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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Restaurants, Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: Hayes ValleyMon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"Awesome and friendly staff here serving up great, inexpensive organic coffees that are always fresher than I am in the morning, even though…" read more »
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Hmm...I'm not really good with social graces. Afternoon tea has always seemed like such a DAUNTING occasion for me. Yet, here at Samovar, the staff is SO friendly w/o all of the FORMALITIES , which made it EASY for me to enjoy the experience.
The tea service menu offers a diverse array of tea service experiences. They have everything from English High Tea, to Moorish to Russian to ChInese...the food provided is fresh and tasty and of an appropriate portion size. Also, the staff is friendly and EXTREMELY knowledgeable about tea and the ART of tea drinking.
This feels more of an INCLUSIONARY place than an EXCLUSIONARY high society tea room.
The parking here is hit or miss (depending upon the time of day that you arrive)
My friend, Chris C. has already written his review of our experience here together. He ordered the Moorish Platter and I had the English Tea, we also shared a dessert. After all of our tea and gnoshes...the bill was approx $56, not including tip.
This restaurant has a nice, earthy, San Francisco feel to it. Its carved out of a Victorian building on a corner, and has an elevated rear seating area, where you feel compelled to take off your shoes like a traditional Japanese tatami room, but there is a footwell, so you can leave your shoes on. Plus, it isn't that Japanese!
Actually, they have teas from all over. Supposedly, from small, sustainable tea farmers. I guess that is why they cost more than normal?
The vibe is relaxed, the staff is friendly. The food is generally healthy.
I had the Japanese inspired Maki dish, which was brown rice, a small slice of smoked Salmon, a lentil cup of soup with Chinese-like veggies, and veggies in a sort of bento box. This was paired with a pot of roasted green tea. (Combo was $17) It was pretty good, but not all that.
I had the small fudge wedges and macha mouse for dessert, with a ginger tea. Also not bad. I love ginger. Fudge is ok.
On certain nites there is a Tarot reader, offering yes/no type readings for $1 a minute. He used the Toth deck, which my sister's friends use on friends like me when I visit on the holidays. I don't relate to that deck too much, though. Blame the old skeptic in me.
Turns out, actually, I have learned to do a little fortune telling from this exposure. I use another deck with my friends, one based on Chinese symbols and philisophy. But I don't charge anything, being that it is a hobby of mine to excersize my own intuition in a pragmatic world, as much as it is helping the listener. Sort of food for the soul, which, I guess is what Samovar is trying to be.
My friends know that with my readings, the old addage may apply.
"You get what you pay for"
Once in awhile its nice to give your liver a break and indulge in some good pure liquids. Tea, while not ideal for most, is perfect on a cold low-key night. Samovar Tea has been on my list of "must try's" for months. The fact they're open till 10 is great. We sat in the "lounge" area where the floor drops underneath. I like this. I went with the japanese Kukicha green tea. It was nice, and smooth and almost stress-relieving. The other pot of tea was a chinese Oolong, and WOW, it was amazing. Absolutely delicious with a nice honey/melon aftertaste. I liked it better than my own.
I can see myself coming here quite often. They have an extensive list and i was pretty impressed with the teas they offer. Autumn, our server, was awesome and very knowledgeable about her tea. She would be the second reason i frequent this specific location rather than the others.
I recommend the Zen Valley Samovar highly for lunch or afternoon tea. At dinnertime hours, they are justifiably very crowded, so be prepared for that . My favorite lunches are the Moorish Tea Platter and the English service with the shiitake mushroom quiche. Yesterday, I got to sit by the fireplace. Delicious!
Do you LOVE tea? Do you LOVE the idea of pairing tea with food, kinda like wine, sans alcohol? Do you LOVE getting ripped off? If so, then this is the place for you.
Went here on a first date. I pass this place everyday, and I was excited to check it out.
Well, I was into the ambiance, overwhelmed by the menu and descriptions, and left feeling...well, ripped off.
The highlight of the evening? The tarot card reader that stops by on certain night. He was wroth the $10, but not the hibiscus Witch-y tea.
I really love tea and this place has just enough selection of white, green, oolong, black and herbal tea. I tried the Monkey Picked Iron Goddess tea before so I knew I had to try it again. A pot runs about $8 and you can keep asking for water.
The interior is decorated very zen-ish and it seems to been converted from an apartment. The staff is really nice and check up on you frequently.
sit in the back at the communal table. the ambiance is much better.
it looked like lots of groups park themselves here for meetings. i would too - it's not a bad place to do work.
i had an urge for jook so i went to check out their version.
putting the little ingredients together was fun.
slices of roasted garlic, peanuts and other accoutrements.
if you like ginger, it's cooked with a hefty slice.
i do wish that the duck was roasted with fatty bits and had an option to add in egg. but this was probably healthier.
the chai tea was good but it needed to be slightly sweeter.
the dessert tea - the houjicha was ok - one of the few options that was not $8+
not a bad compliment to the fudge and green tea mousse dessert.
the fudge was very dense and not sweet.
even after dessert, i felt healthy.
the teas had different cups of shapes and sizes - i wondered if it's an artform like wine is with glasses.
some fellow swung by to give tarot card readings - it's a dollar a minute so i joked that i'd talk really fast.
judging by the cards, a move to nyc is looking pretty good.
very healthy and great rice pudding!!!
Ordered their so called Monkey Picked Oolong ..and yes I paid eight dollars for it and was NOT impressed at all. Low quality tea leaves, without the long lingering finish of a good Oolong. The aroma was somewhat off with a burnt staled smell which was probably due to the fact that the tea wasn't too fresh.
If you guys want good teas, and if you guys actually want to learn about good teas for free, then I would highly suggest you go check out my boy Haymen Da Luz, the owner of Aroma Tea Shop. He will definitely school you in the arts of tea, without the whole wannabe yuppie pretentious attitude that you get at this place.
This place is excellent. The staff is super friendly and full of really great advice. I generally like to come to these types of places and act like I don't know what's going on, to see how friendly and helpful people are. These guys are great. Even if I let them talk me into an $11 cup of tea.
Braised tofu. If you are veggie, you must come here and eat it. Really, the sauce is that good.
I got the "TLT"- tofu, lettuce & tomato ... Pure yum. Came with delicious mix of fresh greens dressed lightly in yumness. There was also just enough fresh fruit scattered around the plate to make me feel like I was getting an added bonus- these weren't nasty leftover berries but really fresh & sweet. Oh and I must mention the bread- whole wheat ciabatta that was awesome. I am of the mind that bread can totally make or break a sandwich-pleased to say that this adds to the yum factor for sure.
Friends had curried egg salad sammy and squash dumplings- everyone was pleased.
Tea menu is a little overwhelming but waitress was helpful in making suggestions and answering questions. We sat outside- nice to have that option, if you want to bring along your dog- but the inside has a cool loungey feel and I'd recommend that instead since the tables were kind of sloping outside.
Oh, and be sure to ask what you're supposed to do with all those teapots. :-)
Yes! I was driving around in circles in Hayes Valley (Zen Valley now?) with my sister trying to find somewhere that was OPEN on a monday night at about 9pm. Samovar was not only open, but inviting, and awesome. We had the Dalai tea and the brownie with green-tea-mousse, and after that we hopped tables to have a Tarot reading done by Rowan Cutler, who apparently does Tea & Tarot readings at all the Samovar Lounges. (Note: This whole tarot thing is not something I would normally do, but i did it on a whim and it was AWESOME. Take your difficult decisions to Rowan, for serious.)
The Samovar staff was super nice at the odd hour we were there, which was appreciated. I'll be back, both to see Rowan for Tarot and to try more of Samovar's fantastic tea and other goodies (the coconut rice pudding was calling my name).
I'm wavering between 2-3 stars.......
God, it's so damn pretty inside (with a snobby-modern flare). The nice bench seating...bar stool tables...party seating in the back....fun eclectic music...chic tea sets and serving plates. Oh yea, and good tea too-definitely a plus with all the aesthetics swirling around ya.
I really just wish it wasn't so damn expensive for tea!! Who determined that tea needs to be that pretentious to charge that much anyways!? Why are you serving me $7, $8, $9 for tea!?
Perhaps if someone sat me down, explained the complex tea-picking prices, tea farming costs, and labor expenditures for it-oh, and the speciality growing techniques needed to harvest these unique tea blends, maybe then i'd be able to appreciate the great tasting tea and it's high prices.
Met up with some friends here for lunch... dang, we had just missed the 1PM cut-off for the lunch special. Oh well. I had the Kukicha Green Leaf & Twig Tea--smooth and delicious, but I'm not too crazy about the slight aftertaste. For lunch, I had the jook with grilled duck: bland at first, but once you get the soy sauce in there, it's really tasty.
It was warm once I walked in, but then they turned on the AC (in SF, that means they opened a window) and it was pleasant. We sat at the large communal table in the back, which was very wobbly until I realized I had accidentally kicked away the door stop under the support on my end. Oops. The back area is very nice for chilling out with tea. And the service is very good.
Wonderful tea at Samovar. My husband loved his jook, rice porridge with fried garlic and other spices. He had the kukicha tea with it - better kukicha than we have gotten from Maeda-en, so we were impressed. I wish that my salmon quiche hadn't had raw onion in it - LOTS of raw onion. Onion makes me sick. The rest of the quiche filling and pastry were excellent. I asked if the mushroom quiche also had onion, as I was trying to pick every last bit of onion out of the quiche. I was assured that the mushroom quiche has onion, too. Sigh.
I've liked all the teas I've tried here and the relaxed staff let you know (if, like me, you don't) how best to enjoy the tea. I had an oolong that only requires you to douse the tea leaves with hot water for 4 seconds, which I never would have guessed. The jasmine lemonade is really satisfying when its warm out. As for price, it is a bit much in some cases, but I've paid the same for certain types of alcohol that I want to sip slow and savor, so why not for tea too?
This is also a good place to study, even when somewhat busy, people are just chill here.
Fold me in to comfy sofa and let the caffeination begin! Samovar combines all that's right in consumerism-- thoughtfully sourced, organic whenever possible, TEA (!!) and eloquent descriptions inspiring one to try, try 'n try.. For Sunday brunch, this spot delights, though as a morning person on weekdays, i find myself wishin' they were open prior to 10 am. Lingerin' of a Tues in pre-breakfast haze, i have occasionally talked myself off a disgruntled ledge-- "they are open LATE not EARLY, be calm.. There is tea in the house, you will not die a stimulant free morn.." (whoops, hadn't intended to expose nuances of inner dialog; forgive ;) Anyway, one other point of interest-- the matcha tea service. Matcha ranks high among leafed substances to me, i even try not to go too far on an airplane without some in tow, but really.. at $21 a pot, its wildly beyond prudent to order here. Insult continues when for $2.30 at Peets the same quality resides! Now Samovar, you've got a price point that alienates even the decadent tea spender.. is anyone ordering that more than a mis-hap one time? But other teas (yum pu-er) and dragonwell, i'm thrilled. On food- Tea soup bowl with Smoked Salmon while partner in crime gobbled quinoa waffles? I can't bemoan the [weekend] day one bit.
After a crazy day in the city, come here to calm your mind from the hustle and bustle of city life. It's located close to Hayes Valley. Street parking is limited but very easy access from the F street car, MUNI 7, and etc.
Most teas are caffeinated except for the herbal ones. I decided on the Jasmine Lemonade which was refreshing and slightly sweet. It tastes just like Peet's Jasmine Lime Tea Cooler if not better.
I'm contemplating renting out this place for a private event.
*note to self - must sit at the tea bar one day.
zen valley IS as good as it gets. i've been to this spot three days in one week and it does not dissapoint. t he jook with smoked salmon is complete heaven in the mouth. from the flavors of the fixing and the warmth of the rice pourrage, it's a defiinite brunch treat. their pu erh selection is delicious as well. i, of course like it strong, earthy, and as fermented smelling as it could get. that's just me. the fact i was able to steep it upteen times made me a fan.
however, what made me want to DIE from amazement was the lavander lemonade!!! i mean, it's as delicious as a fresh cup of lemonade could get. i could gulp it up. swim in it. gulp it some more. and continue my backstroke. it's really that good. the service is great, other places take note. the setting is divine, quiet, and great for a brunch or date with the adorable guy you want to stare at and hear everything they are telling you. thanks samovr for coming into zen valley.
I think that 2 and 1/2 stars would be more appropriate, but that's all. I mean... it's not BAD... it's just not that great at all. I prefer Lovejoy's, but I didn't have a reservation and decided to branch out and went in to Samovar for a very late lunch/early dinner today- my first visit!
PROS-
Lovely interior decorating with an earthy, simplistic, and Zen feeling to it... you feel very comfortable here. Lots of different types of seating available (bar seating, table seating with chairs and benches, and a large group table upstairs with recessed seating). Soothing music. Nice looking menu with a multicultural flavor. The tea and food were brought to us at lightning speed! Cute dishware and tea glasses. This place would be fun during the evenings or even for group dinners.
CONS-
I ordered the English Service and Breakfast Blend... their website describes it as "3 Tiered Platters of: Shitake Mushroom or Wild Smoked Salmon Quiche, Scone w/ Devonshire Cream & Jam, Fresh Fruit"... they didn't happen to have any 3 tiered platters, the smoked salmon quiche had WAY too many onions (that were mainly raw) but thankfully wasn't overcooked as a whole and had a nice flaky crust, the teeny bit of "jam" was actually jelly (because it lacked fruit pieces) and was nothing special, the scone was fine but nothing special, and the fruit was good. I also got a small side salad with it, although it's not included in the written menu, which was fine. I got a small pot of weak Breakfast Blend with it. The entire thing cost $19, which doesn't seem SO bad because I did get quite a bit of NICE LOOKING food.... but I was just pretty unimpressed once I tasted everything. Something about the combination of food in my dish just... didn't feel right. Like they need to rework it a bit. I wish they had more traditional British tea fare, like cute finger sandwiches, but I appreciate the full and creative menu.
We had fruit flies buzzing around our plates, which was annoying. They just need to get screens that fit the Victorian window.
This is my least favorite of the three locations, but I think my review of the first one still stands:
I knew I was addicted to Samovar when I realized that most of my dining receipts were from there. Not only are the teas excellent, the food is good and good for you. I love tea service, but because I am hypoglycemic, it's not very good for me. So I end up here. Plus the beautiful decor is soothing to my soul. Please note that the teas here can get very expensive. I haven't tried any of the super expensive ones, but even the cheapies are good.
This place has been open for a couple of months now, and while I pass it all the time, I've kinda lost the mood to go study in coffee shops lately. I think the past 3 years of studying in coffee shops has really drained me from the loud music, sitting next to weird people, and keeping my fingers cross that I'll find a place to plug in my laptop.
However, I think the tides have turned and I've found a new place for me to go! Went here last Thursday afternoon and sat in the "upstairs" back area. It was great, okay, it's really not upstairs, you only go up two stairs, but it just feels so exclusive and VIP.
I ordered the special iced jasmine tea of the day which our waiter recommended and it was so delicious and refreshing, and major plus points for our waiter. He was a sweetheart and was so amazingly attentive.
I'm totally coming back, I just hope I don't see you there because I like the place being quiet. :)
After strolling all of Hayes Valley looking for a vegan friendly place to go, we ended up at Samovar. I had wanted to check out this new location since it had opened but out of habit I would always end up at the boulangerie to write.
The space looks more open with more seating then the Sanchez location, but was told it was about the same. Must be something with windows and light.
We sat at the end of the long table in the back, which appealed to me since I enjoy taking my shoes off whenever given the opportunity.
Our waiter was attentive and helpful and shed some light on new vegan options on the menu. He also suggested an excellent Citron (cold) drink they had in lieu of the Aloe drink they were out of.
I've been on a steady diet of soft cheeses, baguettes and fruit as of late simply because I've been too lazy to cook. I noticed the honeycomb and cheese plate and was instantly sold. It was well worth the big ticket price ($14). The plate included real honeycomb, three cheeses, and an assortment of fruit and seeded crackers. It was also surprisingly filling. I was full and couldn't finish.
The dr. had the maki bowl w/ soup, which looked like it was chock full of tofu, nori, kale and brown rice goodness.
The atmosphere, especially on a lazy Wednesday afternoon, is conducive to lounging over empty plates and digesting. We lingered at the table for quite some time, simply enjoying the present.
I think I'm trading the hustle and bustle of the busy bakery for quiet afternoons at Samovar, unless I have some sort of need for butter pastry fallout, then the bakery wins, hands down.
I haven't review a place in a while and this location deserves the write up and it five stars.
I went to this Samovar because Hiromi N and I wanted some time to just talk without yelling and a good casual location to just hang out and she chose out this place.
I felt immediately that this place was a great place to be and it did not disappoint.
I had the Moorish Platter with great and fresh things like their Veggie Kebabs, dolmas, and dates with goat cheese and walnuts. And she had the English Tea Set with the works which she thoroughly enjoyed as well. The tea came out first and I thoroughly enjoyed my mint tea. Which I loved. Probably the best mint tea I ever had.
We saved some room for the platter of tea sweet which had a little bit of most of their dessert they had on their menu. Their Fudge Matcha Brownie with the Green Tea Mousse is to die for. I will be going back to this place very soon.
This was my first trip to Samovar Tea Lounge. I only had tea but I appreciated the service, and the iced tea I had was very refreshing.
I went to the Hayes Valley Samovar after being to (and loving) the Castro one. Right away, I noticed that the atmosphere just wasn't the same. Granted, it was brand new and had clean, polished hardwood floors, but that's not what I want in a tea room.
As always, the tea was wonderful and the staff was very helpful, but it's just not the same atmosphere. I felt like I had to talk louder in order to be heard because of the floors and lack of space between the tables (i.e. other conversations going on), but if I'm in the area, I wouldn't turn it down.
I am thrilled that Samovar has opened up shop a block and a half away from my apartment. I've been to this location about half a dozen times now. I usually drop by on a weekend afternoon, order a pot of tea and two scones, and read in the back room. I've also enjoyed their platter of sweet treats, ginger waffle, and jook with braised tofu (it's hard to find vegetarian congee in restaurants, and I'm too lazy to make it myself, especially since I usually crave it when I'm feeling under the weather) - all were great.
I'd recommend spending some time at Samovar. The staff is friendly, and the ambience is zen. However, I'm not sure that I'd recommend getting tea to go, as it's the same price as dining in ($6 for a cup of Earl Grey is a bit steep, even if it's organic, fair trade, delicious, and all that jazz).
Everyone likes tea, of course. Fuck's sake, I know I do! But I really don't know whose proverbial head is further up their proverbial ass; Sambomarr or the Zzzen Center (Buddhism seems kinda out of place in the most expensive city in America ya fookin' New Agey tarts, yuppie-Buddhist as it is! But I digress.)
Samswoodbar is pretty though. The red. O! I hate them but I want to love them but that makes me hate them which make me kinda love them. I want to pinch their dimly lit cheeks!
Expensive and a novelty that could only exist in modern San Francisco (but respect for not having wifi - almost balances it out). But pretty and good tea and everyone's friendly and blah blah blah yawn. I'm giving Sandhoetar 5 stars even though I don't really think they deserve 5 stars but can't decide how many I think they deserve, ya auld bollocks!
Everyone else here is accurate regarding price. You also pay for ambience and experience. A pretty decent list of tea, however: my friend and I tried the genmaicha tea with matcha powder, which was pretty good, though the "pot" was a small glass container, fit for a few small cups of tea each. There's oolong, black, white, and various other teas to choose from, as well as brunch and lunch items (including the ginger waffles and egg salad sandwich) and a raw honeycomb and cheese platter, which is yummy, but totally not worth $14. (I can find great choices of honeycomb at the Ferry Building, for instance, and create my own platter at home.) Still, kudos to Samovar for cute presentation.
The back room with the long wooden table and the several nooks for seating (including a corner table and a low loveseat by a modern-designed fireplace) is a great space to lounge and chat.
I may have just fallen in love. Unfortunately, it wasn't with the gorgeous man I saw walking his dog this morning at the park. No worry though, I have found Samovar. I've heard tales of this tea enthusiasts' haven, and I believe the new Hayes Valley digs make this location the newest in the city.
First off, the interior is absolutely designed to perfection. An architectural zen. While enjoying your tea you want to feel calm and natural, enter unfinished wooden (more like a large trees) counters and tables, sharp black metal chairs, and perfectly placed music. The tea offerings and menu are presented perfectly and you will immediately start to feel Samovar's personality.
If you are dining with a few other people and you would like a bite to eat as well, the tea services with food sound really unique They are based on a per person rate and each service has a different global theme. Otherwise you can tackle there well arranged tea menu and a la cart food list. They have everything from aged golden oolong, to green, white, black, house-made chai (super excellent and cooked for over an hour, $4.50), something called "Ocean of Wisdom" (that I have heard amazing things about and I'm dying to try), and many more.
I didn't know where to start, but I went with the chai because I was in a bit of a spicy mood. I scooped up a seat where I could look out the large windows in the front of the lounge with the natural light spilling everywhere. I was hungry and decided to get the vegetable kabob salad. Perfect choice! The skewers had backed cheese, roasted tomatoes, bell-peppers and onions all on top of a fresh mix of greens.
I am taking everyone I know to Samovar, I don't care if they like tea or not (they just don't know they do yet). For a truly special and well thought out tea experience there is no better place in the city.
*Note: their cups, plates and everything you can buy (including the tea) is super neat looking! Gift cards would be like the perfect gift, only I am not sure if they do them.
Nice atmosphere for tea, intelligent and attractive tea servers, and quite a few teas I'd never heard of, yet alone tried. As a non-coffee drinker, I'm sick of Lipton black tea being offered as the tea choice while coffee drinkers are getting Sri Lankan elephant plowed regular and organic Ethiopian decaf as choices, for example. Samovar ends the madness by offering everything tea.
I tried my first Pu-erh tea, which is apparently a Chinese fermented tea. I had the earthy Maiden's Ecstasy and liked it, although it's a strong flavor and probably not for everyone. We got cookies with our teas, because you can't have high tea (or happy hour tea) without cookies.
Plus they have the cutest little tea pots and you can buy them if you'd like for probably another arm and a leg, since let's face it, this isn't a cheap tea spot.
The staff is so, so nice and I love the salmon egg bowl.
This place is pretty damn cool. I like that it's a few blocks from downtown Hayes Valley. I usually don't notice decor, but this place has an awesome setup. Everything is thought out: utensils, glasses, pots, seating, etc. Our server (waitress?) was knowledgeable and helpful. When I asked for something she replied "of course". I can't explain why but that felt really nice.
I had a berry iced tea that was enjoyable. I also ordered poached eggs with salmon, brown rice, and soy sauce. Soooooo delicious. I'm definitely going back to try some more teas.
Taken from Left Hand Up blog
http://www.lefthandup....
The 'tea lifestyle'
Here is another choice advert from http://Craigslist.com, San Francisco Bay Area Edition that was posted last year. I kept this one saved on file because this kind of output can only be generated by a certified madperson. Someone needs to pull the reins in on this nut before they go publishing more things on the internet with their company name attached. My commentary in parenthesis.
Samovar Tea Lounge is Hiring / new location. (hayes valley)
We need to hire a few amazing folks who have as much zeal for tea as they do for life. (Uhh...alright. I drink tea. Whether my zeal for tea can be stacked against my zeal for life has yet to be answered.)
If you have what it takes to handle the incredibly intense pace of life in a tea lounge while simultaneously being able to evoke a contagious sense of calm and quiet...and you want to grow with us, send us an email. (I know nothing about the incredibly intense pace of life in a tea lounge, but I am a put my nose to the grindstone kind of guy. Simultaneously though, the sense of calm and quiet that I EXUDE spreads like wildfire whenever I step in the room.)
Please only respond to this email after reading below: (Okay, got it)
You will apply to this job if...
-you love customer service, and you want to deliver our tea experience to the entire world (starting here in SF)--Please tell us why you love to make people happy, and how you do it. (My love for serving the customer is eternal. My motivation in life is to one day deliver your tea experience to the ENTIRE FUCKING WORLD in one supernatural throw. Until I find a suitable meeting place however, things will remain on hold. But hell, start small you know. I will begin my dream of delivering your tea experience RIGHT HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO!!! I hope that my zeal for tea is coming through LOUD and CLEAR on the page, the caps and exclamation points will have to stand in as an alpha representation of my nearly uncontrollable enthusiasm. Why I love to make people happy and how I love to do it would take pages though.)
-You have a flexible schedule and can work minimum 4 shifts a week, including saturday and/or sunday, morning, day and night (Hey, I don't work with minimums, if life was an accelerator pedal, I would have smashed that thing all the way through the floor and been dragging my foot on the ground by now, producing a shower of sparks where my steel toed boot drags along the pavement. But that is neither here nor there. What I am trying to say is that given the opportunity, I will spend every waking moment delivering your tea experience to the world ((starting here is San Francisco of course)), morning, day and night.
-You exude the tea lifestyle: Patient, relaxed, hard working, really, really fast, care about organics, sustainability, and making a positive impact in the world. (The 'tea lifestyle' weeps from my pores. People can SMELL how patient, how relaxed, how hard working and really really fast I am. The subtle scent that trails behind me has a sustainable and organic quality that lingers blithely in the air. Notes of positive impact can be detected to the trained nose.)
-love tea--whether you drink it or have visited us at our locations (either or?)
-can learn really fast, hard, and pasionately. (In that order? I would like to put learn HARD at the top.)
-want to work for a company where there are no limits. Where dishwashers become managers, and where our only job is to help customers feel amazing. (How many dishes must I wash before I transition to managerial duties? It would help to know this upfront.)
-are available to start TODAY (Believe THAT!)
Please go to http://www.samovartea.com to learn more about us, and to decide if you have what it takes to join our family.
(I punched in the site and it redirected me from http://samovartea.com to http://samovarlife.com, thereby underscoring the need to make tea the lens through which you view life if you even want to be considered for a tea lounge position.)
DO NOT send a generic resume or cover letter. (Wouldn't want to bury my zeal for tea/life under a generic resume or cover letter.)
DO tell us WHY, you want to work at Samovar, and why you are the best choice we could make. Include why you are capable of delivering the ultimate in customer service, your favorite haunts in SF for customer service, how you maintain calm in a sea of stress, and why you are the best possible we could bring to Samovar. (Uh, might have to come clean and admit that I don't 'haunt' anywhere for customer service, I usually go for the food. How I maintain calm in a sea of stress is to shut my eyes, no matter where I am or what I am doing and picture a cup of tea sending a gentle wisp of steam heavenward. Then I count backward from 177 until I arrive at zero where I am once again restored and made whole.)
One of my favorite places in San Francisco. The tea selection is fantastic, featuring a variety of white, green, oolong, black, and herbal teas. I like getting the Oolong Teas because they will refill your hot water for you and you can drink all day. Personal favorites are Wuyi Roast and Earl Red (an herbal tea).
Best thing about this place is the atmosphere though - very relaxed and chill vibe. Also, really friendly staff who are enthusiastic about tea and are willing to tell you all about them.
On a chilly rainy day, it was nice to walk into a warm humid environment! The service was very friendly but a bit unaware of things like us running out of hot water or needing plates for our food. The tea was excellent and the food was great. - the scones were yummy and the dumplings. . . I had to be careful not to eat them all since I was suppose to be sharing!
I like this location a bit better than Yerba Buena - the seating is nicer and the space feels more comfortable and welcome.
I didn't want to go in. I avoided it, walked around it, and stubbornly denied it. But in the end, like a moth to a flame, I was eventually drawn inside Samovar. How could you not be? This third installment of the sleek tea lounge offers the same clean design, comfortable lounge, comprehensive tea menu, and delicious food that's drawn us in to the other locations for years.
The thing that was holding me back, as might be the case for some other reviewers, is that I dearly loved the cafe that was previously in the space. This is my neighborhood spot, and the cafe is mere steps from my apartment. The staff of the previous cafe were like family and the food was like mom's kitchen. I feel loyalty to my old hangout, hangover cure, office-away-from-home, confidant, and good-for-a-laugh cafe.
But now that I've given in and gone inside Samovar, I can immediately see that this new cafe can be all of that and more. Michael, Alison, and Eric are outgoing, interesting, and genuinely friendly. They took the time to learn my name. They are knowledgeable about the ingredients and origins of the food and well-versed connoisseurs in the art of tea.
The revamped cafe now include a fireplace, sunken community dining table, gorgeous hardwood floors, solid tree trunk counters, moroccan lanterns and archways, stainless steel kitchen, counter seating, and handicap-accessible doors. Outside, they took down the the green and white striped overhang and painted over the melancholy graffiti-stained green walls with powerful red paint.
The time and attention that went into renovations is palpable, so I will be the first to give them the recognition and accolades that they deserve, despite any emotional attachment I may have for the previous cafe. Yes, it's more expensive, but to be fair, you're getting *way* more quality and variety for your dollar.
-- To my neighbors, let's embrace Samovar for the truly great addition to the neighborhood that it is.
-- To new & returning Samovar patrons, you will not be disappointed!
-- To Samovar, welcome to the 'hood! Thank you for staying open until 10 pm, and serving food until close. Once you get settled, how 'bout some free wifi?
The chai is warm, soothing, layered. Delicious!
The lunches are delicious! Never has anyone made brown rice, tofu, seaweed, and veggies taste so intricate, delicate, bold, flavorful. I was suspicious of the Tea Soup and it has become a staple in my life.
Ohhhh, and the Quinoa Waffles are not to be missed! Arguably one of the best waffles I have had in my life: served hot, dense, fluffy....
Sometimes the staff can be a bit odd ... but in a way, it's to be expected... I guess.
A bit too pricey for the goods. The sandwiches are pretty tasty, especially the mushroom sandwich but the teas are outrageously priced, and the two that we ordered were quite meh.
The service is also average at best.
And apparently a customer gave me a mean stare on the way out, which has no bearing on this review, but I did not like this one bit, I tell ya.
Love the ambience and general vibe here. The food looks really good; I've only had the (delicious) free samples they've had. I've also only had the chilled teas; I've heard the hot teas are amazing, which I believe, but while the chilled teas are quite good, they're not incredible. And as a chilled tea guy; I don't think it's unreasonable for the chilled teas to live up to the same standards as the hot teas.
But perhaps I'm just being picky.
Now I'm thinking of the SNL Celebrity Jeopardy skit about hot tea...funny stuff
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