The Steeping Room

Reviews 6

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Freda Anderson

I absolutely love this place. I go here (either location) maybe about once every two weeks or so. The downside is that the prices are kinda high for a sandwich and tea shop - but then I think about the quality of food. Their food tastes clean and very fresh. It is not loaded with sugar or grease. They use nicer quality veggies too. This makes everything so yummy. If I had to give one food complaint - sometimes the daily curries taste more like a health-food stew than a curry. It still tastes good, but it doesnt taste like curry. Probably the best thing is the tea. They dont burn it. They actually make loose-leaf green and white tea without overheating the water and/or steeping it too long. If you like tea, you need to try this place. Tea prices are between 4.50 to 6.50; most times you get two full pots as they keep the leaves in the back. The staff is also very helpful if you have a different diet like vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or food allergy. They are very aware of cross contamination and take proper measures to prevent it. For instance, I went out to eat with friend who has a gluten allergy. We decided each get a sandwich and salad and split the sandwiches. My salad was served with croutons; it came out on its own plate so it wouldnt contaminate the sandwich I was sharing. One last comment/complaint. The table sizes are small. They feel more like a coffee shop table than a restaurant table. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, but when it is super busy, it feels very cramped.

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J Dye

Ive been in here for a quick trip to the counter for a lovely cuppa many times, but my most recent trip was my first going in to sit down and get a bite. I had no idea what Id been missing out on! I took my 19yr old son and one of his best friends, an 18yr old young man, neither of whom knew the first thing about tea. Our server was simply delightful, easing the boys obvious awkwardness and answering every question knowledgeably and kindly. They still didnt quite get what they were doing, but with a quick unspoken interaction with our server I let them massively over order. For the three of us we had five pots of tea and every variety of milk and sweetener. The boys ordered food that they were over the moon with, and they tucked into learning about and tasting tea from every angle the table afforded them. The Jasmine tea I had was steeped perfectly, and I later added a scone with clotted cream - the best Ive had outside of Europe and the boys ordered dessert. We were there long enough for my husband to join us and order dinner. We mustve taken up that back table for an easy two and a half hours in total, and at no point were we made to feel rushed, only welcomed and entirely comfortable. It was a wonderful experience all the way around, and Ill be back again soon! Oh, and yesterday, I came downstairs to find my son asking the Google Home how long to steep English Breakfast tea :D

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Shell Sullivan

We have been going to "The Steeping Room" since it opened, and loved the environment and food and casual atmosphere. Never in a hurry sitting outside on the patio, enjoying Austin and the people. However, for some absolutely INSANE reason, the management has decided to do away with proper outside seating. They now said "we used to get complaints about the slow service outside so we decided to change the approach". So now you have to go to the counter to order... and the counter service folks had no idea about drinks like even what beers they server. They also were quite rude when asked about "hey what is this" on the menu... simply saying "it is what it says". Finally, if you want to "sit outside", you can... but they will not server you, and you have to get the food yourself and they will not give you TEA in a proper tea pot. You have to eat in soggy cups and plastic utensils, etc. Honestly it is a complete joke and it makes you wonder what lunatic thought "hey this is a great idea... lets take all the CHARM away and make this like a low end McDonalds in the middle of nowhere interesting". So so sooooo sad. :( What the heck? They took away everything that was good about Steeping Room and left the customers with nothing special and no reason at all to visit, ever again.

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Teja Pamganamamula

Day 6: Brunch spots #12DaysofChristmasATX The Steeping Room Perhaps the best place to catch some Brunch on any given day depending on what food you like to eat when you wake up late on a Saturday or Sunday. I used to frequent the Starbucks at the Domain before I stumbled on this place while with a friend. First of all, being vegetarian, this place was like a gift because everything is usually marked with a V for vegetarian/vegan, making selection really easy. With that being said, my go to items here were the scones with clotted cream, and the special French Toast they had on the menu when I went. If you walk in around 11 am, the items are really fresh (idk about them being right out of the oven). The seating area and the space of the place feels much similar to many of the cafes Ive been to in London: modern, elegant, and full of delicious treats. My mother really enjoyed the chai tea latte and scones when my parents came by this place later. It certainly adheres to standards of afternoon tea according to them! Will def return.

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Angie Lee

Sometimes I just crave this place. I have a problem. I want to come back everyday if i could just to try a different tea! The first time my friend brought me here was after we went next door to check out the coolest and newest MAC stuff. I just always went right next door to starbucks and thought this was a place where old people hang out and stuff. He wanted a bottled coke, said it was a mexican coke and its way better than normal coca cola so we came. As soon as I walked in, I was in a bakery heaven. Cherry and blackberry tarts. Cookies of all sorts. YUMM!! Needless to say, I have been back many a times now. The service is fast and friendly. My boyfriend works in the domain and on his 15 min breaks, I would meet him here to grab a drink and walk back to his work. My new most recent favorite drink is the arnold parmer mixed with the blackberry tea. Dont worry, I wont play favorites for long, I am absolutely sure my next drink i get will be my NEW favorite.

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AS

Ashley Meleen Lin

The Steeping Room’s happy hour may be one of Austin’s best kept secrets. It doesn’t make most of the “best happy hour” lists, likely because here it’s not about cheap margaritas or $1 beers – it’s about tea. For the tea enthusiast, a visit between 4:30 and 6:30, Monday through Friday, will be well worth your while. I’ve spent many a summer afternoon sharing a cozy booth or sunny patio table with friends and sipping $1,50 iced tea. That’s right – a glass of one of the many rotating iced tea flavors will set you back less than $2. And the best part? Free refills. If you’re brave and not prone to small bladder problems, you could make your way through the day’s entire iced tea selection in one afternoon. The happy hour menu also features specials on hot tea, alcohol-infused “tea-tails,” hummus, wraps, and desserts, many of which are gluten free and vegan. Add The Steeping Room to your happy hour bucket list, and it might just become your new summer destination

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