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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Restaurants
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South SideBedford Ave (L)
Metropolitan Ave-Lorimer St (G, L)
"I can't believe I haven't written a review on this place yet - it's one of my favorite places to hang out, mostly during the day, although…" read more »
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We were on a somewhat meandering stumble in Williamsburg, searching for cheap dive bars. This is not a cheap dive bar. It is much better.
They have a LOT of teas--many pages to the menu. They offer table seating, a few stools at the bar/food prep area, and cushiony couches. We opted for the bar and enjoyed both the bartenders repartee and the cook/expediter's dance moves to the 80s tunes on muzak.
I ordered the Swamp Thing. It was a mixed beverage including honey, muddled fresh herbs, gin and soda. Slightly sweet and verb herbaceous, it was refreshing. Not my standard fruity drink, but it was ideal for a tea room. And, as a Gator fan, I had to order anything named after The Swamp! My drinking partner stuck with his standard Jack and Coke. A healthy pour and an $8.00 price--the same as at the last sketchy dive bar we hit.
The menu offerings were limited but thoughtful combinations of healthy seasonal foods. I look forward to returning to dine and update!
When I started this review, I was going to give two stars. But upon further consideration, I'm bumping up to three. Why? Because just judging on the name of the place "Roebling Tea Room," the tea comes first and foremost. And the tea here is great. A huge, plentiful selection. As of my last visit, they were still using the generous beer mug-style glasses.
The couches are great, and there's a section outside in the back when it isn't too cold. I've been to reading groups here, and it was a nice place to meet up, have some tea, and discuss. (Assuming it wasn't too crowded, which it can get sometimes.)
For living up to the namesake, three stars. It's a tea room. The tea is great. Don't go for good food. Don't go for friendly service. You'll find neither here. But if you want to stop in somewhere, sit, have a chat with someone, and drink some good tea? Roebling Tea Room fits the bill.
The people that work here are total dicks.
Now that THAT'S out of the way, I can get on to the rest of it.
The decor is super charming in that vintage-y, rustic thing that Williamsburg has nailed down. It has a gorgeous patio area that gets really amazing light and it just feels like the type of space that you could hang out at for hours and hours, oh, except that the people that work here are dicks.
Lunch and brunch here are OK. The tea is good.
You're better off coming here during happy hour, grabbing a seat on the couch or on the patio and drinking a cheap pint of Kronenbourg without having to deal with the staff.
I have been meaning to try Roebling Tea room for some time now, Stumbling in this afternoon, was well worth it. After recent news that the previous chef (Millicent Souris) from egg had moved there. I was really excited to try it. The decor is cosy and adorable. The tea is lovely. I don't know how the food was before she came there, but now well lets just say its heavenly. I ordered the poached egg omelet. It was an omelet filled with a poached egg and cheese, the egg broke when you cut into it so you have the best of both worlds. Its smothered in Hollandaise sauce which gives it a nice acidity to break down the richness, eggs three ways if you will. Truly fabulous! It was accompanied by a HEAVENLY mixed green salad. I am a HUGE vegetable lover! These greens are soooo tasty that just the touch of olive oil, salt and pepper was all it needed to set off a mouthful of pleasant flavors, so fresh. I soon found out that they get all there produce from Blooming Hill Farms. Organic, pure and absolutely delicious. It gets me excited! I love when the produce is so flavorful in itself, raised with care and close attention.
My boyfriend had a baked pancake with apples, also great! I highly recommend it! If you went before and had a bad experience I would give it another try! YUM YUM YUMMMMMM!!
Used to be my answer for the long wait at Diner, but a bad experience here made me lose faith. It wasn't just the wait-staff, but the cooking was nasty. I just can't justify spending so much money when it can really miss the mark sometimes.
What the hell happened to Roebling Tea Room?!?
We've been coming here for a few years now and it appears to be on a drastic and out of control downward slide towards un-patronizable. RTR used to be one of my all time favorite places to eat in Brooklyn. I had a roasted chicken for dinner once that I shant soon forget and a baked fruit pancake for brunch that was award-worthy. These remarkable meals were both over a year ago.
Of late, my experiences have included:
- a caterpillar in a beet salad
- enough salt on subsequent roast chicken to kill a crocodile
- food poisoning from a $24 bowl of mussels and scallops (how one could get food poisoning from the paltry amount of shellfish served in that dish is a mystery)
The quality and quantity of food is decreasing while the prices are increasing. (That's an inverse relationship! Thanks to my math teachers, mostly Mr. Lenz, for that insight).
RTR went from a comfortable and reasonably affordable place to get a hearty and hot meal to just another overpriced NY restaurant with scant plates and scanter hospitality.
High ceilings, awesome decor, dark, good music but not overly loud, very classy. 4 stars for the aesthetics.
*TEA LOVER ALERT*
EVERYTHING about this place screams Williamsburg to me.
Chill, laid back, I-don't-give-a-who hipster waiters , CHECK
Rustic, understated european-esque decor, CHECK
Freelancers, hipster crowds with their crazy bed hair and beer in hand , CHECK
Lunch, Brunch and the tea here is pretty amazing. I can vouch for their 4 dollar pots of tea. Selection is limited but good enough.
I see quite a few vegetarian options.
LOCATION: It's a bit off the strip of Bedford ave, maybe a 5-10 minute walk..not bad at all..something different than the typical new york scene.
NOTE: they take Amex and all major credit cards
Parking is easy right outside
During a recent jaunt to the lovely borough of Brooklyn, I met up with some friends here for brunch.
I will give Roebling major props for letting one friend hold our table for at least 30 minutes, while the rest of us either came by train or car (this is when I learned that going anywhere in New York City by car is a BAD idea).
The food, I felt, was more than a little overpriced and pretentious (I'm a simple southern girl, though, so take my opinion with a grain of salt and a shot of tequila). The most basic no-frills menu item-- toasted baguette with butter-- was actually my favorite. I also ate some kind of salad with a lot of curly, spiky greens that looked like they were plucked from between the cracks in a sidewalk. Still pretty tasty, though.
If or when I have a chance to come back, I would skip the food entirely and just order tea. The tea menu is large enough to make your bladder release in anticipation. It made me wish I had more than one tongue (or stomach, for that matter) so I could savor and fill myself with more than one type of tea. I finally settled on the "Earl Grey de la Creme - a hint of vanilla & blue mallow blossoms" and was not disappointed.
This place is great at a variety of times which is why it is one of my favorite spots in Williamsburg. I have eaten brunch or lunch here a few times and the food is always good. I will spare the specifics of what I ate each time, but I have never had a bad meal and I often find myself watching something else tasty looking going to someone else's table and wondering what it was.
I hate coffee, I don't drink it, I have always preferred tea and Roebling Tea Room has a nice selection of teas. You get your own private pot with enough for plenty of tea. This is perfect in the winter or on a cold day. I also prefer beer to that coffee crap and they have a nice selection of beers here, also nice in the winter or summer or spring or fall, whenever.
The place is just relaxing to enter. They have tables to eat at, a bar and then a lounge area where you can drink tea or beer while relaxing on a couch or a nice chair. Very comfortable place to come at a random time and have a nice, relaxing time while getting caffeinated or drunk.
Food: We had the ricotta and fig paste and the smoked salmon. Both were served with toasted bread (over toasted). The ricotta and fig was a very interesting combination - creamy and crunchy at the same time. The whole thing was drizzled in honey. I couldn't figure out how to eat this since the honey made the bread too sticky to hold but the bread was too hard to cut. I had to forego the bread all together and just eat the ricotta. Maybe you will have better luck. The smoked salmon wasn't very fresh and was more on the mushy side.
Drinks: the alcoholic brunch drinks were pretty much virgin and not very good. The bloody Mary had a good amt of heat but boring with very little alcohol.
Tea: It's a tearoom after all! They had a long list of flavored teas with the type of teas ranging from green to maté. I had the fiesta, maté with lemongrass and it was pretty decent. They give u your own little teapot and tea pouch. My friend had the coconut tea and it tasted like overly sweet vanilla (ack)!
Bottom line: drink some tea, eat else where.
I've been here several times for lunch, and I never realized they had a late night scene, or served dinner/drinks for that matter. My friend suggested it for a pre-wedding dinner last night and it was a very pleasant surprise. Four of us arrived around 9:30, to a packed room, with no reservations, but were sat within a very reasonable twenty minutes. While we waited we had delicious ginger fizz cocktails at the bar.
This place gets very loud and the menu is pretty cryptic- no prices, no food descriptions... just single headings: pasta, steak, fish, salad #1, salad #2, so communicating with a server can be a frustration. She was attentive, but had to reference a cheat sheet often to give us pricing or entree details. Just list it all out on the menu! That said, that is one of my only quibbles.
The food was outstanding and super fresh. I started with a dozen oysters and then a beet salad with Stilton and walnuts. I ordered the entree portion of the steak tartare- thick cut and enlivened with the creative addition of fried chickpeas (but perhaps a few too many capers). It was huge... if I returned I would order the appetizer portion. I'm not usually a dessert person but the vanilla panna cotta was one of the most memorable I have eaten recently.
The room is drop dead gorgeous, the bathrooms, not so much. Multiple stalls are crammed into a unisex space that would comfortably accommodate just one. It creates an awkward and uncomfortable experience, not to mention a crowded one!
uggggh
I had a good time but I think that was only due to the good company I was keeping
since when do you turn huevos rancheros into bean soup with grits on the bottom? the waitress did not describe the "drunk beans" in a way that would make me think they were soup. and it didn't come with a tortilla or anything so we had to order biscuits which is just... unnecessary. also I had 2 cups of coffee and am still not awake from it.
ALSOOOO we were a party of 6 so yes, they added tip, which was 20% (?!) which really pissed me off because the waitress deserved at THE MOST, 10%. and I'm generous! eh. well, the biscuits were good and I heard the buddha finger (heh) tea was tasty as well.
This review will be coming from a slightly skewed angle, being that I've never actually eaten the food at the Roebling Tea Room. It may be good or it may be bad, but food is never the reason that I happen to come here.
Why do I come, you ask? Well, to drink tea, of course. The tea selection is tremendously varied and all the offerings I've tasted have been great. The ambiance of the place is nice and conducive to sitting around for a while with a friend or date, talking and casually sipping tea. They seem to have a nice wine selection as well, in case you're looking for something slightly more alcoholic, but just as dreamy.
This is a spot I'll take out-of-town friends to, especially if I know they're tea lovers.
I've never had an issue with the waitstaff here as they've always been courteous, but if so many people seem to encounter attitudes, then perhaps there's something to it.
Without fail, every single time I come to Roebling I am confronted with nothing but flippant attitude. Specifically from BFord* behind the counter. You've been an asshole every time I come in, what? Are my fucking pants not thrifty-hiptard ENOUGH for you? Do I lack a certain je ne sais quoi that is required for a fucking tea room?
Need I remind you? IT'S YOUR FUCKING JOB TO TAKE MY ORDER.
BFord* your shitastic 'tude not only makes you look bad, but you make the rest of the staff look bad as well. I think your 1983 "vintage" high waisted Levis are too tight. You suck, it makes me sad, as you have such a pretty space and the steak is pretty decent.
Get over yourself, tea is not rocket science
*Names have not been changed to protect the guilty. Or their mothers.
I like the venue in general. The food is pretty good for brunch. I've had the chicken fried steak (large portion) with lots of fat. I've also had the potato sandwich that was surprisingly tasty, but I recommend getting a side of meat. They have a lot of teas to choose from. I personally enjoy the roebling breakfast tea. They have outdoor seating too and it seems like a good spot to chill and relax whether it be solo or with friends.
I didn't expect to like this place, assuming it to be some impossibly hip hangout for the B'Burg crowd, with a too-precious menu fighting with its avant-garde decor and attitude-flinging waitstaff. I was delighted to be so wrong in my blatant stereotypes. I don't get all the hipster-hating in other people's review; I think that some people look for something to hate and are glad to have their hate confirmed. If you don't like hipsters this place is a perfect refuge.
One thing I really love about B'burg is that the buildings have a lot more variety than the rest of NYC so a good architect and designer can really have a ball, creating some cool spaces. Roebling Tea Room has a great layout with the room forming a U around the bar. The place feels like walking into an English barn that has been converted to a rural-posh restaurant/tea room. Everything is pretty understated and elegant; the lights are low and the colors kind of blend into the background. In the back, on the other side of the bar are a few nooks created with club chairs and couches and the rest is tables. My friend and I ate at the bar.
The wine list isn't substantial which could be a drawback or a relief, depending on your point of view. I got the journeyman's steak which was delicious with a juniper and peppercorn sauce that was incredible; it's what I always wish steak au poivre would be and never is. My friend got a plain bowl of beets which were suprisingly good for being so plain. He also ordered french fries and the best potato salad I have ever eaten; the potatoes were sliced like thick potato chips and drenched in a creamy dressing that was laden with vinegar and dill.
One drawback/advantage is that they were out of a lot of things on the menu. While this was disappointing I have to assume that it means that they don't buy too much stuff and then use the leftovers the next day. The dessert that we ordered was out so the waiter comp'd us a different dessert (an awesome blueberry shortbread) so I can't say I minded. I think he felt guilty after telling us that so many things were no longer available.
I'm definitely heading back here if only to lounge on the couches, drinking late into the night.
There really aren't that many places in Williamsburg where I'd order steak tartar and not wonder if I was handing down my own death sentence, but having been to Roebling Tea Room a couple of times, I've come to trust the food and took the plunge without reservation last night.
Good decision. Delicious marinade, tasty beef, a little less minced and a little more cubed than I've seen, making for a slightly less mealy dish than you normally find, and presented slightly more creatively (and more enticing) than you find.
My friend had the trout, if I remember right, and she was very happy with it as well. I noticed some of the same ingredients and garnishes on both dishes, which I found visually appealing -- I like a good theme and love cooks who put their stamp on things -- but wondered if it might not make for some similar tasting dishes. Which might not be a bad thing.
The service -- and this is really the reason I wanted to review -- was great. I've been reading a lot on here about problems with the service, but I've been to this place several times, under varying circumstances, and have never had any problem whatsoever. I'd argue that its not a place you'd want to go for a quick dinner, although I didn't notice myself waiting for the food to come out. I'm sure you could make a fast-ish lunch of it, but why would you want to if you can sit on the sofas, shoot the shit, read, and have a few afternoon drinks instead?
Bottom line, I felt taken care of without being stifled, and that's exactly the sort of service I prefer. Nothing irritates me more than servers who are down your throat every two minutes asking how it is, if I need this or that, rushing me through the meal, throwing my check at me, etc. On the other hand, I don't think we waited more than five minutes or so at the critical parts of the meal -- drinks came out without delay, food was served in a perfectly reasonable time, the table was cleared promptly when we finished, all handled with grace.
Our server was Jess. Big ups, Jess.
Very good food and interesting flavor combinations. The pancakes on the brunch menu are HUGE and very sweet. They are about the size of a skillet, and very thick and doughy. Another goodie is the salad with the bleu cheese, apple, and walnut. It gets a little busy at peak times, but it's a nice place to stop. True to its name, it has about 100+ teas on the menu. I agree with some of the other reviewers that the service isn't great, but it's Williamsburg, where even mediocre service is sometimes hard to find. I've had worse experiences in the area, though.
I've been here numerous times before today when I went in for lunch. I started to get really hesitant to suggest going here because I was certain that a requirement to work here was "Never fucking hurry!!!!" I mean, 3 hours for tea and sandwiches seems a bit ridiculous. I know this is Williamsburg, and the staff is probably hungover from a night of cocaine and sparks, or they are stoned, but geez, they were SLOW. Well, someone got the memo to change their ways and today was a much better job. I think I only had to wait an hour. I'd give more stars for decor, tea selection, and pretty decent food, but I'm still bitter from the past experiences.
BRUNCH
Amy R.'s report that the cheddar baked eggs are missing from the brunch menu is horrifying! May Sydney and Dennis quickly see the error of their ways... or replace it with something even better!
Arriving for brunch at 1:00 on a Sunday was absolutely terrifying, the door was mobbed with hungry hipster (sorry I usually don't care about the whole "hipster" thing, but I was to hungry to be amused by the hamburger sweatshirt or couples with matching vintage glasses). Once we got seated their hungry eyes peered at us over the entry's half wall with all the desperation of famished homeless orphans on a snowy Christmas night. Our waitress was trying her hardest, but it was nearly impossible to get her attention. RTR needs either additional or more efficient waitresses plus someone walking around the dining room that is dedicated to just refilling coffee and water. I think the hostess and bus boy where the only employees who cracked a smiles the whole time I was there.
We began with drinks; the coffee ($2) is satisfactory and the mimosa ($5) is heavy on the bubbly and made with fresh (tasting) OJ. I am not now and have never been a fan of grits, but RTR fixes them up real nice with parmigiano cheese in their Baked Cheddar Egg dish ($8.5). http://www.yelp.com/bi... The raisin fennel toast is subtle and well composed and served with delightful apple butter that I see so rarely on the east coast... but we west coast hippies love this stuff. The baked eggs are awesome but I do wish the yolks we broken (but not mixed) in the ramekin, it's like finding two yellow disembodied eyeballs hiding under a yummy blanket of sharp cheddar cheese
The Cinnamon Toast ($2) is a dry flavorless bust; it begged to be slathered in butter or honey. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The Drunk Beans ($8.5) with a medium-boiled egg on a bed of polenta were flavor filled and a perfect genital but hardy stomach filler. The polenta eventually mixes in with the beans as you eat so it's like the dish evolves right before your eyes. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
DINNER
Dinner is a much calmer affair. You can usually sit immediately, the waitresses have room to breathe and serve patrons with the grace and attention we all deserve. I would dare to even describe the dining room as calm, serene and romantic.
The Wild Dandelion with shaved fennel, celery root, marinated dates, feta & grapefruit ($8) should be outstanding, but the composition is too heavy on the bitter greens. But that's not what turned me off from this salad... it was when my teeth hit the nails on a chalkboard chilling distinct feel of sandy grit on the clearly not thoroughly washed greens. Sorry, but this is unforgivable!
The Macaroni & Cheese ($10) is unique in the world of man 'n cheese... I actually find the flavors to be of a somewhat southwestern persuasion. The large ears of orecchiett pasta are encrusted in a heavy coat of non-creamy oily yellow cheddar and chili pepper sauce that I would not consider spicy, but I guess if you're a weakling it might be. It's really more of that warmth that that nothing to do with temperature. I would consider ordering it again, but it will not be my staple dish for dinners to come.
CONCLUSION: Better food at brunch but better service and atmosphere at dinner. I am torn.
Went here in early October with my two gay boyfriends...and I LOVED it!! It's very hipster --skinny jeans--black square framed glasses type, but then again this is Williamsburg. We had about an hour wait, but we spent the time wisely...sitting on the black leather couch in the lounge area downing 2 bottles of white wine. The aura of this place is neat...the wallpaper reminded me of colonial virginia with the small lamps on the wall, kind of tavernish... The menu is very selective...there are about 5 things to choose from, but these 5 things are prepared very very well :) We had a fabulous time here and our waitress was awesome! A little pricey but a great time nonetheless!
I went here a few years ago and vowed never to go back - the service was a zero out of 10 and I honestly can't remember a single redeeming quality about the food.
Not sure what happened (new owner?), but they did a total 180 - incredible eats, great service and really nice ambiance. Most dramatic restaurant make-over situation I have seen around here. Way to go.
It's a shame about all the hate for Roebling Tea Room. This place is all about the timing. It's true that it gets really, truly mobbed on the weekends for peak brunch (12:30-2:00) and I'm sure the service suffers accordingly, but at most any other time it's a very pleasant place. For a while my friend was one of the barristas here, and I used to show up relatively early, like around 11:00AM, and sit at the mostly empty bar and have the egg sandwich with cheddar and bacon, which is served with apple slices. I'd finish off my meal with a beer or a cocktail; a great way to start a lazy Sunday. Gathering up my things, I'd notice a huge mass of unwashed diners darkening the doorway. I'd push past them into the sunlight, feeling a little sorry that my friend and all of his mostly friendly colleagues would soon be busy trying to cater to so many people all at once.
Instead of rolling up at 1:00, go early for brunch and enjoy the space, or go for a late lunch or dinner, when it's really mellow. Or go on a weekday. The food ranges from pretty good to great, and it's reasonably priced. The music is always good. The back garden is nice. The servers are attentive when they're not overwhelmed by the brunch crush.
I think the fact that I went over fourth of July weekend helped a LOT with my experience. We went for brunch - I like the semi-original cocktails. Beer wtih tomato juice and a salted rim was a new one for me. It has been on my at-home brunch menu ever since. The baked eggs were good albeit a little overcooked. But my friend's ginormous pancake was out of control. It tasted like buckwheat flour and mmmmmmm it was tasty with pears. Sure it was bigger than my face, but that's ok.
We sat outside, but it's a shame that the patio area is covered. Ask me again on a rainy day and I'll be thankful for it. But for glorious summer days you're more likely to find me at relish out on the patio.
The food was amazing. The tea was amazing. The service was good. All around a really pleasant experience. We had the burger with bleu cheese and the eggs with beets, goat cheese, and kale. So yummy! I'd definitely go back again and again!
Ugh, this place is so overrated. The design is nice, but the place lacks substance. What are they all about? Roebling Tea Room actually personifies Williamsburg.
I feel like they have a lot of stylish, hip, exotic meats like quail or ostrich or some absurd thing. They had ONE vegetarian entree, which they were conveniently out of the day I went with a vegan friend. Beet salad baby.
Yawn.
The interior is beautiful subtle tones of greens, creams and browns just lovely. The food is simple and well rounded a little something for everyone.
But the service is just so so so painful. I have been there twice and each time I have had the European brunette who might have the nastiest disposition I have ever encountered.
If I was the owner of this place this girl would need to either change her attitude or get the boot. She is awful
I joined Yelp just so I could write about the Roebling Tea Room! That's not a good thing!
After living down the street from here for over a year I finally went in for brunch last Saturday after a couple rave reviews and promises of bone marrow from my roommate. Nothing says start the day like supping on marrow. Unfortunately for my bone marrow dreams they just got rid of it from the menu.
It's early still, only 10:30, and we don't have to wait for a table as there are plenty open. I love the space, the menu looks tasty and reasonably priced and they're playing the soundtrack from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. So far so good...
We wait for a while for the waitress but were having a good time and we don't mind the extra time with the menu. The waitress comes over asks if we know what we want, how friendly!* (*note: sarcasm) I ask about the Red Flannel Hash and she perks up for a moment, the last time for the meal, and tells me she loves them. Two of us at the table order them, my roommate and her cousin order the Salt Cod Hashbrowns and the Drunk Eggs respectively. I also get an order of Cinnamon Toast because I grew up with it and so seldom see it on menus.
We don't see our waitress until the food arrives, an hour later. She never came to ask if we wanted more drinks, much less to apologize for the long wait. Mind you, there are still empty tables all around us and no wait for a table at all during this time. Finally the food arrives, she still doesn't ask if we need anything or want refills.
The Red Flannel Hash (roasted beets and potatoes, goat cheese and fried eggs) was tasty, save for the way over-cooked, brown and crusty on the bottom eggs and the fact that the whole thing was barely warm. The roasted beets were very tasty, if a bit on the hard side, but if anything I suppose I should thank them for reigniting my love of beets. I had forgotten they were delicious. But the best thing I had the whole meal was the Cinnamon Toast and I think that is what is the most depressing about all this. They used a nice white loaf and sprinkled on powdered sugar instead of regular. I can't believe I never thought of that one.
The portions at here are small, certainly not a meal you want after a night of drinking unless you plan to order lots of sides in which case there goes that whole reasonably priced meal you thought you were going to have. But even for a normal, hangover free brunch the portions are on the stingy side.
The meal ended fitting with the rest of our ecperience: the waitress left the check without a word, bussers start clearing our dishes while some of us were still eating and we sat there for half an hour after we are done eating with a pile of cash stacked on the table on the edge clearly screaming for change. You're not getting an 40% tip lady, come give us our change. She doesn't. Instead she passes by in the background assisting other tables and hanging by the bar but doesn't say a word to us. After giving her another five minutes to do her job and redeem herself by actually serving us we take our extra money from from the pile of $20's and leave enough for the bill and what's left since we couldn't get change is about a 7% tip. I have never undertipped like this in my life. I also have never had worse service in my life. So there you go.
The whole time we were there she acted like she wanted us out and couldn't be bothered to do her job. Of course, this is assuming the owners actually hire people to serve and not to just look super cool hanging out while diners look like a bunch of jerks trying to get noticed by their too hip to serve servers. I suppose some people have server jobs for fun just so they can hang out and not because they need to make money from the tips they get based on their service. What a luxury that must be to have such a carefree job! In the middle of this recession I am sure there are some talented servers out there who could do a better job. Hell, I'm pretty sure anybody could do a better job. Surely the owners want to make money, right? They want people to come back and tell friends so that they always have a full restaurant, right? Right?!
I'm not going back that's for sure. And I am definitely going to make sure others who are considering it give it a second thought. There is no excuse for a restaurant to have service this bad.
So thank you Roebling Tea Room for giving me the motivation to join Yelp just so I could write about how terrible you are, also for the beet thing. Unfortunately you still suck.
Sigh. Roebling Tea Room was my favorite brunch spot of all time, simply because of the cheddar eggs dish. I would wake up hungover on many-a Sunday morning craving the cheesy grits and apple butter. I went back for a one-year anniversary brunch with my BF and was appalled to see that the cheddar eggs were removed from the menu. Now, I must search for a new favorite brunch destination.
Le sigh.
I live just above the place so I go there quite often, I like it - they have guiness and music sounds pretty good
Can I just say that I love everything about Williamsburg? Because I do! Apparently the hipster capital of the world, but I don't mind. I love the area; I love the local shops and eateries. It's just a great place to be.
We stopped by the Tea Room for dinner. We were starving. I've never seen a restaurant so dark before. Lit with VERY low lights and candles. To be honest, it did create a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. Somewhere I would totally take a date for a very chill dinner. Upon looking at the menu, the prices were moderate to a little pricey. Not bad. I ordered the Journeyman Steak with a side of potato salad.
We proceeded to wait the longest I have ever waited for a meal. I don't know whether or not this was the usual wait time or if it was because we had a large party in front of us. Either way, the wait was soooooooo brutal. When our meal did come out. Even though I could barley see it. It smelled incredible. My steak came out a little to well done, but the sauce it was draped in was AMAZING. The potato salad wasn't all that. I got to snake a few bites of the mashed potatoes and I instantly wished I had ordered that as my side instead. It was so good!
So in conclusion, the food was great, the wait was not. And I loved the ambience of the restaurant.
I agree with Alli J and confirm that the staff personnel are total dicks. I have only two experiences with Roebling Tea Room. The first was for dinner at the bar. The barmaid was a bitch and full of "too cool for school" 'tude. I shared a few dishes with my friend and we split a bottle of wine. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't amazing either. I did like the atmosphere, however, which brings me to my second experience with this place. The same friend and I decided to host our co-birthday party brunch here. Their website says "Reservations accepted for parties of eight or more". When I called to make the reservation I was told that a) they don't accept reservations for brunch and b) they could accommodate us as long as we didn't mind waiting and sitting at separate tables. I explained our situation and that there would be 12 of us. After being put on hold so the manager could be consulted, I was told that they couldn't accommodate us. I was a bit shocked and asked why. I was informed that they "don't have enough room". Which makes no sense whatsoever. I confirmed with them that they would rather we go elsewhere and was told I was correct. What a way to get business guys! You have serious customer-building skills! We went to Fada who welcomed us with open arms, great brunch and were more than happy to take our $400. Losers. You just lost 2 neighborhoodies and 10 potential customers.
Came for dinner and drinks. The place is really really dark at night. I have no clue what any of my food really looked like. My "special" friend, who doesn't eat pork, ordered some special with speck in it and ate half of it before realizing something was wrong. She told the waitstaff and the manager was pretty nice about it. We got a free dessert at the end. I wouldn't have been that nice.I would have told my friend to suck it. Another friend was having chowder. The smell was really unpleasant and I 'm guessing it was because it wasn't fresh.
I got the mac and cheese. Get it. It'll be the best you've ever had.
I've been here twice. First time was for brunch, second time, for dinner. Brunch was better than dinner. It took about 20 minutes for us to get a table and the lighting is a bit dim inside during the day, even with the large windows. I recommend ordering their grits if you're into cheese and garlic. They serve it with cheddar cheese and garlic. It's got a punch to it.
For dinner, there wasn't a wait. The place wasn't as crowded like it was for brunch. You could barely see in there. I don't know why they have to keep to the place lit like a movie theatre. It was hard to read the menu. Maybe they didn't want you to see the prices on their over priced entrees. I ordered the half chicken served with kale and mashed potatoes. Sucker cost $16.50. Not worth the price. I also ordered their mac n' cheese. It's not traditional. It was tangy and I think they added tobasco sauce to it. It tasted sour and I didn't enjoy it. I would definitely come back for day food but definitely not for dinner.
The wait for a table was long but I never had grits as good as this place. Service was pretty slow… Read more »
Love Roebling to pieces. Excellent food, beautiful space, great waitstaff. I also like their food ethics. They use a lot of great local and seasonal fare and always to great effect. Don't think I've ever had anything at Roebling I wouldn't want to have more of. Usually a LOT more of. I could go on, but will simply say that you can't beat Roebling for consitency and excellence in food and service. The ONE area for improvement is their music. Not to say the selection of music, which is usually fairly harmless, but rather the VOLUME, which is unbearably loud most of the time. I have asked politely several times for the music to be turned down and while the waitress consented nothing was done and I leaned closer to my dining companion in an attempt to read their lips.
This place in delicious, and they serve Brunch 7 days a week which is genius, but what's up with the service??
I mean all the servers are totally nice, but does management require them to smoke a joint before they come in? Seriously, look alive people!
It does look lovely in there, and most things on the menu are great ideas in theory. I might not be best qualified to judge the food since I don't eat meat, but it would be nice if their salads had more than four overdressed leaves with some cheese thrown on top. Speaking of cheese, I used to love their mac and cheese, but I had it recently and it tastes mostly like oil. When this place first opened I came here all the time, drank their teas, happily overpaid for my fig jam, but as of late they seem to be coasting on reputation and not caring so much.
My friend told me about this place, so I decided to try it out. When I walked in, I really liked the vibe. It's a nice open space with tables in the front and side and a more loungey area with sofas behind the bar. I could see myself sitting here working on my laptop if I lived in the area.
Ordered the recommended chai latte while waiting for my two friends, and that was delicious. When we finally sat down to eat, I was a bit disappointed. The food wasn't anything special. One friend ordered the salted cod hash brown, and it came out look like two jelly donuts, except it was all potato...kinda like mashed potatoes shaped into a donut and mixed with very little salt cod. My other friend ordered the recommended BIG pancake. It was tasty but definitely too large for one person and very cakelike. I ordered the red fennel hash which was cubes of potatoes mixed with beets and goat cheese and two friend eggs on top. Mine was the tastiest out of all of them, but still not impressive.
The best things we had were the teas. So I'd recommend this place if you're looking for a place to do some light work (it's a bit loud in there) or just chill with some friends over some drinks or tea. Good atmosphere.
Likes: Atmosphere, Location (1 block from me), Lighting is low
Dislikes: Food is not very good or predictable. For example, ordered a burger one day and it came out on Brioche with trimmings etc. Ordered the same burger another day and it came out on a wonder bread hamburger bun with nothing but meat and bread, and the bread was not even toasted. They have some good beers and I'll still pop in but the food is just not that great. Service is also a bit slow, easy to get passed by or ignored if you don't stand up and shout.. Bartenders tend to roam around.. I think it could be something to do with the way the prep stations are right there with the bar.. Hard to say. They could definitely stand to have a group huddle and turn it around, but from the looks of it, business is still booming anyway.
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: French
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: American (Traditional)
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