Tea and Sympathy

This restaurant is a whole in the wall little place that maybe holds 20 people at best. Expect to wait..but... more

This restaurant is a whole in the wall little place that maybe holds 20 people at best. Expect to wait..but if you are looking for real English foo... more

Despite being incredibly small and cramped, Tea & Sympathy is one of my faves in the neighborhood. Some of the food e.g breakfast is better then you'll find in some parts of England. The only drawback is the amount of families that come in. Don't get me wrong, I like kids. The problem is the space doesn't make it easy for them, and the result is they don't make it easy for you. more

Went here once ... crowded ... rude staff ... and I've had better teas at danal in the east village and la bergamote in chelsea ... even sara beth's in the chelsea market would be a much better choice. This place is strictly for the tourist trade who are taken in by the pleasant setting. I don't give up easy and went a second time ... it was even worse. Avoid this place as well as the fish 'n chips shop next door. They are owned by the same management. Soggy fish and chips for an overblown price once again served with the same insolence. more

Go here if you're not in a rush because the limited seating likely means you'll be waiting for a table. The food itself was delicious, and traditionally British. We had a great chicken pie and the Sunday roast with beef. Bring your appetite because the portions are huge, and decidedly butter-ific. more

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 more

fantasic breakfast at weekends, friendly, a true gem. Pros: breakfast of champions, staff Cons: $$$ more

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? Cons: Rudest service anywhere in the civilized world more

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 more

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 more

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

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 more

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. Cons: Awful, rude, abominable service and bad food more

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

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 more

Wonderful little tea house. A bit crowded, but well worth it. Wonderful food, well-served tea, and a... more

Wonderful little tea house. A bit crowded, but well worth it. Wonderful food, well-served tea, and a special ambience. more

Wonderful little tea house. A bit crowded, but well worth it. Wonderful food, well-served tea, and a special ambience. more

While I didn't have the same experience of rude service, as some of the other reviewers, I did find this place to be extremely overpriced for the quality. The scones are nothing more original than regular Bisquick and small at that for the price of 2 for $6. The house salad wasn't bad and, thankfully, the vegetables were fresh. The chicken salad, however, was dreadful. There was virtually no celery or crunchiness, too much mayo, and the chicken was undoubtedly from a can. more

great ambience and location. try the various british beverage (burdock beer!). nice english experience in... more