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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Russian, Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: The LoopAdams/Wabash (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
Monroe (Blue, Red)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
"Lavazza is so much better here than in the UK and this location is the best. As I mentioned before, the orange mocha mio is my drink of…" read more »
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One of my dear friends is pregnant. She wanted to get together and we were faced with a dilemma: when you and your girlfriend used to throw back martinis or glasses of pinot noir for some girl time, what do you do when one has a bun in the oven?
My solution? Afternoon tea. It's girlie so you get that satisfaction yet alcohol free.
I haven't had traditional afternoon tea since I was last in London. And... oh... the afternoon tea that I've had there. Brings back good memories...
So I googled "best afternoon tea Chicago" and one of the results was Russian Tea Time. After I Yelped it and saw the good reviews, I made a reservation for 2:30 on a Sunday... the earliest you can go.
When we walked in, the front was bustling with the later lunch crowd, finishing up. We were the only ones having tea. Our waiter was very friendly and efficient and recommended some teas based on our likes and dislikes. Within 5 minutes of ordering, we had pots of tea on our table and a three tiered plate of goodies. It was exactly as the online menu had stated. Scones, pastries, finger sandwiches... mmmmm...
Some of the things were better than the others. I very much enjoyed the salmon sandwiches but my mostly vegetarian friend wasn't a fan of the roasted pepper sandwiches. My favorite of the sweets was a raspberry crumb number... nice and tart.
We sat there for two hours and never once felt rushed. Next time, I am going to shoot for a later reservation... maybe 3:00 or 3:30 because I wasn't the biggest fan of smelling everyone's late lunch stroganoff while I was trying to taste the delicate finger sandwiches.
I hear that the vodka flights are delicious... but I didn't think it was fair to slam a few down while with my impregnated friend. Ah... next time.
Yay! i'm a huge fan!
We walked in here on a Saturday around 4:20 and was immediately seated in a not so great location (the only place they did not have reserved) in front of the kitchen. While I understand that many reservations start at 6:30, we arrived at 4:20 to catch the last of the tea service and would probably have been out before the time of of the first reservation. Needless to say, there were plenty of empty tables when we departed.
The food was amazing. We went as a party of two and wanted to try both the tea service and the sampler dish. We were able to get the 'russian tea time sampler' for just one and also have tea service for one. Even though there were alot of very nice sounding teas on the menu, we ended up with the house 'russian' tea blend... which I am told is darjeeling, bergemont (sp?) and black currant. A fantastic tea that came in a glass mug and was constantly refilled.
The sampler plate was amazing! It came with two platters. One was a cold platter with the most amazing beet salad, hummus, carrot salad and a green identified salad. The entree plate had beef stroganoff, meatballs and a type of chicken meatball, stuffed mushrooms and dumplings as well as rice and another grain. The stroganoff was excellent although they do not serve much of the noodle in the sampler (entree plates were heaping with noodles).
Even though it was meant for one, it clearly could feed two or more.
The tea service came with three plates on a tea server. The top plate had scones with cream and jelly. The second plate had a selection of tea sandwiches (including a quiche) and the third plate had a selection of bite sized desserts. The scones were not impressive, it was very dry. The cream, however, was amazing and a perfect complement to any of the desserts (including the tea cookies). The tea sandwiches were all stale and not very appetizing (especially in comparison to the sampler dishes), but keep in mind that we did sit down at the end of the tea service. The desserts made the tea service completely worth it. Wonderful lemon cake, strawberry jam cake and a very decent napoleon.
This place has spectacular food, mediocre tea service, but fantastic tea. Would come again to try the vodka, but will probably make reservations to avoid being put in front of the kitchen. While pricey, the sampler plate was very worth it and seems like a good place for a medium sized (not large) group.
Love love love this place. I have been coming here since I was a kid, and love it every time. They serve not only the Frenchified court food that my Russian father-in-law sneers at (like Beef Stroganoff, crepes, and chicken croquettes), but also hearty peasant food. In the winter, there is nothing on earth better than a big bowl of mung bean stew. (By the way, the mung bean stew is one of the only hearty vegetarian entrees I've ever found). I also love the dumplings (every kind is great).
The tea is incredible. If you're feeling really authentic, put a brown sugar cube between your front teeth and drink the tea through it.
Went here to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had reservations and were seated promptly. Despite it being a Saturday night, the restaurant was half-empty. That should have warned us, but since a couple of friends had highly recommended the place, we persisted.
We were a party of six people. A Russian sounding waiter came to take our order for drinks. We ordered drinks, except for one of us who requested for soup. At this point, the waiter rudely informed her that he was only going to take the drinks order and that this was not the time for placing the soup order. Phew - what attitude!
The vodka flights are a cool concept, and we enjoyed trying the flavored vodkas. The food was decent, the portions are well-sized - a special mention for the the Ukrainian Borscht, the Mushroom Barley Soup, and the Layered Stew.
When the cheque arrived, we noticed that gratuity had not been added (most restaurants add it in for parties of 6 or more) My friend who was picking up the tab added a 15% gratuity to the amount. As we were leaving the waiter (the same one who had been rude about the soup earlier) came back to my friend and informed him that 15% was too less and that he should add at least 18%. When asked why the gratutity was not included initially if they wanted 18% - he replied saying - "It's your wish - but it should be at least 18%." Clearly, it's no longer a wish but a demand. Not wanting to make a scene there - my friend just added on the extra amount and we left.
However, the entire episode left a bitter taste and needless to say - I will not be visiting this place again.
If I could give them ten stars, I would.
I have been a semi-regular patron of Russian Tea Time for almost seven years; they have never once disappointed me. I have celebrated special occasions like graduations and birthdays here, had dinners before the Symphony, and even had leisurely lunches at this great spot.
My friends, family, and I have had a variety of dishes here over the years, but I know that we can particularly recommend the following: Borscht, Latkes, Vareniky (especially the potato), Uzbek Mung Bean Stew, Uzbek Chick Pea Stew, Chicken Croquettes Pozharski, Classic Beef Stroganoff, and of course, the vodka!
Of course, no meal here would be complete without trying the Russian Tea-- with a hint of berry, it is perfect for any winter dinner. The hot tea is the best in the city.
The desserts at Russian Tea Time are one of the city's best kept secrets. My favorite dessert in Chicago is their Black Rusky-- a wonderful dessert made out of three different mousses-- just delicious! They also offer a variety of other options, from ice cream to other cakes.
Also, I cannot say enough about the service staff and management. They have always been able to accommodate my requests, even if I had a large party. For example, I had made the mistake of waiting until the last minute to find a restaurant that would take almost 30 people for the next day, without having to go with a family style menu. I was hard-pressed to find a restaurant until I remembered to call Russian Tea Time. They were able to accommodate us with no problems, and we were extremely happy with the excellent amount of service given to us, even though we were a last-minute addition to their already busy schedule.
Although reservations are recommended, they do take walk-ins. It is harder to get in before 8pm when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is in season, but getting a table after 8pm shouldn't be that hard.
I have had a lot of great memories at this restaurant and strongly encourage locals and tourists alike to experience the great food and service here.
Eat your way through the menu; everything is good. It's hard to tear ourselves away from the rich, creamy stroganoff. But the sampler plate has some of that along with several other delights.
All the soups we've tried have been good, but I'm partial to the borscht. It has a tanginess that goes perfectly with the dish of sour cream that comes on the side.
My companions rave about the flights of vodka, served with dark rye and pickles. And the desserts finish it off well. I always walk out full to the eyeballs with tea, served Russian-style in a glass held in a filigreed cup.
The service is the real capper. Very professional but jovial. Trust their recommendations.
I came here with my boyfriend when we were in Chicago. We stumbled upon this place while we walking around downtown.
I saw a sign for tea time in the window, and talked my bf into having lunch there. He has never had Russian food before, well if you count Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff but that is crap compared to what we had here.
I ordered the tea service for one, my boyfriend didn't know what to get so i told him that he might like the beef stroganoff. We were both very pleased when our food came out. My tea service was amazing, i had the house tea which left me with a nice little buzz from the caffiene. The scones with preserves and cream were amazing. The tea sandwiches were also great, the samon was nice and fresh. My tea service also came with a bunch of little cookies and cakes. REally alot of food for one person so of course I shared with my boyfriend. Now the beef stroganoff my bf ordered was soo good. The best i have ever had better than moms but I never told her that. The sauce was really good, the steak was tender. It will be really hard to top that beef stroganoff.
I really look foward to coming here again when I am in Chicago.
I ordered the wrong stuff here so this could've been so much better. We thought we were in a rush so we only got quick stuff. I really wish that I had ordered the Guriev Blini, but it demanded that we allow 20 minutes. Instead we ordered soups. I had the Ukranian Borscht and my girlfriend got the Mushroom Barley. We both liked our soups a lot. The Borcht is heavy on the cabbage and once you add the sour cream it becomes that great shade of pink that a good borscht does.
Then came the pumpkin piroshkas and latkas. I liked the latkas all right. They weren't amazing, but okay. My girlfriend ordered the piroshkas and those weren't so hot. I tried some and the taste was just a "don't eat this" taste. Like immediately my body was telling me it was not edible. I didn't get sick or anything, but we didn't finish them either.
The decor is really nice and the service was great. I'd recommend it and it seems to be a perfect restaurant after watching a concert in Milennium Park or viewing Kandinsky's at the Chicago Institute of Art.
We had a great meal here when visiting Chicago recently. Really yummy food! And, good price and service. Skip the over-priced, over-hyped places (tried a few of those) and eat here!
Surprisingly wide selection of vegan/vegetarian entrees. They're all pretty simple - Russian food seems to consist stewing a lot of vegetables together for a long time. Also, their infused vodkas are quite an interesting and delicious experience.
Don't go here on a night that the Chicago Symphony has a performance, unless you've managed to make a reservation.
Great service and food, plus the location is amazing. My one complaint is the $5 price tag for the "house" tea. For a town with a 10%+ food tax they could be kinder with that price.
Come here with a hearty appetite, as the food is quite heavy and filling. We liked the borscht, blinchiki, latkes, dumplings, salmon crepes, chicken livers, croquettes, stuffed cabbage, chicken breast roulette, and stroganoff.
This is a restaurant we enjoy when we visit Chicago.
This is one of those restaurants that every time I go to I kick myself for not going there more. I definitely try and go here when I visit the Art Institute but I need to visit more often. The food is just incredible. I always get the combo platters because trying to decide what I want just makes me dizzy. If you visit you must..must..must get the borscht.
I recently ate at Russian Tea Time and was pleasantly surprised. My boyfriend and I had been waiting to go here until his mother was in town, and it was worth the wait.
Enjoyed the distinct decor (a lot of dark reds, chandeliers, general fanciness), although the tables were just a bit crowded in the front part (there is also another back room). Menu was more pricey than we thought it would be, but we all loved our dishes - salmon/mashed potatoes/ asparagus; Sausage plate...; Dumpling plate. The meal is served with a delicious little loaf of dark onioney bread, so good.
I tried their house tea which I thoroughly enjoyed, served in an awesome silver/glass cup. They have some specialty beers and wines to choose from also.
I would definitely come back, despite the higher prices - maybe for a special occasion.
I've been here once for afternoon tea. And I don't particularly intend on returning.
No complaints on tea selection: it was a relatively expansive list. But their food sucked. I'm not a terribly picky eater, but I know when I don't like something, and I did not like this. Tasteless, generic tea sandwiches and desserts. For a place in the middle of downtown, I'd expect much better. I've experienced much better.
Too pricey for the quality.
The Russian Tea Time is one of my favorite places to get Russian food. It's all delicious and worth paying for. The place itself has an amazing feel to it and the staff is kind to all.
If you can get past the mega-bitch Russian girls that wait the tables here (I get to say that because I am one, I just don't wait your tables--for good reason), it's actually a delightful time after some Art Institute.
I've been here on several occasions, and I've tried a LOT of their food and it ranges from right-on-my-grandma-makes-it-this-way to hmmmm-interesting. Russian flavors are very meat and potatoes, but this place is pretty good in its execution. It is a little overpriced, to be honest, but that's probably due to its location and they really try to make the experience worth it with the ambiance (fancy chandaliers, impeccable bathrooms).
Recently I did the tea service here. If you're going to come here for some authenticity, def try the Russian "house" blend tea that isn't on the menu. It's excellent. The tea service is a little pricey, but it is a lot of food. It's not just pastries, the sandwiches are really good too (although, I could do without the roasted red pepper one). It's definitely an experience. We're all so over-indulged and globalized that its nice to find a new way to spend $60 over some afternoon coffee and crumpets. Take your mom here.
Still thinking about this place.
A patron commissioned me to photograph Chicago through my eyes. My agent is a Chi Town Native and took me here to start my journey. Needless to say, his taste is impeccable and so was our meal.
Beef Stroganoff--out of this world. And this is saying quite a bit because my mom can make a mean batch as well...
The tea was outstanding. I just had a great time here.
PS--give the little creepy porcelain dolls in there a kiss hello for me.....
Whenever you think of afternoon tea, you would think of: teacups and saucers, small sandwiches, cookies, scones, pastries and butter. Russian Tea Time is actually a decent place and worth checking out if you're in the city and need something to do before heading out for dinner. It was kind of dark inside and I was expecting something with a more summer look.
The servers were just right, the server we had sounded Russian too. Nice decorations, they even have antique-looking tea dispensers, something I haven't seen for awhile. Antique Tea cups and Tea mugs were a nice touch.
I wouldn't know if this was considered as the best Russian food in the US considering all I had were pastry and salmon sandwiches which you can make this at home easily , they were just ok. This is a place you would really just like to go not for the food but just for the ambiance. Worth a stop if you're just visiting.
This is one of those places where you only hit it up on special occasions because it gets so expensive. The food is amazing - I'm partial to the golumpki - and I love their selection of teas. If you're going with a group of four or more, the platters are a pretty good value, and a lot of food.
I've never been there at a time of night when I've desired alcohol, but apparently their selection of infused vodkas is fantastic; sometime I will have to give a couple of those a shot.
I also went, as most people have, after we got out of Orchestra Hall. If you are in the area and have a bit of extra money I would recommend it. We had made reservations and were seated promptly.
The food was very nice, but nothing spectacular. It was prepared very well. I had to try the borscht and it was good. The meals ordered at the table were the Chicken Croquettes, Chicken roulette, lamb shank, and beef stroganoff. They were all prepared deliciously.
The waiter we had was very attentive (hubba hubba). He was either hitting on me or trying to get a bigger tip. The jokes on him, I wasn't paying for the meal. SCORE!
Again it was a very nice experience and I would recommend it if you are in the area.
Here's a tip: Those platters for two come with their own appetizers for two. So don't make the mistake we did, which is ordering an appetizer in addition to the platter.
Or do make that mistake! It's all good. It was SO MUCH FOOD. It was a few months ago, and all that I can remember was piles and piles of pickled fish, meats of all different varieties, hummus, tabouli, cabbage... But it was all sooo good. If you're into Russian cuisine, this might be your mecca.
Very tasty and delicious food. We ordered stuffed pepper and chicken roulette, both were very good. The flavored vodka was really good. The appetizers latkes and pumpkin dumplings were not that great.
The address given on the Yelp is wrong. The restaurant is on Adams between michigan and wabash.
For those who don't know, the food in Moscow is delicious--forget your Cold War propaganda about Russian food. Moreover, it's not just Russian food, it's also Central Asian and Caucasian food (all wonderful).
But most Russian restaurant experiences are condemned to disaster by way of the (Soviet-inspired) service. That's where this gem really stands out: the management is top-notch, and so goeth the management, so goeth the service. The menu is pleasantly innovative too. Pirozhki are delicious no matter what you put in them, but the totally not-Russian spiced pumpkin filling I was served was divine.
Perhaps the most fun thing about the place, though, is the weekday clientele. Everyone's either talking in Russian, or nostalgic reminiscing about times in Russia. The latter is fueled by the top-notch $12 vodka flights!
3.5 stars...
I love afternoon tea...tiny sandwiches...scones...little dessert...how cute! They have a huge selection here for tea...like 3 pages...I enjoy the jasmine tea here. The scone was good...but the smoked salmon sandwich was excellent... There's definitely way too much food for one with the afternoon tea. You may want to share one afternoon tea with a friend.
Service was so-so....the serve wasn't very attentive...
I brought my friend from Dallas here after a day downtown; she has been to Russia, so I was hoping that it would not disappoint her, and that I would also be pleased.
The decor of the place is rather old-school, heavy on gold chandeliers, banquette seating and a large collection of samovars that ring the room. Since we were both in skirts I didn't feel underdressed, though I might have if we'd been in jeans (though a family near the front window was dressed as such when we walked in, so I guess anything goes.) We were there on a Monday evening and it was fairly empty, just a few tables occupied.
Our waittress managed to be omnipresent and yet blend into the background, an admirable trait in a day and age where too many servers feel the need to be overly animated or even plop down in the booth with you when they take your order.
We had latkes for an appetizer: somewhat thicker than the potato "pancakes" I'm used to, so they managed to stay creamy in the middle while getting a nice brown crust on the outside.
My friend also started with the borscht, as she likes the hot variety, which is apparently harder to find, and she enjoyed it.
For an entree I ordered off the appetizer menu and got the pumpkin vareniky ("6 dumplings filled with pumpkin, farmer's cheese, garlic, and onion with cinnamon butter"), and also the potato vareniky, which reminded me of pierogi. Both were very good, and the cinnamon butter particularly enhanced the pumpkin version.
My friend got the domlama "layered" stew, which she liked, but it was so filling that she barely made a dent in it.
Desserts sounded good, but we didn't save room. Next time! I'd also like to come back for their tea service some time. They're just down from the Art Institute, so it would make a great afternoon.
I wasn't sure what to expect when agreeing to go to the Russian Tea Time for dinner, but it's right around the corner from the symphony and that was to be the next stop.
I had visions of the Sex and the City episode where Carrie goes to meet "The Russian" (Baryshnikov) at his restaurant: the place being very swanky and red and I would be forced to eat beets.
I am happy to say that, although it was sporting the traditional decor, the food was outstanding! My Chicken Breast Roulette was so good with the mushroom sauce and I was salivating over the Salmon Crepe With Caviar.
The best thing of the night, and something you should not leave without ordering, was the Napoleon Torte (five delicate layers of puff pastry and frangelico pastry cream). It was amazing!
I must admit I didnt think I would be a fan of Russian Tea Time after looking at their menu. First off because the other reviewers said the food was great to "warm you up" and my first visit occurred in the middle of summer, secondly because Russian food isnt known to be vegetarian friendly.Although they have vegetarian selections, I am a PICKY vegetarian who didnt want to spend the entire meal eating potatoes.........well I was surprised that I actually ENJOYED my meal.
The Russian tea was wonderful, strong black tea they refill without you having to ask. For my dinner I had two portions of their dumplings stuffed with asparagus(1serving) and pumpkin(1serving). The dumplings were tossed with lemon juice and basil. It was filling and NOT heavy in the slighest. Their dessert menu is great as well with traditional items like lava cake to gelato.
My only complaints are the location(always have to pay for parking) and the prices(a tad steep for a student's budget). I say be adventurous and take the plunge. I plan on going their for afternoon tea some evening.
Just had tea after art institute. Fabulous and yummy. Cute quaint little place. They didn't bat an eye that we were only having tea. Friendly and attentive servers. Loved the famous tea quotes on the menu. I ever used one for my facebook update!
my brother can speak Russian..
I can eat Everything in the world..
it didn't look like fancy at all from outside, oh boy.. I'd better dress up..
I maximized my Asian eyes and looked at two Russian speakers..
of course, pretended I wasn't care whatever they said, but felt like I was a curious George.. huh? whaT? whAT? wHAT? WHAT?
Sour Vegetable Soup, Whole Wheat Bread, Appetizer (tasted like Filipino Lumpia), Tea (add lots of sugar + lemon = Russian style) were two thumbs up, but my Cutlets with Eggplant and Mash-potato, and his Creamy Beef Spaghetti.. overly salty.. (check pictures) but the service was AWESOME..
he said, he would tell me what the dishes were..
so far, he's whistled and gone with wind..
FINALLY had lunch here today. I probably wouldn't go for lunch if I had an actual office to get back to, but since I work from home and my hours are flexible, it wasn't so bad -- but it did take some time, even though we went very late in the day.
Speaking of which, we arrived around 2:30 and the place was practically empty. I know they offer an afternoon tea service, but only a couple more people showed up in the entire hour-plus that we were there... and they seated us at a small table for two shoved in a corner. I can understand doing that when it's busy, but it seemed like they could have spared a larger table (or even a booth) on a rainy Tuesday late afternoon in the middle of winter. They kept having to shift our plates around to make everything fit! But I digress.
Oh, and the Russian music kept getting mysteriously turned up WAY too loud... then someone would turn it down... then it would happen again. Five or six times. V.v.v. annoying. But I digress again.
Dark bread with butter was OK; not great. Potato dumplings were SCRUM-DIDDLY-UMPTIOUS, although I wasn't too fond of the garlic yogurt dipping sauce. Boyfriend's chicken croquettes were OK but not ground-up enough for my taste. Buckwheat/kasha/whatever - I've been meaning to try this for a while but it was WEIRD. Not bad, just weird. I got the beef stroganoff and it was decent. I liked the noodles and sauce, but the beef wasn't nearly as tender as beef stroganoff that costs $17.95 should be. Carrot salad was good. Chocolate lava cake was bliss. Russian tea was fabulous.
So, the entire meal was sort of up-and-down, and it was REALLY expensive for lunch... hence the 3 stars, as you can see.
See, here's the thing. I don't really care for vodka. In fact, even the good stuff tastes like rubbing alcohol to me.
Ah, but at Russian Tea Time it's a different story. I could order flights of their flavored vodkas until the cows come home (or until I hit the floor...which ever comes first). Their flavored vodkas, served with dark rye and pickles just like my babcia used to make, are fab-u-lous.
Oh, right...there's other food. Yes, their tea is very good, although I found their afternoon tea service to be lacking. It's not the palacial experience of the Four Seasons (see my review) but it's fine. I prefer going there for dinner. It's not on the menu, but be sure to ask for an order of blini and caviar to start your meal. Mmmm...so good. I could go for some right now.
It's tea time perfect place to go if your in millennium park or visiting the Art institute. The tea is very good and they have a nice selection. The last time I went I did not receive the special tea cup it was plain. I also noticed other customers did not have them they were generic cups. I was disappointed last time I came in for tea time it was served in a traditional Russian porcelain tea cup. Not some generic Tj max tea cup. Food and pasties were tasty and filling. I split one full service and and extra tea good for two people price is good tea is unlimited.
I woke up today craving borscht. Wait . . . you never crave borscht? You should! Talked a friend into going with me, so we were able to sample both kinds of borscht, hot and cold, Ukrainian and classic. And, of course, I'm of Russian descent, so that means. . . . WODKA!
6 shots of vodka later, it's time for . . . HERRING! Mmmmmm . . . this menu should be subtltled "Every Kind of Food I Like". Caviar, sausages, plenty of MEAT dishes, sour flavors, pickled things. Savory potatoes. They had a delicious looking Reuben sandwich that I need to go back and try, 'cos that's another favorite.
The service was great, our waiter was v. charming, and instructed us in the proper method of Russian vodka consumption. smell the bread, drink the vodka, bite the pickle! Over and over . . .
It's in a tourista area, but wasn't busting with tourists. The interior is oldskool Russian mafia chic. Great place, I need to go here more often.
Never had Russian food before. What a surprise! I was hesitant being a vegan. No problems! Food was actually... excellent! Have the currant tea! More to come...
I stumbled onto this place the first day it opened on my way to the Art Institute. I think I was one of about 17 actual human beings who resided in the loop at the time and the food choices were limited, to put it mildly. I was so freaking happy to have access to food that didn't involve going into a bar loaded with drunken traders that I would have kept eating here even if the food sucked.
But it didn't, and it doesn't.
Drink everything they put in front of you, eat everything they put in front of you - try it all. Bring your friends from out of town here. Come in on a cold afternoon after a trip to the AI. It is a happy making place and well worth the trip into the - now freakishly overpopulated - loop.
Just went to tea this afternoon. The stars are actually 2.5, and here's the breakdown:
Food: 3
Atmosphere -- Decor: 4
Atmosphere -- Temperature Control: -1
Value: 5
Service: 3
Food: The tea service was overall well presented, and there was a good selection of yummy treats for the money. Some were kind of hit or miss, and there was some sloppy presentation (my friend's apple finger sandwich had part of the sticker still on the apple!), but overall the food was good and plentiful.
Atmosphere: I liked the style and the restaurant itself was lavishly decorated. That being said, the fact that there were air conditioning issues (as in it did not work AT ALL) made me more than a little uncomfortable. My friends and I were sweating through our tea, and that is just not a good situation. They appeared only to have one air conditioning unit above the door of the restaurant, and, if that's the case, that is wholly inadequate to cool the entire place. Since this is the first time I've been there, though, I can't say if this unmanageable heat is a one-time occurrence or not.
Value: The quantity of food and the hits versus misses make this place a great value. There were as many dishes as the more expensive hotel services for a much lower price.
Service: The service was okay. We had plenty of refills for our tea. The trays took a little while to come out, but nothing too horrible. My complaint comes from the very end of our meal. My friends and I wanted to take a picture, but the trays were still on the table. We asked a waiter if he could clear the trays, and even though he understood what we wanted, he walked away and then served another table. When we asked a busboy to help us clear it off, he did it right away. Apparently clearing the trays was not the waiter's "job," but his understanding what we wanted and subsequently ignoring it really rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall: There's nothing wrong with the tea service, but be sure to go there when the air conditioning is working. Between this and the Drake, I'd take the Drake's tea service over Russian Tea Time (despite the Drake's more expensive price tag).
P.S.: Sorry for the SUPER long review.
My heart skips a beat just thinking about my love for RTT. We used to come here for the "new hire" lunch whenever we would add someone to our staff at my office. It was a time-honored and much looked-forward to tradition (in some cases, more important than the actual hire themselves!)
Be adventurous! The blackberry tea is HEAVILY caffeinated, so beware. But the food is delicious and the service impeccable.
I came here for a light meal, and was very pleased overall. The service was excellent, and I really enjoyed the mushroom-barley soup and spinach salad. The tea is quite delicious as well, and I am now officially addicted to sugar cubes.
It is by no means a bargain: cost for two teas, two soups, and two small salads was $50 after tip. The atmosphere was a bit stuffy for my personality, but I won't hold that against them. Service was excellent.
While we were there, I kept getting whiffs of the wonderful dishes that nearby diners had ordered. Everything smelled wonderful and savory, and everything looked just as good. I look forward to trying it again, perhaps with a bigger appetite and a fatter wallet.
Quality / Taste (40%) = 4.5
Atmosphere (20%) = 4
Service (20%) = 5
Value (20%) = 3
Overall = 4.2
Okay, I probably shouldn't be sharing this, since it's not so legal and stuff...
Once a relation of mine took Aderol, which is a drug for people with ADHD. He does not have ADHD.
"How did you feel?" I asked. "I felt like all I wanted to do was study. I worked for 70 hours straight," was the answer.
I think their Russian tea must contain some aderol, since both times I have been there, I have rushed home and done all my work. The tea must be really strong, and they come around and constantly refill your glass, so you have no idea how much "tea" you have been consuming. It's really tasty though, and they give you a plate with brown sugar cubes and lemons to put in your tea.
Otherwise, the food is really good. I have had the stuffed eggplant, the mushroom barley soup and some of the salads. The first time I visited this place I was with 5 real Russians, and they scoffed at some of the ingredients, like pumpkin and avocado, which they said had no place in Russian cooking!
The atmosphere is quite nice with some large, comfy booths as well as tables. The bread pudding dessert was tasty, though I am quite a sucker for bread pudding.
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
Category: Museums
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: Streeterville
Category: Bars
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