March 14, 2017

The Steeping Room – Austin, TX

The Steeping Room is one of my favorite destinations in the Domain area of Austin, primarily because I love tea. I can stop in for a light snack and shop teas and tea paraphernalia anytime I want. My only complaint is that they have limited seating in the main dining area, however, it does make for a ‘cozy’ dining experience. With Austin’s great weather, you should be dining on the patio anyway. I do recommend making a reservation before heading over because they do tend to stay pretty busy.

Service is always friendly and attentive, both in the dining room and while browsing for teas. The staff’s knowledge and genuine interest in tea really help you find exactly what you’d like so that you can enjoy it there or at home. Although the menu is filled with many great light meals, I tend to go for the Century Oaks Tea Service when available.

The pastries, tea cookies, and tea sandwiches are delicious. It is amazing how light and crunchy the cucumber sandwiches can be, and their Blueberry Jasmine Green Tea is a must try! Accompanied by a wonderful selection of teas, The Steeping Room offers a quiet escape from a day of shopping at the Domain.

We came in one afternoon to have the Tea Service but the server regretfully informed us that it wasn’t available during brunch. As great as the brunch items are, I was a bit disappointed to hear this. I guess I showed my dissatisfaction as the server quickly paused and said she would ask the kitchen. She returned and said the items to make the tea service were available and she could make it for us! Their willingness to accommodate my request, even if it wasn’t their fault, spoke very highly of their customer-focused service.

One of the other, if not primary, reasons we visit often is for their wide selection of teas. The Steeping room stocks a tea for every taste. Green, black, white, rooibos, you name it, they have the tea for you. My favorite teas include Blueberry Jasmine, Nepalese White, and Matcha Green.

In addition to the teas, they also carry a good amount of tea equipment. Someone is always nearby to provide you with assistance helping you select the tea or tea equipment for you.