I am more of a coffee than a tea guy. When I do drink tea, it's gotta be some premium stuff. Also, living with a Brit guy for a year will make you ridicule the entire Lipton brand altogether. Anycrap, I was a friend's house drinking a latte he made me. After smelling the tea that he made my friend, for the first time in my life, I had put a cup of coffee down and asked for tea instead. This tea had the most incredible aroma. The website describes it as a "fruity black tea with a hint of lemony Bergamot." It's appropriately called the "Paris" blend. From that point on, I am hooked. I always have a supply on hand at my house, and any guest that comes over to try this tea is hooked as well. I even bought a special tea press by Bodum. They send me other teas to sample with my order, like the Pomegranite Oolong which is also incredible. 6 stars. read more

I've been coming here for years; I'm a huge tea drinker and Harney & Sons has some of the best quality tea products around. Everyone is so helpful too! You can tell every employee is just so passionate about tea, and they really want you to have the best experience. The tasting room is by far my favorite part-shelves upon shelves of any tea imaginable, and you can try any one you want. This is how I discovered the subtly fruity tropical green tea, and the hot and spicy herbal cinnamon. In general I like to try flavors outside the box, and it has paid off every time. They also typically have 2 other varieties of tea out on the counter to try; I discovered a few of my favorite black teas this way. I would have to say though, my new favorite is their yerba mate. I didn't used to be a huge mate drinker because it's usually very bitter and needs quite a lot of sugar for me to be able to drink a full cup. But the mate at Harney is SO richly flavored and has a slight sweetness I've never tasted in other mates. it was so good, in fact, I was convinced to buy a bombilla. Bombillas are the traditional South American way to drink mate, and I haven't put it down since-I'm obsessed. I guess I'm a convert now! Harney also has a cafe, where you can enjoy light sandwiches and salads along with lots and lots of tea! I haven't had much of their food apart from a sandwich here and there, but it all smells delicious. I wouldn't doubt their food has as much flavor as their tea. If you are passing through the Hudson Valley ever, this should definitely be on your list of places to stop in! It's an experience you will not find anywhere else. And if you're a resident of the area and haven't stopped in yet, I guarantee it will be your new favorite place! read more

This is the headquarter of Harney & Sons. After the bike ride from Amenia, we were very pleased to grab something to eat and drink at this charming space. The menu is quite diverse and offers many types of breads (including sourdough from Berkshire Mountain Bakery). I loved my soup (celery root with apples) which was that day's special. We also had tea cheese samplers which were flavored with Lapsang tea. What an interesting idea! Of course, we picked up some tea from the tea salon. read more

Harney & Sons - Tea cheese samplers - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Millerton, New York

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We are fans of the Harney & Sons in NYC, so we could not pass up going to this one. It was one of the stops on our tour of Dutchess county. The tasting room was fantastic. We tasted all of the featured teas and then we each picked one more tea to taste. They were all wonderful tasting teas. The staff person was extremely informative and gave us so many details on tea making. It was very fun. The only odd thing was that he gave us the price of the tea as we left to go into the shop. The shop was absolutely beautiful! The teapots and tea sets were fabulous. There was a very wide selection of them, in every color and design you can imagine. The tea selection for purchase was also amazing. We purchased a number of teas, including a ginger tea which we had tasted, and some wonderful dark chocolate along with other tea compliments. The cashier was not that friendly but besides that the visit was really wonderful! read more

Excellent, knowledgable employees make this place THE PLACE for tea lovers. Really, the selection and quality of this tea is amazing! Make the journey and visit this gem. read more

Harney & Sons - Tea, as far as the eye can see. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Millerton, New York

A beautiful experience especially if you are looking to skip bars and alcohol. The staff is friendly and accommodating and so knowledgable. For less than $30, I was able to buy four very fine teas and learn how to brew them at home. A great place in a cool, funky albeit small town. Tea tasting was delicious and the hot cinnamon green tea is to die for! read more

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I am a fan of the traditional "Afternoon Tea" thanks to this place. Granted, I've known the Harney family for some time, even working on the real estate end of the family, and if I know one thing about them, it's this: they make the best tea in the whole entire world. I'm not being biased. Fact IS fact. The dining area, store, and tea tasting room, all located in the same store but separated into three sections, displays all of their amazing selection, allowing you to drink and buy...and perhaps drink again if you are so inclined! When the restaurant section opened a few years back, my cousin Catie took me there to have tea and scones with her. I had one taste of clotted cream and never looked back. I have shared the joy of tea, scones, fruit jam, and clotted cream with other friends, turning them into helpless addicts as well. They have very tasty lunch dishes as well, with many delicious sandwiches (all served with kettle potato chips and cucumber slices) and soups. Their Cream of Potato with bacon is absolutely out of this world! Granted, the dining area IS small and since it's popular, you may be in for a wait. Is it worth it? I absolutely believe so. The tea store itself sells...well, if I told you "tea", would you believe me? You WOULD? Good, because they sell tea. LOTS of tea. Loose leaf, in sachets, multi-packs, you name it. You can also buy mugs, ceramics, candies and snacks, gift items, et al. Finally, stop in the tea tasting room and do just that. It's even better if Hillel is working the room. That's a good kid right there. If I may suggest some teas: Peppermint, Dragon Pearl Jasmine, Pomegranate Oolong, Peach & Ginger, and Mango Fruit Tea. I heard a store may be opening in NYC in the future. I can only hope this isn't a rumor, as my hopes are already up now...! read more

Great Tea store! Always pick up my favorite tea, hot cinnamon. Such a fun place, tea tasting and a great gift shop for meandering. They have a small restaurant that looks good but haven't eaten there yet. read more

Harney & Sons - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Millerton, New York

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Very impressed with the cafe. The salad was one of the best I'd ever had, with fresh herbs and perfect temperature of the greens. Everyone else enjoyed their French Onion Soup, Cheese sandwich, etc. Drink offerings were great as well. There are only a handful of tables though and those waiting to eat were looming over us waiting for us to finish as their only other option was to wait in the tea showroom which was steps away. Hopefully the dining area will expand one day, but kudos to the kitchen staff. read more

Mom is a big fan of Harney teas and stops by this location every year. What really stuck out to me on my first visit was that the employees were excellent!! They were friendly, knowledgable and didn't rush you. When my mom complained that one of the teas she bought in India was too strong and bitter, the girl explained that the particular tea was generally used in a chai with plenty of milk and sugar, not drunk alone. OOOOOhhhhhh, that's why!!!! All makes sense now. She then made some recommendations and assisted us in choosing some teas based on our likes. Another employee answered some additional questions on the products offered and the town. As we continued onto CT, my mom expressed a similar observation of the great service provided. read more

The Harney & Sons cafe/store/tasting room is actually located on Main Street (part of the Railroad Plaza) in "downtown" Millerton. This place is so worth the drive! The tea is like nothing you've had before, the prices are reasonable, and the menu in the cafe is simple yet delicious and satisfying. On my recent visit I had a toasted wheat baguette with goat cheese, cured salami, cucumbers, and balsamic vinegar and oil. The sandwich was served with sliced cucumbers and a generous supply of Cape Cod chips. For a drink, I selected an iced green tea infused with coconut and lemongrass - and it was so refreshing that I had to consciously pace myself so as not to chug it down in one gulp! The lunch set me back only $11 and I spent another $12 on two tins of tea to take home (alas, the amazing tea from my lunch was not available) - guess I'll just have to plan a return visit soon... read more

This place is a gem! My parents have always been fans of Harney & Son's teas and it's taken me this long to make a few trips out here myself. Harney & Sons makes for a nice drive through Connecticut and New York and it's well worth it when you arrive. Set right at the start of a wee shopping village, you walk in and are immediately greeted with the smell of all things tea. Just beyond the entry way, there are two walls (very high ceiling to floor walls) with large tins of loose leaf tea for you to smell, sample and purchase at your leisure. The lady behind the counter is very knowledgeable and very helpful- even to the newbs like me, who was in there shopping for my boyfriend who absolutely loves his tea. There is also an area where you can buy prepacked tins of loose leave and sachets of tea. So many to choose from! Black, Green, White, Chai, rare, random, you name it, they probably have it. I went for the loose leave Chai and the spicy cinnamon, both of which were hits once tried. Not only can you purchase teas, gifts, mugs, soaps and treats to go along with teas, there is also a cafe! I've not been to the cafe, but it is always packed, so it must be great. I really enjoy my adventures out to Harney & Sons, and if you're up for a nice drive, or live in the area, make it a point to head out here for some tea!! read more

As a tea lover, there could be no better place for me to visit! I had lunch at the Tea Bar and then spent way too much time in the tasting room and store, finding tea to bring home for myself and friends. I got the chicken curry for lunch, which was fine but included an odd choice of celery. The tea was stand out (obviously) and I enjoyed the whole pot. Onto the tasting room and store. The two guys who were working in the tasting room were amazingly knowledgeable and nice. They were great at explaining things about the different types of tea without being snobby about it. I bought the chai tea for my boss and she raved about it. I have chamomile for myself and the Florence for my boyfriend and can't wait to try both. I had a great time here and can't wait to be back! read more

Grab a box of your favorite tea, mine is the Paris, and then head into the cafe for a nice lunch (or brunch on Sundays). Yum! read more

Harney & Sons - Jodie Sandwich Plate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Millerton, New York

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The shop was quaint and filled with everything a teal over could want. I was tickled to find 1998 pu erh tea. The cafe was filled with a warm friendly staff and glorious concoctions of various sandwiches. The French onion soup was one of the best I ever had. My sandwich was chicken, avocado, tomato, cheese and bacon all grilled to perfection. The ginger ale was all natural and completely yummy! read more

This is a review of the Harney & Sons tea company, not the tea room. There are two distinct reasons that I think Harney and Sons is a great tea company. One of them is that Harney and Sons provides one of the few brands of tea bags and whole-leaf tea sachets with fairly widespread distribution (Barnes and Noble's cafes, many restaurants, some coffee shops, etc.) that actually delivers high-quality teas in the American market. And the other is that the company sells top-notch loose-leaf teas. If you have not ever tried loose-leaf tea from Harney, I would recommend checking them out...their tea bags and sachets are good, but they have a ton of great offerings on their website that you will not find in mainstream stores. I've tried a wide range of teas, from their tea bags to sachets to loose-leaf, and I think all of them, but especially their low-end tea bags and their high-end loose leaf offerings, are consistently above average among similar companies in the U.S. One of their teas, a single-estate Darjeeling from Singbulli estate, was among the favorite black teas that I have ever sampled. If you want to read (or share your own) reviews of individual Harney teas, I invite you to visit their page on RateTea, a website that I run, which I like to call the "Yelp of teas": http://ratetea.com/brand/harney/7/ Whether you're a restaurant or cafe looking for teas to serve to your customers, or someone just looking to buy high-quality loose leaf tea, Harney is definitely a company that I would recommend. And lastly, I met a number of the Harneys (yes, it is a family business as the name suggests) at the World Tea East trade show, and I will say that they are all very nice! Another reason you can feel good about supporting this company. read more

Lovely tea room and shop in the small Hudson Valley town of Millerton. I My pot of pomegranate oolong was divine. The sandwiches, scones and truffles were very tasty, they made for a very nice afternoon with my Mum-in-law. Be prepared for a wait, this is a very popular spot in the area. However, the tea tasting room and shop are pleasant places to peruse in your quest for a table. Service is spotty, but you're not going to be here if you're on a tight schedule. read more

This was our first visit to Harney and Sons and won't be our last. It's a tea shop with a huge selection of teas that also offers simple fresh food in a relaxed setting. Prices were very good and service was very good as well. We stopped in after walking the rail trail which begins pretty much just outside their door. We had some flavored iced teas (less than $2 ea.) and sandwiches ($8 & $10) on delicious whole grain bread and baguettes. The meats were excellent and the veggies and dressings were terrific as well. We started the meal with a fresh gazpacho ($5.50) that was tangy and flavorful. A perfect ending to a walk or ride on the trail. If you're not into the walk/bike, the town of Millerton has lots of cool shops and galleries and is well worth a visit itself. read more

My first question is .....what took me so long to eat here? I had the best pot of tea that i've ever had! I drink harney tea all the time but they made it taste so much better! I had lunch with a friend and we both tried shepards pie. It was amazing. I loved the cozy atmosphere. Service was good. I can't wait to go back! read more

If anyone has visited this place before the pandemic, you know that they used to have an adorable tearoom, where they served sandwiches, scones, soup, and of course, tea. The food was good, and they had an extensive selection of teas. The food is still good, the tea is still there, but sadly, the tearoom is gone. Instead, they have counter service and outdoor seating only. Of course, since this is upstate NY, I can't imagine outdoor seating will be particularly popular as we progress into the colder months. I don't know if they closed it because of covid, or because they couldn't get wait staff, but you should know that it is now basically, a glorified starbucks. Tea is not served in a proper cup, it is served in a paper cup, and as any tea drinker will tell you, tea in a paper cup is awful. They have also done away with proper plates and utensils. They now use these, what I assume are environmentally friendly, wood like things, which are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. The spoons have no bowl at all. My husband ordered French onion soup, which, with that useless spoon, was like trying to eat soup with a tongue depressor. Only one table outside has any sort of covering, so if it rains, which it did, good luck with that. Interestingly, they have done away with table service, but still expect tips, hence the tip jar on the counter. So, let me get this straight. I have to look at a menu while standing at a counter, I have to put in my order, pick up my food, find a seat outside, that is probably not clean, is wet, etc, and then bus my own table, but I should tip you? For what may I ask? Since I am doing all the serving, perhaps I need to get the tip. For years, when I was in Rhinebeck for the Wool and Sheep festival, I would make the forty minute ride to Harney to enjoy tea and food in the tearoom. I suppose if you are in the immediate area, and just need take out, it serves a purpose. I don't see any purpose in driving a distance for this experience anymore. If they bring back the tearoom, yes. If not, there are paper cup establishments everywhere. read more

Tea aficionados everywhere will probably delight in the nearly endless selection of Harney & Sons bagged and loose-leaf teas ranging in price from $5 to $75 per tin, as well as the outrageously expensive teapots, serving sets, and solid-gold tea spoons. I, however, am not one of those people, and shall review the H&S store accordingly. As others have mentioned, the store is split up into several sections: the tasting room for sampling a subset of teas brewed each day, the main store for purchasing teas and tea-related items, and the cafe for buying scones and sandwiches to go with your tea. After browsing the main store for a while, not really planning on buying any of the unnecessarily fancy products (i wasn't joking about the gold spoons), we got some scones with cream and jam to-go, as the cafe was incredibly small and had mostly 2-person tables (we were a group of 5). And I have to admit, they were the tastiest darn scones I've ever had (not that I've had many). They were moist and crumbly, with lots of flavor, and they went well with the cream and jam. If I somehow ended up in the area again, I would probably want to stop by here more for the food than the tea. read more

Having studied abroad in London I have a sentimental love for tea. This is pretty much the only store in the US I have seen that is like this, with such an amazing selection. If you are in the area and love tea I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't stop here. I almost bought a little strainer to put into my tea pot for loose leaf tea, but decided against it because I often like to make tea quickly and transport it places in a canteen. The staff was very helpful, explaining to me the difference between tea sachets and tea bags (sachets are processed less- they are left as loose leaf is...) so I ended up with two different 20-packs of sachets. It came to 13 dollars and change, but when you divide that by fourty you realize that it's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying 40 drinks from starbucks. I'm partial to black teas so I settled with a chocolate mint tea- which was on sale (I guess it's kind of Christmasy- but it was still delicious when I had it yesterday!) and a cinnamon spice tea. I should mention that they came in very lovely tins and were extremely fragrent. They had some beautiful teapots and accessories as well. I had a mango strawberry scone. It was moist and delicious though slightly smaller than I would have liked. It was so good it reminded me of the scones I would get in England. The clotted cream that it came with though tasted slightly off to me- it definitely wasn't as flavorful as what I was used to from England, but I am not sure why that is. All in all I'm kinda regretting not stocking up on even more tea for winter. This place is totally awesome. They also have a blog mentioning which samples they are giving out http://harneyteashop.blogspot.com/ read more

Disappointing! They only let you taste one tea per person despite how much you buy! We drove over an hour to get there and the experience was underwhelming. Definitely not worth the drive. read more

The BEST tea I have EVER tasted! I had NON-sweetened raspberry herbal tea at Mimi's Cafe restaurants and was recommended by an employee to purchase this tea from Harney & Son's. Years ago, I did just that. Since then, I have always purchased such tea thru Harney & Sons (regular tea just doesn't do it for me anymore!). I have always told friends & family about this blend and they rave about it as well. I usually order several boxes at a time and give tea packets to people I know that prefer tea over carbonated beverages, and sure enough, they like are interested as well. This is not the off-the-shelf tea you buy at your local grocery store; this really is fine tea. And of course, if I spend a certain amount when ordering thru the website, the shipping is free! I know I'm going to drink it sooner or later, so might as well. And what I really enjoy is the periodic promotion/coupon codes that they email which also keeps me from considering any other tea. read more

How many places have every single tea made by that company? Not too many. But I know one place that does. Harney & Sons! They have hundreds of flavors of tea. The last time I went there, I tried an exotic Chinese tea called gunpowder. But my favorite tea from Harney & Sons in Millerton is apple cinnamon. If you go inside, you will see that there are over 100 teas and all of them are delicious. In the front you can taste teas, in the middle (which is the store part) is where you can get merchandise such as tea cups, teas, and even things that don't even have to do with tea like paperweights. And in back, you can sit down, and have some tea and a pastry. Great little place that you must stop in on your way through Millerton. read more

Awesome company! Excellent teas! They even have organic teas! This is a company that has been in business for over 25 years and they are actually family run! And they are doing it right! You truly know what a company is really like when things go wrong, how do they treat you after they already have your money? Well, I had an issue with my tea order last time, and since it was a tea the girl on the phone suggested, I felt I should let them know I didn't like it as much as I thought (it actually grew on me and I drank it all anyway). Not only did they credit my account, but the OWNER emailed me and apologized for my inconvenience AND sent me a yummy new tea to sample! Really!? Wow! read more

Great place for a lite bite and a pot of tea. Hundreds of teas to choose from and a unique menu. The day we went they had Pheasant Dumpling soup - I stuck with the French Onion which was delicious and the toast points with cheese. A smoky cheese and raspberry cheese. Both very unique. The restaurant is small and cozy so you may have to wait. There is a shop you can explore and a tea tasting room in the front. A must visit when stopping in Millerton. read more

This review is for 3 different parts of Harney & Sons, which I'll try to explain below. Some friends took us here from their vacation home. It was about a 35-40 min drive and well worth it. #1, the little tea room. We started here with breakfast on a Sunday, on a holiday weekend, about 10:30. It was surprisingly not crowded. The waitress (Jackie) knew her tea and was great. 4 of us got 4 different things and we all really liked our food. Not cheap, but not crazy expensive either, for the quality of food (and tea) we got. 5 Stars, I would definitely go back. The place was a bit small, but very nice. #2, the store (or middle part of the 3 part space). Amazing selections of tea, gifts and tea paraphernalia. I couldn't resist a really nice tea pot and bought it on a whim. It was actually slightly more on Amazon, so I was glad I did. Nice tins of tea (sachets and loose). Prices were decent. Great selection. Well displayed, but a smallish shop, so I was bumping in to a few people. So much to see. 5 Stars, would definitely go back and would definitely recommend. #3, the tasting room. I totally would have missed this as it's on the furthest end (or closest if you come in from the street, we came in from the parking lot). I would say start here or at #1 (see above) It's a longer narrow room off to the side with two walls of tins of tea to smell and taste. They sell loose teas, from 4 oz. up to a pound (in tins or bags). The staff was very polite and knowledgeable. Again, 5 Stars. I would definitely go back and would definitely recommend. If you like or love tea and are within hours of this place, you must go! read more

Lunch was superb- French onion soup and turkey panini. Loved the Paris tea. Highly recommend.

If you are a tea lover, make a point of planning a pilgimage out to Millerton. I have delighted in Harney & Sons teas for years but only recently experienced their shop and tasting room. It is worth the (beautifully scenic) drive and I will be returning there. The shop has three main areas: the tasting room, the shop proper, and the cafe. Ample parking in the gravel alongside the plaza. My friend and I started in the tasting room, which features walls covered floor-to-ceiling in classy black and gold tea bins. Harney's full selection is available here for tasting and purchasing loose by weight - everything from fine single-estate frost teas and spring flush Lung Ching to fruit blends and pure herbs. There are typically two brewed teas on the counter for tasting, and an employee will brew a third tea of your choice just for you to taste! The woman staffing the tasting room was quite knowledgeable, very friendly, and willing to put up with my friend and I obsessing over the teas in there for the better part of an hour! We ended up purchasing two favorite greens, Genmaicha and Bangkok (a Sencha blended with coconut, ginger, lemongrass and vanilla.) Next it was on to the shop room, which featured teas in tins (loose or sachet bags) for purchase, along with tea-related gifts, honey and other add-ons, and every kind of tea accessory you could think of. A fine selection here. Lastly we moved into the attached cafe for lunch. The food is a bit on the pricey side but very delicious and well-presented. The menu has something for everyone - vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options abound. The cafe area is very small and fills up quickly, though there is additional seating outside; also they seem to have limited staff and service can be slow, so bear this in mind when timing your visit. Love the atmosphere and decor, though. We sat at the "tea bar" and first enjoyed a Tea Cheese Sampler; the Jodie sandwich with Ceasar salad and Vegetable Curry Bowl were both delicious. In summary, for a pair of tea aficionados, visiting Harney & Sons' Millerton shop made for a delightful, relaxing, and delicious afternoon off. read more

We, a party of four, arrived on a Saturday afternoon about half hour before closing; they actually invited us to enjoy the private dining room on the side. It was like having our own Dining room. Even though we were on the side, the service was impeccable, the tea sommelier (that's the best term I can think of) very knowledgeable to advise us, and the food was very fresh and simple - the way it should be. Highly recommend. read more

Had lunch here based on a recommendation from a local merchant. The tea and shop were very nice, but the food was overpriced and mediocre. We had beef sliders (4 for $20) which arrived after a 30+ minute wait and were basically small, tasteless meatballs on tiny buns. Seriously, the blandest burger I've ever had. Also had the tea-cheese sampler, which amounted to 4 very small (2 quarters side-by-side) pieces of toast, with cheese spread on them ($6). We left wishing we had our time (45 minutes) and money ($40+) back. read more

Gorgeous tasting room, shop and cafe. Needless to say the tastiest tea around but what I crave even more are the exquisite scones! It is our favorite place to stop when visiting the area and we always return with the best gifts from the lovely curated shop. read more

An EXCELLENT place to grab a quick bite or pick up some tea! Love this place! Try the Hot Cinnamon Spice tea!

The store itself has lots of flavors of tea, but the staff wasn't so friendly or attentive. They let you taste two teas which is nice, but you can get Harney Tea for less in the supermarket or even on Amazon. I wouldn't go again, wasn't worth the trip. read more

I've have been to the cafe on three occasions and find the food interesting and fresh. The desserts are delicious and of course you can get a perfectly brewed pot of tea of any variety you wish. This is, however, not a place to visit if you do not have ALOT of time to spend. Or if you are very hungry. The service is clumsy and glacial. The waitstaff seems unable to consolidate any activity. They will come to your area to, say, hand out a menu but ignore the needs of the rest of the customers nearby. They will return eventually, but don't hold your breath. On two visits the wrong order was set down before me. The third time several orders (for similar items) placed after mine arrived at other tables before mine finally came. On my most recent trip to Millerton I decided to try IRVING FARM COFFEEHOUSE - it was a much more satisfying experience. read more

This review is for the tea room and not harney because I love all their teas and I come to the store whenever I am in the area to stock up again! The tea room was so disappointing I had the chai infused French toast with honey whipped cream; the French toast didn't taste like chai at all and the whipped cream was not honey flavored it actually had no sweetener or flavoring at all. The hummus on the hummus plate was very bland and tasted only of olive oil, so we sent it back. We had the house salad which was underdressed and bland. The server was inattentive and never came back to our table until we were completely done. I will not be dining in the tea room again but I will continue shopping in the store. read more

Tea lovers paradise with a lovely lunch spot as well !

First off, I'd like to say that I'm a huge fan of Harney and Sons Tea Company. I've ordered from their online store, and had the opportunity to meet Mr. Harney (as in Mike, the 2nd generation). It's great tea, and it's the finest teapot I've ever had at any coffee bar or tea shop. And I've been to many. In all respects, the food and the tea is among the very best you can get in the United States. That being said, the point of my review is to talk about what didn't go so well. I and my aunt first entered and went to the Tea Tasting Counter, where I spoke to an employee. Seeing as we were the only customers there we decided to take full advantage of the opportunity, and asked for various samples and look and smell the different teas. Even after mentioning that we drove over an hour to get here, it was a special trip, we're from Virginia, and that we planned to buy teas to take back...he did not care. AT ALL. Every chance he got, the employee said hello and started up full conversations with other employees, customers, pretty much everyone else was more interesting than us two who said we wanted to buying customers!! His apathy was appalling. After trying approximately 7 or 8 teas he then decided to inform us that we were in fact limited to 2 tea samples, and that due to business being slow it was OK. Hmm... if business is slow, why even mention it? We said we were buying teas, what else do you want? We went over the limit because YOU the employee failed to inform us of store policy. And as there was no written form of said policy we are no way in the wrong. This employee continued to not care, or help us, and run around the counter and store while we were still waiting. I realize they do things differently in the North but bad service is bad service. After that experience, I treated my aunt to lunch in the Tea Room as it was her birthday. The food was good, tea excellent, but once again service was nothing to write home about. The fact it was her birthday, that we were treated so shabbily, and that we even made a special point of coming made what should have been a great trip rather spectacularly awful. If not for the great tea, it would have left a very bad taste in my mouth. Suffice it to say we will not be returning to the shop. Later we learned that the apathetic employee behind the counter was in truth Harney the Grandson, the 3rd generation and destined to take over the family business. The difference between the respectable, fatherly like Mr. Harney and his surfer dude California like son is mind boggling. How truly sad it is that all that hard work and effort put to make such a great company with a loyal fan base, and the future owner has an attention span of zero?! He may know his tea, but until the Grandson realizes the importance of good service, and attention to customers, the company is doomed. read more

We ate there today- while the food was delicious, the service was very lacking. We ordered the onion soup, beef sliders, and Finn, which is a toasted cheese. No complaints on the food whatsoever. Upon entering the eating area, we were never "greeted" at all. Although the dining area is extremely small, 7-8 tiny tables and a few counter seats, the server seemed totally oblivious and inattentive to his surroundings. After our food was served, he never came back to ask if everything was ok or if anything else was needed-either to our table or the table next to us. Never offered more water or any dessert. It took awhile to get his attention for the check also. I don't get it because it's just not that busy and the room is very small. If the service had been more attentive, I could have given 5 stars, the food was that good. read more