Essencha Tea House & Fine Teas
| Address: | 3212 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209, USA |
| Phone: | +1 513-533-4832 |
| Site: | essenchatea.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | 9AM–3PM 9AM–3PM 9AM–3PM 9AM–3PM 9AM–3PM 9AM–3PM 9AM–5PM |
Location
Photos 73
Reviews 6
JA
Jay Mehta
We were looking for some great vegan places in Cincinnati area and this place appeared among the top places in many lists. Its located on I-71 and is a good quiet place with a variety of seating options. The food wasnt that great but good enough. Food: They have a very crisp food menu with salads, sandwiches, soups, crepes, teas, scones and few desserts. However, the tea menu is quite extensive with a huge variety of teas available. We started off with a Masala Chai and Hibiscus tea., followed by a Garden Veggie Sandwich, Matcha Goddess salad, a Blueberry cupcake and a Coconut Mochi. The teas were good - especially the Masala Chai had a good flavor. Hibiscus was a little mild. Garden Veggie Sandwich was really great. The vegan miso cashew sauce was perfectly harmonizing with the veggies. The bread was perfectly crispy - not so hard that it crumbles and not so soft to be soggy or gooey. The fruit bowl side was good and complemented the veggies. I didnt love Matcha Goddess salad so much though - found it a little heavy on the greens. The nuts gave a good crunch and the raisins were a good addition to improve the flavors. The Blueberry cupcake was good, although the icing was too sweet - I could feel the sugar. However, Coconut Mochi didnt impress so much. The flavors were fine but it was a little too rubbery and didnt really had a good bite. Ambiance: The restaurant has a very good ambiance. Multiple seating options - inside and outside. Outside - they have an umbrella and relaxing chairs located on one side and a pair of chairs and a table on the other. Inside, they have a couple of tables and on one side there is an area for large group seating as well with few cushions. The overall atmosphere is very peaceful. Service: The service is a little slow. However, the staff is quite friendly and helpful in suggesting you the best to order depending upon your preferences and taste buds. The overall interaction was quite pleasant. Overall, a nice place to be - maybe at least once. However, our hunt for good vegan options in Cincinnati hasnt ended yet.
DO
Dominic Di Girolamo
Positive: The tea selection was phenomenal, the prices are good (especially for the teas that are offered), and the food menu was great. The food items listed sounded very good (although I did not get the pleasure of tasting any of it). Also, the staff is very knowledgeable about the tea. Not-so-positive: The decor and environment are a little cheesy. I think theyre trying to blend casual with classy and a slight Asian feel to the restaurant. The inside of the place is very clean, open and has a lot of natural light. However, I find the seating arrangements and the decor kind of odd. My biggest issue with the place is the quality of the service. The staff was not polite to me or the person I went with at all. My assumption is that their issue was with the fact that I was wearing a t-shirt and most people in there were dressed up. I was, however, wearing designer jeans and nice shoes. Regardless, the staff was polite and expedient when they serviced the rest of the patrons but they were very rude to me and the person I went with. We also had to exert quite a bit of effort to get the staff to refill our teapots and the staff made it a point to show that they did not appreciate being inconvenienced by having to do so. I will never return to this establishment. The portentousness displayed in this place is overwhelming even though the establishment is not one of high-class. If Im polite to staff waiting on me I expect the same in return.
A
A Private User
THE best tea house around! I would like to spread the word that their food is EXCELLENT - I would easily rate their menu as 4-star - yes, REALLY! They are thought of primarily for tea, but Id like to see Essencha stay open a little later for dinner, as they have some of the finest food in the city. Healthy, light fare, appropriately portioned (but no skimping) instead of huge, calorie-packing servings. Their menu delightfully satisfies, but doesnt make you feel stuffed. This is the way everyone should eat. I was stunned at how truly marvelous the food is; fresh and unique, artfully prepared and presented and not pricey! Crepes, sandwiches, soups, salads - and, yes, scones and decadent desserts if you need induldgence! Their mousse is heavenly! The price of coffee is skyrocketing, so embrace loose tea! Throw those horrible teabags away, and drink GOOD tea! Tea bags are full of just fannings, which is merely the dust at the bottom of the barrel that all the other countries know doesnt have much flavor, so they put it in bags and sell it in the US, where we dont know any better. Go loose leaf, and I promise you that you wont be able to go back to tea bags! Dont be intimidated - Its not diffucult at all to make, and it will open up a whole new world for you! .. Back to Essencha: Great tea selection and knowledgeable, friendly staff who are glad to educate you on tea should you have questions.
AL
Alice Connor
Im saddened to read the negative review of Essencha here as I have never had anything but good experiences here. Beginning with a casual conversation with one of the servers, to his offering to spend time one afternoon teaching me about brewing and the history of tea, to the extensive selection of teas, to owner Tracys partnering with my campus ministry to offer tea to students, I love this place. I meet students here, take my daughter for a little Girls Afternoon, and buy copious amounts of loose tea for home and work. Theyre knowledgable about their products and excited to share that knowledge. Theyre even patient when inevitably a grumpy customer questions the cost or method of prep (as I witnessed one afternoon). Negative reviewers, give it another try! And new folks, enjoy!
KA
kawa kuranosuke
Great food but dear god the service is slow and the wait staff are very disorganized. I think the fastest that I have ever been through a sit down meal here is over an hour and a half. Carryout isnt much better, the staff has no sense of prioritization. I came in to place a to-go order at the counter and literally waited over 5 minutes while the cashier finished filling an ice bucket before she turned around to greet me. She then walked off in the middle of taking my order, literally leaving me standing there with my card out in my hand waiting to pay. This would absolutely be 5 stars if they could just get their service up to par, its just pretty clear no one on staff has worked in food service before.
SO
Sonia Baker
Essencha has really gone down hill unfortunately... It used to be my favorite place to grab some tea and food to go but recently the staff has been minimal and the service just isnt as good anymore. Everything looks and feels different too. I hate to say negative things about this cozy little tea house because Ive been coming here for years! Sad to see where its at these days. Also, not to mention the prices have gone up. It feels like a $ 1-2 increase on anything you order. I used to pay around $ 3-4 on a cup for a matcha latte and now its $5! Not sure if Ill continue to be a regular customer. Im just keeping it real!
