The Teahouse — Restaurant in Houston

tl;dr: restroom next to entrance, average drinks and snacks, nice place to hang out, potentially good study spot

First things first - the restroom is right by the entrance. I've seen countless people wander around aimlessly looking for it over the years. And while it's a joy to people-watch, the restroom location needs to be made known.

So, I kinda really love this place. I've been frequenting this Teahouse location for the past decade throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, and I've been through it all: furniture changes, menu revamps, renovations, and workers coming and going. At certain points throughout the semesters, I spent more time at teahouse than I did at school or at home. If someone needed to get a hold of me, they assumed I was at teahouse...and they'd be correct.

Why did I spend so much time here? Certainly not for their drinks. Overall, Teahouse drinks are very average. Nothing particularly stands out, but nothing is inherently bad either. I haven't had the actual tapioca in a very long time, so I can't comment on them. Every now and then, my drink tastes watered down. One good point is that they offer a variety of sweeteners and creamers, though I've never taken advantage of it. My taste has changed over the years, and so have my go-to orders. Personal favorites through the years: taro coconut blend (before I discovered the pleasures of actual taro as opposed to the powder used here), red bean cream blend, Thai tea with egg pudding, milk tea with herbal jelly, and Vietnamese iced coffee with coffee jelly. Can't go wrong with any of them. Hot milk tea on a cold day is very satisfying (when it's not watered down), and the Viet iced coffee is a deliciously strong study fuel.

The reason I spent so much time at Teahouse was because I could stay and study/work for hours on end. To accurately assess the study potential of Teahouse, you have to understand their layout (it's bigger on the inside!). For this review, I'll refer to the sections of the interior as the "front," "middle," and "back."

FRONT Pros: easy access to drinks and restroom Cons: loudest section, busiest Comments: My least favorite section to study in, especially mid-afternoon and onward since it gets so busy. Nearby middle-high schoolers have discovered Teahouse, and there's an influx when they get out of school. A mix of people chatting and studying.

MIDDLE Pros: usually quiet, good for solo studying Cons: dimly lit, not good for groups, limited power outlets, occasional dripping from ceiling Comments: If there's an open table, I usually stay here until a spot opens up in the back. Also a nice place to binge on anime or Netflix. Don't judge me.

BACK Pros: mostly people studying, good for groups, plenty of power outlets Cons: hard to get a table, occasional loudness from groups hanging out/playing games on the sofas, glare from sun depending on where you sit, back section closes earlier than the front Comments: By far my favorite place to study at Teahouse are the tables in the back. I've spent hundreds of hours here. They sometimes have music playing, but it usually isn't too distracting. People here are typically a bunch of different healthcare students studying. Best chance at claiming a table is by going early.

Other comments: The WiFi does have hiccups, but they're few and far between Friendly to outside food and drinks Convenient location with plenty of parking and good food nearby Great hours of operation Restroom could be better maintained

Pro tips: If you have to sit in the front while waiting for a table in the back to open up, sit where you can clearly see the security camera monitor to continually assess table availability WiFi password is "greentea" (last I checked) if you want to avoid checking into Facebook...

The Teahouse, a tapioca and tea shop, had the potential to be a delightful place to enjoy refreshing drinks. However, my recent experience was marred by significant issues with the service. Despite the shop's promising menu and pleasant ambiance, the repeated forgetfulness of the employees and prolonged wait times left a lot to be desired. Here's a breakdown of my visit:

Upon entering The Teahouse, I was enticed by the variety of tapioca and tea options available. The menu offered a range of flavors and combinations that seemed appealing. The atmosphere was cozy, providing a relaxed setting for customers to enjoy their beverages.

Unfortunately, the service fell far short of expectations. The employees seemed inattentive and frequently forgot to make orders, causing unnecessary delays and frustrations. I found myself waiting for an unreasonable amount of time, approximately 20 minutes, for a drink that should have taken no more than a few minutes to prepare. Such repeated oversights were highly disappointing and detracted from the overall experience.

When I inquired about my order, the response I received was lackluster, and it did not address the inconvenience caused by the extended wait. The lack of accountability and responsiveness from the staff further added to my dissatisfaction.

While the taste of the drink itself was satisfactory, the negative aspects of the service overshadowed any enjoyment. It's disheartening when a potentially pleasant visit is overshadowed by such avoidable issues.

Improving the efficiency and attentiveness of the employees should be a priority for The Teahouse. Timely service is crucial, especially in a fast-paced environment where customers expect quick and efficient service.

In conclusion, my experience at The Teahouse was marked by repeated forgetfulness, significant delays, and a lackluster response from the staff. The promising menu and pleasant ambiance were overshadowed by the disappointingly poor service. Unless there are improvements in the efficiency and attentiveness of the employees, I would hesitate to recommend The...

Super disappointed in my experience here. I don't drink boba often, my boyfriend and I decided to treat ourselves on the fly. The man behind the register today wearing a printed scarf over his hair was just so rude. Again I don't drink boba often so ordering is a bit of a guessing game for me. I asked if there was any way to do a half taro half jasmine tea cream drink and the man started loudly laughing and correcting my order as though I was just the biggest joke in the world. He said "you're just supposed to ask for the taro cream with green tea" and literally doubled over laughing again. I was totally embarrassed and asked if that drink came with the tapioca, and he just lost it laughing, to the point that everyone in the restaurant turned their heads and was watching me stand there embarrassed that I asked a simple question. It was super uncomfortable, and the most frustrating part is that he clearly knew exactly what I wanted and instead of just saying "hey in the future you can call it this when you order and we'll know what you're talking about" he made a huge loud embarrassing scene of correcting me for asking really basic questions. It was a terrible experience, I sat and waited with my face just burning red and embarrassed nearly to the point of frustrated tears. Everyone else was super nice and the drink was good so 2 stars, but that experience was...