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Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro Reviews List

Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro

Here at Samovar Tea Lounge, it’s never simply business as usual. For us, serving highest quality teas and sumptuous complementary cuisine is an art and a vehicle for the greater good. Making people feel good, feel healthy and attain happiness is our bottom line. And, challenging as it is, seeing our guests beam with joy and express their heartfelt gratitude is worth all the effort. What we do is an expression of our values, the high ideals and essence of the tea experience, and we thank you for joining us.
See more Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro details
29 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall 
4.2 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5
(29 Reviews)
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Breakdown 29 reviews
5 stars
(8)
4 stars
(18)
3 stars
(3)
2 stars
(0)
1 star
(0)
Food 
4.1 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.1 / 5
Service 
4.2 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5
Ambiance 
4.2 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5
Noise Level
1.9 / 3
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
  • neighborhood gem(20)
  • fit for foodies(16)
  • great for lunch(14)
  • special occasion(10)
  • romantic(9)
  • good for groups(8)
Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro Reviews List
Review 1 for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

Fun experience for a first-timer

Customer Avatar
OpenTable Diner
Dined on 5/12/2013
Food 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"Sitting on the mats with pillows at the short table was fun, especially for my mom on Mother's Day. We ordered 2 tea sets plus a mini-Middle Eastern plate. There was a lot of repetition among the plates (e.g., same smoked salmon on the Japanese and Russian plates; same eggplant spread on the Russian and Middle Eastern plates; same crackers on the Russian and Middle Eastern plates). I don't know if I'd need to go again but if I was looking for a neighborhood tea spot with food, I might try some of the other menu offerings."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
0points
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Review 2 for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

I love Samovar! I only wish

Food 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"I love Samovar! I only wish that their chai was made with almond milk instead of cow's milk. But aside from that, the tea and food is exquisite and the vibe, although a bit noisier than I had hoped, was fantastic. Now they just need to come to San Diego and all will be right in the world!"
Dined on 03/02/2013
 2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
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Review 3 for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

This is the type of place

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"This is the type of place to hang out at the end of a long day and just unwind. Let the servers bring the tea and have the aromas and scents overwhelm your senses. Order some food for pairing with the tea and enjoy time by yourself or with company. no complaints."
Dined on 02/18/2013
 2000
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
0points
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Review 4 for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

Unusual but delicious brunch option

Food 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"Refreshing to find a place where tea is treated with the love and reverence it deserves. There are many interesting teas to try and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful in assisting with menu choices. My family and I wanted to have an unhurried Sunday brunch in an ambient atmosphere and enjoy healthy interesting fare at the same time. This place scored on all those counts! My only criticism would be it is fairly expensive and the food portions are not large. However everything is lovingly prepared at the time by hand so I guess you get what you pay for and I think it is worth the splurge."
Dined on 02/24/2013
 2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, romantic, great for lunch
0points
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Review 5 for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Overall rating 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Fabulous experience overall.

Food 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"Fabulous experience overall. Make sure to order one of the tea pairing dishes. Our group of seven each ordered something different and each were pleased with our choice. The presentation of the food is exquisite and the staff took additional time to explain the teas and how to steep, pour and taste to enjoy the tea at it's best. Put this on your list for an exceptional dining experience."
Dined on 02/13/2013
 2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch
0points
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Review 6 for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

GREAT OASIS

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"A great oasis in the city with a calm, relaxed vibe. Held a business meeting there and everyone enjoyed themselves. The pineapple tea was the talk of the table."
Dined on 02/13/2013
 2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for lunch
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Review 7 for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

Too expensive, insulting

Food 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Service 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"Nice but way too expensive for tea. Chai was 7 bucks and no refill, and that is one of the cheapest items. The brunch was good, but not spectacular. They also really want to turn tables over so not super relaxing, which you might want when spending 10$ on a pot of tea..."
Dined on 01/13/2013
 2005
0points
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Review 8 for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

Taking a friend to tea

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"Fun menu items with different "themes" . Lots of tea options for the connoisseur. Location makes for people watching ease. service was very attentive and encourages a full enjoyment of the experience."
Dined on 02/02/2013
 2008
Special Features: great for brunch, special occasion, great for lunch
0points
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Samovar Tea Lounge - Mission/Castro
Based on the average of (21) ratings-only reviews
Overall 
4.2 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5
6 out of 6 recommend this product
Food 
4.2 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5
Service 
4.1 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.1 / 5
Ambiance 
4.3 / 5
(Outstanding) 4.3 / 5
Noise Level
1.9 / 3
Moderate