Imperial Tea Court

Imperial Tea Court Restaurant Review:

Hidden far from the street amidst a real garden at the uttermost end of Berkeley’s savvy food court Epicurious Garden, this serene refuge sports evocative antique Chinese furnishings. Adjacent to a large outdoor patio, Imperial Tea Court offers an astonishing selection of imported teas, each brewed and served with precision and grace in a variety of traditional styles. These teas are enhanced by dishes more vividly, earthily Chinese than those served in many typical Chinese restaurants: selections range from delicate pork dumplings, each no larger than a silver dollar, to hand-stretched noodles topped with fiery chili paste and braised cabbage. It's easy to feel that you've been transformed into a dreamy Song Dynasty poet, watching clouds and birds and reeds while lingering for hours over a pot of lapsang souchong.