Oolong’s Tea Bar

I truly do miss this place. The staff were usually friendly, the ambiance was superb, and the drink Jesse’s Goodnight Kiss was an unparalleled harmony of chocolate and strawberry combined (I actually met the Jesse whom invented the drink and good grief do I wish I could locate him for the recipe!). But alas, the last time I was there more than explains why this wonderful spot, hidden away in Sherman Alley went out of business. I visited during my senior year of high school, with my mother, a friend, and his parents, an hour before they closed one evening, and we pulled up some chairs and got ready to order and relax, and all of a sudden this upitty, Valley girl-​type blonde marched up to us and said, «You can’t do this, we’re closing». Now mind you, it was ONE HOUR before closing and there were plenty of «Yalies» sprawled about the place, sipping tea, reading books, and they certainly did not seem to be in a rush. When we asked if we could please just order and promised not to stay long, she barked at us, saying if we wanted something it would HAVE to be to go and that we absolutely could NOT sit and enjoy even a mere beverage. I forget if my mother and I ordered that day, but I know my friend and his parents did not walk, they RAN out the door in pure anger. I forget which website my friend’s father posted an angry review, but I know he made his opinion that this was no way to run a business VERY well known. It broke my heart, because here I was trying to share a perfectly wonderful experience with a friend and his family, and one upitty woman found a way to ruin it for everyone. As I said, I miss this place very much and wish I could give it 5 stars overall, but that would just not be right. I certainly hope the upitty blonde was not the owner, Tammy Hackett, and I hope that someone with better business skills, and better judgement with hiring people in charge, opens up a similar spot in New Haven.
5 stars for the memories and Jesse’s Goodnight Kiss, 0 stars for the awful woman whom gave paying customers and potential customer’s the bum’s rush!

I truly do miss this place– and I’ll agree that the chai was the best in New Haven. The owner even gave me her recipe! But, alas, now I will be among the last to have remnants of Oolong’s in their home. The only problem with the place was that it wasn’t open late enough or early enough.

The house chai is by far the best hot chai tea I’ve ever had. Many’s the hour I spent reading in Oolong’s, sipping delicious tea and snacking on chocolate lava cake.