by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Those that work in the Downtown area are forever looking for a new place to lunch. Venture into San Marco and you’ll find you’ve got lots of options. One of those options is the Chai House Tea Company. Situated across the street from Reddi-Arts, it’s easy to miss.
It’s not just a place to get tea and breakfast; they’ve also got a decent lunch menu. Lunch items range in cost from about $7-$10. I’ve heard a lot of positive talk around town about their homemade quiche, which is one of the items that bring people back again and again. They serve a quiche of the day, so you never know what you’re going to get!
Chai House has a mix of atmosphere perfect for a tea shop. It’s just the right blend of cozy and elegant, with a little funky art thrown in to keep things interesting and diverse. Dark wood antiques are set into corners and along walls, and vintage teapots sit on small shelves. The walls by the counter and in a side dining room are painted a refreshing green, while the main area is mostly done in dark neutrals. In the left tea room, they’ve employed a dark burgundy for the back wall, fronted by a mirrored antique vanity. Art of all types decorate the walls, from modern expressionist stuff to more traditional landscapes. It’s relaxing but there’s always something to look at.
Chai House can help you with a special event. They’ve done bridal showers, baby showers, Jane Austen Society Teas and hosted the Red Hat Society. If you should desire, they can serve you a multi-tiered High Tea, which they serve from 2-4 pm. It takes a while to prepare, so they ask that you call ahead if you want to come in for High Tea. Even a smaller party or a single person can enjoy afternoon High Tea for a reasonable price. Two people can have afternoon tea, including an array of tea sandwiches for about $30. Some of the tea sandwiches available are tomato basil, chunky chicken, tuna salad, egg salad and cucumber salad. If you don’t like a particular sandwich in the array, you can ask them to switch it for something else when you order. You can also get the quiche and tea sandwich combo, if you want to sample their locally known quiche.
They really score well when it comes to fresh produce, so they’re no slouch in the salad department. It’s quality stuff, some of which is even gathered from local sources. That’s probably why they have a number of regular customers who are vegetarians.
I sampled the yummy veggie burger, a mix of nuts and soy formed into a truly savory meatless burger. You can choose from three veggie burger options Spinach & Gorgonzola, Mushroom & Swiss or Black Bean Chipotle.
Desserts change, so either ask what they have when you go or check out the dessert case. Chai House bakes their ooey gooey bars and cookies. When I went they had a triple chocolate tort from Shelia’s in the case. They also had strawberry shortcake available.
Those who are into exotic teas should be buying their loose tea from a local provider like the Chai House. Not only do you support local business, their tea is often cheaper than some of the big national stores. The quality of the tea is comparable, if not better. Chai House provides Rooibos Tea, Tisanes or “Herbal Infusions,” black tea, green tea, Yerba Mate and many others, as well as their own special house blends. For a complete list of their teas and their menu, visit chaihouseteaco.com.
1034 Hendricks Avenue (904) 399-4848
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