tea parlors – Lolita And The City

Sunday Brunch: Podunk

Not exactly brunch, but there was tea and cakes and sandwiches and good company. I went to see Oz, the Great and Powerful with some friends, and then hung around St Marks. Some of us were hankering for some savory food so I took a few people to Podunk.

Podunk is a nook, so keep it small and simple with your company.

Whenever I think of Podunk I think of a grandmother’s attics: full of bits and bobs, and organized clutter filled with mementos of days past. Initially I had been worried with a party of 7 since this is a hole in the wall. Thankfully there were enough seats on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Ladies’ Luncheon

I had only visited here once in the summer, so it was nice for a change to come here when tea is meant to be hot. You ordered in the back and a waitress would bring out your order to your table. They even provide recommendations if there is too much to choose. I ordered a “ladies luncheon:” a plate full of cucumber sandwiches, cake, sprinkling of fruit and a cheesy biscuit; all paired with a pot of apricot tea.

Lolitas are always the last to leave.

The prices are pretty average, but the food is good and everything looks homemade. It’s also pretty quiet — perfect for those lazy afternoons when all you want is a pot of tea and some company.

Podunk
231 E 5th Street
New York, NY 10003

Sunday Brunch: Tea and Sympathy

A very royal wall.

Tea and Sympathy is one of those places you know about and have always wanted to go, but for some other reason something always comes up. Our story is set in the Greenwich Village and getting there is a lot like finding Neverland walking several side streets. And even then you have to wait for your own taste of authentic British food.
The big thing you should have to know is that Tea and Sympathy is very quaint and very small. As such they’ve posted several rules on the door and you will have to wait a bit — longer if you have a large party. Speaking of large parties, this place is very much a “tea for two.” I’ve visited with parties as small as two to as big as five, but I recommend no larger than four. And no matter how small you will feel cramped. But the food and tea will make up for it.

Nothing says British like beans and toast. Any better would be a toad in a hole.

Like Alice’s Tea Cup, Tea and Sympathy has a large selection of tea served in a various novelty teapots. Tea flavors range from floral and fruity like Black Currant to more traditional like English Breakfast and Earl Grey (of course).

Can’t tell if this teapot is from London, can you?

The food is pretty good, and the wait staff is pretty prompt with service (especially when it comes to water for tea and more cream for scones). If you are going for Afternoon Tea prepare yourself because it will take you an afternoon to finish.

Afternoon Tea for One (and 3/4)

There are two versions (single and two-person) but there honestly isn’t a difference, except maybe a few more sandwiches. What’s good to know is they are very accommodating if you want a vegetarian version. All you need to do is ask.

One of these cups are not like the other.

However if you aren’t willing to wait for a table or feel weird just standing outside like a dog in the window, they do have a shop adjacent to the restaurant that has enough goodies to satisfy any Anglophile.

These teapots are not for sale, but the ones next door are.

Not able to head down to the Village? Then you can at least visit their blog for recipes, contests and various British things Americans find funny and odd.

Tea and Sympathy
108 Greenwich Avenue
New York City, NY 10011

Also feel free to check out my list of tea rooms in NYC if Tea and Sympathy is not your cup of tea.

Sunday Brunch : Rose House

Rose House is popular go to place for Lolitas. It’s statisfies the hankering for tea and cakes with a decent price without a wait. The waiting part is most important in New York City when everywhere you go there’s a waiting list.

Located in the heart of Flushing in the Queens Crossing Mall, it’s pretty easy to find – that is if you are familiar with Chinatown’s bustling and crowded streets.

While majority Lolitas have found their comfort place to drink English tea and dine on tea cakes and sandwiches, this European style teahouse is a very uncommon in Asian metropolitans. There’s a strange fascination with the pseudo-European style in Asian culture. The English teahouse being the most popular to replicate.

True to its name, Rose House is decorated in all things roses and overwhelming smells like an English rose garden. It’s almost intoxicating. Even the water is sprinkled with a dash of rose water.

Since its located in Chinatown, the menus and waitstaff are fluent in both English and Chinese. Most people feel customer service varies from experience, personally I think it’s no different than any Chinese restaurant. However the reason you go to Rose House is not to be waited hand and foot – it’s for the food!

Cream cake with a dash of rose water in the cream.

The menu selection is very simple and ranges from a typical Afternoon Tea set to full Asian entrees like curry beef. By selecting any sweets they have a faint aroma and taste of roses.

Unlike Alice’s Tea Cup, afternoon tea at Rose House has two versions: a two-tiered and three-tiered (both very good). And the top tier has a small scoop of ice cream, which tends to vary every time you go or if several of you order the same set.

One thing that is also standard about afternoon tea is that you’ll never go searching for another meal immediately after. Rose House is no different. They also have a nice selection of Belgian waffles (I am personally fond of the waffle with ice cream or the tuna waffle), which is also great for a midnight snack.

Fun fact: Rose House is open until midnight.

For the most part, Rose House is a nice place to treat yourself to tea but, personally, conditions to go here must be right.

If you have the cash (they do take credit), time to venture out to Flushing, Queens (it is really out in the boroughs), and, of course, good company, then you should hop on the 7 train and head to Rose House.

Rose House
136-17 39th Ave
1st Floor
Flushing, NY 11354

Sunday Brunch: Alice’s Tea Cup Chapter II

Alice’s Tea Cup is very reminiscent of childhood tea parties you use to have. Except instead of fruit punch you can have actual tea and real tea cakes. (Did I mention real cake?)

Chapter II is one of there most popular locations in New York City for lovers of pink and nostalgic for childhood fancies. As well as people who want a real tea party without the stiff and stuffy atmosphere.

Lolitas love to venture to Alice’s whenever they have the chance, and the wait staff are more than welcoming to those wearing dresses with maximum poofiness. With a short walk from Central Park and the popular shopping avenues–it’s no wonder that this place has wait times that are anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours.

I had been several times before, but wanted to introduce the other half to the place. Luckily we had our chance on a late Saturday brunch with a short wait of 15 minutes!

He was a bit skeptical at the thought of Afternoon Tea. He presumed tea and cakes would not be a whole meal, fully knowing that afternoon tea was more of a snack time for adults when lunch was at noon and dinner was served at 8 o’clock rather than around 6 o’clock nowadays.

However when the 3-tiered tray (a Mad Hatter’s tea for two) arrived every questionable thought disappeared at the sight of so much food.

Alice’s is very accomodating for vegetarians and with the tiered trays you can to choose what you want as opposed to being presented with something you probably wouldn’t like (and garnished with caviar).

The setup is pretty standard with sandwiches on one tier, tea cakes on another, and light sweets at the very top (since it’s the smallest and one can go overboard when it comes to noshing on too many). And for the amount of food versus the price, it is well worth the wait for a table.

Also the tea is magnificent for it’s extremely long list and wide variety – from classic English blacks to purer greens and whites to herbal and fruity there’s something for everyone. And Alice’s Tea Cup maintains it’s kitschiness with no two cup and saucers are the same at the table. It also helped we both each got and emptied a pot of tea.

The decor helps you feel at home if you’ve never taken tea what with the multicolored butterfly wings and interpretative pictures of Alice Liddell (that’s the name of the real Alice on the wall) along the walls. It’s a place that you can never tire of and always find something new. Being my second time, I noticed the tables were refurbished vintage sewing machines.

There is a limit to Alice’s Tea Cup and that is you will probably take something home, which is not exactly a bad thing. As you can see the bottom tier became a doggy bag of sweets.

Alice’s Tea Cup does take reservations and have private dining areas for parties and “un-birthdays”, but I find it more fun to drop in and see if there’s room at the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

Extremely Late for an Important Date: Tokyo Rebel Tea Party 8/22 in Pictures!

This is long, long, long over due, since this was in August and now it’s November with the leaves already on the ground (and we’ve already experienced our first snowfall!). So apologies to anyone and everyone who reads this.

In late August, Tokyo Rebel held its first tea party. First part of the event was a buffet at Cha-An, a Japanese teahouse in the East Village. The second half took place at their store for a live Skype conversation with Misako Aoki!

Decorations.

Place settings before people arrived.

So much delicious food. Menu consisted of Teriyaki style meatballs, tofu quiche, chicken fried rice, smoked salmon, and green beans with sesame peanut sauce.

A little bit of everything. Everything was delicious. If you have the chance to go to Cha-An at another point in time, definitely go.

Everyone gave small introductions. It’s always interesting to learn about other people who got into Lolita. This girl is a teacher!

Green Tea Truffles

Making conversation before dessert course.

Strawberry Shortcake medley!

First groupshot before heading to Tokyo Rebe

I really wonder what people though as twenty some girls in frills walked down the street

Another groupshot in front of the store.

Shopgirl Meg and Giftbags!

Misako thinking. Definition of Kawaii


The Grand Prize Winner of the Best Coordinate/Outfit Contest goes to this lovely lady. What did she win: $300 gift certificate to spend in their store.


Tea Party Goodies: three postcards, a box of candied almonds, Baby, the Stars Shine bright wristcuffs (made especiallyfor the tea party), and a Thank you card(not pictured).

I couldn’t get enough sweets so me and a few friends dug into these cakes from the Cake Boss cafe in Discovery Times Center.

Tokyo Rebel posted the full transcript here and photos for curious readers.

Nook and Crannies: Tea Rooms in NYC

Rose House

Ever wonder how little old Asian ladies can drink hot tea in the blazing summer heat? Neither can I, but maybe a warm cup of tea is good after being in a room with blizzard level A/C.

Not all Lolitas like tea, but this one does. I actually completely switch from coffee to tea, and it has been all for the better (and becoming a slight borderline obsession for that perfect cup). Tea gives a nice steady caffeine boost unlike coffee which can leave you twitching for the next one.

Going out dressed in Lolita is like special treat, and so is taking the time to relax in a quiet corner with a pot of tea. This is extra special for New Yorkers who have the constant urge to always be on the move. Which is why I always enjoy when someone hosts a tea party.

Tea parties are grand, but intimate affairs for girls who are into Lolita fashion. It’s mainly a chance to reunite with others and meet new people than sipping from fancy cups with noses pointed up.

As well as discover new haunts for good food and, of course, drink tea.

Here are some chill places to try if your hankering for a nice cup of tea (hot or iced) and equally good food. Oh, and don’t forget to bring company!

Alice’s Tea Cup

Chapter I

102 West 73rd Street

212-799-3006

Chapter II

166 East 64th Street

212-486-9200

Chapter III

220 East 81st Street

212-734-4TEA

Bosies Tea Parlor (I highly recommend the Darjeeling Tart)
10 Morton Street
New York, NY 10014-4007
212-352-9900

Cha-An (Asian)
230 E 9th St
New York, 10003
212-228-8030

Danal
59 5th Ave # 1
New York, NY 10003-4349
212-982-6930

Franchia (Asian, all vegetarian/vegan)
12 Park Ave
New York, NY 10016-4307
212-213-1001

Harney & Sons
433 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013
212-933-4853

Mariebelle Cacao Bar and Tea Salon
484 Broome Street
Manhattan, NY 10013
212-925-6999

Podunk
231 East 5th St # Southeast
New York, NY 10003-8597
212-677-7722

Rose House
38-10 138th St
1st Fl
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 465-1670

Tea & Sympathy
108-110 Greenwich Avenue
New York, NY 10011
212-807-8329

These are only a small number of places that revolve around tea. A site I strongly recommend is Teaguide and TeaMap, to find the nearest tea room or hotel that does tea service.

Is there any places you recommend for a spot of tea not listed? Please share, I always love finding a new place for tea. Perhaps one day we can have a cup of tea together!