Russian Tea Time Reviews

We were looking for a good restaurant close to an evening event, and Russian Tea Time filled the bill. I started with the standard flight of vodka. Trying to follow the instructions in the menu and from the waitress, it was more like throwing back tequila. Probably nice vodka, but after sniffing the bread and chomping the pickle, who knows? I was directed away from the duck leg to the duck breast, and it was good. The pelmeni appetizer was pretty good as well. Others in my party appeared to enjoy what they ordered as well. Service was attentive.

SUPERB! I thought this place has been around since the Chicago Fire, no, 1993. I had Moldavian Meatballs, cabbage, buckwheat kaka, tomato sauce and beets. But also Ukrainian borscht. And Moldavian wine, of course. Great service as well. Go, go, go.

I have traveled to Russia and this reminded me of foods I ate there, only with vegetarian friendly options (which wasn't my experience in Russia back in the Soviet Union days). It is a bit on the pricey side, but well worth the splurge if you are in town. We only get to Chicago occasionally, but always seek out Russian Tea Time. It is within walking distance of Union Station if you have a layover, or across the street from the Art Institute if you are spending a day there and want a nice lunch or afternoon tea. Perfectly located for dinner before the symphony, too. If you don't like beets, sour cream, or mushrooms, this might not be your cuisine. But if you want to step outside the normal fare, this is a great place!

We decided on dinner at The Russian Tea Time on short notice. Despite arriving about 30 minutes earlier than our reservation time we were promptly seated, which is sort of surprising since this was on a Saturday night! But it was a very nice surprise indeed. Having previously traveled to Russia (Moscow, Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk) we were looking forward to some authentic Russian food and we were not disappointed!!!!!!! With so many excellent dishes to choose from off of the menu our dinner decision was difficult, but we decided on the stuffed mushrooms, which were delicious, and the beef stroganoff , which is huge and extremely tasty! The vodka is served in the traditional, and correct, way - cold and with a piece of bread and pickle. All in all an excellent time and we look forward to returning. спасибо!

So. Much. Food. Comfort food unrivaled and vodka flights to boot. Go with a group as you will want to taste everything and there is no way to do that without sharing. Perfect for après theater as well.

We ordered the duck breast, lamb shank and duck legs. Everything was just perfect. The service and ambiance were both great! We celebrated my birthday there. The complimentary strudel was delicious and our server was so friendly and fun. He sang a Russian song to wish me happy birthday! It was certainly a wonderful and special evening.

We were looking for a meal before a concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and happened upon the Russian Tea Time, which, contrary to its name, did offer a dinner menu. We didn't have a reservation, but were able to get a table straight away, and we had the special shared menu for two, which included a variety of starters and main courses. Luckily, I thought to check the information from the CSO, and discovered that we also qualified for some free vodka as we had concert tickets - not something we would normally order, but they happily brought us two complementary flights of vodka. All-in-all, a great pre-concert meal.

My two adult children and I are spending a few days in Chicago and after a day at the Art Institute, we made reservations and ate here. It’s an elegant restaurant and we loved the experience. I had the wild quail and it was delicious. I don’t remember having Russian beer before and their Baltika 6 was a nice surprise of a dark beer. Would recommend.

This was an opportunity for me to taste again the excellent classic Russian dishes that I had enjoyed in St. Petersburg Russia that I had enjoyed a few years ago. They had a wonderful caviar service with many different garnishes that went so well with a flight of Russian vodkas. They also had the homemade meat and potato dumplings that are so delicious. My waiter was so helpful and make many suggestions about what to sample. I understand they will be remodeling over the summer, but I look forward to a return visit the next time I am in Chicago.

To celebrate our son's graduation from University of Chicago. Fantastic appetizers, delicious main courses - there's a back room and they gave us a cozy spot in the back corner! The only downside is it's a tad overpopulated by very old rich people, and of course, it's super-expensive, but perfect for a special occasion. Right in front of the Art Institute, a stone's throw from Millennium Park, close to the Adams subway stop, but in the middle of the block, so quiet.

What a lovely warm welcoming restaurant! For my appetizer I had the eggplant melody which was delicious. Be aware there is a fair amount of cilantro in this appetizer. That said, it was still delicious! Dinner was the single quail, with a prune sauce! Mouth watering delicious with a matched flight of wine! Service was outstanding. Highly recommend!

The restaurant's environment is warm and pleasant, uniquely decorated as if it were a Russian teahouse. We tasted a variety of cuisines, especially Tashkent carrot salad and Russian meat dumplings, which tasted delicious. Afternoon tea service was excellent and the staff was warm and attentive to ensure we felt comfortable. Desserts are also stunning and perfect. It's definitely the perfect place to enjoy your food and relax. Look forward to coming back!

A cold winter night in Chicago with hot tea and black bread. Great dinner and service. The atmosphere is great. Elegantly dated made us feel like we were in a forgotten Soviet satellite. Many Uzbek dishes and Russian classics. Thanks for a great evening.

We were seated at this very small table in the corner against the wall, hardly any space between the table next to us. Asked for different bigger table, was told none available. So we squished in there. Took awhile for our server (Natalia) to come to our table. Then a wait for drinks. Ordered 3 appetizers, latkes, liver pate, and mushroom barley soup. Again another wait. Natalia comes by finally with the appetizers, but no soup. She walked away before we could get her attention. We tried to get her attention as she served other tables. Ignored us. After 30 minutes we asked about soup, she said she would bring with dinner. What? We said bring it now. Again another wait. Got soup. Another long wait for dinner, beef stroganoff. As we had to leave for show we had to gobble it up. I’m the meantime other tables with the other waiter were getting their items quickly. Also, because there was hardly any room between our table and the next, the other waiter was squeezing in the space to serve them and his rear end was in my husband’s face. Yes we should have said something to host to see manager but one we were blocked in our seats and two they were busy. My husband didn’t want to make a fuss. Food was just adequate and warm not hot. Natalia was an awful server. Very disappointing.

This is a charming restaurant, with an engaging Russian atmosphere. It feels very lush, and yet it is not at all stuffy. You can easily drop in for lunch while you are walking through the Loop. I am a vegan and have had wonderful meals here, and I also love their tea in the charming glasses with the silver holders. Well worth going out of your way to eat here, although the location is easily accessible so close to Michigan Avenue, so it might not be out of your way!

Great, strong russian tea- in endless supply. A wide range of vodkas! Dumplings and eastern european comfort food. Lots of vegetarian options. Wonderful ambiance- think old world. I love this place!

Good food. Dated decor. Great tea!! Slightly higher priced than the experience received but had fun.

We shared the sampler so got to try quite a few things. They were all very good and as close to authentic as one would wish. There were at least two tables with Russian patrons, so that also showed something. There were quite a few beers and wines from the region. The service was impeccable. All in all, it was a great find.

My wife and I have visited this restaurant many times over two decades. The Russian Tea and pumpernickel bread are two of our favorites. We especially love the beet caviar and shredded carrot salads. We are not vegetarians, but love many of the foods vegetarians might eat. I love their dumplings.I also am partial to their quail. Their assortment sampler trays for two are a good place to start if you have never been there before.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is as impressive as the view. There are classic paintings and sculptures, and I love the waltz and tango music as well as the Russian melodies. Many people come in for the full time service, with Russian appetizers as well as classic salmon, egg and pastries. I enjoyed the choices from the dinner menu, the pelmini dumplings and then chicken Kiev with mashed potatoes and red cabbage. The chicken Kiev had a dill butter sauce that ran out when the chicken was sliced into, simply delicious. The wine and cocktails are also excellent.

One main reason we spent a four day vacation in Chicago was to dine at this wonderful restaurant again that we ate at our last time in Chicago. This visit we had a wonderful meal starting with the delicious barley soup and my eating the main course of quail and my husband choosing the duck leg - we both enjoyed our choice of dishes! The restaurant is proud to serve such delicious large meals and one does not leave feeling hungry. We also spent an afternoon savoring the restaurant's tea time which is served daily from 2:30-4:30. Considering that tea time at the Palm Court in the Plaza in NYC costs $75 per person, the Russian Tea Time at $29.99 a serving, is not only a bargain but the delectable servings of scones, open-faced sandwiches and pastries a la Russian style with wide choices of brewed teas - NOT tea bags - along with courteous and warm service is not to be missed! The restaurant's welcoming ambiance and beautiful setting in lush burgundy colors adds to the overall dining enjoyment. Dining here is worth a visit!

My husband treated me to dinner at the Russian Tea Time this week on a trip to Chicago. Loved it! The food was absolutely delicious: hot, fresh, and very generous portions. The serving staff were polite and efficient. I am very pleased with our visit!

Had the Russian Tea Time family style platter for two. Very good. Make sure to sample the vodka flights.

I love afternoon tea and took the time to enjoy tea service alone during my last business trip to Chicago. I was delighted to sit at a small table for two, where I could check emails and just enjoy my assorted small bites and fantastic tea. I took my time to enjoy at least one bite of every item but did not eat it all I admit. I would love to go again with a friend but was glad to have a solo experience that was quiet and refreshing.

It is very amusing place to visit. It is not authentic to modern Russia, more to Russia 30 years ago - but it is a good thing. Atmosphere is incredible - paintings, silver balalaika music in the background. Food is also great. Beer is probably not Russian, because it tasted good, or Russia actually makes good beer for export.

Visiting from UK and so pleased to have been recommended having a relaxing lunch in the heart of Chicago. Food was delicious especially the beet caviar and the beef stroganoff. Ukraine Vodka flight was perfect to sample and taste the authentic way with pumpernickel bread and pickles. Staff really informative and friendly making us all very welcome. Can only highly recommend the Russian Tea Room and hope to visit again when I am next in Chicago visiting family.

Within the realm of Russian cuisine, this Tea oriented restaurant was really good. It also creating an atmosphere of feeling like you were away traveling. The borscht was very good. I had the stuffed cabbage and my wife had the quail. All very good. The wine flights from Georgia were both interesting and very good. The reds were particularly good. Strongly recommended.

My daughter and I ate here for lunch prior to visiting the Art Institute. We shared the white strawberry tea, which she lived with a lump of sugar and I loved without any sugar. We ordered the Russian platter for 2 and it was excellent. The first plate included fried potato lakes, dumplings, and many different cold salads. Our favorites were the chickpea and the beet, but they were all very good. The 2nd plate included a cabbage roll, chicken kebab, beef stroganoff, rice, and bulgur. Again, everything was delicious. Our server was very polite and attentive.

Eat breakfast early or not at all and don't plan to eat dinner. This is a highly recommended tea room. The tea is classic and the servers very professional and efficient. The atmosphere classic old style Chicago. Be prepared to a large bill, but it is worth it. All high teas are expensive. We have just returned from Brighton England and were shocked by the price of tea. There is a wonderful balance between savory and sweet and the scones are in fact very good. For some reason they have chosen to spoil the near perfect experience by serving whipped cream instead of clotted cream. If they are worried about their Clients arteries, we suggest they serve the proper cream as an option.

Had the afternoon tea and it offered a variety of small savory and sweet bites. The tea options were good and the berry was very good. Got to try different bites of Russian specialties. The chocolate potato cookies were delicious.

Used to come here every single time I visited Chicago. From 2018-2019, I began to notice something was off. I just found out that the business was sold and its founder is no longer associated with it. Don't get me wrong. New owners seam to be honest and trying to do the right thing. But unfortunately this is definitely no longer worth it. The menu has changed substantially. The quality of the food has changed drastically. For instance, the basic borscht, pelmeni and blini do not taste authentic anymore - and I know exactly how they should taste. They are now even charging for the bread which, btw, is not your typical kleba. In all, if you are craving Russian food irrespective of quality (just to say you ate it), then go for it. But if you are craving ACTUAL Russian food, I would recommend you to go elsewuere.

We waited impatiently on the sidewalk for the restaurant to open, because we really wanted our Tea Time experience. Their pelmeni are very close to the way my grandmother made them so they’re my soul food. Service is always impeccable and a little formal, which we enjoy. We heard they will be closing for a remodeling and hope they keep some of the wood-paneled and welcoming ambiance. This is one of our go-to places in Chicago.

A very unassuming exterior but don't be fooled. The tea experience was delightful. We had the Queen's tea but the regular menu looked fantastic! Very close to the Art Institute.

I have never been to a Russian restaurant before. The staff at Russian Tea Time was great at recommending dishes (dumpling variety platter and beef stroganoff) that were excellent. I am not much of a vodka drinker, but the vodka flights were fun and tasty. This restaurant is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for great food that is different from what you will likely eat anywhere else in Chicago. The service was fantastic, the food was great, and we had a very fun experience. My only regret was that we had symphony tickets and did not have time to linger and check out dessert!

The food is nicely prepared. Great place for date night or just having dinner with friends. Nice wine list with decent prices.

This has an interesting atmosphere; I suppose like Czarist times. The borscht was good. Tea served from a Samovar.

I wanted to vist last year but they where under construction. Please note, they no longer have the awning outside as I see in other peoplea photos. I walked passed the restaurant..lol I took my girls here for afternoon tea and we where NOT disappointed. The food was sooo good and my girls raved about everything. Tea was exceptional. The service was on point and felt like a true experiance. We left stuffed and satisfied beyond belief. My girls are already talking about going back and I can't wait to take them back.

I was in town for business and had some down time in the afternoon. I love tea and the traditional afternoon tea service, so I made my way here. It was a truly lovely experience. The staff was friendly and efficient. The house blend black tea is wonderful. The scones—oh my gosh, they were amazing. Lots of different, great tasting savory sandwiches and mini sweets. I felt the price ($32.95/ person) was reasonable for the amount and quality of food. Loved the atmosphere, too. All in all an enjoyable experience that I highly recommend if you love tea, Jane Austen, or all things Russian.

After a visit to the Art Institute, a friend and I stopped in here for dinner. I had the lovely fruited quail (served with mashed potatoes and garlicky spinach) with a nice glass of red. I finished up with a napoleon for dessert. Service is kind, prompt, and knowledgeable. Prices are reasonable, and the menu feels like just enough of an adventure to keep things exciting. Worth a stop!

Classical music, amazing food, and a great atmosphere. The Napoleon Bonaparte desert was a great end to the night. Great staff

Pleasant, cozy ambience. Pleasant and helpful wait staff. Many appetizers that all sound great. We selected 2, and both were delicious, interesting. Ditto for the entrées. We started the meal with a flight of 3 one ounce shots of infused vodka. Highly recommended. Prices were reasonable. Entrées were large - in fact, for a couple, ordering and sharing a couple of appetizer and sharing one entrée would be plenty enough to eat. Next time we're in Chicago, this will be where we will absolutely look forward to dining most, and will probably dine here twice.

I wish I could be more positive. I ate here a few times in previous years but not for the last five years until October 2018. I am sad to say that the restaurant seems to have declined considerably in recent years. The location is excellent if attending a concert at the Chicago Symphony, but the location alone is not a sufficient reason to eat here. The range of flavored vodkas is pedestrian and it is not helpful that they are mostly available in flights. I feel sure the choices used to be more extensive and more interesting. Most of the food seems heavy and uninspired. Again, I feel it used to be better. I should say that by 1:30pm on a Sunday the restaurant seemed to be filling up and so perhaps there are plenty of people who like it well enough.

For a first time visitor, in any language, this place was wonderful. We tried the prix fixe menu on a Wednesday early evening and the food and service were perfect. Looking forward to our next excursion into the city from the suburbs

Ok, let me tell you first. I was born in Russia, and love Russian cuisine. I took my young daughters to Russian Tea Time so they can experience some quality Russian food. They love pelmeni and vareniki. The atmosphere of this place is great. Our waitress was very friendly too unlike one of the other grumpy guy. We ordered borsch which was pretty decent. We ordered pelmeni and vareniki with potatoes. Pelmeni were not so good. The dough is too soft for me and meat was a little weird. I ate a lot of different pelmeni in Russia and pelmeni at this pace were my least favorite ever. The worst story is with vareniki. They came half cooked, the dough was still raw and my kid was pulling it with the fork like melted cheese. Totally disgusting. When we complained to the grumpy waiter about it, he offered to finish cooking our vareniki. We refused as they already had holes in them from my kids trying to poke every one of them to see which one was actually cooked. We also had salad which was ok. And initially we ordered some pirozhki to take out but they never came, and at that point I already didn't want anything from this place. After all they charged us $90 for me and my two young children. I did pay tips which came to $102 all together. Nobody came and apologized for half cooked half raw vareniki and we left this place and ended up at the Panera cause my kids were still hungry. I passed Russian Tea Time multiple times in the past few years and always wanted to go there. This sadly was my first and last time there. I would rather go to Russian/Ukranian village on Devon St. and buy frozen pelmeni/vareniki and cook them myself.

Pricey but if you want something different this is it. Delicious tea served in solid carved tea service with a variety of desserts and hearty fare. A cool quiet seems to permeate the room providing a oasis in the bright heat or bitter cold that Chicago weather seems to swing between.

The food service decor is amazing and its right next to Art Institute of Chicago. They also have a great pre fixed lunch. I highly recommend this place.

An unusual place. Very traditional Russian menu. Great service. Comfortable. Seems like the kind of place where regulars make up a lot of the clientele. If you are looking for something different, this may be it.

Five of us ate dinner here on a Friday night...it wasn't too crowded and you could walk in and get a table. Extensive menu...we ordered a variety of apps and entrees to share so we could sample as much as possible. Pumpkin dumplings were awesome! As was the beef stroganoff. If yoh want to try something fun and different i highly recommend this place. Menu can be overwhelming and confusing but the server was very helpful in directing us towards their best dishes. Half a block off of Mich Ave right next to Art Institute. Fun place!

Beautiful, wonderful service, the food is very good and interestingly different. Try one of the Russian vodka fights and the sampler platter for two.

Unique, authentic experience with a cozy, elegant atmosphere. Excellent food and lovely tea service. The honey cake is delicious!

We took a break from our excursion to the Art Institute to enjoy afternoon tea - not even a block away. We were pleased to find out they had a gluten free option for both the Classic and Queen tea services. The savories and sweets were yummy. And the white strawberry and green apricot teas were both delicious. Service was good and the atmosphere enjoyable. We will definitely come again on our next trip to Chicago.

It was our first time trying the high tea service and we loved it. The house tea is delicious, highly recommend you try it iced. The whole feel is a bit of elegance but friendly and comfortable. They savory part of the service was good. Did find out later we could of gone vegetarian which would have worked better for us. Either way it was delicious.

I have been pleased by everything every single time I go here. Individually, with my wife who introduced me to it years ago, with small or large groups. Vegan and vegetarian entrees also. You will not be disappointed.

We stopped in for tea and light fare on a weekend afternoon and were so enchanted by the experience that we vowed to return soon for dinner. It's a mini and somewhat less elaborate version of New York's Russian Tea Room but has every bit the same key attributes of authenticity, charm, and an old world menu featuring traditional Russian favorites.

Fantastic food and great service. My fiance is Russian and has been in the States for 24 years. This was her first real "home cooked" meal since coming here. She was very impressed with the flavors, freshness and selections, as was I.

Taking a break from our visit to the Art Institute, we decided to splurge with a light lunch at the Russian Tea Time, located very nearly across the street. Tried the meat, asparagus, potato and pumpkin dumplings along with the wonderful tea. All the dumplings were tender and flavorful but the meat were my favorite. The mushroom barley soup was good but not great. There just wasn’t much mushroom flavor. The service was exemplary however. Highly recommend visiting for high tea or lunch.

My first trip to Chicago so it was suggested that I try this restaurant. My relatives are from Russia so I ha r fo d childhood memories. We had the vodka flights of different types of vodkas. We then had for dinner the lamb samsa,pumpkin piroshki eggplant share & blini dessert. Great service by Yevheniia. Loved this place

We had high tea at the restaurant. We were able to order ala carte which was appreciated. Enjoyed the tea flavors. We were surprised by the overall taste of the scones and dessert items. I would say it was disappointing. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the server was pleasant.

Small, quaint tea restaurant. Must have reservations. Very busy. Had the avocado toast with salmon, three tier queen tea service. Scones with jam and cream were wonderful. Various assortment of finger sandwiches and bite size desserts. Desserts were nothing special. Felt like I have had the desserts from sams club before. House tea tasty

When traveling, we look for something different for our meals, and during our recent Memorial Day weekend visit to Chicago, we enjoyed being transported to Russia for our dinner at the Russian Tea Time. We enjoyed the Beef Stroganoff, which we hadn't had for years, and still had room for a set of six tea cakes for dessert. The tea was excellent.

We came across this delightful restaurant as we were exploring Chicago, and I'm so glad we did! The host said they were booked, but he managed to find us a seat. We ordered tea service, and it was so nice. The tea was great, the service was great, and the snacks (scones, tea sandwiches, desserts) were delish. I'm thankful my hubby talkede me into going in!

We had a beautiful afternoon tea here. The food and house tea was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and took their time explaining what everything to eat and drink was. We were there approximately an hour and a half and it was the most enjoyable and relaxing experience I’ve had in a long time. I can’t wait to go back

Our team ordered a mix of food for take out. The chicken lovers and beef stroganoff were fantastic. All of the food was really good as we ordered multiple dishes and shared

We stopped in for tea. It was a nice break from the hustle of the city. The tea was good. If you are looking for traditional English style scones than you will be disappointed. The little sandwiches were a single bite each. Overall it seemed overpriced.

Stepping into Russian Tea Time feels like stepping back in time. The dining room is elegant. The food is tasty and hearty. The fish platter is lovely as is the vegetarian stew. The service is very good. A classic - worth a visit.

We ate family style and shared the sampler platters. Everything was delicious and we got to try many of the appetizers and entrees. There were four of us and we would all go back.

After visiting the Chicago Art Institute, we walked out the front door and across the street to the Russian Tea Time. We had a light lunch of potato latkes and pumpkin vareniki. Both were delicious. Service was good. Lovely white table cloth place for lunch.

It's been five years since we've been here and little has changed; still superior service; delightful food and wonderful ambiance. We both started with flights of vodka which were $13 for three shots of a variety of wodkas....each accompanied by black bread and pickles. Superb! For our dinner we chose the sampler...$70 for two people. Actually, there was enough food for three or four people. It starrted with an assortment of appetizers: meat dumplings, chicken kebob, stuffed mushrooms, carrot salad, beet caviar, and chick pea spread. Then came the main courses: beef stroganoff, stuffed cabbage, chicken meatballs, chicken pozharski (kind of like a chicken meatloaf with oyster sauce) and rice pilaf. Her favorite was the chicken meatballs, mine was the stroganoff. We visited Russia last year and the food here is very much like what we had there.

Russian Tea Time was flexible with the time window for serving tea. That was hugely helpful, because I was in Chicago with three 16 year old girls. Schedules weren't our strong suit. And that's the other thing - the restaurant treated the girls so well! My husband and I had left, so the girls could have their own cool tea party. When we came back, we were impressed to find out how nicely the staff treated the girls. The girls felt like a million bucks, and decided the restaurant was much cooler than other teas because it had a Russian vibe.

Have never been to tea before, and wanted to try it this Christmas season. What a great choice for an afternoon with the girls! We arrived a little early and were seated immediately by a very welcoming maitre d'. The cost includes an array of different appetizer type foods and desserts, as well as some delicious scones. You choose your pot of tea which is an extra cost. The peach tea was fabulous, as was their very own blend. We were able to sit as long as we wanted, and the waitress kept coming back to check on us - she was so informative and pleasant! This place was very elegant but not stuffy, and we had a most relaxing pleasant afternoon with some very good foods! We would definitely return!

They offer afternoon tea like high tea on London from 2-4:30. The full service is a pot of tea per person, 2 scones, 6 savory and 6 sweet pieces. We had a table in the back this time, instead of the main front room. But it was still filled with moms and little girls having tea on the big city on a Sunday afternoon. We had a very nice tea, a green oolong and the house blend. Warming and delightful. The scones were a bit heavy but the sweet and savory bits were delightful. A real treat.

Both traditional Russian cuisine and plain fare. Loved the cabbage roll, the carrot salad. Friends enjoyed duck legs and a simple broiled fish over vegetables. Starters were borscht and mushroom barley soup. Fresh pumpernickel bread. Vodka flights, varied and interesting wine list. Service is leisurely and attentive. Don't miss a chance to eat here! I loved my birthday celebration here with a birthday candle in the delicious strudel.

My dinner experience was amazing and exceeded my expectations. I was very happy with the attentive service and fresh food. The environment was calm and pleasant, allowing for diners to enjoy classical music selections playing in the background. This restaurant offers a great selection of meals, while the location is great.

I reserve “5” for something really exceptional, one of a few hundred in the world. I think the “Tea Room” is great, just not something folks travel thousands of miles to go there.

Food - 4 If you are looking for a place to warm your soul on a frigid day, the soups and teas offered are amazing. The base stock for both borscht and creamy mushroom were heart warming and flavorful. Entrees on the other hand were decent but nothing to write home about. Service - 4 Since this is a tea time location they really leave you alone to your own devices. The best part is the ringer to call for service when needed. Atmosphere - 4 Very cute and a little gaudy but it works with the slight Russian twist. Will come back when I crave a nice soup and pot of tea!

My family booked an early supper here for Father's day. I was hesitant upon entering as the tea time crowd was still lingering, leaving the place looking rather kitschy. We were immediately seated, and though the restaurant was never quite bustling, a few more tables joined us throughout our lengthy meal. What trepidations I had were immediately quieted by the devoted service of our water, the quality of food, and the assortment of options. We began with vodka flights, the black currant house flavor being the clear winner, and followed that with russian dumplings. Delicious! For mains, we tried an assortment of dishes including game sausages, potato latkes, stuffed cabbage, and duck. All were done well and were larger than average portions. While the cabbage was a bit too sweet for my taste, it still was fresh and filling. Dessert was the highlight for me. We shared the Napoleon torte and the lemon chiffon cake. Both were devoured! I would love to come back for high tea as that is supposedly their specialty. If you are hankering for some eastern european treats I would recommend giving this place a try. It is worth the hype!

Super expensive. Forget about genuine Russian style shish kebabs. Chicken shish kebab had 5 pieces for $22 . This is $4.40 per piece of small, about inch by inch size meat. Chicken meat didn’t have holes in them, meaning they were not cooked as shish kebabs on the metal sticks, like genuine Russian or even Mediterranean style shish kebabs. but instead some other way. Prices outrageous, perhaps due to their overhead. I paid for samovar $30. That’s for a tea bag and hot water pot for 4 people. They didn’t serve me any cookies nor sweets with it.

On a whim, I when to the Russian Tea Room, Chicago, for a weekend dinner. Upon arrival my guest and I were asked if we had a reservation, we politely said no, then the hostess went about checking with several other guests who arrived after us. To say I felt put off, would be mild. After what seemed a lifetime, we were seated. Now, the menu was a storybook of Russian treats suitable for great grandmother to reminisce over- where to begin? Our server made some helpful recommendations, and we decided upon the platter for two. What a wonderful choice. We experienced such culinary delight and were exceptionally satisfied-no wonder reservations are recommended! Stuffed cabbage, beef stroganoff, beets salad, wine from Georgia (Russia). This is a must for your dining experience.

I went to the Russian Tea Time in an attempt to have a unique and different eating experience and it definitely fits the bill. I started off with the Ukrainian borscht and enjoyed it a great deal. I moved onto the Azerbaijani stuffed mushroom caps appetizers stuffed with spinach, onion and feta and they too were tasty and fit the bill as being different, I moved on to my appetizer and had the classic stuffed cabbage Golubtsi and again, I enjoyed it and it was something original and unique that I would not be able to eat back home. I ended my evening with bread putting muffin and it was also outstanding. All in all, it was an outstanding eating experience that was different than the normal. The ambience was impressive and everyone was nice and friendly.

We picked this for an official dinner. This is not a cheap eat out ( do not expect that in Chicago prime location ) - but good service and excellent cooking. Do not let the name fool you - this is not for just Tea - although they offer several kinds of that. I took beat salad and sea food - pretty good. Also a shot of Vodka !

We've never been to a Russian restaurant before. This was a very enjoyable experience. Fresh salad; flavorful Russian dumplings. Both the stroganoff and duck were very good. The vodka flight was interesting. Attentive service. We'll go back.

Quaint Russian spot. Ordered house tea (5 stars), scones and jam (5 stars) Borsch (5 stars) chicken kebab (4.5 stars). Service was good and atmosphere was perfect. Would go back!

Definitely do one of the vodka flights with your companions. And there is a wide range of appetizers and entrees, everyone can find something to like.

I was with a group of ladies from Louisiana. We had reservations for Afternoon Tea. Once we arrived something had gone amiss and our reservation was missing. And they were very busy. However, Marina who was the hostess, worked out a quick sitting for us, and she also went over and above doing a few other things for us while we were there. I must say, two of us in attendance are Tea Snobs, and this place impressed us. The food was AMAZING. The service was fantastic. We'd never been to a Russian tea room/restaurant before, and we were SO happy we went. The tea cups aren't fancy so look past that part. The tea tray was overly impressive. Had we not been so full....we would've order off of their regular menu, which was extensive. When I am in Chicago again. This place will be on my list to visit again. Loved the atmosphere, and just the entire experience went lovely for us.

After getting totally exhausted walking around the Art Institute, right across the street is the Russian Tea Room. Had the whole High English Tea lay-out mid afternoon and held me through dinner hours. The regular menu looked appetizing and it is the same menu as in New York.

Very good Russian restaurant, nice atmosphere, delicious food, great location. Borscht, blinchiki, pelmeni were super tasty.

We came upon this gem while on a stroll through the streets of Chicago and I’m so glad we did. Growing up in Russia I know what authentic Russian food tastes like and this place nailed it! I had the cabbage rolls and they were absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked and seasoned. I do judge Russian restaurants by the quality of their tea and I certainly wasn’t disappointed here as well. Overall food, ambience and service were great and if I’m ever in Chicago again, I will certainly go back!

Tucked away just around the corner from Magnificent Mile. Pleasant dining area and though tables are close, it is very quiet -allowing a conversation and a relaxed meal. Lots to choose from. Borscht was very good. Pirogies tasty. Good service. Moderately priced. Would definitely return.

Food was OK, but extremely overpriced. I cup of hot tea was $8. That is criminal! Bread and butter ... 4 slices, frozen butter was $5.00. Beeg Stroganoff ... slight serving was $29. It is criminal how much they charged!

A great restaurant became even better. The decor evokes turn of the century Russia, with the classic paintings and classical tango and waltz music playing softly in the background. The crowd is both Eastern European and Americans new to this cuisines. The waiters were very friendly and capable of explaining the various dishes and drinks. The Muscovy duck legs were the best I ever had. The next day I went back for the classic tea service, with dumplings, caviar, blini, and pastries.

OMG I loved this meal. I was visiting Chicago with family and friends this past weekend. Part of our group went up to Wrigley to take in a Cubs game, but a family friend and I decided to take in some touristy spots instead. After checking out Cloud Gate ("the Bean"), we walked over to Russian Tea Time for lunch (the restaurant is directly across from the Art Institute as well). I love Eastern European and Russian food, because I grew up eating Ashkenazi Jewish food which is often quite similar and currently live in a city that doesn't really have any restaurants serving those cuisines. So when I saw the menu at Russian Tea Time, I knew I wanted to go. We started with some lunch time vodka flights (we were on vacation after all). My friend got the Russian Tea flight, and I got the Nemiroff Flight. This was the right way to start a great, very long meal! The vodkas were all interesting (some infused with various flavors) and we almost ordered more (the shots are not large!). For our lunch, we started by ordering a small appetizer off their "Secret Menu," which seemed like a happy hour menu (with specials and discounts). We got the fried beef pelmeshki (8 pieces), which were small fried dumplings filled with very flavorful beef. Then we got the "Herring Under the Blanket" (which I've also seen called "herring in a fur coat") - a layered salad of potato, pickled herring, beets, carrots, mayo, and hard-boiled eggs. This is a traditional dish that you can find at other Russian restaurants, and I love it generally and I loved it here. You definitely have to love all the component parts, though - and not everyone is a fan of cold salads, pickled herring, beets, or mayo! But I loved it. We also got the blinchiki combination, which is two blinchiki (sort of a crispy, fried blintz - crepe) served with a small salad. One was cabbage, and the other was beef and caramelized onions. Each had a different sauce drizzled over. Both were good, and we coudln't decide which we liked best. Then, golubtsi (stuffed cabbage). We did one roll, because we might have ordered a little too much food (is that possible?), but you can get one or two. I don't always love stuffed cabbage, because I'm constantly comparing it to my family's recipe! But I loved the golubtsi at Russian Tea Time! The sauce was a little sweet (how I like it), and the filling was wonderful. It came with a side carrot salad and kasha, which were great as well. Since we'd love everything, we decided we couldn't pass up honey cake and tea for dessert. The tea was wonderful, and the honey cake was quite good! We enjoyed our experience at Russian Tea Time so much that I think we were there for 2+ hours. Tables came and went, and we just stayed. (I will say that the food didn't come out very fast even though the restaurant wasn't very full.) We had made a reservation on Yelp, but for lunch on a Friday, we didn't really need one. When we got there around 12:45 on Friday, there weren't too many tables (it did get more crowded around 1:30/2 for tea time). Based on the quality of the food, tea, and vodka, I'd definitely come back for another meal at Russian Tea Time. Dinner? Tea service? Either. Both.

Authentic russian flavor in well served dishes -take care in the soups, because the bowl is larger than usual- and drinks, from tea to vodka passing by wide offer of russian beers.

High quality tea experience. We had the classic tea and it was a lot of food. Scones were delicious, leans towards the biscuit side in terms of flaky layers rather than a traditional scone and you get two rather than just the one at other places. Sandwiches were interesting visually with the brown and white bread but fillings could use more flavor. The special Russian touches of the cabbage roll and the red pepper pastry were appreciated. I was too full by the time I got to the cake layer but the lemon bar was excellent. I upgraded to the Czar tea which was black tea with a lovely black currant finish. I’m actually not sure how much I paid to upgrade…but the tea was a lively change from the usual options. My niece had the white strawberry tea which I did have a taste, it is quite sweet. The decor and atmosphere are also lovely. If only I lived in the area I would live to try the stroganoff sometime. Perfect for a girls afternoon out!

Russian Tea Time is a time capsule of fine dining from the 20th century. White table cloths. Stunning floral arrangements. Professional service. And the food--wonderful. I'm partial to the beef stroganoff, a classic, done to perfection. Lots of vodka-based drinks, too. "Somewhere my love..."

What a splendid restaurant… a friend recommended coming here and I am so happy that I visited while in Chicago. I love a lovely High Tea and this place definitely was the place to come. The House Tea was delicious and our collection of appetizers, soup and sweets definitely made our visit perfect.

This is a Fine Russian restaurant right next to the Chicago Symphony on Adams Street. Authentic and very well prepared Russian cuisine. The menu is large and varied. Chicken Pozharski are delicious ground chicken dumplings served with a mushroom gravy, carrot salad, and beets. Great borscht, stuffed cabbage , lentils, eggplant dishes, and many other dishes to choose from. Great vodka choices too.

You know it when you see it. The faded experience living off the fumes of prior glories. I am seated at a 4-top booth and await my guest who is running late. The booth and its neighbor are covered in a burgundy version of Naugahyde with rips covered by red Duct tape. A clear signal of cash flow problems and a lack of self-respect. The server approaches with the menu but notifies me that very few of the menu items are available because of a kitchen cooler issue. Chicago has been bitterly cold this week and he implies that the kitchen issues are somehow related. I quietly wish the restaurant had notified me in advance of my timely arrival of its issues and my reservation. Alas, no. My companion arrives and we discuss the condition and decide that we can enjoy the experience if we ply ourselves with vodka flights. Three shots of Russian Standardt Premium each and the world of gastronomic deliciousness beckons like the sun popping out on a dark overcast day. The borscht with dollop of sour cream is sublime. The stuffed cabbage wonderfully hearty on a winter day. The conversation easy, lively and filled with good humor. As I return to the bitterly cold air I am warmed by the wonderfully spent 2 hours in Russian Tea Time.

My nephew took me here for a little treat. The service was excellent and the the sandwiches, scones and little desserts were very tasty. Although I am not a tea drinker I did find I actually enjoyed a spot of tea on a chilly day.

Warm interior in the old white table cloth style. Careful intuitive service. Excellent Russian tea endlessly refilled. Gourmet sauteed eggplant and zucchini. Awesome meat dumplings with sour cream and dill sauce on the side. Vodka flights available. My favorite is the Russian tea. Fantastic pumpernickel bread. A best choice after the Chicago Symphony; just walk around the corner. No Wi-Fi.

Many of the recipes are reminiscent of a by-gone era...relax and enjoy the sumptuous menu...the desserts to die for.

An oasis of calm off the hustle and bustle of Michigan Avenue. My wife and I throughly enjoyed the tea and the music. Although expensive we really appreciated the tea that we tasted here and we will be back.

Decided to go here to try something new and different, and we were not disappointed. Less than one block from the Art Institute, the setting is quaint, tasteful and quiet. The wait staff was attentive and helpful, and the timing of the food and drinks was appropriate. To celebrate like Russians, we began with vodka flights. In the menu, there is a description of how the vodka should be consumed; it was very good and a lot of fun. The menu is expansive with numerous options for all courses. We chose the Duck Strudel appetizer for the table (4 people), and highly recommend this as it was wonderful. For our entrees, we selected the Chicken Paprikash, Beef Stroganoff, Lamb Shank and Chicken Croquettes. All were beautifully prepared and excellent; all recommended. We ended sharing an order of Blintzes for dessert. Prices are moderately expensive (approx. $27 per entree) but appropriate for what we received. Highly recommended and will return.

This was by far the BEST meal, restaurant, experience we had the entire week we were in Chicago. The dumplings, carrot salad, piroshkies, beet salad, beef stroganoff, and cheese blintzes were out of this world! High class service, intimate and classy decor/atmosphere without being snobby. Low light, dark wood on walls, brass fixtures, maroon color scheme, Russian music in the background. Nice table linens and silverware, attention to detail. Massive bouquets of fresh flowers. The Russian tea we had was AMAZING! Full service with white and brown sugar chunks, lemon slices, and ornate glass and steel cups. I would go back just for the tea! We left the restaurant totally stuffed and we're sorry we couldn't finish all the food we ordered...it was so good, but they give so much! The beef stroganoff was overflowing with a generous amount of beef. This place is definitely at the very top of list, and I think EVERYONE who visits Chicago must go here. It will be the highlight of all your dining.

A delightful restaurant with wonderful food and beverage. My wife, who usually doesn't like beets, loved the borscht and beet crepe. The wheelchair accessibility was good in the main dining area, but the restrooms were tight, and the stall not viable for my power wheelchair..

We went to the restaurant for lunch and we're very positively surprised by the authenticity and the outstanding food and service. It's so close to the art museum, worth to stop by!!!

We went here for Lunch and instead of doing the Tea ordered from the Menu. Had to start with the Borscht like Grandma used to Make and then let them recommend. We go the Dumpling platter , the Duck legs and of course, the Beef Strogonoff . Borscht was insanely flavorful with hunks of soft beef throughout. Duck with a Cherry Sauce was perfect . Crispy and Savory , the dumplings were Steamed and then sitting on a plate of butter. The meat ones were good , but the potato were Sublime. Strogonoff was what you would expect big soft hunks of beef swimming in a thick rich cream sauce over egg noodles. I left so full and so in need of a nap. If I lived nearby i'd come in everyday for the Borscht . Service was great and we used an Open Table gift card which was complicated and he was very helpful.

Excellent food and tea. I had their Russian house tea which was very smokey in flavor. I loved it. The three tiers of small sandwiches and desserts were delightful. It's in a great location, just down the street from the Chicago Art Institute.

Really loved our dinner at Russian Tea Time last week. We ate there on February 15th as a one-day-late Valentine's dinner. Since we're both vegetarian, we ordered the Vegetarian Platter for two - it was so wonderful, and so filling! Stews, eggplant dishes, appetizers, a vegetarian lasagna-like dish, and so much more. Really wonderful service, as well!

Food as usual was great and liked the renovations done to the restaurant. I was surprised by the increase in prices. Charging for bread seemed a bit over the top. I was a bit disappointed.

Always wanted to try Russian delicacies but being vegetarian, most places didn't have much to offer me! Luckily, a coworker suggested this place for team dinner and I was pleasantly surprised to see that Russian tea time has not just couple but tons of options for vegetarians. As you take your table, they will bring you complimentary bread and butter which is sooo good. We started off with some multiple orders of apps- potato dumplings, peroshkies and latkes which were amazing! Infact, I was so full with it that I couldn't try anything else! My colleagues, who ordered entrees loved the food! They have so many different kinds of aromatic tea and desserts! If you're going in big groups, making a prior reservation would be a good idea because it's a busy restaurant. Overall...I loved the restaurant, the food and the service! I will definitely be going back to try out more items from their menu!

Delicious, authentic Eastern European cuisine. High quality ingredients cooked fresh and served hot. I felt like I was sitting in my grandma’s dining room. Unique, warm experience that brought back wonderful memories of past family meals from “the old country”. If you are from any Eastern European/slavic heritage, go and experience the cuisine and hospitality. It will be deliciously familiar.

The other day I had a great meal at this restaurant of borscht soup, and Moldavian meatballs (which were finely seasoned) with buckwheat kasha, marinated beets and sauerkraut. I paid with my credit card and forgot to put it back in my wallet. Three days later I realized I did not have it and got a little frantic. Then I called the restaurant, and learned they had it. I picked it up the next day. What a relief it is to find out that you don't have to cancel your lost credit card. And what a delight it is to eat at a fine restaurant where the employees are honest and considerate and make sure their customers can recover their lost credit cards.

We had the best tea I’ve ever tasted. I’m not kidding. Lovely decor and the food was good. But, the tea was wonderful. We just got a pot of the house black tea and thought the price was high. It was worth every penny.

What a delightful and memorable dinner! We started with a vodka flight, which sets the tone perfectly. The borscht is so good that it earned an OMG from my wife, who hates beets! Perhaps the highlight was our shared appetizer, beautifully thin crepes topped with smoked salmon, sour cream, red onions, and superb salmon roe. We're still talking about this a week later. All our entrees were great too, and the staff is top notch.

From the first glimpse inside this restaurant, I was impressed with its beautiful decor and elegant waiters. The menu was explained to us in detail, as we were not accustomed to Russian Food. The service was excellent. The food was amazing!

We've been to Russia a few times and decided to finally try this place in the city. The bread they bring to the table is probably the best fresh Russian bread we've ever eaten. We like to so much we bought a loaf to go. What an awesome option! We went here for lunch and had the traditional borscht soup and potato latkes. Oh my word. Both were amazing. For three of us plus the bread to go the bill was $44. Not bad. Will have to go back for teatime which I think is 230 and 430? No dress code by the way. We were on a day trip to the city and had shorts on. The place is very impressive inside. Old-school Russian style. Dark reds and browns. And really cool authentic Russian music playing the whole time (via speakers, not live). Love it!! Definitely going back and bringing more people with us.

Gathered daughters from the 3 coasts for wife's 80th and lunched here. The service was outstanding and the food equally as good. Nick,our waiter, was very congenial and helpful in our queries on ingredients and portions. A great array of drink choices, which we would recommend trying according to your preferences. The dishes were prepared in much the manner I recall as a child and slightly varied from my wife's versions. If the vodka or tea, borscht and food dishes that should cover all your desires do not get you there, then you really need to try the desserts. We devoured chocolate lava cakes and had a very nice touch to the experience, when Nick presented a candled, strudel to my wife---Gratis--for her day. Great ambiance and you cannot go wrong.

Enjoyed a Saturday night dinner before a show at the Chicago Theatre. Service is fast, we were there 90 minutes and had a complete meal. Started with cups of Borscht and Mushroom Barley. Followed by the dumpling sampler. I had the Chicken Russkies and husband has the duck. Dessert next was cheese blintzes and lemon chiffon cake. And have to mention the vodka flights! I had the house and husband had the jewels. Everything was delish. Wish the dumplings had been cooked in more butter to be more rich. Lime flavor was my fave on the flight and husband enjoyed the cranberry so much he ordered another shot. Restaurant is very packed but still was a little romantic. Servers were all very nice and attentive.

Went on a Thursday the room was bustling and warm. My teen is studying Russian and was thrilled to eat at a real Russian restaurant. We had the borscht and butternut squash soup to start both were really good. Then we split a couple of appetizers I forget the name of them but they were huge and filling. We also had tea, he had the house tea and I had Darjeeling. Really fun and memorable.

We went for dinner after the symphony. Food was terrible. My sister ordered duck in pastry and it was soggy and tasteless. Dumplings were not delicate like they used to be. My meatballs were not very good. Won’t go here again.

Dined here twice on our recent trip to the Windy City. Both times every dish was delicious and visually appealing. After starting with a vodka flight and appetizers, we selected Classic Beef Stroganoff and Chicken Croquettes Pozharskie for entrees. Both were excellent and server promptly. All the portions are large and they don't mind if you share them. We will definitely plan to have dinner here on future trips to this wonderful city!

We had been here a long time ago and a friend recently stopped here for teatime. We decided to go for lunch with friends and it was a great venue and we truly enjoyed the food, ambiance, and service. We had Assam tea (always enjoyable), served very well, a cup of soup, and appetizers that we ate as entrées. We also had dessert as well. Everything was wonderful and the service was impeccable. We had such a good time that we all lost track of the time. This is a keeper and just a short walk away from the Art Institute.

Friends visiting from Denver - his wife from Ukraine. She absolutely loved the food and speaking Russian with a fellow Ukrainian waitress! Stuffed cabbage, Chicken Tapanka, Chicken Roulette, and Duck Leg were all fantastic! Great vodka and Russian lager. Attentive service from S.

We let the real Russian in our trio order for the table. Borscht soup, pierogies, latkes & a chicken dish rounded out a perfect sharing meal for us. Very very good! Stir the sour cream into your soup and it turns into a creamy decadence. The carrot cabbage slaw type side with the chicken was nice and crunchy. And of course, the pickle!

We had such a lovely time in London with English tea, we figured on trying the Rusian tea. The restaurant has a Russian feel, or what I'd expect (never been to Russia so maybe I'm wrong). Service was friendly. We ordered the house tea, which had a distinctive black current flavor. It was delicious but with a decidedly different flavor from the English. We also tried a few desserts. Wife and daughter tried the gluten free chocolate torte, while I had the scones with cream and jam. Both were good, the torte was very rich. The restaurant also serves meals of a Russian variety. Some diners were near us and we could see their plates. Nothing like American as far as I could tell. I would definitely try the Russian Tea room for an experience.

Perfect for supper before the Symphony or a show. Walking distance to all the theatres. Fine dining, with traditional dishes (beef stroganoff, chicken Kiev, caviar, fabulous borscht...) as well as vegetarian options that incorporate the Eastern influences of Russia. The Tashkent carrot salad is not to be missed - unique, refreshing and delicious. And then there’s the vodka! Flight, flavors, brands not usually found in bars or restaurants. The service is lovely, the ambiance is refined and the prices are very reasonable. Be sure to make reservations.

3 1/2 stars, really. Lovely little place near the art institute, friendly waiter, water refilled promptly, linen napkin and tablecloth, nice ambience tho tables close together. I had the stroganoff, good but bland and not very authentic given the description, would have liked more wine or sour cream or lemon and parsley in it; and a simple cold cabbage and apple salad that was quite good and simple. No room for what looked like a lovely layered dessert on another table. Site said it closed at 6:00, but it filled up fast at 5:00 on a Monday.

Restaurant ahs a great location. Planned festive holiday meal . The room is grand, old fashion but true to its name. The food is average and the service was disappointing. Still had a good time but should have been better.

We've been to this restaurant ages ago. Nowadays, it still preserves that traditional look, quite a blend of some lavish decor - imposing, massive chandeliers on the ceiling, white table cloths of fine dining, gorgeous bouquet of flowers at the entrance, and of course Russian cheerful-colorful samovar, quite noticeable momentarily. The whole place was rather quiet, but very cozy at a relatively early lunch hour. The most amiable, attentive and very helpful server Nikita came up with a nice suggestion for me to order Beef Stroganoff, as one of their best items on the big, detailed menu. The portion was enormous, the meal delicious. After the meal, came the blackcurrant tea served in a glass with a 'very Russian' glass holder. The whole meal and experience was great, Nikita and I talked about the history of the restaurant and its popularity with the local public. Besides various Russian items, the menu also offers a variety of Ukranian, Uzbek and Moldavian dishes. I sure plan to be back some time, to try their another great meal - golubtsy, which is actually a Ukranian dish. And it is also yummy, I was told. 'Spasibo za obed'! Thank you for lunch, that is.

Let me preface with I'm Eastern European and I grew up with Russian cuisine, so I know what I'm talking about. Also my mom was with me and she's an amazing cook, knowledgeable on how to make every single one of the dishes we ordered. The decor, even though a bit dated, was perfect. It reminded me of being back home and watching American movies, where mobsters were always portrayed meeting in restaurants with leather booths hahaha. Our waitress was friendly and helpful. Between 3 grown-ups and 1 child, we shared the following: Borscht, Pelimeni, Piroshki, Beef Stroganoff, Chocolate Lava cake, Napoleon cake, Cheese Blintz and beer, and jasmine tea. They also served complimentary bread and butter. The bread was pretty tasty, but it wasn't all that fresh. Now onto the foods we ordered. Their borscht was a joke, no other way to describe it. Traditionally, borscht is a SOUR soup with beetroots as the main ingredient (thus the red color), but to our disappointment what we were served was sweet borscht and that was a huge "no no" for my mom and I. It just went all downhill from there. The pelimeni tasted just alright, nothing to write home about. Piroshki (Russian version of dumplings) didn't even look like they're supposed to and the dough was off. Beef Stroganoff was pretty good, my friend really enjoyed it. The chocolate cake and cheese blintz - we could've done without and the Napoleon cake was too hard. I did love their tea. If ever in the area, I would not be going back.

We returned to Russian Tea Time, located almost across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago, which we have enjoyed for at least the last 35 years. All is well at Russian Tea Time, though the prices are higher! Despite its name, this is primarily dinner house, with tablecloths (red, of course), silverware and crystal. The menus maintain tradition and "welcome comrades" (in Russian). For appetizers we enjoyed two traditional Russian favorites, piroshki, a filled pastry, and blini, stuffed crepes. Both choices were vegetarian, and there are a number of vegetarian dishes on the menu. For the main course we shared another Russian specialty, roasted duck legs with (reconstituted dried) fruit garnish and sauerkraut. There are a number of other duck specialties on the menu; the kitchen makes use of the whole duck, it seems. Wine was pricey. Our server, Evgeny, presented us with a whole loaf of their wonderful black bread to take home with us.

My wife traveled with me on a business trip and we stayed at the University club and walked here after the Chicago Institute of Art. Eugenia our waitress was very nice and helped us to select from the menu. The food was delicious and more than enough. The staff was very friendly. I have the beef stroganoff and it was really good I also had the borscht Which was also good. It’s a classy place with Russian music playing in the background. There are table cloths and I silverware

My husband and I ate here and enjoyed our experience. The atmosphere is nice and unique. The service is very good. The menu had a lot of choices and there is a full bar. My husband enjoyed his meal more than I enjoyed mine but it was still all very good. We each had a glass of wine and a field green salad with our entree. (The salad was outstanding). In total we spent just over $100 so with a $20 tip it wasn’t a cheap meal. There are some nice vegetarian options although I wished I wouldn’t have ordered the root vegetable type stew. The bread is good but not warmed which would have been better. Overall a good time.

Really enjoyed this restaurant with its rich old world charm. My favorite was the hot flavorful Russian tea served in tall glass mugs with decorative metal bases. However, my dinner companions favorite were the vodka flights of uniquely flavored vodkas. The food was very Russian, interesting, and tasty with generous portions. Waitstaff was formal but solicitous.

For our wedding anniversary, we decided to do up the town, starting with tea at Russian Tea Time. Before the pandemic we went there often for tea and dinners and had really been looking forward to their lovely tea service. The location is beautiful and had been updated since our last visit so we had high anticipation for a very nice tea service. (Please note, if you've never been to a really exceptional tea service, you will probably like this one just fine.) But we were a bit disappointed by the lack of sliced lemons, the lower quality of the house black current tea, the toast points (instead of fresh, soft bread) and lack of any taste at all to the scones (have you ever had a scone at tea that you didn't eat the other one? yeah, we left ours, they literally has zero taste and were not soft so probably a day or two old. The cream was ok but not really the clotted cream type. The service was pretty much hands off, except for a lovely girl that came around with more tea and checked on it. I'm not faulting them really, I guess the only way some businesses can stay open is to cut corners on the taste, ingredients, etc. But you know it wasn't up to it's old glory when my husband said later "yeah, I don't think we have to go back there again". I wish them luck but the Russian Tea Time of our cherished memories is no more.

We had the flight of vodka (horseradish, serrano pepper, and jalapeno - horseradish was the best followed by the serrano pepper) and the stout. We had the vegetarian sampler dish and latkes, and the duck. The waiter was very attentive and fast, and the ambience was lovely. Location was perfect and central especially if you are in the Loop particularly the Art Institute of Chicago.

I have been here several times and I have not been disappointed. What ever I have ordered has been excellent. The waiters are attentive. The vodka choices are nice. My favorite dish is the beef stroganoff. Their caviar service is very satisfying. I recommend this establishment.

Russian Tea Time has always been one of my favorite restaurants- classy, good food, lovely atmosphere. I hadn't been there since before Covid and was excited to go back there. We were so disappointed - the atmosphere wasn't as nice as before (since they "redid" the dining room). The menu has far fewer food items and the only warm vegetarian dishes have beyond meat in them. Miss the mung bean stew and so many of the other dishes. So sad - but glad they are still open despite Covid (although, I won't be going back :( )

For a visitor, this is a thrill. It's title is Tea Time, but after Tea Time, it is a glorious restaurant. It's a thrill to try some of these dishes that you have only tried to cook at home and sample the real thing. You will love to look at the long dining table where Russians celebrate special events together, and it seems as if the wait staff includes many charming Russians. If you're a cook you will love trying this menu over and over and then trying to make some at home. I was finally able to copy the carrot salad. I've always loved the Russian Tea Room in New York, and this provides an equal pleasure.

We were on vacation and someone we met at our bnb suggested we go here since we would be close to this place when visiting the Chicago Institute of Art. We have made reservations to take a Viking River cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg, so this place sounded perfect. #1 our first impression was from a man who had as much personality as a wet noodle, ( not the best first impression) I was brought up to smile and be friendly when greeting a customer. #2 our waitress made up for the first impression, she was very nice. #3 we started with a salad but it was forgettable. #4 the wine was very good, ( our waitress helped us to decide what we would like. #5 first course was Borscht and rye bread…I have had Borscht before and it was out of this world. This Barscht was watery and underwhelming and the bread was dry, like old bread. #6 our main course was beaf stroganoff, now that was delicious, probably the best I’ve ever had. But the price of the meal, did not equate to the whole experience and the food that were served. I was so disappointed and if we ever got back to Chicago I would NOT eat here again. I don’t mind spending $100.00 on a good meal and the experience I received . But 3 out of 6 is not a good score, A big hand for the waters, she is an asset to this restaurant and the wine and stroganoff was great, but not enough to carry the man with the bad attitude, the stale bread and watery soup. This was our last day in chicago and what a bad taste to leave with us, lucky for us we had some amazing food the night before.

This place was a favorite while in Chicago for a conference. It was quiet and not crowded - which felt hard to find. Beautiful on the inside. The food was incredible and authentic. Try the flavored vodkas. The price was reasonable as well, especially given the area.

Authentic eastern Europe food. My wife is from Ukraine and misses her food so when we get a chance we go for it. and it was very good very authentic. we had the Pelmeni, and the Borscht along with the Vodka cocktails.

We had been to the Russian Tea Time many years ago, and were delighted to have lunch there again today. It's a beautiful space with gracious and attentive service. We shared the vegetarian platter for two, which would easily feed four people. Endless cups of Russian black tea flavored with currants, delicious and chewy black bread and all the pierogies, beet salads, stuffed eggplant and stews left us very stuffed and very happy.

When you need a break from the city, head to the Russian Tea Time Room. Located across the street from the Art Institute, the Russian Tea Time Room offers a slower pace, old world charm, and savories and sweets. It’s quiet and laid back atmosphere opens the opportunity to either chat or reflect. There is a “business casual” dress that I didn’t see enforced at lunchtime.

I was surprised to have wonderful vegetarian dinner choices here. From the vegetarian mushroom barley soup to the stuffed mushrooms, eggplant, bell peppers to the great desserts and black bread and Russian tea, I highly recommend this restaurant.

Went to celebrate my daughter's birthday.Great location within walking distance to the transit railway system.Great food and great service.Try the Russian Vodka samplers-USD 13 for 3 shot size samples.Try the Russian food and ask for guidance, should you need,from the friendly staff.One issue is the cramped seating arrangement, although possibly there was no other way due to space availability constraints in such a premium location.Will surely go again if I am in Chicago

This restaurant is not new and trendy, but traditional Russian food is worth eating at any time, especially on a cold windy evening. We especially enjoyed the wild quail and roasted duck breast and the Russian honey cake and strudel desserts. Service was excellent and the prices were reasonable, especially for the Chicago loop. And we could even converse with our friends.

This Russian-style restaurant is a Chicago classic. Portion sizes are ample and food is quite filling. The restaurant is actually small but the decor gives it an elegant and super-sized atmosphere with its polished wood veneer walls, chandeliers, and tablecloths. We had beef blinchiki, a classic beef stroganoff with a refreshing carrot and beet salad, and chicken kotletkas. All of the dishes and flavors were simply exquisite and had us sharing each other's food and saying "mmmm!" with every bite. Wait staff were exceptionally well-trained, reserved yet polite and professional. Highly recommended!

We loved everything about this experience! The ambiance, music, velvet booths, service, and especially the food made this so very special. The presentation was magnificent!

Service was exceptional and the food delicious. We each got a flight of flavored Vodkas from black currant tea to honey pepper and followed the neat directions in the menu. Russian dumplings were exceptional and the pumpernickel bread was great. I will go back for dinner for sure.

We always try to make time for a wonderful lunch at Russian TeaTime when we visit Chicago. Great borsch and vodka flights. Great service and atmosphere.

This was a disappointment. The dining room was beautiful. The food and service did not live up to expectations. The tea had been brewed too long and was bitter. We've been to Russia and to Russian restaurants in NY city and Atlanta. This was not comparable.

Was looking for something a little different before heading to the theater for Anastasia - keeping with the Russian theme, we picked Russian Tea Time. From appetizers to dessert, everything was delicious. Even our picky 12 year old found things she liked! (And I have dreams about the amazing rye bread and mushroom barley soup.) I look forward to going back!

I ate dinner at this restaurant on a business trip years ago and thought it was fabulous. I was looking forward to going again this time with my husband. The restaurant did not disappoint. The food is still delicious; the quantities are very generous and the service is efficient. We'll be visiting again on our next trip to Chicago.

Was going to the symphony and googled restaurants near symphony hall. This placed looked really good and had great reviews. Made a reservation. greeted and seated. Ordered 2 of the vodka flights and some bread while we looked at the menu. Bread was really good and pickles accompanied the vodka, nice touch. Order the dumpling combination and then split the salmon and Beef Stroganoff. Everything was out of this world and service was very good. The place really filled up always a good sign. Including tip, the total bill was $140, more than reasonable for the quality of food and service we got. Definitely recommend and definitely will be returner on our next trip to Chicago.

It was okay, the place looked dated, and cramped. The service was really good, the food was just okay. The cabbage soup was good, but I was full fast. Unfortunately, I ordered the lamb, the smell alone was gonna. Make he throw up. Not a memorable evening. Not my cup of tea, & the prices were a bit high for dinner.

We stopped in on a Saturday for a late lunch and it was a pretty full house. I instantly noticed the Ukrainian flag in their window and buttons in support of Ukraine being worn by many of the servers. The entree prices are between $20 -40 per person and there’s something for every palate including gluten and vegetarian friendly options.

Went here for dinner. Food and wine were both excellent. My g/f had quail and I had duck legs. Both dishes were very well prepared. Service was also excellent.

The Russian Tea (230-430p and $30/person) is a really cool experience. The atmosphere had a lot to see while dining. Our server was even Russian!

It was delicious! The server was very Nice! We did the platter for 2 and everything was good! Horseradish vodka was great! The house tea was great! We will definitely be back! It was delicious!

Went with aunt and uncle. Aunt had the tea and the staff kept refilling hers while uncle and I sampled vodka. The set flights were excellent, I made my own up. Everything was labelled nicely, with traditional bread and pickles to enhance the experience. There was info on traditional process and pronunciation for the Russian toasts as well. The staff was attentive, informative and friendly. I look forward to going back!

Made a reservation for tea to pass the time while my daughter ran the marathon. What a delightful little place! Ordered the queens tea, and could have shared with someone else. So many things to choose from! The music playing in the background was relaxing. Kate, my server was knowledgeable and efficient. I would love to order off the menu and try some of their traditional items next time. Great gem in this big city!

I visited this place with a family member. We enquired re the menu for tea-time, only to be discouraged by the maitre d from ordering it. He presented it in an unflattering way. It was a Friday, and the high tea was a weekly special! We were very disappointed when we saw others ordering the same, having been misled. Our waitress rushed us through the menu and didn't really answer our questions well. I ordered a liver dish but it was raw inside. I got hold of another waiter and was told that's how it was cooked. Whilst this may be the case, it can be a real health and safety issue..and one should really be asked. The second waiter took the plate away and I was not told what was happening. Our original waitress tried to get me to order dessert. She had no idea that I had sent back my food. Finally, the second waiter informed me that my food was coming. By this point, we were dismayed . And k just asked them to parcel it. The food itself was good, but the service was truly dismal. We regretted the seventy-two dollars spent there.

So welcoming, quaint, tasty and quiet. We went after the Museum and we found it perfect. The flavors were authentic and, of course the tea was wonderful.

A group of colleagues and I visited RTT for a late lunch on a weekday. We ordered way too much food ... and enjoyed every bite! The restaurant serves lunch, tea service, and dinner. Meals are elegantly plated, tea services are beautifully presented, and the wait staff are attentive to warming up your tea or refilling your water. The asparagus vareniki are delightful; the Caesar salad appetizers are huge; and the carrot salad is unsurpassed! The lunch menu's "tea time platter for 2" could easily serve 3 and offers a wonderful sampling of many fine dishes. The atmosphere is quiet and fairly intimate. Lunch service for 3 with appetizers and a few teas and tip cost nearly $150, so it isn't the most economical choice but, as a once-in-awhile treat, this is an excellent, excellent restaurant. I am a repeat customer (I visited once about 4 years ago) and I will be happy to go back again the next time I'm in Chicago.