Credit cards
Yes
Tea & Sympathy in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Payments
Phone: +1 212-989-9735
Site: http://www.teaandsympathy.com/
Site: http://www.teaandsympathy.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:11AM–9PM
- Tuesday:11AM–9PM
- Wednesday:11AM–9PM
- Thursday:11AM–9PM
- Friday:11AM–9PM
- Saturday:9:30AM–9PM
- Sunday:9:30AM–9PM
Comments (199)
Lovely place that fulfils all your sentimental memories, pies, cakes and tea galore. All the staff are beyond sweet, especially Carol is a gem!We had the steak & ale pie, sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble.
The ambiance is very on point; I felt like traveling to England instead of being in NYC anymore. It was cold, and by the time I finished my tea set, my hands were numb. Although I made a reservation for indoor, they put our outdoor seats.The price is fair, but you can have better tea and food at other restaurants. The sponge cake was dried up, and the sandwiches were nothing impressive.
I’m an English born, American raised, son of two Scottish parents. Naturally, I had to come check this place out. When I came I brought the big guns too. I brought my Scottish parents. I also brought my Australian girlfriend. Australia is sort of British so one could argue she’s a big gun as well. The Union Jack is in their flag => 🇦🇺. See? There’s a long history there which I won’t be explaining here. Something about British criminals being exported. Anyway, back to Tea & Sympathy. Summary from all parties was that this place checks out. We had all kinds of dishes: steak pie, fish n’ chips, English breakfast, etc. However, the award for best dish goes to a niche Scottish staple. The deep fried Mars bar. I have heard about these many times before and this was the first time I tried it. It was great and major props for having it on the menu. If you do come, make sure to check out the British shop next door. IRNBRU being a favorite.
Absolutely love this place! The food is always spot on! The vibe is amazing! And the shop next door full of British candies is everything!
Had the English breakfast and really enjoyed the tea experience. Food meets the mark. The inside was slightly cramped and a little cold due to the open door
This was a fun stop during my NYC trip, especially during the Platinum Jubilee Weekend.👸 A nice hot pot of tea, scones made for a great British experience all around! 🇬🇧
Best scones and English tea service in NYC!! I love this place and a few friends from England have actually told me this is the most authentic afternoon tea they’ve had in America. Definitely worth a visit and once you go, you’re going to want to plan your next trip back. Perfect scones with clotted cream and jam, writing about them is making my mouth water. A great tea selection as well, as expected, and the place itself is relatively small, but has so much charm with its mismatched tea sets and cozy ambience. One of my favorite places in the city.
Everything was perfect. The Irish server was so nice and attentive. Will visit here whenever I miss 🇬🇧! :-)
It was an absolutely marvelous Spring day to enjoy a pot of Rosebud Tea, a plate of light and feathery scones with clotted cream and jam and introducing my new friend Zhen to the delights of Afternoon Tea. Hes a fan of the Peas and Shepherds Pie 🥧.
The food is unreal, true English breakfast foods and meals. The afternoon tea is worth its weight in silver. Excellent people, food and environment.Not far from New York Penn either, we’ll within walking distance.The coronation chicken melt is a must have if it’s your first time.
Wonderful place with great quality tea and generous portions. The owner is a delight. This was a great place to spend my birthday with friends!
Dined here for a work gathering. It was a beautiful day so we asked to sit outside. Their build out in front is a nice setup! You can order off of their menu and the chip shop next door (also owned by the). I had the lemon drizzle cake, English breakfast tea, and an order of cod. A bit of a mix but it was so good I wanted try everything!
Come hungry. Seriously, if you are like me and have a small stomach, do not underestimate the generosity of the serving levels here. 🤣 You may not be ready.Lovely crew running this spot. Dont be fooled by the looks. The proof is ...(pardon the pun) ... In the pudding.
It was an overcast weekend day when I came. From what I understood from acquaintances who lived in the United Kingdom this is the typical weather in the summer over there. I suppose I got to experience being in Great Britain without traveling across the pond. It was busy but I was able to get a seat.I ordered an Earl Gray and for the first time in my life my tea came with a strainer. I soon found out that the tea was brewed without a filter. Nonetheless the Earl Grey was good with cream. It was rather reminiscent of bodh-cha (Tibetan Buttered Tea).One has to be careful when ordering something like Steak & Guinness pie. The contents are hot inside and I nearly burned my mouth.If you are hoping have a quick meal and Brexit(I couldnt resist) this is not the place to do it. However if you want to enjoy your day people watching with a hearty meal grab yourself a seat here if you can.
The outside shelter was simple, but the service was very good. Excellent spot for tea and conversation for two-three people. Not intended to be a health food spot (though tea is good for you and they have an extensive variety of black and herbal teas)- the food is what I would say is beautifully straightforward ingredients...butter, sugar, flour, etc. ...and British classics. Bring your appetite! Vegetarian sandwiches are available (Id skip if youre vegan or strict gluten free).Honestly I think the tea for two could have easily fed four; while thats a no no, you can doggie bag the leftovers (whew). Will be back when I next have a special occasion and hopefully well check out the cute little shop they have there too!
Absolutely awesome place! I had tea and beer! We had sternum tea but there was what seemed like an endless amount of awesomeness between the 2 menus to comeback and try. Oh and the staff was just amazing and fun. Kudos to the team working today that kept track of the line of people and the order they came in without a wait list.
Been coming here since childhood, love the very kind British staff, Interior design with English influence is stunning and so romantic it’s almost overwhelming! Amazing food and afternoon tea, the baked mac & cheese with peas and the scones with clotted cream are my go-to! Love Nikki and Sean the owners and the shops next door as well!
Nice cozy spot for British food. Sunday roast is always good.
The finger foods are actually very filling and so tasty.Love that I could get a tea refill at no extra charge!
No Tea and Absolutely no Sympathy would be a more apt name: The female server/host (on Saturday evening) was extremely rude and sarcastic to the point that we left without being even seated. Ive eaten here before and the food is nowhere near good enough to justify putting up with that kind of attitude. Also, as others have mentioned the name is Very misleading, this is NOT a tea room where youll be allowed to simply have tea with light snacks, they insist that you order food. That said, the scones and the man who sells them next door are lovely, take them to go!
The restaurant gives the vibe of a welcoming British Inn. The Earl Grey with a Welsh rarebit is a must!
I’ve lived in NYC for 10 years and this was the worst dining experience of my life. I love afternoon tea so wanted to try it here. The food was inedible. However, worst of all, was my waitress. She brought us teapots without tea cups and then we had to wait 15 minutes for the cups. The tea strainers were dirty! When I told her she scoffed at me and argued. The service was terrible.
Better than ever! A go-to spot for comfort food. The Treacle Pudding fixes any heartache for at least a few hours. There is more room here now thanks to the outside seating, and familiar faces are emerging post-pandemic.
A New York staple. Ive been coming here for years. You can go all out with a celebratory tea service, or just stop by for a pot of tea and a sandwich to soak in the atmosphere (an inexpensive option I highly recommend). The staff are always kind and the food is delicious. Their selection of tea is unparalleled.
My sister in NY send me a gift box she had T&S create and send to me. It was great! She knows I’m the biggest Anglophile on earth would just love it. The toffees and creams were delicious. Hopefully the next time I’m up from SoFla and out on Long Island we can B go visit T&S in person. Check them out. 😊
A wonderful spot for a delicious afternoon tea. Indoors is tight but cozy and the outdoor patio space is beautifully decorated and a bit quieter. We got an afternoon tea for two. The sandwiches and desserts were all delicious. The scones were particularly delightful.
Such a nice outdoor dining experience. Will have to come back for tea time, but we have a wide assortment and a lot of great food. Chicken sandwich, Mac and cheese, yummy teas. Personally don’t need that many peas lol but otherwise a very enjoyable day!
This authentic British, longtime mainstay has any number of fans, including Hollywood stars. Homemade cooking made with love. Service is friendly & professional. It always brings me back to England again! This place deserves nothing but the highest rating. Long live the queen! ☕️
I love this place, and now that they have additional seating outdoors its easier to get a table. Kids, and adults too, will have about the mac and cheese. Other standouts are the shepherds pie, full English breakfast, and the afternoon tea. Head next door for some English goods to carry out.
This is my 3rd trip to Tea & Sympathy. I found it to be a very well stocked store. I went there to buy a teapot for a friends birthday & wound up buying a mug, short breads & a large assortment of teas. They even provided packing & shipping. Wonderful & knowledgeable staff.I came back a 2nd time to buy some shortbreads for myself. They are just the perfect size for tea service & snacking.For the 3rd time, I came back as the teapot on arrival to my friend was broken. So I needed to find out if it could be replaced. I showed the pictures of the broken item & they gladly will replace it, pack &,ship it to her again with no charge to me.What a fabulous customer service. I will be notified by email when it will be sent out.When I finished, I went next door to there Fish & Chips cafe & selected The Bites. Very flavorful & portion was sizable. Yum yum!!!I will definitely head back down to shop here again. I highly recommend themThey have takeout & outdoor seating!!
Lovely place for tea time. The royal tea time is worth the price of admission. The sandwich section is lovely and their scones are nice and fluffy. They even have a neat souvenir shop where you can get great British treats and teas.
Nice for afternoon high tea.Great menu! And nice staff.
Very authentic! The inside space is very small unfortunately which made us feel cramped. Nothing they can do because NYC “space” is so precious.Regardless, food was great, staff was exceptionally friendly. Great trip.
Tea & Sympathy doesn’t seem to fit as a name for this place. More like tea and Hostility - which is what my mom and I experienced while there today. They took one look at us and I and decided we weren’t the kind of clientele they wanted at their establishment and made sure we felt their disdain for us with every single passive aggressive word and look they offered. Though they treated us this way, we remained calm and pleasant until the very end. Why allow other people’s misery to affect your vibe?Let’s start by the way they greeted us:“Are you both going to eat? Because the policy is that both of you need to eat if you’re going to be here.”Not “hello, welcome! How are you? There are a few different options, would you like to hear what our 2 establishments offer?”(They share service with “A Salt and Battery next door which is where we wanted to order from and were instructed by to sit and order from them)I literally had to enumerate my entire order intention before they even decided to reluctantly take it.I explained- My mom does not eat full meals. She never orders her own dish. We were hoping to share a main, get coffees, desert and leave a good tip. It’s what we usually do. But we weren’t even given the opportunity to before it was decided we were a nuisance and not worth the trouble.Mind you - it was noon, the place was pretty much empty inside and we were sitting outside in the street seating area which aside from us and another table, was empty too.I would understand if they are swamped and we come in with our measly requests, by all means- tell us to buzz off. You need the tables for people who are going to make you more money.But an empty restaurant inside and out?The interactions with the waitstaff were uncomfortable. They made us feel so unwelcomed that we thought twice before asking for anything.At one point I wanted some lime (or lemon obviously) for my fish and chips and the response was so snide that my mom (who doesn’t speak English) asked me “what did she say to you? I can tell she’s not being pleasant. Is everything ok?”“We don’t have lime… we literally do not have lime on our menu.” As she walked away. I flagged her down again to ask if she instead had lemon. She responded (as she rolled her eyes) “that’s not what you asked! You asked for lime. We do have lemons.”At another point I asked to see the dessert menu and this lady literally took a large chalkboard menu and sat it down on the empty seat next to me. And walked away.By this time mom and I had had enough. It was more than obvious our presence was unwanted.I asked for the check. The first server who “greeted us” reminded me that their policy was that we needed to both order food and mid-sentence I stopped him and told him “and you know what? We had every intention of ordering more food to go, Dessert, coffee … but Your service has been terrible and we just really want to leave.” He responded “wonderful. Don’t bother coming back.”No worries….I wouldn’t come back if you paid me.
I LOVE their Rhubarb crumble & Ginger cake. The Rhubarb crumble was nice and tart, and not too sweet. The Ginger cake had a strong ginger flavor and a good moist, chewy texture.
I came here for some comforting British food, and enjoyed every bite. It was quite popular on a Sunday but the staff were kind and apologetic that things were running a little behind for our reservation.It was a chilly day in January so we had some tea, spaghetti on toast, pies and mash (steaks and Guinness, and chicken and vegetables), and a sudden of beans and bacon. The warm hearty food really hit the spot, things of flavor in both pies.The COVID outdoor seating was solid. Warm but properly ventilated, with overhead heaters and spaced out tables. The staff were in masks 24/7.
Oozing charm, its the best place in New York for proper but un-fussy tea. The rhubarb crumble is divine under a puddle of traditional pouring custard. You really cant go wrong with any of their menu items.
The outdoor seating/menu was combined with the restaurant next door, a salt and battery, hence the fish and chips in the photo. Their black currant tea is delicious! Service was super nice and quick. For outdoor seating it was cozy. Will definitely come back for more :)
Its a quirky taste of the UK in New York. The food and tea are both excellent, especially the salad which has a brilliant meat to salad ratio for those meat lovers out there :)Oh and do ask the staff if you dont know why Nobby has a bell on his hood.
Came for the afternoon tea service, and it was great. Cozy shop without a lot of room, but comfortable once you sit down. Cucumber, egg, chicken, and tuna salad sandwiches were all really good. Biscuits were okay with butter and jelly, but not amazing. Cakes were fantastic. Would definitely come again.
Sitting in the restaurant right now. It took an hour for my wife to get her meal. The staff said the oven was broken but several other oven dishes were served to customers seated after we ordered. Fish and chips were good. Don’t eat here if you want anything on time.😡
Great little place with a lovely English breakfast. As a Brit I was dying for a good cup of tea after a weeks stay in the US and they provided a great brew! Staff are lovely, ask the owner to tell you the joke about Noddy (if you’re not easily offended)!
Me and my Uncle had traveled to the city from out of town. I very much wanted to have a British breakfast. Our reception to the restaurant was very warm and welcoming.Rhe food was very delicious….and service was excellent
Pretty good for the price! Ive never felt full from tea time because the portions are so small. This is the first time where I felt full and had leftover food! My friend and I came here one weekend for afternoon tea. The service was okay, we didnt feel rushed or anything. Then again, there was no wait when we were there so there was no need to rush us. We ordered the earl grey and vanilla green teas. Both were absolutely tasty! I highly recommend getting either of them. The tea sandwiches were okay - nothing to rave about. The scones and clotted cream were delicious, I had way too much. The desserts were amazing too. The Victoria sponge was perfect, the strawberry cupcake was surprisingly moist and the strawberry buttercream was flavorful and had fresh strawberries in it. Would definitely recommend coming here for tea time if youre looking for delicious teas and something filling.
I read about financial woes and raising rent affecting Tea & Sympathy, so I wanted to pop by in case it wasn’t around much longer. I found the Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie (shiitake, portobello, and button mushrooms) filling but bland. The atmosphere, however, did seem authentically English as nearly every guest had an unmistakable accent.Edit: I went back a second time and wish to underscore my original review. Bland but filling. This time I tried the pastries which somewhat redeemed the experience.FYI: There’s a discount for paying in cash.
Fabulous brunch. Best tea. A beautiful place. Owner is so friendly. Nicky. She greetedme outside as I was walking by. I decided to try it. So relaxing and wonderful. A great experience.i look forward to coming back. Many diners knew her. I had great service. It is small and cozy. Beautiful atmosphere. Lovely decorations. Teapots are so pretty and unique. My waited A recommended the tea. I am sure the coffee is also as excellent since I saw the owner drinkI g coffee. I had vegetables with my breakfast. The mushrooms were delicious and plentiful. Toast was perfect. I came alone and I noticed others solo. Couples also enjoyed the ambience. Good deserts also available. Good deal on a quality time spent here!
A small place with limited number of tables, sure. However, what a great experience. You can feel the authenticity in every little detail, from the tee pot to the cup to the tea. The menu is so versatile, that can accommodate different people for different time of the day. You find a very tasty delicious vegetarian options in the menu as well. The mushroom shepherds pie was amazing. This place definitely worth the trip.
Ordered the Lentil Shepherd Pie. There are a couple other plant based food items on the menu (hallelujah!) so I will be back to try them one day, and by the time Im back, maybe theyll have created some more vegan options/alternatives. Delicious Tea. Cozy mini-cottage atmosphere. Phenomenal dessert. Great service. :)
Tea and Sympathy is a beautifully quaint restaurant offering a wide variety of teas for each customer to drink with their own adorable teapot. The lunch menu includes a nice variety of casseroles, sandwiches, salads and British specialties. Service is superb, even with the restaurant completely full. The shop next door sells tea, teapots, cups and saucers and popular British groceries. A must for locals and their visiting friends.
I really wanted to like this place so much. Honestly, I did. It’s pretty overpriced for what you get and the food itself is average at best. Came here for the Sunday Roast - it’s perfect for sharing between two people if you want to get dessert (this place’s saving grace) after for $36 plus tax and tip set us back about $42 for this. The desserts were also pretty steep - cakes are $8.50 a slice. There’s also a rule where you must order one item each - so if you share a Sunday Roast, they expect you to order more menu items. Lastly, the food is overall bland which might explain the jars of salt, pepper and sugar on the tables. I hope this place does stay open because of all the history and fame it has had since the 90s, but I’d definitely only go again if they lowered their prices by even half - that, or made the food taste as though it were worth the prices on the menu. Also, the menu needs updating - it suggests tip “for the girls” - it’s 2019, let’s do better.
Great English breakfast. Ive been missing a good English breakfast experience ever since my trip to London and this place absolutely delivers. The portion was huge for a great price. I couldnt help myself and started eating before I remembered to take a picture. The beans and mushrooms arent included and you have to pay extra and the mushrooms were unseasoned.
Mainstay of (a greatly-diminished) Little England on Greenwich for decades, and with the large outdoor seating structure, busier than ever. T&S does a great Coronation Chicken, flavorful and plentiful, and of course the fish and chips are perfect - the cod or haddock is not greasy, not shatteringly crispy, and accompanied by well-cooked chips. Its hard to go wrong, although I question any person who orders salmon and chips. The curry sauce add-on is key for dipping. The beer list is limited but with a Fullers or two available its up to the task.T&S also do up high tea with all sorts of sandwiches and pastries if thats your thing, or simply order a pot for lunch and linger a while.Service tends to be a little understaffed, and the inside is rather cramped. Patience is a virtue! Theyre unfailingly friendly and things tend to work out fine in my experience. Visit Carry On next door for your English pantry needs, too!
First experience was brunch and the food was delicious and hot. My pasty was delightful and mashed potatoes were deliciously decadent. We had scones for dessert and they were heavenly. On our second visit it was during a weeknight for dinner and we brought a friend along to show him this awesome spot because we had such a great experience first time. I ordered the same thing a pasty with mashed potatoes and it wasnt bad, but I could definitely tell there was a different cook or something that night. And our scones were hard and cold. We were convincing our friend that they were much better last time we were there. Well definitely visit again and hope that it was just an off night.
Theres a magic portal in front of this shop and it transports you to London. Absolutely fantastic in every way. Tea time, shepherds pie, sticky toffee pudding. Perfection. Please never change.
It was good experience & we even saw Patty Lupone coming out of the restaurant as we were going in. I had a dark beer, fish & chips plus a scone. And a great conversation with my friend. Good service. Its tiny inside but its fantastic being there on a weekday late afternoon.
Went with a reservation for my birthday. Had the champagne tea service. Waitress was lovely. Food was great. Especially enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding cupcake.
Absolutely love this cozy little British cafe!! The food was just delicious and the service wonderful! My friends and I had a wonderful time and will most definitely be coming back!! The owner is one hell of a hoot, she had us laughing the moment we walked in. Im such an Anglophile and loved the atmosphere; felt like I was back in London!! Highly recommend stopping in if youre peckish and looking for a quick bite to eat or want a whole afternoon with tea.
As delicious as the food was, I’d like to highlight the service of the staff. The ladies were completely delightful and so kind. I will be back for them alone.
Last Sunday had lunch at Tea & Sympathy. Tasty Tomato Soup then a huge delicious Coronation Chicken Melt.The down-side was that the heaters were not effective enough in the outdoor dining area.
Love the food, service and atmosphere! This was a very enjoyable experience, I would definitely go back and have their afternoon tea again. Pastries were fresh, sandwiches were well balanced and the tea was delightful.
Its taken me 13 days of NYC to finally find somewhere that has earnt a review from me.Terri is 1st class .. to quote when everywhere re opened after covid , the standards dropped and they let Irish people apply for jobs 😜🤣.Love this place . Wish Id found it sooner.A******
I love it here! The food is fabulous, the staff is a delight and I am very fond of all the extremely necessary rules. I come here from breakfast as frequently as my schedule allows.
Im very satisfied with the traditional English scone as it’s buttery and fluffy taste is making me melt!However, the British breakfast was disappointing because of missing multiple ingredients! I didn’t try the tea set but they look good and I have to come back and try it out yummmm
Went there first thing on Wednesday and loved it. However, prices are not exact. Afternoon tea is listed at $38 in restaurant but after taxes and 20% tip its around $50. Bring cash to not get the credit fee. It is tiny so be aware you cant just relax and maybe have to leave to accommodate others. Second day I discovered porridge is only a weekend dish and was very disappointed because I had yet to try it, but after only ordering scones and tea I feel I annoyed my waitress being 3:45 pm. Also my tea pot was quite messy with grounds on the outside of the pot. Minor complaint, just sloppy.
Simply the best place for afternoon tea in NYC. Try to go on a random weekday to have the place to yourself! Way more food than the two of us could eat over the course of multiple hours so prepare to bring some home.
My all time favorite place to eat! My family and I have been coming for years. The owners and staff are kind and attentive, this place truly feels like home.Be sure to visit all 3 shops!
I finally got around to check the place out! And I had a really wholesome time on my solo brunch. Thank you for making my experience memorable! :)
Surprisingly underwhelming :-(A single teabag in a two-person pot made for miserably weak tea!To make matters worse, it was served with a totally unnecessary tea strainer. I have no objection to the use of teabags as they are a perfectly good way of making tea if you use enough for the size of the pot. My frustration was with the pretense -- why try to give the impression you are using loose leaf tea when you are not?
A really tiny restaurant with great afternoon tea. I might have preferred some smaller desserts (so much food!), but it tasted wonderful. It could be a little hard to manage the hot tea with such small tables, and be prewarned that the bathroom is itty-bitty. Still, its a charming place with great food. The afternoon tea for two will run you about $68, and youll likely have leftovers (try the curry chicken sandwiches!). The server was always somewhere nearby, but didnt hassle people out despite the fact that it was pretty busy - it definitely made it nice and relaxed, but we were still able to easily get her if we needed anything.
The girls and I ordered the afternoon tea for four. We each had our own pot of tea. The chocolate vanilla tea smelled divine! It was so good that when I got home I ordered one from Amazon. Hopefully, it will be similar to the one the we had.Our order also came with two trays of tiny sandwiches, scones, and cakes. The sandwiches were amazing! My favorite was the tuna salad.
I love Tea and Sympathy! The food and the staff are always superior! Try the Sticky Toffee Pudding. It’s magnificent!
Great service! Great tea choices. I highly recommend their scones and bangers and mash. Their mushroom Shepards pie is to die for.
Fantastic. Sure the place is small and yes, get a reservation, but the charm alone makes all of this this worthwhile. The food and the tea, however, is so good that youll - look forward - to waiting outside in the rain for a few minutes if only for a warm cup of perfectly tannic tea and a slice of deliciously spiced cake drowning in subtle, creamy custard.
Lovely hidden gem. Definitely grab a spot of tea and some of the best pastries in town!
This is an authentic British-run place for authentic English food. The service can come off as brusque but its not impolite, just no-nonsense. Its extremely small, so you may be asked to move if your table is needed to accommodate a larger party. Theres no waiting list: you just wait outside until its your turn. This is not a place to linger and chat, though its my personal opinion that New Yorkers should be more aware of that in busy restaurants anyway. If you can get past the no-frills service, come here for the scones and the tea, which are excellent. I dont recommend the full afternoon tea unless youre a fan of desserts, the sandwiches are fairly average and there are too many cakes. The scones are the star.
The staff and our servers were full of attitude when we went on a weekday afternoon for tea and dessert (it wasn’t even crowded). The sticky toffee pudding is good, and the teapots are cute, but you won’t exactly feel welcomed. Also a bit cramped. Authentic I suppose?
Its a little authentic British restaurant at the heart of Manhattan.Their interior is made to feel you feel nostalgic, and take you back to old Britain. They have a wide English menu with items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is a bit expensive but expected of mid Manhattan.The food is delicious and we had the Afternoon tea for one which is an assorted selection perfect for breakfast. I would recommend it to anyone visiting in Manahttan.
Best tea for two of my entire life. I cannot recommend this place more. The owners are extremely friendly, polite, and the food is absolutely exquisite. We got the sandwich and tea tray. I will come here every time I visit New York. Thank you!
If you want an “authentic” English tea experience- this is a fun spot. The food is quite good. It’s tiny so either call ahead or plan your visit for a not busy time.
A true hidden gem. Food is terrific. Tea is great. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. A must for anglophiles and expats.
Scones and tea were delicious. English breakfast was good but the eggs were slightly undercooked and the mushrooms over cooked.
I ordered treacle pudding for takeout and they gave me chocolate cake. It didn’t even taste good. The custard was disgusting. It was very overpriced as well.They also billed me a 2.23 tip to my credit card that I did not give. I will be disputing the charge.
Love coming here to have a good ole English breakfast. But the two (blonds) waiters were so rude. I was quite embarrassed. I brought a friend and she was so disappointed with the service. If you ask for something like salt /ketchup they treat you as if you are bothering them. To be honest I wish I had the option not to even give them a star. The sad thing is I have been coming here for many years and extremely disgusted today. The only good thing was the awesome food. Four ✨ Stars for the food 👍 and 0 Stars for the service 👎🏻. Word of Advice to the two blonds leave your problems at home. We have enough negative energy in the 🌎 world.
Amazing sandwiches!! I contacted Tea & Sympathy for help with a large catering order in May 2021, and they were extremely communicative and flexible in putting up with various different requests (pickup time, packaging, etc). Our guests loved them and they were the perfect picnic food. My personal favorites: the smoked salmon and the coronation chicken. Thanks again, Tea & Sympathy!
I was a little early to meet my friend for a bite and asked if I could sit and order something in the meantime. The server said she wouldnt sit me until everyone was there. I explained that we would only be two people and i would be happy to order some food and drink in the meantime. The place was pretty empty and it was freezing out and yet the woman refused to seat me. I told her that I was one person and would move to another table if necessary when my friend arrived and she called me liar and told me to leave. What terrible behavior for a place called tea and sympathy. I only recommend inviting people you don’t like to this establishment and then standing them up there.
Tea and Sympathy is the best place for afternoon tea in the city! If you are looking for authentic they are the place to be. Its not as fancy as one of the hotel teas, but the quality surpasses them. They are the only place I will go to buy scones in the city. The restaurant is quite small indoors, but with the pandemic there is now additional seating outside. The staff will not seat you without the entire party present. While you wait you can pop into their shop next door and buy some British treats to take home.
This place was adorable! First of all, there was only one server but he was attentive and on top of things. I felt bad that he was doing everything on his own but he was amazing! My friend and I did some herbal teas, chips, tea sandwiches and the toffee pudding; SO GOOD! I have never had a traditional afternoon tea experience but Tea & Sympathy was a good start.
We finally came here and was not disappointed. We got the Sunday roast. Well be back for high tea.
Delightful! Amazing outdoor dining and you can get proper British fish and chips as well as tea and homemade cakes of all kinds. No need to choose when you can have it all. Friendly and efficient waiters make it a lovely experience all round.
Very cute and one of a kind spot for an afternoon tea. Great sandwiches and a great variety of teas.
Delicious breakfast, tea is amazing and the decor including the tea pots how they serve. Amazing thank you
Great English breakfast although it doesn’t include black pudding and mushrooms. Those were added on at an additional price.
We had a lovely time. The tea, cakes and sandwiches were delish.
Vegetarian Tea for Two was amazing! Cant wait to get back and sample other menu items
This place looked so cute from the outside my friend and I doubled back to check it out!! However, I was incredibly disappointed with the service. Our waitress was so rude, in an almost exaggerated way. I also have to comment on the list of “rules” on the menu. While I agreed with most of them (tipping waiters, ordering a meal, etc) my friend is dyslexic and didn’t read the paragraph chunk of text on the menu- a fact that got her mocked and yelled at by our waitress, when honestly we just tried to put in drinks (how dare we not order a meal first thing upon sitting down) I feel like I shouldnt have to state how ableist it is to have a written list of rules on a menu and for the staff to get annoyed when someone didn’t read it in the 2 minutes after being seated. Nevertheless, we were going to give it a chance when we overhead the SAME waitress mocking the table next to us for trying to pay with cash. Overrated- no food/tea is worth the nasty service
What a lovely place for afternoon tea! The sandwiches, scones, and sweets were delicious, and so was the tea, and there are plenty of types to choose from. Lots of interesting knick knacks on the walls. There are just 4 tables inside with AC, and the smallest bathroom ever, but plenty of tables outside under covered seating.
Amazing! Great authentic and tasty food, friendly and accommodating staff. Lovely atmosphere. 5 big stars!
Passive aggressive, disinterested hostess made us uncomfortable. Ordered scones and rhubarb pie. Both were fine (frankly tainted by hostess attitude) and overpriced. We were not allowed to share a teapot despite its humongous size. Very pedantic and strange.
Save your money and skip the afternoon tea service. Its a ripoff. Very low quality finger sandwiches. They could have added a thin slice of smoked salmon or dill to the cucumber sandwiches; instead its a few thick cut slices. Canned tuna, canned chicken salad sandwiches. Scones are below average. The worst are these cupcakes and sponge cakes on top.
My favorite special treat and birthday spot in the West Village. After living in NYC for over a decade I know I can always count on this one of a kind, kitschy cute cafe when I’m missing London. If you are a fan of high tea they know how to do it right with the best scones, clotted cream & cucumber sandwiches. Also love their Shepard’s pie & perfect selection of teas served in the most unique teapots. Love!
Excellent authentic afternoon tea! The Victoria Sponge exceeded our expectations. The Bakewell Tart was delicious. The buttery scones come with clotted cream and jam. The finger sandwiches are made on homemade bread, I especially loved the cucumber and cream cheese ones.
Great food, great tea, great people. Staff is nice and friendly, very accommodating. Already talking about going back the next time we are around there to try more of the tea and great food. The shop attached has wonderful treats to take home as well including the yes you have in the restaurant. I give this place 6 stars just for the relaxing spot here in the city.
Josh & Ian are the kindest experts. Wouldn’t go anywhere else for my Rooibos blend!
‘Meat and two veg’ was the staple diet for most families in the 1950s and 1960s. The average family rarely if ever ate out. The closest most people came to eating out was in the pub. There you could get potato crisps (three flavours only – potato, plain or saltedThe British-English phrase meat and two veg denotes a dish consisting of (usually roast) meat served with two varieties of vegetable, especially when seen as typical of traditional British cooking.This kind of dinner is seen in Irish families as well and the American 1950s dinner sets. As well as the Supermarket hungry man edition of meatloaf with peas and mash potatoes.Im Asian so I go for the tea, Im so surprised and take aback by the brits here. They were very charming and polite. Its like dealing with a anglo version of a Japanese. A true gentlemen server and lady. The Tea was good and had a good deal. I got some sardines and fish bites but will be coming back for some Irish breakfast next time. When you come to Tea and Sympathy you are not going for food or tea. But you are going for British culture in terms of being polite and the 1950s style of food during the ww2 of rationing. You are traveling to Ireland and 1950s America. Mothers dinner. I hope they put some music outside though. Maybe some good UK bands between Beatles and ed Sheeran would be good. They could enlighten us. Just as suggestion though.Coming here I think of the gentlemen Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine in writing. The refined speeches before the American ethnicity was born. And of course I think of Hamilton chivalry duel as brits love chivalry. Its how politeness came to be. A very welcome edition to nyc. I feel sorry for the servers for dealing with rude nyc culture here and how cultures with a similar root went their own different ways. This country still have the 19the century anglo version of superiority complex due to being the world biggest soft power country in pop music and movies, while the brits moved on from it.
Best afternoon tea in NYC! Good deal!Great food! My favorite place,but not enough space though.
I don’t get to come here as often as I’d like, but it’s my favorite place to eat in the city and get afternoon tea service. Whenever I’m in the Village or have someone visiting from out of town I always try to come here.
Space is a little tight but service is always great and so is food. Definitely recommend the afternoon tea and steak/guiness pie.
Not sure of all the hype. The high tea was good but not great. The sandwiches were checked full of filling and bread was fresh and moist. The dessert was very good. I ordered side of custard for the cake and it was well worth it. Sandwiches and desserts were very generous portions. Oddly the scones were small and very dry. Tea selections were moderate. I had the earl grey and English blend but it was rather weak. My daughter had the rose and it was better but not by much. The place was rather small so seating was quite tight. It seemed rushed to turn over the tables so the experience was not very relaxing. Not worth returning in my opinion. The English store next door was very charming though!
One of a kind place which has somehow expanded their seating capacity by what I assume is more than 700% because of the outdoor pandemic seating they now have. Hooray for them!The only place I go for afternoon tea in New York. Sometimes you just need to have a proper afternoon tea to cure all the ailments of life. And if you prefer more of a hearty and savory high tea, then their casseroles and soups and other tasty hot meals will certainly fulfill your hungry desires.But my favorites by far are just the straight up black Indian or Cerylon teas with their scrumptious scones with clotted cream and preserves. I close my eyes and Im taken back to the feeling of being in the secret tea rooms of London during a late afternoon shower with the rain shining through . . .. . . then I just find myself back in New York, but thats pretty rad too. :-)Thanks, Tea & Sympathy. Hope to see you again soon.
An evening with friends and tea. Real English people y conjunction with the staff made the best recommendations. The food is fresh, real and made with all the love you can possibly taste.There is a story to every dish, a laugh with every drink and an exquisite selection of teas served in the most beautiful teapots. Every one always talk with a sinister smile, they knew we were about to have your mind blown away with what we were about to experience.I just don’t recommend this place, I make this a priority in anyones to do list.Thank you all for a marvelous experience.
Scones were not had, but I’ve had better at other NYC cafes.
Tiny spot with really nice set of rules for patrons to follow. I think it is definitely worth it for a nice night out with friends. Prices were typical of other tea houses, their tea menu was a bit lacking though. Really great and creative sandwich menu so definitely go for them.
The food is not bad. Stick to the tea service because everything else is pretty overpriced. Lovely Victorian sponge cake. Place is real cute. You will be sitting on top of each other.However service is atrocious. They are rude - and theres an ordering minimum for all which is easy to fullfil - except that they are rude and expect to be compensated well for their rudeness. Been there several times. Last time we actually wanted to order another tea but the lady serving us completely forgot about it because she was too busy pouring herself a glass of wine.
Delicious British cuisine in a really cozy little place. You likely will need to wait a bit to get a table as there are few of them, but it is worth the wait. I had the chicken and leek pie, which was served piping hot and had incredible flavor and was super comforting to eat. I also had a pot of earl grey, which was very tasty too. The rhubarb pie with custard was incredible to. If you are in the area, make sure you stop by.
Small spot with a bunch of tea options. We liked the tea but not the atmosphere. There are a lot of rules (one food order per person, only whole parties will be seated, youre not allowed to sit around after youre done eating if theyre busy etc.) and the proprietor is rather unfriendly in his manner of letting you know about them. My friend and I were the only folks when we came in and ordered a tea each and a plate of scones. We were informed we needed to order something more. The scones themselves arrived cold (the plate was warm!) and the clotted cream was more like butter. It was a cold day and we heard another woman who came in by herself for a table of two asked to wait outside until her party was complete (again, the place was far from full). Would not go back. The tea was nice but this isnt exactly a cozy tea spot.
The dining room is small but the food is classic British. Certainly some of the best scones Ive had this side of the Atlantic.
Wonderful place. It brought back memories of High Tea at the Savoy.
Simply awesome.Like having a British dinner in a relatives kitchen.Friendly and delicious.
Cozy, friendly, and the perfect stop when walking around the city. Just come a bit hungry as youre required to buy something to eat to dine in.
Tea is okay, but the full monty English breakfast was just not worthy it. :(
Ive alternated between here and Alices Tea Cup every time Im in New York. I used to like this better...cos it is more authentically English...who except the English would order beans on toast in a restaurant...? This time I went to both again. Although Alice is not authentically English they do have a touch of whimsy and imagination about them. And its an honestly nice experience...they want you to enjoy yourself. T&S has got a bit more gritty over the years. The waitstaff dont really seem to care... The food was pretty nice, but it was a bit pricey. I dont think Ill bother going back...tho the shop with English foodstuffs is well stocked and they have some awesome tea pots. The chippy next door seems to be undersold. If youre ever in Edinburgh, go to Clarindas tea shoppe. Thats the real deal...small but friendly and delicious food.
Tea & Sympathy is amazing. A true taste of the UK and the food here is incredible. Such delightful treats. The staff is always pleasant and always welcoming. They just have such a great attitude and make you feel at home. I try to come here as often as possible. Truly one of a kind!
Just divine tea house. Just dreamy. Just a fantastic bar. Delicious food. I had bangers ‘n’ mash and apricot tea. Great selection of tasty teas. Beautiful inside. This restaurant is really really cool. The people who work there are saints. We as people have to preserve such cultural spots. This place allegorically represents small business negatively affected by corporate takeover. I would certainly go back to do my part to help keep them open.
Overall a pretty authentic British dining experience. Staff are very nice but can be a wait because its a small place.
Pathetic service with prudish rules. They didn’t let me join my friends with an empty seat.
If I could give it sixth star, it would be for the people watching opportunities.
This is a cute British cafe thats great for afternoon tea and brunch. The place is pretty authentic since I brought my British friend here and she said the Welsh rarebit is just as good as in London. If you order the afternoon tea, you should share it with someone else since its a lot of food. They give you full sandwiches and full slices of cake so I can never finish it by myself. The teapots and cups are adorable and you can actually buy them at the store next door. The place is small so there may be a long wait for a table.
This British ex-pat owned restaurant has the best British food offering that Ive seen. There are over 30 types of teas and they can be served in ceramic teapots with the Queen emblazoned on it. The weekend brunch I had was delicious. I ordered the Full Monty Breakfast. And the best dessert we finished off with was the scones with clotted cream and jam, so delicious!!This a small establishment so they can only fit 20-something people, so be warned you may need to wait.
This place is, the place you want to come find if you need some real tea and amazing food. And the saucy staff will make sure you feel right at home while you indulge in the best cream tea on either side of the Atlantic. #authentic
An absolute neighborhood gem worth repeat visits for ex-pats, locals, and tourists alike. The tiny cafe is bustling, and packed with an energetic staff and knick knacks from your Grans kitchen. The afternoon tea is pricey ($75 for two) but elegantly casual and surprisingly filling. The menu offers British classics, and of course, a robust selection of tea. Next door is the shop portion, with imported UK faves from mustard to Christmas Crackers.
Damn fine traditional tea, tea sandwiches and cakes.. I was odd one and had the Shepherds Pie. All are Recommended!
Absolutely love this place! Feels like your home in England. A bit snug inside, but that adds to the atmosphere. We went at noon on a Sunday, and there was a bit of a wait. But it was totally worth it! Afternoon tea is great! Proper English cakes and tea, but you dont have to get dressed up. We will surely be back here anytime we are in the city!
My first time at this quintessential English tea place. Is it tiny? Yes but so worth it! The afternoon tea tower is generous and scrumptious. Service was great. Shout out to Sophie and Eliza. Worth the visit, cant wait to visit again!
Love love love this place! Owned by true Brits it never fails to be amazing. I wish it was a tiny bit cheaper, but its the city, so its kind of what youd expect. I had the curry sandwhich last time and it was incredible. And all of the teas (and tea pots!!) are wonderful.
Place is cozy ! Sandwiches were fresh and tasty it the scones were cold .Tea Was not that great , it tasted like a store bought Variety ! The server treated us like pre-K students at first clearly was running that place For self satisfaction NOT to satisfy the clients! Then things got better ! There were 3 small table available ! 2 accommodated 3 people ! We wanted to sit in the back ! Were told in no terms that that was table for 3 and were directed to sit at a table! A community type of seating and guess what ? That was also a table of 3! But she wanted us seated there and there was no discussion about it! Maybe I was put off by the Rules I read on line and started out with a preconceived idea !! It was a nice evening because of company I had but I will not go back!!
Lovely food, busy for brunch and snug.
Overpriced. Cramped. VERY rude staff (unnecessarily rude from the second you walk in. You can tell none of them really want to be there). Also some truly ridiculous rules, including very high food order minimums, which seem to be arbitrary based on how busy they are that day. No sharing. If any of your party gets there after you sat down, they wont seat them. Even if the place is empty and raining outside, youre supposed to wait outside until everybody gets there. Im not making this up, its that ridiculous.This place is made for tourists who get sucked in by the front of a fake authentic British experience. This place is far from authentic. There are many other great places to grab afternoon tea in NYC with way better food where you wont get ripped off.
My favorite spot in NY for an authentic British meal. The tea options are many and theyre delicious. Be prepared for cramped quarters though. Expect a wait, as tables are limited. However, the staff is not afraid to kindly push people along who are done and are taking up table space. If you want a taste of the UK in NY, make this a stop.
Great place. Outdoor section works well. Glad to continue to give it my custom. Sunday roast tastes as good as ever. Also able to order from fish and chip shop next door.
Quaint proper English restaurant serving all British foods meat pies, pasties, bangers etc. Also afternoon tea served in bone China teapots cups and saucers with finger sandwiches scones and jams. Really authentic. Owner hilarious.
At the entrance we have been welcomed by a friendly Brit who advised us in proper manners that the wait would be around 20 minutes and he got it right. Thats the only thing we appreciated of this place. We only wanted tea, but after we got seated, we were advised in hasty manner that one food order per person was mandatory. Since we had already waited, we decided to abide the rule. Food and tea were ok, however, as soon as we finished the food, the waitress literally took away our teas while we were still drinking! I wonder what idea of sympathy they have in mind... I figure there must be some sort of humor in the name of the place... Not recommended.
Its a bit of Britain in a shoebox. Tiny dining area, but the food, wait staff, and calming atmosphere make it more than worth while. And theres a shop next door filled with sweets and specialties. Been a half dozen times. Never disappointed.
Id been meaning to get here for quite a while, and it totally exceeded my expectations. Im typically not a huge tea drinker, but the pot of English breakfast tea was probably the best I ever had.My companions and I were there for breakfast and after a short wait (it is very, very small inside) we were seated and had prompt service. We sampled a wide range of delicious British specialties.I couldnt leave without trying the Victoria cake, which I had heard was pretty special. It definitely lived up to the hype, and we left very full and satisfied.
Nice spot for traditional afternoon tea, but very expensive for what you get. A very tight space and small tables makes tea for two very difficult! The scones, clotted cream & jam are nice, the sandwiches were fair (egg salad, tuna salad & cucumber/cream cheese), but the pastries were 2 slices of cake & a day old cupcake as opposed to a selection of miniature pastries. For $68 for 2, I expected a more elaborate offering.
A true british tea shop. Delicious, strong tea. Properly made foods. I had to go to the shop next door and take some tea home.The shop is tiny. Be ready to sit down with your group when you arrive. The food is delicious and freshly made. The portions are generous and everything is obviously hand made.There is also a fish and chip shop next door. Well worth the visit.
I fell in love with this place! The food is delectable and the tea is flavorful. There are so many options of different teas that you can come there every day and still love it! If you cant get enough, go next door to their shop where you can get real British tea and candy. All of the workers are kind and considerate. It is a bit tight and they have to sometimes move you around in order to seat people, but they do it so kindly that you dont even notice being moved. A great place to go with friends!
When you walk into the carry-out entrance to Tea & Sympathy, you feel like youve steeped into a little piece of Britain - the entrance itself is an English telephone booth with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth!I stepped in and ordered a simple green tea - it was richer and stronger than a normal green tea, but it wasnt bitter. I really did enjoy the unique flavor, but it was super hot! Other than tea and baked goods, youll find an assortment of imported goods and tea pots here.There is a minimum for card payments ($5) - I didnt have any cash, so I bought some delicious jam for the road. Overall, I really liked this little carry-out shop and Im looking forward to tasting the food next door!
A recent visit after finding out about this place in a documentary about the Village, was a home run. And its a lot more than just a fine tea place with a large selection of teas and service wear to match any childhood girls dreams of what a tea party should be. It is also also a full service restaurant with delicious food! I was very impressed and my girlfriend was just in heaven with the setting and ambiance. We really enjoyed the zucchini tart and split pea soup specials plus the sticky toffee pudding with warm custard was amazing. I also tried tried a hot rubine (black currant cider) which was very good. We wil definitely be going back some time in the future. I highly recommend Tea & Sympathy not just for the reasons above, but also to support local, family owned business in the Village.
This place is like that douchy neighborhood dive bar that tries to act like a trendy nightclub but is actually terrible.... in restaurant form. Its really just an extremely overpriced tourist trap with mediocre food. There are a bunch of rules posted right on the door about what youre allowed to order. How much you need to tip. How you can get seated. We had someone in our party arrive 10 minutes late, they wouldnt let him sit down with us. Its all very pretentious.We tried to order tea and cakes to share. They said we werent allowed to share anything. And the waitress was rude about it the entire time. Totally ridiculous.We got our food. It was alright. Pretty average for the really expensive prices here. You definitely dont get any bang for your buck in this place, even by NYC standards.The building is crazy small & cramped, the tables are practically on top of each other. The food is just okay. The prices are out of control. Frankly, its not even close to worth it for the price. There are countless better places in NYC to get food or afternoon tea.
Excellent date spot! Wonderful assortment for afternoon tea, good vegetarian options, and friendly service. We had a great time here.
The food is excellent, the tea is top notch, the atmosphere is so fitting, and the staff is way above average! The seating space and tables are smaller than most but just big enough to handle all the plates, cups, and tea pots.One of my favorite small restaurants in all of NYC for years
Sandwiches in high tea good. Cakes and biscuits were dry.The tea is really great. They know what “a little milk means” it’s not milky tea. Unbelievable tea! And again the sandwiches were really good.
We arrive to no greeting and we were begrudgingly sat to a cramped table. We then got ignored for 20 minutes, not even asking if we wanted water. If someone had said, were sorry for the wait or let us know that theyd be with us, it would have been completely fine. I dont mind waiting if the staff is busy but they seemed to have no intention of helping us. I watched a couple of waitresses just talking to one another at the front counter, they continued to talk even after I tried to get their attention. While we waited, we read the menu to find an insufferable rant about their rules. The rules basically stating that every person MUST order food (fine), they can move you, and ask you to leave. On top of that, one of the rules is to be nice to their waiting staff, now thats a funny one. We just up and left, while we left we could hear them muttering from the counter table 7 is leaving. Huh, now they take notice.
The $40 Afternoon Tea is extremely overpriced for what amounts to a couple finger sandwiches and cakes. The white bread used for the sandwiches was stale. I’m not sure how anyone could recommend this place after experiencing a proper afternoon tea in England. Additionally the $18 Full English Breakfast came with a single slice of bacon and no beans.
Seems like a cutesy little tea place with English fare. However, beware of prices and rules! Not the most welcoming, and quality of food isnt that great - especially for what you pay.Not to mention if you pay with card, they hit you with a 4% fee - and only mention it at the time if payment.Bottom line - would not recommend. Save your money and get a nice meal elsewhere.
A charming little taste of England in New York! Its really lovely and cosy inside, and with true authentic tea treats. I dont think youll find better scones anywhere else!
Delicious tea service - I love the scones, and the finger sandwiches, especially the cucumber ones!
One of my fave places for English comfort food. The location only has 12 tables, so all diners have to be present before entering. The restaurant has two large bay windows for people watching. The food is plentiful and delicious, if not a bit expensive. The staff are friendly and professional.
Came here with a friend to enjoy some evening tea and dessert, it was very quiet with no crowds. Share the desserts when you can if you choose the pudding options. Our teas were brought to us in very unique cottage-shaped teapots!
Service was nonexistent. I have never been treated so negatively/rude ever at a restaurant. The main lady with the white crimped hair yelled at my friend and me saying that we did not purchase/pay enough to stay here any longer as we were already there for 45 minutes and didnt pay anything. She then inexcusably to literally, actually yell at us, her customers in public to leave and never come back and called us disgusting because we left a 15% tip and she felt it should have been more.We were rushed there the entire time, they tried to take away our food and tea saying there were no more teapots in a tea house. We were there for 40 minutes after purchasing two desserts and two pots of tea. I was unable to finish my tea before she told us to get out.My toffee pudding was cold enough to have a thin film of dairy over it, to say the least.Thanks angry lady for making tea time the worst time on what would have been a calm Sunday afternoon.
This quaint little places takes you away from the hustle and bustle of NYC and into a relaxing kitschy sitting room in Europe! The tea kettles are so cute and the tea is just right. The scones are made to perfection and the 80s-styled wait staff is polite and non-evasive. I cant wait to return!
Food is acceptable. And it is not cheap at all — we paid $90 for two afternoon tea sets. But the service is terrible and the restaurant is very small and filled with people. Their Nicky’s rule(see the picture) is very offensive and made us feel we would be kicked out anytime. One of the waitresses was always sitting there, eating snacks and playing her phone. When we asked a box, they just left us a box, charged it for about 3 dollars and did not help us do anything.
The staff were so incredibly rude to us. We had come from Australia with this place on our list to visit as Sarah Jessica Parker has recommended it. As soon as we arrived the staff were snappy at us and told us to go next door if we wanted tea. When we went next door it was just a shop. Maybe they didnt like the way we looked or were dressed? I spent the next hour crying because I had walked from Midtown just to try the tea and the experience had been so horrible.
I went to Tea & Sympathy for a Sunday roast, and while hearing some polarizing views on the place, I was overall pleased with my experience. I had to wait a bit outside for a table to open up, but it wasnt that long of a wait and it wasnt freezing outside as to be an unbearable effort. The tea was good, and the roast was tasty as well, even though the vegetables werent amazing. Put enough gravy around though, and youre good to go. I wouldnt consider T&S a place to go all the time, but I wouldnt mind it as a treat once in a while.
Sooo disappointed in this place. Really not sure what the positive reviews are talking about. This place is a classic tourist trap NYC restaurant. A lot of hype with disappointing delivery. Its menu is appealing, but thats where anything positive stops. I went on a crowded weekend, and the staff in general was beyond rude...almost acted like they thought they were above everyone dining there because they worked in a busy tea shop. Seriously piss poor customer service the entire way through. The room is uncomfortably cramped & tiny. The meals were ridiculously overpriced for what you get, even by NYC standards. Definitely nothing special. Ive had much better afternoon teas in NYC and elsewhere. Save your money and find somewhere else.
I would not recommend this place. We tried to get in for a cuppa and some food. We were told to wait outside. They took another couple over us, even though we were there first. I am sure it was because they know that person.Not very friendly! Went into the store wanting to buy something, were not properly greeted there, decided that they would not get my business. Make us British people look rude!Would not recommend this place at all. Found a a different tea place and we were treated much better there.
The wait over one hour. Why they cannot take names down makes no sense. We fought with another party of two who claimed they arrived before us. Once seated cold and cramped. The Tea for two is $90.00. Way more then higher quality places in Bath, England. Bad overall experience. Would not recommend.
Ive decided to have weekly tea dates here because everything is so perfectly imperfect. The decor makes me feel like Im in Nans living room. The tea is divine. The afternoon tea for two will send you home with extras. Love this place.
Seriously this place is a terrible. The good reviews on here were likely enamored by the novelty of it. But really, the 1 & 2 star reviews paint a perfect picture. Its a tiny, insanely pretentious, wayyy overpriced dive. Ive never encountered staff as rude as theirs in my life (and this isnt just one incident, youll see other reviews stating the same). They seem to feel because they work at a popular spot in nyc can treat customers like dirt and charge insane amounts for mediocre food.My girlfriend is British, and agrees shes never encountered a tea room as bad as this. She was perfectly polite the entire time, and was shocked at how rude the staff was for no reason. Also shocked at the crazy prices for pretty standard tea and fareIf you want to just pop in for tea and a snack, or light lunch, be prepared to abide by their insane rules. Spending minimums, no sharing rules, if youre already sat at a table and they want to kick you out for a party they think will spend more money...theyll do it. Seriously, find a different tea room, this place is NOT worth it.
Scones, clotted cream, and jam were delicious. Victoria sponge was great. Tea was ok. Charged a fee for using credit card, which we were not told about and only discovered after the card was swiped. We had the cash to pay our bill, just thought it would be easier to pay with plastic. Thats ridiculous!
Tea and Sympathy is a delightful little (and I do mean little) British tea and pastry spot in the Village. Their weekend brunch items (especially the Full Monty) are excellent, as are the selection of teas available all week long. The price point is a bit high for those on a budget to eat a full brunch here more than once a month, but coming in to grab some tea and scones (with clotted cream that tastes like clouds look) is still a great way to kill some afternoon hours. As mentioned before, the place IS small, and if you have a larger party coming on the weekends, expect a bit of a wait, but 2-3 person tables get in pretty quickly.
Food is average - i expected to have a fresh warm scone. unfortunately, they were cold and stored inside a big brown bag (which meant its from other vendor?) other dishes like the shepards pie.... my thought was the pie was heated by microwave...outside did not feel very hot, but inside was steaming hot. the bangers...well the sausage in costco tastes a lot better. tea - is another joke, i can have much better tea in many other places.services - the girls are nice. but someone (could be the owner) was terrible. of course i knew how many people in my family. she claimed that i told her a different number of party and she tried to pushed me outside and closed the door when i was entering the restaurant to notify them that everyone was presented for a table.conclusion - will NOT return.
Tea anytime and especially the full English breakfast are great - you will have to wait for a table or get lucky. Tables are jammed together/crowded but the experience is worth it. The toast and is sensational with everything else great to excellent - this is REAL British food.
Tea & Sympathy offers a highly authentic English afternoon tea experience. The sandwiches and scones were particularly good, and there was a lot of food for two people.That said, the price was...exorbitant, in my opinion, and there were very, very cramped quarters.
Nothing special on this place. Service was mediocre and food was bland. The place is extremely small and uncomfortable to move around. The owner is a very tacky lady, very loud and quite rude with patrons, we were waiting on a friend that was 1 block away and we got a “lecture” on their sitting rules. I don’t mind abide by the rules but her delivery was condescending and she was yelling at our party like we murdered someone. Also we heard her swearing after...That pretty much ruined our visit there. “Not my cup of Tea”
Amazing service and delicious food. Very tiny, but very cozy. Like being in someones kitchen.
Tea was amazing. Dessert was ok. Service was mediocre. Not the place to go if you are dining solo or just want tea and/or dessert. They were pretty rude to me when they found out I wasnt there for a 3 course meal, even though it wasnt a busy time.
Tea and Sympathy is a delightful, tiny, escape from the massive chains overwhelming the city.The high tea sandwiches and scones are very tasty and the tea is authentically British.The prices are the only draw back, they slap you back to reality pretty fast.
Delicious food, big portions, and cheerful service!
I went a few times to this place about 5-6 years ago, and it’s great that it is still here in a very expensive and rapidly gentrifying city. The place oozes of character, however this time I found the prices expensive for what you are getting. I ordered the bangers and mash, and the $16 plate only came with 2 bangers. I’ve had much better at expat pubs in Bucharest for example. In addition, you will now find a surcharge on the bill for using a credit card. In short, I will not return. The tea is still good but the sympathy not so much..
I will say it small and mighty, the sweeet meal will make you rember mama;s food
Our family of six stopped in for an afternoon lunch at the end of a LONG family vacation on the recommendation of the owners daughter, who attended camp with our son. We were blown away! Yes, its a small place and you need to mind the gap for your neighbors benefit, but isnt an authentic family owned regional food experience the point in an otherwise creeping London fog of cookie cutter chain owned restaurants serving pseudo-TV dinner salt and starch to I dont know what do you feel like weekenders? You are in Greenwich Village, right?We enjoyed authentic afternoon tea with yummy scratch scones, imported clotted cream, jam, sandwiches and to-die-for sticky toffee cupcakes (try the dessert of the same name with custard - wow!). Our crew also ordered shepherds pie (the mashed potatoes made the dish), chicken and leek pie (moms favorite) and the homemade macaroni and cheese put a smile on our youngests face.Sean (co-owner) was a wonderful, gracious and story-filled host. This place has some history after 25-years and expanding next door to authentic fish and chips and English gifts. If only we had some Tea & Sympathy in Texas!We will be back when next in town!
The place is tiny and cramped but gives off a cozy vibe with all the decorations and details. The service was fine, waitress was super nice and quick to give us anything we needed. The food was decent but a bit pricey for what you got. Im not sure if Ill go back but its a great option for British food!
It seems their public relations are really good, otherwise I wouldnt explain why they have people visiting this place.Waitress is rude (50s, fat, redhead), to the extent I dont think the owner knows about. Shes dirty, racist, nasty, etc.Walk down the block, across the street and you will find good restaurants. I promise you.Shocked to see a restaurant survive this long with employee behaving like her.
What a great place. Being English I am biased obviously, but a home away from home with great staff, lovely tea and superb scones to compliment the jam and cream........ I would rate as a must visit place on TripAdvisor but they are not there.. Even if your not English (actually especially if your not English), come here to see how afternoon tea is done properly in the US..... My only criticism is that the place is just not big enough, triple in it in size and you have the start of a franchise....
Food was ok def not worth the money!! staff was not too friendly and they had a page of rules on the menu about not being able to share the (expensive) tea set, how much tips they expect (for unfriendly service,mind you).We had to either order tea set for 2 people or the other person had to order food on the menu. They double charged me for the coffee and didnt apologize, mumbled something when I asked about it and scribbled the correct price on the bill. Paying with credit card had a surcharge that they dont tell you about until they run your card through the machine. Not recommending nor going back. Just wish I had read the reviews before going.
There is nothing you can’t love about this tea shop. Beautiful food and drink. Excellent service and a wonderful atmosphere. It’s now one of my favourite places in all New York. If you like tea, scones or anything English go, go and go again. 😊
Expensive but the atmosphere is great. Very nice staff. Nice tea and dessert.
Super rude staff and outrageous seating policy. Got in to ask for a table for myself and a friend. My friend was on his way, 2 min away. They asked me to wait outside if my friend is not together with me at the time of seating. There were plenty of empty tables with 2-3 seats. I then asked what if it’s just me having a seat. They said that in that case my friend could not join the table. What a pretentious and pathetic place! Please do yourself a favor and go somewhere else, NYC has much better to offer!
Total reviews rating 4.2
199 Reviews for Tea & Sympathy 2023:
Review №1
2022-04-18Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. On our recent trip to NYC, we fell in love with this charming restaurant, it’s food and amazing owners. I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Nicky & Sean. The food instantly reminded me of London’s quaint little tearooms. Individual tea sandwiches, scones, and sweets were all homemade and prepared with the upmost care and love. Sunday meal can’t be missed! Roasted lamb, beef or chicken with Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, fresh peas & carrots, parsnips & a gravy to die for! I recommend taking time out of your busy day to enjoy a meal at Tea & Sympathy! Don’t miss out on their fish & chips restaurant next door, A Salt & Battery!
Review №2
2022-03-10My friend and I went here on a Monday afternoon which means no line, no waiting. It was elegant, not too fancy, a classic English style place. I didn’t have a high expectation since I read reviews here.. But truly, I like their afternoon tea set a lot!Agree with some reviews here, food are not that “best” or super impressive, it might be only 4 starts overall. But it definitely means the term “classic English” by serving all these traditional items.The toast of finger sandwiches was dried, I couldn’t finish it. But the egg salad and chicken salad inside were good.✨Scone was a classic. No doubt. Not a biscuit. The one that I should come back for it.🧁Their cupcake and cake were great too, the cake part was moist and the flavor was delicious.🍮The pudding that the staff recommended was a little bit too sweet for me but definitely I understand why people love it.Would like to come back again for different kinds of cakes..
Review №3
2022-05-17My mom, sister, and I visited recently on a girls trip to NYC. Even though it was cold and rainy outside, we still had a great experience sitting out on their covered patio. Everything we had was delicious and the service was great. Found some fun items in their shop, too. Highly recommend!
Review №4
2022-08-09Food is good but not amazing. Definitely frozen peas, which were half the meal. They were out of the mushroom shepherds pie so we settled for the lamb, which was not good. Very finely ground and not much taste. The chicken pot pie was good, definitely the better of the two.
Review №5
2022-01-13Overall, met my expectations from a food perspective. Nothing over the top but tasty and a comfortable experience. The food was good and a bit on the pricey side. $200 for 5 people. The strict rules are ruthless and I can understand if they are busy but when there is no one in the restaurant and they ask you to wait in the cold for the last person to arrive, borders on the line of elitism and not a good service model. The female server, never introduced herself was not rude but detached from the experience. She had no interest in being a server. She was cold!! This took away from the atmosphere. It is because of the lack of empathy and basic service interaction I will probably not return. There are many other tea shops in NYC.
Review №6
2022-07-20Wow, WOW. what a place! absolutely loved the afternoon tea for three. they had such vast, exquisite assortment of teas, treats and sandwiches. to add a cherry on top, we had seamus as our waiter who was wonderful! he was just great. really made the experience even better than i could imagine. it was great, but seamus really made it the best! 11/10
Review №7
2022-05-08A perfect Mother’s Day tea! Friendly service, charming atmosphere, and EXCELLENT food! The scones and cakes were moist and delicious. I also loved the tuna salad. Breakfast items were high quality, and their custom Rosie Lee tea is wonderful.
Review №8
2022-06-03Cozy. Intimate. Comfortable. Delicious. Fantastic assortment. Fresh. Melt in mouth scones. A respite in refreshment & refilling of homemade comfort. Tea for 3 was enough for lunch & dinner. A stop worth repeating.
Review №9
2022-05-08Great place to enjoy tea and afternoon snacks with company. The staff were all very knowledgeable and friendly. There was a great selection of teas, and the scones were a perfect addition to the tea. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a friendly Cafe vibe.
Review №10
2021-11-03Had a really good experience here the first time around (~Feb 2019) but unfortunately cant say the quality of my second visit was as good - food and service-wise. Went on a Saturday afternoon and felt they were understaffed given the new (expanded) outdoor seating.Nevertheless, its a proper option for afternoon tea. Included a pot of tea, your typical savory sandwiches, scones (one of the best Ive tried so far in the city), and pastries.