"At Silver Dove, a wide range of Cambridge-based Mem Tea selections like complex sheng (raw) pu’erh and roasty Da Hong Pao oolong are expertly served to prevent oversteeping and sustain the leaves over multiple steeps. What’s more, the fixed afternoon tea service price of $48 per person makes this a relatively affordable option despite its exquisite nature. The petite, downtown tea room features green velvet banquets and attractive gold-trimmed teaware, and the entire menu is miraculously gluten- and oat-free, from herbaceous cucumber sandwiches to delicate spiced almond sponge topped with apricot jam and coconut mousse. The business can even accommodate vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan guests — the latter two with advance notice — making it an accessible option for a variety of dietary needs and preferences. And since Silver Dove’s co-owners come from a bartending background, cocktails like the house gin and tonic featuring Sipsmith lemon drizzle gin and Luxardo bitter bianco are worthy add-ons." - Stasia Brewczynski
