Tipple & Rose — Restaurant in Princeton

Believe all the 1 star reviews. I just checked out what others have written, and on pretty much every one, even the mostly positive reviews, mention how terrible the owner is to customers and staff. Its bizarre. Know up front to follow all arbitrary rules (posted or made up), and they force an 18% gratuity normally for either slow, rude, or errant service. But after that, it's really a 50/50 shot that you'll have a nice time. My experience is at the bottom (which is still mortifying, but after reading everyone elses thoughts, I'm processing).

Tldr: I got threatened by the owner for taking up too much space in the corner of their mostly unoccupied "cottage."

If you still want to give this place a shot, I've synthesized things that people have done wrong and have been chastised for, so hopefully knowing the rules will raise your chances of having a good experience: Don't come as a group of 3+ if eating and drinking tea. The tables are too small if you sit with 4 comfortably all with tea trays and plates. From a separate experience, I know they have a rule that they won't let you push tables together. Walk in separately if your group wants to take more than two scones to go. Don't touch anything in the gift shop. Don't sit down outside or in the gift shop before ordering tea. Don't use the restroom before ordering tea. Don't be late or cancel your reservation. It seems they find a way to take it out on you. Don't go to the restroom in a group of two, and you can't wait outside. Don't take more than one napkin. Don't let tea or water sit on your table (keep it on the tray). Don't plan on wifi. They have it, but it's hit or miss if they let you use it. Don't order coffee. Don't come in close to closing. Don't bring a stroller to eat inside. They won't seat you in the main room but have you carry it awkwardly down stairs. Maybe just don't bring kids. (I'd recommend Maman.) Probably don't come if you're disabled or are dining with someone with low mobility for the same reason. Don't bring a dog or service animal. Even if dining outside. Don't ask to modify the meal, even cutting a sandwich. Don't order milk with certain teas. They tell you when you're wrong and refuse. Plan to pay for what they bring you, even if it's wrong.

Knowing most of these rules, I still had a bad time. The staff are generally strict. Their rules don't always make sense, and I've not minded in the past. I don't normally write negative reviews, but the experience today was just so off-putting. We came right at opening. I brought my two girls and met a friend. When our meals were brought, we asked to use a nearby 2-person table to have more room for the girls, and the server said it was fine so long as we moved if they needed the space. (They were hosting an event, so the main room was closed, but there was only one other person in the back section, so roughly 10 open tables.) As soon as we were settled to eat (2min later), the hostess (whom we hadn't met) came and said that we needed to all squeeze into one table. She was curt, but okay. There were still 10 open tables, and I knew the girls could eat in 5 min, so I told them to finish, and then we'd get together. In a matter of minutes, the owner was there asking if they could help us move, like we were a problem. I still hadn't touched my quiche (which ended up being delicious when I regained my appetite after this), but this whole ordeal ended up being a nightmare. We said we were ready to move, but just wanted to eat first since there wasn't any urgency in moving, and we were ready to eat. They said they could have accommodated us if we'd said something, which I don't know what that means - we'd asked to use the space, and it was made clear that it was temporary. I asked to get boxes and take it home. My friend saw me on the verge of tears and suggested we shouldn't have to pay. The owner escalated by saying they'd call the police. I just wanted to leave. It was just a table. That we'd gotten permission to use. I felt...

Do not enter the doors of this room place unless you want to be deeply disappointed and feel discomfort to your core. It exudes horrible vibes that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I would honestly rather not bash a POC and queer owned business in princeton but it has to be done because our experience was beyond anything I’ve ever experienced at an eatery. When our party of 7 for my cousin’s bridal shower got to our table they had three separate 2 top tables, and we asked if we could push all of the tables together and put the bride at the head of the table. They told us we could push two together, but not the third, which was weird and left the bride and her mom distant and separated from everyone else. When I asked if we could push them all together they said no, that the table wouldn’t have enough space for the tea (it would’ve) we decided to just go with it because the energy in the room became extremely dark and off-putting. Then one of the servers completely spilled a tray of wine glasses filled with water and berries on my mom and I - accidents happen, as someone that has worked in service I totally understand that!! - but the way it was handled was wildly upsetting and honestly insulting. They left the floor very wet right where my disabled mom was sitting, I was so worried she would slip and fall on the massive puddle that was left at her feet. Any other restaurant would bring a mop over and ensure the safety of their patrons but they gently just wiped some of it up with paper towels. Not to mention they kept soaking wet table linens on the tables rather than changing them - they were drenched and dripping on us the rest of the time. Then, my two cousins went to go to the restroom and got yelled at by the owner and said only one person in the rest room at a time. One cousin (the bride) sat on the padded bench outside of the restroom to wait her turn, and the owner told her she couldn’t sit there. I’m sorry??? Why have a bench if it’s not to be sat on. I’m curious what she would’ve said had my disabled mom, who can’t stand for long periods of time, sat there. Even in all of that we were chill and in good spirits because we didn’t want to ruin the shower. The server that helped us with the short hair and hand tattoo was very sweet and deserves the world, they did everything to try to settle the situation and told sweet jokes to ease the tension. However, dynamic between that server and Doria was so difficult to be around, it’s none of my business but there’s a deep darkness there that made all of us feel really uneasy and frankly, sad. I thought maybe they were just having a bad day (it happens! And sometimes it’s hard to put on a good face for work!) but after reading all of these reviews it’s obvious that darkness is the usual energy there. The younger servers seemed terrified and wouldn’t look us in the eye or speak to us in more than a mumble, it’s obvious they’re working in terror of getting chastised for messing up Doria’s outrageous list of “policies.” As our tea was finishing up we assumed we’d be comped in some way because of the spill and awful problem solving skills of the staff. But no! Not even an apology or a free scone or anything. And they automatically charged 18% gratuity which feels gaslighty and corrupt when they have such a terribly run business…. It’s like they know no one would actually tip them if they had the choice. It definitely gave us something to laugh about later because it really felt like we stepped into one of those hidden camera shows that push you to your limits to make you freak the f out. Their reality is bizarre and I really hope there’s no abuse or mistreatment going on in there. The question I’m left with is why open a cafe for people to gather if you literally hate people? Don’t work in customer service if you aren’t willing to AT LEAST hear out your customers’ asks rather than rolling your eyes in disgust and scowling at them and making them feel horrible for wanting to have a nice normal time and maybe sit on...

Tipple and Rose

Expecting an intimate tea room, perhaps a cozy fire, a few tables for two with upholstered chairs, and subdued lighting, I found myself in a mall-sized display room brimming with tea-themed bibelots and tchotchkes. My companion was waiting, so, noting the time on my parking meter, we made our way through the panoply of products to the counter where a sweet faced young woman welcomed us with a warm smile. Yes, we were here for tea and lunch.

We were invited to choose from a variety of seating in 4 areas… right up front amid the displays, in the dusky middle room where a dozen tables wore bright white cloths, further back in a sunny logia with blood red banquettes, or the “cottage”, another space in Tipple’s expanding landscape. We opted for a table by the window in the loggia, somewhat private/cozy, and my friend went back to tell Warm Smile where we were. I was taking off my jacket when he came back to say I must return to the mall to order my tea.

Introduced to the byzantine business of choosing our brew, we were handed a dog-eared 5 page paper menu which barely made sense when Warm Smile walked us through the letter and number codes referring to the sample tea tins on the counter; at least 75 of them. Once we found an appealing description of tea on the single-spaced typed menu, we were invited to match the color-coded letters and numbers to one of the small tins on the counter display. Encouraged to sniff the tea before choosing, I demurred, preferring not to stick my nose where others had already sniffed. I chose a Chai at random and was told to write its number on the tiny Post-it notepad on the counter. I was really ready for a cup of tea (or something stronger) after this convoluted process, so we were thankful to take our seats in the sunny window, facing Moore St.

I was happy to give up the padded banquette to my companion (hip issues), but disappointed that the seat facing is was a hard, cold, metal chair without a trace of comfort. Why this harsh dichotomy of style and substance? Turns out, that’s the central dilemma of Tipple and Rose:

The teapots arrived first, on individual trays, with cups, warming salvers, and an adorable hourglass to remind us when we could pour our tea. Of course, we were well into our conversation, so didn’t notice that our time had ‘run out’ ; but we poured our tea, then hunted around the room for accoutrements. None were offered, such as lemon, cream, sugar …. ‘Nuttin’ honey!”. But there was a bowl of Sugar in the Raw packets close by, so we sweetened and drank.

The tea was fine and we enjoyed our choices from the multi-paged sandwich, scone, & soup menu: good bread, tiny side salad… it was the high point of our visit. While we ate, a handful of diners arrived, but the main room remained empty, as did the “cottage”. So when a waitress arrived with our bill (which we had not summoned) we both felt a little bum’s-rushed. Fortunately, we were having a lovely overdue chat, so were more amused than offended. But still, feeling stressed in a tea room is not what one expects, Dear Reader.

We were instructed to take our tab up front for payment, like a diner instead of a downtown Princeton restaurant where we had just spent over $50 for two sandwiches and tea. My friend offered his credit card, and was guided through the process of tapping… no, sliding… no, inserting it in the machine. He waited to finish and sign, but the transaction was over. “I wanted to add in a tip”. He said. Oh, not to worry, an 18% gratuity is automatically added. ...