Tru-Teas! An Exquisite Place to Sip and Study

Tucked into the bustling Elmwood strip, behind a brick wall and up a flight of stairs, is the best-kept secret in Buffalo.

Tru-Teas!, Trudy Stern's upscale Asian-inspired tearoom, is a place so elegant, with food so delicious and service so gracious, it inspires intense loyalty in its customers from the first visit.

Worlds away from the loud, nerve-jangling coffee shops found elsewhere on the strip, Tru-Teas! exudes serenity. Tru-Teas! is so quiet in fact, it is actually possible to hear the Japanese water fountain trickling away from across the room.

This peaceful atmosphere, paired with the wireless Internet access, makes it an ideal place to study. Stern encourages students to spread their work out on the table and take advantage of the tranquil study environment.

The wooden bar, which formerly housed the beer and spirits of the old May Jen restaurant, now holds glass and ceramic teapots, as well as boxes filled with over twenty different kinds of loose tealeaves.

The bar area opens up into a cozy nook, where tables for four sit on polished, dark wooden floors. Japanese shades cover the windows, and round ceramic vases hold tiny fresh flowers.

Stern is aware that the intricate tea menu may intimidate some, so she is quick to offer assistance. Extremely knowledgeable about the teas they serve, the staff is equipped with extensive background information on the various green, black, white, oolong, herbal, iced and blended teas available here.

For those unsure about Nilgiri Tiger Tea or Green Sea Anemone, the staff has been known to handpick the perfect tea for undecided patrons according to their mood and tastes.

Teas can be ordered by the cup, but it is much more fun to order them by the pot. The tea will arrive in one of the gorgeous teapots from Stern's eclectic collection, which she has obtained from countries around the world. The tea brews at the table, and can be poured through a strainer into a small, Japanese cup, sans handle.

Small pots of tea that cost $2.50 will pour about four cups, while large pots, at $4.50, will make about eight. Fresh hot water can be poured over the same tealeaves to brew a second pot free of charge.

The menu at Tru-Teas!, like most else in the tearoom, is Asian-infused. It includes several light gourmet dishes and includes soups, salads, wraps and desserts, many using tea as an ingredient.

Soups include choices such as Carrot Ginger soup for $4; salads include the Sesame-Soba-Kate for $5; and the wraps include Sesame Crusted Tofu with Wasabi Aioli, a steal at just $7.

Far from the pizza and chicken wings this particular college student is used to, I was a bit nervous to try such exotic fare. Watching as a steaming bowl of orange soup headed toward my table was a little strange at first, but I enjoyed it and the tofu wrap I tried.

Trying dessert, however, took less resistance. The Organic Lemon Tart, $4, was heavenly, and who could say no to some Double Trouble Brownies with ice cream for $4?

Part of the Neighborhood Collective, Tru-Teas! shares space with Annie Adams Jewelry Design, situated at the front of the building, and Bryant Street Studios, located in an equally beautiful space upstairs.

The three businesses are housed in one building owned by Adams, and they interact easily in the building's open space. Customers are encouraged to move freely as well, luxuriating in the beauty of the different forms of art displayed under this one roof.

Tru-Teas! is located at 810 Elmwood Ave., and is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.