I guess this is more of a philosophical review, as the actual food was amazing and delicious. That's why I can't give it only one star in good conscience. High tea is such a special occasion. A time to be fancy, as you nibble upon dainty cuc' sammiches. Something my wife and I used to enjoy a few times a year back in SoCal. After living in this area for the past 5 years, we were delighted and surprised to discover Tea List while walking around Davis one day. We stopped to say hi and inquire, and were met with a very standoffish hostess who seemed to only have time to tell us that there was NO way we could be seated, and that it's reservation only. How fancy, I thought, and how special must it feel to be one of those select few with advanced reservations. Fast forward a month or so and I scheduled a reservation for my wife and I to visit for a date-lunch. The reservation system was a joke. I changed my time at least 5x in the 2hrs leading up to our arrival because our baby daughter's nap schedule was going off the rails... If they had actual reservations I imagine it wouldn't let me change it like that. When we arrived I quickly discovered that the standoffish attitude was not only for looky-lous walking by, it was for us as customers too! At one point I asked our waitress where the bathroom was, and she told me she'd explain it to me "in a few minutes, when I have time." Then proceeded to forget about me. She remembered before we left, but it didn't change the fact that we reserved a table and paid an extremely steep price for dainty cuc' sammiches, tea, and to be treated like we're fancy & special, and we really didn't get that experience. It felt more like the staff wanted to make sure we knew that THEY were fancy and special. I don't think we'll be back... Maybe Sac has a place for high tea. ‍ read more

Absolutely loved this place! It was hidden and just a unique experience. Parking can be challenging, but it wasn't too bad to find any. The teas were delicious. Staff were attentive and very knowledgeable. The small bites filled me up a lot faster than I anticipated. We were able to also get a cup of tea to go as well. Very cute place to go for a birthday or girly get together. read more

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Went on a mommy and daughters date to Tea List on a Sunday afternoon. The service was excellent. Prior to our arrival, someone called to ask what type of tea service we wanted. When we arrived, we were greeted with warm scones. The staff was well informed and ready to answer questions about the tea menu. We opted for 2 children's teas and 2 Queens tea. The Queens tea came with 4 pots of tea but we only got through 3. Especially liked the Buckingham something tea :) The little ones enjoy their food (especially the desserts) and were offered lemonade or tea. No private parking but parking is not enforced on Sundays - we got lucky and parked across the street. Overall wonderful experience and will be back. read more

Tea List - Queens Tea for 2 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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Very disappointed in overall experience at last visit to Tea List. Tea List has been my go to spot since 2015. However, I'm not sure about returning. The service was really terrible from the moment arriving to get a reserved table and up until leaving. I just felt like staff was annoyed with any extra questions about teas, or even to walk over to the restroom due to staff needing to escort to public restroom. Staff were inpatient with simple requests for honey or even extra scones order. Portions were also much smaller with barely any fruit on the high tea order. They used to give cloth napkins for more of an elegant experience. But now they give tiny little paper napkins that don't help with anything. The setting is always lovely, and probably the only thing that is positive. read more

Great service 10/10. Everyone was so kind and their tea services are fantastic! It is so cute inside, very cozy. read more

I have been going to realist for the past 6 years. It has amazing food, and the service is phenomenal!! read more

Tea List - High tea service. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

When we were seated to our table I noticed how cold it was in there. I asked the waitress if we could close the door and she said no. They say they turned on the heat I think?I was still cold with the door still open.Davis that day was 51 degrees out! It was a big disappointment once the cheese tray came with Saltine crackers .We were hoping our pictures we took would not show those as it looked cheap and hideous. We also didn't get the cute tea sets with cups as the table next to us had all of it which is part of the Tea experience! I called the manager and she couldn't believe I didn't let her know about my disappointment. I let her know I did not want to embarrass my daughter as we were trying to have a nice Christmas Tea.She was not understanding at all.She apparently did not care or understand her customers ! We paid $45 a piece! It was not worth it. Never again! read more

I've ventured off to many places for high/afternoon tea and this place ranks the lowest. Not awful, but not the best. I made a reservation on Yelp with ease for a Saturday afternoon. On the day of our reservation, we arrived an hour and a half early. We were willing to wait if needed but they were nice to accommodate us with an earlier time. We were sat outside and provided menus. We were not told had they only do tea service on the weekends. We had planned, based on getting the menu, to get a sandwich and salad and then order a couple of pots of tea. Once we were made aware, we decided to share the "high tea" and order and extra pot. When we ordered, the server says "now that we know what you want, we will set up your table." I was a bit confused because we were told they only do tea service on the weekends? Why wasn't our table set up? (Table cloth, tea cups, etc) We were also told for sharing the tea service, there is a 25% charge. We were given our tea pots immediately but then told our sandwiches and pastries would come out first since they just started baking the scones because we arrived early. Honestly we drank 75% of our tea without any food because it took awhile. And our scones actually came out first (another confusing moment!!) The teas were great- we had a decaf peach one and a cherry/almond one. I was not a fan of the tea pots however. There was no cover and being outside, a gnat landed in one of them. We had to ask for a new pot. I've never experienced high tea with glass pots. They are typically the ceramic pots with covers or stainless steel also covered. The pastries and sandwiches were just ok. Nothing to rave about. The star is the blueberry scone that we received warm. But they are a very petite serving. The jam accompaniment was lightly sweet and paired well. Service was just alright. We were not assigned a server. We had a different one each time from giving us the menu, to taking our order to setting up our table. It was quite inconsistent. Location is quaint and not off the street. Outdoor patio is covered. Street parking only. Bathrooms are located away from the place. Just ask and they will provide you a key/walk you to it. Overall the experience was not the best. But the tea we had was great. I will most likely not return. 1- star for the early accommodation 1- star for the teas 1- star for the scones read more

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Used to be wonderful and a special place to celebrate Mother's Day. changed under new ownership. Kitchen and service shared with Musyard Seed next door owned by same people. Both not what they used to be... read more

What a rip off, you are given a scone and cream first, in all the teas I've had , savouries come first, then tiny bland sandwiches, really small, would hardly fill a child, and 1 macaroon , tiny tiny vanilla slice and 1 bite cheesecake, with 2 pots of tea for $35 . Definitely don't go if your hungry read more

Such a cute experience! The tea selection has both caffeinated and noncaffeinated teas. The food is delicious for high tea and pretty filling. The staff is very nice and well knowledgeable about the different teas. read more

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The service was tremendous All the food did not disappoint Would definitely return 10/10 would come again read more

Tea List - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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2/6/22 I came with a group of women to celebrate Valentine's really nice service the table was set up really cute. Some extra decoration was from the person who hosted it. The food and tea was delicious not a fan of the salmon sandwich. But everything else the desserts very good. Only thing I didn't like it was a $25 corkage fee I honestly believe it should be lower do to the fact that we opened the bottles and not sure if they provided the extra cups or the hostess of the event did. Parking is always a hassle in Davis so arrive with plenty of time to find parking. Bathroom was a pain to find because there isn't any signs to get to it. You have to go get a key and walk behind the building there's a glass door to open with the key and walk down the hallway that leads to the bathroom. I Definitely recommend this place! read more

Tea List - Everything was delicious - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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Made a reservation for an afternoon tea right around noon. It was rather a rainy and cold day but they didn't have any available seats indoors so we were seated outside. Inside was very tiny. Outside was nice but a bit cold. Staff were kind and ensure we had the outdoor heaters, but it was still chilly. We went around Christmas time so there was a seasonal tea menu, which was nice. I got the holiday blend and it definitely lifted my Christmas spirits lol. In regards to the food, it was a mixture of finger sandwiches, desserts, fruits, and scones. The food was good but I think the portion was little for the price charged. I also think they could have given more tea. The amount they gave was only enough for 2 cups, and even then, I didn't think the tea was strong enough. Overall it was a nice experience but definitely overpriced for what you get. read more

I contemplated a 3 and 4 and ended on a 3 because overall it just wasn't smooth. Here was my process: Made a reservation, put in notes it was for a birthday and picked the date/time. Also you choose if you want "high tea" which is a larger meal and $30 per person, or an "afternoon tea" which has sandwiches and scones and is $20 per person (but actually still filling). Got a call to confirm rez, and birthday, and then ask further questions. We asked for gluten free, and so far I'm thinking this experience is top notch. I'm hoping this is going to be the best tea experience yet! Fast forward to the arrival. Nobody seated inside the restaurant and one two top has menus out and place set. Scared hostess is looking around frantic bc she's "new" and doesn't know where we are sitting. I take control and say, I'll bet its this spot by the window, and she is ok with my choice. Next was tea... not too many options, but it's ok I guess. Nothing like a tea house in a big city maybe where you have pages of options, there are literally 5 black tea (1 decaffeinated) options, 3 green and around 5 white. We choose one and then we wait... and wait... and wait. Tea is out, water is slowly out and then it felt like forever and then scones! yay! Scones are out finally, but to confirm I ask if they are GF and then of course - puzzled look on her face, frantic walk to the back to ask - short answer, "no." She replaced them with GF and it seemed all good. Then we wait again... for a long time. Our entire tea was gone and then the food tower came, yay! 5 types of sandwiches, THEY WERE DELICIOUS, but I'm 95% certain NOT GF. I looked at the other tables outside and they all had the same sandwich types, and I don't think everyone was GF. After waiting so long I couldn't bear to ask if it was, we just ate the gluten and enjoyed it. It's a preference not an allergy, so we figured it wasn't worth waiting for the correct order. I just have never seen 5 different types of bread that are gluten free, usually restaurants carry 1-2 types tops and all the sandwiches had different breads so I'm just assuming. Desserts weren't good, brownies lacked flavor and the macaroons had so much sugar they tasted like cotton candy. PRO they brought out a lemon cake with a candle for the birthday and that was very nice. The owner came out to say happy bday too, which was sweet of her. Last thing that's super knit picky, but every time I'd try to get a pic of the birthday boy in this experience the new girl would come to refill water, or ask us something. The thing is that she didn't have the etiquette to wait, or stay out of the picture. We weren't on our phones but for quick moments to send pics to his family on his bday, and it was the most awkward thing because she was right there and would stick her arm in the photo or something. This isn't the biggest deal bc I can grab another when she walked away, but it was just so awkward I hated the feeling. The candid shots are the most fun and both times I tried it was just a fail... I would give this place another try. It's worth driving all the way to Davis from Sac bc this seems to be the most authentic afternoon tea spot you can find. I'd recommend sitting outside on the shady patio (which was rather cool during the day), and also set my expectations a bit lower next time though. read more

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Went here for our first high tea experience. We had a ton of food with the queens tea package. My favorite item were the scones! Tea was good we had to make reservations and they sat us inside for a party of 3. The Inside of the shop was quaint, they have to walk you to the bathroom. They have a larger covered patio outside but there were larger parties there. Overall a good beginners high tea experience. The best part was the farmers market down the street! read more

Tea List - Queens Tea package - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

This place is so wonderful!!! It's a lovely modern high tea place with really yummy eats. I've lived in Davis for years and can't believe I was sleeping on this gem. My friend and I came for an afternoon tea reservation and we felt like we were transported into Bridgeton. The afternoon tea comes with your own hot tea of choice (I got the long strawberry green tea and my friend got the peach-apricot tea) a scone with crème and jam as well as a tier of 4 different tea sandwiches, desserts and fruit. It was so beautiful and yummy. I can't wait until next time. You do need to make a reservation for high tea and while it is a pricey place, it's well worth it because you leave stuffed! read more

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My friends and I had the nicest afternoon here :) definitely book in advance, they don't do walk ins from what I know. It's also a great place to take pictures. Cute, delicate little sandwiches, small pastries and chocolate make for a great brunch. read more

Tea List - High Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

Highly recommend reservations and reading all small print. I found this place online because I was looking for high tea. It was tucked behind buildings with a great outdoor dining area. It was a tad chilly but there were heaters. We tried getting one tea but you have to call 24hrs in advance which we missed somehow. We enjoyed our tea and service was great. They did mess up on all vegetarian sandwiches. Plus was there are vegan options. Staff was very friendly and the petite fours were the stars! read more

Such a cute place! We reserved a Queen's Tea a day prior. The next time I come back, I'm definitely going to reserve earlier to get a table outside. It's very small inside and theres about 3 tables inside. The food was great and our server was so kind. They took really long to refill our tea but overall, it was a great experience. read more

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Tea list is the cutest little place to have tea parties. We came here for my mothers birthday and this place did not disappoint. The service was great! The food was amazing and the tea was delicious. I will most definitely be going back! read more

Tea List - Queens High Tea Chicken Salad Sandwich Chicken Salad Sandwich Smoked Turkey Sandwich Cheese Plate Breakfast Scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

Went with my sisters and we all had a great time. Great tea time snacks, and we had a chance to try multiple hot/cold teas. It was such a fun and cute experience. You can sit inside or out. We chose outside because inside felt a little crammed. The servers explained everything about the tea and they had their own little sand timer! Some of tea sandwiches were a little bland to me, but it filled us up! We had to take some to go! read more

This place is amazing. It's my second time here, and it's my mom and sisters' first time. I booked the Queen's Tea for our mom's upcoming birthday, and I'm so glad I did! We arrived 15 minutes early and they spent a few minutes setting our outdoor table, which is fine! They originally set a table indoors since it was a cold afternoon, but we still wanted to sit outside (the thought was nice). The manager also set up an outdoor heater by our table--so thoughtful! The staff was quick and very welcoming. Always attentive and checking in on us to make sure everything was fine and that we had enough tea. Queen's Tea includes up to 2 tea choices per person, a salad plate, cheese charcuterie board (that also came with 1 dolma/person in balsamic vinegar--a match I never thought about, but it was like a mini party in my mouth), fresh scones with devonshire cream and berry preserves (best I've had! they're soft and fluffy unlike other high tea places--ahem* fairmont), an array of sandwiches (our fave is the curry chicken salad sandwich), five kinds of desserts, and fresh fruit. The food was amazing, and it was a lot! We were actually surprised at how full we got. The servers also came out with a birthday cake slice for our mom. I briefly mentioned it to our server when I asked her to take our picture and she thoughtfully brought it out. The almond cake was moist and delectable. My mom and sisters had a great time and said they'd want to come back again for another girls' day. Thank you for the amazing food and amazing service! read more

Tea List - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

First off this place was gorgeous and just what I was looking for, for my baby shower. I called in feb to inquire about the space and check all my boxes of what I wanted, everything seemed exactly that! I came to the space april 2 2023 with my mother and 3yr old to check out event space and decided to book and confirmed through email and phone with the owner about the space and also confirmed the tarps and shade covers will be removed for my event beings it was in the summer and we were out of rain season. Called a couple days before my event to confrim head count and mentioned the tarps and the owner stated they have been removed for the summer days. Got to the event space at my allotted time and was sent to the venue next door on the patio that was closed on with shower curtain/plastic covering I let the person know I booked the patio outside area (of the tea room) not this other neighboring venue! Was told sorry this is what we have we have other bookings, terrible at this point my guest we're arriving what choice did I have, also to top it off I kept my guest count very low to accommodate my being able to have the party in their "porch area" so very disappointed! Terrible customer service just all around disappointment especially the money I spent. read more

Kind owner who makes you feel like an old acquaintance. High tea, scones with clotted cream that she makes herself. Delicious napoleons and very good sandwiches especially the chicken salad. Have a cup of tea, kick back and enjoy. read more

This place was an absolute dream! I took my friend here for a bridal tea party, and it was everything we wanted it to be and more. First the food...was incredibly prepared. We had someone who was lactose intolerant, and they made a completely dairy free substitute for everything. It was so thoughtful and we appreciated them going the extra mile to give us all a full high tea experience. Also if you have never had curry chicken salad (which I never had before coming here) that sandwich alone is a good enough reason to visit this place. Next the tea... fresh, high quality, and so refreshing. Each person gets to try 2 types of tea (hot or cold). We tried the iced mango tea (and it had fresh mango fruit in it. And the hot strawberry green tea, which was so fragrant and delicious. We could have tried more, but we loved the first pick, and decided to go for seconds. Finally, the hospitality and customer service was top notch, you can tell that the owner truly cares for her customers. If you are looking for a place to enjoy high tea, this is your spot! read more

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COVID UPDATE I went here with my boyfriend for my birthday. I love wearing dresses but this particular day was a little cold. I was very happy to see that for their outdoor seatings they had several heaters. One woman working there was kind enough to move me to another table that was closer to the heater. She even adjusted it and put it much closer to me (I think she figured I was cold based on how I was dressed). She kept asking if I needed more adjustments to let her know, so I was very pleased with their attentiveness! We had the high tea for 2 and it is still the priciest afternoon tea I've been to ~$84 with tip. We had the jasmine tea, strawberry, and lychee black. The strawberry one was really good! First course was the scones which were a hit. The food we had (chicken curry sandwiches, cucumber cream cheese, smoked salmon, and I think this mushroom one) was good. We had fresh fruit and also a small selection of desserts. The same woman who helped me with the heater said it was a Napoleon cake which she makes fresh and is in high demand for customers. I liked it! Not too heavy, and I loved the cream and flaky layers. Altogether, it was a pleasant experience just as it was when I first visited ~3 years ago. They're handling COVID well in terms of outdoor seating. The only downfall is that it's incredibly expensive.. I'm not sure why since other tea places I've visited are around $60. However, their food presentation is cute, the outdoor area is cute, the tea selection is wide, and the surrounding shops are nice to explore. I'd only come here probably once a year for the experience but I hope the business continues to thrive through the pandemic. read more

Tea List - Vanilla scone and strawberry tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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This location does not have parking, only street parking since it is located downtown. Also it is hard to find, it is hidden behind other businesses and in an alleyway. I was seated inside, where only 5 tables fit and it was very crammed and uncomfortable at the table they sat me and my friend at. The lighting indoors is horrible, it's very hospital type of lighting. Bright white. Also, the table where I was felt as though I was blocking the walkway. Mind you, there were other tables open but they sat us there. Other parties had the option of beating seated inside or outside but we did not. The tea was good, but the sandwiches were mediocre. They were not worth the price in my opinion. I think you're mostly paying for the experience, but I am disappointed that we did not have a good experience since they sat us in such an awkward place. The bathroom isn't even in the same building as the tea place. You have to walk behind the buildings through an alley and enter another building to use the restroom. I would not come back here. read more

Tea List - High Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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The worst customer service ever! We were a walk in 6/6/24 which is a Thursday they told us there was no seating inside because of reservations although there was no one sitting inside. I just checked online and they have multiple reservations open. I walked by 30 min later and there is still no one sat inside read more

I got reservations for 7 High Tea on a Sunday. There were very accommodating to get us in even thought they had a bigger party coming right after. The tea options where great especially the ice teas since it was hot out. The food items were also delicious and they gave us a lot more than I was expecting so we had some to take home. The shop was also such a cute setting. Would definitely go back during the colder seasons to enjoy the hot teas more. read more

Tea List - Strawberry Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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Loved this place. I've been here with my daughters before and knew it would be the perfect place for a bridal shower. Tea List delivered! We had the right feminine ambiance, delicious food and first class service! Thank you for making my daughter's special day beyond our wildest expectations! read more

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I wish I could give more stars! My family wanted to do high tea last minute on a weekend morning and Dalia* and her staff were able to accommodate our large party! Our servers were extremely helpful, kind and patient with our large party and the high tea was amazing. I highly recommend the Earl Grey and Lavender teas! I will definitely be back! Edit: Dalia is the new owner! read more

Tea List - Children's Tea with Nutella Sandwiches and Lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

Had an amazing Birthday Celebration here with my friends and family. The only suggestion I can give would be to make some type of tags to keep up with the different types of teas we ordered but great experience. read more

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Update: per the owner they're a small business. Most restaurants I visit are small businesses, I've not seen a two week rule. There's plenty of small businesses in the area maybe you can ask what they do. read more

This place was EVERYTHING! My mom and bridal party threw me the most beautiful bridal shower tea party here. They hosted it at the Mustard Seed patio due to our party headcount being 21. All of my guests said it was the best bridal shower they've ever been to. So beautiful and elegant. It was three hours long and that was sufficient time to play 5 games, eat, mingle and take pics. Service was amazing. Food and tea were delicious. I want to come back just to experience the whole tea service again. Thanks so much, Tea List, for helping make my day so special. I 1,000 percent recommend this place for a celebratory gathering. read more

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Very nice my mom from Montana loved it! Tea selections was nice. The desserts where the best. A little pricy but still a good time! read more

Tea List - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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A girlfriend and I went this past Sunday for an afternoon tea, we've gone here before in the past & the quality and portions has gone down. The sandwiches were so tiny and I've had way bigger sizes. We've been to several other high tea locations that are way better. I feel that they skimped on portions and the food don't taste as good as before. Also pot of tea is small. Service was good & atmosphere was nice. Might want to step it up a bit especially if you guys are increasing prices for getting so little. read more

Tea List - Small pot of tea! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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Pricey and not the best selection of finger food for your tea. So small it's quite uncomfortable. My husband is 6'8 and took me for a sweet date-- poor thing was hunched over and awkwardly had to squeeze himself into fitting. read more

Such a cute tea house!! I love the menu. Location is great too. Service is phenomenal. I wish the patio was decorated more for high tea as it doesn't match high tea vibes but it's still worth a visit! Went for my moms birthday brunch and she loved it. Amazing bite sized treats and sweets. read more

Tea List - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Davis, California

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Wow! This place was so lovely. My friend and I decided to do high tea and it did not disappoint! We did the middle tier tea. Each person gets their own 2 pots of tea. The China used was absolutely stunning and the tea was fresh and delicious. All of the food, including the scones with clotted cream and jam, tea sandwiches, pastries, fruit and dessert were absolutely delicious. Our server was so sweet and accommodating. 10/10 experience read more