03/26/09

Great for meeting up with friends

by turtlegirl1976

I love getting together with my friends at Tisane's, I don't feel like they are rushing me out the door after my meal. The waitstaff let you linger and chill out, which is a great thing since I usually feel rushed in other places.

Parking is sketchy, but the atmosphere is so laid-back that it's worth the hunt for a spot. It can get horribly busy though, so if possible EARLY is better than later!

• Pros: Teas, Service, Menu Options, Martini's
• Cons: Parking

09/23/08

Great variety of teas and coffees; excellent food, be wary of evenings.

by 7Kim

Tisane has evolved over the years: boho/hipster joint, upscale teahouse/eatery, gay mecca, martini bar. It retains features of all of these but can't be readily pigeonholed as any of them. The entrees are quite varied, uniformly delicious and moderately pricey. Drinks are reasonably priced. Service can be spotty, though regulars do get noticeably better service and iffy service seems to be confined to busy evenings. Most common server sin seems to be "slow to approach". Minor peeve: music tends to be overly loud.

Things to bear in mind about Tisane:

- The place tends to fill up fast in the evenings, especially Tu, Th, Fr, and Sa.

- The immediate parking lot is quite small and also tends to fill up. After 8.00 PM, parking for Tisane is allowed on the Wash Tub side of the parking lot; prior to this, you risk being towed. The parking lot of the set of stores across Farmington Avenue has designated parking spaces for Farmington Ave. businesses, including Tisane.

- While Tisane is anything but a "gay bar" in the old sense of the term, the surrounding area has some of the features of a gay village and Tisane does tend to draw many gay, lesbian and transgender customers. Specifically, Tuesday night is traditionally "Boys' Night" and the first Sunday of every month is traditionally a lesbian get-together, though neither occasion is a privte affair or even particularly exclusive. At other times, gay/lesbian/trans vibe is muted but seldom absent. Whether this is a pro, a con, or not an issue is for you to decide

• Pros: Great food, fantastic variety of teas. Very friendly and relaxed during off-hours (mornings, afternoons). Very kind to regulars. Good drinks.
• Cons: Can fill up fast, tends to be quite loud in the evening, moderately pricey. Service can be iffy, especially in the evenings (I love the place, but it's true). Parking can be chancy.

08/18/08

Great Idea, Was Better, Now just OK

by ntuitive1

Like another reviewer, I am a local and love independent coffee/tea houses, so I really want to love this place, but I just can't. I actually used to love it more until they made the menu more pedestrian. Gone are the days of the pu pu platters and strange fondues on the menu. Some of the good stuff remains, like the calamari, but in general it's degenerated into mostly run of the mill fare. The last time I went there I couldn't even find a decent wrap on the menu. I pine for the Tisane of the old days.

The martinis are still first rate and there's an extensive selection. My all time favorite is the Almond Joy martini, but many others are great too (like their purple haze). I have eaten here for breakfast, lunch, dinner and after dinner and it has mostly never failed to disappoint, but I agree with the others that the service is not always the best. I have never had a rude waitperson, though. Flighty and scattered, perhaps, but never rude. Still, where else can you find what is essentially a Starbucks/Teavana/Bistro/Martini Bar in your own neighborhood? The concept is awesome and there should be more establishments like this one around.

• Pros: Great martinis, good tea and coffee
• Cons: iffy service, lack of inspiration on the new menu

08/17/08

avoid on thursday nights/ poor service

by clarice24

poor service, we had extremely rude waiter. He was so annoying.

the location is so close to west hartford center so please do not waste your time and go to some other cafes or restaurants in west hartford center. Cafes over there will be way better than this cafe.

Needs to improve its service and whole service staff to compete with the other cafes or it is destined to lose customers more and more

• Cons: service service service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!does it have one???????

04/04/08

Thursday night out

by lovemypuggle

Had dinner with 6 friends and had a blast! Although on the loud side and fairly crowded, the ambiance was great for a Thursday night out. Very reasonable drink/food prices. The food could use a little kick in the spice section, but pretty decent and nice variety. This was a pleasant change from expensive dinners in the Center. Will definitely go back!

One suggestion - car pool as their parking lot is tiny.

• Pros: Great drinks
• Cons: Limited Parking

02/12/08

Tisane Tea & Coffee

by Barstsct

The waiter was cute, courteous, and charming. The atmosphere was soft, relaxing, and comfortable. The food was to die for - I had the ahi tuna w/wasabi mashed potatoes and my friend had the chicken & polenta. It was DELICIOUS. Not enough room left for dessert after our blueberry/pommegranite smoothies. Very reasonable prices I thought considering the quality and quantity of food. Neither of us could finish our meals and we so wanted too because the food was so delicious. The wine menu was also very accomodating. I don't have any negative comments (excpet I wish the parking lot was larger). Go and enjoy!!!

• Pros: Great Atmosphere, Food, Value, People, Drinks, All Good!!
• Cons: Parking lot a bit small

01/01/08

Wish it was better...

by js810

I would like to love Tisane. I'm a local and have a sweet spot for indepedent coffee- or tea-houses. However, it just doesn't measure up, in most ways. The good: the food is very good, their tea menu is extensive, and their alcoholic drinks are creative and tasty. The bad: the service is very spotty (we had an *extremely* rude waitress, not once but twice - and they were different people), the food is way over-priced (even for being very good), and they have few dessert selections. Overall: mediocre, at best. I've heard their Tuesday gay nights are lots of fun.

• Pros: Drink menus, quality of food
• Cons: Spotty service, food is too expensive

Editorial Review by Christy Buena

by Contributor

Offering over 100 choices of tea to choose from, specialty coffee drinks are also served at the tea house.

05/22/06

User review by yolanda1

by yolanda1

I love this place. I go with my boyfriend all of the time. They have the best martini's and the staff are very friendly and attentive. If you want want great drinks and a very interesting atmosphere this place is a must. Oh, and their steak frites are very-very good!

05/11/06

Kick ASS!

by spaxydaxy

I have lived down the road from this place for years and it is by far THE best place for tea around. They have something like 96 different teas that they steep in a pot at your table. The presentation is amazing. They carry exotic teas, seasonal teas, blends... I go for the coffee and the food, which is also good (getting better). The coffee is amazing as well. Great place all around.

• Pros: Ambiance, Great Day/Night out, Great Breakfast
• Cons: Service w/ "Attitude", Food is "sometimes-y", TOO Crowded at night