who needs chain cafes when you've got authenticity like this? great food and tea and fridnly service too. we have come here about once a month for years.

who needs chain cafes when you've got authenticity like this? great food and tea and fridnly service too. we have come here about once a month for years.
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Samovar Tea Lounge is a great little place to hang out in the Castro if you want something a little more relaxing than the typical bar scene. If only it was open later than 10 pm! Samovar has... More

Samovar Tea Lounge is a great little place to hang out in the Castro if you want something a little more relaxing than the typical bar scene. If only it was open later than 10 pm! Samovar has a huge array of teas including different varieties of white, green, black, and herbal. The menu also has some food items such as small plates, desserts, etc. The servers are knowledgable and can help with recommendations and descriptions of the teas. All are served in asian-style teapots and can serve at least 4-5 cups- not bad for $5-6. Don't miss the trio of tea infused cookies which were delicious. If you're with a group, make sure to reserve the low table at the back where you get to sit atop funky wicker seat cushions.
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These tea lounges will never catch on quite as fervently as the regular sort of coffee culture cafes. But for us non-coffee drinkers, it's sure nice to have the option here and there. Even if the... More

These tea lounges will never catch on quite as fervently as the regular sort of coffee culture cafes. But for us non-coffee drinkers, it's sure nice to have the option here and there. Even if the place is owned by Starbucks (I think Samovar is), I'm into it because they have really great tea. Even with the exotic name (am I in Africa? am I in India?), it's still just a Starbucks vibe cookie cutter joint, but at least I can get real tea here. Food too. Though, it's crazy expensive.
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This was more than mere tea, it was an experience. The food I agree is overpriced and the portions are tiny, but I have to admit it's very good. I love the atmosphere. My only complaint was the... More

This was more than mere tea, it was an experience. The food I agree is overpriced and the portions are tiny, but I have to admit it's very good. I love the atmosphere. My only complaint was the noise. When it's busy, it's way too noisy. The service was way too slow. I ended up being there for like 2 hours. I ordered the Russian tea which came with wonderful black tea, 3 tiny salmon-filled crepes, a bergamot-flavored bread pudding, and a deviled egg with caviar (which was my favorite part!). That cost me $15, and I was still hungry after so I ordered an egg salad sandwich. Spending $25 for lunch including tip was WAY more than I wanted to spend. They have an amazingly diverse menu though. Pros: food, tea, atmosphere Cons: crowds on weekends, slow service
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As a reader of countless Citysearch restaurant reviews, I have finally decided to put in my .02$ on Samovar, a genuinely enchanting tea lounge, perfectly suited for a casual romantic occasion. ... More

As a reader of countless Citysearch restaurant reviews, I have finally decided to put in my .02$ on Samovar, a genuinely enchanting tea lounge, perfectly suited for a casual romantic occasion. Admittedly, this is my first official encounter at a tea house and I had second thoughts about the seemingly unrealistic claims of robust flavor and delicate aromas, so I cheated and ordered a Moroccan mint tea (a tea I was already familiar with, allowing it to act as a benchmark). Said tea is a close to a liquid nectar as one will taste this side of the Milky Way galaxy. In addition to the marvelous tea and morsels, our server was equally sweet and pleasant.
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We ate there last night and were blown away by the food and tea pairings. Great service, 6 courses takes quite some time but it was a lovely experience overall. The cuisine was sophisticated and... More

We ate there last night and were blown away by the food and tea pairings. Great service, 6 courses takes quite some time but it was a lovely experience overall. The cuisine was sophisticated and perfect timing from the servers. Pros: Tea Event Dinners Cons: Takes a long time, no
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I just read the previous poster's posting. I don't know if I agree with that. I have to admit that I'm prejudiced and like Samover a lot (I was one of the people who discovered it, just after they... More

I just read the previous poster's posting. I don't know if I agree with that. I have to admit that I'm prejudiced and like Samover a lot (I was one of the people who discovered it, just after they opened). As somebody who has been to many restaurants and cofes and have to wait to get a seat, I appreciate the staff clearing tables moving on those people who just sit there for ages and use their laptop or take up a table. If you go there during the week or in the morning, it;s definately more quiet and you can sit there all day. Pros: Amazing tea selection, Very helpful staff
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