Tea & Sympathy Inc

10/21/09

nice tea and interesting cakes

by sexysweetangel at Citysearch

So Saturday morning, I was excited to have scouted out a new lunch spot to explore. My sister happened to be visiting, and she is vegetarian... and I'm pretty much a walking dictionary for dining, unless you are one of my vegetarian friends, in which case, you're SOL. I peeked at the food menu, and thought, hey, this place could work for vegetarians! Albeit the menu did seem a little small, but we went anyway.

As everyone else has said, this IS an oasis in Midtown. Sitting here feels like you're at the Japanese version of Borders... but with lots of tea. Any maybe not that many books (I think the idea is that you bring your own books?) So maybe Borders is a bad analogy, but you get the idea.

Let's get to the food part. EVERYTHING is handmade, which means it's DELICIOUS, but also takes an eternity to make. Handmade dumplings? Delicious. Miso soup from scratch? Delicious. Rice balls? Yes, please. Unforunately, I've already covered pretty much half of the food menu. It is a small menu, indeed. In fact, that is the sole reason I am docking a star.

If you are a tea connoisseur, you MUST try this place. I'm pretty sure the tea menu is larger than the dinner and lunch menu. Now that I think about it, I've been here 3 times, and I've never even ordered tea... is that weird?

• Pros: nice chai latte
• Cons: too crowded

05/24/09

fantastic

by speakyourmind at Citysearch

fantasic breakfast at weekends, friendly, a true gem.

sunday roast average, but everything else tip top

keep up the good work

rule brittania.

• Pros: breakfast of champions, staff
• Cons: $$$

03/30/09

Rudest . . . staff . . . anywhere

by mogul_arg at Citysearch

Sullen, lumpen, potato-faced girls that must have come to the States thinking they could get work as au pairs, and ended up here. They think they’re posh, but they’re all East Enders and Liverpudlians – and it shows. And it’s obvious they take their cue from the owner. Never polite, she’s long since gone over the edge into psychosis, shrieking at everyone who dares set foot in her establishmentment. It used to be good food with rude service. Now, it's as though she only keeps the place going so she can have a steady stream of people to scream at. Does ANYbody really need a plate of mushy peas THAT badly?

• Pros: None
• Cons: Rudest service anywhere in the civilized world

12/05/08

Cozy up at Tea&Sympathy

by MJC at Citysearch

There's something about Tea & Sympathy! That's is all I'd like to say. But wait, Citysearch wants me to say more. That's okay, I understand Citysearch. But alas, I've said what I needed to say. Shall I use loremipsumnow?

• Pros: good food, better pints, and yorkshire pudding!
• Cons: always a huge wait

07/23/08

Best brunch in the city

by luneinconstante at Citysearch

If I could give Tea & Sympathy 6 stars, I would. The tea is the best in New York and the food is equally delicious. The waitstaff are always friendly and helpful, even when the place is packed. Be sure to try the crumpets and scones, they're to die for. The quality of the food is well worth the wait, which can be more than an hour on weekends.

• Pros: Great food, service, ambience
• Cons: Long wait

07/17/08

Tea and UNsympathy!

by shules at Citysearch

Excuse the title, but this was one of the most insane and grossly disappointing experiences I've had in my 10+ years here in NYC.

Yes, I understand quirky charms, and I completely agree with policies to ensure that small dining establishments can seat diners fairly, like not seating your party until everyone is present.

But this place has gone off the deep end.

I met a friend of mine who was not feeling well for lunch at 1.30pm on a weekday. I was not planning on eating, and she was already seated. I walked in, having dined there several times before, and the place was more than half empty.

As soon as I sat down I was accosted by a nervous waitress who kept stuttering something about RULES, rules, rules, and how I can not join an existing party that has already been seated. According to these rules, we either have to be seated together when we come in or I have to sit separately, I guess? I was told to go next door and ask the owner "PERMISSION" to sit with my friend. Seriously.

So, being a polite guest and respectful of bizarre rules, I comply, only to encounter more rudeness by the owner who barely took a moment to listen to me, and just said "these are the rules and they're not meant to be broken by anyone!"

Fine.

Walked back next door, hysterically laughing, told my friend that I can't sit with her. (is this grade school?). And so we walked out, just as the food was being brought out to the table.

We were chased for 3 blocks by an angry screaming brit about how we have committed a theft of service.

Tea & Sympathy: If you choose to have these bizarre rules and decide to exercise your rights to decline service based on these rules, then deal with people respectfully leaving your establishment.

Buyer beware: If you like being treated like a grade school student at a boarding school, then you'll love Tea & Sympathy. Otherwise, there is no shortage of incredible places to eat in NY with incredible service.

ENJOY!

• Cons: They're just missing a whip to enforce their eccentric rules

04/15/08

A little bit of old world England

by rae at Citysearch

I've seen a lot of complaints of rudeness, something that I have never experienced. Nikki the owner, can be gruff at times, but is usually very charming and the waitstaff have always been lovely. The food is a bit overpriced, but I've never ordered anything that I didn't enjoy immensely and the tea is brewed perfectly. Make sure that you don't leave without have the Sticky toffee pudding, it's to die for!

• Pros: Good food and tea, desserts to die for
• Cons: Tiny space

04/13/08

Horrific service, rude, mediocre food - DO NOT COME HERE

by a1a1 at Citysearch

The management and waitstaff is the rudest I have ever encountered in a restaurant, and the food is mediocre at best -- very bland, not tasty. The waitstaff was utterly impolite. Most shocking, we told them when we sat down that we would have three people. When the third person showed up, the manager began yelling at us, literally phsychotically screaming before we had a chance to say anything, that their policy is that you cannot add guests to your table once you sit down -- despite the fact that we told the waitress we were three people. The restaurant was completely empty at the time. Do not ever come to a restaurant like this -- there is sooo much better in New York.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Awful, rude, abominable service and bad food

12/20/07

Tea for Two

by kbhall at Citysearch

After reading some negative reviews, I was not sure whether to go here for tea on a recent trip to New York. But, my aunt loves her hot tea (I'm a coffee girl) and we were hungry for lunch. The waitresses were kind, took our pictures, and most agreeable to our needs. The room is VERY small, but we thought that added to the atmosphere and just enjoyed briefly chatting with our neighbors.

We ordered the tea service for two which was way more than we could eat even though we had not eaten any lunch. It was about 3:00pm, half full of folks and it seemed they seated us at the smallest table. A little crowded, but oh so fun for two old southern ladies on a big NYC Christmas trip.

We also went next door to buy a teapot and met the owner, Nickky. She was most helpful and nice. She knew we were tourists and took a good bit of time while I made up my mind on what to buy. I would highly recommend a visit.

• Pros: Good tea and food.
• Cons: Small, tight seating and tables.

12/01/07

Terrible! They treat you like dirt

by nycrocks66 at Citysearch

I use to like this place but now there fame has made them all act like they are special. The staff here are some of the worst in NYC with the owner leading by example. i remember when she was a nice lady but now I see her treating people like she is better then them. Its a real shame as the english grub is good and worth trying but watching people being treated like dirt puts me of my food

• Pros: Food
• Cons: Staff and Owner and size