Samovar Tea Lounge is somewhere in between a tea house and a state of mind. There are three versions in San Francisco. There is the original Samovar that snuggles on the corner of Sanchez and 18th with its neighborhoody Castro/Mission coffee house vibe. There is the most recent Samovar outpost that is tucked into a quiet Victorian corner in hip Hayes Valley. For the perfect spot to bask in the Sunday sunshine however, I recently met a friend at the downtown version of Samovar that spills outside into the Yerba Buena Gardens.
The Samovar experience is all about celebrating the tea cultures of the world, as I overheard the lovely hipster waitress quoting to people sitting nearby. Interesting loose leaf varietals of black, red, white and green are served up by the pot. I can never resist the chai, which is mixed up properly with ginger, spices and milk and served in an earthenware cup. My friend found a seasonal tea made with spiced blood orange rinds and black tea. Very aromatic.
It would be easy to just sip a few cups of fragrant tea and enjoy conversation, but we were also hungry for brunch. Samovar's world of tea culture experience continues into its cuisine, covering tastes from zen monk sustenance to high tea pastries with the Queen. The are big bang tea services combining delicacies matched to the beverages including exotic Moorish, proper English, ancient Chinese, enlightened Japanese, decadent Russian and spicy Indian.
The Samovar brunch menu is a lovely and light tour of similar flavors. My friend got the raw honeycomb paired with bleu cheese and fresh fruits, which paired well with the energizing wavelength of his spiced blood orange tea. I went with the Houjicha green tea soup over rice, broccoli, wakame, shitake mushrooms and smoked salmon. This clear soup was incredible in the lightness of its flavors. I felt peaceful after I had eaten it, almost as if I had just been sitting in the grass meditating. I was not hungry any longer, but I was not weighed down with the heavy greasiness that sets in after a typical American brunch.
I urge any local or any visitor looking for a uniquely satisfying tea house experience to hit up one of the iterations of Samovar Tea Lounge. Whether conversing with friends or having quiet time reading in a cafe, Samovar is a delightful little cup of tea.
I urge any local or any visitor looking for a uniquely satisfying tea house experience to hit up one of the iterations of Samovar Tea Lounge. Whether conversing with friends or having quiet time reading in a cafe, Samovar is a delightful little cup of tea.
