NOW CLOSED...Formerly: Good news: High tea is no longer reserved for the Brits. Now you, too, can partake in an assortment of tea, mini sandwiches and bite-sized cream puffs, right in Uptown, all for $15. Add some crumpets and a trip to the W.C. and you can call yourself Queen Elizabeth.
Cece Anderson and her husband Hank opened Urban Tea Lounge two years ago as a place where people could sit for hours over pots of piping hot tea. Boasting over 65 flavors, from your everyday black teas to the White Chocolate Mousse, a blend of Ceylon and pieces of white chocolate, it's the perfect space to share a hot drink and a good conversation. Don't fill up on the tea, or you'll miss out on fresh sandwiches and salads, the perfect complement to your beverage. The vegan salad, a combination of couscous, sun-dried tomatoes, black beans and black olives, comes on your choice of cracker or whole wheat bread and tastes divine. Even meat-eaters love this hearty snack. Otherwise opt for the chicken salad, a creamy mix of chicken, pesto and hearts of palm. Its crunchy yet creamy consistency and sweet flavor puts other chicken salads to shame.
The lounge also serves Intelligentsia coffee, chili, soups (including the ever-popular cream of broccoli) and desserts, ranging from her mom's famous brownies to chocolate eclairs. Nothing exceeds $5, a perk that the Andersons work hard to maintain to keep the customers happy. Seated on a comfy couch and groovin' to smooth jazz, the lounge provides a communal environment conducive to chatting up your neighbors. Visit on Thursdays for game night and enjoy a pot of Lemon Drop, a combination of lemon myrtle and Ceylon black tea, over a game of Scrabble. You'll even find a set of Legos out for the kids.
Reviewed By: Emily Fiffer
