Selah Tea Cafe — Restaurant in Waterville

Four years ago I lived in Fairfield and had many wonderful memories coming to Selah Tea. So the memory of the good food and atmosphere inspired me and my family to go there as we passed through town on our way home from a Thanksgiving vacation up north. Today's experience was uncomfortable and left me not wanting to return. I ordered a falafel salad without tomatoes because of an allergy. My husband and my Mother-in-law's boyfriend ordered a burger. Both of their burgers came out FROZEN in the middle and my salad had tomatoes on it. Even as the waitress was handing it to me she said "no tomatoes" when you can clearly see sliced tomatoes. She came back extremely quickly with the salad - like the kind of quickly that would be impossible to remake the salad that fast. It seemed like they just took the tomatoes off and tried presenting it again. My husband reiterated that I have an allergy and the waitress just kinda threw her hands up and seemed frustrated/overwhelmed with us. She walked off and didn't take the salad back and never came back to our table DESPITE still needing new food (remember two people still had a frozen burgers). So my husband, after a few minutes of waiting, took the salad to the counter to explain the situation to the woman working the counter. The cook came out and was SO RUDE to my husband. He could have explained the situation much more calmly, which was that he made three falafel salads (I'm assuming one for me and two others for two other customers??) and I got the wrong one but the correct one was back there. But instead he snatched the salad from my husband's hands and acted like a complete tantruming child about it (and I know a thing or two about that because in the midst of all of this I was trying to make my fussy toddler happy). The woman working the counter was completely mortified by the cook's behavior. There didn't seem to be a manager on the floor because this kind of situation would be one that I, a former supervisor at a busy cafe, would be all over trying to remedy. Eventually all the food was fixed but it forever tarnished my perfect memory I had...

I'm not entirely sure why this place has such great reviews, honestly, but apparently, most of Waterville is getting something from Selah that I'm not. I've been here a handful of times since it's been open and have never been very impressed with the offerings, though I seem to keep trying in hopes of improvement. This last time has pretty much made sure I'm not going back. Service is great, I will give them that. Employees are all extremely friendly and nice.

However, the food is bland and disappointing.

I ordered a caprese melt, and it was brought out to me quickly. Within five minutes I had it, which was great. It was basically cold, though. I think caprese melt, and I think at least a semi warm sandwich. The cheese was basically cold rubber, and I have to wonder if they had one premade and just sitting there. The bread was so hard it might as well have been used to make salad crutons and I hurt the roof of my mouth trying to bite into it. It's kind of a wonder that I didn't cut myself. I can get a better caprese sandwich at Starbucks for half the price. For 13 bucks, I expect something way better than what I got. The small handful of pasta salad on the side wasn't any better. I understand the term al dente, but I kind of feel like this pasta was pushing it.

Their bubble tea is super bland, and I keep ordering it whenever I decide to give the place a try again. However, it's never gotten any better.

Nice place, nice staff, nice atmosphere, but their food is ridiculously overpriced and certainly...

I had an incredible experience just walking into Selah Tea. I was greeted by friendly staff, was helped thoroughly with my order, and was treated like a born celebrity in this friendly, uplifting, clean environment. My girlfriend and I are now fans of this wondrous place! I was even helped with directions to a card shop right down the street when I asked “Does anyone on the staff know anywhere I can go to get trading card sleeves?” The man who goes by the name of Gabriel helped me with a stellar attitude and completed my overall satisfaction of a grand setting. Now the food: Holy Moses was I thrilled to have a 5 star meal served to me and my spouse. The meat in my burger was cooked to perfection and my salad was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before! My drinks were hydrating and fulfilled my needs. I will most definitely be coming through again and I’ll be bringing a whole party especially with a space that could house 20 people. Thrilled to visit Waterville! Until next time...