. What fascinated us most was that Tao Fusion sits on the original site of his family home. Dimos pointed out the corner where his bedroom once was with great fondness!

The mains arrived – a delight to the eye. Much attention is paid to the presentation. The dishes were kept warm with decorative candle heaters allowing diners to serve themselves at leisure.

We opted for the crispy chicken with lemon sauce and sizzling cod. A wrap of piquant sweet and sour sauce set off the lean lines of the chicken. The cod was tender and tasty, a texture that contrasted with its crispy batter coating. Choices of plain boiled rice and the more exotic are all available on the menu to accompany your main course as are a selection of noodles. The egg-fried rice and vegetable noodles we selected had all the hallmarks of those smoky flavours on offer in down-town Soho.

For desert, we were offered the set-piece banana fritters served with honey and pistachio sprinkled dollops of ice-cream which worked well with the crispy batter texture coating. Dimos made a good choice for us when he suggested we try chocolate soufflé too. Creamy and mild it was a delightfully gentle ending to a culinary journey.

Take Away and delivery are also available at no extra charge within the Paphos area at a 17% discount on restaurant prices.

Don't worry about parking in down-town Kato Paphos - just a few hundred metres away is a large car park. If it stays true to its fusion menu and avoids slipping into a snack cuisine for tourists, Tao Fusion could be the oriental restaurant Paphos visitors and residents have been waiting for. And most surprising of all are its very reasonable prices.

Bon Appetit - or rather, Tchi-ma-yon!

Contact Details:
   Tai Fusion
   Dionisiou 7, Kato Paphos
   Take Away/ Delivery/ Reservations: 99 774 261

Located in a busy hub of the tourist area, Tao Fusion is just off

The wine menu is suitable for the simplicity of

Born in Paphos, he spent many a year researching oriental cuisine during his time in China. His passion for all things 'oriental' is evident from the exotic decor and clean cuisine he and his team serve up. He even talks to his Oriental staff in Cantonese - beavering away in the kitchen are three chefs from China and one chef from Japan.