Moon Kats Tea, Chai, Pastries, & Coffee

Lovely and delightful! I worried from the website that it might be hippie-ish rather than Victorian/English (it's attached to a new-age shop which offers visits with a psychic), but we didn't feel overdressed in our hats, and we were warmly welcomed by chef Rob Leavitt, who was formerly an executive chef at an area country club and opened Moon Kats last September; he was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, and he offers an extensive selection of tea. However, you must time the steeping yourself. The proximity to the new-age shop gave the tea room a happy, laid-back vibe. It is intimate, funky and casual but with artistic touches, such as a lovely velvet couch and lots of delicate bone china. When we arrived, the table was laid out prettily, with loving attention to detail. A sign on the... (more) table said 'Reserved', which made us feel special right away. There were even sugar tongs and cubed sugar (a rare treat!) in an adorable, cat-shaped sugar bowl. The little cheese knives had cat-shaped handles, and each of us had a little spoon and a teapot-shaped bag caddy. The chocolate coconut tea by Shangri-La, in a silk bag, was exceptional. The loose-leaf Monk's Blend was delicious. While Chef Rob didn't offer the usual tiered tray of treats, the Hansel Plate included a pot of tea, scone with cream and jam, a petite sandwich, and a cute, cat-faced chocolate truffle, all for $8.95. At such a reasonable price, we didn't hesitate to order an extra tea sandwich and the Earl Grey tea bread (which was not my favorite, but which was interesting). The decorated sugar cookies and Fairy Cakes were aesthetically pleasing and quite affordable, but we were too full to order them. Overall, I was enchanted by the experience, which showed a true love of tea, with a local, personal flavor.