Tea Lounge

Let the aromas of herbal bliss lead you right through the doors of Park Slopes Tea Lounge. This neighborhood favorite has evolved over the last 10 years from a small coffee and tea shop into a full out lounge and go to place for everyone includinge moms, couples, singles and students. Open from 7am up until midnight most nights. Adorned with warm, cozy sofas, live entertainment for toddlers alike, fresh bread, bagels, croissants and scones. Don't let the blockade of strollers deter you from entering for that morning latte. The Tea Lounge is the go to spot for nannies and stay at home moms during the early morning to mid afternoon. During the evening into the night the Tea Lounge transforms into a new school 'joint' equipped with live musicians and different acts performing. You can grab a drink from the bar and relax. The prices here are very affordable and the wifi is free. Known specifically for their variety of over 60 different organic blends and varieties of fresh teas to choose from or other hot beverages including lattes, mochas, cafe au lait, even a Nutella breve! I decided to stop in at the Tea Lounge for a morning business meeting. I ordered one of the Toasties which basically is a grilled cheese and turkey sandwich ($6.25). The sandwich is fresh, made to order served with your choice of fresh bread, your choice of mozzarella or cheddar cheese, chilled veggie salad (purple onions, cucumbers, tomatoes & green peppers) and potato chips. For my drink I chose a small vanilla chai latte ($3.75). Personal tea pots are available at ($3) or for two ($5). Each tea bag is handmade, scopped and filled at the counter. So if you're in the mood for a step up from the norm of the hustle and bustle of Starbucks find yourself here.

Borough Restaurant

Formerly known as Bistro Lafayette, this snug restaurant and bar located on Franklin Ave in an up and coming section of Bed-Stuy on the borderline of Clinton Hills offers remarkable food but skimps on hospitality. Borough restaurant while dimly lit is both family friendly and also an intimate setting great for date night. Upon my arrival I waited patiently by the door only to discover that there was no hostess. After about 20 minutes I decided to grab the attention of the bartender who promised that she'd be right with me right away. After a few minutes she came from behind the bar and let me know that I could sit anywhere I choose, which happened to be the table nearest the window which hadn't been cleaned yet. I quickly found out that the bartender was also the hostess, the waitress, the server and the bus boy. After being seated I ordered the crab cakes ($10) and buffalo wings ($7.50) as appetizers. The buffalo wings served with celery, carrot sticks and a blue cheese dressing were excellent, well done and flavorful. The crab cakes however were not well seasoned, they were a little overcooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside. If they were paired with some kind of avocado salsa or even a traditional hollandaise sauce instead of tartar sauce it might have slightly revived them. As an entree I decided to go with the jerk 1/2 of chicken, mashed potatoes and string beans ($12.50). I was immediately impressed with the portion size, which I must say was an entire half of chicken that had been marinated overnight, along with the sides was actually enough for two to share. The chicken was cooked perfectly, tender, juicy and the blend of spices and flavors were mouth watering. The jerk sauce that was served alongside the meal was a bit hot but a great accent that I couldn't help but to dip the chicken in. The mashed potatoes were creamy and even though the server brought out salt & pepper no extra seasonings were necessary, even the string beans were fresh and crisp. The food overall made up for the lack of hospitality and the music kept the night alive. Borough is a great place to dine if you wanna catch the game, grab some drinks or step up from the generic mundane taste of your local Applebees. Borough also offers delivery, Saturday & Sunday brunch specials and happy hour drink specials. Hopefully one of my soon to be favorites as I'm definitely looking forward to trying everything on the menu!