What a lovely afternoon at Nudi Blue in Berkeley! By the grace of God, we somehow managed to experience their afternoon tea on their very last day of service before they close for a few months to regroup, rethink, and decide what comes next. And what a way to go out. I can safely say this was the best food I've ever had at an afternoon tea. Rather than the usual predictable assortment, the menu was creative, beautifully presented, and genuinely interesting--from the pastries and tartlets to the wonderfully inventive tea sandwiches. Even the tea selection itself was unusual and fun to explore. The service was lovely, and the owner came over to spend some time chatting with us, which made the afternoon feel even more special. Most importantly, wonderful food, wonderful company, and lots of laughter around the table. I'm so glad we happened to get in under the wire. Here's hoping Nudi Blue's next chapter is every bit as special as this one. read more

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I love Tanzie's and I adore afternoon tea (of which we have very limited options in the East Bay), so when I saw that the owners were going to open a Thai-inspired afternoon tea place near my work, I was stoked to have a potential new place for lunch. My friend and I went the first week they opened, and while I understand having various hiccups at the start of a new business, I have never in my life had an afternoon tea that took three whole hours. We had a reservation so they knew we were coming. They weren't baking pastries to order and they certainly weren't short staffed. The concept and presentation were breathtaking but the execution not so much. I liked maybe half of the pastries and disliked the others because of their flavor or texture. My friend is a pastry chef and agreed. There was no clotted cream or jams for the scones either. Then they went and revamped everything completely. No more afternoon tea at all despite the very clear demand and interest. They only have espresso and tea drinks plus a limited selection of pastries now. It was absolutely empty when I walked in mid-afternoon with a sole single worker. I went to this location frequently when it was Highwire and I go to Lavender nearby as well so I know how packed they can both get. I truly wish this business success but now it is just another cafe of many to choose from in the area that has nearly completely lost its uniqueness and charm. At the time of this review, Nudi Blue's website and Instagram still advertise their afternoon tea service so I do have hope that it'll return someday, or that their plans to do the evening raw seafood menu are still in the works. Needless to say, I'm saddened and disappointed at what happened to this place in such a short amount of time with the amount of hype it was getting in the press and social media. The potential was definitely there but I feel strongly that it was taken in the wrong direction. read more

Beautiful afternoon tea experience with my sister in law. Gorgeous plating but more importantly, we were graced with deliciously creative bites. There was a robust tea selection with some being premium grade. Service was friendly and space was cute. Very IG'able. read more

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Nudity Blue on San Pablo block near post office so stumbled in on errands. Very calming ambience, cool natural wood tables. My snack order a tasty puff pastry chicken turnover and Americano. Woah, presented on tray with ceramic plate gave understated simplicity to order. Not pricey tho with tip under $13. Definitely will return! soon read more

Nudi Blue - Puff pastry turnover - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

The space is beautiful with many options including 2 couch options, a small bar at a window, a mix of small and long tables inside, and an outdoor space in the back. The decor, colors and textures felt inviting. For people seeking a good atmosphere for cozy chats, group gatherings, or a daytime workspace with access to café-style drinks and treats. I tried the strawberry matcha latte and found it very yummy and not too sweet. I also enjoyed the strawberry cheese pastry. read more

Does the East Bay need another graceful and relaxing cafe for remote work or studying? Selfishly, I say yes although I had really enjoyed the Thai high tea service at Nudi Blue, which briefly shuttered to pivot to a standard cafe. Despite press accolades and being the sister establishment to Tanzie's, the cafe simply did not have enough support from the local economy, judging from being among only a handful of tables on the last day of that model. Reviewers who ding them for departing from that vision likely aren't paying the rent. I'm grateful that, even for a limited number of days, Nudi Blue is adding variety to the area with unique loose-leaf teas, drinks like the yuzu espresso tonic, and pastries. The environs also offers an outdoor backyard seating and WiFi. Here's to supporting local ownership. read more

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I'm thrilled to report that Nudi Blue has reopened for business after they decided what came next. We stopped yesterday for a light lunch with beverages. We savored the chicken curry puff (from a family recipe) and the spinach feta pastry. We also ordered a small arugula-based salad. Everything was delicious. Our espresso based drinks were on point. Matcha is on the menu, and many teas, for those inclined. The ambiance is very inviting, with blonde wood paneling, happy plants, framed art prints, pendant lights, a vintage bird cage, and other cozy elements, along with a generous back patio. The music also set the right tone without being overbearing, allowing us to converse. Last but not least, we also loved meeting the friendly owner, Binn, who provided excellent customer service , helping me decide on the chicken curry puff and fulfilling curiosities about the business name and history. We'll definitely be back for more! read more

Nudi Blue - Some of the inviting design elements that impressed me (midcentury modern with dashes of contemporary and vintage) - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

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What an absolute delight!! We did the tea service - everything was so wonderful. The service was sooooo friendly and passionate. The bites were interesting and flavorful. The space was so cute. We absolutely can not wait to come back for another tea service! read more

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Wonderful cafe with tasty pastries, my go-tos are Yozu Espresso tonic and the chicken curry pastry but all of them are good. Kids enjoy the lemonade. Friendly staff and welcoming place, plus there is a piano we like to use when we visit. Decor is nice with an outdoor patio and smooth ambiance. Come and support local businesses! read more

Beautiful afternoon tea experience at Nudi Blue The presentation was stunning and every bite was delicious. You can truly feel the attention to detail in both the food and atmosphere, and the quality of the ingredients really shines through. Highly recommended read more

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Nudi Blue just reopened today!! We happened to walk by and they welcomed us in warmly with kindness. The iced matcha latte was absolutely delicious-- very authentic! The chocolate chip cookie was also outstanding. I highly recommend this special cafe. read more

Delectable and picture-ready Thai "high tea" sweets and savory bites. Two teas for each person. Staff were friendly, informative and attentive. Lovely atmosphere for sharing food and conversation. The tropical flavors were particularly outstanding and inventive in presentation. read more

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Friendly owners and great service! The ambiance was lovely. Delicious pastries as well!!

I made a reservation for Mother's Day brunch and specified that I'm a diabetic. I was told that it's a fixed menu so most things are sugary and starchy. I was given the option to sit and watch my family eat while my items get packed up. I asked if I could get a big salad or a savory crepe instead, but apparently that's a substitution and not allowed. Even the savory crepe is apparently not a crepe, but a cone filled with sugar! Also no gluten free options. The explanation that I received for their inflexibility is that they're a concept restaurant so you should only go there if you like everything they're serving. They even gave me an example - if you don't like fish, don't go to a seafood restaurant. I guess the concept of this restaurant is come here if you want to get diabetes, but don't come here if you already have it. As a diabetic, I've not come across any restaurants where I couldn't find something that I was happy to eat. Most restaurants are very accommodating of health restrictions. I don't think they understand or empathize with people with a medical condition. This is different from having food preferences. I didn't choose to have a disease and in my case this was not a result of lifestyle or diet choices. This is pretty upsetting and now it's too late for us to find other Mother's Day reservations. read more

We tried to order some pastries to go - the mini croissants w cream. I was assured it would take 5 mins or so to prep, and was happy to wait. Actual wait time was about 20 mins. Pastries were tasty, and the service was very warm. Obviously they are not set up for to go and this is a place best suited for a sit down meal. read more

I feel a moral obligation to write this review today to save anyone who loves Tanzie's, and was excited about the opening of Nudi Blue, from substantial disappointment and heartbreak. My young son took me here on Mother's Day because he knew I'd been wanting to try it. While the staff was very nice, the other aspects of the experience were more than a little disappointing. Rather than a play-by-play, I'll just highlight a few of the major issues: * The wait time for food was very long. We were the third table seated of the day, but it took 40 minutes to see the first plate of food. There was a second 40 minute wait for the second course. This is confusing for a restaurant with a fixed menu that had our reservation and knew not only when we would be arriving but what we would be ordering. * Two of the items my son received had strands of hair in them, one in each of the two courses. The first hair was in the citrus tart, which was the item he was most excited about. It made me super sad that this item made him gag because of the hair, especially after he was so hungry because we'd been waiting so long for food. The second item with a hair in it was the duck pâté. The hair was inside of the sandwich, embedded in the pâté. He lost his appetite after this, and didn't feel like he wanted to try the remaining items on his plate. We took them to go in a box, but were both wary of eating them because of the earlier hairs. * The teas were good, but some of them should only be seeped for a little while, then the bag should be removed to prevent them from becoming bitter. We were not supplied with any place to place the tea bags if we wanted to remove them, and it felt wrong to place a wet tea bag onto plates of small pastries, so we left them in and didn't finish our tea. This is a weird oversight for a place that has designated itself a tea house. * Our first server was very nice, but then disappeared with no explanation or announcement. Our second server was also very nice, but when we discreetly let him know about the hairs, we got the sense that he was accustomed not just to negative experiences, but possibly this specific complaint. His response was super quick and courteous, but gave us the impression he was not surprised. He said he would let the chef know. We were offered the same item remade, but my son was already feeling queasy from the first two and did not want to try again. No other accommodation was offered, but other than reimbursement for the food, I don't know what else could have been done. I worked in food service for many years, and hair in the food is a big no-no because it ruins the diner's ability to enjoy the food afterwards. There shouldn't be hair in the food anywhere, but especially not at this price point and especially not twice. * We haven't mentioned the food quality, because this was not the biggest issue, but I will also say, we were disappointed with this as well. We each should have had the same things on our plates, but the preparations were inconsistent. My son's guava-cream stuffed croissant was missing the guava-cream stuffing, but mine was not. A scone with blood orange on my plate was ok, but my son's was soggy and fell apart when he tried to pick it up. The bread on the cucumber sandwiches was curling at the edges and tasted stale. Most items felt like the sorts of bland things kids make in the kitchen at home when they are playing tea party, scones with different toppers. The bill was $167 for 2 with sparkling water. We are now scrambling some eggs at our house and trying to laugh it off as a lesson learned. In the end, my son and I got to bond over this shared experience, so we are not upset. We are providing this feedback because we hate the idea of people who have maybe saved up for a special experience feeling tricked out of their money, and because we recognize this a new place that may still be finding their footing. We are now skeptical of the concept, but we still love Tanzie's, and we wish the owners well. We will be trusting Tanzie's for the next special occasion. read more

Nudi Blue - My son is a fancy-food lover who was excited to take me out for Mother's Day, but was deeply disappointed by the food and service, poor kid - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

A winner! Had to try Nudi Blue during its opening weekend, as I love, love, love their sister restaurant, Tanzies. Unlike any other high tea in the Bay Area. Attention to detail in every way, from stoneware to tea selections, to architecture and taste of every sandwich and pastry. Beautiful live piano music serenaded throughout. As with Tanzies, I was made to feel like I was a guest in their house, the service was so warm and welcoming. Will be back soon... read more

Nudi Blue - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

Such an amazing environment! The food is exquisite and the presentation is so glorious. The servers were all kind and passionate about the tea service. Will definitely be back. read more

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We went to Nudi Blue toncelebrate our daughter's 21st birthday. The staff was very helpful to explain the menu and tea options. The tea choices were amazing! I had the peach tea which was very tasty and high quality. The food was delicious!! They have an indoor area and and outdoor patio which was lovely on a sunny afternoon. Highly recommend Nudi Blue, esoecially for any tea lovers out there. read more

Inventive and wonderful. Such precision and excellent service. we've had teas all around the world and this was memorable. We will be returning. Highly recommend. read more

I went to NB with a couple girlfriends, and we had a lovely time! The various bits in the tea menu were delicious, thoughtfully composed, and beautifully presented. The experience was leisurely and not rushed. And, the interior was pretty and peaceful. I'm looking forward to visiting again and trying some of the à la carte items! read more

We went during their soft opening and the staff was already so knowledgeable about all the teas they offer. Very interesting to learn about the jungle tea and all the other teas they source! Tasted great, amazing pastries, and lovely spot! Inspired by nudibranch sea slugs and they hinted at some decorations that'll add to the ambiance, can't wait to see! read more

Nudi Blue - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California