Ten Ren Tea

                          

This time I decided to have a bubble tea in China Town. An advice: never go there a Friday around 5pm, it’s too crowded.

The tea place is very modern, meaning, don't expected a nice ancient teahouse but more a casual place. You can order "for here" or "to go". There are only five tables; it's a small place but pretty nice.

If you are tired of having traditional tea, but you don't want coffee or juice, bubble tea is a great choice. It’s a great mix I think. I’m sure many of you have already tried. I particularly like bubble tea, it’s refreshing during summer and if you feel a bit hungry it’s a good compromise.

http://www.tenrenusa.com/

Podunk

                  

  

After a failure with the Lady Mendl’s, I went to Podunk located in the East Village. 

Little story-I almost made a mistake with the picture I saw on Google. A few numbers before is located an apartment with exactly the same style in front (picture 3) so I was going to open the door but a woman looked at me with a weird face. Be careful of not going into a stranger’s apartment.

This place is also pretty atypical. It doesn’t look like a tearoom at all. Instead of being a proper teahouse, the owner decided to opt for something different. There isn’t a table or a chair that looks like each other. It adopted a garden style or let’s say a lumber room style. You can pretty much find anything that has no relation with each other; umbrella, piano, garden tables, paintings, watering can, table napkins etc. A customer said it could be an art place.

I ended up being the only customer as everyone left when I arrived. Wondering why…  

The owner is a very nice old lady who talks with everyone. She is the only person working there, but the tearoom is very small so it’s manageable.

I took the best seller Apricot tea as I was looking for something fruity. It was actually really good! The owner explained to me that it is because it’s actually made with real apricots and not artificial flavor, so that's why it makes the taste stronger.

http://www.podunktearoom.com/

Lady Mendl's Tea Salon-Inn at Irving Place

I decided after a long day to go to this very atypical place in Union Square. 

This teahouse can’t be compared to the ones I have been to. It’s actually a Victorian period style tearoom. This place is a bit hidden although it’s located on a very obvious place. I spent some time finding it, but I realized I was just in front of it.

The entrance is actually an entrance of a typical house on the West village. That’s why I couldn't recognize it was the teahouse. I climbed the high stairs, opened the door and find myself in this strange old looking living room. A lady called out to me and unfortunately announced the place was closing. I couldn't try their menu but I tried to spy a little bit (my picture is completely blurred). I will have to make a follow up with you another time. Please be careful of the time. The place is only open from 12 to 4pm, which is pretty inconvenient.

Because it was closed I went to another teahouse not far from it.

http://www.innatirving.com/?pg=dining-mendls