Order Russian Tea Time Takeout or Delivery
Russian Tea Time Photos
Business Info
Russian Tea Time Popular Dishes
RUSSIAN TEA TIME ATMOSPHERE
What's the vibe?
You might also consider
More like Russian Tea Time
Recommended Reviews - Russian Tea Time
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
OooooMmmmGggg, I cannot believe this gem!!!! A friend getaway ended in magnificance at thei restaurant. WOW!! The foood was sooo incredible but the service... the service was the BEST!!!! Yahor K was amazing!!! Literally made us feel at home!! Who said you can't do High Tea on a Monday!!!! This place is awesome!!
My friend and I have been wanting to try caviar so we decided to check out Russian Tea Time after taking a look at the menu. We started off with the caviar which came with blintzes on the side, egg salad, chopped onions, and sour cream. We ordered a bottle of champagne that was the perfect combination. We wanted to try a bunch of different items so we decided to split the Russian Tea Time platter for two as we were able to try some appetizers and then the entree plate included beef stroganoff, stuffed cabbage and chicken kebab. Everything was so tasty! My favorite food was the caviar, stuffed cabbage and for dessert we split the honey cake. The inside of the restaurant looked nicer in person than the photos I had seen online. The ambiance was sophisticated and serene. Our server was very attentive and they were quick to clear any dirty plates.
Decided to try out the famous tea time tower, however, I wasn't impressed. The biscuits were probably my favorite thing on the tower, everything else was just underwhelming (taste wise). I found that most of the mini cakes were dry and crumbly. The bread for the savory sandwiches were also very dry. I would definitely not return for the tower as there are many more options in Chicago with better quality selections. However, I would consider returning for their actual food menu. We did try the Blinchiki Combination which was very tasty. We also ordered the beef dumplings which were just what you'd expect.
Russian Tea Time is a popular restaurant right around the corner from the CSO that serves food from old Russia as well as tea service. We did the former last week and enjoyed a great sampler of apps and mains for lunch, starting with beef pelmeni, potato vareniki, Latkes, Carrot salad, Beet caviar, Chickpea paste, Tabouli, and Vinaigrette salads. Followed by mains - Beef Stroganoff, Stuffed cabbage, Chicken Kebab, Rice and Buckwheat Kasha. Food was hearty but not greasy. The salads were very fresh and bright. Went well with my Ukranian vodka sampler. Service was solid and it was a great spot to grab a bite before the CSO concert.
Came with my coworkers for an office outing and there were 19 of us. We had a room in the back and there were people in the front of the restaurant. We ordered ahead of time so that the restaurant would be ready with our food. Appetizers were a bit slow coming out to one table but the other table got them first. Out entrees came out as they were ready and we all enjoyed the food.
What a cool experience! We had a lot of tea, the afternoon sweet and savory experience, and the teatime platter for two (or something like that haha). We got to try so many things and everything was fresh and flavorful. We also tried the borscht soup. So authentic! It was a very quaint place with a soothing atmosphere. I would recommend getting reservations. We didn't but were able to get in for a limited space. This place is also very close to all the downtown activities. The beef stroganoff was amazing! Will definitely go back!
In my opinion the most traditional tea time in Chicago. You actually get what you paid for in a world where high tea includes a slice of toast and a macaroon. Ambiance is fancy do I encourage you to dress up! Server was attentive and helped us pick a platter so we could try a little bit of everything.
Service was nice. The food took a while, but I knew the items we ordered were not fast to cook. It tasted great. The scones are fine. It's not clotted cream, but it's probably not what they normally serve. It's a nice place for afternoon tea. The children were well behaved as well.
Great service, atmosphere, clean... But, the food is not good. If you are familiar with real Russian or Ukrainian food, then you will be extremely disappointed like me. However, if you have never had R/U food before, then give it a try. Perashki had almost no potatoes in them, very small size, not tasty at all. Borsh was okay, not the taste I was hoping to get. Tabule had almost no greens (the traditional tabule is mostly the greens). This was nothing even close to the traditional tabule. 3 out of 10 I would not be back to this place for food.
A friend and I went here for the teatime, and added extra teapot to the package. Every single item of food exceeded expectations. Absolutely delicious and flavorful. Extremely fresh. We added an extra pot of tea. Trying the strawberry-hibiscus tea, and the Earl Grey- lavender tea. Both were amazing. Nice relaxing atmosphere, with excellent service. Don't pass this place up!
This was a good place for afternoon tea, just not my favorite. The menu for this was a tad confusing initially, but once our server explained it, I appreciated that you can choose just exactly how much food you want for the tea service. The tea I selected was good; others I tasted at my table were fine, but I didn't see how they complimented the food. As for the food, the scones and sandwiches were quite filling and my favorite parts of the dish; the desserts were a tad lackluster for me. It took a moment for us to be serviced initially due to what looked like under staffing, but the server was attentive once we were visited.
Loved our experience here. Staff super friendly and helpful. Food was tasty and plentiful. Ate so much we shared dessert 4 ways. Smart clean setup/layout/decor - not fussy. The teapot was frequently topped up. Important to this tea drinker!
Good service and knowledgeable server. Vast menu.. We went with the classic tea service and shakshuka. The food was terrible the pastries tasted a few days old, mediocre sandwiches( how do you mess up a sandwich as a restaurant??) And the Shakshuka was a disappointment. Shakshuka is an easy dish to make and easy to make it tasty. However, it was tasteless and bland.. yuck The teas where good and they had lots options. I left the restaurant hungry but had plenty of tea I'll give this place another shot and try their other dishes because they have a lot of other items on the menu. But the things we got were terrible
First of all we really enjoyed the beautiful decor and the opportunity to have a "fancy" dinner with our kids. The food was good but seemed to need more seasoning across the board. And the service was good, if a little slow. If we could give an additional half star we would. I absolutely think Russian Tea Time is worth a visit. And I visited for dinner, but will probably return and try the tea service also. It's a unique experience and worth stopping by. read more
1 year ago
The food was good this was a new experince for me. My friend and i got the tea time order which included 2 teas of our choice, and a 3 layer thing (i cant remember what its called) filled with different finger foods. I am a bit picky so i didnt eat the stuff with hummus and salmon nor avocado. But the rest were very appealing. The tea was really good, they bring you ur own tea pot and sqaure sugars. Its really cute. Ohhh i love their bathroom they have a huge mirror and aesthetically pleasing wall of paintings and pictures hung ul The service was okay. We were ignored at the door and weren't sure if we seat ourseleves or not. Until i went up to what seemed to look like the bar area. But otherwise the server was attentive and answered our questions. I dont remember exactly what we ordered since this was some time ago A little pricey for a college student but i think it was a cute experince read more
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you so much, Helen, for sharing your experience. We’re glad you…
Absolutely phenomenal holiday tea we had here. The atmosphere is warm and comfy, they also don't rush you during your meal or tea time. Extensive menu of teas as well as beautiful main dishes or snacks. We got a tea and then ordered some beef stew (incredible), pelmeni, and piroshkis with some bread and butter. It was nice you could order dishes on the side of the tea treats so if you're really hungry, you can enjoy tea and a meal. Everything tasted homemade and fresh, the waitress was very friendly and our food came out fast. The milk oolong tea was some of the best tea I've had. We usually do fancy hotels for our holiday tea once a year, think we'll come back here instead - and maybe for tea year round! read more
Russian Tea Time has been around since the early '90s, and we came here for an afternoon tea/lunch experience. We did make reservations in advance, but they do seem to take walk-ins based upon available. We did request the booth, but note that it is a little tight. We ordered: +the Regular Tea Service - comes with a pot of tea with a tier of beginnings, savories, and sweets; I did like their little toast, as instead of using bread, they use a melba-like cracker; I didn't much care for their dessert bites +a Russian Team Time Platter - portions for 2; this came with beef pelmeni, potato vareniki, latkes, carrot salad, beet caviar, chickepea spread, tabouli, vinaigrette salads, beef stroganoff, stuffed cabbage, chicken kebab, rice, and buckwheat kasha; I did like the beginning plates with the salads, and the beef stroganoff was pretty okay, with generous amounts of meat The portions were definitely enough for our group of 4 to share, which, at first, we were a little nervous that it wasn't enough. Our server was Yevgenii, and he was friendly; we just wished he checked in on us a little bit more often for refills, replacement of plates/silverware, as well as to get the check. The decor is cozy, and I liked the figurines and statues set up between the booths. I am interested in checking out their main lunch and dinner menu on the next visit. Garage parking available nearby. +great for shareables +friendly service +reservations accepted +garage parking read more
This place is a cute small spot on the more affordable end for afternoon tea in the city. It does get busy and you need a reservation. You get 1 choice of unlimited tea, i chose their house black tea, and the stand of assortments. They walk through and explain each item so you know what's there. I don't know if they accomodate dietary restrictions but my friend and i were able to split things accordingly. The tea was a great palate cleanser between each treat. The scones were my top fav, albeit not fresh or very warm. Unfortunately overall we left kind of disappointed in the quality of selection and overall unsatisfied appetite. A lot of it felt like grocery store items tbh, especially the sweets which is what I was looking forward to the most. I really enjoy small delicacies but the price just didn't feel justified here. If you're near the art institute and want to relax and get a snack, go for it. But otherwise u might be better off saving for a better experience elsewhere! read more
10 months ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you so much, Kim! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the…
2 years ago
What a great little place to warm up on a cold winter day. This place is literally right around the corner from the front doors of the Chicago symphony hall. The fancy tea service is so pleasant. You can pick from a huge selection of flavored teas. The only thing I would change is that the tea service food has too many sweets and not enough savory. The scones are in the sweet family, and the sandwiches are just like five little bites of actual savory food. Then the desserts are also sweet - so it's too much sweet overall. Presentation is amazing, as is the service. Regarding the tea service food, maybe you can add an option other than the scones so one can choose from other tastings. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear…
We had a lovely evening celebrating the 30th anniversary of Russian Tea Time Restaurant The evening started with some specialty drinks: Earl Grey Lavendar Tea (Grand Marnier, lemon juice, and sugar syrup) Purple Papaya Tea (Gin, Triple Sec, lemon juice, Chambord, and passion fruit syrup) Potato latkes with caviar on top, deviled eggs with avocado filling, and salmon stuffed puff pastries were really delicious appetizers! The buffet featured some of their classic dishes such as: Beet Salad, Stuffed Cabbage Golubtsi, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Kiev, as well as many other delicious side dishes and fruits. Eastern European cuisine at its finest! Although they are famous for their afternoon tea service, the restaurant is perfect for weekday lunch, weekend brunch, or a fabulous dinner before going to the theatre. It's no wonder that their restaurant is a must visit restaurant in Chicago! Happy 30th Anniversary Russian Tea Time Restaurant 30 looks great on you! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear…
This is a cute place for Afternoon Tea, but also full on meals. I plan to come back and try more items off their menu, but all I had this visit was the Medovik (honey cake). The layers were soft, the cream was good, and the honey really stood out. I had never had honey cake, so this was a new experience. It was a little too sweet for me to eat all of it in one sitting, but I ate half of it and then took bites of it throughout the rest of the evening. I think I would enjoy a chocolate Medovik more, but this was still good. The staff are nice and seem to truly be a team. I placed my order with the hostess, who also brought my check and took my card, but a server returned it to me to sign before the hostess came back with my cake to go. They were both kind and seemed to enjoy their jobs. I interacted more with the hostess, who was even so kind as to offer to hold the menu for me as I took photos of it. There is some parking on the street, but you could also park beneath the Art Institute at an hourly rate. read more
Love, love, LOVE this place!!! The atmosphere is FANTASTIC! It should bring the rating up to 6. Just nice, quiet, unhurried, and a lovely place to have a pot of tea and the menu is pretty extensive. This was a last minute choice for us, and I'm SO glad we made it here. I truly wish I could've just spent the day, and continued to try more items from the menu. The service is great. Would absolutely come back here if given the chance. read more
1 year ago
Fabulous experience! Dining in such elegant surroundings was a true treat. Try the mushroom soup! read more
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you, Kris! We’re so happy to hear you had a fabulous experience…
my first time trying Russian tea, loved the fact they had a big Ukrainian flag in the front. The world needs peace not war! our server Eugene was polite and kept refilling the black currant tea at regular intervals. We got the savory platters, delicious bites of all my favorite sandwiches.I will be back again! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you so much, Mike. We’re delighted to hear that you and your…
2 years ago
2 years ago
Came in for afternoon tea! Had a great time, it was a fun lunch. We had two kids with us and they were very accommodating even with it being a little fancier - they had a kids menu that had food and sippy cups. We shared the 2 tea tower between 5 adults and then got a few appetizers to splits - potatoe dumpling, potato pancakes & herring. It was overall really good - dumplings were great and I enjoyed trying the diff samples from the towers. If you're really hungry you'd likely need to order more but we were full by the end and enjoyed it read more
I cannot recommend this place enough!! I am a semi regular at Brighton Beach mainstays and let me tell you - Russian Tea Time knows what they're doing here in Chicago!! The chicken Kyiv was the best I've ever had. And believe me, I've eaten a lot of these butter stuffed bird breasts in my time here on earth. They also have subtly prepared infused vodka. Truly bringing out the best flavors in both the vodka and the main ingredient in their distillations. read more
2 years ago
The Queen tea service was absolutely amazing. Every bite was better than the one before. The house tea was wonderful with delicious fruity notes. read more
Business owner information
Enesh M.
So glad you loved the Queen tea service, Kristin! It’s awesome to…
2 years ago
The best place in Chicago to get acquainted with real Slavic cuisine. Excellent service and very tasty without exaggeration! read more
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thanks for the great shoutout, Olesia! It’s awesome to hear you…
My friend made a reservation last minute, and apparently you need one to get in. It wasn't very busy on a Tuesday afternoon, so I'd recommend going during the week if you want it quieter. The servers were VERY nice and helpful with the menu options. We both decided to do the normal tea service. We were both under the impression that we'd be getting small finger sandwiches with it, but they came out on small crackers instead. It might have been a misread on our part, but they were still tasty! (The chicken and veggie ones were my favorite, but you also get hummus, egg salad, and a salmon one.) The scones were the stand out of the meal, as they were perfect compliments to the tea. Speaking of: the decaf raspberry is an excellent choice if you're someone who likes fruity and isn't a big tea drinker in general. Overall, a little pricey, but a fun experience to treat yourself with every once in a while. I only wish I had dressed up more! read more
2 years ago
This place, in my opinion is closer to a 3 1/5 but definitely not a 4. Great location, , great decor, good service & Tea was ok. So we had the Queen tea Service with Passion Fruit Tea, the presentation was really beautiful & had my hope up as we worked our way up from the bottom platter up. The scone was really disappointingly plain , bland & not warm so that really dampened our excitement, the crepe was above average and the butter & fruit preserve were ok, the savories- sandwiches were ok to good & did not disappoint the sweet platter were all good in my opinion. Price seem fair & unless someone puts me on to a better spot in Chicago, I would definitely would visit here again but it wouldn't be in my top ten afternoon tea spots in the US. I was expecting a bit more but the only thing that was really plain & disappointing was the scone. read more
Wow! This dollhouse of a restaurant offers all the whimsy and charm you could want! The exterior seems a bit industrial. Set on a busy street in the Chicago Loop, it sets the stage for a nice, simple restaurant. But when you walk in, the delicate dining room with elegant artwork and cozy, round booths, transport you to another place. The server we had fit perfectly. He was elegant and helpful. He also had a beautiful accent. Our entrees were prepared with expertise. We also enjoyed soup and dessert. I am still thinking about my dessert and will return soon. read more
I went with a couple of friends for a birthday celebration. We dressed up and overall had a wonderful time. We each got an afternoon tea thing and got different teas to try. The little tea snacks were delicious and the teas were phenomenal. The restroom is also very picturesque. The ambience of the place was very calm, too. I think the only thing that made me not give this a 5 star experience is that the waitstaff weren't attentive. We had to wait a bit between getting seated and giving our order. And when we got our foods, they quickly rushed off before we can ask for something. read more
1 year ago
Great service and great food. Inside feels almost cozy. Our waitress was very nice and helped suggest which tea to try. We felt very taken care of - our waitress checked on us often and the staff made sure we were never low on our drinks. The food didn't take too long to come out which was very nice. read more
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth. We are delighted to hear that you…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you, Jim, for taking the time to share your detailed feedback.…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Hi Melanie,…
Such a nice time in a charming place. Really love the menu; a simple prix fixe menu, full menu, or tea menu. Great for any occasion. We went with the simple prix fixe for lunch. Served promptly, RTT would make an excellent weekday lunch stop. Wife is pretty finicky when it comes to soups, stews, and borschts. One bite and she declared hers a five star borscht. She followed with the stuffed eggplant, which she also loved. I had the mini poroshkies, crisp yet creamy on the inside, followed by the golubtsi, which I loved. Special note that buckwheat can be a little pungent if not properly done, but this was grainy, and hearty smelling stuff. Round out with the black currant tea and we had quite a meal. The one comment we both made: nothing we were served was greasy, or heavy. It was light, yet filling. For $30 per person, I think we got a really good value, and that gets the fifth star. Finally, on a day when Putin fired 80 missiles at Ukrainian targets, I appreciate the Ukrainian flag displayed in the front window. Look forward to visiting again. read more
3 years ago
An absolutely charming, old world decor with Russian 'tchotchkes' in place to add to the tea room setting. The menu was extensive with many wonderful Eastern European dishes. High tea combinations of sandwiches, scones and sweets to enjoy with your pot of tea with a variety of choices. The service was unhurried, gracious and attentive. Felt pampered and enjoyed lingering over my tea! Delicious, unique and thoroughly enjoyable!! read more
2 years ago
I took my sister here for the tea service and it was a very special experience! We split a service for one, and added a pot of tea, and it was the perfect amount. I ordered a beet vodka, which was unique, tasty, and served with pickles! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you, David. We’re glad you gave us a try and enjoyed the…
Exceeded expectations! Honestly I wasn't sure what exactly to expect walking in but decided after having it bookmarked for a while, it was time to finally stop in prior to seeing a holiday performance at the Symphony Hall just a short walk away. It's important to note I did not have a reservation on a Saturday. Yelp tip: call ahead for a reservation. It's not a very big place and apparently quite popular. Weekdays I would imagine you could walk in with no advance for tea no issue. Initially I was put off because I was told they could not accommodate even at the open bar, when almost every table and seat was empty just after 5pm but as I started to walk away somehow the host was able to work it out as the next reservation was not until 6:30pm. The menu was complex but had a lot of interesting options from high tea with ginger sandwiches to caviar and seasoned vodka, to traditional Eastern European dishes. The waiter assigned named Mark was apathetic (and that is being kind) and didn't seem interested in being the waiter which is why I docked a star in this review but the rest of the staff - especially Anastasia the super host was incredibly attentive and did all within their ability to ensure the experience lived up to its high ratings. Decided to start with the Ukrainian borscht soup made mostly of beets, potato and beef broth. Simple ingredients but perfect for a cold winter day. Next a beef dumpling appetizer seemed like a good idea. Tasty little savory things with a delightful tangy carrot slaw. From there I let my curiosity go all out with a stuffed cabbage roll, the host highly recommended it and it was one of the most popular items I saw in posts here on Yelp. Just OMG!! This dish totally blew my tastebuds away! It was phenomenal and the sauce it is soaked in was so delicious. I would not have thought to order this on my own accord so huge kudos to the host for making the suggestion. Truly all the food tasted very fresh and full of flavor! Couldn't come here and not have tea - so tea it was as a beverage. The tea menu is pages long but the house blend seemed a good choice. The glassware it was served in was so elegant and endless refills are always a bonus! The rest of the waitstaff had strong accents and seemed to be from Russia, Estonia, Ukraine or nearby which added to the unique vibe of the restaurant. Something to know is they sell a number of their teas in lovely tins at the bar. I ended up picking up some as unique gifts over the holidays. Despite the rather bumpy start, overall Russian Tea Time was a wonderful local establishment that I would love to dine at again. Of course with a reso next time:) read more
My coworkers and I had been considering visiting this restaurant for weeks. We did a little research and learned online that Russian Tea Time has an interesting story. Owner and Chef, Klara Muchnik, was born and raised in Ukraine and her family eventually immigrated to the US in search of a better life. Her son used his networking ability to help turn RTT into what it remains today, a combination of their roots and flavors of the their cultural background. Our server was absolutely delightful and helped us through the menu. She shared with us that she is Ukrainian, as are several others who work at the restaurant, many of them with family in Ukraine. Despite this, in light of current events, the restaurant has received an onslaught of hatred and threatening phone calls. This is a family establishment filled with good people and good food. They've been a part of Chicago's community since 1993 and are considered a culinary landmark. This restaurant does not deserve hate, but support. If you have the chance, I implore you to stop by and indulge in the cultural flavors not just of Russia as the name implies, but of Ukraine and Belarus alike. And please, reserve your ill will for those who deserve it. read more
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Ellie, thank you very much for such a heartwarming review and…
I have been wanting to go here for awhile as I heard it's an authentic cuisine experience. And I have never had Russian food before. It was great! The platter was definitely the right amount of food for two people. The atmosphere was nice a quiet and peaceful. The decor was super cute. Our server never let our tea run out. I will say a surprise was the classic russian tea is not served in a tea cup but more of a stein type device. Which was super cool! Would for sure go back to go try more food :) read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you Randall We’re so glad you love the authentic flavors and…
Nice ambiance with dark red velvet couches and curtains and golden chandeliers. We went for tea time which was unfortunately lackluster. The scones are my favorite part but they were meh. Sandwiches were fine but the desserts (my other afternoon tea highlight) were pretty disappointing. No effort in making dainty, aesthetically pleasing little cakes. Rather, they were small pieces cut out of larger sheet cakes. Tea itself was good. I did enjoy potato dumplings (an added side) and stuffed cabbage. Service was super spotty. We had to look around for servers multiple times. If I were to return, it would not be for afternoon tea but to try their lunch / dinner items. I think that's where they shine. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Thank you, Pete! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the food and that…
10 months ago
Business owner information
Enesh M.
Dear Cynthia, thank you for taking the time to share your experience,…
More info about Russian Tea Time
77 E Adams St
Chicago, IL 60603
The Loop
Directions
(312) 360-0000
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Visit Website
https://www.russianteatime.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Russian Tea Time Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Russian Tea Time
What's the difference between Queens service and regular tea service?
The type and amount of food.
Are Jeans acceptable?
Jeans are fine. You’ll see everything from very dressed up to casual.
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
76 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
11 years ago
5 years ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
11 years ago
13 years ago
4 years ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
4 years ago
