Russian Tea Time Restaurant

"Starting at $44 per person "No frills" is the best way to sum up afternoon tea at Michigan Avenue staple Russian Tea Time. There’s no pretension here, just a casual Russian restaurant that happens to offer tea service from 11am until 5pm daily. For $44, you’ll get the basic tea service including one type of tea, some crackers with various toppings, and a few small desserts that may or may not be from Costco. Afternoon tea here feels less like a meal and more like a good snack option when you need to kill time before heading to the Art Institute across the street." - veda kilaru

"Running daily afternoon tea service for more than 30 years, Russian Tea Time brews blends like luscious lychee and purple papaya berry in a pot or a traditional samovar for groups of three or more. Nibble on a tower of scones with clotted cream and jam, potato pancakes, and sandwiches, adding on caviar or a vodka flight for an extra luxurious experience." - Samantha Nelson, Eater Staff

"“No-frills” is the best way to sum up afternoon tea at Michigan Avenue staple Russian Tea Time. There’s no formality or pretension here, just a casual restaurant that happens to offer tea service from 11am until 7:30pm daily. For $36, you’ll get the basic tea service that includes one type of tea, some crackers with various toppings, and a few small desserts that may or may not have been purchased from Costco. Afternoon tea here feels less like a meal and more like a snack option for tourists when they need to kill time before heading to the Art Institute across the street." - Veda Kilaru

"Russian Tea Time, the 29-year-old Eastern European landmark in the Loop, has seen a dramatic influx in angry calls and social media messages that erroneously link the restaurant to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military invasion, according to the Tribune." - Naomi Waxman

"Despite the name of her restaurant, Klara Muchnik, the chef and owner of Russian Tea Time in the Loop, was actually born and raised in Ukraine and worked as a nurse in Uzbekistan before moving to Chicago in 1990." - Naomi Waxman