This place is a cute small spot on the more affordable end for afternoon tea in the city. It does get busy and you need a reservation. You get 1 choice of unlimited tea, i chose their house black tea, and the stand of assortments. They walk through and explain each item so you know what's there. I don't know if they accomodate dietary restrictions but my friend and i were able to split things accordingly. The tea was a great palate cleanser between each treat. The scones were my top fav, albeit not fresh or very warm. Unfortunately overall we left kind of disappointed in the quality of selection and overall unsatisfied appetite. A lot of it felt like grocery store items tbh, especially the sweets which is what I was looking forward to the most. I really enjoy small delicacies but the price just didn't feel justified here. If you're near the art institute and want to relax and get a snack, go for it. But otherwise u might be better off saving for a better experience elsewhere! read more

Russian Tea Time - Black tea - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Our family came to this place for tea and a light lunch and we loved it. We ordered tea service that came with scones, sandwiches, and deserts. Everything was delicious. The place has great relaxed atmosphere with a Russian/Slavic flavor. Service was very good and prices reasonable. Would definitely recommend for anyone visiting Chicago and looking for a unique experience. read more

We love the food. Our service is nice. We just hoping to seat at the red room next time. read more

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The Queen tea service was absolutely amazing. Every bite was better than the one before. The house tea was wonderful with delicious fruity notes. read more

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The best place in Chicago to get acquainted with real Slavic cuisine. Excellent service and very tasty without exaggeration! read more

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We had a lovely evening celebrating the 30th anniversary of Russian Tea Time Restaurant The evening started with some specialty drinks: Earl Grey Lavendar Tea (Grand Marnier, lemon juice, and sugar syrup) Purple Papaya Tea (Gin, Triple Sec, lemon juice, Chambord, and passion fruit syrup) Potato latkes with caviar on top, deviled eggs with avocado filling, and salmon stuffed puff pastries were really delicious appetizers! The buffet featured some of their classic dishes such as: Beet Salad, Stuffed Cabbage Golubtsi, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Kiev, as well as many other delicious side dishes and fruits. Eastern European cuisine at its finest! Although they are famous for their afternoon tea service, the restaurant is perfect for weekday lunch, weekend brunch, or a fabulous dinner before going to the theatre. It's no wonder that their restaurant is a must visit restaurant in Chicago! Happy 30th Anniversary Russian Tea Time Restaurant 30 looks great on you! read more

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Great service and great food. Inside feels almost cozy. Our waitress was very nice and helped suggest which tea to try. We felt very taken care of - our waitress checked on us often and the staff made sure we were never low on our drinks. The food didn't take too long to come out which was very nice. read more

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The place was not terribly busy yet after our appetizer was served we waited at least 20 minutes before our order was taken for our main meal. And we only got it then because I got up and told Igor we were ready to order. I had zrazy, a polish dish that had mashed potato portions that were stuffed with Beyond meat and mushrooms and onions. It was very good, earning all three of my stars. I usually choose dishes that feature a version of fake meat to reward the restaurant for offering a dish for vegetarians, other than fish. There was also an eggplant side dish with the zrazy that was also very good. I was really looking forward to dessert because they do tea service with cakes and such, so I expected some good sweets. The Napoleon Bonaparte sounded great: flaky pastry with cream filling. When it came I was pleased that it was such a large portion. But, there was nothing flaky about it. It was more like leftover lasagna. I didn't finish it, and for me not to finish dessert is really a rare event, in fact I can't remember it ever happening. Igor was a very pleasant young man and I hate to make him look bad, but it was what it was. The restaurant itself was very clean and attractive. No complaints there. It's located right across Michigan Ave. from the Art Institute, about three doors down from the corner. There are many places to eat nearby and I wish I had visited one of those to satisfy my sweet tooth. read more

Excellent food and entire wait staff were outstanding! Ambiance is charming and peaceful with authentic Russian decor and beautiful music playing in the background. read more

This is a cute place for Afternoon Tea, but also full on meals. I plan to come back and try more items off their menu, but all I had this visit was the Medovik (honey cake). The layers were soft, the cream was good, and the honey really stood out. I had never had honey cake, so this was a new experience. It was a little too sweet for me to eat all of it in one sitting, but I ate half of it and then took bites of it throughout the rest of the evening. I think I would enjoy a chocolate Medovik more, but this was still good. The staff are nice and seem to truly be a team. I placed my order with the hostess, who also brought my check and took my card, but a server returned it to me to sign before the hostess came back with my cake to go. They were both kind and seemed to enjoy their jobs. I interacted more with the hostess, who was even so kind as to offer to hold the menu for me as I took photos of it. There is some parking on the street, but you could also park beneath the Art Institute at an hourly rate. read more

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Love, love, LOVE this place!!! The atmosphere is FANTASTIC! It should bring the rating up to 6. Just nice, quiet, unhurried, and a lovely place to have a pot of tea and the menu is pretty extensive. This was a last minute choice for us, and I'm SO glad we made it here. I truly wish I could've just spent the day, and continued to try more items from the menu. The service is great. Would absolutely come back here if given the chance. read more

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I took my sister here for the tea service and it was a very special experience! We split a service for one, and added a pot of tea, and it was the perfect amount. I ordered a beet vodka, which was unique, tasty, and served with pickles! read more

Russian Tea Time - Beet Vodka! - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

my first time trying Russian tea, loved the fact they had a big Ukrainian flag in the front. The world needs peace not war! our server Eugene was polite and kept refilling the black currant tea at regular intervals. We got the savory platters, delicious bites of all my favorite sandwiches.I will be back again! read more

Russian Tea Time - Tea!! - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been passing this restaurant across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago for years but never went in. Assumed was an expensive tourist trap. Yesterday had lunch there. Marvelous bright atmosphere. Tasteful quiet music. Though nearly full it was quiet enough to talk easily. Food terrific and imaginative. Good service. Pricing low average particularly for downtown. Hint: Try to sit in front dining area. Back section windowless and not charming. read more

We were visiting from Oregon and this place was recommended to us from a local. We arrived about 6:45 - closing was at 8:00. We felt rushed the whole dinner - I barely finished my soup and it was whisked away. As tables emptied around us, the tables were cleared of everything- including the table clothes. My husband's plate was cleared while his fork was still in the air! The soup was tasty but on the cold side. The entrees were well-prepared and we enjoyed the decor and the music. The staff was polite and courteous but again, the youthful staff seemed like they were really ready to be done for the night. We were out the door by 7:45! read more

Came in for afternoon tea! Had a great time, it was a fun lunch. We had two kids with us and they were very accommodating even with it being a little fancier - they had a kids menu that had food and sippy cups. We shared the 2 tea tower between 5 adults and then got a few appetizers to splits - potatoe dumpling, potato pancakes & herring. It was overall really good - dumplings were great and I enjoyed trying the diff samples from the towers. If you're really hungry you'd likely need to order more but we were full by the end and enjoyed it read more

Russian Tea Time - Russian Tea Time Platter for 2 - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Recommend for a unique dining experience. The beef stroganoff is delicious along with many tee time desserts.

Ummm do yourself a favor and go here!!! This place made me wish I knew how to make tea good. Excellent service excellent tea excellent atmosphere. read more

Absolutely love the food here. It's authentic and delicious every time. I've been for lunch and afternoon tea and recommend both. Highly recommend the borscht as a starter. Although I usually get the stuffed cabbage rolls, the chicken kiev, stroganoff, and beef stew are equally good. Definitely get the hot house tea. It's comforting and delicious and served in charming vintage tea glasses. The atmosphere is a bit sparse, and the service is a little impersonal, but you are not rushed and can take all the time you want to enjoy your meal. Be forewarned that the bill can add up quickly if you get multiple courses, but it's worth it in my book. read more

I cannot recommend this place enough!! I am a semi regular at Brighton Beach mainstays and let me tell you - Russian Tea Time knows what they're doing here in Chicago!! The chicken Kyiv was the best I've ever had. And believe me, I've eaten a lot of these butter stuffed bird breasts in my time here on earth. They also have subtly prepared infused vodka. Truly bringing out the best flavors in both the vodka and the main ingredient in their distillations. read more

Russian Tea Time - Chicken Kyiv - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend made a reservation last minute, and apparently you need one to get in. It wasn't very busy on a Tuesday afternoon, so I'd recommend going during the week if you want it quieter. The servers were VERY nice and helpful with the menu options. We both decided to do the normal tea service. We were both under the impression that we'd be getting small finger sandwiches with it, but they came out on small crackers instead. It might have been a misread on our part, but they were still tasty! (The chicken and veggie ones were my favorite, but you also get hummus, egg salad, and a salmon one.) The scones were the stand out of the meal, as they were perfect compliments to the tea. Speaking of: the decaf raspberry is an excellent choice if you're someone who likes fruity and isn't a big tea drinker in general. Overall, a little pricey, but a fun experience to treat yourself with every once in a while. I only wish I had dressed up more! read more

Russian Tea Time - (Top: Scones and Jam/Cream, Middle: Sandwiches, Bottom: Desserts. Tea: Decaf Raspberry) - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place, in my opinion is closer to a 3 1/5 but definitely not a 4. Great location, , great decor, good service & Tea was ok. So we had the Queen tea Service with Passion Fruit Tea, the presentation was really beautiful & had my hope up as we worked our way up from the bottom platter up. The scone was really disappointingly plain , bland & not warm so that really dampened our excitement, the crepe was above average and the butter & fruit preserve were ok, the savories- sandwiches were ok to good & did not disappoint the sweet platter were all good in my opinion. Price seem fair & unless someone puts me on to a better spot in Chicago, I would definitely would visit here again but it wouldn't be in my top ten afternoon tea spots in the US. I was expecting a bit more but the only thing that was really plain & disappointing was the scone. read more

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The food was amazing. Our server was on point. She was extremely nice and provided us with a lot of recommendations. The herring was amazing. Honestly everything we ordered that day was perfect. read more

Wow! This dollhouse of a restaurant offers all the whimsy and charm you could want! The exterior seems a bit industrial. Set on a busy street in the Chicago Loop, it sets the stage for a nice, simple restaurant. But when you walk in, the delicate dining room with elegant artwork and cozy, round booths, transport you to another place. The server we had fit perfectly. He was elegant and helpful. He also had a beautiful accent. Our entrees were prepared with expertise. We also enjoyed soup and dessert. I am still thinking about my dessert and will return soon. read more

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I went with a couple of friends for a birthday celebration. We dressed up and overall had a wonderful time. We each got an afternoon tea thing and got different teas to try. The little tea snacks were delicious and the teas were phenomenal. The restroom is also very picturesque. The ambience of the place was very calm, too. I think the only thing that made me not give this a 5 star experience is that the waitstaff weren't attentive. We had to wait a bit between getting seated and giving our order. And when we got our foods, they quickly rushed off before we can ask for something. read more

Russian Tea Time - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nice ambiance with dark red velvet couches and curtains and golden chandeliers. We went for tea time which was unfortunately lackluster. The scones are my favorite part but they were meh. Sandwiches were fine but the desserts (my other afternoon tea highlight) were pretty disappointing. No effort in making dainty, aesthetically pleasing little cakes. Rather, they were small pieces cut out of larger sheet cakes. Tea itself was good. I did enjoy potato dumplings (an added side) and stuffed cabbage. Service was super spotty. We had to look around for servers multiple times. If I were to return, it would not be for afternoon tea but to try their lunch / dinner items. I think that's where they shine. read more

Russian Tea Time - Cute decor - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I ate there yesterday, it was a Sunday late afternoon. The ambience was very nice and the server was attentive without being intrusive. However, I was very disappointed with the food. I ordered the chicken Kyiv and found it to be dry and overcooked, I would expect there to be butter and herbs losing out when I cut into it and there was none of that. The dessert crêpes were good, but I was surprised that they were served cold. Overall, I don't think I would come back. read more

Such a nice time in a charming place. Really love the menu; a simple prix fixe menu, full menu, or tea menu. Great for any occasion. We went with the simple prix fixe for lunch. Served promptly, RTT would make an excellent weekday lunch stop. Wife is pretty finicky when it comes to soups, stews, and borschts. One bite and she declared hers a five star borscht. She followed with the stuffed eggplant, which she also loved. I had the mini poroshkies, crisp yet creamy on the inside, followed by the golubtsi, which I loved. Special note that buckwheat can be a little pungent if not properly done, but this was grainy, and hearty smelling stuff. Round out with the black currant tea and we had quite a meal. The one comment we both made: nothing we were served was greasy, or heavy. It was light, yet filling. For $30 per person, I think we got a really good value, and that gets the fifth star. Finally, on a day when Putin fired 80 missiles at Ukrainian targets, I appreciate the Ukrainian flag displayed in the front window. Look forward to visiting again. read more

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An absolutely charming, old world decor with Russian 'tchotchkes' in place to add to the tea room setting. The menu was extensive with many wonderful Eastern European dishes. High tea combinations of sandwiches, scones and sweets to enjoy with your pot of tea with a variety of choices. The service was unhurried, gracious and attentive. Felt pampered and enjoyed lingering over my tea! Delicious, unique and thoroughly enjoyable!! read more

Russian Tea Time - Savory high tea combination. - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Exceeded expectations! Honestly I wasn't sure what exactly to expect walking in but decided after having it bookmarked for a while, it was time to finally stop in prior to seeing a holiday performance at the Symphony Hall just a short walk away. It's important to note I did not have a reservation on a Saturday. Yelp tip: call ahead for a reservation. It's not a very big place and apparently quite popular. Weekdays I would imagine you could walk in with no advance for tea no issue. Initially I was put off because I was told they could not accommodate even at the open bar, when almost every table and seat was empty just after 5pm but as I started to walk away somehow the host was able to work it out as the next reservation was not until 6:30pm. The menu was complex but had a lot of interesting options from high tea with ginger sandwiches to caviar and seasoned vodka, to traditional Eastern European dishes. The waiter assigned named Mark was apathetic (and that is being kind) and didn't seem interested in being the waiter which is why I docked a star in this review but the rest of the staff - especially Anastasia the super host was incredibly attentive and did all within their ability to ensure the experience lived up to its high ratings. Decided to start with the Ukrainian borscht soup made mostly of beets, potato and beef broth. Simple ingredients but perfect for a cold winter day. Next a beef dumpling appetizer seemed like a good idea. Tasty little savory things with a delightful tangy carrot slaw. From there I let my curiosity go all out with a stuffed cabbage roll, the host highly recommended it and it was one of the most popular items I saw in posts here on Yelp. Just OMG!! This dish totally blew my tastebuds away! It was phenomenal and the sauce it is soaked in was so delicious. I would not have thought to order this on my own accord so huge kudos to the host for making the suggestion. Truly all the food tasted very fresh and full of flavor! Couldn't come here and not have tea - so tea it was as a beverage. The tea menu is pages long but the house blend seemed a good choice. The glassware it was served in was so elegant and endless refills are always a bonus! The rest of the waitstaff had strong accents and seemed to be from Russia, Estonia, Ukraine or nearby which added to the unique vibe of the restaurant. Something to know is they sell a number of their teas in lovely tins at the bar. I ended up picking up some as unique gifts over the holidays. Despite the rather bumpy start, overall Russian Tea Time was a wonderful local establishment that I would love to dine at again. Of course with a reso next time:) read more

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I have been wanting to go here for awhile as I heard it's an authentic cuisine experience. And I have never had Russian food before. It was great! The platter was definitely the right amount of food for two people. The atmosphere was nice a quiet and peaceful. The decor was super cute. Our server never let our tea run out. I will say a surprise was the classic russian tea is not served in a tea cup but more of a stein type device. Which was super cool! Would for sure go back to go try more food :) read more

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This place wasn't a planned outing but ended up being such a great stop! Authentic Russian cuisine and such a great quiet atmosphere.

The food here tastes good. Nevertheless, I cannot give the place a higher rating. Here are my reasons. First, the dining hall was tightly packed despite the fact the adjacent inner room was empty. My only guess is, it was done to impress pedestrians looking in from the street. The result was a crowded space with waiters performing nontrivial maneuvering trying not to bump anyone. Second, there were significant deviations from the established standards of Russian cuisine. Granted, any chef can do whatever he wants, as long as results warrant it, but in this case results were mixed. Given the place's standing as a flagship Russian place downtown Chicago, one can expect better. Appetizer portion of potato dumplings - that's pirogies to our Polish brethren or vareniki to the Russian speaking crowd - could definitely benefit from fried onions traditionally served either inside or outside the dumpling. Instead, they were served with sweet marinated carrots. Why? As a tribute to the Koreans forcefully deported to Kazakhstan? It's a puzzle... Chicken Kiev, also known as 'côtelettes de volaille' was not true to the form: it's supposed to be served with the humerus bone of the wing left attached, but this requires higher level of sophistication and is hard to make. I understand and I can give it a pass, the meat was buttery and juicy. The last deviation from the received norm was garnish to the beef Stroganoff. Instead of traditional crisp potato straws, it was served with egg noodles mixed with buckwheat porridge. This is not just 'why?' - this is a downright blasphemy. read more

Wonderful experience with our girls. Hit it before 4:30 to enjoy the tea service and towers. Quality of everything was excellent. Try the house made vodkas. Lamb falls off the bone. read more

My coworkers and I had been considering visiting this restaurant for weeks. We did a little research and learned online that Russian Tea Time has an interesting story. Owner and Chef, Klara Muchnik, was born and raised in Ukraine and her family eventually immigrated to the US in search of a better life. Her son used his networking ability to help turn RTT into what it remains today, a combination of their roots and flavors of the their cultural background. Our server was absolutely delightful and helped us through the menu. She shared with us that she is Ukrainian, as are several others who work at the restaurant, many of them with family in Ukraine. Despite this, in light of current events, the restaurant has received an onslaught of hatred and threatening phone calls. This is a family establishment filled with good people and good food. They've been a part of Chicago's community since 1993 and are considered a culinary landmark. This restaurant does not deserve hate, but support. If you have the chance, I implore you to stop by and indulge in the cultural flavors not just of Russia as the name implies, but of Ukraine and Belarus alike. And please, reserve your ill will for those who deserve it. read more

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Wow. Delicious! We went for dinner before a concert. We highly recommend the vegetarian platter and the zrazy. The tea we picked was good as well. read more

We discovered Russian Tea Time by chance, walking past on our way to the art museum. We were lucky enough to get a table without a reservation towards the end of the lunch rush on a Sunday. The ambiance/decor is great, I felt underdressed in running shorts having not planned on this as it is a fancier ambience, but everyone was kind and welcoming just the same. We went for lunch, not tea. The traditional Russian food was delicious, we thoroughly enjoyed our soup, appetizer and entrees. The service was wonderful and I look forward to dining here again next time I am in Chicago. read more

The food was excellent , the service even better ! I was very happy with our table . Everything was well maintained and elegant ! read more

Russian Tea Time - Tea service - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great spot for hangout with friends and grabbing tea and pastries. We got the white strawberry tea which has a nice fragrance. The pastry tower consist of scones on the top layer that comes with cream and jam, middle layer of savory food like sandwich bites and cabbage crepe roll, and bottom layer of various sweets. The scone with cream and jam is quite delicious, dry enough to go with the tea while maintaining some level of moisture; definitely one of my favorite thing in the tower. The sweets were just okay though, some were too sweet or just tasted like regular cake/cupcakes. read more

Russian Tea Time - Classic Afternoon Tea ServiceAfternoon - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's strange, but certain foods go out of fashion, and I have no idea why. Two dishes come to mind: beef Wellington and beef stroganoff To my happiness, I found the latter on the menu at Russian Tea Time! Their version adds some grain to the beef and noodles, but it is an excellent combination. There are many other Eastern European comfort foos here too, such as cabbage rolls and Hungarian goulash. Those are OK, but it's the stroganoff that brings me back. I love the ambience. Perhaps because it's right around the corner from the symphony, the background music is classical. You can actually have a conversation without shouting. Years ago I spent time in Prague, and there is something about Russian Tea Time that reminds me of restaurants there 60 years ago. read more