Reviews

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: The service at Vintage is leisurely. You are given time to enjoy the tea and the atmosphere and savor each course. The selection of scones changes each month. The array of teas is constantly being enhanced. The mushroom soup is to die for! And Miss Beverly, the tea mistress, has to be the most personable tea expert in So. Calif. If the place isn't jammed, she'll stop and chat, and be glad to offer her advise on tea choice. And don't forget to ask about the adorable addition to her family, Angus.

- Bronnwynne 07/12/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: great lecture.

- sita 06/29/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: I have to say right up front that my mother loved the service. The owner was very personable with her. However, as she took my order she kept waving her pad right in my face, (which was annoying and I worried about being hit in the eye) as she droned on and on about being a trained psychologist. Also, when the owner brought me a mother's day gift she had an ink pen in her hand which she scrapped against my arm repeatedly and left ink on me. Although I really liked picking out a tea cup, I was disappointed with the extremely dusty and chipped choices. The bread on some of the sandwiches seemed stale...I'll pass on a return visit.

- Shell 05/23/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: This is a wonderful place: serene and intimate. Miss Beverly, the tea mistress, does everything to make this a splendid experience.

- Candy 05/03/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: I took my daughters and they absolutely LOVED IT! The food was fresh and the atmosphere was charming.

- Kecia 04/23/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: I brought my mother to Vintage Tea Leaf as a surprise. Upon entering I was a bit cautious since our greeter needed a little improvement on her people skills. However, our server was very insightful and attentive. We both thoroughly enjoyed the Vintage Afternoon Tea for Two. I look forward to my next visit.

- Patty 04/22/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: One of my favorite spots in all of Southern California. Miss Beverly is a fine gal; she even posed for a picture with my best friend. She also chatted awhile with us about her superb scones. I have found the food absolutely delicious. Vintage Tea Leaf is numero uno in my book, and I have visited many teahouses, coast to coast.

- Linda Larson 04/01/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: I had tea at the Vintage Tea Leaf for the first time on Saturday. The red head making the tea and the young girl in the giftshop were very kind but the owner Beverly left a lot to be desired. She was condecending and long-winded. The waiter was kind, attentive and good-mannered. The food was delightful and the tea was brewed perfectly. I will go again but hope that Beverly will have learned manners and tact.

- Michelle 03/17/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: Well, I gave this place ANOTHER try even after reading so many reviewers who had the SAME negative experience that I had last year. I thought, 'Maybe the 'Tea Mistress' was having a bad day' on my visit too? WRONG! Time has not improved the tea experience at 'Vintage Tea Leaf'. Food was terrible: bland and stale. Service was...sadly...still far below the expectations of any true 'Afternoon Tea' patron. I'm actually quite sad as this is the closest tea room to me. Ms. Beverly, I think you're in the wrong business honey. Public relations does not become you.

- R. Richards 03/12/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: a big No!No! bad service,nasty sandwiches, nasty grouch!

- tea tramp 02/27/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: I have been going to the Vintage Tea Leaf for the pass five years and I just love it. They carry a large variety of teas, sandwiches and salads. The scones and tea are always served hot. The atmosphere is enjoyable and relaxing. They also have a large gift shop that you're sure to find that perfect gift for just about anyone. Everytime I visit there, I always browse through the gift shop and end up purchasing an item that I could not have found else where. Be sure not to miss having a chat with Beverly, the Tea Mistress and owner. She is so friendly and intriguing. My last visit was Valentine's Day and they did not disappoint. Try Vintage for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

- S. Richardson 02/26/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: I had my daughter's baby shower at the Vintage Tea Leaf a week ago - it was excellent! Everyone was very friendly and very accommodating, the service was great, and everyone loved the variety and quality of teas. We had such a nice variety of tea sandwiches, and everything was fresh. The scones were super delicious and served warm to all 26 of us! Beverly could not have been nicer, and so was her staff. We lingered long after the shower in the gift shop, there are so many cute items to purchase.

- linda 02/22/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: Today, I told my workmates in Austin, TX that I miss the Vintage Tea Leaf very much. I was a regular there for months and love the place and Beverly. My entire family has been tea drinkers for years and years but not until I met Beverly did I begin to learn about tea and develop a palatte for tea. Much to my surprisde, I was able to discern very often which tea Beverly used in her mixes. I liked that her tea room is casual and unstuffy and the tea and comradeship was the best. The atmosphere was always relaxed and instant service was never uppermost in my mind. I usually had a book and thanks to Beverly's informality, I could spend the afternoon reading and drinking tea and, very often, chatting w/Beverly. Beverly is quirky but I enjoyed that and miss it.

- Jacki 02/21/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: Beverly, the owner, has an olymic class 'pickle personality'... WHATTA GROUCH!!! The whole place is in dire need of a good housecleaning...Food is way below par, and is very overpriced to boot!!!

- Sofia Sommer 02/11/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: I was told this was a lovely tea room by a friend, and I must say, that I think my friend has lost her mind!! It is horribly dark and dusty with a musty smell. There were cob webs every where one looked. The cups were dusty. The food was soggy and old looking. Tea pot was served with a cozy over it and I made the mistake of looking underneath at the pot!! OH MY GOSH, I saw three different colors of tea splashes on the sides, so just how often are the pots washed????? How this tearoom is ranked #19 of 259 tea rooms is just beyond me. The service was awful and very slow on a week day. Beverly I believe is the owner, and she is not a pleasant person, maybe you should retire and let someone that can smile serve the customers. What a grouch!!! And making us walk through that so called gift shop to enter tea room was just to much, I've seen better gifts at the 5 and dime. I WILL NEVER GO BACK!!! The place needs a good scrubbing!!!

- Maggie 01/15/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: This tea room had the biggest selection of teas that I have seen however, the service was really poor. I know afternoon tea is supposed to be relaxed and not rushed but it took 15 minutes just to get waited on and then Beverly didn't bring our tea for another 15 minutes! We sat there for half an hour with nothing! The tea was good but not hot enough. The food left something to be desired. The bread was stale, sandwiches bland, and the desert boring. Not to mention that the strawberries served with my desert were wilted and poor quality. The decor was pretty but the place was musky and didn't feel clean. The teacups were also very dusty and some were chipped. There is so much potential here but the service, food, and cleanliness need some improvement. And Beverly needs to warm up a bit.

- LF 01/06/08

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: My husband took me there for my birthday, and I was delighted...right up to the end. I wanted to purchase some of the tea to take home, but 'the Mistress' had already delivered our bill, and turned her back on us to chat up the only other customers there, at the very next table. Believe me, the tea blend was good enough that I waited a full ten minutes in the hope she'd turn around. She did not, and thus my opinion of this place turned around instead. I won't go back, even though I love a good afternoon tea experience.

- MJ 12/30/07

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: Judging from some of the other reviews, things may have changed recently at the VTL. Perhaps Beverly has taken some of the comments to heart. She has been very gracious on each of my visits, stopping by the table to say hello, chat a bit and take our order. I have been to the VTL three times in the past three months and have had a wonderful experience each and every time. If the scones were cold, I didn't notice, perhaps because they were so fresh and delicious. The tea sandwiches, some of which are served on soft white or wheat bread, arrived fresh. But if the humidity is low and the sandwiches are allowed to sit for very long, they do stale up a bit. I would never blame the tea room for this, as it is beyond their control. The variety of teas and tea sandwiches is far greater than I have... (more) found elsewhere. And the quality and taste of the tea sandwiches and scones are exceptional. On one occasion, the wait staff accidentally brought our sandwiches before delivering our scones. They generously compensated by sending us home with a supply of the loose leaf teas we had been drinking. It would be nice if the scones were served with a berry preserve, as well as the lovely lemon curd and Devonshire cream that are provided. I especially appreciate the quiet, relaxing and decorative atmosphere of the tea room. And we have never felt at all rushed. This is the tea room I have been looking for, and I can't believe I found it in my own backyard. Thank you, Beverly, for opening the VTL!

- Vicki 10/31/07

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: Interesting to see the range in the 'service' view in particular. If you're undecided, it may help you to watch the 'Soup Nazi' episode of 'Seinfeld.' The hostess isn't stereotypically nicey-nice all the time, no, but she absolutely knows her tea and wants to make sure everything is up to her standard (meaning: good enough to serve to YOU, honored guest). She does warm up to people, too. Many, many varieties of black and green tea - the most choices I've found locally. The atmosphere is lovely, and the food is fresher and more traditional than I have found elsewhere. We always have a wonderful time there and go back on a regular basis.

- Julie 10/25/07

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: I have been to the Vintage Tea Leaf several times and have always had an amazing time. My first time was to host a Bridal Shower, and since our experience was so great, we have planned an annual Ladies Christmas Tea. We have tried other tea rooms and they don't measure up to the experience, atmosphere, service, and food we receive at the Vintage Tea Leaf. They also have an amazing selection of tea!!

- Kristi Ellis 10/25/07

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: The Tea Mistress is a legend in her own small mind. I think she needs to take some cooking courses and learn how to prepare tea properly. I witnessed her scratching herself and then handling the food. We also found a fly floating in one of our tea cups! Perhaps the Tea Hostess should have her staff dust her sadly chipped and dirty tea cup collection more often. My friends and I had a hard time eating our bland tasting food while being forced to look at Beverly's overflowing cleavage. A little class would go a long long way! I would not send my mother-in-law to this tea hole in the wall.

- TeaLover 10/10/07

Variety:     Artistry:     Service:     Food: The Vintage Tea Leaf has become a Christmas tradition for the ladies in our family! They even offer a 'Princess Tea' for the little ones! It's posh, but not stuffy and much thought and consideration was put into every detail! We love it and you will too!

- Adriana 09/26/07