Tea Lounge

I am a big fan of puerh tea. Between my hectic schedule and living in Brooklyn, I do not have time to travel to Manhattan to make purchases. Therefore, my only recourse was to spend additional money in shipping fees. While surfing the internet, I was elated when I found the Tea Lounge carried puerh tea. In an effort to avoid the hassle of limited parking in Park Slope, I decided to go early on a Saturday morning and make a very large purchase. When I entered the Tea Lounge at 9:30 in the morning, I greeted the young male employee with a hearty ""Good Morning"". To my surprise, the young man responded with a slight sarcastic ""How can I help you?"" almost as if I was interrupting whatever he was attending to. I inquired about the puerh tea and he looked at me as if I was speaking a foreign language. I politely repeated the same thing a second time and it was obvious the young man was clueless. His response was "" If you JUST give me a minute you can look at the tea menu."" I was completely baffled by his curt disposition. The place was empty and in no way was I in the least bit inpatient. He went behind the counter and gave me a menu. To my dismay, puerh tea was listed on the website but a black line was drawn through it on the menu. His action and expression indicated he worked in an establishment that sold tea yet, he was not familiar with the products listed on the Tea Lounge website. In addition,I got the distinct impression puerh tea was something he never heard of. One would think he would at least be able to inform patrons that puerh tea was no longer available as opposed to appearing totally clueless. I did not want to to walk away empty handed so I decided to inquire about the two different types of Oolong tea, listed on the menu. He responded in a smug manner to my question with ""I Wouldn' t Know."" With all the attitude I had to put up with from this ill manned employee, I realized I was much better off taking my business elsewhere. more

I think that the Tea Lounge is excellent for working and having a snack. You walk in and it's practically the epitome of tranquility. I love it. The only negative is that the bands are loud and sometimes they serve as a distraction, more

They called me a drunk and asked me toooooooooo leave. I didn't even have one drink I was 100% sober, I had a cold. I curse this place more

On 10/23/09 I took my kids to the Tea Lounge to hear some live children's music. I don't frequent the Tea Lounge often since it seems to be suffering from some form of identity crisis - a baffling dissonance of openly irked young professionals trying madly to focus on their laptops while the place is overrun with kids in the afternoons. In any case, the place was hopping today with buoyant 4 and 5-year olds who came to hear the band. At some point my daughters and one of their friends went to the bathroom. After a while, I heard them laughing and carrying on a bit loudly, so I looked in on them. My daughter was still mid potty break, and the others were standing by, waiting their turn. A highly miffed employee appeared and said that only one person at a time was allowed in the bathroom. I tried to alter the tone of this meeting by making pleasantries, but he was in no mood (I somehow doubt he ever is), and only repeated the demand for one person in the bathroom. I asked all the girls (except for my daughter, mid potty break) to leave the bathroom, and stationed myself outside the door. At that point I noticed that the door was locked, and asked the man if my daughter would be able to open the door from the inside. Sarcastically he replied, ""It locks from the inside, so I doubt it."" I pointed out tactfully (as I was more alarmed than anything else at this point) that he told me that all but one person was allowed, and he snapped, ""I didn't mean YOU - you're her mother, you should be in there with her."" I replied that as my daughter was almost five and often wanted her privacy, it wasn't uncommon for me to wait directly outside a bathroom for her, and how could I have known the door would lock automatically? ""ALL doors lock automatically,"" was his inane reply. Ignoring this extravagant absurdity, I asked him what the plan was when my daughter inevitably tried for the door and it wouldn't give. He made no reply and walked away. My daughter started shaking the doorknob and crying out for help, and I tried to calm her while attempting (unsuccessfully) to get someone's attention from the counter. Finally this same man returned, and tried to jimmy the door with a credit card-like device. It didn't work, and as my 4-year old became more upset, he had the unbelievable audacity to say, in as sarcastic and irreverent manner as possible, ""Yes, yes, it's terrible isn't it? How awful, I know...how tragic."" I was too stunned to speak. After his efforts to unlock the door had failed, he left again without saying a word. I calmed my daughter and someone else returned, also attempting to jimmy the door with a card. I told him what had happened from the outset, and he informed me that he was the Manager and assured me that he'd ""take care of it."" Moments later, I saw him with the other man behind the counter, sharing a laugh. I wonder if the owners of the Tea Lounge endorse their employees making sarcastic reference to Park Slope parents, sneering at and attempting to intimidate their patrons, then going so far as to mock a small child who is hysterical because they're stuck in a bathroom that ""locks automatically""? For a place that is supposedly kid-friendly, it's immensely chancy to have a bathroom door that locks automatically, and perhaps even poses a fire hazard. It's equally irresponsible to hire someone as openly insolent and antagonistic towards parents and kids, in an establishment reputable for catering to both. Management was equally dismissive and flip. I can't imagine why parents frequent this place, but for a hyped up reputation for being kid-friendly, which it most decidedly is not. more

Tea Lounge is anice place but unfortunately it is too loud. The music is very disturbing. If you ask politely, they WILL NOT turn it down! AND THERE IS NOTHING TO DO ABOUT IT??? more

i went to Tea Lounge tonight, and frankly, i don't write reviews but the experience was so bizarre that I feel inclined to share my experience. My friends and i stopped in for a tea and maybe some dessert, they were accommodating, not overly friendly, but 'fine'. The place was interesting....however, the music kept getting louder and louder, so much so that my friend jokingly made a high pitch sound cause it was the only way to cut through the loud music. Before one of us could get up to politely ask them to turn down the music, some annoying guy who worked here reprimanded my friend for being too loud, explaining that he had 'worked a fourteen hour shift and the high pitched noises needed to stop'. Granted, I can imagine it may have been slightly over the top, however, it wasn't like my friend was being excessively loud, especially the with the loud music they were playing. His behavior was completely inappropriate and bitchy.....it's a shame that a place that has everything going for it has such rude employees. Having read previous reviews of this place, it seems like this man probably wrote one of the reviews about customers who don't tip and are 'not appreciative' of the staff.....well, sounds like he needs to move on and get a better job that pays more, and stop taking out his frustrations on the customers. I would not go back there again....... more

Every single person in this sprawling cafe has a laptop. Their screen is displaying either a word document or blog page. A den of creativity or a complete farce? I can't tell at this point but I'm pretty sure admission to this ridiculous scene costs some money, $3 for a small iced coffee? Outrageous. The place exudes the family oriented Park Slope neighborhood. One of the restroom doors has a ""diaper changing station"" sign scribbled in crayon. A pack of young mothers sit next to the entrance with their infants, they breast feed and trade mothering tips. Suburban hell. They do have a good musical taste. Maybe I can steal some energy from these busy bees... Are they really busy? more

To everyone badmouthing the tea lounge,\r \r I just want to say (and clarify) a few things...\r \r I work there for one. Maybe you all should think about why the employees are disgruntled....we bust our asses and you people NEVER tip. Quite frankly, you think we're rude, but you're rude for never tipping us. We stand on our feet for 10 hour shifts, cleaning up your garbage that you're too lazy to bring up to the counter when you're done with it (we do not wait tables, it's a counter service establishment), and it's really unfair that after crafting your beverages to your liking, most of you don't have the decency to throw some money in the tip jar. After a while, we lose patience, and we lose the urge to keep smiling when we get treated like dirt the majority of the time. I can't account for every customer, because there are some really nice people the come in and strike up conversations with us, who DO tip, however, we're overworked and underpaid. \r \r The Tea Lounge is an amazing place that is accommodating to the likes of many different types of people. My coworkers are ALL very intellectual and talented people who all have day jobs or school careers aside from working at the Tea Lounge. Maybe if you stopped to talk to some of them, you'd see that we're just trying to make ends meat just like everyone else, and if you were a wee bit nicer about your orders, or believed in gratuity, then you'd understand where we were coming from. Oh, and in regards to the vacuum comment, rest assured that we clean our little asses off every night. It's not our fault that the place is so trafficked, it get's dirty from the influx of people constantly moving in and out. \r \r Thanks. more

The best time to visit here is in the night. No babies or yuppy mom's. Most nights of the week they have jazzz music, or a film screening. The bar is nice, cause it doesn't have the depressing funk many bars have. The bar itself isn't huge, but you can always grab a couch or a table to sit at too. It's also good if you want to chat with your friends or significant other, rather than shout. They have a great list of specialty tea lounge cocktails. Try the mojito. Happy hour beers are around $2.\r I found the barista staff is friendly if you treat them like people. A little jaded by poor tippers and long hours, but after talking to them they're supper nice and enjoy the regulars and the newbies alike. The essence of this place is comfort. It's a place you can relax and be real. People are friendly and it's a good place to meet new friends or hang with the ones you have. Good ambiance and healthy atmosphere. Excellent place to people watch, write/read, socialize, and have a few quality drinks. \r Pros: Atmosphere, Bar, Nightlife Cons: Babies in the day more

I almost vomitted the other day when I walked through the door of Tea Lounge and ran into a wall of baby diaper stench so thick, I gave up on ever going there again. I used to attempt to study there and long since gave up on that because a dude sat next to me, took of his shoes and started playing the harmonica and a un clothed baby tripped over my foot and started wailing hysterically until it's horrible obnoxious mother finally tore herself from her embarassing monologue about pregnate yoga, which everyone heard every word of because she has no decorum, long enough to grab her poor, poor child. Other than that, the staff has no sense of urgency and seems to be moving under water. Not that I expect a lot but just a timely and honest exchange of money and coffee would be good. Also, the bakery case appears to have skid marks from all the clueless mothers who sit their babies on top of it. Pros: used to be the coffee but no more Cons: atmosphere, service more

Ugh. Tons of toddlers running around while their mothers pay no attention. (Will I become one of them too?) Unpleasant baristas, sneering, eye rolling, etc...I hate this place, and don't understand what everyone loves about it. Expensive, ugly, rude. Pros: lots of bare breasts Cons: rude service, dirty, uncomfortable seating, more

Too many kids here... It's a mother's morning out program, not a coffee shop. If you don't mind the screeching, it's a nice chill place to study, but all the strollers, fussy babies and children get old after a while.\r The coffee is good and so is the food, but it could be cleaner. I come here because I can hang out for hours without being bothered to buy more food or coffee. It's a nice spot for that. more

After spending a lot of time hanging out here for a couple of years, I've come up with a list of positives and negatives for their Union St. location:\r \r 1. The free WiFi is nice, but attracts so many laptoppers that it can be quite slow, and yes, it does tend to turn people into non-communicative zombies.\r \r 2. I have never had anything other than very good coffee beverages and tasty food there. Other than the cheap beer and wine during the daily 5-7 happy hour, however, you're certainly paying enough for it.\r \r 3. It's great for people-watching, but you need to be VERY tolerant of the stroller/breastfeeding mob, children in general, and a LOT of public displays of affection, many of them between lesbian or gay couples.\r \r 3. The baristas do bus the tables periodically, but their approach to chair and couch cleanliness is to just let them get dirtier and more damaged until they're unusable and then buy new ones. It'd be nice if they actually vacuumed them even once a week.\r \r 4. The bands that play are frequently awful, and the music that is cranked very loudly can be extremely repetitive and inevitably will play lots of something you hate if you stay long enough.\r \r 5. Some of the baristas and bartenders (when the bar is open) have serious attitude. Not surliness but what I'd call loudly broadcasting their part in their little subculture(s). I can deal; some people can't.\r \r 6. The bar just sits there untended if the bartender isn't there as none of the baristas will deign to serve alcohol as they ""don't know how"". While I can understand it not operating on weekdays until the 5pm happy hour opening, it can get really annoying on weekends. How much does it take to pour a beer or glass of wine or spirits?\r \r 7. It can get unbearably crowded.\r \r Still worth visiting, but not for everyone. Pros: Tasty food and beverages, lots of people to watch Cons: Not to everyone's tastes, can be crowded, dirty seating more

I love to study here on a Sunday afternoon, at the big family-style table, sipping tea and snacking on homemade vittles. They have live music some nights, movies other nights ... it's a great place to be. more

The Tea Lounge is a perfect example of a great location, and incredible potential, but the place has probably the worst coffee - I would rate it alongside - deli style $1.00 Blend. Suggestions: Get some real coffee!. Bad Salvation Army style furniture - can be cool, but have some sense of style please, its dirty. Board of Health should really close your bathrooms- they are disgusting! Does the mens room normally convert to baby table bathrooms! I also am a victim of a rude waitress - telling me to nicely move from sitting in your coveted ""massage chair"" Either you make this the official policy for all, or you get over your high horse, people certainly would not pay to sit in a massage chair especially in your location. Is this a joke. Or maybe your hard up for those quarters. Really great location, but put some effort and elbow grease, and stop banking on your perfect location. People are talking! Cons: Bad Coffee and Unsanitary more

it's huge, and there's a table in the back if you really need to do some work on your laptop instead of just surfing myspace... the breast feeding seems to end around 3PM, but for some reason they keep playing Grateful dead bootleg tapes all afternoon into the evening... I like real country music and bluegrass, I don't need the Dead to filter it and sanitize it for me, please play something else! also the wifi can be sporadic more

Tea Lounge is great in some areas and AWFUL in others. It's great because....it's convenient. Location, location, location. It's easy to get to via the Q, 2/3 or R train. And, it's big- although, that can also be a drawback. Sometimes you have to search to actually find a seat. And, you also have to wait in line sometimes more than five minutes to order before you wait to find a seat. \r \r And, Tea Lounge is NOT so great because even IF you do get a seat, the seats are in absolutely disarray! The couches and seats are literally ripped-up. WHY don't they buy or get new furniture!? Sometimes, you just want a clean chair to sit on if you're paying $4 for a cup of tea. Is that too much to ask for?! \r \r The bathrooms are also in a state of uncleanliness- the soap dispensers aren't even attached to the wall. Now, maybe the management is expecting to do a major cleaning job, but I get the feeling that isn't happening anytime soon and if so, they are thinking about it far too infrequently. Dare I ask if perhaps the food and tea is under the same uncleanly conditions. \r \r They've got to be doing well in their business, and, so why don't they keep it clean?! It's sort of a disrepect back to the patrons. They've got a lot of hip, young workers there and sometimes they actually bus your table, but they don't clean it or the area. \r \r If you can stomach the crumbs galore on your table or seat when you actually sit down, or if you don't fall through the seat if you actually get one, and if you can handle the crowd of crying babies (different times of the day on that one) and can actually get through the door if the strollers are inside, then you might, just might find a little peace of mind for an hour or two, but that might is becoming too iffy for this neighborhood joint. They've got to get it together! Pros: Convenient, big space, good food Cons: MESSY and DIRTY- poor ambience, loud, disgusting furniture and bathrooms more

I understand why many Brooklyn coffee shops are reluctant to instal Wi-Fi: discourages conversation, creates a bunch of typing zombies, table hogs, etc. But Tea Lounge seems like a perfect candidate. It is huge, it is over-run with children--which makes it a lousy place to mingle--and the massive shortage of tables forces everyone to put their laptop in their lap. While I share the other reviewer's feeling that the place is a bit too kid friendly, I would go in a heartbeat if they would get some connectivity. Pros: Good Drinks Cons: Children, Babies, Parents more

I want to love this place, I really do. The food and drink selection is great, with lots of tasty pastries, interesting martini concoctions, and a wide variety of teas and coffees. The decor is funky and worn, like your favorite coffee shop in college. However, my favorite college coffee shop didn't have baby strollers bumper to bumper. I sympathize with parents, but at the same time, I hate getting shut out of a coffee shop because I can't wade through the strollers to get to a table. The other (original) location on 7th Avenue is smaller but more childless-friendly. Pros: selection, decor Cons: stroller traffic more

While the Tea Lounge (on Union) gets crowded during the day with babies, etc, but it's still a great place to be. Lively yet pleasant loung-y music, lots of comfy couches, and treats from lattes to toasties (my favorite!) -- little smushed grilled cheese sandwiches. It's a great place to meet up with friends, catch-up on your people-watching, and play a game of chess on the giant board. Don't go there counting on it being empty, though. It's a popular place, but that's part of the beauty of the tea lounge. Also try a smoothy. Good stuff. Pros: casual / comfortable, inexpensive, lively Cons: , can be overcrowded more