The Mad Hatter Tea Room, Anoka, MN

Visited: January, 2008.  Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: My friend and I happened upon this tearoom while shopping in downtown Anoka last week. We didn't have reservations, but our server was very friendly and welcoming. Our lunch was excellent and I especially loved the maple cream tea, which was the flavor of the day. I will definitely recommend this place to others.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Melissa  2/08  Add your review   

Visited: December, 2005.  Reviewed: December, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I have enjoyed tea at many tea rooms in the United States and Europe. The Mad Hatter Tea Room is absolutely the best place for perfectly brewed tea and tasty well prepared food. The scones are PERFECT! The owners, Linda and Andrea are gracious and warm. The decor is comfortable and inviting. 
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Ana Gunderson Add your review   

Visited: December, 2005.  Reviewed: December, 2005.
Meal: Theme/holiday tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is my favorite tea room in Minnesota. The service is very friendly and efficient. Our teapot was never empty! We came for the Holiday Tea - each of the four courses was excellent, and we even received a Christmas teacup to take home as a souvenir. My friends and I are going to make this an annual tradition. We even made our reservations already for next year!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Jessica Add your review   

Visited: January, 2003.  Reviewed: October, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Fair. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: Although the service very friendly, the food was mediocre at best. Not freshly prepared - the quiche seemed like out of the frozen food section. Not very good scones, and I LOVE scones! It's a cute place, but I prefer McHattie's in Woodbury anyday.
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: A Jen who loves good tea! Add your review   

Visited: July, 2004.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Cream tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is the tea shop you want to go to with 'the girls.' Very casual and pretty. Very girly. The food was very good, the tea well prepared. The owners stopped and chatted and gave a little background into why they opened the shops. Gift shop had charming gifts. My only warning is to be careful where you set your purse. There's an old fashioned sink in the gift shop that's used as a display. They keep gold fish in  the basin. I almost dropped my purse on top of the poor things. ;>)
Would you go back? Hope so, but we don't live nearby.
Reviewer: Jane Add your review   

Visited: October, 2004.  Reviewed: October, 2004.
Meal: Special event. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The Mad Hatter Tea Room is located in the old post office building on Anoka's main street. The décor is very cute. The service is wonderful and they are always very accommodating. They have many theme teas, as well as cream teas and three course teas and lunches. I frequent this tea shop every month. They learn your name and make each guest feel very welcome.
Reviewer: Renee Add your review   

Visited: June, 2004.  Reviewed: July, 2004.
Meal: Special event. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The Mad Hatter is a special place I love to bring friends. The scones are the best and lunches a real treat. Their theme teas are so very special. Each time I'm in the tea room I'm treated so special by Andrea and Linda and the ladies that work there. Looking forward to my next visit.
Reviewer: Miss Lou Add your review   

Visited: March, 2003
Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: A friend and I enjoy a relaxing break in busy daily routines by meeting for lunch at least once a week at the Mad Hatter. The tea is always fresh and hot and very tasty. The scones and lunches are delicious. A delightful place to meet with friends (our Red Hat Society chapter has also had tea there as our monthly event). I recommend to everyone a "splash of joy" in your day at the Mad Hatter Tea Room.
Reviewer: Queen Judi Add your review   

Visited: March, 2003
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The Mad Hatter Tea Room is where I go to be treated like a queen. Andrea and Linda have become friends. I am treated with kindness and friendliness every time I go there. 
Reviewer: Kaki Steen Add your review     

Teavana, Bloomington, MN

Visited: January, 2008.  Meal: Tea tasting. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: From a hotpot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Rather small but wonderful shop with an amazing selection. Offers Eastern, Russian, and English style accessories with a strong emphasis on the Eastern. Three hot-pots of samples. Very yummy Red tea with Vanilla
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Becky The Other 1/08 Add your review   

Visited: July, 2005.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Retail shop only. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: n/a.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Have you read the Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs? I was reading one when I went into Teavanna and just for the heck of it started asking if they had any of the various teas mentioned. Egyptian Camomille for example. Yes. I wasn't able to stump them. Excellent selection, very knowlegeable staff. I've been buying tea there ever since it opened. 
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Jane Add your review   

Visited: October, 2004.  Reviewed: October, 2004.
Meal: No meal, just a cuppa. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a gaiwan.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Good.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: Teavana is located in the Mall of America. It is a tea merchant that offers tea accessories, and samples of the varieties of loose teas. It is wonderful shop where the employees are knowledgeable and willing to help the customers.
Reviewer: Renee Add your review 

Indigo Tea Company, Burnsville, MN

Visited: May, 2007.  Reviewed: May, 2007.
Meal: Just a cuppa. Type of tea: Loose leaf and teabags. Served: In a teacup.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: An amazing outpost in suburbia, excellent range of teas from the obvious to the sublime, I stop in frequently for afternoon tea and purchase loose tea and wonderful pu'erh in beencha form, I can't say enough to convey how wonderful this place is for tea to go, tea on the spot, or loose tea to steep later at home.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Tom Hayes, of Northfield's Ole Store Add your review    

Visited: April, 2006.  Reviewed: May, 2006.
Meal: Just a cuppa. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Wonderful and relaxing atmosphere. The owners are very knowledgable about their products. Great tea selection. Everything I am looking for in a tea shop. I love it!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: teadiva3 Add your review    

Visited: April, 2006.  Reviewed: May, 2006.
Meal: Just a cuppa. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a mug.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Poor. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I almost drove off the road when I saw this tea shop. What a great find. It's east of 35W once you get on highway 13. Between Portland and Cliff. I went in about 10 minutes before closing so just had their chai tea to go but it was excellent. Steamed milk and nice and spicy/sweet. I bought some peach black tea for iced tea - smells great and tastes good too. This is a modern day tea shop-it's not decorated for a ladies tea party-it really is a very nice upscale coffee shop that serves tea (well, they offer ONE coffee for you die hards). There are small tables so you can sit and relax. He has an area in the front window set up for a Japanese tea - I forgot to ask him if that was just of show or if he actually served tea there. I talked to the owner and he was really excited about the venture. It's located in an area where professionals can stop in for a quick cup (and a treat) or someone going to or coming from shopping (there's a Cub nearby) so it's great. He has sample jars of tea so you can smell them (and they smell great). There a nice selection of tea sets and tea accessories as well. I liked the place. I plan to include it on my regular shopping route as a place to catch my breath. 
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Jane Add your review    

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN

Visited: December, 2003.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Fair. Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We went to a Christmas theme tea. The decor was beautiful. I guess our only complaint was it really wasn't run by people who serve people professionally. I felt the servers were volunteers so they were good sports but just not the same kind of service as in a more traditional tea shop. The appearance was lovely, the food pretty average, the tea average to good. It's a great way to spend an afternoon, lovely surroundings, wouldn't go there regularly though.
Would you go back? Maybe.
Reviewer: Jane Add your review   

Cedarhurst Mansion, Cottage Grove, MN

Visited: January, 2006.  Reviewed: February, 2006.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Fair. Service: Good.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: I was looking up Cedarhurst to get time , date and price info. A group of my friends want to go ythere. I have been there with my Red Hatter Group last summer. We had a blast.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Red Hatter Add your review   

Visited: November, 2005.  Reviewed: February, 2006.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The Cedarhurst Mansion is a marvelous location for taking tea. The owners are so very accomodating and hospitable. The food was fabulous and the tea divine! Our Red Hat Group had a marvelous time at the Cedarhurst. Our wonderful host filled us in on the marvelous history of the mansion. This is a must see!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Queen Hannah Add your review   

Aprille's Showers Tea Room, Stillwater, MN
(as of October, 2005; formerly in Farmington)

Visited: March, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We frequent Aprille's Showers, both when they were in Farmington and now in Stillwater. It is the best tea room to which we have ever gone. Afternoon tea, with a soup, sandwich, scone, and dessert course is available, but they are also doing several a la carte offerings. The new menu is fabulous. For our recent trip, we had a curried pumpkin soup, pimento cheese sandwich, egg salad sandwich, and a ham and apple with swiss cheese spread on croissant. For scones, we had cranberry-orange with jam, devonshire cream and lemon curd. Desserts included a hefty piece of chocolate truffle cake, caramel apple tart, tiramisu, and one more that escapes me right now...sorry. Our food, service, ambience, and tea are ALWAYS excellent. I highly recommend this tea room.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Tina 3/08 Add your review   

Visited: August, 2007.  Reviewed: September, 2007.
Meal: Theme tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This tearoom is rated # 1 on my list! Everything was beautiful. The food, the ambiance, the servers. Aprille's Showers makes you feel like a queen!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: hhteahats Add your review   

Visited: May, 2007.  Reviewed: June, 2007.
Meal: Cream tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf and teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Fair.  Food: Poor. Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Very disappointing. Shop served cream cheese with scones instead of clotted cream. Did not offer lemon curd or any jam. Hot tea should ALWAYS be served with sugar cubes, not loose sugar.
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: pollylinder Add your review   

Visited: January, 2006.  Reviewed: January, 2006.
Meal: Cream tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: What a quaint place! Fun for everyone. It's a bit girly, but there was a man working, so you might be able to take your man without him feeling too out of place. The food was delightful and the tea never ending. What a lovely afternoon!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: rubyslipperlady Add your review   

Visited: December, 2005.  Reviewed: December, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is the 2nd visit to them- first time in Stillwater. Great location and lovely shop. Lots more room and more comfortable as well. Very friendly, we brought along my friend's 15 month son who charmed the owners and (hopefully) those sitting around us as well. Shop is not stroller friendly - be prepared to carry it up 2 steps but that's not really a big deal. What I like best about this place is the selection of teas. You can order a pot of at least 15 different black teas and there's still herbal and green teas to choose from. I love that the best.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Jane Add your review   

Visited: August, 2005.  Reviewed: August, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Aprille's Showers is fabulous. They encourage you to try more than one pot of tea! Servers are attentive and the food is divine! You truly feel like Royalty taking tea at Aprille's Showers. I hear they are relocating to Stillwater, MN in October 2005. More super news!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: hannahats Add your review   

Visited: June, 2004.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This place was really lovely. It looked like in a former life the building was an old post office or something. Hostess was attentive and service very good. The great thing about this place is they have a tea list at your table and you can pick from a number of teas and drink pot after pot after pot of tea. We tried several and took some home. They did not have a seperate area for just gifts - gifts were displayed around the tea shop so it was a little awkward to look at stuff - sometimes I was afraid I was disturbing people at a table.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Jane Add your review   

Visited: October, 2004.  Reviewed: November, 2004.
Meal: Cream tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This tea room is elegantly located in the historic bank building in Farmington. It is just a short drive from the Twin Cities. I arrived early for a three course tea. The first course was cream soup which was very delicious. The second course was scones with lemon curd, clotted cream, and preserves. The final course was a selection of delicious mouth watering desserts. Everything matched in the tea room. The tablecloths made you feel like you were waiting for the queen. It was just perfect. A wonderful atmosphere to share with friends and family. I would definitely go there again.
Reviewer: Renee Add your review   

Chickadee Cottage, Lake City, MN

Visited: April, 2007.  Reviewed: June, 2007.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Fair. Service: Good.  Appearance: Fair.
Comments: Afternoon tea was a little disappointing. Tea was not loose. Dinnerware was worn out. The tea I had was yorkshire gold. It was good but prefer loose. The fruit compote was served nicely but extremely skimpy on the strawberry, sandwiches were expected to be small but were very skimpy in filling and bread was dry, desserts good except one was a girl scout cookie. Other peoples meals looked good so I might return if I happen to be in the area.
Would you go back? Maybe.
Reviewer: Michelle Add your review  

Visited: May, 2005.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Retail shop only. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: n/a.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is almost a hole in the wall type of shop - kind of tucked away and musty looking. It's primarily a coffee shop, the teas are stored on a back shelf. Tried one called 'rhubarb/berry' which was a black tea w/rhubarb and berry. Really good - even better as iced tea. Also tried one called English Dinner Tea which was OK but I will probably not try it again. 
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: jane Add your review  

Visited: October, 2004.  Reviewed: November, 2004.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Teabags.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Fair.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: This is a quaint little house converted into a nice cottage style tea room. They serve lunch, afternoon tea, and other menu items. They are open until the end of October. I had a reservation and the place was packed. They were closing the next day. The food could have been fresher. It was fine but not the best I have ever had. I think it was due to the fact that they were closing the next day. I would try it again if I were in the area. but I would not make a special trip to that location. The service was good and the décor was quaint. Definitely worth visiting if you are in the area.
Reviewer: Renee  Add your review   

Visited: October, 2000
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This was the best scone that I've ever had, I can still taste it in my memory. I had the apricot-ginger scone, with a cup of Earl Grey tea. The service was well timed even though the cottage was packed with customers. It was very enjoyable. I plan to revisit on my next trip this October.
Reviewer: Tina Harter-Cruz  Add your review   

Coffee & Tea by Lee, Minneapolis, MN

Visited: May, 2005.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Retail shop only. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: n/a.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is almost a hole in the wall type of shop - kind of tucked away and musty looking. It's primarily a coffee shop, the teas are stored on a back shelf. Tried one called 'rhubarb/berry' which was a black tea w/rhubarb and berry. Really good - even better as iced tea. Also tried one called English Dinner Tea which was OK but I will probably not try it again. 
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: jane Add your review    

General Store of Minnetonka, Minnetonka, MN

Visited: September, 2004.  Reviewed: October, 2004.
Meal: Cream tea. Type of tea: Teabags. Served: In a teacup.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The General Store of Minnetonka is an eclectic shop with everything from tea accessories to bed clothes. You could find anything you needed for a gift for your dearest friend. The restaurant will serve tea to a group on Mondays at 3pm with a reservation. You can always stop by and order a cuppa and a scone from the restaurant anytime. We stopped in for tea and scones which we took home for a tea party of our own. It was delicious.
Reviewer: Renee Add your review  

Three Sisters Tea Room, New Ulm, MN

Visited: January, 2006.  Reviewed: June, 2007.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf and teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Wondferful tea room. Great girls day out with shopping nearby.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Maryann Add your review  

Visited: July, 2005.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This lovely tea room is located in the old Union Hotel building in downtown just a short drive from Mankato. The tables are spread with linens and delightfully mismatched china. Life is slower here, as you sip your 'cuppa' and savor every morsel of the mouthwatering tea tidbits your eyes wander over the decor and old tin ceilings. You feel at home here, cozy, free to relax and have a conversation, to make friends NOT hurried out the door. Paruse their gift items or read about tea goings on in the tea magazine or better yet become a fine lady and borrow a vintage hat to wear while at tea. Guests are encouraged to wear a hat from their collection and they'll even take a digital photo and e-mail it as a souvenier. Make a day of it, it's located in the old downtown part of New Ulm so make time to wander in and out of the many quaint shops in this adorable town.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Carisa V Add your review  

A Tale of Two Sisters, Red Wing, MN

Visited: May, 2004.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We went for a mystery tea with the guest of honor the writer Laura Childs. Tea was excellent, decor absolutely charming. Ms Childs was also a delight. She walked to each table and chatted (and signed books if you wanted). Sat with us for a while discussing marketing of her book. The tea shop is in the downstairs of a very quaint Victorian style home. Very homey and just a lovely atmosphere. 
Would you go back? Hope so, but we don't live nearby.
Reviewer: Jane Add your review   

Visited: October, 2004.  Reviewed: October, 2004.
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This quaint tea room is set in a small antique shopper's paradise. The old house has several room dedicated to serving tea. All of the rooms have gifts for sale as well as many rooms upstairs are the gift shop. The shop is owned and operated by two sisters. They have a newsletter and brochures for anyone who is interested. We had a three course tea that was very delicious. Each course was elegantly presented. The sisters were very accommodating when we needed to take food home with us. They offer many theme teas and many tea offerings.
Reviewer: Renee Add your review   

Visited: November, 2003.  Reviewed: June, 2004.
Meal: Special event.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf and teabags.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I have lived in Red Wing for years and had never heard of this tearoom. Right there under my nose for the last several years. My friends and I had been searching for something like this -- I wish I would have known it was here! We now visit about once a week or so. Lovely, elegant tearoom in an old Victorian style house, great food and excellent tea. The two sisters are a hoot! If you live in the area (or even if you don't) you should visit. They have some unique recipes.
When I was there recently, an internationally published author was there and I had the chance to meet her. Her name is Melissa and she has two books published: Chin Deep in Bubbles and Welcome Home. Both books are filled with watercolor drawings and hand lettering. Really cute. I guess Melissa lives in Red Wing and frequents A Tale of Two Sisters. Who knows ... You might just get to meet this famous author while having tea!
Reviewer: Judy Add your review   

Visited: October, 2001
Meal: Special event.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Three years ago when I discovered the Tale of Two Sisters I found a type of hospitality that I had not previously experienced in the Red Wing area. Now, each time I return, I feel as though I am returning to my Grandmother's house. I have enjoyed many memorable moments and luxuriated in the relaxing atmosphere of "the Two Sisters." Sipping my favorite tea (Darjeeling), nibbling my favorite sweet or light lunch, Bonnie and Susan tend to every detail. They make you feel special as only you and they know you are. They inform you of tea news, gifts, and menu specialties, as well as demonstrating genuine interest in you. Their clientele comprise an extremely eclectic mix of people and introductions are frequently arranged by the proprietors. Solitude is respected also. I highly recommend Tale of Two Sisters where they slow down the pace of life by serving properly brewed loose leaf tea.
Reviewer: Judy Johnson, Red Wing Add your review   

Visited: August, 2001
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I visited the Tale of Two Sisters in September for an afternoon tea with a couple of friends. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and the food was unbelievably good! We were first asked for our choice of beverages, which included various loose teas (iced), flavored coffee, and chai. I chose Ginger Peach which was delightful! We then were served a tray of tea sandwiches which included cucumber, curried carrot, chicken salad on fruit bread, and mini quiche. We were then served cranberry orange scones with homemade lemon curd and Devon cream. These were mouth watering! Finally (as if that wasn't filling enough) we were served a tray full of tea sized desserts. These included chocolate cups garnished with edible flowers, mini strawberry tarts, and carrot cake bites with homemade cream cheese frosting. Not only was the food superb, but the trays were decorated with delightful flowers and fresh fruit. The "Sisters" are a joy to talk to! I would definitely recommend this tea room for a delectable lunch, a fun filled "theme" tea that the sisters are so famous for, or a leisurely afternoon tea which I so enjoyed! I cannot wait to return :). 
Reviewer: Amy Hughes Add your review     

TeaSource Two, St. Anthony, MN

Visited: January, 2008.  Meal: No meal, just a cuppa. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a mug.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Average.
Comments: Rather stark little shop with an superb selection of premium looseleaf tea. Tried the Keemun Hao Ya A. Smooth, strong but low acidity ... in a word scrumptious! Only wish I could have a hand in it's decoration....
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Becky The Other 1/08 Add your review  

Visited: January, 2006.  Reviewed: January, 2006.
Meal: No meal, just a cuppa. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Fair. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is a fun place to learn about tea. It's small and quiet so that you can try teas and visit and learn with a friend new to tea. The baked goods always look good, but leave me disappointed. Pass on the food and get another pot of tea!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: rubyslipperlady Add your review  

Visited: October, 2004.  Reviewed: October, 2004.
Meal: No meal, just a cuppa. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: n/a. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: This tea room is wonderful for purchasing teas. The staff is very knowledgeable and willing to help a customer. The shop's appearance is mostly a tea merchant with multiple teas and tea accessories. They have tables and a small selection of pastries to have cream teas with your friends. I shop there frequently to have a selection of loose teas for at home.
Reviewer: Renee Add your review 

Victorian Lace Inn Tea Room, St. Charles, MN

Visited: June, 2007.  Reviewed: June, 2007.
Meal: Lunch.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Very cozy victorian house. Food was served on antique dinnerware. Shop owner was very nice. I had black tea flavored with passionfruit and grapefruit, excellent! You do need reservations.!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: mmvalley  Add your review  

Cedarhurst Mansion, St. Paul, MN

Visited: April, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Fair.  Food: Average.  Service: Average.  Appearance: Average.
Comments: I was very disappointed We were only group there. There were 3 of us. Service was 'tacky' -had us keep our fork for dessert. Food was rather plain. Had us keep our plate the whole time until dessert.
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: J -loves tearooms 4/08  Add your review   

Lady Elegant's Tea Room and Shoppe, St. Paul, MN

Visited: September, 2007.  Reviewed: September, 2007.
Meal: Lunch.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf and teabags.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Our group, three adults and two eleven month old twin girls stopped in for lunch with out a reservation. We were seated promptly, the server went out of her way to accomadate all of us and to make us feel like valued customers. The tea was served in porcelin pots, piping hot. The menu is chock full of all the kinds of good things one would like to have in a tea shoppe. It's fresh, tasty and beautifully presented.  Definitely an A+ tea room.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Carolyn, Dorey and Kathlynn  Add your review   

Visited: April, 2007.  Reviewed: May, 2007.
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf and teabags.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Absolutely delightful afternoon. Music is just right with the right volume. Service is prompt and accommodating. I just love the scented warm moist towels at the end of the tea. And a very nice gift shop. Highly recommend!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Helen Margaret and Eloise  Add your review   

Visited: July, 2006.  Reviewed: August, 2006.
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Generally a very nice experience. The server was very pleasant, although missing in action for lengths of time. The food was good, but not wonderful. I found giving a credit card number to make my reservation a little disconcerting.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Sue from Minneapolis  Add your review   

Visited: January, 2006.  Reviewed: February, 2006.
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Our Red Hat Group had a wonderful tea at Lady Elegant's. The food was different and very tasty We especially liked the fact that we could order and try several different tea flavors. The tea room is decorated in a wonderfully feminine chic style. The only down point was tht we have to pay ahead and sign a contract. It is too bad that they have had to resort to this; but with the lack of respect and honor in society today, we can understand this need to prepay for groups of 8 or more.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Queen Hannah  Add your review   

Visited: September, 2005.  Reviewed: September, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I have been coming to Lady Elegant's Tea Room for 4 years. I have introduced many friends to tea by inviting them to Lady Elegant's Tea Room. I recently had afternoon tea with little ladies and they loved. I will definitely return.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Tammy  Add your review   

Visited: July, 2004.  Reviewed: July, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Good.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I honestly felt more like I was having a snack (a very nice snack) in a resturant than a tea shop. The decor and everything was just beautiful but it didn't have any feeling of being, I guess the best word is 'cozy.' Tea was good, food was good, everything looked really nice but it just didn't feel warm and welcoming. 
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: Jane  Add your review   

Visited: October, 2004.  Reviewed: October, 2004.
Meal: Special event.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This tea room is a very elegant stop to have a cuppa or enjoy a theme tea with a friend. Lady Elegant brews all her tea loose and allows the guest to choose the type of tea they would like. The décor is just what the name says: elegant. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is very inviting. I frequent this shop with my friends. The tea room is only open Thursday through Saturday. The gift shop is open Wednesday through Saturday. You can find just about anything you need in the gift shop. Lady Elegant also offers a tea course for planning your own tea parties and the correct etiquette for each tea time. A wonderful stop anytime. A place to step back in time and relax with a nice cup of tea and a friend.
Reviewer: Renee  Add your review   

Visited: July, 2004.  Reviewed: October, 2004.
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I enjoyed a great pot of freshly steeped Assam from a regional estate. It was perfect as were the treats that went with it. I had the four-course parlor tea. In their gift shop I bought some of the tea I drank. Great relaxing music and time for conversation with a friend.
Reviewer: Lynn  Add your review   

Visited: December, 2003
Meal: Afternoon tea.  Type of tea served: Loose leaf.  Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This was the first time we had been back since it was under new ownership. The food was excellent. The new owners were very friendly and made our time most enjoyable. This tea room is situated off a small courtyard in an old European style building and is a beautiful place to have tea. A must visit place! Thanks for our unique experience.
Reviewer: flowergirl1950  Add your review      

Berries and Marigolds, Starbuck, MN

Visited: August, 2004.  Reviewed: November, 2004.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Teabags. Served: In a teacup.
Tea: Fair.  Food: Good. Service: Fair.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: We went here for a tea in early August of 2004. This is a fairly new B&B, and the lunches are served on the first floor of a nice old prairie-style Victorian farmhouse. We had hoped for a bit more of an afternoon-tea experience. Instead, we had a late-lunch of quiche, soup, and pie (or an early high tea!). The tea was foil-wrapped Lipton and Bigelow teabags with hot water in a cup, and some extra hot water in a pot. The quiche was quite good, and the pie wasn't bad. I think this is more of a lunch spot -- they had hotdish on the menu (that's casserole for you non-Minnesotans)!
Reviewer: Lady Perian Add your review  

The Enchanted Cottage, Walker, MN

Visited: July, 2007.  Meal: Dessert tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good. Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We love to come each year on our shopping-in-town-day. The Enchanted Cottage is set up in a beautiful old white-picket-fence cottage and we enjoy the ambience and decor. It does get a bit hot in the summer, but one can sit on the front porch. We've enjoyed lunch here too and are never disappointed.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Susie 4/08 Add your review    

Avalon Tearoom & Pastry Shoppe, White Bear Lake, MN

Visited: March, 2008.  Meal: Dessert tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I love to come in on a whim for a pot of tea and dessert. Jan and Becky are wonderful. I've come here regular since the shop opened and have never been disappointed. The quiche and sandwiches are great for lunch, and the multi-course teas are a treat. I have always felt welcomed and pampered here.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Susie 4/08 Add your review   

Visited: December, 2005.  Reviewed: February, 2006.
Meal: Theme tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is a favorite tea shoppe of our Red Hat Group. We have never been disappointed. Best scones and Devonshire Cream in Minnesota! The wonderful ladies at the Avalon have cooked up some marvelously FUN theme tea events. We are going back for our March 06 tea, wearin' a bit of Green in honour of St. Patty's Day. The Avalon is a cozy tearoom, beautifully decorated, with delicious food, and the best wait staff ever. They make YOU feel like royalty!  PS. They have a lovely retail shoppe too!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Queen Hannah Add your review   

Visited: September, 2004.  Reviewed: October, 2004.
Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I frequent this tea room when I have a few extra minutes. Avalon tea room is a quaint setting in a store front mall in old White Bear Lake. The food is delicious and the service is wonderful. It is the perfect place to bring family and friends for a short visit. They offer four varieties of theme teas that require reservations. You can stop in for a cuppa or lunch anytime.
Reviewer: Renee Add your review   

Visited: April, 2004.  Reviewed: April, 2004.
Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: My husband and I were visiting Minnesota and this tea room was recommended to us. The tea, scones, sandwiches and dessert was delicious and it was a great way of celebrating my birthday. 
Reviewer: Cheryl Add your review   

McHattie's Victorian Times Tea House, Woodbury, MN

Visited: July, 2007.  Reviewed: August, 2007.
Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf and teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: What a wonderful experience! The atmosphere was beautiful, ful