I came here for afternoon tea with a friend and thought it was good/okay. Sally, the owner, served us and all the other tables. She was very sweet. The tea selection was great with a variety of green, white, black, and non caffeinated teas--I went with the tropical green tea. The overall environment was a bit dark and cluttery, there were lots of items (teas, pots, cards, etc.) displayed near the dining area. There were a total of four tables (one large one and three small ones). I felt the placement of the tables seemed a bit tight, it was impossible to not hear other people's conversations, and I felt like I had to talk very softly with my friend to not disrupt anyone else. It seemed like this place also doubled as a tea store too. The food was decent. The sandwiches seemed fresh, but my favorites were probably the scones with the jam and homemade cream. I am a huge sweets person and was a bit disappointed with the desserts, some of it looked like they were picked up from a grocery store bakery. I sort of wished this place partnered with a local bakery for their dessert selections. read more

The Tea Leaf - Tropical green tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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My husband and I went to The Tea Leaf to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary. Robin (the owner) was gracious and highly attentive. The tea, the savory/sweet treats were all delicious and the entire experience was very memorable. It was a wonderful way to celebrate, but I'd go for any occasion, or just for fun. I definitely hope to be back before next year's anniversary... HIGHLY recommend read more

Stopped in after an afternoon stroll and enjoyed the break in the action. The area Leaf was a nice quiet spot just to escape for a little bit and enjoy some great tea and vegan desserts. Robin and her staff were very hospitable even though we walked in and it's by reservation only. A truly unique experience right in the heart of Waltham that takes you away. 100% recommend stopping in for a relaxing tea time that you won't find many other places. Thanks again for being so accommodating! read more

Yes it was pricey but the experience was very worth it. Amazing date idea with s/o or best friends. The food was spectacular and the tea reminded me of being back in London. The tea sets were also gorgeous. But also the service and ladies who worked there were extremely sweet and great to talk to. read more

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Amazing customer service for this hidden gem in Waltham! Truly enjoyed the vibe of the establishment from the soft music in the background to the art on the walls. The tea and pastries were delicious & perfect combo to have on a nice spring day. Definitely will be back soon read more

We had the most enjoyable afternoon tea time today thanks to Bette, our hostess and Robin, who prepared our delicious luncheon. We had a lovely table in the window and thoroughly enjoyed the setting. Local artisans displayed their work and beautiful China tea services , all different, adorned the tables. Soft background music gave off such a serene aura as we enjoyed delicious tea sandwiches, home made scones and small bite desserts. You will not be disappointed- great for occasion gatherings with the ladies. read more

The owner is amazing and her menu is absolutely fabulous! I will definitely be coming here many many many more times!

Took my mom here for her birthday and it was wonderful. Service was great, beautiful atmosphere and delicious all around. Will definitely be going back for a special occasion. read more

Just my Groupon and me for a little me time with tea one fine cloudy Saturday. I arrived nearly 5 minutes late for my afternoon's reservation, but had to wait 10 minutes as Sally ran a touch frantically around serving the already seated parties, and then later to set up my table. I ordered the Chai, which came hot in a full heavy teapot, but wasn't as strong as I would have liked. My plate of 5 little sandwiches (egg salad, cucumber cream cheese, artichoke parmesan cream cheese, smoked cod, and chicken avocado) and a mini quiche like those easily purchased by the boxful at Costco were served first. The bread were soft and crustless. The smoked cod a touch salty. Then came the tower with the plate of sweets on top (cherry tartlette, rainbow cake with raspberry, that which resembled a seven layer bar, and a piece of a simple cookie bar that was later revealed to be a lemon bar - no, not the typical custard sort with a shortbread crust), and the two triangles of berry scones (one cranberry, and the other blueberry) with the sweetened dairy-rific whipped cream and the tasty strawberry preserves on the lowest tier. I watched my sugar cube melt into oblivion in the porcelain tea cup filled with hot Chai before I poured in some milk, and enjoyed three cups of this with my afternoon's snack. I downed the entire plateful of sandwiches, the quiche, the tartlette, and about half the scones topped generously with the preserves and whipped cream, and took the rest home in a styrofoam clamshell. Unfortunately, it wasn't as relaxing a time as I had hoped. For one, the noise level of this place was rather high with three of the tables filled with parties of 3-4 seated right next to one another. But also, I'm dinging them a star down to three because service was a bit lacking - while I overheard each item described to each of the parties within earshot (and all the parties are within ear shot in this place seeing as each table is set right by each other), mine was simply placed on my table and that was that. Way to make a singleton feel special. read more

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I absolutely loved the whole experience! Amazing tea & treats! Thank you Sally for giving us great service & to celebrate my moms birthday! read more

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A friend told me about the Tea Leaf and suggested we have a get together. By appt only we made a reservation. You can order A La Carte or choice the 3 course special. The 3 course special is $23.00 which includes tea, scones, tea sandwiches, quiches and sweets. The price was a little steep for me so I opted for A La Carte since I wanted to have the option of buying some things to take home. Even for lunch $23 seemed a bit more than I wanted to pay and more than I wanted to indulge in. However, in the end it was worth it and I would recommend it since it does give you plenty to eat and a sample of everything. Cod, chicken, cucumber, and egg sandwiches. Cranberry and Blueberry scones (best ever). A mini quiche bite. Cookies, strawberry and sweets and of course tea. The 6 of us had a fun time and shared 4 pots of tea, good food and laughs. Sally's tea is a pot of tea. Meaning there are several cups in a pot. Originally we thought we would each get a pot but we had more than enough. Getting 6 pots would have been too much. The Peach Ginger was one of my favorites so I placed an order since she was out. This only gives me a reason to go back again. Go back again, yup after walking up and down Moody street I brought Mr. G back to look at the tea pots. Well wouldn't cha know it we sat down for tea! This time I went for an iced Strawberry which was perfect. I did get a simple teapot which I have been using everyday since I got it and am waiting to hear back about the special pots soon to arrive. I am excited to see the "Elephant" teapot. My daughter loves elephants and now I love tea. I am also looking forward to getting another (or two) scone. With whipped cream and strawberry these warm cranberry or blueberry treats were melt in your mouth delicious. These were my favorite out of all the things I tried. Living Social and Groupon recently had specials. The fine print states 1 voucher per party. So if three of your friends want to buy one for the 4th friend to go free you should make plans to go often since only 1 coupon from the table will be accepted at a time. It can be a disappointment if you don't check into it. We called ahead to check and in the end it all work out well. Cheery O read more

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Had tea here with my wife for some event. The food was ok nothing special. Overheard the owner dressing down a customer at another table. Not very nice. Not my kind of place read more

Lovely place. My daughters and I enjoyed the varieties of tea, served in pretty China teapots. The tea sandwiches, scones and pastries were all yummy, and plentiful enough to bring some home! Robin, the proprietor, was very nice, and informative. We will definitely be back. Make a reservation and enjoy a low tea! read more

The weather was frigid but this little tea room was warm and welcoming. Our host Sally provided tremendous amount of tea selections. The Formosa Oolong and Eral Grey we chose were not disappointing. The Scones, bit-size Sandwiches, Quiche, and Pastries were all delicious. I love the macaron especially, for its subtle but delightful fruity cream. read more

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My family went to the UK this summer and became obsessed with afternoon tea. I had stopped in before and was told I needed a reservation, so I called a few weeks before I wanted to go. We had the Light Tea which was tea, two small scones each, and a plate of mini cookies, cakes and pastries- it was a ton of food and we brought some home! It was a very fair price for $18 each. It's a cozy room with 4 or 5 tables on one side and a tea shop selling teas, teapots and tea related gifts on the other. The decor is very charming, and the owner is very sweet. It was definitely a fun way to spend an afternoon, but go hungry! read more

I searched high and low to find a place in Boston-metro that does afternoon tea complete with adult-sized tiaras AND a full-on selection of gluten-free sandwiches and goodies. Yes, I'm picky. But there is such a place and Tea Leaf is that place. My BFF loves afternoon tea (it's even what she did for one of her bachelorette parties!), so for her weekend-long birthday extravaganza last year, afternoon tea was an essential component of the festivities, and she's the one who got the tiara. I'm the one who got the g-free stuff. I'd called ahead and made a reservation for five people, and had discussed my gluten-free-ness with the incredibly sweet and accommodating owner, who is well-versed in such matters. Tea Leaf was exactly to the Birthday Girl's liking, and one of my other friends and I even secretly purchased some tea and accessories for the Birthday Girl before leaving, selected from the fantastic array of tea and accoutrements for sale. The atmosphere is not at all like afternoon tea at the Four Seasons or Park Plaza. Tea Leaf is an adorable, and slightly whimsical venue for adult tea-parties, and I highly recommend it for those of you who are gluten-free who want terrific tea complete with sandwiches and other goodies to go along with it. I was presented with an entire tripartite TOWER of gluten-free sandwiches and other delicious things! It was AMAZING! (And what I didn't eat, I could bring home as left-overs.) The owner really is incredibly charming and went out of her way to make the special occasion super-special. We'll be back this spring! read more

The Tea Leaf - Stop 1 on Katie's birthday extravaganza, 2009 - Tea Rooms Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

My boyfriend and I had been looking for a nice place for afternoon tea for some time now and when we finally stumbled upon a groupon for the Tea Leaf, we thought we'd try it out. The lady who runs the shop is very nice but you can tell she is very very busy. Once I called, we booked a date for 2 weeks later on a Sunday) since they're only open on limited days, as other reviewers have mentioned. When we arrived on that day, I noticed that the place is very small and cluttered with antiques and other things. I felt that there was too much going on and it wasn't an upscale tea place as I had imagined. We sat down and got the orders from the groupon - since the groupon is only for one person, my boyfriend had to order something for a min of $8 so he got a quiche. The food that arrived was really good, especially the sandwiches. And I'm glad I brought my boyfriend because there is no way I could finish all that food alone. As for the tea, we got the China green because we love green tea and thought it was quite enjoyable. The honey pot and sugar cubes added a nice touch. This morning tea turned into our lunch because we were so full afterwards. I would say 4 stars for delicious food, decent service, but taking off 1 star for the cramped space. I would definitely go again though, but I think I'm going to try the Taj for high tea first and compare. :) read more

The Tea Leaf - Sanwiches & mini quiche. Delicious!!! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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My friend and I had the idea for afternoon tea, and stumbled upon the tea leaf online. It did not disappoint! The owner is lovely, very sweet and the atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable. The food is so yummy and the owner is clearly passionate about the quality of her tea and food. There is a huge selection of very yummy teas, and some are the owner's teas which makes it a unique experience. Overall it was such a wonderful experience and we will definitely be back! read more

My experience was all positive. I loved the tea choices, but since I don't have any favorites, I asked Sally (owner) to select a fruity tea for me. She chose a strawberry with kiwi which was sweetened lightly (just enough) and was delicious. I was thrilled to see I had a whole pot right next to me. I would have had more than 2 cups if I were paying attention. She also had gluten free tea sandwiches all ready for me since I had called ahead. They were all very good; My favorite was the chicken salad, a very unique recipe with a little zing plus lemon. My taste buds perked right up and so did I. My friend loved the old fashioned egg salad, which is hard to find, on a pumpernickel bread. Then we had a plate of sweets. Mine of course were gluten free, including a "to-die-for brownie and cupcake. In a nutshell, this place is good for everyone out there. I wish I lived closer, but I will take others there to visit. Next time, I plan to shop there, as she has so many unique items..a perfect place to browse at your leisure. read more

The Tea Leaf - See my 5 star review under Corrine E. - Tea Rooms Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Love this little tearoom! My best friend and I came in spontaneously this morning right at opening, and luckily Sally was able to accommodate us. We greatly enjoyed our perfectly brewed teas, and the warm scones and freshly clotted cream were absolutely delicious. While we didn't purchase any loose leaf this time, there certainly is plenty of it and accoutrement such as tea pots, cozies, and cups and saucers. We will certainly be making reservations and bringing our friends! Thank you Sally!! read more

I purchased a Groupon for the Tea Leaf, and had nice plans with a friend to go together. Two weeks ago, she was rushed into the hospital after an MRI found a tumor inside her spinal cord in her neck. She had surgery two days later and after spending two more days in the hospital, was transferred up to New England Rehab to begin occupational and physical therapy (lost feeling in many of her extremities after her surgery). She has been there for a week and a half, and will finally be going home tomorrow. Although she is going home, and getting better as a result of doing the work with the PT, she has a long way to go and still does not yet have full control over her body. Point being, I thought it would be a really nice idea to bring high tea to her, since she can't go out much yet. I called the Tea Leaf just now to ask if they would consider putting together a little package of tea and pastries that I could bring her, and letting me use my Groupon towards it. The woman was absolutely adamant (and actually, surprisingly rude) that this was not possible. I told her the story and explained that the Groupon would likely expire before my friend was able to go to the Tea Leaf with me. She said, "you have no idea what we're going through with these Groupons." And I said, "I was hoping you could be a bit flexible and sympathetic, since this is a really special situation." And then she said, "the point is to come in and relax and enjoy." And I said, "I understand, but I'd be likely to come back as a customer and recommend the Tea Leaf to others if you could be flexible and do this as an exception." And then she hung up on me. Really? Really??? I would rather let my Groupon expire than step foot in a place that is so uncaring. They already received my money after I purchased the Groupon, and I would have even accepted half of what we would receive if we came in if they would just put together a modest little care package that I could bring to my friend. The whole point of a Groupon is to 'get your name out there,' and provide a positive experience to new customers so that they come back and spend money again, and recommend the business to friends so that friends can come in and spend money. I think of a tea house as a place to enjoy warmth with friends - this was downright cold. read more

YE INTRUDERS BEWARE: MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! This place made me want to cry at least twice during Sunday tea, seeing several earnest, tea-loving hardworking folks turned away for lack of "appointment." Anyhoo, the owner, Sally, turned away a lovely grandmother-daughter-grandson trio who were waiting patiently for at least 10 minutes for Sally to turn up from whatever cave she disappeared into for 10-15 minutes to politely ask for a table. Sally told them they needed an appointment, and turned them away. And it was COLD, folks, like really COLD. Then, a sweet 70-90ish (I'm bad with ages, k?) year old couple came in to browse the menu and again, Sally turned them away because they hadn't made an "appointment." I wanted to offer them two spots at our table, come ON! Sally also, being in her cave, completely lost 2-4 additional customers because I guess bell-ringing doors are not in fashion in Watch City? There were completely empty tables, although they were covered in tea house billing ephemera. There were three tables, then Sally on a full-on 8-person table with her billing/accounting books, and another table filled full o'nonsense that could have easily seated 3-5 couples. Why so much tea and non-tea related items everywhere, (e.g. wigs) which can't even be called knick-knack, nor brick-o-brack, why so cramped, when you could have a tea counter and seat lovely grandmother-daughter-grandson and million-years-old adorable couples? I don't understand this business model and you'll have to dig me out of the cold, cold, ground before I do. That said, my mother and I did enjoy the "low tea" of brownie-like scones, pot's o tea (pots made in China I must add), and assorted Costco desserts for $48 dollars if nothing else that we're fancy ladies and it was COLD, people! I suggest, maybe, posting somewhere that this place is APPOINTMENT ONLY! read more

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! I was down the street at the comic book store and stumbled upon this place. I walked in and was informed by the shopkeep that I needed an appointment. But then she was nice enough to clear off the table for us after i explained to her we were just walking by and the shop caught our eyes. It was really nice if you're planning on spending an afternoon chit chatting with your friends over a vast list of teas and pastries. I had to take off a star due to the whole appointment only, since it doesn't have the welcoming feel. If there are tables available, then allow people to sit, and if everything is booked up, tell walk-ins it's all booked and advise them to make make appointments. Having it as appointment/reservation only makes it a tad weird. Unless this has something to do with their stock count, but seem to me the pasties weren't freshly made there. read more

I am English and my friend is Irish, so we went for afternoon tea and we were very disappointed. Not only was the service very slow (2 hours) but the place was cluttered and the impression we got from the kitchen area not very clean. Maybe our expectations are higher than most people but at a tea room I expect real china, butter for my scones and real clotted cream, not whipped cream, very hot tea and the right utensils to eat the food. I do have to say the cranberry scones were excellent, however, I would not go back again, there are plenty of tea rooms around that exemplify what a real tea room should be like. read more

This place is adorable. All the way at the end of Moody St is a little Victorian-style tea house. I won't lie, it's got an old-lady feel to it. There will be many grandmas and Red Hat society ladies about the place. But a girlfriend and I had tea here the other day and were warmly welcomed the same way any good grandma would welcome her granddaughter's friends. A fine selection of teas served by the cup or pot (large or small) can be accompanied by any range of snacks, from scones to cute tea sandwiches to pastry. The place doubles as a kind of curio store with jewelry, stationery, scarves and purses for sale, as well as some of the art on the walls. I can't guarantee you'll actually want any of the stuff, but it gives the place a warm and cozy crowded-attic kind of feel. And, 10% off your order for Brandeis students! The lady who appeared to be the owner of the shop was extremely nice to me and my tea-drinking companion, making special changes to what we ordered (extra sandwiches instead of sweets) and throwing in free samples of Argentine tea and fancy cucumber hand cream. She advised us to call ahead with a reservation next time as that would give us the opportunity to put in advance requests and to ensure that she hasn't run out of quiche or something. All in all, a really cute little shop that gets bumped up to five stars because of the happy vibe and the kindness of strangers. read more

I was very excited about going to Tea Leaf, but when I called to make a reservation, the lady who answered the phone was extremely rude, complaining about how she had to deal with customers trying to use their Groupon or Living Social deals. First - you do not complain to your prospective customers about your current customers. Second - if you cannot handle coupon deals, then either put a limit on the number of coupons that may be bought or do not offer the deals. What I should also point out is that this place is open only Wednesday through Sunday, and for the three-course tea only from noon to 3:30 pm. These are very limited times that I cannot imagine work for many people. Essentially, the owner has limited herself to the majority of customers being able to come during a 3-hour time slot on a weekend. No wonder she has issues taking reservations! Long story short, I was quite disappointed with the interaction and it makes me not want to even try this place. read more

As I strolled down Moody Street in search of two things, vanilla extract and a couple of birthday presents, I stumbled upon The Tea Leaf on my way. I've heard about the Tea Leaf from reading a few reviews on Yelp but I've also driven by it several times and wondered what it would be like. This was the perfect opportunity to find out. When you walk in, you'll find yourself not only in a tea store, but a little tea room. There is about 6 - 8 tables you can sit at and enjoy an afternoon tea with some snacks. This I did not have time for, but might possibly return to do some time. Maybe... As my eyes darted in every which way to take in everything there is here, and when I say everything, I mean everything. Not only are there the tables in the middle of the room for tea, but along the walls are various teas you can purchase, there are various books about tea and some other material, there were tea sets (you know the ones with the floral patterns all over), they even had little tiny miniature version of tea sets, and oh soooo much more! If you are a tea fanatic, I suggest you come in here and talk to Sally, the owner. She loves to talk tea. I even found out that they carry local honey from Waltham here. Who knew that there was a honey farm right in Waltham?! Apparently there is but the owner of the farm won't tell anyone where it is, but did let Sally know that it is near the store. He had also informed her that he had to import some bees from Italy this year because some had died off last year. That might explain why my allergies have gotten worst this year. New bees in the area! Maybe... Either way I purchased a jar of the honey, at $12 a jar, expensive, but worth it if it means suppressing my allergies since I don't take meds of any kind. Next I still needed to get my gifts, I found the perfect book on the bookshelf near the register for my tea loving friends. And each of them their own beautiful tin can of delicious tasting tea, Pomegranate Oolong and Midsummer's Peach, by Harney & Sons. Sally was wonderful in being able to provide me with gift bags, stickers on them, and some tissue paper. Plus, she even gave me some loose teas to try out for myself. I will most definitely be coming back to purchase the teas she allowed me to sample. Also, if you didn't know she writes a column in the Waltham newspaper every week. Check her and her store out some time. You'll find out some very interesting things about tea you wouldn't have known. For example, after meeting her, I found out in the Waltham newspaper that you can use tea to treat sunburns! Who knew?! read more

I've come in here on a number of occasions to pick up tins of my beloved Harney & Sons Paris tea. This little shop is brimming, floor to ceiling, with a wide variety of teas, tea accesories, Boston-y things, and bric-a-brac (lots of bric-a-brac. Translation: stuff). While I prefer a less cluttered shopping experience, I do love the fact that there's an entire store focused on one of my favorite beverages. Though parking can be a hassle on Moody Street, the municipal lots on the side streets are easy to navigate. Half of the shop is dedicated to sit-down light lunches and afternoon teas. Reservations are required. The cash register is right near the kitchen area, so I know that a lot of the foods are heated via microwave. Now, the kitchen appears to be super-super tiny, and I can't imagine there even being room to open the door for a conventional oven, I'm just not keen on paying for microwaved food. Despite that, I do enjoy a scone, clotted cream, and jam once in a great while with my tea--and will report back once I've had a chance to sample those goods. In the meantime though, The Tea Leaf is my go-to shop for Harney & Sons tea. And for that, three stars. read more

Nice little tea place.. nice owner... reasonable selection... standard prices... Mainly English teas. Since this is a small place, check the expiration date... yes... tea has expiration dates... (many tea should be drink within 1-2 years). I did not eat there, but food do look delicious. Again... nice relaxing place (boy... now I sound like an old lady) Free street parking in front or meter parking (for longer stay) off Moody St. read more

I'm a foodie, so as much as it's true that the service was pretty slow (which is a bit of a problem with 1-hour street parking), I'll happily wait for excellent food. And while I count myself among those who were frustrated to discover that the LivingSocial voucher had a one-per-table limit, I'll give the benefit of the doubt that it was LivingSocial who failed to elevate this limitation above the "fine print" so that it would be more obvious to purchasers. I unsubscribed from LivingSocial after this episode and after I became pretty sure they screwed me on their Starbucks promo; at least 3 people used my link and I never got credit. Anyway, the food: We had the "full tea" which I highly recommend. If you're going to try a place, try it all. This tea included 5 finger-sandwiches each, and each one was DIVINE. I was glad there weren't more than 5 because it was one of those things I would have eaten until I was ill. They were SO GOOD. This place is worth a trip just for those sandwiches. I had the chai tea and it, too, was excellent. I'm not a tea person but I loved it. Highly recommend. The cherry-citrus scone was unbelievable. It was still warm from the oven, and so moist. I'll agree with other reviewers who said that the serving of whipped cream wasn't really enough for two people, and I'll also note that these scones would have been even better served with clotted Devonshire cream - which because it's more dense, would also have worked better for that serving size. Still, the cherry-orange scone didn't really need anything to compliment it because it was already perfection. The blueberry scone was done a bit too long for my liking and was slightly dry, but I just used most of the whipped cream on that scone and was still more than happy to gobble it down. By the time I got to the mini-desserts on the third tier of the "tea," I was already stuffed and happily so. I nibbled at those but for me it was all about the tea and the finger sandwiches, and the scone. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking to have tea. read more

What a neat place! We enjoyed a pot of Rooibis tea last Sunday and it was a great break from a very hectic day. The proprietress was very welcoming and knowledgeable. The shop is fascinating as in addition to serving tea, they sell all sorts of teas including one of my favorite brands, Harney & Sons. They also have tea-related gifts such as pots, tea cozies and china cups. We enjoyed chatting with other guests who were celebrating a birthday in high style. They were all dressed up and having so much fun. read more

Cute place, nothing too exciting. Went there to pick up some tea for my parents. There was a large selection of tea lining one wall with a few small tables where many older ladies were having teas and scones. Couldn't seem to get help selecting tea, and had trouble getting the attention of the owner to purchase my items. It made me feel good to support the local business, but for the trouble of parking on Moody street, lack of service, and working around their hours I probably won't be coming back. read more

I have been wanting to try the Tea Leaf since I found it a couple of years ago, and finally found my opportunity. My sister was in town, and when she is, we need to pack in as many tea houses as possibly (as witnessed at www.letsdotea.wordpress.com). Expectations are never high when you are in a strip mall. However, you walk into Tea Leaf, and instantly forget that! You can read the set-up in the other reviews. However, I will add that you instantly feel welcome and relaxed! Sally is fantastic! She loves to chat about different types of tea, Waltham, and just about anything. Sally also runs this whole show on her own. So if you are planning on a "Quick Tea" (is that possible?) make it yourself. Also, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you make reservations. Sally does her best to try and accommodate everyone, but she makes everything fresh to order, so if it is busy, she will have to turn you away. The sandwiches were some of the best tea sandwiches we have had. They are fresh, made to order, with a family spin. So everything has the Tea Leafs individual stamp on it. For instance, the cucumber sandwich had a layer of freshly whipped up olive creamcheese. It was FANTASTIC! The scones were baked fresh, the desserts were delicious, and Sally was happy to accommodate my sister's pickiness and dietary restrictions, and was even happy to whip us up a second batch of sandwiches (they were that good). To summarize.....small local business doing an amazing job!! This is a must visit if you love a relaxing afternoon tea! read more

This tea shop is a wonderful place for afternoon tea. The tea variety is amazing and the food is delicious, especially the scones! Sally provided us with an excellent experience. Highly recommend The Tea Leaf for a relaxing and delicious weekend tea time read more

One of my friends, who's a total tea fanatic, took me here on a group outing. I grew up having tea parties with my grandmother in her dining room, and coming to the Tea Leaf totally brought me back to this experience. There is a huge selection of teas for all seasons to choose from, and they definitely keep the tea coming. You may think that going to tea means leaving hungry, but there is plenty of food! I shared a three tier tea tray with a friend and we couldn't even finish all the food given to us. The scones and jam were amazing, definitely one of the better scones I've had. The tea sandwiches were good overall, but I liked some a lot better than others. The top tier was cookies and desserts which was my least favorite portion, but maybe it's because I'm not much of a cookie person. It would have been better if we had more of a choice of what would be served on the trays. The atmosphere is great and cozy. There's an entire wall of tea boxes and a small gift shop with some tables nestled on the other side. It LOOKS like the stereotypical tea house, a neat find in Waltham. You couldn't ask for better service. The owner was friendly and loved to talk and kept the food and tea coming. She even gave us some complimentary tea bags when we left. read more

Just had High Tea here, Sally was very sweet and the tea sandwiches were delicious. The scones were so good and served hot and the Tea was perfect. Definitely a good experience and enjoyable. read more

My feelings about the Tea Leaf are a little mixed... I have a Leah Mae's-sized hole in my heart after my favorite tea house in Haverhill closed, and I'm trying my best to fill it. I thought this might be the remedy, but I'm still searching. The Tea Leaf does a great job setting up fun ambiance. It's kitschy and charming, cluttered with all sorts of cutesy paraphernalia. Tables covered with pretty fabrics, dainty pots and china, framed pictures all over the wall and TEA -- so much tea for sale! Harney & Sons, Twinnings, even some lesser known brands. A lot of unique flavors too. The owner was really accommodating too when I called to set up a reservation for high tea. She was a great hostess and made us feel very welcome. Unfortunately, the food (which is always my second favorite draw after the tea) was a miss. The finger sandwiches tasted like the bread was very stale, and the pastries... I'm pretty sure they were from a boxed assortment from Costco. Even the scones left me kind of skeptical (but who knows, maybe those were actually homemade?) Maybe this makes me sound picky and snobbish, but when I go out for tea I look for a combination of tea, food and atmosphere, so the food was really disappointing to me. I also caught a peek into the kitchen and I felt a bit skeeved... it didn't look all that clean. Would I return? Absolutely! But only to catch up with friends over a pot of tea... I'll pass on the food. read more

The best way to spend an afternoon. Our birthday visit exceed expectations. The host Sally was an added bonus! Still thinking about those finger sandwiches. Will return for sure. read more

One lump or two? No this isn't THAT kind of tea house. It's got all the trappings of a fancy tea house without the attitude and some real oomph in those tea sandwiches. Unlike the Ritz or Four Seasons, you can actually order the low tea for two and leave stuffed. Our low tea consisted of a huge, warm blueberry (or cranberry) scone with homemade cream spread. Then moving up the tiered tray was one of each style of tea sandwich.....chicken salad, salmon (not smoked), avacado and mayo, and saving the best for last, the cucumber and cream cheese. Oh so creamy and delish! Just when I thought I couldn't eat another savory...there was the eggy, oniony goodness of the mini phyllo quiche. The top tier was complete with a small brownie/cupcake thing with homemade strawberry frosting. I coulda sat there for a few hours with that one! Madelines, chocolate dipped macroons and a sinfully good cream puff rounded things out. Oh right, yes, the tea. This is a tea house. There was a considerable selection of flavored black teas, oolong, green, white and caffeine free tisanes to choose from. The raspberry tisane was perfectly sweet and not too tart. The gift shop lined the entire wall of the store and has just about every kind of tea you might be looking for. Most seemed to be in tea bags and not loose, but I have no doubt the knowledgeable and friendly owner Sally, will get you what you need. read more

My mom and I had a great time at afternoon tea yesterday. The shop is adorable with a good selection of loose teas, teapots and accessories, and miscellaneous gifts. The tea, scones, tea sandwiches, mini quiches, and desserts were delicious. We especially enjoyed the tart cherry scones and the egg salad sandwiches. The owner was friendly and knowledgeable, and gave us our second pot of tea (each!) to-go. I'm looking forward to going back. read more