Let`s face it, usually when you go to a fun club or nightlife spot that doubles as a restaurant, you don`t expect a great meal. You`re there for the party and not the food. There are great clubs and there are great restaurants, but very rarely do you get these two qualities in the same place. That`s the rule. Okay, now here`s the exception: Tao at Venetian in Las Vegas. If you`re looking to do it all in one night, and by that I mean a few cocktails in a lounge, a wonderful dinner, and then a crazy night in the club, it`s all right there at Tao.

Start things off in the lounge, a 3000 square foot area adjacent to the restaurant on the entry level. Have a nice cocktail and make some conversation with friends. Check out the 20-foot tall signature Buddha hovering above the infinity pool. Dig the vibe. The design of the place is fantastic and there`s something interesting to see pretty much anywhere your eyes land. And I haven`t even mentioned the people. Tao isn`t exactly quiet. You wouldn`t describe it as intimate or cozy. This place is sprawling and on most nights it`s hopping big-time. Plenty of action, plenty of noise, plenty of good times if this is your cup of tea.

Okay, so now you`re ready for dinner. Hopefully you`re rolling with a big, festive group, because this is the place to do it. Lots of fun to be had in the 400-seat dining space. Order some sake shots and then feast your eyes on the Tao menu. Notice its outstanding array of choices from the Chinese/Japanese/Thai spectrum. Tao has outstanding sushi and sashimi. If that`s what you`re looking for you`ll be perfectly happy. But where they really excel is with hot dishes. Start off with some dumplings, all varieties to choose from ($10-12 for veggie/chicken/pork; $16 for lobster and shrimp).

When it comes to the main course, there is no question in my mind what Tao`s signature dish is, and that`s the miso glazed Chilean sea bass with wok veggies ($34). Absolutely the best Chilean sea bass I have ever had. Bite into it. Feel the glazed, slightly crunchy crust give way to a soft, juicy interior just bursting with flavor. I highly recommend that you order this dish. Of course there are other great options as well. Some other favorites include the Hong Kong shrimp with long beans and jasmine rice ($28) and the Korean bbq kurobata pork chop ($35).

The other thing that makes the meal at Tao are the excellent rice and noodle dishes. The Mandarin sizzled fried rice comes with either roast pork or Peking duck ($14) or shrimp ($18). Another personal favorite is the pad Thai noodles ($16). If you`re looking to get some vegetables into the mix, you can`t beat the Chinese broccoli with black bean sauce ($10).

And, as you`re eating all this great food, keep the cocktails flowing as well. The great thing about the food at Tao is that it`s substantial enough to absorb the booze but not so heavy that you`ll wind up with food coma. And that`s good if you`re heading to the club after dinner. You`re gonna need to cover a lot of ground at Tao`s 10,000 square foot party space, featuring a 40-foot outdoor terrace with stunning views of the strip.

No doubt about it, there are endless options for a night out in Vegas. But if you`re serious about finding the party and combining it with great food, there`s no better choice than Tao at Venetian.