On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Asian Fusion, Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: Theater District57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
7th Ave-53rd St (B, D, E)
57th St-6th Ave (F)
Mon-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Loading...
I've been here twice now and each time has been a pleasant experience. The food is just ok (hence 4 stars only), but the ambiance is great. Just sitting there in the Chinese tea house themed furniture surrounded by chinese tea sets and various books makes you feel relaxed and more "radiant." (sorry)
They have SO many menus! I generally like to keep to the usual hot teas but their cold drinks are quite good as well. The mochi sets are a bit small and taste is so-so, but they're cute! Prices are a little more than Cha-an (my fav), but it's such a pleasure to find this haven in the midst of midtown. We came here for the first time right before a concert at Carnegie Hall and I'm so glad I found a hang out place if I ever need to be in the area and have some time to kill.
I have to say though, one of the things that made this a really great experience was the server. You know which one I'm talking about. He's super friendly and nice and knowledgeable and rather cute too! We've had other servers but once we found out that he's the one who really knows what he's doing, we just went straight for him. This is not to say the others are not nice... but it's good to have a server that really seems to enjoy what he's doing and is good at it!
I'd definitely recommend this place for anyone who's into tea or just Asian culture. The food is more Japanese but there are many Japanese and Chinese teas to select from. Now if only we can find a place like this in the middle of Central Park...
I went to Radiance in July because I found it online when researching which teashops to go to in NYC.
I have to say, it was our first stop when we got to the city, and a lovely teashop.
The Space:
The space is light and airy, with lots of blond wood, and an unusual tin sculpture feature on the counter. The collection of Falun Gong propaganda was a little odd, but it didn't detract from the experience of drinking tea. What DID detract was the teasets with really bright lights behind them shining in our faces while we drank.
The Tea:
We enjoyed the tea. Thoroughly. And there were lots of menus. I do think they could simplify this, even though they have lots of different kinds of tea. We read about the health benefits, as well as the flavor, as well as background on the tea. It was a lot to take in.
The Service:
We were served by a young man who was very knowledgeable about tea, and very friendly. We asked him where we should go next, and he suggested Ito-En. And we were very grateful for his suggestion.
This may come as a surprise to those of you who know me as a cocktail junkie, but I spent last Friday night at a tea shop. Really.
(Before you start wondering what the matter is, let me assure you that all is well because I spent Saturday night at White Star, but more on that later)
---
They've got the service angle right : 5 on 5. In order to understand what job satisfaction is, you've got to meet the manager here - His name is Dan. Dan is one happy camper. Not in the squeaky annoying way, but in the easygoing, warm way that makes you want to rethink your career choice.
We ordered 3 pots between the 6 of us, which was way too much tea. But you know what, we drank all of it. Hic!
-The ginger milk tea was my favourite - black tea subtly simmered with milk and lots of fresh ginger. Mmmm - perfect for a rainy day.
-Fruit and Flower tea
My friend was trying to mess around with Dan, saying " I want something that's not too hot, not too cold, not too strong, blah blah, blah."
Dan goes, " I have the perfect thing for you."
Seems like Dan was right, because my friend fell in love with the tea. We made fun of him for drinking a bright pink liquid out of a small cup with his pinky sticking out (okay that part didn't happen), but he just slurped his way through.
-Another friend had a cold and she wanted something to make her feel better . She was handed a chamomile peppermint infusion with a little rock sugar to soothe her throat. She loved it.
-One of us also got the sweet and smoky, an iced drink which has this very unusual smoked flavour, with chocolate and tea notes wafting through the smoky maze.
The mini mochi bites were average - while I enjoyed some of the flavours, they really do pale in comparison to the tea and great service at Radiance.
I will return, again and again. It is a large, clean space, perfect to catch up on some reading or for quiet conversations with friends on a rainy day.
This is a great little spot to relax, have a pot of tea and maybe some food stuffs. I saw a few reviews about there not being much on the menu, but honestly, they don't really need all that much more. The drawing factor of this joint is the tea, not the food. Although the food was pretty damn good.
The service was amazing. Our waiter was so so nice and when I asked him for recommendations, he very enthusiastically gave some. I also had the cold sesame chicken noodles which were AMAZING. I gobbled it up so fast.
Two downsides? It is a bit pricey. Not crazy expensive, but not someplace I'd go every week. And when it gets busy (as it did on Friday night when I was there), it's hard to get your check.
This place was amazing! I first passed by this place a few months ago and was very curious to find out how good their teas were. I have to say it's the best I've had so far.
I was lucky enough to come by just before the place got busy. Once I sat down my server handed me 3 menus. There were so many selection of teas that I had to take 15 minutes to just look through everything.
With the help of my waitress, I decided to get this floral herbal tea. When you drink a tea and you don't have any inkling of asking for sugar or milk, you know it's great tea.
Along with my drink, I ordered the rice balls. I selected the lobster, shrimp and Japanese plum rice balls. Everything was great; though the shrimp rice ball was bland.
After finishing my lunch, I ordered their sundae. I chose green tea ice cream that came along with mochi and their homemade roasted nuts. It was very light. And I still drank the tea while eating the sundae and the taste was still the same.
I love this place and plan to go whenever I get the chance.
First, the tea selection and quality is amazing. I shared a pot of ginger peach black tea with a girlfriend which did not disappoint. Second, the service was spot on with just the right blend of attentive but not overbearing wait staff.
I wasn't a big fan of the ambiance however. On the left is a book/pottery/wellness store and on the right is the tea shop with seating. It was a little like being in the cafe at an Asian Barnes and Noble - an image that grew stronger as the place became more crowded.
So Saturday morning, I was excited to have scouted out a new lunch spot to explore. My sister happened to be visiting, and she is vegetarian... and I'm pretty much a walking dictionary for dining, unless you are one of my vegetarian friends, in which case, you're SOL. I peeked at the food menu, and thought, hey, this place could work for vegetarians! Albeit the menu did seem a little small, but we went anyway.
As everyone else has said, this IS an oasis in Midtown. Sitting here feels like you're at the Japanese version of Borders... but with lots of tea. Any maybe not that many books (I think the idea is that you bring your own books?) So maybe Borders is a bad analogy, but you get the idea.
Let's get to the food part. EVERYTHING is handmade, which means it's DELICIOUS, but also takes an eternity to make. Handmade dumplings? Delicious. Miso soup from scratch? Delicious. Rice balls? Yes, please. Unforunately, I've already covered pretty much half of the food menu. It is a small menu, indeed. In fact, that is the sole reason I am docking a star.
If you are a tea connoisseur, you MUST try this place. I'm pretty sure the tea menu is larger than the dinner and lunch menu. Now that I think about it, I've been here 3 times, and I've never even ordered tea... is that weird?
I was so excited walking in here. I've been meaning to check this place out since it has been open!
Very cute interior, with a great friendly staff.
I had the lunch box combo with pork/veggie dumplings and little soupy pork buns. It was delicious!! The pork and veggie dumplings are hand made and our waiter told us it's one of a kind (don't know about that). But they were moist and yummy. The soupy pork buns were also really good, but a bit oily so if you don't want oily- stay away.
I also loved the home-made dressing on the salad.
I wish the menu was more dynamic though. I mean, I know this is a tea house and not a food house, but still! They should put more stuff on the food menu.
I had the tangerine white tea. My boyfriend had one of the Chai teas. Both were good and it's great that you can keep brewing it over again (basically saying.. free teapot refills) It's a little overpriced but then again, you get free refills and your paying to sit at the beautiful cafe.
I would say they need more seats though, it got packed really quick and sometimes people want to come in and take their time with their tea. Not be rushed out because there are people waiting to sit.
Cute book selections. I saw some Asian children's books that are related to tea, and great book selections on learning more about tea.
Overall- fun and great place to chillax and rejuvenate your soul with some great tea!!! Definitely coming back here very soon. :D
I would give 3.5 stars, but since I can't I'll just go with 3.
It's a nice place to relax and have tea. Having said that, be prepared to wait. I think the whole "zen" thing is a bit overboard, when you have to wait 30 minutes to get your tea. Especially when there's not that many people in the restaurant.
The tea was very tasty (I got the Sweet Dragon something) but a little on the pricey side I thought. $15 for a pot....is that normal? I can't tell anymore b/c I haven't been to many tea places lately.
The mochi are delicious although more on the bite-size portion. The red bean, taro, and black sesame are my fav.
The guy serving us was very helpful and nice, so definite points for that. Also if you are paying with credit card, you have to write down the tip before they swipe, otherwise prepare to have cash on hand.
half japanese food place/half bookstore. Alot of visual stimulation here and if you work in the 50's and 5-7 ave's, this is right near you.
yum yum dumplings and homemade miso soup to DIE FOR. Also, the summer chicken noodle thing was pretttttyyy delish, too. If you feel like getting out of the office, hop on over. I did and am glad.
Overpriced.
I understand that Midtown rent is probably really high. But, they need to upgrade quality to meet the price they are charging.
(The service was excellent though; which I think everyone agrees.)
I went to Radiance Tea House after reading some great reviews on Yelp, even though I am not too much of a tea person. The atmosphere is warm and the staff friendly and extremely welcoming. 5 stars for the excellent service. It was quite empty on a Friday night so it was a pleasant change and felt relaxing.
We didn't know much about tea so we went with the server's suggestion. It had a nice flavor but the pot (which was tea for 1 person) was too big for even two of us to finish. Coming to the food - I ordered dumplings, which were good and my friend ordered the shrimp and avocado rice bowl which was just about ok. Overall, I was disappointed with the food. I wouldn't go back to Radiance Tea House for a sumptuous meal. But if you don't want to be rushed and relax over a book or sip tea over conversation with friends, its worth a visit!
Been meaning to try this place since I arrived about 3 weeks ago. Been to Cha An in St Marks, and I really loved the concept of a tea house and definitely in the busy city, i felt that i needed a quiet oasis to just chill out.
When I walked in around 11, the place was pretty empty. As i was walking up the stairs, I was amazed and immediately taken back by how clean and open the place was. They could have easily fit in more tables, but instead, each table had enough space between them so that you don't over hear anyone elses conversation.
There was a vast selection of tea, ranging from hot to cold as well as herbal. I wasn't too interested in anything other than the traditional hot teas, so I went for a Bi Luo Chun, which I've never tried before. Tea is definitely based on personal preference, so do ask the staff for recommendations! The dumpling lunch set was a delight, I especially loved the side salad, and their home made dressing. My lunch was light, but not bland.
Last but not least......the bathrooms were amazing spacious and clean. somewhat difficult to find in NY.
10 Oct., Saturday
Event: Tea Tasting
10:30am: Radiance Tea House was empty and we had the place to ourselves. There was 8 of us that attended the tea tasting. For a small group of 5-8 friends this would be a great idea to have fun and enjoy each others company in a relaxed atmosphere.
The service was excellent, the atmosphere was clean and relaxed. They are very knowledgeable about the different flavors of Oolong tea. The tea house design was well thought out. At the end of the event I purchased the 24 sachets of the Taiwan Tie Guan Yin, my favorite Oolong Tea. I highly recommend you give it a try as well.
Tip: Go pee before you leave, the bathroom design is well done too. ;)
Yes, this is an oasis in Midtown. But that's because Midtown is a crazy, tourist-filled death trap; I think the rarity of this kind of place in Midtown plays a big role in the stellar review it has gotten. The interior reminded me of tea houses in china, which usually has all you can eat buffets included in the price of tea. That would never happen in nyc, but I was still hopeful. I was also hoping that the tea would come in cute tea cups but it came out in cheap looking tea-ware. Was pretty disappointed.
The highlight was definitely the wonderful staff. The amazing staff and the vast tea selection did not, however, make up for the macha scone which was inedible. The dumplings took forever and was nothing special.
i like this place b/c its a cute mix of bookstore/restaurant/tea shop. i really like that they had a very extensive menu of teas. from warm to cold. one of the first tea places that ive seen that served rooibo tea (orig fr s. africa)!
however, their food was quite disappointing. especially when chinatwon is right around the corner and yet, they're still charging this much for mediocre food!! we got the pork&vegetable and soupy pork buns. also got the shrimp and avocado rice bowl. def not worth the $14. the dumpligs might be worth the $8-9.50 but you can get cheaper better ones in chinatown. i gues you're pay for the ambiance and the better, cleaner seating?
I went to a tea tasting here during the week. The staff was friendly and really enthusiastic, the place was nice and quiet, and it was interesting. Plus, I got to try Mochi for the first time which is pretty damn good I might add!
Definitely a good time and the tea tasting was a great, inexpensive after work activity. I'd give it 4.5.
The format of this review is a dedication to my cousin - Chun L. Because "imitation is the sincerest of flattery."
The Ambiance:
There are a few characteristics of this establishment that makes it a great place to do work.
1.) Free wifi
2.) Extremely well lit
3.) Spacious - open space. Tables are not crowded together.
4.) Though there is constant activity, patrons are very respectful of the space. Generally, it's parties of 1-2 people here.
5.) Well kept restrooms.
The Service:
The servers are really nice and enthusiastic about tea. A little too nice - to the point of annoying type of nice. Ok - I'm being a grouch. I should inquire about an herbal tea blend that alleviates bitchiness.
The Tea:
Though there are Japanese, SriLakan/Indian teas, the main focus is Chinese teas. A separate menu with ice tea and herbal "wellness" tea are also derived mainly from Chinese tradition and ideas of medicine. There is an extremely wide range in grade and price from $5 a pot to $35 a pot.
Although they do offer a personal tea ceremony with $35 pot of tea, all the regular hot teas are served in a cute ceramic pots with extremely tiny (Asian style) cups. I understand it is my own irrationality to expect that oolong and puerh is served in clay tea pot, and earl grey or assam gets served with a larger (western style cup). Though this is irrational, there is reason to my irrationality. In the case that I do want to add cream and sugar for earl grey or assam a bigger cup would be more convenient. I understand that using different pots for different tea would be inconvenient to the flow of service, as a tea shop would need to consistently brew the same type of tea in the same clay pot, because it will absorb the flavor of the tea into the material. But it is the attention to detail and the care that can give the extra "umph".
With each brew, the server remove the tea leaves from the pot and set it aside on your table so that there is an option for a second or third brewing, and also so that your current pot of tea won't be over seeped. The herbal menu demonstrates some basic knowledge of the herb and also combination.
The Dessert:
I tend to enjoy lighter and refreshing dessert. I am impressed to see that they carry agar dessert. Agar desserts are difficult to find though easy and inexpensive to make. Basically any tea, liquid, juice can be made into an agar dessert - by adding agar and chilling. All of it is made in house, and from scratch. Grapefruit agar ($8), made from grapefruit and agar, is divine for its simplicity. I haven't found another establishment that serves a similar product of agar dessert. There is also a selection of homemade ice cream. They sometimes have specials or new flavors such as ginger ice cream.
The Food:
Simple snacks like dumplings, steamed egg custard, noodles, or salad. I've commonly have homemade dumpling, steam eggs, and noodles growing up. This is not a place I would choose to dine at not because the food is terrible, but it is accessible to me in other places.
The Goods:
Radiance is also a bookstore. It has books on tea, Asian culture and food, and also Chinese culture and mythology. In addition, it has a lot of books relating to Falun Gong. Usually, I would think a business wouldn't carry items like that since it is a political topic that people feel divided or offend by.
Notes:
There is tea tasting every Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday is an eclectic selection. Thursday is themed selection (ie. all green tea, all oolong tea, etc.) Tea tasting is $10 per person. However, it is complimentary with order of food and drink $15.
Recent visit on a Saturday night to end the work week after another non-stop exhaustive day of Canto class combine with work, which I was able to achieve nirvana of peace. After a full day of functioning on an empty stomach I need to detox and distress to Asian flair, as Western food cannot do justice for this Chigga. A Chinese tea house oasis from the everyday hustle and bustle of New York, which I was able to achieve inner peace. The staff welcomes me as well as my co-workers, as in keeping with Chinese tradition for Yum Cha or tea house, they do not rush patrons out. They allow all the time for me to detox and inhale life's flavor as life is too short. As I was distressing all of my troubles I was able to have a clearer mind to document my struggles and hardships onto my belove Moleskine with poems. The staff did not bother me while I gather my thoughts sitting alone or pry into my business as they are so familiar with me but to catch up on my well being and my professional status.
The atmosphere is refreshing and very clean. Chinese noodles, serenity pot of tea with mochi ice cream warms my broken heart, which in this case even the sweetest Cosmopolitan cocktail drink cannot do justice.
The Power of One prevails all!
Recently opened in the Midtown Manhattan area, an Asian tea house filled with books where patrons… Read more »
Quiet oasis in midtown.
Oder international business crowd rather than tourists. For N Yorkers, the clients here seemed much more health conscious than average . Felt like I am in a modern Shanghai cafe -- with good tea and great little dishes.
Dumplings were good -- not great, but delightful. A good meeting place to spend some time with friends.
This tea house is one of my favorite places on the planet and I look forward to going back to the city just to drink more of their white tea and spend some more time with the folks here at Radiance.
Dan, the manager who you will typically find messing with the storefront chalkboard, heads an exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable staff in this wonderfully designed second story tea room. They offer a plethora of teas, and can tell you a bit about each and every one of them, from around the world and prepare them to perfection. We sat for hours on both of our visits and will miss the ambiance and tranquility of what a tea house is supposed to be (are you listening Houston?).
This place is amazing. The ambiance is amazing, the food is delectable, and they have teas of both the Chinese and Japanese variety. I spent hours holed up in here with my laptop on a rainy Saturday, and they didn't even blink. The dumplings are good, but my favorite are the tea-infused cookies. I never thought tea cookies could be so delicious, but they were amazing.
The service was also great - they came by to check in on me periodically and were extremely friendly. I could tell that they would have taken the time to chat, but politely left me alone as they saw I was intently working on my computer.
Once you step into this little slice of heaven, you leave the rest of grimy, dirty, loud, crazy New York behind.
Whether you're looking for a light snack, a zen-filled place to read or a relax, a location for your second date, or especially are a tea connoisseur then Radiance has it all. This new and best-kept secret tea palace will leave you with a smooth sweet finish.
The staff here is extremely knowledgeable, kind, enthusiastic, and just a delight to interact with. TRUE tea in its TRUEST form. They're micro-brewed cold teas (no ice!) are excellent!
The Salmon Roll is fully cooked, includes ripe mango for a sweet-savory delight, uses mochi-like rice flour to wrap instead of seaweed, and a delicious peanut buttery sauce to dip.
My only disappointment was the Edamame... over-cooked! :o( For something so difficult to destroy, it was slimy, discolored, and difficult to deshell.
But Radiance has too much going for them to allow this tiny mishap to stain this magnificent experience. Come for some real tea, from wonderful people, disconnect your mind, or connect your laptop to their free wi-fi.
P.S. I'll be coming back to check out their tea-tastings!
This was my first time back in New York in almost two years, with only a day to adventure, but after finding Radiance, I wanted nothing more than to scrap all my plans and relax at this heavenly oasis.
There is nothing about this place that isn't gorgeous. The furniture, the art, the lighting, the food, the tea, the tea sets for sale, the bathrooms, the canisters they sell tea in, even the little basket the check comes in. If you don't believe in feng shui, the invigorating tranquility of this shop will change your mind.
The staff were a total delight. Everyone, not just our server Ally (Ali? I didn't ask for the spelling) was attentive and polite and congenial. Ally was remarkably helpful and informative, not only in helping us choose tea or food or desserts we would enjoy, but even in helping us figure out our plans for the rest of the day...which we eventually embraced after FOUR HOURS or sipping and nibbing and watching the kitchen staff preparing various beautiful foods. My wife was mesmerized by the dumplings being hand-made right before us.
I should admit: I'm not a tea drinker. I usually say my clumsy American palate lacks the subtlety to fully appreciate it. Nevertheless, I did try the Three Flowers, and found it remarkably flavorful and complex.
The food was both beautiful and delicious. The handmade dumplings I had were fantastic. In normal Chines restaurants, I use dumplings as a carrier for dipping sauce, thanks to my aforementioned palate; but these pork dumplings were such savory explosions in my mouth that I almost forgot they even gave me any sauce at all. The rice balls were little works of art. The matcha flavor in the matcha scone was very subtle but went well; I added a few drops of honey. We got some fancy mochi (as in, not your standard, gummy, cellophane-wrapped market fare) for the road, and they were excellent a day later.
A visit to Radiance is now a required element of any future visit to NYC.
Things I adore about this place:
One: The staff are amazing! They welcome you and make you feel like you're at home, even if you're surrounded by a bunch of foreign Chinese tea kettles. Dan, the manager, is really friendly, and you can tell he just loves his job and is doing it from the heart (I would hope.) The staff make you feel so comfortable that one day I went in after a run in Central Park, so I was in shorts and sneakers, and they were still treating me like they did when I went earlier in the week in better clothes.
Two: the DUMPLINGS. O.em.ef.jee. Fresh and delectably chewy, they take a while to come out, but they're worth the wait. They have a special miso sauce for certain dumplings, and definitely do ask them about it. I think they're the most high-class dumplings I've ever had in my life. They didn't taste or feel like those here-this-is-Chinese-food-and-it-is-cheap thingamabobs. Do, do, do go just to try the dumplings.
Now, the reason the fifth star didn't make it is the grapefruit agar. it was way too sweet. It almost burned my throat. I wanted to regurgitate after a couple of bites, but it was $8, so I didn't want to waste my money just like that. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you just want to know what grapefruit agar is.
However, don't let the agar keep you away from this place. Go, but go for the dumplings! (The tea is okay, but oh! Some kinds come with this delectable green tea biscuit - which Dan told me they sell in boxes, too! Yum yum yum =))
I was finishing up my MoMa visit, and fired up Yelp to find a place for a light lunch. This place came up, had great reviews, and was a short walk away.
Have to say, it was a wonderful moment of happiness to be there. I know it sounds cheesy, but from the moment I walked in until I left, I just kept thinking to myself, "I'm so freakin' happy and relaxed right now."
I enjoy good tea, and they had an extensive menu. Got a pot of rare white tea and some tasty, fresh dumplings, and just chilled out after hours of walking around and absorbing art. The environment is wonderful: relaxing music is always on, ambience is warm, staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Highest recommendation.
I'm a tea lover. I drink at least 2 cups of tea everyday. I have tried all kinds of tea and tea stores, but this one is really different.
The tea store is very traditional Chinese. The service there is perfect. They know what they are selling - very knowledgeable. They give very good suggestion. I love the environment!
I love "Summer Treasure" for this hot weather!! It's a must go tea store!
PS: It's a good place to have casual business meeting. Invite your client there. He/she will love it.
God bless you, Yelpers. I desperately needed a place to chill, relax and rejuvenate after a long day walking around NYC with a whiney 8 year old. Trusting the Yorce (Yelp Force), I made an out of the way hike to find it. Just sitting down and absorbing the Zen-like quality of the place had me feeling better within five minutes. Like other Yelpers have mentioned, the staff is extremely friendly and enthusiastic about tea, which is awesome. The pork dumplings are the best we've ever had. Highest recommendation.
I cannot believe that this place exists in the cultural void that defines this part of NYC. I am also astounded that I accidentally found this place without knowing about the amazing yelp reviews. I happened to be in the area for a doctors appointment, and typed "tea" into my iphone as I needed to buy tea bags, and it landed me here. I walked in and I was immediately mentally transported back to a cute little tea museum/restaurant I love in Hong Kong. I could not resist staying for a cup of tea and some snacks, and I am pleased to say that the quality of both were also as good as what I have had in Hong Kong. Definitely try the pork dumplings, even if you don't like pork. I really don't like/eat pork, but these were great. They have a great tea selection that comes from all over Asia. I think that I will be frequenting this place whenever I'm missing Asia.
The green tea was very fine but I'm not an expert. The rice ball lunch box was delicious and just the right amount. Spicy salmon rice ball is my favorite. I love yelp for introducing me to this place. The waiter said most of their customers come from yelp.
We're going back here next week! I'm so excited!
This is an absolutely fabulous tea house, and is probably my best tea house experience to date. In DC, we are basically limited to three places for casual tea (Teaism, Ching Ching Cha, and Shanghai Tea House) so I'm slightly obsessed with having tea wherever I travel. Beautifully decorated, with warm bamboo floors, soft lighting, and classical Asian decor, Radiance is a great place if you're looking for a quiet place to get away. They have free wi-fi, so bring your netbook. Or if you're old school, bring your book. It's a great place for solo diners and musers, as well as for people interested in practicing the lost art of conversation. And of course, they have a huge variety of teas and light Asian snacks. Perfect for late night, which is how we decided to give it a try during our previous trip to New York in May.
We ordered steamed pork dumplings (8 pieces for $8), spicy salmon and tuna rice balls (2 servings for $8). After looking over their extensive tea selection, we decided to get the Ginger Milk Tea (fresh ginger, brown sugar, milk, and black tea). A pot of this "wellness tea" was $15, but was more than enough for 2 people. Everything tasted delicious. The staff was considerate enough to cut the rice balls into four portions so we each could try each of the flavors. After trying the rice balls here, I attempted to make my own at home but it's not quite the same. I have a similar trial going on with making my own ginger milk tea. It is fantastically good here. You can taste the ginger and feel it warming you from head to toe. So yummy!
We had great interaction with the staff. Dan, the manager, is very knowledgeable about the different types of teas and their benefits. Another staff member who I think was named Ben brought us our food and made sure we were comfortable during our time here. We had chosen to sit near the back of the restaurant near a window and they even asked if we wanted the window open or if we wanted the a/c unit above us turned on. I told Dan about the tea places he can visit in DC and he told us a bit about the tea house. It's a joint venture by several owners and has been open for more or less 6 months. Business is steadily picking up and even though many tea houses are closing up shop due to the recession, they are so far doing okay.
Dessert was very refreshing. I got a dessert which I can't recall the name of, but basically Dan sold me once he described it. They take a grapefruit and take the juice and pulp, and mix it with white tea, sugar, and agar agar, which is made from seaweed and is a good substitute for gelatin. Then they pour the mixture back into the grapefruit they hollowed out and let it firm up. It was fun to scoop out the agar agar like a grapefruit. It was a light dessert but wasn't too tart or acidic like fresh grapefruit.
My boyfriend had house made green tea ice cream, which was also delicious. This tasted like sencha and wasn't sweet like some other green tea ice creams.
We also bought loose leaf teas to take home. I got Golden Lily Oolong, Autumn Moon, and Oriental Beauty. Autumn Moon is the best one and is great hot or iced. I will need to restock next week. Radiance also has clothing, Chinese texts, tea-related books and media, tea pots, and lots of loose leaf tea (nearly 150 varieties). You can smell any tea you're interested in buying. They have tea tastings every Tuesday night.
Radiance was definitely a "wow" experience and I encourage all tea lovers to stop by and check it out. Thank you, Yelp, for introducing me to this place.
definitely an oasis in the midtown of chain restaurants, frat bars for middle agers, and other forms of mediocrity. have not eaten here but the tea selection is fantastic.
took a while to get our waiter's attention but he was very considerate of the limited tea time once we got him.
will have to go back and do a taste test of the menu
What a lovely place this is - everyone who works here is so sweet and friendly. I came here today and felt like I was part of a family, minus the passive aggressiveness/years of festering resentment/constant bickering.
I tried the Eastern Maiden(?) tea, it was very fragrant and flavorful but slightly astringent. In some tea houses they discard the first draw as the flavor is coarser than in subsequent draws. I wish they'd do that here because I'd feel too guilty to ask them to throw out part of a $7 pot of tea. They really give you a lot of leaves though, probably enough for 2-3 pots. Maybe next time I'll go for the $2 upgrade to a better quality tea that they have. $9 for a pot of tea may seem like a lot, but you can sit as long as you like and the decor and ambience are very pleasant.
The dumplings are great. I'm not sure if they're homemade (the skins at least don't seem to be) but they're a million times better than the frozen ones you get at supermarkets. Salad and edamame were also very fresh and tasty. The food is really cheap for what you get. This is conducive to achieving inner peace by offsetting the cost of the tea.
(3-4 stars)
i'm home and looking up recipes for the chocolate earl grey cookie because that little smidgeon of a piece of my friend's that i had was really soft and chewy and had great flavor. now i'm longing for one of my own..
the teas are really quite good. i was going to order the "eastern journey" iced tea if not for any other reason than the name, but the waiter suggested that i try a secret iced tea "that the threw together but tastes really good" last minute. despite the fact that it was advertised kind of like a chop suey of teas ("something we threw together!" i'm sure they meant it in a "recently invented" sense and not a "leftovers from which we concocted this" sense.), it was actually very good with a fruity taste and aromatic lingering floral end.
my friend ordered a chai latte, and it was quite a sufficient amount. and good!
i also had the sesame noodles which were alright, as advertised. the sauce was not too heavy, which was nice. one of my friends had the salmon summer rolls, which i thought was simply okay and not really praise-worthy, but my friends seemed to like it a lot.
the chawanmushi (steamed egg) was pretty good, too. i think they did a good job not overdoing it with the seafoodiness of the taste. but the texture and temperature was good. i wish there was a gingko nut, as i think of the nut as a maraschino in a cocktail.. not necessary but somehow adds the cocktail-ness or in this case "chawanmushi-ness" to it. (it's somehow nonessential, yet just tops it off nicely). but, still, major props for having it on the menu as it's not really run of the mill fare.
i also had the grapefruit agar dessert.. i accidentally ordered that when i really meant to order the apple agar dessert. it was alright, a bit on the bitter side, but the waiter told me that was due to a slightly different batch made. (they tried making a batch with less rock sugar.. i told them they should probably go for more rock sugar as per usual rather than sticking to this different batch.) i was really full by then so i wouldn't mind trying the dessert again when less full to get a better idea of it.
the place is charming in its own ways, despite being a bit odd in its random asian things (books, clothes?). and the service is really great-- the waiter was very friendly. (the hostess was incredibly smiley, but in a genuine sort of way-- it was kind of jarring to see someone so outwardly amiable.)
i give it three stars (well, bordering 4) b/c i didn't find the food spectacular, but decent and not objectionable. the teas are good, though, understandably. and the service and the whole package (with cute wicker baskets for the receipts) make it a fun and worthy experience.
I noticed this place getting off the 57th st exit off the Q/R/W a few weeks ago, and I finally decided to check this place out for lunch.
I wouldn't say it was a cheap lunch (~$14), but I think the quality is definitely there.
I had the Rice Ball Box and a Southen Joy ice tea to go. You get to choose three rice balls, so I had the spicy salmon, lobster salad, and vegetable inari. To my surprise, they all were all standouts! Each had it's own unique textures and and presentation (not bad for a lunch box!) The spicy salmon wasn't too spicy and wasn't overloaded with mayo. The lobster was tender and moist, and the vegetable inari was filled with chopped mushrooms, burdock (i think) with a sweet but not too sweet fried tofu wrapping. Finally, the Southern Joy (black tea, fresh lemon, rock sugar) was clean and refreshing.
Although some of the earlier reviews seem suspect, I admit this place is nice. Will definitely check it out again
So amazing to find a unique oasis in Midtown. This place has a peaceful yet lively setting, super-friendly staff, a vast tea selection, and some of the best dumplings I've had in NY....and best of all it's reasonably priced. The dessert are pretty unique....an agar (yes, like the one you used in bio class to grow cultures, but apple flavored), and tea infused cookies to name a couple. Everything here is fresh and not overly sweet. I had a bright purple taro drink out of a giant glass with a bendy straw which made me as happy as a kid at Baskin Robbins on his birthday.
After doing a bit of digging on Yelp to find a quiet place in NYC with free Wi-Fi to work for a while, I made a few stops in Manhattan today. Yes, Bryant Park has free Internet--but there are virtually no outlets, and if the weather doesn't cooperate, that's right out. Yes, the library is OK, but the hours are limited and the vibe is a bit oppressive. And yes, you can pop into the Sheraton on 7th Avenue, but it's busy and loud and not very private.
That's why I was utterly stunned--I mean jaw-droppingly stunned--when I walked into Radiance Tea House today. It was absolutely an "oasis in the middle of Manhattan." The service was wonderful, polite and friendly; the menu is light and delicious; the tea menu is extensive and the environment is so quiet and relaxing. Plus, minutes after I walked in with a laptop, I was literally handed the wireless Internet password.
I stayed for hours, had some dumplings and two pots of tea, and my bill was less than $20 including tip. I will undoubtedly be back many, many times in the future.
This is such a nice, relaxing place. The room is very open everything was made of wood (including the tables, chairs, and the bar) so it was a great atmosphere. The chairs are fairly large and sturdy (but surprisingly comfortable). Most of the tables were tables for two.
I got the iced thai latte. It was a really great drink. Very sweet, but it definitely did not taste like it was made from powder.
The servers were fantastic and very knowledgeable about the teas and foods. For example, my friend ordered the veggie dumplings, and when they came out, one of them was pink while the other 7 were green. Our server spotted it right away and offered immediately to get us some more dumplings while encouraging us to have the ones here for now and avoid the pink one.
Also, when we had a small accident regarding splashing soy sauce onto our clothing, another server came up with both dry and wet napkins just because he saw us jerk our heads (how awesomely attentive is that?!)
The bill was a bit high for the food (reasonable for most of the drinks) given that the teas are fresh and the ambiance was so restful. I would definitely come back to this place!
I adore this place. I have been a tea fanatic since childhood and have frequented many tea places in the city only to be disappointed over and over again. There may be places with a nice ambiance but mediocre tea or great tea and an ignorant staff. This place has it all: quiet and peaceful atmosphere, excellent tea, and the kindest, most helpful, and enthusiastic staff. It even has a food menu of clean, healthy, and tasteful snacks, meals, and desserts. I first went there for a tea tasting at which Dan got everyone excited about everything tea-related. I then stayed for dinner and Ben and other staff members took the time to answer all of my questions and to share favorite tea experiences. At first, I thought about keeping this place a secret for myself, but now I hope to encourage others to support such wonderful place and caring people so that everyone can enjoy tea here.
I joined yelp so I could review Radiance, which says something about how much I love the place.
I work in midtown, and Radiance really is an oasis of calm in a frenetic city. The atmosphere is soothing, the wifi is free, the staff are wonderful and the tea selection is outstanding. I also highly rec the food, though I've only given Radiance 4-stars because the menu is a bit on the pricey side.
Nonetheless, given that I'm there about once a week and often more, and have evangelised about this place to pretty much everyone I know, I'd say 4.5. Easy.
Asia Roma Summer Specials
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Holiday Catering & Special…
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Category: Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: TriBeCa
Category: Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Category: Tea Rooms
"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are…
I could think of other terrible tea puns. The…
I decided to make this list as I visit various…
