| Russian Tea Time | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Russian Tea Time | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1993 (1993) |
| Owner(s) | Altyn and Enesh Mantyyeva |
| Food type | Russo-Ukrainian |
| Location | 77 E Adams Street, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, 60603 |
| Coordinates | 41°52′46″N 87°37′30″W / 41.87944°N 87.62500°W / 41.87944; -87.62500 |
| Website | https://www.russianteatime.com/ |
Russian Tea Time is an Eastern European restaurant and tea room in the Loop, Chicago founded in 1993 by Ukrainian American Vadim Muchnik and his Ukrainian mother Klara Muchnik of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.[1][2]
It originally opened under the name Russian Tea Room, which was a trademark violation.[3]
Since 2018 the restaurant has been majority owned by Altyn and Enesh Mantyyeva of Turkmenistan.[4][5] Enesh Mantyyeva had been a patron of the restaurant while a student at DePaul University.[6]
Most of the waitstaff are from post-Soviet countries.[5]
The restaurant offers afternoon tea, house-infused vodka, caviar service, and traditional dishes from the former Soviet Republics such as pozharski, piroshki, rugelach, blinchiki and pirog.[7][8]
Despite never being owned by Russians, the restaurant was subject to online vitriol following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[9][10]
References
- Waxman, Naomi (March 16, 2022). "Russian Tea Time, Chicago's Ukranian-Founded [sic] Restaurant Landmark, Targeted With Misguided Scorn". Eater.
- "About Us". Russian Tea Time.
- Monica, Eng (September 5, 2023). "Chicago's Russian Tea Time turns 30". Axios.
- Butler, Tracy (August 17, 2023). "Russian Tea Time celebrates 30 years offering afternoon tea service in the Loop". ABC7 Chicago.
- Dovich, Mark (August 5, 2021). "The Loop's Russian Tea Time is Back". Borderless.
- Ponder, Jamaica (September 6, 2023). "Russian Tea Time celebrating 30th anniversary in Chicago". CBS News Chicago.
- Hearn, Ashlea (September 6, 2023). "Ukrainian-founded Russian Tea Time celebrates 30 years on the Magnificent Mile". Chicago Star Media.
- Weissmann, Emma (February 15, 2017). "Been There, Do This: Russian Tea Time in Chicago". Travel Age West.
- Bienasz, Gabrielle (March 11, 2022). "A Russian restaurant in Chicago founded by Ukrainians might have to change its name due to threats, but the owners aren't happy about 'giving into the ignorance'". Business Insider.
- Leventis, Angie (March 10, 2022). "Russian Tea Time restaurant in downtown Chicago was founded by Ukrainians. Now it faces misplaced backlash". Chicago Tribune.