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Samovar Tea Lounge
Categories: Food Tea Rooms Restaurants Sandwiches Tea Rooms, Sandwiches [Edit]
498 Sanchez St(between Ford St & 18th St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
Neighborhood: Castro
(415) 626-4700
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
622 reviews for Samovar Tea Lounge
Review Highlights
"sweet treat I indulged in the Coconut Rice Pudding."
(in 20 reviews)
"Also I LOVE the butternut squash dumplings."
(in 28 reviews)
"I ordered the curry egg salad-all really fresh."
(in 9 reviews)
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622 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica t.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
Worth the wait on a sunny San Francisco day.
There are not many places that I would put my name on a list for, but Samovar on a gorgeous day is one of them.
Basking in the Castro sun, Samovar is such a simple yet excellent way to enjoy a Sunday.
From quinoa breakfast waffles, to portobella mushroom salads, and hot scones and cream - their food selection is fairly modest, but all quite healthy and full of nutrient rich ingredients. Dipping a fork into a bowl full of fresh vegetables, as the Californian sun grazes your cheek, while you toast warm brewed green tea - is the San Franciscan dream.
Trust. -
Review from Adlyn S.
South San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012 4 Check-ins Here
The service here is really hit or miss. You could tell who is truly a "tea enthusiast" by the way they romance the tea. I really appreciate the time certain employees take to explain the notes and what not since there's a whole science behind tea.
My go to food order is the curry/egg/fuji apple sandwich. BOMB. DIGGITY. I never feel gross full after eating and drinking here...it's always a calming, focused feeling that makes me believe I can ace the SAT's if I was 16 again. Weird analogy but whatevs...
Point is, come here for the semi-overpriced experience...but it will totes be worth it! -
Review from steven b.
San Francisco, CA
As a general rule it seems like one can count on a pleasant experience here with lovely food and various interesting beverages. It seems to me over the years Samovar has gotten better and better. I usually have the curried egg salad sandwich which Is heavenly but today had the smoked duck jook and received a dish that would receive 5 stars for presentation and taste.
If you are looking for a gut busting meal on your table in 2 minutes with fast paced rushed service then this is not the place for you. ;-P -
Review from Nidia B.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I'd like to give this place a 3.5. It's better than ok, but if you're not a fan of tea it's a little over priced. I'm a coffee fan myself but I enjoy a good cup of tea once in a while. The food is fresh, interesting and tasty. If I was in the neighborhood and was hungry I'd definitely stop in, but I'm not sure I'm going to go out of my way to go there.
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Review from Cat F.
Hayward, CA
1/3/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I bought the $25 for $50 yelp deal, so I convinced my friend J and her boyfriend to come with me here after taking a tour of the Armory (another Yelp deal).
We walked in a little before six on a Sunday evening, and the place was super warm and packed. Eventually a man behind the counter managed to get the attention of a server, who briskly informed us that the wait was 20 minutes for a party of three, and then promptly ignored us. Having spent the last 2+ hours on our feet, we were exhausted and wanted a place to sit; it took at least a solid five minutes to try and get the attention of the server again and ask if we could sit down outside, at least to wait.
Once I asked, he was happy to oblige us eating outside. Not my first choice but I deferred to the desires of my friends. We perused the menus and ordered: me the British tea set with salmon quiche, J the paleolithic tea set with duck, and her boy the grilled cheese with tomatoes. Our orders were taken by another individual and we were served by a third; who told us our original server had left for the night.
The tea sets don't all specify that they come with a specific tea, but they do; so if you want to try something else, be prepared to let the server know that. They also tell you if the tea you choose is more than the one the set comes with, they will charge you the difference. I decided to stay with the tea assigned to my set, but J switched out for a Pu-er. Her boyfriend balked at the $6 pricetag on the iced tea, but we convinced him into trying it for the sake of being at a tea place.
All our teas arrived fairly promptly and J was shown how to brew her Pu-er (you don't really leave the water in the Pu-er pot at all). My tea was a strong British breakfast varietal, which had already been pre-brewed and came with no sugar or cream. I kept hoping to be offered it but didn't want to use our already small table space to hold it, nor did i really want my tea cooling off any more with the use of cream. The boy enjoyed his iced tea, but i secretly agreed that the price was probably a bit too much considering we never got refills.
Our food came and we had to be creative to fit it all on the small outdoor table. Somehow we managed and dining commenced; I was pleased to see the grilled cheese came with a small salad and was of a decent size. The duck looked delicious and was declared so multiple times. My quiche was unfortunately smoked salmon, which made an odd sort of flavor taste with the light egg and cheese. I also had the same side salad as the grilled cheese, which was mixed greens of the type I can't begin to identify. The scone was delicious and the fruit plate I shared with everyone.
Overall, the tea and the food was passable, but nothing special. If I returned, it would only be to try the other teas, and at $8-10, I would definitely not return on a weekend, or to this location. The initial treatment received by a busy server definitely turned me off to the location as being a place where I could relax and enjoy my tea or my food, which, for the prices, is what I would want to do in order to make the experience worthwhile. -
Review from DeathandFood b.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
How have I not written a review for Samovar Tea Lounge. I've been coming here since it opened and I've found it's only gotten better with age.
The decor and service have always been good as has their selection of tea. I think most people are surprised by the price but remember you are in most cases getting a pot of tea not a cup.
I've noticed on the last few visits they have increased the portion size and while the price are still higher than many places for example 12 dollars for a wasabi cesear salad with smoke salmon, the portion was large enough for two people. My favorite combo is the tea soup with duck and a white tea to drink. The jook is also good. The French spouse loves the grilled cheese sandwich which comes with a good sized salad.
I also like coming here during the day for business meetings or to just hang out with friends and not feeling rushed to leave.
Plan on spending at least 25 a person if you are planning on eating or doing one of the services.
Having been at the Yuerba Beuna location I strongly prefer this location over that one. -
Review from Nancy C.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Since I'm a regular at the Yerba Buena Gardens location, this one is just okay for me. The quality of the food and tea is fine. However, this location just lacks the charm of the Yerba Buena Gardens Samovar. If you're in the Castro and you want to catch up somewhere other than a bar of lounge, this is a decent place to do that.
Get the egg salad sandwich. -
Review from Albie F.
1/1/2012
Utilizing one of the thousands of Samovar Groupons that has been sold as of late, decided to finally give their Sanchez St location a try for the first time with my group of five. The overall experience was perfect: high quality tea, superb service, and a relaxing environment. Samovar doesn't accept reservations but if you have a chance to get the long table for larger groups, that is a fun place to settle down. What was surprising is the leg room underneath the table. Around the table allows you to sit on these cushions but while you imagine that you have to sit cross legged, that is not the case because there is enough vertical legroom to have your legs dandle from your seats.
We had a couple of the food & tea platters (Moorish Service and Paleolithic Tea Service), a Nocturnal Bliss pot of tea, and a coconut rice pudding. Everything was really tasty and of the different tea platters, what stood out was the very strong mint tea from the Moorish service and the flavorful sesame sauce that paired well when drizzled over the kale, carrots, and beets. The Noctural Bliss was a recommended tea by our waitress which had some lavender and a fruit loop smell if you smell the inside lid of the teapot (no joke, it's a faint smell and kind of funny).
On a service related note, Tammy was just incredible and possibly one of the best servers I've had anywhere (definitely in the top 3). She was knowledgeable and helpful about the different tea options which can be overwhelming if you're not really into tea, she was easy going and friendly, and makes the entire tea lounge experience even more special. Overall Samovar was a great little place to start the evening before we got ice cream and burritos elsewhere in the Mission district. -
Review from Jennifer Y.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 2 Check-ins Here
Net-net, would go back for relaxing atmosphere and the rice poridge with duck if I'm in the neighborhood and have a couple of hours to sit and chat or read. And, for a meal, I would also plan for at least $20/person going toward the tab.
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For the service and atmosphere, I would LOVE to give this place a 5 of 5 stars.
For the food and tea, I'm very much torn to give this place a 2 of 5 stars. I think this place is totally a place to relax over some of the key teas they do well here. Food is just the add-on.
Since I used the Yelp deal, I have been back once to make sure I was absolutely certain on the rating. And, also to once again try the "exotic" rice poridge (juk).
Items tried:
+ English Service - $22 (Shiitake Mushroom Quiche [good, but needed salt?],
Cherry Oat Scone [this was fine, but does NOT compare with Love Joy's or Crown & Crumpet's] with Devonshire Cream & Jam [now, this was good -- wish I had more than a tablespoon of each!], Fresh Fruit [hm... 5 slices of apple])
-----Overall: not too worth it; I'd order the scones ala carte if back
+ Grilled Portabella Sandwich w/ Onions + Gruyere Cheese - $12 [this was actually not bad, but the salad it came with was just mixed greens -- the salad took up 3/4 of the plate which I'd do, ... if I ordered a "salad"]
-----Overall: not too worth it
+ Jook (Smoked Duck) - $12 (Rice, slow cooked to a silken custard [just seemed like plain rice poridge... pretty thick] and served with tasty toppings: scallions, toasted garlic [now, this was GOOD -- never had juk with crunchy garlic], peanuts, nori [this got pretty tough as it got hot while waiting on the counter for the waitstaff to bring it over --perhaps it should be served on the side as well?], cilantro [good too, a normal juk topping], sriracha and tamari soy sauce [this was a little new])
-----Overall: best food item
+ Mini Moorish Platter - $10 (hummus [nothing special, and a little watery], roasted eggplant [this was good mixed with the yogurt], Greek yogurt dips [the "s" is deceptive.. this is just one compartment of what appeared plain yogurt] and herbed wheat crackers [table crackers?])
-----Overall: filling; I'd order it if back & need to eat smth
+ Tea Lemonade - $6 (lavender + passion fruit [YUM on both])
-----Overall: best drink
+ Samovar Masala Chai - $5.45 (available chilled & hot; creamy, spicy, but not very sweet)
-----Overall: 2nd best drink
+ Thai Iced Tea - $8 (OK; for the price, not sure if I was totally OK drinking it!)
-----Overall: pricey; would go instead to a Thai restaurant if I wanted to relax while sipping this drink -
Review from Rouz E.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/15/2012
Went here again.
Not sure why.
Prices were even higher.
Scratching my head.
Now banging my head on my desk.
Ouch I have a headache.
Go buy a box of Bigelow tea for 5 bucks.
Tasted the same and I can save the rest of my $ for that blow job I wanted.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2011
10 bucks for a freaking tea!? That cup of tea better come with a blow job. I don't mind paying for… Read more »
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Review from Carlin F.
San Francisco, CA
1/14/2012
Tea: Great tea, at least. The tea that came with the Russian and English services were both tasty.
Food: Meh, it's not bad but nothing to go crazy about
Service: Good luck. Place seems like a crap shoot, especially if you come in when it's busy. Service may be slow or even non-existent, as in my case. The girl sat us down, came back 10 min later to take our order, 30 minutes later with no food, we inquired and discovered our order was completely lost and we had to re-order. Barely an apology, almost as if it were our fault. Some places would comp an appetizer or something for the trouble, but no, so I didn't tip and left them a comment on their comment card.
Price: Food is overpriced, Tea is expensive but at least the quality justifies it.
Summary: If it's packed, I wouldn't bother, and I'd just get the tea. -
Review from S R.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
like everybody else said. great atmosphere. dark and inviting. foreign and exotic. i dont know the first thing about teas, but it was quite smooth. and pricey. turkey sandwich was very good. thinner dense herb-flavored chiabatta bread with thick cuts of good quality turkey. interestingly, lots of uncooked onions, but it somehow worked well with the other flavors.
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Review from Anastasia M.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
I bought 2 groupons and I cannot wait to use them. I just love Samovar. The Castro location is very convenient for me. Unfortunately they don't have all the food choices as at the downtown location. Still, this place is so nice to relax with your girlfriends.
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Review from Mel G.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012
The Lychee black tea is my favorite. Yeah, it's a little on the expensive side (hard to justify 8 bucks for a pot of tea), but because it's so good, it still gets 4 stars. This location also has a great environment too -- in a super residential, cute part of town.
Listed in: SF Coffee!
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Review from Andrea B.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Samovar is a great place to spend with friends on a lazy afternoon guzzling treats and indulging in tea-drinking. My friend and I camped out by the beautiful round table by the window with a $55 Groupon and had a blast. I've been to the SF location in Yerba Buena 5+ times, but this was my first time in the Castro location.
Our server was lovely - young man who was helpful and attentive. He recommended this Nepalese white tea, and it might have been the lightest and most pleasant tea I've ever had at a tea house.
I normally order the curried egg salad, the smoked duck jook, and the Rose yogurt with dates (all of which are top notch and great choices) but we decided to try other features on the menu, so we tried the beeswax and bleu cheese, dumplings, and the sweets platter. I would probably not get the sweets platter again (not a fan of scones and bland biscuits, though it's so popular with other guests), but the beeswax was a total trip. It was so good! Every bite was an experience. The dumplings were great, and we also ordered jook to fill us up.
Love the ambiance of this place. Only gripe is that the tea pot and tea server are so clunky and the spilling makes me feel like a dork. They are great about refilling the hot water, so just wish they would change the actual tea container. -
Review from Michelle E.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 1/4/2012
had to write an update, its been exactly one year since I first visited Samovar and have visited about 16 times all three branches but mainly the sanchez branch.
ive tried almost everything on the menu, my favorite go-tos are the curry egg salad sandwich w/ monkey picked iron goddess of mercy tea, smoked salmon wasabi caesar salad w/ ryokucha (sp?), butternut squash dumplings, the yogurt or coconut basmati rice pudding w/ chilled chai, russian tea from the samovar (undiluted w/ water) paired with anything that has smoked duck.
my favorite tea right now is this korean tea in a wine bottle that has this wonderful essence of ground cocoa or +70% dark chocolate...love love love!
favorite staff: Alex! and Erik!
everyone is great (well only if they are not stressed and busy with tons of customers at sunday brunch time)
just want to apologize for occasionally being noisy/laughing with my cousins and messing up other patrons' ambiance =/
This branch is my meet up/catch up/relaxation spot with my cousins that I don't get to see all the time
I keep bringing new people to Samovar and they are addicted too =)Listed in: la mission
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/5/2011
love this tea lounge
why: Alex (who works there and our server that dat) and Erick (sort of the… Read more »
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Review from Miriam H.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
Spent my birthday afternoon here and loved the experience. It was a gray, rainy day, which I think made everyone else in the city want tea so there was a little bit of a wait, but it actually didn't take too long to be seated.
The service was awesome. Our waitress offered food and tea options and was super knowledgable about the teas. We ended up having the English Tea Service and Moorish Tea Service. Instead of the teas that come with those services, we choose two others on our waitress' recommendation: ocean of wisdom and another green tea that had chocolaty notes. The food and tea were both excellent. I'll definitely be back for more. -
Review from jen d.
1/9/2012
A bit pricier than I am used to spending on tea but I had the Groupon deal and the Moorish service is sooooo goood!!!! The portion size was more than enough for me considering I had just expected nibbles with the tea. YUM.
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Review from T G.
San Francisco, CA
OK... the tea was tasty, especially the monkey-picked Oolong. And I'll admit I'm not the type to spend $5.00 on a Venti Latte, so it should be no surprised I think that $9 to $20 for a pot of tea (for one person?!) is ludicrous, and a tiny bit of brown rice putting for $6.00 isn't much of a bargain either. So what about the service / experience? Dirty pot (how much time does it take to inspect and wipe off the dishwasher spots), waiter spilled water on the way to the table AND on the table and did not wipe it up. Should it be more pretentious? Well... at a tea-room for any Asian tea, I would expect a simple cup warming procedure by the server: The kind of friendly hospitality you get in many SF noodle-joints for a $5.00 pot of tea for 2. This place needs to be taken down a notch or two.
We were in the back room ... I would most certainly consider the front room to be far too noisy to get all "Zen" about my $9.00 tea... -
Review from Kim S.
11/22/2011
Great ambiance. A bit pricey but the tea quality is top notch. Note: A bummer that the pots do not contain the tea leaves & are not refilled with hot water. More choices of tea service than the traditional English tea (my fav). Also nice that open like a regular cafe so not limited to days or time of day to enjoy a tea service.
I ordered the English Service with a 3-Tiered Platter: Wild Smoked Salmon Quiche, green salad, Cherry Oat Scone with Devonshire Cream & Jam & Fresh Fruit. It was filling & yummy. The only thing missing was a chocolate something.
My tea was amazing - Ocean of Wisdom* Custom blended for His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Silken, malty mouth-feel lingers blissfully. South African rooibos, honeybush, ginger, licorice, cloves and cinnamon. Sail from an ordinary moment into a regal, contemplative one
My friend enjoyed the Japanese Service (v/g): Tofu Bowl, Soup & Ryokucha (Brown Rice Green Tea). Wakame seaweed salad with sesame-miso dressing, seasoned
brown rice, steamed kale with tangy sesame dressing, toasted nori & seasonal soup. A really healthy choice. -
Review from Ezequiel R.
San Francisco, CA
We came here today on this lovely 75 degree day in December. My friend and I started outside seating but we were burning up so we quickly came inside. Since it was about 1140 there was only one other couple here at the time. The server lady was really polite and always ready to take orders and requests.
The feel of the room at the time was very cozy. We wanted to sit in the squatting spot but it was in direct sunlight so we chose the one away from sun. The menu came out on metal plate-like things and you had to stare at it for a minute if you've never been. My friend ordered the Japanese meal with duck and I stuck with the turkey sandwhich with a Lavender Lemonade tea (They were out of Jasmin :( ). The food was absolute superb! The thing I enjoyed the most was the presentation of the tea and the plates themselves. I'm a sucker for presentation.
Overall a really great restaurant. I have zero complaints! I will be back for sure :D -
Review from Domini D.
San Francisco, CA
12/7/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Mmmm Samovar! i've been to the location in the Castro about a half dozen times over the last couple of years. The ambience is mellow and comfortable, and the location is very very beautifully decorated. Nice place to come with friends. I'm a huge tea (and coffee) person. While maybe i haven't tried the 'right' tea at Samovar, i find the tea to be neither here nor there... it's perfectly good, it just has yet to knock my socks off like i might expect a tea shop to. However! i suspect the tea is maybe being over-shadowed, for me, by the food!
i've tried sandwiches, salads, the greek combo platter, and some other things as well-- even if you don't care about fancy tea, just visit a Samovar to try the dishes they've come up with. There are food and flavor combinations i wouldn't expect, and everything i've had is well-prepared and artfully presented. AND SO DELICIOUS.
A note on the service: each time i've gone, my service has been worth five stars. knowledgable, helpful, personable. really great job folks, thank you!
Looking forward to future visits :) -
Review from yelp o.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
When I think afternoon tea I think yummy mini finger sandwiches, clotted cream, scones, and cute little desserts. Samovar is definitely NOT like this and their 3 tiered English service is far from traditional. I feel like it's more of a cafe with some decent sandwiches. They have a wide variety of tea to choose from, but I'm just not sold. I feel like there's something missing from this place. I feel like it could be more, but they're just settling for mediocre. Definitely wouldn't come back, even with another gifted Groupon.
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Review from SisterMable S.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011
I wish I could tell you how wonderful it was, but the last time I went there I was ignored repeatedly for over 15 minutes after I'd been seated. I got a menu, but no water, no service, and when twice I did the gentle raise my hand smile thing, I got a nod and then ignored some more. By BOTH wait staff!!
I finally got up and left. Most of the time, service is more important to me than the food and drink. I share my money with businesses that make me feel special. Samovar left me feeling invisible.
Will not return. -
Review from Jane A.
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
THEY SURE DON'T SERVE LIPTON!!!! ha.
(4 stars)
Tea, tea, tea, and more tea. Beginning to like Tea Lounges more than Expresso Cafes. Especially this Tea Lounge.
- Food, delicious
- Prices, decent
- Service, depends who is serving you (literally). kind of sucked.
- Ambiance, dim and zen-ful
On a cold rainy day in SF, decided to treat myself to dinner and some warm tea. I had a LivingSocial deal worth of $50 worth of food and drink to spend for myself, I'm going to make every penny count. Walked in (alone) and was seated. I thought this was tea lounge where you can kick up your laptop, well, not exactly around dinner time. I felt like everyone was on a first date, holding hands across the tables, sipping on tea, eating, and starring into each others eyes. On a Monday evening?
My waitress was SO annoying (she's the shorter one). I was waiting forever for her to come take my order. Literally, forever. Then she kept bugging me while i was on the phone. HELLO?! I been waiting for you and flagging you down to get my order in. She was jumping all over the place like a damn kangaroo while other waitstaff were composed. She messed up orders with the tables next to me. I sotpped flagging her down and was being helped by another waitress. This waitress was composed, got orders right, and was VERY helpful and kind (she was the taller one).
HEFFER-STYLE STATUS.
I have $50 to spend for myself, i must choose wisely.
SQUASH BLOSSOM DUMPLINGS with dipping Sauce ($7) - handmade vegetarian squash dumplings with spicy sesame-soy sauce. This was one of my favorite items. I had litterally ordered 3 of them and gave one order away to the table next to me.
RUSSIAN SERVICE: Taragon-Marinated Beets, Smoked Fish & Horseradish, Devilled Egg with Caviar, Herbed Crackers, Fresh Fruit, Chocolate brownie ($24) - This was one of the more expensive tea service which is why i chose it. The beets were fabulous, the smoked fish was a little strong and the fish was salmon, the devilled egg with caviar was one of the best items on the plate, and there was NO chocolate brownie, instead they gave me this creamy cinnimon almost like rice pudding that was really good but wish they had told me there was going to be no chocolate brownie.
PLATTER of SWEET TREATS ($17) - Didn't get any. The annoying waitress was so damn slow serving me by the time she came to me she said some of the treats were out and will be replaced with other items. She came back later and said everything is OUT. She didnt suggest anything else and new i had $25 left to spend. WTF!
COCONUT RICE PUTTING ($5) - OUT. WTF!
Will I be back? Even with that terrible waitress, i still love the place.
JABA APPROVED... Until the next review.. -
Review from Jessica O.
Washington, DC
1/1/2012
This is one of my favorite places to relax in San Francisco. When I lived in SF I came here often, now that I live on the east coast I visit whenever I am in town!
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Review from Paul M.
San Francisco, CA
11/28/2011
I can say I was not much of a tea person before this place. Nothing against it, just always found myself gravitating to coffee. The selection of teas that Samovar has to offer, in addition to the advice and guidance I received from the people working there really helped usher me into the world of teas.
I have also found myself dining here more frequently since they have had a few livingsocial deals that are just too good to resist. The $50 to spend for $25 is the perfect budget for a nice dinner for three. Highly recommend keeping an eye out if they continue to do such deals.
Favorite meal: Wasabi Caesar Salad with Wild Smoked Salmo with a Jasmine Tea Lemonade -
Review from Aerin L.
Palo Alto, CA
11/13/2011
Sifting through forgotten reviews, the following is my impression of Samovar from the spring of '09:
Hey, good-looking. Yes, you. The harmonious array of exotic tea, delicately sprawled amongst a rolling sea of fragrant platters and tantalizing sweets. Could this be the post-modern zen garden of Mount Olympus? Perhaps analogous, but nonetheless an intriguing venture into the heart of Castro. The very existence of this tea lounge is a relief to the food industry gone awry to cookie-cutter chains.
Don't let your palate do all the judging. Take note of the interior elements and the serving ware that help paint a balanced ambiance, along with a pleasant staff that completes the experience like black truffle oil on your plate. It's worth your Sunday afternoon, rain or shine. -
Review from Russell H.
Pacifica, CA
10/27/2011
Like my good friend Jaina (you ARE a princess, sweetie!), I have been to all three Samovars many times (Jaina, how come you and I haven't hung out for tea?). Last Saturday I popped into the Castro location by myself, which gave me the chance to do some good people watching (one of my favorite passtimes, I must admit; and no better place than the Castro for some good eye candy).
But what struck me the most was the staff here. Not only were they completely welcoming to everyone who came in, they genuinely care about each other. Sincere compliments, genuine affection, talking--and looking forward--to their next work shifts. I hope they realize what a good thing they've developed here. My kudos to Jesse Jacobs and the Castro crew for creating and fostering such a caring atmosphere.
Of course, the Pu-ehr and coconut pudding were the perfect pick-me-up, too (alright, so was catching glimpses of this really handsome guy behind the counter... masculine, tall, full beard... but I digress).
It was truly a relaxing and rejuvenating experience; one I highly recommend. I'll still take out-of-town guests to the Yerba Buena location, and Zen Valley for dates... but for sheer neighborhood tea experience, I think I'm going to become a regular. -
Review from lori s.
Updated - 12/4/2011
i just had an unpleasant experience at samovar. as you can tell from my first review i LOVE samovar. i don't really even want to write this review but for some reason i feel compelled.
i went there today to buy my favorite, unlike any other, smokey russian tea. it's a little box. and it's $15. that's expensive but ok. and i ordered a cup of tea to go. when i got the bill there was a charge for $15 and $14. when i asked about it i was told that 1 cup of smokey russian tea is $14. i find that absurd. so i asked, how could that be. i was told that it's $14 because it's a bottomless cup. now, i don't know how many of you can drink $14 worth of tea. when i reminded them that this cup of tea was "to go". they just said it's still $14. there's something about this i find horribly disturbing. 1 cup of tea, no food, nothing....$14. when they serve the bottomless cup with food it's $24 which is fine. i love the russian tea service. i'd pay $24 for the russian tea service.
i've had enough of talking about this and i think you get the picture.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/28/2010
i LOVE samovar tea lounge. i think if you're visiting san francisco it's a must see.
i love their… Read more »
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Review from Nic M.
San Francisco, CA
10/4/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Tea options were out of control! So many to choose from, that it's easy to get lost, but if you like your tea you're bound to find something for you.
The food was also quite good, but the portions were a bit on the small size. I have a healthy appetite, so this isn't a place where I would go to get my fill. But for a light lunch, good tea, and a place to sit with friends, this place is perfect.
It's also nicely located right next to Dolores Park, so you can enjoy the sun after eating. -
Review from Rob L.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Teas. Teas. Teas. GALORE!! This is a GREAT spot if you wanna relax and enjoy any and every concoction of tea you ever desired! It fills up there quick and it gets warm in there too. But some amazing teas and some great service, you won't be disappointed!
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Review from Claire M.
San Jose, CA
11/10/2011
Me likey, a lot! A cutie took me here for dinner. I immediately fell in love with the Soy Matcha Shake (I think). It was super yummy. I think I had the TLT (Tamari-Mirin Braised Tofu, Lettuce, and Tomato). It was delish! The portebella mushroom over spring greens was good too. I have a Groupon, and can't wait to use it!
The ambiance is romantically relaxing. -
Review from Katie W.
8/23/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Tea for Two and Tea Types for Everybod-y!
Samovar is a tea house like no other I know. Not only do they have a tea menu that reads like the most eclectic of wine lists, but you can have a tea service from just about any part of the world!
Russian, Moorish, Traditional English, Chinese, Japanese and even a menu of sandwiches and salads - just to make sure that they've hit every option.
None of the food is heavy or feels in any way not what your body needs and more importantly, wants. It is all fresh, light and completely satisfying.
I got the Moorish Tea and was served crackers, roasted eggplant, Hummus, a simple salad of hullumi, cherry tomato and pearl onions. The plate looked like - ok, so... where we going to eat after this?? But honestly, I left feeling satiated.
My Dear Mother got the Traditional service, which is right up her alley; adorned with a cherry oat scone - light and crispy outer, moist inside just a they should be and large in size. Fresh fruit of pears and apples, and the meat of the dish - Mushroom quiche. Flaky, shattering crust, wonderful earthy mushroom delightful filling and a simple side salad.
And the Tea! Dear Lord, the Tea! The staff is abundantly knowledgeable, you ask it, they answer it. With so much to choose from in both beverage and entrees, and equally perfectly prepared; there is quite literally something to please every palette. -
Review from Sujan J.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2011 3 photos
I had previously been to Samovar Tea Lounge in Yerba Buena (but didn't eat / drink anything there) and have wanted to try their food so decided to check this out. I chose Mission / Castro location cos I figured parking would be easier than Yerba Buena - and it sure was!
They don't take reservations so it's first come first served. I'm not sure what they are like in the weekends, but on a Thursday evening at 7pm we were able to get a table immediately.
What I liked:
Food presentation - from 3 tiered high tea service to tea pots / cups - presentation made everything taste yummy.
Food it self - for the most part, food was yummy too. I had the Japanese Duck dish and while there were some sauce bits on veges that were overly salty - it tasted pretty good. My friends had the English tea service and their quiche and scone both tasted good.
Negatives:
Food portions - they are small! I was feeling hungry at the end of my Japanese meal (you can see my picture to see what you get). We sat after we had finished our meals chatting for another 2 hours and by then food had digested and I felt okay but I actually did not feel satisified. Maybe that's just right amount of food? Or maybe I was hungrier than usual that day? I don't think I would have been satisifed even if I went with my "usual" amount of hunger. Oh and I like my protein.. I only really got 5 "small" pieces of smoked duck which made the meal feel very vegetarian..
Price - it's expensive. My meal was $22 and I was still hungry afterwards. Tea range from $9-14 which is pretty pricey as well.
Would I return? Maybe... but probably not if I'm wanting to "eat out". I think I could snack here (maybe an expensive snack) but not come for a regular meal. -
Review from Jon T.
9/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
There's so much more to Samovar than tea, not that the tea isn't wonderful. I absolutely love the japanese service here. The combination of rice, soup, tofu, seaweed and bits of carrot is perfect. And then if you have room for dessert, you must get the coconut rice pudding.
I wasn't thrilled about the service at the Castro location the only time I've been. The waiters/waitresses were not very attentive and that's a huge pet peeve of mine. But I'm definitely willing to give it another shot, though i still prefer the Yerba Buena one for the view. -
Review from Kelsey H.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
My boyfriend and I first tried out Samovar after he had seen the Kevin Rose "Foundations" episode on vimeo featuring Samovar (http://vimeo.com/24499018).
Any time a groupon or yelp deal pops up for this place we're quick to take it since it's always worth the money.
Both locations are awesome, the wait staff are always nice and helpful and of course there's the tea. Wide variety and something for everyone.
My favorite is the Iced Matcha Green Tea shake and my boyfriend goes for the Shaken Iced Tea Lemonade, but when we get one of the groupon or yelp deals we fill the table with tea until we can't drink anymore.
Perfect for a date or a quiet study place. -
Review from Mark M.
San Francisco, CA
10/16/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
This place is wonderful. Happened to go on a gorgeous evening, sat outside. Used a Groupon deal and enjoyed an evening meal. The food is more 'snack-like' than a meal, but, it is all very good!
This place is a very nice treat... -
Review from Eva L.
San Francisco, CA
12/21/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Delicious, diverse, creative dishes. I bought a coupon that awarded me $50 worth of food and beverages for $25, which made me biased towards a greater appreciation of this place, I admit.
The teas - absolutely wonderful. Steeped perfectly, with choices that reflect a rich array of influences. The presentation, too, is full of craft and taste. Waitstaff are friendly but not overly fawning.
I visited the Sanchez Street location with a friend last night and there was a tarot card reader on site who humbly offered his services table-to-table. Now, normally, I'd find that obnoxious and bizarre. I'm not a sensitive hippy, but a hippy I am. I don't often approve of unsolicited suggestions for the broadening of the spirit.
But it seemed...appropriate for this restaurant/tea lounge, and not at all pretentious.
I won't tell you what my cards boded, but suffice it to say, it was a sweet bonus to a mellow, tasty, "balanced" evening meal.
I'm positive that whatever you order here will titillate at least six of your senses. -
Review from Christine A.
Berkeley, CA
9/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came across Samovar Tea Lounge because I saw them on Groupon, they had good reviews, so I decided it was worth a try. So with the Groupon, I had to spend $55 to make the most of my deal...and seeing that I only came with one other person- we had to order A LOT (which was AHH-MAZINGGGG!). We ordered:
Roast Duck Jook
Russian Tea Service
Curry Egg Sandwich
Coconut Rice Pudding
and another black tea (had the word "sensual" in the description haha...but forgot the name)
First, the Jook with Roast Duck. It was eh, ok. I'm Chinese and I'm use to having the authentic stuff so this wasn't all that great. It was pretty tasteless so we had to add in A LOT of soy sauce, hot sauce, garlic flakes, green onion, and peanuts for it to take like something. The lady next to us got it as we were still browsing the menu and she made it look really good...but looks can be deceiving.
By far my favorite was the entire Russian Tea Service. The good thing about this is that they are open for people to share the service, unlike other tea rooms it's paid per person. It came with flat crackers, apples, smoked salmon, two spreads, beets, pears, deviled egg w/ caviar, two fudgy brownies, and the specially picked tea to go along. It was delicious and full of flavor! I would definitely get this one again.
Curry Egg Sandwich- pretty basic and standard. It was an egg salad with curry, sandwich style. Nothing to write home about. The bread was good though and came with a small side salad.
Coconut Rice Pudding- more rice than pudding. I particularly like my rice pudding to be well, more pudding like. This one was dry and very apparently made of rice. Wouldn't get again but nice to try.
We also got to side in the corner booth that was filled with pillows and very grandeur! Loved it! Overall my experience at Samovar was great- the service was good and got to try new types of good food.
