Three Cups of Tea

I’m really not sure how to classify this review.
I’m not really «into» tea as an American nor am I British or from somewhere with a more cultural connection to the experience of tea.
So.were I to review this as someone looking to have that experience or as I am imagining that would be, I’d be disappointed. The theme and ambience just doesn’t quite live up to what I’d expect. It almost gets there, and has some details spot on, but the remainder becomes too casual, too cluttered, the colors become too «messy». And, without the «experience» part down right, the prices seem ridiculously high for tea.
So, then,…if I reviewed this as just a diner or café I’m stuck in the same quandary. Now where the casual layout, less comfy seating and other ambiance seems more appropriate everything else now swings off balance. The food prices are typical, yet not reflective of the quality or quantity of the food… leaving you feeling as though it’s quite over-​priced.
I had the «Bothell dip» sandwich. At slightly larger than a half-​sandwich size for their full offering, it disappoints right from the start. Though the cheese it’s served with was melted, the sandwich had long gone cold by the time we were served. Another review mentions the chicken salad just being egg salad w/​some bland chicken thrown in. I can say the potato salad is *exactly* the same… just egg salad with potato bits stirred in as an after-​thought. The au jus was nothing to write home about. Clearly a standard powered mix and not served very hot.
So, then… if I just go as a whole then again I can’t really get it. The service is kind but generally really slow, the food isn’t all that great, the layout doesn’t evoke the right sense of formality or of casual. Slapping some Princess Diana Barbies in a case and owning some cutesy tea china really isn’t enough to call yourself a tea room, and mislabeling your food offerings (see below) and the quality of your food isn’t enough to justify the prices.
Many menu items say there is avocado, but note it is actually just an «avocado spread», per our server that day. As most «avocado spreads» contain all sorts of other ingredients and preservatives, keep that in mind. (How they use this spread as a slice on a salad, I’m really unsure)
Onto the space as a whole, I’d advise sitting near the window where the ceiling is lower. We sat nearer the middle/​right of the seating and the airflow down from the high 20 ft ceilings there was like being in a super-​chilled wind tunnel. It was freezing and quite distracting.
If I wanted a «real» tea experience, I think I’d choose another local spot that gets the ambiance a bit less overly casual.
If I just wanted a little lunch café, I’d choose a spot with better overall food quality within the same price range.
The business meeting and company was great and it was a fun enough first-​try space, but without specific reason to continue patronage (like working/​living within walking distance, going with someone more into tea), I can’t see myself on a return here.

I visited this place for the first time today and had a great experience. At the last-​minute, some friends and I became a 4-​adult, 3-​children party which they eagerly accommodated. They even offered to put us in the party room, had it not been reserved for later.
They don’t specify on Unilocal whether or not they are child-​friendly, so I was a little wary of bringing my almost 3-​year-​old son. He, along with my friend’s 4-​year-​old and 2-​year-​old, fared well… managed not to break anything. There’s not a large amount of breakable items at child-​level, which was my biggest fear.
The tea was great. I am a really big tea-​drinker and advocate of brewing it correctly, so one of my favorite things was the hourglass set on each table. They are timed for 3, 4, and 5 minutes so people know how long to steep their tea.
As far as food items, our party only had scones, but they were so delicious, soft, and buttery and served with lemon curd, cream, and jam. The scone options this particular day were mango and almond; both were delicious.
I normally wouldn’t give a place 5 stars after one visit, but I feel the need to even out other reviewers’ 1-​star reviews. I would love to visit again soon because it seems like a great little spot, and if I feel the need to correct my initial response review, I will :)
My only complaint is that they should offer a boy alternative (or at least a gender-​neutral alternative) to the Little Princess Birthday Party :)

Lets just say this place has a little too much estrogen in the room. Guys, guard your manhood. I’m sure that makes it perfect for some women and that’s ok with me, it’s ladies only as far as I’m concerned. The tea is good and the food is decent. Service isn’t exactly their strong suit. The whole experience reminds me of when my ex wife went nuts with the pink Laura Ashley wallpaper & bedspread. And you see how that turned out…

This place is very adorable and the owner, Lee is so nice and friendly. It’s also obvious that she is meticulous about keeping her business clean and running appropriately. The place looks brand new but they’re been there for three years. So, the ambiance is great.
I had a lemon earl grey which was not unpleasant but not remarkable. The broccoli stratta, however, was amazing. So creamy, and perfect balance of flavors. and piping hot, which I love. The scones were also good but pretty small for the price. They do make their own spreads which is extra bonus points.
I see in another review that someone complained service was slow, which makes me wonder if the server was trying to make up for that because she brought us our check long before we were done eating, which to me is an unforgivable offense. We stayed an hour longer just to spite her. Lee, please retrain your servers. She was rushed but the place empty.
This place has so much potential, and I am sure the princess tea parties are totally awesome, but I do feel (mostly because it’s Bothell, is that wrong?) that the pricing should be reconsidered and the tea selection expanded. I live in Bellevue and will probably drive to Ballard for Miro next time I am in the mood for an exotic tea experience. Mmmm, crepes at Miro… I’m gonna go review them now.

I found out about this place by purchasing a Livingsocial deal. I tried to get a reservation about two weeks before the coupon expired and was told that there were no more weekend reservations available. That wasn’t the greatest thing to hear, but I found time to go on a weekday instead. If they continue to offer social media deals, it’s probably a good thing to be aware of as a regular customer because it will overwhelm the place at the beginning and end of the offer.
Afternoon tea was delicious and a lot of fun. Service was a bit, well, «relaxed,» but it didn’t end up being a problem. Could be if there were more people in the dining room, though. The scone and fruit were good, and I really enjoyed the tea sandwiches. I tried the Earl Gray Rose tea, and it was decent, but I’d probably get something else next time. It’s nice to get the pretty tea cups and tower of goodies without paying Fairmont prices. Can’t wait to go back!

Okay, I’m going to admit this place is getting 4 stars because the food is delicious, and the tea selection extensive. (They also make an excellent Arnold Palmer during the summer months.)
Whenever I came here with my tea buddy, we’d get the Tea Pot, a lunch that came with scones — including fresh clotted cream, jam and lemon curd, a half sandwich, soup and a pot of tea. Always filling, and the food was always delicious. (I don’t go as often for lunch now, as my lactose intolerance has ramped up to 11 and the cream isn’t a good idea.)
Lately, I’ve been in to purchase tea, as I’m addicted to their Lavender Chamomile blend. I haven’t been happy with the jump in prices, but understand that. (Economy being what it is, I’m just glad to support a local shop and can swallow a few dollar difference in tea prices.) What gets me is the extremely slow service. Not sure what’s going on, but the servers are always new and seem to be in training. Last time, it took me 20 minutes to buy 4 ounces of tea. Most of that was spent watching the owner teach the server how to use the scale, and what size bag to use.
My recommendation? The wait is worth it, but come here only if you have serious time to spend. Not a good place for a quick lunch.

I bought a deal on Living Social for afternoon tea at Three Cups of Tea. Otherwise, I probably would have never tried this tea house, as I am pretty loyal to Attic Secrets in Marysville. I took a friend for her Christmas gift today. The food was decent, but the service was HORRIBLE!!! There were probably 4 – 5 tables occupied, as well as a private children’s party in a separate room, and there were 2 women waiting tables, neither of whom seemed to be particularly interested in waiting on two 20-​something women. People were coming in and sitting at tables that were still dirty, as no one had cleaned them promptly upon guests’ departure. Our waitress probably stopped by 3 total times in the nearly 2 hours we were there, not including the times she came over to bring food. We had to request ice water, more cream, more honey, more hot water… Even having to go up to the counter when waving to BOTH women separately was unsuccessful… It was ridiculous! I am used to being checked in on regularly! Other people had to get out of their seats to chase the waitress down to ask to order their food! By the first hot water refill into my tea pot, my vanilla almond tea was very, very watered down… So for the next few pots, I pretty much drank hot water with sugar and cream. Yum. As for the redeeming grace – the food: We had a nice assortment of about 5 finger sandwiches (cherry and cream cheese, ham strip, curried chicken, egg salad, and some sort of walnut paste?) and 2 puff pastries (one of which was particularly delightful). The waitress kindly eliminated sandwiches with mayo for my friend, as per her request – This may have been her saving grace for getting a tip at all, for the record. The scone was delicious, and came with strawberry jam, devonshire-​type cream, and lemon curd. The top tier of our tower had a «petit four» (one mini cream puff, and one overly sweet strawberry cake thing… but isn’t this a «petit TWO»?) and fresh fruit. All in all, based on the service on a fairly slow Tuesday afternoon, I probably would take my business elsewhere.

Hosted a baby shower here — reserved the Alice room, which seats 10 people max (2 round tables which seat 5 each). The room was SOOO cute, decorated in alice in wonderland (the cute cartoon, not the modern johnny depp version) posters, tea cups, everything. Everyone loved the atmosphere, one attendee mentioned over and over again how the atmosphere was so much better than Queen Mary (way over the top, crowded, stuffy), and another said it also looked better than Elizabeth & Alexander (I’ve never been to any of these places, so I can’t vouch for it).
Food wise, just from comparing menus online, Three Cups of Tea is more flexible — you can enjoy tea with friends at a lower price because you don’t have to order the full-​on afternoon tea menu. We had 9 people, and it ended up being about $ 10/​person. Most ladies got a pot of tea and some scones, while some got salad, soupd/​sandwich.
The scones were awesome — so moist, not dry or hard at all, I was pleasantly surprised. I had a mango tea smoothie (very large glass — I couldn’t even finish it, and I usually go through all my drinks), which was perfectly flavored, and not too sweet. I think food-​wise, I’d say it’s a 3−4*, while the atmosphere is a definite 5*. Oh, all except for one item — one lady ordered a cucumber/​mint sandwich, and it was TINY. We were in shock how small it was (the orange slice used as garnish was LARGER than the whole sandwich…). That was the one obvious negative I saw.
So, don’t order that.
Otherwise, will definitely come back again soon!

I have always wanted to go out for a real-​life grownup tea party with my Mom. The other day, we finally had one. After an extensive internet search, I finally found a tea room close enough to home. Three Cups of Tea is a charming little shop in a part of Bothell that we didn’t know existed before this week.
The parking situation in this area is not the greatest, but after circling a few times, we finally managed to find a spot. Walking in the door, we were immediately greeted by a perky young lady in an adorable apron. Unfamiliar with how busy this establishment gets during lunch, we made it a point to call ahead. I am very glad that we did so, as a large table with a window was «reserved» for us!
I was hoping for a slightly larger tea selection, but the green tea with mango (can’t remember the name?) was simply lovely! As Mom is unable to consume caffeine, she chose the mint tea. One suggestion for the owner: please add a couple more decaf choices … there are many more flavors to explore for those sensitive to caffeine :)
The scones were very tasty. The jam and cream were great. However, when I saw pictures on the shop’s website, I was under the impression that lemon curd was also supposed to be part of the scone experience. Even the photo on this very Unilocal page shows a scone with jam, cream and lemon curd. We love lemon treats in our family, so this was a minor disappointment.
We both had ordered the «tea and lunch.» When the lunch arrived (½ sandwich and salad), well, let’s just say that it’s a good thing that we were already having a good time, so our experience wasn’t a total loss. We had both ordered the chicken salad sandwich. What we actually ate was egg salad with a couple of bland pieces of chicken in it. I hate egg salad sandwiches. Also, I requested that my mixed green salad be served with no cheese. I hate cheese. My salad was loaded with cheese. Yuck. Sigh.
Dessert was nice. Also, I was very delighted that our sweet server gave me a complimentary refill on my hot water. The tea was so tasty that I wound up sipping down 6 cups of it! As we were driving away at the end of the lunch, we talked about what we’ll order when we return. We might not go as far as ordering from the sandwich/​salad part of the menu next time, but for a nice afternoon of tea with accompanying sweets … we’ll be back!

The last time I visited one of Seattle’s neighboring cities I had one of the best and most unique experiences of my Unilocaling life at a tea shop run by some crazy awesome dude that talks too fast. So when I went up to check out Bothell and saw «Three Cups of Tea» show up on the iPhone app, I got excited.
Walking inside it was pretty clear this was gong to be a different place. The other tea shop had brown bags of tea everywhere, everything was made of wood, there were indie band posters all over the place some of the tables were sticky. This place was clean. It had expensive looking desserts encased in glass by the counter. The owners even wore aprons.
The most striking difference though was the color. This place had rainbow pastel colors everywhere. The walls were pastel pinks and greens. The tea cups were pastel blues and yellows. There were flowers everywhere. The ladies that worked there had aprons…
We looked at the tea list. It had mostly white person teas. Not the «I like to drink Chinese teas because I’m really into herbs and mention how into herbs I am with every Asian person I meet because I assume they are Chinese» white people, but the «Tea is so interesting. It has caffeine like coffee!» white people. The «Oh cool, Thai food!» white people, not the «I mention the ethnicity of every person of color I met when I talk about my day so I can show how not racist I am» white people.
That’s okay though. I like tea. They still had white tea, Rooibos… They have the teas I like. It’s not like everything was Earl Gray. The other tea place I went to had something like 500 teas from all over the world, so it was still a bit of a disappointment but I was probably only going to get red tea anyway, so no harm done. My friend and I sat down and ordered the tea. We also got tiny little cake samples. They were pink.
It took a bit of time for the tea to come, and all the while we were sitting around at these small, restaurant like tables. I noticed a little ceramic sugar holder next to me and opened it. Inside was pink, blue, and green pastel colored sugar. Behind the sugar was a 1, 3, and 5 minute hourglass, all of them different pastel colors.
We got our tea. It came in tiny flower cups with small fingers holes. You had to drink it dainty-​like or you wouldn’t be able to drink it at all. It was at this moment that I realized what this place really was.
This place is a child’s imaginary tea party, all grown up.
There were stuffed animals hidden around the building. There was a small tea room where you could pour some tea for Mr. Fluffykins or your significant other or whatever imaginary person you want to invite.
Hyper-​girly is not really my thing, and I’m pretty sure that I won’t go back. But I can’t fault this place for being exactly what it is. It’s a place for little girls to go as adults and feel like they are both. I wasn’t a kid with much of an imagination — or a girl, for that matter — but I can appreciate the fact this place exists, and how others can easily like it.

My boyfriend found this place as he was driving home. It’s definitely tucked away in a small corner of the little Bothell village. We came in looking for a nice cup of tea and a place to just relax on a Sunday afternoon. This is exactly what we found.
I ordered the egg salad sandwich which was delicious and my boyfriend Scott ordered Bothell’s Dip. He also loved his order. Each of the sandwiches come with a side of fresh fruit. We topped the lunch off with a pot of the Japanese green tea. Everything was amazing and we will definitely be going back!

I would love to love this place. But I can’t.
I came in looking solely for some looseleaf tea, and got there just a couple minutes after they closed. When I was informed that they weren’t open, I asked the lady if she knew another place nearby I could get tea, and she said, rather skittishly: «Well, if that’s ALL you want. If that’s really all you want…»
I went inside, and was given a tea menu that, while already skanty, had about half the teas lined out because they don’t carry them anymore. So, selection is awful.
In addition to having very few offerings, they have a two ounce minimum on tea purchases. Maybe this isn’t unusual, but for the places I’ve been, I can always get ½ ounces, or at least one ounces, so I don’t have to invest too much in a tea I might not like. Which, incidentally, is exactly what happened; the tea I finally settled on is sub-​par.
The interior is cute-​ish, but a bit cloying. If you like Mary Englebright you’ll probably like the décor. And of course, I can’t say anything about the food or dining service, but I don’t think I’ll be going back.
I would have been much happier if she’d just directed me elsewhere, to someplace with a bigger selection, where I wouldn’t have felt pressured to hurry up and decide.

We just discovered this little gem! I took my two daughters out for an afternoon with dad, and we started by having tea, scones and sandwiches at the Three Cups of Tea. Our food was absolutely delicious, and the service impecable. We ate in the «Alice Room», which is beautifuly decorated. The detail and time put into making that room as beautiful as it is is just incredible. The girls were beyond themselves with all the Alice in Wonderland illustrations, tea cups, dolls, etc., in the room. All in very, very good taste and without any of the exageration that you see in other places.
Also, I consider myself a tea snob, and am absolutely OK paying a high price for good tea, just like for good wine. The tea at the Three Cups is superb, and not expensive at all. I had the Sicilian Vespers (white tea with chrisantemum), and ended up buying 2 oz. to take home, even though I am more of a purist and don’t often drink flavored teas. This one is an exception. Even the girl’s tea (from the kid’s menu), was excellent, which is something I was honestly not expecting, because with all the wonderful décor, and the colorful sugar, the girls would’ve been very happy anyways.
We will DEFINITELY be back! I want my wife to see the place, and maybe plan the next birthday party for the girls there (they rent out the small and medium size rooms, and even the whole thing, as I understand from our conversation with the two nice ladies that work there). Also, I want to be back by myself one of these days to explore their Asian teas selection. The owner just returned from a tea excursion in Taiwan and apparently she returned with some very special teas.
So, don’t miss this place! Even if you don’t live in the area. Trust me, it’s well worth the trip.

I dragged my husband here last week, excited because I’ve been wanting to try this place. I haven’t been to a teahouse since I went to The Tea Room in Sydney, Australia. I’d stumbled on this place, and couldn’t wait to have money to come back.
It was worth the wait!
The tea was very good, and the multi-​colored sugar sprinkles gave it a nice amount of sweetness, without being overpowering. The scones come with a small tray of sides to dip/​spread– a jam, a cream and a lemon thing that I didn’t try, as I’m allergic to citrus.
My husband got hot cinnamon spice tea, which was really good, and I got pomegranate oolong, also very good. We split an order of scones, and then each got a sandwich. The waitress was on top of things, from taking our order, to clearing each «course» and getting us our check.
Overall, it was a very nice experience and I’ll definitely be back; this place seems like the perfect setting to get a small snack and pot of tea and maybe just hang around to read a book.

I had tea there with a friend yesterday. Well, tried to have tea there with a friend…
Ten minutes after being seated, the waitress wandered by, seemingly unaware we were seated at a table right in front of her. We asked for water and menus – she brought water, had to be reminded about the menus. Twenty minutes after bringing the menus, we had to ask her to take our order. Fifteen minutes after that, we had to ask for our tea. Instead, she brought us a plate with one scone and apologized there weren’t more. (?!?) Eventually she did bring the tea (bagged tea, by the way.) At this point we figured it would take another 45 to get our food, and then only if we went to the kitchen to make it ourselves, so we left our tea and solitary scone untouched and walked out.
Here’s the thing: while the waitress we dealt with was clearly inexperienced, there were two other staff members present who could have at least stepped in to help, but instead stood around behind the counter or wandered in and out of the kitchen. As well, the restaurant was in no way busy. When we arrived there was a 4-​top who had obviously long since finished their meal (yet their table remained uncleared the entire time we were there), a 2-​top that had just been served, and a small party in the private room. That’s it. Not really enough custom to explain the pathetic level of service.
Really, what a shame – the place is cute and airy and could be a very pleasant place to while away an hour, even if their tea selection is somewhat pedestrian (bagged Harney’s, really?)

So my hubby and I went back the day after I wrote my last review. The food… so worth it! It was just the icing on the cake. When we entered the shop, the owner was walking the floor giving out samples of their tea mojitos (nonalcoholic) in cute little shot glasses. Yum!!! The details in the service in this place are so beyond what I expected from such a quaint little whole in the wall. So don’t be thrown off by its seemingly small outer appearance when you walk up to it.
We went for brunch, which their menu doesn’t specifically offer, but the items on the menu lend itself quite nicely for it. I had the quiche which was perfectly cooked and served with a side of fresh fruit (another happy surprise). My hubby ordered the veggie sandwich, also served with fresh fruit. Oh and the pesto on the sandwich… sigh…soooo good!
After eating at restaurants, we usually skip desert because for one, we’re stuffed and two, the options sound are average. Not here. We ordered the Raspberry Mirior, a pink and white striped biscuit topped with a raspberry mousse, raspberry glaze and a piece of striped chocolate on top to garnish. The picture sold it, but the when they served it, it came nestled in whipped cream and raspberry goodness in this awesome glass bowl. It looked so good coming out that the table next to us changed their mind on skipping desert. Good Choice!!!
The last and most unique touch that really set this place apart for me was that upon paying for our kickin’ meal, we were given our receipt that was folded and placed in a little envelope with their logo sticker on it. As we left the tea house I turned to my hubby and just said, «wow!»
I know this was long, but I had to share! You all have to go there! Not only for your enjoyment, but to make sure that this gem stays put for years to come.

My parents raved about this place and so when they offered to take me for a spot ‘o’ tea in the mornin’, I said «sure, why not?»
Man, am I ever glad I went.
Tucked away in a side strip-​mall next to the Bothell Park and Ride, Three Cups of Tea looks smaller on the outside than it actually is. Inside, the walls are lined with shelves full of books and tea-​related items for sale. Two private rooms for parties and a scattering of tables set up throughout, it’s inviting without being overly gaudy. Which is a fine line for a tea house to dance, so kudos to the owner (a lovely, friendly lady who seems to love what she does).
The menu is much like the exterior of the tea house — misleading. It, too, looks smaller than it actually is — you’ll find not only a variety of tea and tea «deals» but desserts, sandwiches, and interesting beverages (of the non-​alcoholic variety).
All three of us got the Tea Cup, which is a pot of tea (your choice), two freshly baked scones, and a little dish of lemon curd, strawberry preserves/​jam, and clotted cream. Handy timers at each table help you know when your tea has steeped long enough. (The gal serving us suggested a three minute steep time for the three pots of English breakfast we wound up with. Worked great.)
I can’t say enough about these scones — fresh, warm, slightly sweet on the outside, buttery soft and just a touch crumbly. The scones are, essentially, reason enough for you to stop reading this review right now and get thee to this tea house. I’m serious, they were awesome. The sides came in generous portions, forcing us to use the little spoons for the tea to finish it off after the scones were gone.
What truly won me over is the sugar bowls — taking the lid of the sugar bowl revealed a colorful confetti of sugar crystals for your tea. It leaves a slightly pinkish tinge in your cup but man, did it make it all the more fun to drink your tea.
This place screams for a tea party with big, flowery hats and boas. And maybe stuffed animals. Wearing tiaras.
The only downside right now is that they don’t have a/​c but really, let’s be realistic — how many months out of the year does that matter? Come November, I’m going to attempt to move in. I’ll let you know how it goes.