Nothing cures the chilled the bone feeling of late fall in Chicago like the hot tea and the warmth and luxe red velvet booths of Russian Tea Time. I met a friend here for "afternoon tea" (served 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) and highly recommend it. Each person receives their own personal pot of tea and a three-tier display of savory tea sandwiches and sweet scones and cookies. Upon first glance, I did not expect to be full, but I was stuffed when I left - and we didn't even eat everything! I had the Apple Cantata tea, which is one of a few decaffeinated teas that RTT offers. The tea was, of course, fruity but had the crisp fall spice that I was looking for. I was torn when choosing my teas and also considered the Darjeeling, Mango or Strawberry. The tea list is thorough and offers a variety of teas to suit everyone's tastes. The tea is served in pretty little floral tea pots, which the waiter kept full of hot water. I preferred the savory sandwiches over the sweets. The salmon, and the chicken roulade in a pesto sauce were my favorites. The little potato puffs were delightful too. Honestly, there was only one I didn't like! The sweets were fine, the cranberry scones were outstanding but a bit like a brick in my stomach. Most of the sweets were on the dry side, but they complimented the tea nicely. Our waiter was very polite and kept our tea filled. My friend and I lingered here for awhile, but it wasn't very busy at all, so I only felt rushed toward the end of our meal. We had stopped eating, our pots were nearing empty, but we got carried away chatting. They were happy to box up our remaining cookies too. The dinner menu doesn't appeal to me very much, but the tea is delightful and the vodka flights are intriguing. Perhaps I'd stop in again if I needed a buzz before heading back to Union Station. Meanwhile, I'd recommend tea time to everyone else! read more

This place is an absolute joke. Three friends and I were lured in with a sign advertising "Afternoon High Tea". As we walked in to a fairly quiet room the host asks us if we have a reservation, when we told him we were there for the high tea he replied "You're just here for tea?". There was an awkward silence and he said we wouldn't be seated without a reservation. I immediately went outside and called to make a reservation for four and the lady on the phone unenthusiastically says they're available. I flipped off the host and went to eat at Ralph Lauren. read more

See, here's the thing. I don't really care for vodka. In fact, even the good stuff tastes like rubbing alcohol to me. Ah, but at Russian Tea Time it's a different story. I could order flights of their flavored vodkas until the cows come home (or until I hit the floor...which ever comes first). Their flavored vodkas, served with dark rye and pickles just like my babcia used to make, are fab-u-lous. Oh, right...there's other food. Yes, their tea is very good, although I found their afternoon tea service to be lacking. It's not the palacial experience of the Four Seasons (see my review) but it's fine. I prefer going there for dinner. It's not on the menu, but be sure to ask for an order of blini and caviar to start your meal. Mmmm...so good. I could go for some right now. read more

Whenever you think of afternoon tea, you would think of: teacups and saucers, small sandwiches, cookies, scones, pastries and butter. Russian Tea Time is actually a decent place and worth checking out if you're in the city and need something to do before heading out for dinner. It was kind of dark inside and I was expecting something with a more summer look. The servers were just right, the server we had sounded Russian too. Nice decorations, they even have antique-looking tea dispensers, something I haven't seen for awhile. Antique Tea cups and Tea mugs were a nice touch. I wouldn't know if this was considered as the best Russian food in the US considering all I had were pastry and salmon sandwiches which you can make this at home easily , they were just ok. This is a place you would really just like to go not for the food but just for the ambiance. Worth a stop if you're just visiting. read more

I stumbled onto this place the first day it opened on my way to the Art Institute. I think I was one of about 17 actual human beings who resided in the loop at the time and the food choices were limited, to put it mildly. I was so freaking happy to have access to food that didn't involve going into a bar loaded with drunken traders that I would have kept eating here even if the food sucked. But it didn't, and it doesn't. Drink everything they put in front of you, eat everything they put in front of you - try it all. Bring your friends from out of town here. Come in on a cold afternoon after a trip to the AI. It is a happy making place and well worth the trip into the - now freakishly overpopulated - loop. read more

I have to say, the interior was not at all what I was expecting. I had this idea I would be walking into the Chicago version of Saint Basil's Cathedral, or at the very least something out of a scene from Dr. Zhivago (ooh like the Ice Palace, how cool would THAT be!?) Instead, it was like a standard, traditional dining room, like you might see in any mid-range hotel. Except with framed Russian posters and other artwork. I was there for the afternoon tea, and the whole place was packed with these huge groups all with the same idea. We were seated in a back room along one wall. I had the green oolong tea, which was fine, but I really should have had the "house" tea that some of my friends had, because that was really the superior choice. Then the sandwiches and sweets are brought out. Two people share a tier of 3 plates. There was a large selection of items to pick from, like Mini Potato Piroshkys, sugar cookies, and lemon cake. There was a strange Spring Crepe that tasted just like a cold eggroll, and a completely unappetizing looking "chocolate" cookie, which came in a rather unfortunate shape and tasted nothing like chocolate. However, the raisin scones were simply the most delicious scones I have ever had. Light, airy, slightly sweet...if you have ever had the misfortune of a dense, super dry scone you will jump for joy at how awesome these are. Service was good, except because they were busy the tea pots were not refreshed with hot water as frequently as they should have been, and they also spilled water onto the table twice (one was an entire glass of water, which not only required the whole table to be cleaned off and reset but my friends camera was literally inches away when it happened!) I feel like this place is fine, and a decent tea. But for the price I can think of 4 places in the immediate area that are a better deal, with more ambiance and more tantalizing food choices. Maybe save this as a backup place. read more

Now I've never been for tea and I did not have the chance to sample any vodka, and this is just as well- Russian Tea Time's entrees are lacking some much-deserved attention. When we arrived, tea service had just ended and the pre-theater / early bird dinner set had begun to arrive. Being fresh from the aquarium and famished from hours of otter-watching, we resigned ourselves to dinner. The first surprise came when the menu included some truly exotic Uzbek & Kazakh dishes alongside the standard eastern European fare. Both the stuffed eggplants and vegetable stew were were expertly prepared and richly flavored. Did I mention they're also vegan? They weren't heavily spiced, but had a combination of light herbal notes, gentle but assertive seasoning, and a bit of oil. The combination allowed the flavors of some very fresh vegetables to shine through. Superb, really. We also had a number of cold appetizers that were quite good. Shredded carrot salad tastes a lot better than it sounds, and the eggplant salad, and parsley & bulghur salad were memorable. Frankly, I couldn't have been happier with the plates we ordered, and not just because my expectations were so low. However, the decor is dark and oppressive in a way only wood paneling and brass can be. But it's still a 'nice' place- inoffensively decorated, touristy with prices to match, that has veg food you'll actually want to eat! You can take your parents, in-laws, grandparents. For real. Tell it on the mountain. Finally, the Ukrainian beer (and I have forgotten the name that I was barely able to learn) was a very pleasant surprise. It's was icy cold, somewhat malty, and very rich. The service was attentive, patient and- well, surprisingly warm. read more

Cold, rainy days are perfect for an afternoon tea. I met some friends here for their afternoon tea service. Russian Tea Time's tea service is spectacular! Since we're at the Russian Tea Time, I enjoyed their house black tea made with black currants and Darjeeling tea. The tea is delicious, dark, and flavorful paired with lemon and brown sugar. Throughout our tea time, our tea cups were constantly refilled. With the numerous refills, it felt like a bottomless cup of tea which I greatly enjoyed. Russian Tea Time's sweets and savories were delicious. Savories consisted of a salmon and cream sandwich with dill. So good. I followed this bite with a roasted pepper sandwich. Another delicious savory bite! Mini reubens topped off the savories. Plenty of confectioner's sugar topped sweets rounded out the tea service. The cranberry and raisin scones were served warm with whipped cream and a strawberry jam. I especially enjoyed the scones for being warm and delicious! Other sweets included a mini meringue, eclair, various cakes, and cookies. Our sweets and savories were so plentiful that we had leftovers! Russian Tea Time's tea service is hearty and all around tasty. For each group of two, we had our own tea caddy filled with pastries and savories. It made dividing up the sandwiches and cakes easy and without worry. We had attentive service from consistently refilled tea cups and removing finished plates on the caddy. Russian Tea Time's afternoon tea is one of the best ones I've attended from hearty amounts of bites and cups of teas on a cold Chicago day. read more

Don't just stop here for the tea. Or the vodka. Oh, those are worthwhile reasons to make your way here, but come here for the entire experience. Food, drink, little knick knacks on the shelves, the service, the entire everything. By vodka, I mean the Vodka Flight with traditional pickle and pumperknickel, of course. One of my cohorts and I stopped here after a late Thursday trip to the AI a block away. We'd spent most of our time in the Modern wing, so "Old World Charm" was refreshing. We wound up each getting two different flights of vodka. She got the house made (Yowza regarding the Lime); I got the Jewel of Russia Flight. Go with the latter. It's rich and warm and sweet like leather, old books, and/or sherry. Very smooth. If you want to go through their proposed ceremony (replete with sniffing your sleeve, whistling, and yelling "Oh Khorosho"), please take a video and post it in your review. I also got a cup of Borscht and we each got an order of Varenicky and shared. The food was a little heavy for us. We should have just gotten one plate of Varenicky, or each just ordered a bowl of Borscht. It was pretty tasty, not too oily, and had no meat. I think I prefer vegetarian Borscht - it gives you a chance to really focus in on the beets. The Varenicky was good. Better than good, but I'm not much for pasta-type food with oil. As we ate our food and drank our shots, we eyeballed the table next to us. They ordered tea, which came in some traditional tea glasses. Fancy holders and all. We made a mental note to stop by during their afternoon tea service at some point in the future. I have not met up with that point yet, but when I do, I'll possibly update this review. After our Borscht, Varenicky, oh and shots of vodka, we were ready to face the sub-arctic temps outside. I was nicely warm and fuzzy for about a block and a half before that freezing wind cut right through me, then I was stone cold sober. And full. read more

Don't go here. My friends and I had been walking around looking for a place to get some dessert, and stumbled upon Russian Tea Time. When we walked in, we were greeted with an exaggerated eye roll and a blatant look of disgust (I guess because we were dressed casually? but not that casually... we were just wearing jeans!) Throughout the entire time we were there, we felt unwelcome by all members of the staff. It was infuriating because it was mid-afternoon and the place was practically empty--only two other parties were there--yet they acted as if they didn't want or need our business. The decor and ambiance were just as stuffy and pretentious as the staff, and the dessert was overpriced and nothing to brag about. I will certainly never return. read more

How about this: I am a Sephardic who married an Ashkenaz from Latvia. I'm a very well respected chef (at home ;) in my own right, and I've learned how to prepare the perfect borscht and other Russian fare far better than I've experienced anywhere else (even at my in-laws)! But I have to say, Russian Tea Time is as authentic as it is delicious. This is the kind of food I want to savor and enjoy, but do not necessarily want to have to make myself. With such a large Russian population in the Chicago area, you would think that excellent Russian restaurants lurk on every neighborhood corner - sadly, that just isn't true. Russian Tea Time is a very good example of what Russian food truly is: hearty, rich and actually, ANYTHING BUT bland. You see, Eastern European cuisine is actually flavorful! It is not supposed to be ten shades of tasteless, boiled meat&potatoes drek. RT is probably the best Russian restaurant I've eaten at thus far in Chicago - and perhaps also in L.A., NY and the Detroit Suburbs. My only gripe is that they have a heavy hand with the salt in a couple of their dishes - not enough to prevent me from re-ordering, but they would earn that extra point if they were more mindful of the Mortons. Stuffed cabbage is not too sweet, nor sour with a generous stuffing of minced meat - very flavorful. Meat blinchik is excellent - a paper thin and crisp crepe houses fluffy, almost too delicately fine-ground beef. Chicken livers are tender and oniony but also a tad on the salty side. Borscht was mild, but classically prepared and very good, even though I prefer my own. The mushroom barley is out of this world. Perhaps the best I've ever had outside of my Mom's. Even the desert, "Black Russky," was moist and flavorful. But the tea was better ;-) The ambiance is warm and pleasant. I'd love to come here for tea service alone. Basically, if you are seeking Russian food, please don't waste time anywhere else. read more

Just went to tea this afternoon. The stars are actually 2.5, and here's the breakdown: Food: 3 Atmosphere -- Decor: 4 Atmosphere -- Temperature Control: -1 Value: 5 Service: 3 Food: The tea service was overall well presented, and there was a good selection of yummy treats for the money. Some were kind of hit or miss, and there was some sloppy presentation (my friend's apple finger sandwich had part of the sticker still on the apple!), but overall the food was good and plentiful. Atmosphere: I liked the style and the restaurant itself was lavishly decorated. That being said, the fact that there were air conditioning issues (as in it did not work AT ALL) made me more than a little uncomfortable. My friends and I were sweating through our tea, and that is just not a good situation. They appeared only to have one air conditioning unit above the door of the restaurant, and, if that's the case, that is wholly inadequate to cool the entire place. Since this is the first time I've been there, though, I can't say if this unmanageable heat is a one-time occurrence or not. Value: The quantity of food and the hits versus misses make this place a great value. There were as many dishes as the more expensive hotel services for a much lower price. Service: The service was okay. We had plenty of refills for our tea. The trays took a little while to come out, but nothing too horrible. My complaint comes from the very end of our meal. My friends and I wanted to take a picture, but the trays were still on the table. We asked a waiter if he could clear the trays, and even though he understood what we wanted, he walked away and then served another table. When we asked a busboy to help us clear it off, he did it right away. Apparently clearing the trays was not the waiter's "job," but his understanding what we wanted and subsequently ignoring it really rubbed me the wrong way. Overall: There's nothing wrong with the tea service, but be sure to go there when the air conditioning is working. Between this and the Drake, I'd take the Drake's tea service over Russian Tea Time (despite the Drake's more expensive price tag). P.S.: Sorry for the SUPER long review. read more

I am an afternoon tea sort of gal minus the "tea" part. As much as I try, I cannot get a taste for tea & trust me, I have tried several different kinds. I always say that is the one thing keeping me from living in England...you know, the Queen would never have me over & that makes me sad. I am more of a coffee gal & lucky for me the ladies I do tea with accept me & love me all the same...PHEW! You should know that I look forward to these monthly teas with the ladies, I always get so excited for the company, the setting, and the finger sandwiches. To me a tea is about the FOOD...scones, sandwiches, pastries & sometimes little candies. Some places do this really well, others not so much. I was excited to try Russian Tea Time as I had never been before and I must say my expectations were a bit high. Unfortunately, I was not impressed & while I am glad for the experience, probably won't return. Here is my recap good, bad & ugly style: The GOOD: *Greeted promptly at the door. *seated right away (1/2 our party was already there). *service...the wait staff are attentive, prompt & nice. *huge space (unfortunately they also know how to PACK it). *the Tea sandwiches & the scones. The BAD: *Entirely too many large parties seated at the same time. Felt entirely too cramped. *The bathroom...so small & apparently not built to accommodate that many peeing ladies (sorry to be crude). *the decor & atmosphere...it was pretty dark in there & it felt more like a cafeteria to me. Not entirely pleasing. The UGLY: *The sweets, 1st there were no chocolate ones (SAD!) and 2nd, there were no good ones. Maybe my taste buds were off, but the entire selection of sweets was unappetizing to me. *cramped tables...our table was so full of service items that unfortunately our server knocked over a glass full of water on me. It was not too bad, but maybe less on the table would help avoid that. All in all an ok experience & I am glad to have went...just not sure I would return. read more

I have been to Russian Tea Time three times...twice for afternoon tea service, and once for dinner. Tea service here is great...they have a lot of teas to choose from. The food offers a good selection of sweet and savory...I love the mini quiches and eclairs. They have afternoon tea year round...no need to wait for the holiday season. Ever since I had come here for tea, I'd wanted to try it for dinner...especially since they serve stuffed cabbage, which is a favorite from my childhood...we used to have Polish food on Saturday nights quite often, and we'd get stuffed cabbage from a Polish deli. The Russian version tasted a little different...something in the sauce...but it totally hit the spot, especially on a freezing cold January night. I'd love to come back and try the beef stroganoff. As much as I liked my entree, the highlight was the appetizers. We ordered the yummy potato pancakes and the uber fabulous pumpkin piroshki. An absolute must! My only whine is regarding the butter that came with the bread. Hard as a rock. I Can't Believe It's Not Even Remotely Spreadable. read more

This was by far the worst place that I have ever been to for afternoon tea. It was so bad, that I felt that it was important to haul my labtop down to the hotel lobby to write my 1 star review of this place. We ordered the full tea set and everything aside from the tea, which was average, was bad. The scone was hard and stale. My friend banged her scone on the table a couple times and it still stayed in tact. The slices of bread on the mini sandwiches were hard, not toasted hard, but more like it had been left out all day uncovered hard. Now serving bad food is one thing, but when customers complain, the restaurant staff should not make lame excuses. Why would they tell a customer that the bread was toasted when it obviously wasn't. Shouldn't the bread be somewhat warm if it was toasted? And why in the world would you toast the sandwich bread for afternoon tea. Also, why would they feel it was okay to tell us that the scone was basically hard and stale because we should have ate it right when it was brought out of the oven. Well we would have, if it did come straight from the oven. Obviously, that wasn't choice for us. When we explained to the owner why we didn't like the food, she opened her arms and gestured to all the other people sitting in her restaurant who didn't seem to have any problems. Maybe everyone else knew better and stayed away from the scones and sandwiches. I'm so disgusted with the afternoon tea from this place. Bleh. read more

Every few months some lady friends and I get all chi-chi-poo-poo and have high tea. This month we decided to try Russian Tea Time. The tea service was good. It was a little heavy on the sweets, but the highlight were the warm scones. So. good. Tea service. There's nothing better. read more

First, the guy who filled the water glasses was amazing. He was,no joke, the best water pouring person ever. Ever. Second, their horseradish infused vodka is fantastic. Third, The beef stroganoff was AMAZING. Super tender, very flavorful, straight up comfort food. I wanted to go back and order it the next day for lunch. Forth, skip the caviar. It's good and it's a fun thing to do but a little underwhelming. Fifth, the reason for the 4 stars and not the five? Table was a little cramped and plates were shuffled to the side instead of removed when additional courses came out. Also, didn't love the bread and butter and salad at the beginning. Bread was good but should have been warm and the butter was ice cold and un-spreadable. (wow, I'm actually complaining about butter .... this makes me an a-hole) Bottom line, if you like water ninjas, comfort food and eating next to old ladies, you'll love this place. read more

I've eaten Russian food in Russia. I've had amazing borscht and stroganoff. This place was like being in Russia. The atmosphere was beautiful with Russian music playing and samovars setting around. The staff was welcoming and answered all questions with pleasure. Now, the food: Borscht - amazing, but I do like little beef on mine and sour cream on top Russian dumplings pelmeni - little pillows from heaven Beef stroganoff - big portion, tender beef, wonderful flavor Vodka - I got a sampling of three 1oz shots. All 3 very good, followed by the traditional bread for sniffing(?) and pickles to eat after. I will definitely stop by next time I'm in Chicago. I felt like I was back in Arkhangelsk, Russia enjoying great food and company! read more

This is *FAR* from being real Russian food. Some people who work here are Russian, and the place is owned by a Russian family. However, this food is as Russian as Panda Bear to Chinese Food. If your looking for real Russian food look around. Not to mention to decor is tacky, and old. The waiters are rude, and the place is just junk! Not sure why its getting all these reviewes! read more

The afternoon tea is lovely. Great place to go on a cold day with your mom, grandma, sisters or friends. The food presentation is great, awesome selection of teas and the sweet and savory selections are tasty and different than a traditional high tea like at the Drake or Ritz. But come on people...who the hell wants tea when you can have vodka flights! Yep, flavored vodka flights along with some savory nibbles like beef dumplings, a dozen or so ways with beets (Russians have a thing for beets), latkes or my favorite sardines on rye bread! The dining room is cramped but that adds to the charm of the place. It's a little treasure in the loop and I enjoy myself every time I come here. read more

The food was very good -- once we got it. I'd like to talk about break downs in service. We arrived at 3:55pm. The restaurant was mostly empty. It was 20 degrees out. We were asked if we had a reservation and when we said no they seated us in a high traffic area near the front windows. Every time someone came in it was freezing. There were a million other options. Then, even though tea service continues until 4:30, they wouldn't give us a tea menu. Strike 1. No bread. Then a family comes in, sits down at the table next to us, and they get bread. The server was so absent that we didn't even have the opportunity to ask for bread til our appetizer came. He came by the table so fast that we didn't get a chance til our entree. He seemed annoyed when we asked then. Gee, thanks. Given the type of appetizer we ordered, the bread would have been useful. Strike 2. No water refills, no attention, no nothing. Now, this makes me wonder if we were "between shifts" but there were several helpers and others around. I think this was a break-down in communication. The no refills got really irritating when I was trying to eat dinner and was running out. The men's bathroom was quite unclean. There were empty toilet paper rolls on the counter and it was clear it hadn't been checked in at least a few hours. Not what I want to see when we're paying top dollar for Russian cuisine. Strike 3. The food is great here. But I want to see them improve their service and process. These break downs made for an unpleasant meal. read more

Through some coincidence of geography, Russian Tea Time became the spot where I often meet my best friend when I'm in Chicago: it's close to his work and the Art Institute, and we figured it would have a better tea selection than the major chain spot down the block, so we came here. And then we kept coming here. Not only is there an extremely good tea selection, but also the atmosphere is very charming and the menu makes me sad that I have food allergies because it's a very classic Russian-style full tea service complete with sweet and savory snacks and also a lunch menu. I can't eat any of it, but coming here for a pot of tea is still a lovely experience. Highly recommended for a spot of tea with a friend and time to catch up, kind of a hidden gem. read more

For those who don't know, the food in Moscow is delicious--forget your Cold War propaganda about Russian food. Moreover, it's not just Russian food, it's also Central Asian and Caucasian food (all wonderful). But most Russian restaurant experiences are condemned to disaster by way of the (Soviet-inspired) service. That's where this gem really stands out: the management is top-notch, and so goeth the management, so goeth the service. The menu is pleasantly innovative too. Pirozhki are delicious no matter what you put in them, but the totally not-Russian spiced pumpkin filling I was served was divine. Perhaps the most fun thing about the place, though, is the weekday clientele. Everyone's either talking in Russian, or nostalgic reminiscing about times in Russia. The latter is fueled by the top-notch $12 vodka flights! read more

If a friend comes to Chicago, this would be the first restaurant I would take him/her to. I have traveled to Russia myself, I can say this place is better than most restaurants in Russia. I have tried this place over 4 times, and it never disappointed me no matter what I ordered. NEW! Beef Stew: It probably didn't ook appealing by the appearance when I first got it, but by the time I have my first bite, I felt like in heaven. The taste was sophisticated, the meat melts in my mouth and the slight buttery taste began to float on my tongue. There is no words to describe the taste. First time I ordered, the portion is above average, but the second time the portion is unbelievably HUGE. I had to take it to go and finish it in 2 days. Overnight makes the taste even richer. LIVER PATE: My favorite appetizer. For liver lovers, this is a must-try. They put a big scoop of liver pate in martini glasses, served with very special spiced carrots and beet salad that you can't never have anywhere else. When they pate and salads are topped together on the baked crostini, it's heavenly made! Sauteed Chicken Liver: One of their lower prices dishes. The sauteed livers are soft, rich in taste and brings out the onion and other ingredients it has been well mixed with. The dish also came with the exotic salad mentioned. Dumpling: Beef dumplings and potatoes dumplings. There are two types. I personally preferred the beef one. These are flavorful ground beefs stuffed in an amazingly soft creamy skin, accompanied by sour cream and garlic cream sauce. They taste way better that I first expected. Unfortunately, I haven't got a chance to have an actual tea time there. I would love to try in the near future. 5 STAR with no doubt! read more

FINALLY had lunch here today. I probably wouldn't go for lunch if I had an actual office to get back to, but since I work from home and my hours are flexible, it wasn't so bad -- but it did take some time, even though we went very late in the day. Speaking of which, we arrived around 2:30 and the place was practically empty. I know they offer an afternoon tea service, but only a couple more people showed up in the entire hour-plus that we were there... and they seated us at a small table for two shoved in a corner. I can understand doing that when it's busy, but it seemed like they could have spared a larger table (or even a booth) on a rainy Tuesday late afternoon in the middle of winter. They kept having to shift our plates around to make everything fit! But I digress. Oh, and the Russian music kept getting mysteriously turned up WAY too loud... then someone would turn it down... then it would happen again. Five or six times. V.v.v. annoying. But I digress again. Dark bread with butter was OK; not great. Potato dumplings were SCRUM-DIDDLY-UMPTIOUS, although I wasn't too fond of the garlic yogurt dipping sauce. Boyfriend's chicken croquettes were OK but not ground-up enough for my taste. Buckwheat/kasha/whatever - I've been meaning to try this for a while but it was WEIRD. Not bad, just weird. I got the beef stroganoff and it was decent. I liked the noodles and sauce, but the beef wasn't nearly as tender as beef stroganoff that costs $17.95 should be. Carrot salad was good. Chocolate lava cake was bliss. Russian tea was fabulous. So, the entire meal was sort of up-and-down, and it was REALLY expensive for lunch... hence the 3 stars, as you can see. read more

Came here on my never ending exploration to find the best tea service in the city (spoiler, this wasn't it). But it was pretty good. I was hosting a tea party and wanted it to be at the best place so I tired several in the city. What I really liked about this place was the food. Almost all of it was amazing! And it can be much easier to get a reservation here than it can at some other places when you try to book a week or so before. And as for price it was decent. My only sort of complaint was service was not that friendly. At times the waiter seemed like we were inconvenience him....and we weren't even asking for anything extra. It was just the normal tea service, just his regular job. Maybe he was just having a bad day but I was not too impressed. The price is good but you are still paying a lot, and part of the tea experience is to feel as if you are really being taken care of. I also did not care to much for the decor, just a little too outdated for me. Overall, this would be my second choice for tea service. The food is a 5 and the service is a 3. read more

Directly in front of the Art Inst on Adams street is Russian Tea Time- a much needed energy boost after museum hiking. I felt like I was in a sophisto Russian scene. The menu was well planned and included not only Russian dishes but dishes from their neighbors such as Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. I give the restaurant top marks for offering a delicious array of veg-friendly dishes. Everything on the table was delicious. Even the napkins tasted good. To drink, we had goblets of ice water and steins of Russian tea that were refilled frequently. The tea had an sweet, earthy taste and a slightly floral aroma. The bread on the table was onion pumpernickel- awesome. This is all before I ordered my meal, mind you. For an appetizer, we had stuffed mushroom caps, Azerbaijani style with a side of carrot salad. These phenomenal carrots were seasoned with, I don't know, goddess milk? Ichor? It's a secret they won't reveal. The mushrooms were death row mushrooms. One taste and you can die happily. My main course, death row stew, aka, Uzbek Vegetarian "Layer" Stew, aka, Domlama. A stew of potatoes, turnips, beets, tomatoes, garlic, red peppers and cabbage and a touch of cumin. The secret to this great dish is that they put all the vegetables in layers, and while they simmer, each of the ingredients fully absorbs flavors of all the others. This is a holy culinary experience. I was full after eating half of it and gave my friend the rest of my stew. His face fell in the dish afterwards. That's right. His taste buds danced so happily that he fainted from delirium. The best part- the broth! The broth was like a kiss to finish the meal- sweet and savory. For dessert we split a ruby raspberry cake. If rubies had a flavor they would taste like either of the following: a perfectly ripe pomegranate OR this cake. Words elude me to describe the dazzling taste of the cake so I'll use a Neanderthal grunt- Urghh! read more

I went with four friends for the high tea on a Saturday afternoon, having made a reservation earlier. Their standard rate for the high tea is about $23 per person, not including tips. Each person gets their own pot of tea and three trays of delicious finger food. First, the tea: there are about three menu pages worth of tea to choose from -- black teas, green and white teas, and herbal/noncaffeinated teas. I tend to prefer black teas, so I ordered the Highland Tea, which was very nice and soothing. The pots of tea also come with sugar cubes and lemons, but no cream, so if you really must have tea with cream, I guess you have to ask for it. The tea is loose, so remember to use the strainer before you pour. Also, if you stick around long enough, the servers will come around and ask if you want more hot water, so don't worry about rationing your tea intake as you finish your trays of food. Onto the food: this is mostly traditional high tea fare, as far as I can tell. The scones in the top tray with lemon whipped cream and strawberry jam were my favorite part. I'm not really a big scone person, but they were really good. The second tray had the traditional little finger sandwiches (in this case, some sort of red pepper thing, a "mini-Reuben," and lox-and-cream-cheese) plus some sort of miniature potato pastry, and a sort of egg-roll-esque thing with cabbage and carrots. The pastries on the bottom were a little hit-or-miss for me, but as my friends and I sampled them all, their hits-and-misses varied significantly from mine; there's probably an amazing and perfect pastry here for everyone. I mean, there were around ten different kinds of pastry and cookie there -- they couldn't ALL be my favorites, right? Overall, this was a full meal. I didn't have lunch beforehand, and I didn't even need dinner afterwards. Some of the others in our group had to pack up the leftovers! My only criticism was that the whole place is really really dark. I'm not sure why, as the decor is kind of awesome in a weird-old-Russian-posters kind of way, but the lights could stand to be a bit brighter. They even turned them further down around 4 -- do they not want the dinner guests to be able to see their food? But the service and the food were both excellent, and we had a great time. read more

My Russian friend was visiting me in Chicago this week so I wanted to take her to this Russian restaurant. The reviews on Yelp looked really good, so we were excited to try it. Yesterday we looked on Tock to see if we could make a reservation for sometime today, and every single time slot was available, so it looked like we could probably just walk in anytime. So, we didn't make a reservation for a certain time. Today, we walked in at 12:45pm and asked if we could be seated for a party of 2. The host at the front said they could not take any walk-ins because they already had a lot of reservations and the chef could not cook for any more people. She said she could take us at 3:00pm or later, when it was less busy. We walked outside, checked on Tock again, and there were still reservations available for 1:00, 1:15, 1:30, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 2:45, 3:00, etc. Literally every single time slot was available! I immediately made a reservation for 1 o'clock for a party of two. We went back in to the restaurant to show the host that we had made a reservation for 1 o'clock on Tock. The host told me that she was going to have to cancel my reservation because the chef was too busy and so she could not seat us until after 3:00pm. She then cancelled my reservation. She showed us her computer screen with all of the other parties who also made reservations for 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, etc, and she said they were planning to seat all of those other people, and that's why they could not seat us too. I don't know why my 1 o'clock reservation that I made on Tock was any less valid than anybody else's reservation that they also made online. There was nothing on their website or store front that said reservations only. There was also nothing that said you must make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance. If they plan their staffing 24 hours in advance, you should not be able to make a online reservation on the same day. When we looked on Tock again, every time slot was still available. It is misleading to have every time slot available on Tock if they do not have the kitchen staff to honor those reservations. The restaurant should update its available slots on Tock to reflect actual availability. I included screenshots to show that I made my reservation on Tock and then the host cancelled it! read more

Russian Tea Time - I did not cancel this reservation! The host cancelled this reservation at 12:53 pm because "the chef cannot cook for so many people." - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a great place to relax and refresh after walking around the art institute. On a drizzly day, we were warmed up with hot tea, cups of soup, and a few small plates. The mushroom barley soup had great flavor. My friend's borscht was very tasty as well. For small plates we sampled the lamb samsa and pumpkin dumplings. The lamb was incredible. I could eat it any day of the day. The pumpkin was just okay. Service was awkward. While the gentleman was polite, either he thought he was too good to wait on us or was angry at having to be there that day. Despite that, I still enjoyed myself. read more

I've never had tea time before and have always wanted to try it. It's sophisticated and girlie so I knew it was something I'd enjoy! My friend was in town Thanksgiving weekend and we decided to try this place out on Black Friday. She is a tea time connoisseur and I'm a newbie! Reservations were at 2:30 and almost everyone arrived close to 3:00 except me. We were still seated but got a comfy but cozy semi-round booth instead of a table. As girlie as tea time may seem to be, we had guys with us who enjoyed it very much and it was not the first time for one of them. I was overwhelmed with the varieties of tea and the word 'mango' stuck out to me so I ordered a mango tea. How could it not be good? I love mango. Indeed, it was pretty good, just sweet enough without sugar but I put in a sugar cube anyway for fun! Next came our 3-tiers of raisin scones served with preserves and possibly creamed butter, an assortment of finger sandwiches, quiches, and some crepe. The crepe reminded me of a soft eggroll. The bottom tier was all cookies and various sweets. So much to snack on and so much to doggie bag. I had a great time! The price per person is decent. I want to try more afternoon tea now! read more

After dining here only twice, I am confident in saying that Russian Tea Time is a true gem of the city. The unassuming restaurant is located near the Art Institute, which makes it a prime destination for tourists, culture vultures, and, of course, Russian-Americans and diners of Eastern European descent. Dress up for this restaurant, bring your kids if you wish, and prepare for a special night out. The meals served here should not be wolfed down in haste; they are meant to be savored in slow, deliberate mouthfuls. I encourage everyone to try one of the vodka flights the restaurant offers. And what could be more Russian than beef stroganoff? I ordered it each time I dined at Russian Tea Time and will enjoy it again when next I return. Tender shreds of prime beef atop a mound of tender egg noodles and covered in a rich meat sauce, this dish is perfect for a cold winter night. Others in my party dined on chicken and duck, but they were especially fond of the side portions of beets and shredded carrots. The menu at Russian Tea Time is inviting and offers something for just about every taste and diet, but this isn't exactly a place for diners in the mood for lighter fare. Our service here has always been above par. The wait staff is knowledgeable, pleasant, and patient. The courses were well-paced. The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant bring to mind a tony yet cozy supper club. Rubescent and dim, the space seems designed to create intimacy and relaxation, which it accomplishes with the aid of vodka and delectable food. My only criticism of Russian Tea Time is the lack of space. Diners sit in fairly close proximity in this restaurant, and I feel that if the owners eliminated one table in the main area it would free up lots of space. Also, for those who dine there on cold evenings, prepare to be hit with a blast of chilly air each time the front door opens. Ask to be seated in the back dining room if you plan to eat here between November and March. Regardless of this trivial complaint, I encourage anyone with an interest in Russian cuisine or just hearty stick-to-your-ribs food to dine at Russian Tea Time and, of course, order a vodka flight. read more

My girlfriend and I had a WONDERFUL meal here. We had regular tea service and the savory selections were SO good. We actually ordered a second plate of these to enjoy. The house tea was good but I wasn't crazy about the way they served it. They came around and refilled it with their pitcher but I would have preferred my own tea pot. read more

Just wonderful. The lamb shank was amazing. I had red wine which was delicious. The ambiance is amazing.

I've been eating at Russian Tea Time periodically for as long this place has been here - seems like approximately 15 years. It's a marvelous place for a business lunch (always my first choice for that), as well as for any other occasion. The classy decor, great service and marvelous menu also makes it the safe and welcoming choice whenever asked for a downtown restaurant recommendation. The service is professional and civilized. You are greeted personally, and attended as if the server cares about your experience here - and they do. Hands down my favorite item here: beet caviar. It's worth a trip just for this dish. Last time I had lunch here I ordered their smoked salmon club. Indulge. It's so good. I prefer cold borscht, but theirs served hot is excellent; just not for me in warm weather. The tea: better than speed. read more

This location is absolutely good. My sister recently suggested to check out this location after learning that I was looking for a spot where I could hang out with my friends. That's why she recommended me to check out this place, and to my relief, I liked it a lot. The restaurant has the feel of an old timey establishment. On Sunday afternoon, we were enjoying the peace and quiet of the inner area, where we were seated. Because it is a nice place to hang out with friends and have some pleasant conversations, we are very thankful that we chose this restaurant rather than one of the other options we had available to us when we were making our decision. The menu is quite extensive and even includes caviar served in the traditional manner. And as we checked the menu, we decided to order some classic dishes, such as Beef Stew, Stroganoff, Stuffed Cabbage, and Stuffed Cabbage, and it was all good. Definitely highly recommended. read more

My colleague and I dropped in 10 minutes before closing, and yet they didn't try to rush us, but served us with courtesy. The food here was excellent. My beef stroganoff was quite lovely, as was my potato dumplings from Ukraine. The vodka was quite yummy. Their decor was quite fantastic as well -- very classy. I wouldn't come here wearing anything less than slacks and a shirt. read more

One and Only Russian Restaurant in Downtown Chicago as well as one of the Best ones I have experience since 1997. I had a great time dining there for lunch with a friend that works across the street. Do try their signature vodka, Pelmeni dumplings and their Beef Stroganoff. Another thing you can do when inviting a friend who has never had Russian cuisine (for 2 people)is to order a family size platter because it gives you samples of the different authentic Russian dishes from regions. read more

First of all, Russian Tea Time is NOT located between Wabash and Dearborn, it's east of Wabash. We went around the block numerous times trying to find it, and got to watch an entire Occupy Chicago protest walk past the front of our car! Don't these people have jobs? I had the Dumpling Combo platter, which had four Vareniky and Pelmeni dumplings. They were good, with the pelmeni being really tasty, and the vareniky being just ok. It came with a generous scoop of shredded carrot salad. The Russian tea we had tasted like black current, and was very good, especially with the raw sugar. I rarely like sweet tea, but this was extraordinary! All in all, it was a good mid-afternoon meal, but it seemed to be kind of pricey for what we got, especially when you added the cost of parking aross the street. The review would be a 4 except for the value and vareniky. read more

Russian Tea Time never disappoints me. Never. One hint is to go for lunch. You get pretty much the same menu and portions for a reduced price. If it's you first time, you should definitely get a sampler platter and the Russian tea. Nothing warms you up in the midst of a Chicago winter like some hot tea with a hint of raspberry. Expect rich, hearty dishes with sides as wonderful as the main course. read more