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Categories: Coffee & Tea, British [Edit]
Neighborhood: West Village14th St-8th Ave (A, C, E, L)
14th St-7th Aves (1, 2, 3, F, V, L)
14th Street (PATH)
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We came out of the wind and rain, and into this cute little tea spot for afternoon tea and sandwiches. The place is so warm and quaint, I loved it. And the owner is British, which adds some credibility to me.
We ordered a pot of Jasmine tea, some scones and finger sandwiches. All so yummy delicious, especially the finger sandwiches. It was nice to sit and chat in this place, even though its a bit pricey I think it's worth it.
The unmitigated gall of these people is astounding. The only reason I would leave my house, where I can have anything I want any way I want it, is to have a pleasant experience. I didn't even have to have a run-in with the infamous T&S girls. Just reading their ridiculous set of rules made me want to yell, "Up the rebels, you limey bastards!" and walk out. "T&S girls are always right"? Squeeze me? The CUSTOMER is always right, welcome to America!
And if you can't rent a bigger space, reduce the number of tables, or--here's an idea--CLOSE.
I don't go to clubs that have a velvet rope because if my money's not good enough, to blazing hell with you. But for tea and scones (crappy scones, wouldn't you just know?) I should put up with "Hey, you there, you're almost done, scarf it down and let's go!" because the business plan is so poor that only by running a conveyer belt can a profit be made? Uh, NO.
This is the first place that I don't just want to avoid like the plague in the future (and so should you). I want it closed, solely for their attitude. With all the great places that have closed, a precious Manhattan storefront should be fouled with a pompous little gang of British supremacists? SCREW YOU, TEA & SYMPATHY! You don't belong in my fair city! Out! OUT!!!
Great place, if you don't mind the prices. Also I think the infamous "rules" posted outside on the door are more or less a joke, as our English waitress was extremely nice, attentive, and helpful in recommending never-before-heard-of dishes on the menu.
I had "Tweed Kettle Pie" and my girlfriend had the Welsh Rarebit, both were amazing. Definitely don't pass up the latter, which is a must-have. We also tried the various sodas--they were interesting to try, although in the future we'd probably just get water.
For dessert, via the waitress's recommendation, we had the toffee cake with hot custard, which was out of this world. We've been trying to find a good recipe for this ever since.
Although we didn't have tea or scones, we did see other tables getting them, and they were quite spectacular. Amazing painted teacups and teapots, with portraits of Henry VIII and Elizabeth. I would have bought one for myself if they weren't 50 bucks.
The short of it is, I will definitely be back there again. Wish I could afford to go more often!
Once again, they were out of scones.
But! Once again I had a delicious, piping hot meal... just what I need on a cold November day. Had the Christmas Dinner Pie special, which was well done, and my friend thoroughly enjoyed his lamb Shepherd's Pie. Wish we had had time to stay for dessert (treacle pudding and sticky toffee pudding are my LOVES), but I had to run.
The service was just fine and well timed, and we weren't rushed for our orders at all. Very cozy and homey feeling! I wish they would open up a place like this in Northern California!
PS: They don't take AmEx
This place is TINY! But where else am I going to get British food fix? (Yes it IS good!) They have… Read more »
When I arrive at the door, the first thing that came into my vision was a list of "Nicky's rule" that was posted on the door. So I briefly skimmed through it and felt a bit intimidated and got turned off at the same time. Not a good start..... Brits really love rules, don't they??
However, our friendly and attentive British waitresses helped me change my opinion quickly, the service here is jolly good indeed. I've been craving for cream tea for a while because I haven't had the chance to eat the authentic one ever since I broke up with my English ex. I don't miss most of the British food (and men, LOL), but ohhhh how much I missed cream tea!!!! That's what I used to look forward to every time I visited Cornwall.... the home made CREAM TEA!!! Yum!!! The fresh scone right out of the oven, covered with rich and clinging local Cornish clotted cream concealed in a curdy buttercrust, served with delicious strawberry jam....mmmm, SMASHING!! So ridiculously fattening, but like I care??? Heck, no!! LOL! I'll give 4 stars for the cream tea, it was pretty good but I had a better one before.
Here's my basic ratings for this place:
atmosphere:3.5 stars - it's cute and cozy (i.e. - too small)
food: 3 stars - skip the meal and just come here for the cream tea!!! You all know the Britain's poor culinary reputation!
value: 3 stars - I know some of the ingredients are imported, but still I find most of the food overpriced. I'm not impressed, but I'm not disappointed either.
cheers!
P.S.- the store next door sells a tiny 6 oz bottle of clotted cream for $6.50 (!!)
I never thought I'd enjoy food at a British restaurant so much, but then I saw my piece of ginger cake swimming in warmed cream and I knew I had come home. Those Brits are freakin brilliant. What isn't made better by smothering it in warmed melty ice cream custard awesomeness? Throw in the fact that I can get a vegetarian shephard's pie and I'm willing to overlook the fact that the prices are a little too rich for my blood on a daily basis. It's a special treat to go here, so it only makes sense that I can't afford to go here as often as I'd like! ;)
What a splendid little place to stop for afternoon tea on a rainy afternoon. I felt like I was in... oh, I don't know... Little Britain (*Mr. F!*)-for next door was an adjoining tea shop and a pub. British ex-pats routinely popped their head to say hello and borrow the paper. How cute.
Each teapot is unique and special.... also über cute. I got one that resembled the globe. How fitting since I heart maps. Who told them?!
The prices, however, are not cute. But whatevs. It's totally worth it because they have their own teas, a great setting, and they gotta pay rent. I will happily pay extra just so this place stays in business and can carry on. I also got scones. Nothing to write home about, but quite satisfactory.
This entire restaurant (including the kitchen) is the size of your average walk-in closet. You'll be really, really close to the people at the next table. However, the food is excellent and the atmosphere is lot of fun. The service is also very solid. Overall, a really good find in the Village.
I had the best time there. My boyfriend Bill came to visit me when I was living in New York in July, 2009. I had not lived there long, so I did not know anything about the restaurants. We stumbled upon Tea & Sympathy. It was very cozy and romantic.
The place is quite small, which was reminiscent of the restaurants I ate at in London. We went on a cold, rainy Friday night, and we didn't have any trouble getting a table even though we did not have a reservation. However, since there are so few tables, a reservation would probably be the best thing for most Friday nights.
The wait staff were great. They seemed so friendly, which was something I had trouble finding from anyone who lives in New York. The food was excellent. It was moderately priced. My boyfriend Bill ordered tea. One of his now-deceased partners had liked butterflies. Bill saw a tea pot with butterflies on a shelf, so he asked the waiter if they would serve his tea in the butterfly tea pot. That was not a problem.
The restaurant was very quiet, with the noisy city sounds pretty much completely muted inside. It was wonderful having a nice, relaxing dinner while looking at the interior decor and the people and cars going by outside.
I highly recommend Tea & Sympathy. It is one of the best times I had during the short period I lived in New York City.
Tea and Sympathy is lovely, but there are clear pluses and minuses.
Pluses:
* cozy place
* fast service
* good tea selection
* looove the mismatched Victorian settings and teapots
* the welsh rarebit I ordered was *delish*. Who says British food isn't tasty?
service was amicable, mostly. we'll get to that later.
Minuses:
* Seating area is very small. So it's cozy, but sometimes too cozy. I came with one friend. You'd take a huge risk to bring more than three.
* Service is prompt, maybe a little too prompt. We were asked for our order less than a minute after getting our menus. Our orders came out in just over 5min. They tried to clear our plates before we were done. They put the check on our table before said plates were cleared. Quit rushing us, ok? We are here for *bruuunch*, and you ended it in 45min.
Conclusion: Much as I liked Tea and Sympathy, it would be hard for me to bring a friend back knowing that we're likely to get rushed along like that. It just made me feel like it's not a great place to meet and catch up with people since you're not really at your liberty to take your time and chat.
It is not my cup of tea,,,
I tried hard to like it but,,,
I give two stars for great tea but I can do it myself at home.
If you enjoy flower print B&B in country side, if you enjoy listening to thick british accent (Nicky, the owner is a very nice person, but she speaks loud by nature) in a small space, if you enjoy their decoration, if you enjoy dated, oldy, british homey atmosphere and don't mind their price, this is for you.
I am not going back,,,,
I'm a fan of the food, and most of the waitresses. The owner though is a 'unique' woman to say the least.
If you decide to put up with the 'house rules' I would suggest an order of Shepherd's pie, or my favorite, the chicken sandwich melt (sweet curry sauce with cheese:-) The latter is top notch, but you can only order it during lunch or you'll get a scowl from the proprietor.
The scones and Devonshire cream are not to be missed either. My gf enjoys the tea with cream and sugar, but I prefer a glass of Vimto soda.
IMHO the house rules are excessive, but even the regulars there aren't exempt from them as I witnessed a couple of 'regular' customers shuffled off to accommodate larger parties. Thankfully, they had to move so I got the pleasure of listening to four French women converse in their lovely native language.
This little hole in the wall is super cute and has some pretty darn tasty tea. I make it a point to try a new tea shop in the city about once a month and I think this place is still my favorite after trying out about 9 or 10 other places. The scones were small, but yummy.
Everything was served using fancy plates, saucers, cups and pots that had a quaint antique quality to them. That definitely earns them a thumbs up for character. I like whimsy.
The only downside is that it is really very small inside and can get very crowded. Seating is at a premium, but well worth the wait if you're not in a hurry.
If you go to Tea and Sympathy, go for TEA (and, I suppose, sympathy). I've never been for dinner or breakfast, and maybe they're good, but tea is what it's really about here. It's not a coffeehouse, but a true sit-down tea place, so come with a friend and make an afternoon of it.
The rules on the door took me aback at first, but the purpose is really to protect the dining experience of the people who are inside, which I think is actually really great. If there were legions of folks standing around inside this eensy weensy establishment, the people seated at tables would feel really uncomfortable. As it is, once you get your table, you're permitted - nay, encouraged - to take your sweet time. The waitresses will refill your teapot again and again without the slightest murmur about wanting to give you your check.
The tea itself is amazing - my vanilla mint tea was so delicious that I went next door to the shop and bought some to take home. It's like a liquid peppermint patty. And the tea is served in funky little teapots; ours was made to resemble the head of Henry VIII. Both times I've been, I got the cream tea, which comes with a couple of scones, clotted cream, and jam. The scones were delicious, the perfect texture of moist buttery crumbliness.
Really, this place is all about the cozy, homey, friendly, intimate atmosphere. It's a perfect place to come with your mom, or a friend you haven't seen in a while, to linger over a fragrant, steaming cup of tea and catch up.
Stopped by here with a friend for something sweet the other day and was not disappointed. The place is extremely tiny, only a few tables. But once you are seated, you forget about the size.
Decor-wise, it reminds me of my grandmother's living room: random photos on the wall, bizarre knick-knacks on shelves, mismatched teapots and place settings. Maybe not for everyone, but I found it charming.
The waitress was extremely nice, taking the time to explain some of the more exotic teas to us. She even brought out one of the canisters of tea leaves for my friend to look over before she made a decision. We were not rushed through our meal. In fact, our waitress made it a point to tell us we could spend as much time as we wanted after giving us our check. The place wasn't crowded at the time, so maybe that had something to do with it. Whatever the case, I had no complaints about service.
Now, on to the food. Since we were only in the mood for something sweet, we didn't sample anything from the dinner menu. I had scones with strawberry jam & clotted cream. To drink, I tried Ribena, a blackcurrant soft drink that an English friend of mine has asked for me to try over the years. The drink was good...but the scones and clotted cream..OMG! So so so delicious. My friend had the Gunpowder Green Tea, which was strong, but also good.
Anyway, I can't believe it took me so long to finally try this place. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu.
After our buttons were bursting from Benny's, we rolled across the street to T&S. I got the choco and mint tea and treacle pudding with custard. Teas are around $4.50, but the pot-o-tea's enough to share.
Oh man, so good! I was disgustingly stuffed from dinner but I managed to almost finish my treacle pudding. Custard was thick and treacle pudding was sweet and spongey. The custard made it really rich, which pushed my gluttony for the night over the top. The tea was comforting and washed down my heavy dessert. I'm dying to go back to try their breakfast and lunch.
And our waitress was so sweet! I have no idea if it was just because it was the end of the night, but she sent us home with biscuits in baggies, on the house! Dessert AND buiscuits for the next morning?! Thank you so much!
I've been here several times now, usually taking any Anglophile that comes to visit here. The food is absolutely delicious and the selection is grand. The sausages definitely feel like they're imported from England; the meat tastes much better than sausages I've been able to purchase at a grocer's. Bangers and mash, macaroni cheese, fish and chips, the variety of teas - it's all worth it. The food presentation is precise and is placed upon what looks to be your grandmother's china set.
The size is cozy and really can't fit too many people. You will be eating right next to your neighbours, which sometimes can be a problem. Additionally because of its size, there might be a tremendous queue. But the shop next door, filled with British tchotchkes, might be able to take your mind off the wait.
Winter Comfort Food - The British Edition.
Every culture/country has their interpretation of comfort food and the brits are no different. This place is a diamond in the rough. A little bit off kilter, with a touch of sarcasm and a great deal of good food and tea. My tried and true favorite has to be the Lamb Shepherd's Pie. The best cure for the cold weather along with a cup of tea from a pot that seems unique to the others on display for use in this restauraunt. Wait til it cools a bit because my overeager self has definitely burned the roof of my mouth while trying to get a taste as soon as it is set in front of me. This dish is hot, in fact piping hot, but that is just the way I like it. I have tried other dishes as well, but will have to say this is my favorite. The scones and clotted creams are good as well, but if you try just one thing - shepherd's pie is the way to go!
You must must have tea even if you hate it! Tea adds to the whole experience of this place and in fact it is at the very core dna of this place. That sounded REAL nerdy. But, try the Rosie Lee Tea, you won't regret it... That is if like flavorful tea with an alluring aroma.
Ginger Cake with Warm Custard! If you aren't going to try this, don't even bother going here. One bite and your eyes will literally roll into the back of your head.
So, I'm kind of a sucker for ambience. Whoever says ambience has nothing to do with the dining experience is full of shit. Yes, we have those rare finds of hole in the walls where you are scared to know what is alive and goes on behind the closed doors of the kitchen, but mostly we just like to have good food, good service and good company. All preferably done in a somewhat aesthetically pleasing place. You will find a chalkboard with the menu and specials written, random british ads/posters which are hilarious as per usual british fashion.
Maybe it is the cold weather doing a number on my brain and my words, but this is definitely a place to help cure this bitter new york weather.
This is the perfect little place to have a causal high tea. The scones and clotted cream are delish, sandwiches are yummy, parsnip soup is great and tea selection is incredible! The service is good and friendly. Every time I go I feel like I'm treated as a "regular".
Boo to your terrible attitude and rude list of Nicky's rules.
Okay now that we have out of the way:
I LOVE the tea and desserts here! We came here on a sunny afternoon and I think between the party of four girls, we sampled everything in sight. My top picks are the sticky toffee pudding and the amazing buttermilk scones with real clotted cream, no less!! Oh and I had a pot of some yummy chocolate vanilla tea.
So lower your tolerance bar for rude little tea-shops, and go enjoy the tasty treat. Don't forget to visit the store next door if you like British knick-knacks!
This place is basically adorable, pretty much spot on British style breakfast and tea. I had eggs and toast with baked beans - the quintessential 'traditional English breakfast'. I asked for fried eggs but they told me they only do scrambled. Its a good thing, because they served up pretty much the most delicious scrambies ever. Also my toast was LITERALLY perfect and the beans were, well... ...from a can so pretty standard. My girlfriend had the scones which were fantastic also. Great teapots.
A note - they are seemingly REALLY serious about not seating incomplete tables. There are signs everywhere to that effect.
I will absolutely go back.
I really don't get it -- while the food was good and bountiful, there was nothing particularly special about this place in the end. Small and quaint, Tea & Sympathy has rules for entry and patronage, and the water closet is just that -- a closet. Actually, it rivals the size of my [small New York apartment] closets, and that is really not saying much. There was a fly that kept me company throughout dinner, and that fact, combined with the dim lighting and rustic feel to the place, really did not inspire confidence in its cleanliness.
They had run out of scones by the time I went in for dinnertime (not cool!). The chicken pot pie was very good and piping hot. Still, it was pretty steep at $20 for a pot pie. Additionally, I don't see how a piece of the sponge cake was worth the $6 price tag...
I mean, I know the English aren't known for their mind-blowing cuisine (minus, perhaps, Fat Duck), so I guess I shouldn't have expected much.
Next time I have a hankering for something in the area, however, I'll just skip on over to Tea & Sympathy's sister restaurant "A Salt & Battery" and save myself a Jackson or so.
Tea with a side of Rude
Having lived in New York for over 20 years We have NEVER experienced anything like this. After waiting outside for about 10 minutes my wife and I were seated at a very cramped table. No problem, we live in the city, we understand space restrictions, no big deal, really. When you get the menu at this place you will notice a list of "Rules" towards the bottom. Things like, '$10/person minimum' and 'be expected to move if asked'. Ok, seems reasonable, if an arrangement is needed for a larger group, and you haven't started eating yet-why not . . . We were more concerned about the selection of food at this point as we were hungry and eager to try a new place in our neighborhood. As we started with our tea and orange juice we overheard two girls being asked to finish their coffees as to open up their table to arriving guests. They were clearly offended, even so they were handed two to-go cups and promptly shuffled out. We didn't want to pay too much attention to it as all we wanted to do is enjoy our meal and the rest of our Sunday together. After about 15 minutes into our meals we were asked to switch tables. We had three half eaten plates of food, water, tea, coffee and orange juice on the table. What? Really? A lady (not our waitress) then proceeded to raise her voice at us explaining that "People are waiting outside"! We had enough, bad energy was hovering over everyone in the cramped dining space. We paid, left and vowed never to return. At this place you can expect very average bangers, mash baked beans, tea yes sympathy no. Save yourself and go for a brunch at a pub instead for 1/2 the price minus the public scolding and mandated menu.
I enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. (If you don't enjoy the English idea of humor or food, probably not the right place for you.) They are very strict about certain things; rules are posted on the door. The restaurant is tiny (seating capacity is 23), so space is at a premium.
Everything my friends and I had was excellent, but I have to say their macaroni and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. If you like mac and cheese, you have to try it here! Can't wait to try the full tea when I'm back in the city.
So, my boyfriend and I found ourselves randomly craving fish & chips last night while walking around, and ended up Yelping the hell out of Manhattan to find a British gastropub of sorts. We instead ended up at Tea & Sympathy, as it was convenienty only a few blocks from the corner we Yelped from frantically.
No fish & chips here.
They do, however, serve a multitude of meals in pie format, and I ordered the "Christmas Dinner pie", filled with potatoes and peas and a few bits of turkey. The crust was pretty yummy, as were the potatoes and gravy on the side (potatoes to go with my potatoes, mmm) - BUT, for $15, I would have expected something more substantial.
To that end, everything on the menu seemed a bit overpriced - including the desserts. The sticky toffee pudding we ordered looked like a bowl of lumpy slop and was unevenly heated (hi, microwave), but definitely served its purpose of being sweet, creamy and filling, if that's what you're after.
The notable highlight of my meal was the Shandy (beer + lemonade), which was delicious and delightful and only $2.75.
From what I can gather, I'd suggest skipping the dinner menu in favor of afternoon high tea, or maybe just a pot for two. I'd also suggest being as thorough as possible when you have a specific craving for something and are scanning half-assedly through Yelp on an iPhone... as I realized the fish & chips we really wanted was on the same damn block.
Lesson learned.
I'm not sure why Tea & Sympathy has such high reviews. I don't really understand. Everything was very very average, and the prices were way high. I understand this is NY, but still, I didn't feel I got my money's worth.
I didn't try their desserts. Maybe that's the problem. Apple peach tea was enh.
i'm giving this place a five because, to me, a five means that I HAVE to go there again. the reason i HAVE to go there again is because, sadly, it's a rarity in the culinary landscape of NYC. i've heard a lot of british celebs go there to fulfill their craving for bangers and mash.
that said, it's still an excellent place to go for british fare: shephard's pie, anchovies on toast, tea sandwiches, scones, TREACLE PUDDING, absolutely fabulous salad. i can't wait to go back for an afternoon tea spot.
the decor is ... well it's what it is. cramped. dingy. full of bacon smell. but you won't notice it while gnoshing contentedly on your food. it's like niki's rules: unapologetic, unbending, and completely forgivable in the face of the comestibles.
niki is a bit intimidating. but she sure loves kids.
I may just be a sucker for a unique experience, or it could be that I'm an Anglophile, but I loved this place. A friend and I popped in randomly and had a great time.
Sure, the rules are a little annoying, but I do like the cheekiness. They're a lot more lax than rules at British teahouses....at least here there was no hat requirement.
You're going to be seated on top of someone else, but if you're an eavesdropper like me, this will make you happy.
I got the "Cream Tea" which was a pot of tea and scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream. My friend Chelsea had the rhubarb crumble. Though I'm not a fan of rhubarb (and can't even think of it without getting that stupid Rhubarb Pie song from Prairie Home Companion stuck in my head...), the "crumble" was delicious, as was the custard. I would like more.
The clotted cream was amazing, so was the tea, and it was a delightful way to spend an hour on a rainy Saturday.
Also, I couldn't be in the place without thinking of the tearoom scene in Withnail and I....amazing.
Came here w/two good friends for brunch. This place is a review strictly for breakfast.
Tiny lil place that we were lucky to grab a table at and not have to wait. Literally has about maybe 7 tables?
This place felt like an authentic British tea place. You can see them working in the back on all sorts of sweets for tea time. The menu kept it real. They invite u to stay as long as you like, as long as there aren't any patrons waiting for the tables, then they'll scoot you out!
The menu had bangers and mash and other common simple breakfast staples including toast, eggs, scones, etc. Then of course there was the big menu of different types of teas. I ordered scrambled eggs w/smoked salmon and it came w/toast. I ordered some nice Jasmine tea. I sampled some of their scones, they were alright..lil on the dry side I thought. Honestly.. the breakfast options were very simple.. and it tasted ok..nothing really impressive.. just eggs w/some salmon in it and a well done piece of toast. The tea was very tasty, everyone gets their own pot of tea, and each tea pot was different and so cute! My tea pot came in the shape of a little cottage. Table got crowded w/the tea pots and food so the waitress put our tea pots behind us while we ate.
So after looking at the high noon tea time photos from other yelpers and the yummy looking sandwiches and scrumptious desserts, I think this place is best visited during tea time instead of breakfast.
Who said all British food is gross? This is a little slice of heaven for me. I have loved everything I have had here. The cheese sandwich is sooo good, the cheddar is just perfect. The white tea with rose was so light and wonderful, I bought some at their gift shop to bring home. The waitstaff is terribly sweet. If you get to talk with the owners, they are a riot.
The berry bread pudding here is very good, but the custard is absolutely to die for. To this day it is one of the best things I have ever eaten.
The space is small and there is a $10 minimum per person.
I love this little gem in the West Village. Whenever I'm in the mood for a good cup of tea (read: every Sunday afternoon... my roomie is half brit!) I love heading down to T&S for some amazing brews!
The mac&cheese is amazing and I haven't found bangers & mash better outside of London.
Not to be missed is dessert. My fav is the apple crumble with hot custard (and as a hater of all pudding type desserts, I can assure you, it is worth the five miles you'll have to run afterwards!).
Note: they are a stickler for the rules here. You will not be seated without your entire party - and don't try the old "oh look, here's an old friend who now wants to join us" trick as your friend will not be seated and there's no room to pull up a chair.
Also don't miss A SALT & Battery (fried fish and chips) next door, or Carry On T&S which is their take away stop.
I've died and gone back home. This truly is the only real English establishment in all of NYC. The complaints of other Yelpers only proves this fact more, and in essence also proves why this place is amazing.
1. We English love to queue. It's one of our more beloved national pasttimes. We queue for anything really. We feel more comfortable in a queue. Asking us to queue for a spot of tea is not unheard of. Not even in bad weather. We'd queue up outside regardless, even if the establishment had a capacity of 1,000. Since this is an English run business, you're pretty much expected to queue.
2. We're not exactly known for our native cuisine, are we? Let's face it, most of our native food is bland and canned. Serving tinned Heinz beans on toast is EXACTLY what we're craving. Since it's almost always more expensive to get authentic tinned Heinz baked beans in bodegas and shops, it's well worth the much cheaper $3.25 side dish at T&S.
3. We're also not exactly known for our politeness, are we? I've never heard of an American tourist coming to our country and remarking on how wonderfully nice we are. It's quite the opposite, innit?
In addition to the above, the food is fresh and delicious and as I mentioned, authentic. Real un-pre-sliced bread, real thick cream cheese (not the processed spreads), hearty and strong teas. My favourite is the vanilla mint. Its aroma can clear even the toughest of sinuses. Good for year round - as it can surpress summer allergies and winter colds alike. Too hot out? Get it iced and to go.
The place is tiny so do expect to queue and get moved about even after being seated. But please remain calm and refrain from bickering with your fellow patrons. You're going to have to sit pretty close to them for the duration of your meal. I don't know about you, but I can't enjoy my tea with someone looking to start a row behind me. Turnover in the place on busy days is still pretty swift, so be courteous, mimic our stiff upper lip, and let someone go before you. You'll be seated soon enough, and without added aggravation.
The word that first comes to mind when I think of Tea & Sympathy is: adorable. It's tiny, it's charming, it's covered with cottage-like decorations, and the waitresses (I never saw a waiter there, oddly enough) are all steadfastly British in their mannerisms. It's an experience, for sure, one that I can't always afford nor one that I have much time for, since the wait can be excruciating to get inside this kitchen-sized restaurant, but it's worth it to go at least once, as my friends and I managed to do one Saturday afternoon.
I had the Afternoon Tea for One (yes, at $30, it was a major splurge), and I heartily enjoyed my scones with clotted cream, finger sandwiches, and pot of herbal tea. My two friends also enjoyed their food, even if we did run out of clotted cream far too soon. Our waitress was sternly sweet, goading us into getting the tastier and more original teas instead of sticking with the standard Earl Grey. Though it was the tail end of brunch time, we weren't pressured to leave, which I would have expected at such a tiny place.
Bathroom Grade: N/A. Apparently, the British don't pee.
We came here for brunch this afty, after having a bugger of a time trying to find the place. But find it we did and I must say that this place was as right as rain.
We both ordered the same dish: the omelette with bangers and toast, which was aces. We also ordered a pot of the earl grey tea. I must confess that I had never had earl grey tea before, but it was the dog's bollocks and I loved it. Adding milk to tea is probably one my most corking discoveries ever.
The place, however, is small. This is not the type of place where you would bring ankle-biters because there just isn't any room. We were squeezed in so tight, Kate Moss would have trouble trying to make her way in here. It's that tight!
All told, our bill did not cost a bomb at all. Yes, we shall be making a return engagement here soon.
I went here specifically to try crumpets because I realized I didn't try them on my last trip to England. Since Tea and Sympathy seemed like a pretty authentic English fare, I assumed (wrongly - and you know what you do when you assume) that they would have this quite very English carb creation. What a disappointment it was to find no crumpets on the menu! Out of all places in the city, I'd expect this one to have authentic English crumpets, but obviously that expectation was too logical, and that's not how Tea and Sympathy creates their menu. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the classic English tea with scones, cupcakes, and crustless sandwiches, but lack of crumpets was a huge letdown. Maybe I should look for a place that doesn't serve authentic English cuisine if I wanna try them next time.
love it. you have to line up outside for this tiny english tea house frequently studded with famous faces. It has a strong no bullshit personality which creates a comforting air of , well , no bullshit. Very enlightening.
The food rocks, never even consider chewing before swallowing he mouthwatering cravings sprouted from well planted childhood addictions to the good old sunday roast dinner. It may be heaven.
You are complaining about the size of the place and the rules??!!!
What, are you people - new? This is New York, the place is small and popular, get over yourself - you aren't that important. Now get up so I can sit down.
This is down the street so I've gone often over the years. Latest time was last week for lunch with a friend. Perfect place as she wanted a proper lunch - shepherd's pie and peas and I just wanted tea and scones. Her pie was wonderful. The scones however were dry and tasteless (a first for me here) I had to load them with cream and jam.
Hopefully, this was just a one time slip.
God Save the Queen
Tea and Sympathy is a must do in the West Village. We have eaten here many times and always take people who come to visit us. It is small, quaint, and take no bullshit service is part of the charm.
The food is good. The service is too. I know people complain about it but if you are nice, and follow the rules and realize that they don't put up with the American attitude you will realize that these girls are sweet as the sticky pudding.
If you go for the first time we recommend the Tea service with scones, finger sandwiches, and tasty sweets. The tea list ranges from traditional to flavored.
Perfect when you need comfort food is dinner time. The pot pies, mac and cheese, traditional english food not only fill the belly but warm the soul. Save room for the cakes and desserts. Your experience would not be complete with our them.
Be prepared to wait outside. Dont be rude, and if they are busy remember others are waiting too.
I felt a little touristy stopping for high tea at a British tea room which is clearly designed to be a tourist spot, but I do love it, and how can you not, with a name like that?
Anthony had cream tea (scones, clotted cream and preserves) Very nice.
I had Welsh Rarebit with Branston pickle which wasn't as good as in Yorkshire but was still yummmmy!
Loved the cute teapots, could have lived without the loud ladies next table over, but can't blame the biz for them!
My only question is does it really have to be so expensive? I guess it is a pretty high rent spot.
We totally will go back, when next we are in town, for more.
Great tea but priced for tourists. As a New Yorker for eight years, I've learned a thing or too about overpriced goods and services but this is a little extreme sadly.
1/2 Price Happy Hour /…
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