They have tea and food, but none of the tea spirit. I had a lot of love for the Tao of Tea that got destroyed in 1 minute flat.
I’d been visiting their leaf room since 2019, even driving for 15 minutes before I lived nearby. I’ve bought hundreds of dollars worth of tea, as well as tea wares from them.
I also love tea rooms. I have visited a lot of tea rooms in Japan and love the spirit of hospitality, of harmony, peace and tranquility.
Since moving close to Tao of Tea, I even modified my dog walk so I could walk past the windows of the tearoom - it makes me happy seeing people having tea and I vicariously feel I’m sitting there on the wooden tables by the window, enjoying the view. But I din’t often have the chance to go in because I was either with my dogs, or the tea room was closed.
Finally, today, the stars aligned. Or so I thought. I didn’t have my dogs, it was lunchtime, the tearoom was open and I delightfully spotted an open table by the window that had my name on it.
I walked in, spoke to the sweet lady who recommended some food, and decided to stay for lunch. I asked her if I could sit on the table by the window, and she said with a smile “sit anywhere you like”. I noticed that the only other open table was in the back of the room, flush next to a larger table that had a group of 9 people on it.
I sat down, made myself comfortable, opened the menu and even took this photo of my arrangements. I was feeling happy and peaceful.
The friendly lady came over to take my order and I started saying “I’ll have the dal with…” when a blonde guy who worked there interrupted my order and shoed away the server.
He said he needed me to move to a different table. I looked to the door and noticed two people standing and waiting. They had come in after me and apparently they weren’t happy to sit at the table in the back next to the large group (who would?).
Recovering from my initial shock of being asked to move tables while placing an order (I’ve never had this happen at a restaurant), I asked where he was planning on moving me.
I was on a table with two chairs and he explained that he needed that table for the two people that had just walked in and he was going to move me to another two person table in the back.
I patiently explained how I had walked in because I had liked the table by the window. He didn’t let up. He started telling me how I would be more comfortable in the back with chairs that had seat backs.
When I hesitated and he saw I wasn’t going to move he inquired: “Is it going to be just you or are you expecting someone else?”
That was the final straw. I felt so unwelcome there with the two people at the door staring at me impatiently and the guy looming over me, obviously determined to move me despite me saying “no”.
In that instant, the magic of the tea room disappeared and I was left feeling like an unwanted guest. I picked up my stuff, said “maybe I’ll come another time” and walked out of there.
I cannot describe the feeling of sadness and disappointment that I left with.
I hope the extra $30 of lunch revenue from the second person in the couple that kicked me out was worth the negative review and pissing off a long-term customer.
As for me, I’ll be moving my patronage to Hibiki-an (for Japanese green tea and matcha), Crimson Lotus Tea (local PNW family owned importing the best puerhs), Sonia Masocco (for Ayurvedic teas) and Eco Cha (for ecologically clean Taiwanese oolong). And as far as tea houses go, it’ll have to be the tea house at the Japanese Garden and at home in the backyard with friends.
Cary Shapro
Amazing setting, great selection.
Jane Weil
Lovely tranquil space with tons of tea options and tasty food. I asked for a tea recommendation between a few options I was debating and the waitress was so helpful and thoughtful in her recommendations. I wish I lived closer so I could go more often!
john holloman
first, i want to say that i am a tea snob. i have ordered tea from toa of tea multiple times. all of the tea has been excellent. the ordering process has been simple and the shipping has been quick. what i am extremely pleased to share is this....i placed an online order with toa of tea this week. when i checked out i paid for shipping. i did not realize that i qualified for free shipping. i guess they caught it on their end while fulling my order. they automatically refunded me the total amount of the cost of shipping !!!! kudos to your business and to your people !!!! what a pleasant surprise. thank you...
akash parikh
I recently visited Tao of Tea with my family visiting from Georgia, and we absolutely loved it! The tea selection was incredible, with each flavor tasting calming and perfectly balanced. The interior was beautiful and so serene—it felt like a peaceful escape. This is an experience I’d love to make a part of my everyday routine! Thank you for such an amazing experience. Tao of Tea is truly inspiring!
Deedee Chiang
Such a quaint place to sip and snack. My friend and I spent 2 hours here chilling and catching up over tea.
I love how they perform the tea ceremony with some of the more traditional teas. We got to see them pour out the first rinse over a pet dragon! And the food was simple and delicious.
This place has a cozy welcoming vibe and it's great for groups and solo folks as well. I could see myself coming along and bringing a book to read while sipping tea here.
I also love that they have both caffeinated and non caffeinated teas for those who are more sensitive and want to have great sleep after enjoying their tea.
Such a gem!
Joseph Skywalker
Tea is amazing and owner was very nice
Tom Mulcahy
Huge selection of tea. They also have delicious light snacks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sydney Johnson
The Chai tasted like milky water and the oolong was over brewed, very bitter, dry and nothing like the description. All for a high price. I would have given 1 star but I didn't try the food so I want to be fair. Cute place, wish it was halfway decent.
Lindsey Marinello
I had a wonderful time here years ago — great selection and prices. I have since continued to order their products online and I was never disappointed in the quality. their personal touch in their customer service really impressed me.
Understandably busy. Even if you're early in your tea journey like me this place is a great experience. I tried Emporer Gold and an Oolong tea both were complex teas that could find a place in your tea collection.
Parking: The Tao has about 8 spots next to their building and then every street has at least 2 hour free parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Mike Morris (Mikelzap)
Understandably busy. Even if you're early in your tea journey like me this place is a great experience. I tried Emporer Gold and an Oolong tea both were complex teas that could find a place in your tea collection.
Parking: The Tao has about 8 spots next to their building and then every street has at least 2 hour free parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Kareem Alston-Rosales
Great place to spend an hour or more sipping on tea and snacking. People working there were knowledgeable about what to order for any ailment. The inside was calm and the sound of a water fountain was calming. Probably perfect for a rainy day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hancock Boa
Cozy tea House, with a vegetarian menu and limited seating. I came close to closing time and spent an hour meditating over my tea and enjoying a plate of Dal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard Grant
My third time here and I love this place so much! Real pu-erh tea service is just not available many places. This is a real find. Amya (I hope I spelled correctly) has helped me twice here and just made the whole thing a wonderful experience. Food is so healthy delicious and priced well. This is not an overpriced place! Very welcoming
They have tea and food, but none of the tea spirit. I had a lot of love for the Tao of Tea that got destroyed in 1 minute flat.
I’d been visiting their leaf room since 2019, even driving for 15 minutes before I lived nearby. I’ve bought hundreds of dollars worth of tea, as well as tea wares from them.
I also love tea rooms. I have visited a lot of tea rooms in Japan and love the spirit of hospitality, of harmony, peace and tranquility.
Since moving close to Tao of Tea, I even modified my dog walk so I could walk past the windows of the tearoom - it makes me happy seeing people having tea and I vicariously feel I’m sitting there on the wooden tables by the window, enjoying the view. But I din’t often have the chance to go in because I was either with my dogs, or the tea room was closed.
Finally, today, the stars aligned. Or so I thought. I didn’t have my dogs, it was lunchtime, the tearoom was open and I delightfully spotted an open table by the window that had my name on it.
I walked in, spoke to the sweet lady who recommended some food, and decided to stay for lunch. I asked her if I could sit on the table by the window, and she said with a smile “sit anywhere you like”. I noticed that the only other open table was in the back of the room, flush next to a larger table that had a group of 9 people on it.
I sat down, made myself comfortable, opened the menu and even took this photo of my arrangements. I was feeling happy and peaceful.
The friendly lady came over to take my order and I started saying “I’ll have the dal with…” when a blonde guy who worked there interrupted my order and shoed away the server.
He said he needed me to move to a different table. I looked to the door and noticed two people standing and waiting. They had come in after me and apparently they weren’t happy to sit at the table in the back next to the large group (who would?).
Recovering from my initial shock of being asked to move tables while placing an order (I’ve never had this happen at a restaurant), I asked where he was planning on moving me.
I was on a table with two chairs and he explained that he needed that table for the two people that had just walked in and he was going to move me to another two person table in the back.
I patiently explained how I had walked in because I had liked the table by the window. He didn’t let up. He started telling me how I would be more comfortable in the back with chairs that had seat backs.
When I hesitated and he saw I wasn’t going to move he inquired: “Is it going to be just you or are you expecting someone else?”
That was the final straw. I felt so unwelcome there with the two people at the door staring at me impatiently and the guy looming over me, obviously determined to move me despite me saying “no”.
In that instant, the magic of the tea room disappeared and I was left feeling like an unwanted guest. I picked up my stuff, said “maybe I’ll come another time” and walked out of there.
I cannot describe the feeling of sadness and disappointment that I left with.
I hope the extra $30 of lunch revenue from the second person in the couple that kicked me out was worth the negative review and pissing off a long-term customer.
As for me, I’ll be moving my patronage to Hibiki-an (for Japanese green tea and matcha), Crimson Lotus Tea (local PNW family owned importing the best puerhs), Sonia Masocco (for Ayurvedic teas) and Eco Cha (for ecologically clean Taiwanese oolong). And as far as tea houses go, it’ll have to be the tea house at the Japanese Garden and at home in the backyard with friends.
Amazing setting, great selection.
Lovely tranquil space with tons of tea options and tasty food. I asked for a tea recommendation between a few options I was debating and the waitress was so helpful and thoughtful in her recommendations. I wish I lived closer so I could go more often!
first, i want to say that i am a tea snob. i have ordered tea from toa of tea multiple times. all of the tea has been excellent. the ordering process has been simple and the shipping has been quick. what i am extremely pleased to share is this....i placed an online order with toa of tea this week. when i checked out i paid for shipping. i did not realize that i qualified for free shipping. i guess they caught it on their end while fulling my order. they automatically refunded me the total amount of the cost of shipping !!!! kudos to your business and to your people !!!! what a pleasant surprise. thank you...
I recently visited Tao of Tea with my family visiting from Georgia, and we absolutely loved it! The tea selection was incredible, with each flavor tasting calming and perfectly balanced. The interior was beautiful and so serene—it felt like a peaceful escape. This is an experience I’d love to make a part of my everyday routine! Thank you for such an amazing experience. Tao of Tea is truly inspiring!
Such a quaint place to sip and snack. My friend and I spent 2 hours here chilling and catching up over tea.
I love how they perform the tea ceremony with some of the more traditional teas. We got to see them pour out the first rinse over a pet dragon! And the food was simple and delicious.
This place has a cozy welcoming vibe and it's great for groups and solo folks as well. I could see myself coming along and bringing a book to read while sipping tea here.
I also love that they have both caffeinated and non caffeinated teas for those who are more sensitive and want to have great sleep after enjoying their tea.
Such a gem!
Tea is amazing and owner was very nice
Huge selection of tea. They also have delicious light snacks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Chai tasted like milky water and the oolong was over brewed, very bitter, dry and nothing like the description. All for a high price. I would have given 1 star but I didn't try the food so I want to be fair. Cute place, wish it was halfway decent.
I had a wonderful time here years ago — great selection and prices. I have since continued to order their products online and I was never disappointed in the quality. their personal touch in their customer service really impressed me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Understandably busy. Even if you're early in your tea journey like me this place is a great experience.
I tried Emporer Gold and an Oolong tea both were complex teas that could find a place in your tea collection.
Parking: The Tao has about 8 spots next to their building and then every street has at least 2 hour free parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Understandably busy. Even if you're early in your tea journey like me this place is a great experience.
I tried Emporer Gold and an Oolong tea both were complex teas that could find a place in your tea collection.
Parking: The Tao has about 8 spots next to their building and then every street has at least 2 hour free parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great place to spend an hour or more sipping on tea and snacking. People working there were knowledgeable about what to order for any ailment. The inside was calm and the sound of a water fountain was calming. Probably perfect for a rainy day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cozy tea House, with a vegetarian menu and limited seating. I came close to closing time and spent an hour meditating over my tea and enjoying a plate of Dal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My third time here and I love this place so much! Real pu-erh tea service is just not available many places. This is a real find. Amya (I hope I spelled correctly) has helped me twice here and just made the whole thing a wonderful experience. Food is so healthy delicious and priced well. This is not an overpriced place! Very welcoming
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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