Never had a bad meal there. Grab your favorite wine and relax with family. It's a peaceful wholesome experience.

Magical place to visit. Seems like another world. It's like old world Russia in this compound the food was very good and the selection of teas is amazing. read more

5 stars for the outdoor aesthetics. Food was good. I had the borscht just to try it once and it was okay, not my thing. The crab cakes were probably the best I've ever had. I ordered the beef stroganoff, it was good. My friend liked her chicken Kiev. I couldn't wait to try the Napoleon but they sold out right before I ordered it. Service was slow so I couldn't help but to think I missed out because of that. So both of us had the lemonade cake which was really good but more like a sliver then a slice. Quite pricey but it's going toward God's work and visually a experience so worth the one time splurge. read more

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Unique restaurant, unique experience. We were there for lunch, which they call "tea" but is a five course meal that includes meat and chicken. They have a selection of over 50 teas and they serve it in an assortment individual china teapots. Most of the food is served family style and included small portions of 6 desserts, 36 pieces for my table of 6. The menu is recited and is limited in choices but in this setting it feels natural because the dinning room does not feel like a restaurant but more like an opulent home, so a couple of choices seems natural. In the summer they serve in their large gardens, I am going to try the garden service next week and will report on that. Good service and good price. read more

What a treat to visit the Royal Eagle! Excellent experience! Great food, Friendly Staff!

A definite must have! First of all, the setting of the restaurant is probably the most unique and beautiful that I have so far seen in Michigan! I couldn't believe my eyes when we pulled up to this place, as I was instantly transported back to my native St. Petersburg Russias church! The grounds are out of this world beautiful, and my only regret was not seeing this during the lighter hours, but the candle glow and dimmed lights made it magical nonetheless. The restarunt itself is beautiful as well, quaint, and authentic russian, complete with the waitresses wearing the traditional Russian gowns. As for the food, we started with the Pelmeni (meat dumling) and the Borsh, and I will say the borsh was quite amazing, and this is coming from people who eat this soup on a monthly, sometimes weekly basis. The hot fresh bread with butter was a wonderful accompaniment! For the mains were the Kulebyaka (salmon en croute) and chicken Kiev, both were great, even though the traditional kulebyaka name should not have been used in this case, as it involves more more ingredients such as eggs and rice baked in, but it was quite delicious nevertheless. Dessert was of course the Napoleon, along with a traditionally served Russian tea. Very tasty, and a mist have in my opinion. Overall, we loved the whole experience, and we will be back! You should definitely pay a visit if you are in the area, just be sure to reverse in advance! read more

This is the true definition of "hidden gem". I have lived in and around Detroit my whole life and have never even heard a peep about this place. One of my friends discovered it in some research she was doing for our monthly supper club. The restaurant itself is set inside a Russian Orthodox Monastery. And then the Monastery is set in a random subdivision. There is a gravel parking lot just a short walk down the street. Upon our entrance, there was a nice man at the gate to greet us and give us a quick run down of some rules regarding cell phones and how to get over to the restaurant. Once you walk through the first two gates, you are enveloped by beautiful gardens, water features, and a large pond with multiple bridges. The grounds alone are worth a trip here! Onto the main event: dinner time! The restaurant is small and observes a conservative dress code. It is filled with eclectic religious artifacts and really is an eyeful. The servers also dress the part. Noah had the (un)fortunate task of serving our somewhat rowdy 15 person party and he was absolutely fantastic. My fiance and I decided to split each course. We began with the Pelmani, which were delightful. The garlic sauce was the real star of the dish! Next, we had the Hungarian Goulash (we had the entree split by the kitchen for $7 so we could each have our own sides). This was a bit different than what I envision goulash as. It is stewed beef with flavorful sauce paired with dumplings (reminded me of spatzl). My meat was tender, but once mixed with the dumplings, I felt there could have been a bit more seasoning. A few people at the table also noted their meat was on the tougher side. My favorite part of the whole dish? The roasted carrots (and this is coming from a T-Rex level carnivore). The way they were roasted brought out their natural sweetness mixed with a generous pinch of salt and pepper seasoning - delicious! To wrap up dinner we had to try Russian Napoleon which is a house specialty, I recommend you do that same! And it is a very generous desert. There were 3 of us working on our plate and even then we probably ate a little more than we should have! For the 3 dishes our bill was $57, which can be on the pricier side for some people. For a restaurant of this type, I did not feel it was too much by any means. And for a "split" entree, I felt we received a very generous portion of food. One note, they do not serve beer or wine, but you are able to bring your own bottle! They have no problem uncorking it for you. Nostrovia! read more

A great place, definitely get the Beef Stroganoff, the Polish platter, the borscht and the crab cakes. All of them are the best I have ever tasted. read more

Nestled in the quaint neighborhood streets of Harper Woods, among the homes and schools, is a luncheon experience you wouldn't expect. When at the gates before The Royal Eagle Restaurant, you're greeted by a sign requesting no cell phones, no shorts, skirts, or sleeveless tops, and no gum chewing. Upon entering, you will quickly realize you have left the line of small mid century homes behind you and stepped into the tranquil and ornate surroundings of St. Sabbas Orthodox Monastery. This is where The Royal Eagle restaurant calls home. Twice a week, the parishioners open their doors for a midday Russian tea luncheon. The luncheon is one of only two limited weekly offerings the monastery has; the other being a dinner on Thursday nights, currently with a six week wait. The tea service does not have quite the waitlist, but is only served Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m. with reservations required. I was intrigued by the whole concept and the juxtaposition of this restaurant inside a monastery inside a neighborhood, so I ventured in. I was greeted by friendly waitstaff in traditional garb. Seated quickly, I was given a brief introduction to the restaurant, the menu of teas, and the set luncheon menu. The atmosphere is initially peaceful, though the conversation of the other patrons was lively; a cacophony of chitchat and sipped tea. The decor might be a turnoff for some, as it is reminiscent of the nicest room in someone's Russian grandmother's house. The tea selection is diverse, served quickly, and at the perfect temperature. I enjoyed a lavender earl grey tea while I waited for the first course, which was borscht. Borscht, for the uninitiated, is a soup featuring beets. It was delicious with delicate flavors. The beets were not overwhelming, and the fresh dill complimented the earthy tones in the dish. The next round was several small tea sandwiches, featuring brie cheese, smoked salmon, black forest ham, and cucumber, of course. The brie was to be topped with a cranberry walnut sauce, but after a conversation with the waitress, she quickly accommodated me with those sandwiches sans nuts. Next, the main dish of the lunch, a green salad with a raspberry vinaigrette on the side of baked chicken on a stick in cream sauce. While the name lacked some flair, the chicken was moist and flavorful. The portions were modest, so some coming with an appetite would perhaps expect more. Initially my server explained that dessert was a surprise, but considering my nut allergy, the surprise was quickly revealed: a peanut butter brownie and blueberry scone. Since my allergy wasn't to peanuts, I proceeded. The scone wasn't too dry or crumbly and was a perfect companion for tea. The brownie was likely the best brownie I have consumed to date. If you enjoy a fudgy brownie, with peanut butter frosting that actually tastes of peanut, you are in for a treat. I definitely went into The Royal Eagle with some silly misconceptions in mind. They accept credit cards, which surprised me for some reason. They proudly display their, "People love us on Yelp!" sticker. And an overturned teaspoon revealed the answer to an age old question: yes, monks do shop at Ikea. While the decor may be more traditional, there is nothing dated or out of touch with the restaurant's offerings. It delivers on making the lunch tea service a really special and high quality dining experience. I would recommend to give them a try, if this fine luncheon sounds like it would be your cup of tea. read more

I have only been to this facility once as a surprise date for me and my wife. I had read about it in an architectural digest that was highlighting some of the finer things in the Detroit and boy were they right. The grounds first off are amazing, you are greeted at the front gate by a gentleman and my wife was wearing a very moderately long skirt but did not touch her knees, apparently this is a nono and they had a sarong for my wife to put on over her skirt. SO we had no problems with that. Dinner is served on on THURSDAYS and I had to make reservations weeks in advance, this isn't a place you can just walk into and have dinner unfortunately. The food is excellent, the borscht was awesome and so was the garlic soup I had. We sat right in front of the fireplace which was an excellent spot to enjoy our meal. The cost was about $100 for dinner for two with wine and dessert. Not a terribly expensive cost for a romantic dinner for two in a spot like no other. Parking is on the street (which is in a residential neighborhood) and since my wife didn't know where we were going for dinner and why I asked her to dress up it made for interesting conversation as we rolled through the neighborhood and she asked me who's house we were going to for dinner. It was a night to remember and definitely a very nice place to take someone from out of town or from the Detroit area to bask in one of the Jewels of the Metro Detroit area. read more

My friends and I came here on for dinner after hearing a few friends rave about the experience at Royal Eagle. I honestly didn't know what to expect ... a still-functioning monastery in Michigan ... that serves dinner?? What?! Well, yes, yes there is one and it is a beautiful place. The scenery is full of flowers and Russian-inspired decor. The staff is very friendly - all are attendees of the church and are serving on a volunteer basis. The table setting and room decor of the restaurant was so beautiful and interesting. We came for an 8:30 reservation and the restaurant area was packed when we arrived. We were seated in a wing of the restaurant and while the staff was so accommodating, the service was very slow. We ordered a few entrees and didn't receive our food until 10 pm. My friends and I ordered the Krakow Platter, Beef Wellington, the Salmon/Puff Pastry special, Rack of Lamb, the vegetarian dish, and the Orange Roughy dish. I really enjoyed my Krakow Platter as did my friends who had their respective dishes. The platter was huge and I had enough for lunch the next day! I am very curious to see what afternoon tea is like here and will need to wait until I can take a day off work. Be sure to adhere to the dress code and know that you can bring in your own wine! The waitress was so knowledgeable and let us on the in about special menus and even the history of the church. I loved the experience but wish I wasn't half asleep by the time I got my food! read more

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A charming Russian Orthodox monastery in the middle of a Harper Woods residential neighborhood. They're only open for dinner one night a week, Thursdays, and the night I went was beautiful with the picturesque gardens in full bloom. Dinner outside was absolutely perfect (although by the end the mosquitos started coming out...this being Michigan and all...). I had the borscht (which was excellent) and the Chicken Kiev (also excellent). For dessert, I had a bite of my companion's fried banana cheesecake, which was sinfully delicious (ironic, since the restaurant helps to support a Russian Orthodox monastery and parish). I also had their drink specialty, a fermented raisin beverage, similar in consistency to an IPA (and served in a beer mug) but with a raisin flavor. All in all an excellent evening. read more

This was one of my favorite dinners in a long time. Between the location, the food and the service, it was top notch. The ambiance is really nice and the interior gives you the feel of Russian ethnicity without being cheesy. The menu has great choices, very unusual things that you aren't going to find at most places. We started with caviar & bruschetta, and meat dumplings. Both were very good. I had salmon in pastry with creme fraiche & blue cheese sauce with potatoes and carrots. The piece of salmon was massive, it could have fed 3 people and was delicious. No scrimping here. My son had the Krakow platter with sausage, sauerkraut, stuffed cabbage and the best pirogi I've ever had. His gf had the borscht soup, which was way better then I expected and Chicken Paprikash, also delicious. There wasn't a thing we didn't rave about. Everything was served on fine china, and each plate was refreshed between courses. I didn't get any pictures because it felt too gauche, the atmosphere was definitely refined and understated elegance. The chef came out and introduced himself and inquired if everything was to our liking. How nice! Finally - it's Bring Your Own Wine, they don't serve alcohol, and there wasn't a corkage fee. I can't wait to go back again. read more

Very unique dining experience. Recommended... but don't tell to many people they fill up fast.

what a great place. tucked away in the middle of a neighborhood in harper woods is a russian orthodox monastery. and on thursday night from 5-10 pm you can eat in their restaurant. the grounds of this monastery are amazing. someone really loves to garden. i also saw that they open up the patio in the summer. since this place is tiny, it must double the seating. i am for sure going back to eat in those gardens. the food was really good. my companion and i had beef stroganoff and paprikash. both were the kind of fall apart delicious that only comes from all day slow cooking. we were pleasantly surprised by their sorbets after dinner. blood orange was soooo good. to make it wven better, the staff is dressed in russian clothing and there is some really nice antiques to gaze upon while eating. would be a perfect date place. love, juston. ps. eating there is considered a donation. read more

The grounds were beautiful. The servers were gracious. The food was very fair. You should have 4 of each kind of tea sandwich for 2 people not 3-very awkward to not have an even number- either 2 of each or 4 of each for 2 people. Same with the main course. Each person should have this/her own plate for $22. A few mandarin oranges in the salad would have been nice with a sesame seed dressing. read more

i like food there...but each time i come here, they (entrance check)not happy with my outfit...im christian orthodox so i know what outfit is expected... they asked me to cover my neck this time(i had dress knee long with long sleeve)...they gave me skirt to wear under my dress..i was disappointed when i entered restaraunt it were women there who was in short dresses with open shoulders...so maybe i look like threat for monk no matter what i wear? service and food is still very nice. read more

All of the amazing reviews are TRUE! This place is a gem. I can't wait to go back in the summer to really appreciate the grounds. I had the Chicken Kiev, it was amazing, the best chicken I've even eaten (and I've had my fair share!). My boyfriend had the Krakow Platter, WOW, the little bit he was willing to share was amazing. Highlights were the pirogi's and stuffed cabbage (but it was all amazing). I wasn't as blown away with the borscht as everyone else, but it was still very good. Kvas was delicious, definitely worth trying. As full as we were, we couldn't pass up on dessert and tea. The Napolean cake was worth saving a lil room for. Loved bringing our own wine (no corkage fee), bonus! Our waitress was lovely too, everyone working was very pleasant. Restaurant was very busy, so I would definitely make reservations. Really enjoyed this place. read more

I love this place. It definitely is a treasure. The gardens outside and luxurious interior are stunning. I always get the borscht and caviar which is first rate. This is the perfect setting for a romantic evening out. read more

This place is amazing!!!! Have lived nearby for 10 years and never knew this jewel was right here. I had the stroganoff, which was delish!! Bring your own wine and they uncork at no charge. The service was perfect and I love the cultural influences, it makes me want to learn more about the monastery and their faith. Make sure you stop bin the monastery - it is amazing!!! I will most definitely be back, especially come spring when the gardens are blooming. read more

I love that you can now bring your own wine. Make sure to get reservations far ahead of time. Also, if you're a woman, make sure to have on pants or a dress below your knees, or they'll make you borrow one of their skirts. I'm really not into the policing of women's bodies, but it's a beautiful, romantic garden with great food. read more

Wonderful oasis in the middle of the city. Food was wonderful, with complex flavors and nothing overpowered. Teas were incredible. Sit back and enjoy seven courses of incredible food. Highly recommended. read more

This is an original and super immaculate gourmet restaurant. Thew staff is super friendly and the food is fantastic. The Russian Napoleon dessert is the best. read more

Absolutely incredible meal. It's a 6-acre Russian Orthodox monastery and compound in Harper Woods, Michigan. You'd never expect to find something like this in a quiet, residential neighborhood. Everything about this place is wonderful--the beautiful garden, Koi Pond, the service, and especially, the food. It's basically, a Continental menu with several Eastern European entrees. We went with another couple and had crab cakes for an appetizer. Our entrees included Beef Stroganoff, a sampler plate of Slavic food, and Duck Confit. Everything was amazing. The only problem is, it's only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with two seatings per night. We had to make our reservations two months in advance. Well worth it. read more

We had lunch at the Royal Eagle today and agree the facility and gardens are hidden treasurers. My rating of 2 supports that but our meal was lacking for many things. First our waitress was very inattentive. We waited a long time to be waited on and she seemed bored with the whole process. The lunch is a fixed menu and we had four people. The soup was not warm. The sandwiches were fine. The chicken and salad we received would hardly feed one person and we were to split it for four people! We questioned her as to why this seemed like a very small portion for our group and she told us it was the right size. A few minutes later a table next to us received a massive plate of food! For $22 per person, a bored waitress and lack of good food we won't return. read more

Upon entering the grounds of this beautiful monastery, I immediately felt transported to a place of peace and tranquility. The restaurant's European ambience and decor was a perfect complement to the monastic gardens where the restaurant is located. I came here for the afternoon tea luncheon and from the moment we were greeted at the door, we were treated as special guests. The tea menu was exceptional and well-explained to us. I especially enjoyed the unique, teapots brought to the table for each of our tea choices! The food was carefully prepared and beautifully presented. Our waiter, Noah, did a nice job of timing our different courses at a relaxed pace so that my friends and I were able to enjoy a lovely afternoon together, without feeling rushed. I cannot wait to return and share this experience again with others. I'd like to try the dinner menu, too. Delightful! read more

Food was good but not 100% authentic. Wait staff was excellent as was the atmosphere. No selection of caviar, only one option, which was disappointing. read more

Outstanding food and service, wonderful authentic Russian Imperial ambience and decor. The setting in the Monastery is unique, and a window into the spiritual and cultural world of Russian Orthodoxy. As to the food, amazing! The shrimp cocktail is beautiful, with very large shrimp.The Beef Stroganoff is of the highest possible quality, made with filet mignon. The rack of lamb is excellent, and cooked exactly to order. The portions are generous. The desserts and everything else are house made. I heartily recommend this place. read more

Amazing place, exquisite food, unique experience, will come again. The monastery is in a middle of a quiet residential area, we parked in a street. We were welcomed by a monk in full uniform, after which the waiters in traditional Russian dresses looked quite organically. We selected to be seated in the beautiful patio. The place is small and quiet: no music, no TVs, no WiFi, diners are asked to turn off their cell phones. It is an active monastery after all. They don't sell wine but encourage guests to bring their own wine, which we did. There was no bottle opening fee. For appetizers we ordered red caviar (it came on finger breads that were so-so) and garlic-marinated portabella (delicious). We continued with Ukrainian borscht, it was authentic and delicious, only I'd preferred if they served Russian black rye bread with it instead of the regular white bread. For entrées we had pastry-wrapped salmon "Kulibiaka" (delicious) and slow-cooked Beef Stroganov (exquisite). For dessert we had a strudel with a kettle of tea. We didn't want to leave. For the quality of food and overall experience, the price was very moderate. read more

This place is a hidden gem! Food is amazing but the atmosphere is even better. It's hard to get in because they are only open for dinner on Thursday night, and lunch on Tuesday and Thursday. Definitely a must try! read more

I adore this place! Amazing to find this St. Sabbas Russian Orthodox monastery in the middle of a Harper Woods neighborhood. The area surround the restaurant is so peaceful and beautiful. Many water features and a variety of gorgeous flowers. If it is open, take a peak at the church--beautiful! I have only been to the Royal Eagle for lunch, and the food is decent. Service is great and love the atmosphere. I understand the dinners are excellent. Be sure not to wear too short a skirt or revealing top. They will give you something to cover up with if they find your clothing not in keeping with the sacred space around the Royal Eagle restaurant. read more

This place certainly exceeded my expectations. The gardens are beautiful and the staff is very courteous. The room is very cozy. The food was delicious!!! I will definitely be coming back! read more

We enjoyed our very first "tea" today at the Royal Eagle! It was everything we hoped for, & then some! Upon arrival, the grounds are just so beautifully captivating and take you away to that European feel. Unfortunately the rain hampered our really being able to take in more of the ambiance. Once inside the restaraunt however we began the most delightful, epicurean adventure. Each of us had our own pot of hot tea of our choice & gladly tasted & shared each. It was an amazing experience! Each was so uniquely different. The longer they seeped, the deeper the flavor while maintaining such smoothness & aromas. The tea lunch menu is set, but beautifully done. The borscht was to die for! The colors of the beets, broth, cabbage and dollop of sour cream were so pleasing to the eye! The first bite made me feel as though I died and went to heaven! There were four varieties of tea sandwiches. All were so beautifully & artistically prepared & succinctly different from each other. While they were very delicious, I would have preferred the bread either a little softer and buttered, or a little crunchier or toasted and buttered. The next course of hot boneless, skinless chicken served on a wonderful platter of mixed greens and sliced cucumbers dressed in the most tantalizing raspberry balsamic vinaigrette dressing was The Best! The final course of Madelines, fresh whipped cream and a variety of petit fours was very elegant. While the petit fours are typical for teas, most of us would have preferred something a little less sweet and chocolately such as a tiny tart or some fabulous melt in your mouth cookies. We will go back in a heartbeat! Already made reservations! read more

We Went to the Royal eagle in August. Originally we had reservations for four but the other couple had an emergency come up and we're unable to attend. We thought about canceling the reservation altogether, but boy are we ever thankful that we did not do so! The food was fabulous I have not had beef Wellington like that in many many years! The Cream of garlic soup & borsch were excellent. We enjoyed the fresh garden green salad. They use their own fresh herbs to season everything and it really does make a difference! The gardens are incredible! Peaceful beauty that felt like being in the garden of Eden in the middle of the city. It felt like we were in Russia and we were treated with genuine hospitality and great service. This is quite an experience in fine dining! Taking another couple or small group of family/friends out here would make a fabulous gift that will leave everyone with wonderful memories. read more

If there were more stars the Royal Eagle would get them for sure. The Chef Peter is an awesome cook, the staff very pleasant and the atmosphere second to none. I have eaten inside and outside but I prefer outside. The gift shop is nice and the church unique and as someone else posted it is sacred grounds very well kept gardens and the ambiance is so serene. And yes reservation are needed because they are only there a few days a week so they fill up fast. I feel like a queen when I go there the staff is just awesome! read more

I went with my kayak friends for a lunch in Oct 2013. It is like is says: right smack dab in the middle of a neighbor with street parking. You have to wait to be let in. Wonder if the neighbors have gotten used to cars and buses parking on their side streets? The gardens were still beautiful, so I can imagine what they look like in the summer months. I plan on going back to have tea and eat outside summer of 2014. The store is nice to browse if you like eastern decor. They do also have homemade products to buy. The waitstaff were dressed in their native clothes. Our waitress was very nice and helpful. We were first served our tea. Then a nice enough salad, The lunch was chicken salad on crossiants. Don't know if they always serve this for lunch. For dessert we had apple strudel with whipped creme. It came right out of the refrigerator and was cold. Would of been better room temperature or warm. With the lecture it came to around $25.00. Would do tea next time. The building is small but quaint and charming. Right up my alley. When calling for reservations ask for the room off by its self looking out at the fountain. It is just one room and very private. The grounds are the best thing. You can relax on the bridge on patio chairs looking out over the pond. The flowers would be spectacular in June and July. We plan on having dinner there in Dec. They said they really decorate for the holidays. Check out the dinner menu. Remember it is only open Tues and Thurs for tea and Thursdays for dinner. You can bring your own wine. No charge. The prices are fair for this kind of dining and for the atmosphere. They say the desserts are heavenly. It is about 45 mins from our house but if you are looking for a different dining adventure this a unique place to take family or friends. I am bringing my family and not telling them where we are going. I am looking forward to going back soon. read more

Absolutely wonderful! I've had both "Tea" and dinner with them - the food was excellent and the service was friendly and good. I can't recommend them enough and will be going again and again. It is worth the drive for me (about 25 miles). Visit the little gift shop for a unique memento and admire the gardens and wood-working throughout. If you're lucky, you can even enter the chapel - men and women must be properly attired (preferably dress/skirt). No cell phone usage throughout - what a treat is that to actually enjoy a meal without having to hear someone's conversation or keypad clicking!1 read more

We went for the tea yesterday and it was a truly beautiful day. The gardens around this place are amazing and we found out there were only two monks on the grounds; the Abbot - who is the gardener - and Fr. Dulcima with long white hair and beard who greeted us on arrival. The monastery/restaurant is in a small neighborhood. They are in the process of building more "cells" for more monks to arrive. On the table was a small post card with the variety of teas on the back. We had a five-course tea, with tea as number 1, Borscht #2, canapes #3, chicken and salad #4, and dessert #5. You can pick one tea but if you order a different tea the second time around, you are charged and additional $5. With a cost of $20 for this lunch, and extra $5 is not too much. The borscht was the best I've ever had; looked more like a tomato base but was a beet base with carrots, celery, and onions with sour cream and dill to garnish. The canapes consisted of a cucumber sandwich on bread cut to look like a 4-leaf clover, salmon, ham, and brie with raspberry sauce. The chicken was paprika chicken on a skewer, served on a bed of spring mix with raspberry dressing. The dessert was a brownie and another cookie but for the life of me I can't remember what it was. It was, however, very good. The service is friendly and good and the restaurant and grounds are clean and beautiful and while you're eating you can look at the grounds and the fountains and all the birds that come to take a bath. All in all, a VERY good $20 spent. The ONLY bad thing is if you wanted to go again to the tea, you would receive the same lunch. Too bad they don't have at least two menus for the tea. read more