Débutea — Restaurant in New York

Micah 6:8 Hey, I hope you can take a moment to read this review. Today, I visited Debutea and saw something that really upset me. A sharp-faced woman with a ponytail, clearly the manager, was publicly scolding a young employee over something as minor as manually measuring a customer’s side order instead of using the electronic scale. The result? A larger portion of ice cream.

The young girl had just taken my order with a warm smile and was incredibly efficient. She was familiar with every recipes and gave live description so I could easily choose. But after being scolded, her face turned bright red, her confidence seemed to crumble, and she kept her head down for the rest of the time. What struck me even more was how all the younger staff seemed to avoid the manager like the plague afterward, clearly fearful of becoming her next target. I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of blame or punishment that poor girl might face later behind closed doors.

This was my first time encountering this manager, and yet, even as a customer, I found her cold, harsh demeanor unsettling. It’s hard to imagine how difficult it must be to work under someone like that. Mistakes happen, but public humiliation and bullying are never the answer. A kind correction could’ve solved the issue without breaking anyone’s spirit.

I’m sharing this in the hope that it brings some attention to how this store is being managed. That girl’s bright smile made my day, and I hope to see her again—unburdened and confident—instead of having her joy crushed by a manager who rules through...

I stopped by Débutea on 04/27 and casually picked one of the drinks from the signboard — the Rose Blueberry with caramel boba, which came to 💰$10.34 after tax.

The shop was buzzing with customers coming and going. The wait time was shorter than HeyTea, which I appreciated. While waiting, I noticed two unique jellyfish-shaped lights near the entrance. It made me think that Débutea isn’t just inspired by nature in their drinks, but carries that same inspiration into their interior design too.

As for the drink, I was genuinely impressed. The rose aroma was rich and elegant, giving the drink a floral lift without being overpowering. The blueberry slush was smooth and consistent throughout, adding a cool and refreshing base, while the caramel brought a subtle thickness and a touch of sweetness. The boba pleasantly chewy which had great texture.

What I really appreciated was how well each element balanced the others. The floral and fruity notes blended seamlessly, creating a layered flavor experience without any of the components clashing or overwhelming one another.

If I had one suggestion, it would be to print the sentence that I saw on their in-store display onto the cup itself. It was about "An ode to spring, where floral elegance meets the vibrant energy of renewal."

That sentence captured the drink perfectly. You can think of it as a seasonal story told through flavor, where floral grace and fruity brightness come...

I ordered some hot pomelo gemaicha tea. It’s probably one of the simplest and fastest things to make. I waited over 20 minutes for someone to pour hot water into a cup. There’s not even any place to sit or stand inside. You have to wait and stand outside in the cold.

Seeing the cup sitting by the window with the timer next to it counting up and up was frustrating enough but it was more frustrating that I couldn’t get store attendants’s attention to finish making my order. They are just in their own world, not talking to anyone at all. It’s giving sweat shop vibe.

When I finally got my tea after few attempts to wave down a store attendant, the tea was already room temperature. I complained it’s supposed to be hot and her reply was “it is hot”. This experience makes me sad. Debutea used to be a nice place to go to but they made some big remodeling of their workspace and workflow that made the in person customer experience feel impersonal and unreliable.

I used to be a regular customer and would tell everyone about Debutea if they ask for recommendations. But today’s experience was unforgivable. Consider this the last $7 I spend at this establishment. I will tell everyone I know NOT to go to Debutea if they value not having their time and...