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Russian Tea Time

4.1 (938 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 7:30 pm

Order Russian Tea Time Takeout or Delivery

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RUSSIAN TEA TIME ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Russian Tea Time

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Ukrainian vodka flight
Peter L.

Russian Tea Time is a popular restaurant right around the corner from the CSO that serves food from old Russia as well as tea service. We did the former last week and enjoyed a great sampler of apps and mains for lunch, starting with beef pelmeni, potato vareniki, Latkes, Carrot salad, Beet caviar, Chickpea paste, Tabouli, and Vinaigrette salads. Followed by mains - Beef Stroganoff, Stuffed cabbage, Chicken Kebab, Rice and Buckwheat Kasha. Food was hearty but not greasy. The salads were very fresh and bright. Went well with my Ukranian vodka sampler. Service was solid and it was a great spot to grab a bite before the CSO concert.

Lezlie L.

What a cool experience! We had a lot of tea, the afternoon sweet and savory experience, and the teatime platter for two (or something like that haha). We got to try so many things and everything was fresh and flavorful. We also tried the borscht soup. So authentic! It was a very quaint place with a soothing atmosphere. I would recommend getting reservations. We didn't but were able to get in for a limited space. This place is also very close to all the downtown activities. The beef stroganoff was amazing! Will definitely go back!

Sweets
Natalka K.

Came with my coworkers for an office outing and there were 19 of us. We had a room in the back and there were people in the front of the restaurant. We ordered ahead of time so that the restaurant would be ready with our food. Appetizers were a bit slow coming out to one table but the other table got them first. Out entrees came out as they were ready and we all enjoyed the food.

Brianna R.

In my opinion the most traditional tea time in Chicago. You actually get what you paid for in a world where high tea includes a slice of toast and a macaroon. Ambiance is fancy do I encourage you to dress up! Server was attentive and helped us pick a platter so we could try a little bit of everything.

Scones
Wendy H.

Service was nice. The food took a while, but I knew the items we ordered were not fast to cook. It tasted great. The scones are fine. It's not clotted cream, but it's probably not what they normally serve. It's a nice place for afternoon tea. The children were well behaved as well.

Queen Afternoon Tea Service - comes with crepes, which were not worth the extra price. Everything else was good though.
Tyga M.

This was a good place for afternoon tea, just not my favorite. The menu for this was a tad confusing initially, but once our server explained it, I appreciated that you can choose just exactly how much food you want for the tea service. The tea I selected was good; others I tasted at my table were fine, but I didn't see how they complimented the food. As for the food, the scones and sandwiches were quite filling and my favorite parts of the dish; the desserts were a tad lackluster for me. It took a moment for us to be serviced initially due to what looked like under staffing, but the server was attentive once we were visited.

Classic Beef Stroganoff
Julie B.

Loved our experience here. Staff super friendly and helpful. Food was tasty and plentiful. Ate so much we shared dessert 4 ways. Smart clean setup/layout/decor - not fussy. The teapot was frequently topped up. Important to this tea drinker!

Tigui D.

Good service and knowledgeable server. Vast menu.. We went with the classic tea service and shakshuka. The food was terrible the pastries tasted a few days old, mediocre sandwiches( how do you mess up a sandwich as a restaurant??) And the Shakshuka was a disappointment. Shakshuka is an easy dish to make and easy to make it tasty. However, it was tasteless and bland.. yuck The teas where good and they had lots options. I left the restaurant hungry but had plenty of tea I'll give this place another shot and try their other dishes because they have a lot of other items on the menu. But the things we got were terrible

Cabbage roll & chicken Kiev
Carlie M.

This is one of my favorite restaurants - we always make a point to visit when in town. Super authentic cuisine and everything is delicious and well prepared.

Butternut squash and borscht
Catherine D.

I had gone in amidst a layover while traveling on recommendation from a friend. She was not kidding, it was quite the wonderful experience. The meal was incredible, the dessert was even more amazing. The presentation was impeccable and presentation really is everything.

Russian Tea Time Platter for 2 (entree platter)
Jackie V.

We had an absolutely lovely pretheater dinner here. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful with red decor and nice music playing. Our server Lazlo warmly greeted us and allowed us to choose a comfortable table. It was a bonus since we were seated during happy hour. We ordered a Ukrainian beer and a coriander vodka martini. Both were unique and delicious. For dinner, we had the Russian Tea Time platter for two. It came with two different courses of platters and was a wonderful way to sample many different dishes. Everything was excellent. If I had to choose favorites, I would say the stuffed cabbage and the beet salad were standouts. The portion was large and we had enough for lunch the next day. This place is a gem and we will definitely be back next t time we are in town.

Classic Afternoon Tea Service
Amber H.

I took my daughter here & had the best time. We both shared one classic tea service and it was more than enough. We tried the White Strawberry Tea. Hands down it was the best tea I have ever tried. Excellent quality and exceptional service. Will definitely be back on our next Chicago adventure!

Zach M.

What a fun spot in Chicago. We ordered the tea service and it was perfect. Light, refreshing with plenty of options for all. It was the perfect lunch spot that was nice and light. Beautiful throughout and right in the heart of downtown. Next time I visit Chicago, I'll still come back here. Ochen Xorosho!

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Russian Tea Time Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Russian Tea Time

What's the difference between Queens service and regular tea service?

The type and amount of food.

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Russian Tea Time - russian - Updated May 2026

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