Eli Tea Bar — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I’ve been to this place many times hoping it would get better, but the same thing keeps happening. I come for one specific tea (GABA oolong) that’s hard to find, but every time I order it, I’m treated like I’m being difficult just for asking basic things.

I’ve worked with tea for over 10 years and in cafes for 20, so I know what I’m asking for — but I’ve been met with attitude, confusion, or just ignored. It’s not a one-time thing. It happens every time I go in.

The tea is always brewed too hot, and when I ask to have the leaves left in my to-go cup (a really normal way of drinking tea, especially in China), I get eye rolls or treated like it’s a weird request. It’s not.

Worse than that, I just don’t feel safe or comfortable here. I’m queer, I’m from the neighborhood, and yet I always feel stared at, interrupted, or talked down to — like I don’t belong.

This place might be fine if you’re just grabbing a bubble tea or chatting with friends. But if you care about being treated with basic respect — or just want your tea the way you like it — I wouldn’t recommend it. I really wanted to support a local shop, but I’ve given it...

Well, tea was ok. Lots of selections and interesting at that. Let alone their stock on shelves. From spiritual findings, cute lockets and cute emergency mustache was just too adorable. There's so much stuff here I want to get! Even the drinks in itself are enough to recommend. I saw bowls and mugs there, books and other spiritual stuff I wanted so bad. They even were able to do my chamomile with lavender tea, nowhere else that I know does this, has to be bought from a store to make it myself I'm glad to call a place home hehe Oh and they are lgbtq friendly. They were out of smudging tools but thats okay. Ended up getting chakra cards and really want that meditation book. Might ending up splurging over $100 at this...

Overall Thoughts: I like this spot! The interior is super aesthetic, inclusive, and comfortable. They have a diverse selection of creative drinks on the menu that I haven’t seen before in other bubble tea spots. I ordered the ube jasmine tea latte, which was made instantly. It was very sweet but I eventually got used to the sweetness. The ube flavors weren’t very strong and I don’t think I tasted much lychee flavor either. Regardless, it was a tasty treat, and I’d be eager to try their other drinks on the menu! The prices here are standard for what you’d see at a typical bubble tea store, so no surprises there. —

Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Drinks: 4.2/5 Ambience: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Overall...