Sanctuary T

The breakfast burrito was good (tortilla was bit mealy though), but it was very very very small and it came with a very very very small salad - so with tip, that was a $24 meal that I ate in one minute. YIKES!!!! I won't be ordering from them again. more

DMANBURGER “Sanctuary T”\r April 14, 2010 dmanburger \r I grew up in Australia,which is a fanatical, tea saturated country and the idea of having a spot of tea in the afternoon was in-bred in my psyche at a very young age. Sanctuary T located in swanky cocktail and espresso laden Soho, is a testament to the wonders and flavors of the world’s best teas. Owner Dawn Cameron and Chef Kenn McGoey have created a spa-salon like tea temple complete with potable and non-potable versions of the ancient leaf. The decor is dark wood modern, panelling with an open floor plan and outdoor bay windows facing busy West Broadway. I was welcomed by manager Kermit and his band of tea servants and given a perch right in the window with the aroma of 50 brews of tea wafting through the air and I immediately fell into a tranquil state,as I tried to concentrate on my friends excited chatter.\r \r The menu features typical brunch fare with a European twist, also known for tea infused creations such as Salmon Poached in Red Moon Tea, Halibut slow cooked in Lychee Black Tea and Smoked Turkey Eggs Benedict infused with Pear Cinnamon Tea. The burger on the menu, which used to be a slider, recently was promoted to a fines herb seasoned patty served on a towering sesame freckled brioche with blue cheese and roasted tomato. I sipped a refreshing goblet of Iced Rose Tea, and observed several people seep in the Zen like atmosphere, possibly concocted by the Long Island like version being readily served.\r \r My burger arrived sitting appealing on a plate with a side salad, although to my disappointment it was cut in half, thereby undoubtedly letting the beautiful juice run out on the plate. I took my first bite and was welcomed with a rich aromatic herb flavor, followed by a storm of creamy blue cheese and roasted tomato. The bun was lightly toasted and perfect, I thought the overall flavor of the patty was impressive, but lacked in succulence and juiciness. It wasn’t a large burger,reflecting kind of spa like persona about it. Not that this was a bad thing, but something to be aware of before visiting. For those of you that are famished, I would recommend coupling this one with a heaping helping of tea infused French Fries. Prices are Soho marked, and you should call for a reservation to avoid waits. The staff are friendly and cordial, and are the type that will do their best to make your experience special. To replicate your tea flavor experience in your home kitchen, be sure to grab a souvenir of some of their ingenious T Dust Tea Seasoning on your way out.\r Pros: great selection of teas Cons: small seating space more

This place will make you feel really good. They have a really tasty tea assortment but don't miss out on the creative food. The dessert menu is also amazing, especially if you like playing with flavors. They have a chocolate sundae with chai ice cream... Highly recommended. Pros: tasty, great location more

me and a pal stopped by for a quick pick-me-up... i had the oolong (which was pretty great, but I've had better... only reason it's not a 5 star rating)... and my friend tried a coffee drink called the east west. made with condensed milk except our sweet waiter (East) after whom it's named suggested she try it with honey instead. the drinks come out very pretty with little details like a straw-like ""needle"" sealing in the contents of a tea bag. i absolutely LOVE their fries which are infused with tea salt... sounds weird, but works beautifully. i'm quite the french fry connoisseur and these are right up there in my memorable fry moments. just as i was blissing out on my good fortune, a rude patron stomped in and totally tipped my sticky drink over and into my lap and barely apologized or offered to help clean it up. the drink was tap water with some emergen-c i'd mixed in. a waitress immediately came over and apologized over and over and asked repeatedly if she can get me something else even though i explained it was basically just water i'd spilled. LOVE this place, highly recommend. Pros: yummy tea & fries & service Cons: nuthin! more

The restaurant has a great location and the food isnt bad at all. However, the service is atrocious and the food was terribly overpriced. We waited for an hour for our food when the restaurant was half empty. Our water glasses were never refilled and we could not get the attention of waitress who sat at a table with her back to the customers. Pros: food Cons: service more

Sanctuary T is my home away from home- the perfect dinner spot. I've been going there nightly for a few months now and I can't say enough good things. The food is by far the best in Soho and I have lived in this neighborhood for 5 years so I know. My favorite is the steak salad with onion rings- always done to perfection and a great portion. Pros: Great food, nice servers Cons: Can get very loud if it's crowded more

After reading the decent reviews about the place, I decided to try it out. Sorry to say I was extremely disappointed. The service was horrible and the food was mediocre. Don't waste your time or money. Cons: Plenty more

After reading good reviews about SanctuaryT I was quite keen on giving it a try. When my date and I first arrived we were pleased with the wide tea selection and hungry for some organic fare. However, the waitstaff took forever - there were 2 other people in the venue. The fries were cold and lacked flavor, the soup was very bland, and the steak was pretty much burnt to a flavorless crisp. To add insult to injury, when we brought this to the waiter's attention he proceeded to ignore us for about 30 minutes. The tea is nice and that is about it. Very surprised that this place can survive in NYC. Really expected much more.\r \r Do yourself a favor and go some where else. Sanctuary this place is NOT!!!! Pros: Nice tea selection, location, prices are somewhat reasonable. Cons: Poor waitstaff, food is not worth it at all, overcooked, rudeness, and dirty bathrooms more

There was a tea tasting, and I looked inside and thought to myself - it does seem extraodrinary, but is it my cup of tea. Decided to come in and see what they have. \r I was amazed. The food... I really wish I was better with words ... The food was delicious, the blue crab salad!!! and the portions were just right! The desert! Hmm.. those doughnuts with chocolate dipping sauce. You just wouldn't believe it! \r I hate to read reviews like the one I just wrote because everything seems perfect, so I have to say that the only down side to it is that on Mondays there are models and photographers there. And though they don't really care about other guests, and they don't bother them. I just can't stop thinking about the paparazzi, so I like it moe other days. \r And just to point out, I am not easy to please! more

consistently tasty food as long as you like what's on the menu. what you see there is what you get. goat cheese fritters are a highlight. the mac and cheese was sub-par but still ok, it could have used some salt and a little kick of crushed red pepper, which you can do at home anyway. but i've not yet been truly disappointed by anything i've ordered. good ingredients in delicious dishes and overall well-prepared. more

What a little gem in the middle of that chaotic Tribecca party strip! Right across the street from the Felix debauchery, you can kick back in a LOVELY space, enjoy perfect cocktails and VERY yummy food. It's the best of both worlds: can casually kick back with some friends - but you're only a skip away from all the 'action'. Was there last Friday night, and it's definitely on my list of faves .... Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Service Cons: Bit on the Small side more

What a refreshing (pun intended) way to present tea in cocktails! \r \r If you ever wanted to try excellent, inventive drinks, this is THE place to go. Nothing remotely close to the sweet pre-mixes used here, only fresh ingredients crafted by a very knowledgeable bar master. It is like watching a chef in an open kitchen.\r \r The Coral Reef is an exotic blend of tangerine tea, tequila, cointreau and passion fruit, served in a pink peppercorn rimmed glass. If green tea is your thing try the Rise and Shine, with vodka, pear and lemon. Lychee tea is used with peach puree and vodka for the Silk Road, and Lambrusco with peach and black tea is a wonderful play on an old italian dessert in the Backyard Treat.\r \r The food was very good too. We tried the duck breast with glazed carrots, the salmon poached in strawberry tea, the bruschetta, and the crabmeat with avocado and black olives. We also shared the special dessert, and excellent walnut strudel with chamomille-lavender ice cream. \r \r The service was very attentive and the staff one of the friendliest I've come across.\r \r All that in a very ""zen"" decor of polished hardwood, cork and gray stone.\r \r \r My taste buds are still dancing, you should try too! Pros: Cocktails, food, service, decor, vibe Cons: Are you kidding? more

The Good: Interesting and well presented food in a nice space. Expansive tea selection.\r \r The Bad: Inexperienced,but honest, wait staff. Manager / supervisor who appears to have little or no front of house experience and more worrying does not appear to have the temperament to fulfill such a role.\r \r The Ugly: 4 hours for a two course dinner (at which point considering desert would just have been irresponsible!). After lengthy waits to receive our appetizers and entree, the delay between serving the same course (note, SAME COURSE) to the first and last member of our party was at least 15 minutes. \r \r Note also that the unavailability of one entree was not made clear until at least 45 minutes after it had been ordered! Not surprisingly this item WAS included in our bill and after pointing this out to the manager he explained this unavailability was due to ""technical issues"" in the kitchen. Point to note for manager / chef - it's a kitchen you are running, not mission control at Cape Canaveral!\r \r Additional Comments: In the interests of fairness I should point out that we were a party of 14, perhaps this was just overload for an inexperienced kitchen. However, it should also be noted that on this particular night it was not only our party that had difficulties. \r \r Also, the manager did agree to a 25% discount on the bill. This however was only after some discussion and debate, hence whatever chance there was to save face for the disasters of this night was clearly lost. \r more

I visited this lovely, quaint place with a friend, and it left such a wonderful impression upon me. Our waiter was as cordial and helpful as can be. He did not bother us, at all, unless we wanted something. If you need a place to sit and talk for over 2 hours, stop looking and get there. The tea tasted magnificent, and trust me, I've drank it my whole life. But, what I must confess tasted best was the Forelle Pear, blanched in Cognac, with bleu cheese, whip cream and walnuts. Best $9 I ever spent! Pros: wonderful wait service, excellent food Cons: bit pricey, but worth it more

After reading the great review in Time Out about this restaurant I had to try it out with my girlfriend. The cocktails were delicious, inventive and innovative. The mulled wine was a real winner, perfect for the cold weather. They bring out a dish of the most delicious oil fused with smoked tea to dip your bread into that is far superior to any comporable opening act I've been presented at a restaurant of this price point. The lamb chop was among the best I've had in recent memory, and the bread pudding for dessert was so good it would be easy to eat the entire huge portion alone (although Im not prone to excess - this dish was worth making a delightful exception).\r \r I am going to definitely go back for brunch and b ring my computer - how many restaurants have great food, music and FREE wifi? Pros: funexpectedly fine dining level cusine, great music, good location Cons: toast at brunch was a bit small more

As the holidays approach, I've put myself on a strict budget, which makes me really picky about places I'm willing to spend money at to eat, and I'm really glad I chose Sanctuary T as my monthly restaurant choice. The restaurant is quite possibly one of the most comfortable spots I've dined in. The vibe is relaxed and inviting and the food compliments that feeling, offering dishes that are classic and pretty healthy, with some cool, authentic twists. It seems like the restaurant and the menu have been given a lot of thought and care by the chef and owner and it shows; you feel it when you're there. i dont normally order chicken in restaurants, but the chicken ballotine with chantrelle mushrooms with goat cheese paste is making my mouth water now as i type this. i highly recommend that and the gnocchi in brown butter and the bruschetta. and if you're going to get a cocktail, go with the cava de cama. the chef has a unique talent that really impressed me. if you're looking for a place where you can sample a little bit of everything, and not feel guilty about it at all, i seriously suggest you check out sanctuary t. i know i'll be going back as soon as i can. Pros: chicken ballotine, bruschetta, the whole cocktail list more

I had lunch at Sanctuary few days ago with two of my girlfriends and I am trully happy that they opened this place in Soho. It's very warm and cozy, servers are very attentive and friendly and food is just perfect. Tea selection seems to be wide but for someone like me who is a coffee person they have great lattes as well. I am looking forward to take my boyfriend for dinner next week and to try some cool tea cocktails... they all sound delicious. more

I live in the neighborhood and recently discovered this place. It is such a gem. First of all the food is outstanding and is not expensive for the neighborhood (especially considering that it is actually five-star material, which is another story). Second the atmosphere and the servers make you feel like you've come to a good friend's (beautiful) home. I don't even like tea and i appreciated that though it was the ""theme"", the tea aspect was not overbearing and the food I had that was cooked with it (salmon, rice, MERINGUE- OMG, the meringue!!) was out of this world good. This is the perfect place to bring a date. It's warm and comfortable and has a ""story"" and unlike most other restaurants you can drink or not drink, but still have a great experience, and of course end up in a really fun neighborhood. Come to think of it, this is the perfect place to bring anybody- trendy hipster, my aunt from oklahoma, my boss, my friends... how many places can you say that about? It really is that special. Pros: Food, service, atmosphere. more

You wouldn't expect a tea shop to offer an interesting and tasty food menu, but they do! The cuisine is light yet very satisfying, and the tea based menu offers something different. The tea infused cocktails are also excellent. I haven't shopped from their retail section yet but I did notice a few items perfect as Christmas gifts. A very welcome addition to the neighborhood that has otherwise become rather boring in the food (and tea) scene. \r Pros: Interesting menu, excellent teas and cocktails, trendy yet intimate setting more

This new and contemporary tea house is a welcome addition to SOHO. Sanctuary T is a quaint tea house in the heart of SOHO that offers a variety of teas and tapas. My friend and I went around 11:00p and received excellent service. The tapas are mouthwatering with a unique a tasty spin on traditional favorites. I recommend trying the chicken. In an effort to give you a perfect cup of tea, a sand timer is brought to your table for steeping. What's also unique is the way they infuse tea with olive oil and other ingredients on the menu. The only downside was that the waiter didn't ask how I take my tea, but that is minor considering this is a new tea house.\r \r The owner and her husband approached us outside to get our feedback and to encourage us to come again....and I will! Enjoy!!!\r \r Pros: Ambience, Food, Tea, etc. more