(212) 677-7722

231 E 5TH St (nr. Second Ave.)
New York, NY 10003 40.7276 -73.9904

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Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown

Hours:

Daily 11 am - 9 pm

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants, Coffeehouses

ambiance
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Cute and cozy with excellent coffee and tea.”
  2. “Seats aren't terribly comfortable, and there is no bathroom!”
  3. “Podunk is very cozy, warm, and friendly.”
dessert
97.22000122070312% positive
  1. “Six buttered cucumber sandwiches bracket a beautiful platter of fresh veggies and greens, and cake or scones and cream finish my meal.”
  2. “The salad was tasty if not tiny, strawberry scone was average at best, and yellow cake with chocolate frosting was ordinary, bordering on the dry.”
  3. “Beyond the never failing tea recommendations, amazing cupcakes, and that really yummy coconut and chocolate thing that I can never remember the name of, I always find Podunk the perfect place to catch up with a new-old friend (Elsbeth) and spend some time”
  4. “After a month of awful parties for all my marrying friends I revisited this place and found nothing has changed: Perfect baby cupcakes, wonderful "small plates" of fresh seasonal food (berries in the scones, veggies with a curried dipping sauce for those ”
  5. “If I had to recommend a baked goodie on the first visit, it would be the cardamon cake.”
  6. “The tea was the best I've had (coconut orange and Earl Gray) and the chocolate chip cookies are to lust after (I am, right now).”
  7. “love the Cream Tea with, scones with jam and cream and fruit compote.”
  8. “The scones are fluffy and the cookies are tasty.”
  9. “The tea is refreashing the cookies are delightful, and may people can't see to see what a gem this place really is.”
drinks
92.30999946594238% positive
  1. “We sat back down and began to talk, while all around us other people came and went, sometimes with huge trays of tea sandwiches and little tarts, and sometimes with a pot of tea, milk and sugar.”
  2. “We went to the counter and saw the source of the savory scent--a wire rack had a line of tarts on it, and I picked a red-wine carmelized onion one that was covered in cheese.”
  3. “If you're looking for a place to meet and chill, while snacking and drinking some great coffee and tea, plus EXCELLENT service, this is the place.”
  4. “She is so sweet and the food/tea are excellent!”
  5. “Although the flustered woman behind the counter was quite pleasant, she was horribly insufficient to the task at hand, as evidenced by the long wait for some tea and three cold pastries.”
  6. “Furnished with assorted garden tables and chairs, giving it a little junk shop chic, the owner bakes up a storm and serves a wonderful tea (you choose from a list of over 100 blends).”
  7. “had orange mint sencha and the mint was fresh, making for a truely fragrant cup of tea.”
  8. “Beyond the never failing tea recommendations, amazing cupcakes, and that really yummy coconut and chocolate thing that I can never remember the name of, I always find Podunk the perfect place to catch up with a new-old friend (Elsbeth) and spend some time”
  9. “It's a tiny quaint tea salon with a super friendly owner that serves delicious fresh baked goods.”
  10. “My Jasmine tea and a sticky bun were exeptionally good.”
  11. “sometimes order bite-size tea pies instead of the sandwiches, when I want something hot.”
  12. “The tea is refreashing the cookies are delightful, and may people can't see to see what a gem this place really is.”
  13. “The owner is very nice and helped me pick out tea when it was my first time.”
  14. “the best tea I've ever had”
  15. “Cute and cozy with excellent coffee and tea.”
  16. “While not a real fan of tea, myself, the food was savory and delicious.”
  17. “There is a huge variety of tea, whic.”
  18. “The tea is delicious and wonderfully presented.”
  19. “the lavender lime iced tea is very nice on the yellow table they have outside when it's warm and in the cold”
  20. “hot tea like vanilla or mint is with a book or friend is nice and relaxing.”
  21. “Plus people came to enjoy their tea peacefully.”
  22. “stopped by podunk, which appears to be a charming little tea shop one day, and as I approached the counter, the woman behind it began immediately acting strange and exasperated by my presence.”
  23. “But there was no apparent explanation for the dry mediocre pastries and slightly stale tea.”
  24. “You were in a place that, duh, everyone loves, left to go to the bathroom, still came back for tea, had an hour and a half to enjoy the tea and conduct your lesson and when they asked for the table they gave you FREE tea.”
  25. “love the woman that works there; she makes recommendations and tea substitutions for me and we always seem to make nice small talk.”
  26. “The tea was the best I've had (coconut orange and Earl Gray) and the chocolate chip cookies are to lust after (I am, right now).”
food quality
83.76999855041504% positive
  1. “Six buttered cucumber sandwiches bracket a beautiful platter of fresh veggies and greens, and cake or scones and cream finish my meal.”
  2. “It's a tiny quaint tea salon with a super friendly owner that serves delicious fresh baked goods.”
  3. “had orange mint sencha and the mint was fresh, making for a truely fragrant cup of tea.”
  4. “After a month of awful parties for all my marrying friends I revisited this place and found nothing has changed: Perfect baby cupcakes, wonderful "small plates" of fresh seasonal food (berries in the scones, veggies with a curried dipping sauce for those ”
  5. “The price is even reasonable if you consider that you're getting a full meal, plus a beverage, and gratuities are included.”
  6. “The salad was tasty if not tiny, strawberry scone was average at best, and yellow cake with chocolate frosting was ordinary, bordering on the dry.”
  7. “Were the owner polite and sweet, I could overlook the overpriced food (I live in New York, after all).”
  8. “Although the flustered woman behind the counter was quite pleasant, she was horribly insufficient to the task at hand, as evidenced by the long wait for some tea and three cold pastries.”
  9. “The scones are fluffy and the cookies are tasty.”
  10. “I've been a few times and loved the baked goods -- delicious and truly unique.”
  11. “The tea is delicious and wonderfully presented.”
  12. “We went to the counter and saw the source of the savory scent--a wire rack had a line of tarts on it, and I picked a red-wine carmelized onion one that was covered in cheese.”
  13. “Beyond the never failing tea recommendations, amazing cupcakes, and that really yummy coconut and chocolate thing that I can never remember the name of, I always find Podunk the perfect place to catch up with a new-old friend (Elsbeth) and spend some time”
  14. “We sat back down and began to talk, while all around us other people came and went, sometimes with huge trays of tea sandwiches and little tarts, and sometimes with a pot of tea, milk and sugar.”
  15. “But there was no apparent explanation for the dry mediocre pastries and slightly stale tea.”
  16. “She is so sweet and the food/tea are excellent!”
  17. “The food is yummy and comes in decent portions.”
  18. “sometimes order bite-size tea pies instead of the sandwiches, when I want something hot.”
  19. “While not a real fan of tea, myself, the food was savory and delicious.”
menu variety
87.5% positive
  1. “After a month of awful parties for all my marrying friends I revisited this place and found nothing has changed: Perfect baby cupcakes, wonderful "small plates" of fresh seasonal food (berries in the scones, veggies with a curried dipping sauce for those ”
  2. “There is a huge variety of tea, whic.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “If you're looking for a place to meet and chill, while snacking and drinking some great coffee and tea, plus EXCELLENT service, this is the place.”
  2. “It's a great place to go when you want to read alone or when you need something new to try, or to take your friends to.”
service
75.0% positive
  1. “Maybe she needs one of those snooty waiters to manage the room.”
  2. “have never been treated soo rude after my 18 years of living in NYC.”
  3. “Plus people came to enjoy their tea peacefully.”
  4. “I'm sure the people who had bad comments on Podunk were rude and being inconsiderate.”
  5. “We sat back down and began to talk, while all around us other people came and went, sometimes with huge trays of tea sandwiches and little tarts, and sometimes with a pot of tea, milk and sugar.”
  6. “Podunk is very cozy, warm, and friendly.”
  7. “Went there today and received excellent service from Espeth the owner.”
  8. “It's a tiny quaint tea salon with a super friendly owner that serves delicious fresh baked goods.”
  9. “The environment is friendly, relaxing and quite.”
  10. “The tea is refreashing the cookies are delightful, and may people can't see to see what a gem this place really is.”
  11. “If you're looking for a place to meet and chill, while snacking and drinking some great coffee and tea, plus EXCELLENT service, this is the place.”
  12. “Astonishingly bad customer service”
value
71.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The price is even reasonable if you consider that you're getting a full meal, plus a beverage, and gratuities are included.”
  2. “bit pricey, although worth every sip & bite”
  3. “There is a huge variety of tea, whic.”
  4. “After a month of awful parties for all my marrying friends I revisited this place and found nothing has changed: Perfect baby cupcakes, wonderful "small plates" of fresh seasonal food (berries in the scones, veggies with a curried dipping sauce for those ”
  5. “Were the owner polite and sweet, I could overlook the overpriced food (I live in New York, after all).”
  6. “We sat back down and began to talk, while all around us other people came and went, sometimes with huge trays of tea sandwiches and little tarts, and sometimes with a pot of tea, milk and sugar.”
  7. “The food is yummy and comes in decent portions.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “Although the flustered woman behind the counter was quite pleasant, she was horribly insufficient to the task at hand, as evidenced by the long wait for some tea and three cold pastries.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/31/10

Tea-flavored ice cream rocks my world

by DaniShapiro

Stopped by this tea place today, and while my friend haggled over a flavor of iced tea I saw a list of ice cream flavors. I wasn't even hungry, but I had to try lavender-lime ice cream (more of an ice than an ice cream). It came in a little gingery cone-cup, and it was like the best OMG summer day licks I could imagine. My friend ordered rose gunpowder ice cream, which was really creamy, tea-flavored, and very rosy. All the flavors are either tea-based or inspired by their iced-tea list, like the lemon verbena ginger. This British girl was happily lapping up Earl Grey ice cream with caramel sauce and whipped cream. I didn't expect to find ice cream there, but it's like my new favorite thing, and I seriously could mainline the lavender lime one. I am craving it right now.

  • Pros: Really refreshing flavors I'd never heard of
  • Cons: The portions are appropriate, but I could down a quart
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/17/10

If Podunk was a Girl, I'd Marry Her

by MeisterTea

I'm in love. I'm ready to commit. This is not my first tea place, but it's about to become my only tea place. My mother raised her children first on liebsfraumilch and then on tea and so I have to have a daily fix, usually at home. The other day I walked past Podunk, which was nearly empty, and then through the screen door. I could hear someone humming and washing dishes, and I was thinking that their security system might need some tweaking, because I think I could have walked off with most of the place while other patrons kept their noses in their books.

Okay, so I waited for all of thirty seconds at the counter, and this lady came out, smiling, and asked what was I up to? and I told her "tea," and after a couple more questions I found myself drinking a pot of blood orange vanilla and eating a warm piece of lemon cake with a sugary glaze. That first day, when I paid, she asked my name and told me hers, and she's remembered it every time I've been in. If I feel bad before I go in, I'm better the minute I step through that door, and if I'm in a good mood (most of the time) it still improves with every minute I spend there.

All exaggeration aside, if I can't marry Podunk, can I at least live there?

  • Pros: Long list of teas, amiable atmosphere
  • Cons: That it's not closer to my home?
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/15/10

Divine Iced Tea on a Hot, Hot Day

by StacyHat

I'm going to write a righteous review later, but I just had the best day at this delightful city watering hole. The tea was the best I've had (coconut orange and Earl Gray) and the chocolate chip cookies are to lust after (I am, right now). Loved the place and am taking my mother and father back this weekend--we southerners know TEA and this place, this PODUNK has it. Sweet!

  • Pros: Lovely service, delicious food
  • Cons: No AC, but breezy and homey
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/22/10

Marvelous!

by CSMobileUser2

I went to Podunk with my partner and we were treated with such generosity and grace that I could hardly believe I was in NYC. While not a real fan of tea, myself, the food was savory and delicious. It reminded me of dinners with my Scandinavian grandmother. Way to go, Elspeth Treadwell! I will be back! Shelly

1 Star Rating: Poor

01/19/10

RUDE, RUDE, RUDE!!!

by kaxy

Went to this place on Friday after work, for a farewell party for a dear coworker. This place is very small and there were a few more of us than originally anticipated so we were sitting there trying to decide whether or not to stay there or move on to a bigger space, when a guy (presumably the owner) came out from the back and started screaming on the top of his lungs for us to get out. I was in shock because we weren’t causing any trouble, just sitting there talking quietly and it’s not like the place was packed (we made it packed). I thought it was some kind of joke and I asked him if he was serious, which pretty much sent him into a psychotic fit. It was very embarrassing, especially in front of all my colleagues.

I don’t understand how this place stays in business, the prices are that of a high end bakery and the owner does not even have the civility of a hot dog cart vendor. At least the lady behind the counter seemed nice; I hope he doesn’t abuse her. Cannot say anything about their tea or pastries, as I didn’t get a chance to try them. At least I didn’t get called b*tch as some other reviewers here.

Do not go there!!!

  • Pros: Cutesey
  • Cons: Nazi of an owner

The Details on Podunk

Place Categories:

  • favorite little place
  • sweet owner
  • recommend podunk
  • delicious baked goods
  • savory seasonal food
  • recommend toasted coconut
  • great cupcakes
  • relaxing environment
  • mediocre pastries
  • savory scent
  • rude people
  • nice book
  • delightful cookies
  • excellent service
  • great more pride
  • great coffee
  • exeptionally good jasmine tea
  • uncomfortable ice skates
  • stale tea
  • perfect pinkfrosted cupcake
  • tasty salad
  • best cream tea
  • savory scones
  • excellent foodtea
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