Tipsy Teapot

I wish this place was in raleigh because raleigh doesnt have any place that even get close to how utterly charming, sweet, and relaxing as this place is.

First Imagine being lost in an almost alice in wonderland like library with couches chairs table and floor lights.  Then bring the lighting down to a smoldering glow make the temperature just perfectly comfortable.  The conversation is light and airy the people are happy everyones very seductively lounging against one another.....okay maybe not that hot and steamy but pretty close.

Tea and More:
They have a pretty impressive selection of teas in black, oolongs, and herbal I worry about the overall storage of their teas not for sanitation reasons but if the containders they seep them in arent air tight then the tea is going stale and thats just a waste.  I highly recommend their Casa Blanca, Verba Matte, and Lapsang Souchong teas very rich flavors we well as good for you.   Their English Lemonade is also very it it ios a very TART lemonade so sip with caution!  

Food:
They have a pretty extensive vegetarian list ranging from veggie burger wraps, to a pear and havarti sandwich.  I was really impressed by this because they dont even proclaim themselves as a special vegetarian place but they made a great menu for the people in the area who need somewhere to go.  There is also a non vegetarian options for those who cant resist the meat.

Overall, This place it a great please I wish it was here in raleigh because people here would LOOOOVE IT but it being in greenville makes me appreciate it more and is a place I visit even if im just passing through.

xoxo

I wanted SO badly to love this place because it represents everything I like. Ugh, I've tried. I just can't muster up any deep affection for it.

-The tea? The tea is pretty good. Of course, I can drink the two person pot with ease and then I start doing the math and figuring out how much I'm paying per cup of tea, then I remember that I drove and I think about gas money, and then I start thinking about how much it costs to sit in my living room and drink tea and...well, you get the idea. What I'm saying is that for something clearly not cost effective, it better be damn good.

-The service - ranges from friendly to abrupt. Nothing awful, and wouldn't even be worth mentioning except that in Greenville even a neutral service experience is better than the norm. So I guess they're doing okay?

-The ambiance is nice and cozy, until you realize that your computer is dying and you're faced with finding an outlet - good luck with that, they're scarce.

-The local wares for sale (jewelry, little gifty things, etc) have the misfortune of being both tacky and overpriced. How cool would it be to come into your local tea house and discover an awesome pair of funky earrings, ironic magnets, or cozy fingerless gloves - all made by a local artist! Super cool, right? Yeah, TT will not be that place for you. Keep lookin', sister.

-Need to know what time they close, if they're open on Mondays, or what live events are planned for the weekend? Don't go to the website, you're not going to find what you're looking for. In fact, the last event listed is for October 31, 2010. Yup, last updated three years ago.

- The temperature, I've never been during the summer, but in the winter months it is slightly above the outside temp. Whenever I go here it's because I'm trying to get some serious studying done and by the end of my typing/note taking my fingers are freezing and my toes are starting to go numb. I usually don't even bother taking off my coat and hat. Again, I always find myself wondering why I didn't stay home where it is a balmy 65 degrees.

-The food. Ahhh, the food makes me the saddest. Is it local? Yes! Is it organic? Yes! Is it delicious? ...no.  Such a tragedy. Portions are small, flavors are off (sweets are way too sweet), sandwiches are dry, prices are high for what you get. Prime example, I ordered yogurt, granola and fresh fruit and was disappointed with the saccharine soupy mess I was given. I remember being puzzled by canned pineapple being considered "fresh" and I'm not saying the yogurt *was* vanilla flavored yoplait, but that's what it tasted like.

I feel like everything is made by people who like to cook, but don't really know how. Like, maybe they asked all their friends if their food was good and if they should start a restaurant and their friends looked sideways at each other and said "suuuureee... that sounds.... great" and then Tipsy Tea Pot was born.

So all and all, is Tipsy a disaster? No. And if you're looking for a little piece of imitation Chapel Hill , I guess this counts. But what sucks is that it has the potential to be PHENOMENAL and it falls so, so short.

It's taken me a while to finally stroll into this place. I love how the walls are lined with books. It's super cozy with the music stage in the room partitioned next door.  That allows one to hear the live band, but still be able to hold a conversation. I only tried the chai latte here because they ran out of milk and I couldn't get the peppermint hot chocolate. Nevertheless it was quite tasty.  The vibe here is laid back and not overwhelmingly collegesque. I definitely have to come back out for a show sometime.