Taurus

I went to Taurus early one evening with a friend. We had mussels steamed in white wine with some lemongrass as an appetizer. I ordered the tuna as my entrée. All of the food was delicious, and the service was wonderful. The ambiance was much improved as the sun set. The lighting was perfect! I only wish I could go back!

I loved the vibe at Taurus! The service, the food and the décor were all fabulous. I had the filet and my companion tried the shortribs, which were as tasty as promised by our waiter. I can’t wait to go back again!

I’ve been here twice; once for a x-​mas party and another time with the wife. The food selection is great and the fact the chef came out and offered us a special entrée himself was a bonus. I don’t expect that from any restaurant, but the fact that he had the class to do it and customize our meal was a real bonus. This place could really be a 5, but even though the food was really good, it just wasn’t enough to make me want to plan and go there frequently.
Don’t hesitate if you haven’t tried it, I imagine you’ll love it.

This place is ok. My date had the porterhouse. I tried a few bites kinda dry definitely not medium rare. Just not a tasty steak at all. I had the crab cake and the tuna, tuna, tuna apps as my dinner. Just so so. I’m always on the hunt for the best crab cake in Atlanta — and I did not find it here. Probably won’t be back here. Don’t like the strip mall aspect of the exterior. Interior just looks like it’s trying too hard. Service was fine no complaints.

My in-​laws took us to dinner at Taurus the other night and I was pleasantly suprised with the experience…
As some other reviewers mentioned, the elevator access thing is pretty cool (and one of the many things I like about Lobster Bar as well). The décor is lovely: super-​lofty ceilings, lots of windows, red (yet not cheesy) microfiber booths. It would be a good background for a business dinner or a romantic one.
Our server, Jacob, was one of the best servers I’ve ever seen. He was polite, respectful, friendly, funny — quite charming, actually. He was knowledge about the food and wines, attentive without being annoying or obsequious, and he took care of us so well we never needed to ask for anything. I recommend asking for him when you go although I think all of the waitstaff are probably pretty good.
On to the food… everything we ordered the other night was absolutely delicious! My husband and I both started with the steak tartare and it was outstanding. With the usual sweetness from the meat and the tangy saltiness from the lemon and capers came a little suprise: a little bit of some kind of hot sauce. It went very well with the other flavors of the tartare. My in-​laws had the cornmeal battered fried shrimp appetizer and it was actually really good — especially with the dipping sauce that came with it. I ordered the scallops for dinner and I have say that it was one of the best scallop dishes I’ve ever had. Scallops aren’t easy to cook properly but these were absolutely perfect. The flavor was delicate, there was a nice sear on the outside and the texture was heaven. Speaking of heaven, the bed of grits upon which the scallops were served was amazing. My husband and father-​in-​law ordered the braised short rib. I’m usually not a fan of braised meat but this was moist and flavorful. My mother-​in-​laws hot smoked salmon was just okay. The other three ordered dessert so I got to taste a couple of them: the ricotta cheesecake (I heard one reviewer say hers was served frozen — bummer) was truly great. Even if ours was previously frozen, you never would have known it. It had the perfect texture and flavor you’d expect of a ricotta cheesecake. My husband had the peach crème brûlée and I can’t even believe how good it was. We’re both crème brûlée fans and I wouldn’t think peaches would be so great as a flavoring but here’s what they did: instead of putting peach flavor in the custard itself, they poured the custard into the dish and placed 5 or 6 thin slices of peaches in the center before it went into the oven. It was brilliant! Not too peachy — very delicate and really just perfect.
All of the food presentation was done beautifully.
I read a lot of reviews that said the food was just okay. Maybe we just had a good night or maybe the items we happened to order are the ones best prepared there.
Negatives:
The wine list could use some reworking. It’s arranged by price instead of grape/​blend which is only a tiny bit annoying and I’d also like to see some more California red options by the glass (but that’s just me). The bread was mediocre. It had a nice presentation and good butter too but the bread itself — while looking and tasting okay (not great) — had a texture only slightly better than that of cheap bread rolls. They definitely need to find a new bread vendor.
All in all a very nice evening.

Its good, its not 5 star but its good. and not really 4 Three and a Half would be right on. Great Room, Pleasant and Informed Wait Staff, there but not pushy. The ceasar salad very nice. good size nice anchovy taste and the frico was a plesant suprise. The Halibut yummy but portion was small for the price point. had the potato portabello as teh side. THIS IS GREAT. RIBEYE very nice but over priced by 2 – 3 bucks (will not kill ya) great sear on it and the side was perfect. SERVED HOT THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO.

I have been here a few times. Its ok. I really like the layout, but your first impression upon arrival can come across as a bit pretentious. You check in with the girl standing behind the typical restaurant podium and then you have to take an elevator up a floor to be greeted by another girl. Kind of over the top for me.
Food is ok, but not out of this world. I think I read in an another review, mediocre, which is a good summary of the food. Also, its kind of loud inside, so having private conversations is pointless. Good for large groups looking to have a good time.

My party had 7:00 pm reservations on Saturday night, but we arrived a little early and spent an hour enjoying cocktails on the balcony before being seated. With a southward view and a good selection of pricey (remember you are in Buckhead) specialty drinks, the balcony is a nice place to unwind with a Manhatten or mojito and watch the sun set. Just remember to bring sunglasses. There is ample seating, even for our group of seven, and the cocktail waitress was patient and obliging, smiling the entire time while we shuffled the tables and chairs around to meet our satisfaction.
The décor in the large circular dining room is decent, but uninspired. Fortunately, the food was a good bit better than decent, although still not inspired. I ordered the grilled lamb T-​bones with butternut squash-​potato au gratin accompanied by a glass of Shiraz from the well-​planned wine menu. Yum!
Our waitress in the dining room was knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant and quick with the service.
What began to puzzle me about Taurus as the night wore on was that the place never filled up. From the time we arrived (say 6:30 ish) to the time we left (9:30 ish) we just about had the place to ourselves. I can’t think of another restaurant in Atlanta that is DEAD at 9:00 pm on a Saturday night.
We discussed it over dessert. And I realized as I bit into a STILL FROZEN ricotta cheesecake tart and tried to wash it down with an exceedingly bitter double espresso which was presented in a COFFEE CUP without a saucer OR a lemon curl (I suspect some imbecile double brewed coffee instead of actually espresso — this has happened before at a restaurant but not one as «nice» as this one) that the reason Taurus wasn’t packing in the crowds was that for as expensive as the place is and as many heights as it seems to aspire to it is merely mediocre.
Good for: Late afternoon drinks on the balcony with your entourage.

David was very creative on having my birthday dinner here! The clue: A place where you can relate to? It didn’t hit me until we were 2 min from the place that I figured out that my astrology sign was a Taurus… duh! Anyways, Leslie, Joel and Roxanne were free tonight as well to help me celebrate my 29^th birthday!
The restaurant is beautiful and it somewhat reminded me of what David and I wanted to do to the loft, if we had decided to keep it for awhile. It was fun taking the elevator on the third floor! (check out the picture i posted… it was in the elevator!) We had an extremely friendly waitress (Holly) and she did an incredible job! Since it was Mothers Day, they has a special 3 course dinner for $ 35.00 a person. Most of us started with a salad, except for Leslie… she got the crab cake. Roxanne and David got the sturgeon, Joel had the chicken, Leslie had the pork and I had the burger… as always!!! Everything was amazing! Best part was the dessert and we got one of everything to sample… Peanut Brittle Crème Brulee, Tres Leches, Homemade Ice Cream, and Berries and Cream.
Everyone had a fantastic time and even though it was a quiet birthday, it was PERFECT for me. I’ll be sure to party hard when I hit 30 next year!

Ok, so let me preface this review by saying I have only done appetizers and drinks at this spot. But I gotta show Taurus some love. So, on Thursdays apparently they have «Patio Thursdays», basically, on their very narrow patio they offer ½ off appetizers and various drink specials (one of which is a $ 5 mojito that is pretty damn good). Thats all you need to tell me for me sit my ass down and partake…
Taurus is hot. The entrance is actually a lobby area, where you are then whisked away by the elevator to get to the actual restaurant. Definitely a character builder for the space. I think any place that puts you on an elevator to get to it better look hot as hell when you actually get off the elevator. Trust, Taurus doesnt dissapoint. Its filled with these really high, trendy red/​black semi booths/couches.hell i dont know how to describe it, but very trendy, yet very sexy… Taurus looks like its somebody’s best kept secret.
Apparently they are known for their steak/​red meat/​lamb— i guess just the meat in general. As I only got appetizers, I tasted the rock shrimp and the lamb martini.
The rock shrimp was lightly battered and very warm. It came with a white/​creamy sauce that was pretty good. It was a pretty good amount of «skrimp» too, so i was satisfied with that. The lamb martini, comes in a martini glass and is basically a skewer of lamb slices cooked medium well atop mushrooms/​onions/​and other sauteed veggies. I dont like eating mushrooms, but Ill be damn if those things werent good sitting at the bottom of that martini glass. The lamb was pretty damn phenomenal, tender, well seasoned, and juicy. These ppl appear to know what they are doing on the meat side.
I’ll be back for dinner… trust that. But if not, you’ll catch me on some random azz Thursday sipping on a mojito in one hand, and lamb in the other…

Now that’s what I call a steak!
I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Taurus and am surprised as some of the more disappointing reviews.
The chef puts so much attention into the food preparation that the plates almost look too good to eat. They have an extensive (enough for me) wine list and many options for entrée.
The spinach salad kick started my taste buds and was the prefect precursor for my entrée. The steak was exquisitely cooked and had such an amazing flavor, I could have gone back for seconds.
The décor is enjoyable, and I didn’t notice any problems with the noise level. The price was right for the experience and our waiter was quite knowledgeable and attentive. I highly recommend this gem at Brookwood Place.

I wish i could give this one 3.5 stars. It was very good, but just not … je né sais quo … Great. And yet 3 stars seems to be a bit unfair.
Like a lot of restaurants, the atmosphere has the appropriate amount of flair, but the food is a bit mediocre. All sizzle, no steak, as they say in Texas.
A part of this could be personal preference — I am willing to sacrifice ambiance for good eats, others may feel differently.

As Deanna J. would say — «Wowza my Yowza!» This place is amazing!
My company treated a few associates to dinner here on Monday night and everything came together for a great experience. First, the restaurant is beautifully decorated and neatly appointed on the top floor of the Brookwood Place shopping center. The views aren’t «spectacular» per se, but having elevator access to a restaurant is a novelty in Atlanta.
Next, the service was great. We were in the private room and had two servers for 24 people and they were friendly and helpful. I especially appreciated the notice they took when 3 of us ordered the same glass of wine. Instead of charging us by the glass they suggested a bottle and I don’t think we would have made the connection due to the size of the group, so it was nice that they brought it to our attention.
Finally, the food was delicious. Every course was good and the chicken entrée was better than I thought it would be (mostly because part of it is served on the bone and I don’t understand how you are expected to eat a chicken leg in a nice restaurant… I digress…).
I’m really glad I finally checked them out and I hope to be back soon.

Hands down, the worst dining experience I have had in Atlanta. Horrible service. Horrible food. Over-​salted, tough seared tuna. Accompanied by a zucchini fritter that was overwhelmed with rosemary (reads: what chewing on a Christmas tree must taste like). Bleech!

I went out to a celebratory lunch at Taurus with a group from work. The décor is hip, though it was a bit dark for lunch. The lunch menu had a number of good-​looking choices. They do an interesting Pick-​3-​for-​$ 15 that one of the women selected. Her three choices came in cocktail glasses, though they all came out at the same time. That was a little weird given that her three were a soup, a chicken dish and a dessert. But it looked good.
I ordered the burger, medium rare with the portabello hash on the side. It was tasty and prepared properly. I was especially impressed by this since the guy sitting next to me also ordered the burger — his was medium well. In my experience, restaurants often have trouble pulling off preparing the same dish to two different specifications. I also liked the hash. Others at the table ordered the ribeye and the fried fish sandwich. Everyone enjoyed their food once it arrived.
So, the food was thoroughly acceptable, and I thought it was reasonably priced for a special-​occasion lunch. The service was very slow, though, even though the restaurant wasn’t terribly busy. Beverage service and the bussers seemed on point, but it took quite a long time for our orders to arrive. The meal took us about 2 hours total, so I’d stay away if you’re on a timeline.
Our server did do a great job of splitting the bill and even apportioned an even amount of the guest-of-honor’s lunch tab to each of the others. I definitely appreciate this convenience for going out with large parties (we were only 6, but it was still nice).

Taurus is definitely a cool looking bar. Unfortunately, outside of asthetic value, there wasn’t much substance there. Let me preface this review by saying that when we went to this place, it was sold to me as a «trendy steak place,» so that may be why I was a little less than satisfied with the results. The biggest pro was that my girlfriend did get a wonderful piece of trout, cooked to perfection. However, for a steak place, I was a bit underwhelmed by the «selection.» Not all that grand for a nuevo riche steak place. The ceaser salad is one of those that is a few full leaves of romaine lettuce, fresh out of the freezer. The zucchini was cold and mushy, which, is not exactly how I like it. The servers there are definitely «green» and really seem to force the high expense liqour on you. I’m a beer guy, and it took at least 2 – 3 times as long for the guy to go «find a beer» as for the martini’s or hard stuff our company was ordering. I think there is a definite upsell there in attempts to boost a tip, in that he kept asking «are you sure you dont want something else?» Nah, just bring me a cold heineken and a nice steak. Not all that, there’s definitely better steak places out there.
Pros: Nice deck, cool atmosphere, good mixed drinks, «complimentary» valet.
Cons: A little pricey for the quality of food, slow service, not really a steak place.

It pains me to write a mixed review of Taurus, because I have had some of the very best food there, and I want to recommend it highly, but I have also had some very bad food there. It is so convenient to my home. I like the manager. The waitstaff are friendly and well-​trained. The chopped salad is to die for. The salmon entrée, on the night I had it, was the best salmon I have ever tasted, but that was AFTER sending back a completely inedible filet. And this is a place that specializes in red meat. I had eaten at Longhorn a couple of days before, and they had done a much better job, for a far lower price. We went to Taurus during Midtown Restaurant Week, when they should be really strutting their stuff for new customers and the food they gave us was totally disgusting Mystery Meat. Yet another time, we took friends from San Francisco to dinner there and they raved about it. Taurus has a special each night of the week., but offer the same pork dish 3 of those nights. The braised short ribs (Friday) are delicious. Bottom line: when it’s good, it’s very, very good; when it’s bad, it’s horrid. Just send your food back and try again.
WELL, THEY DIDN’T MAKE IT. RIP, TAURUS. HOPE SOMETHING INTERESTING SHOWS UP IN THIS SPACE SOON.

Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere! This is a great place to take someone if you are looking for the WOW factor. Located on Peachtree & 25^th street… right where midtown meets buckhead,…This 2^nd floor restaurant is sort of a hidden location, and easily over looked. Not a place you just happen upon…
Esthetically, it is definitely pleasing. The space is artistic, dramatic and inviting. Even the bathrooms are a piece of art. Definitely a high-​end dining experience. The wait staff is very professional and knowledgable.
I’ve had some seriously yummy meals here, but I’ve also had a hand full of meals that were seriously unsatisfying. Best to visit for after dinner cocktails. I suggest sitting outside on the second-​story patio, overlooking the cityscape… Its definitely a great view of the city.
If you are looking to have a private party, they do have a great private room. Food can sometimes leave a little to be desired, but the atmosphere somewhat makes up for its shortcomings.
A little unpredictable when it comes to food, Id suggest asking your waiter for a recommendation.
Food: 3
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Recommendations:
Cocktails at the Bar
Fried Shrimp appetizer (life changing)
All in All: Seriously Awesome Atmosphere, & A Bit Unpredictable!

Attractive interior, menu and view, but I’m never one to say, «hey, let’s go to Taurus.» I’ve tasted some tasty things here, but I’ve also had full meals that were seriously unsatisfying. I don’t particularly like any of the sides, and the entrees are so-​so. Go for a drink or two and sit outside on the second-​story patio, overlooking the cityscape.

Not my favorite steakhouse in atlanta, Taurus is a great concept but I always seem somewhat unimpressed. The room itself is so dramatic and stylish high above Brookwood in between Midtown and Buckhead. I had a terrible filet here, it was pan roasted in a soupy sauce with cauliflower. The meat was not seared properly and quite mushy in texture. The other sides we tried included asparagus (a little too smoky from the fire) and a decent version of mashed potatoes. I used to go here a lot as I lived up the street. I’m not really running back since my move to a different neighborhood. I can’t quite put my finger on what is wrong here, they have a good chef, good concept, great location, and it is certainly busy enough. Maybe it needs more of a soul?