The motto at The Tea Kettle Cafe in Old Town Spring is “More than just tea,” as the restaurant offers not only lunch and traditional British afternoon tea but also an atmosphere suitable for customers of all ages, said Emilee Lawrence and Kendra Lopez, restaurant managers and event coordinators.

The duo described the teahouse’s curated decor as “shabby chic.” The china and floral teapots on display have been donated by customers since the restaurant opened in 2003, Lawrence said.

Most of the menu has remained unchanged for 15 years when The Tea Kettle Cafe—previously called Crossroads Tea Room—was one of three teahouses in Old Town Spring, Lawrence said.

Now that it is the only teahouse in town, restaurant owner Richard Dangler said he wants to make sure it upholds its standards in food, tea and customer service.

“We don’t sell food; we sell the experience,” Dangler said. “People remember experiences of milestones in their life, and I wanted to give them a place to have those experiences.”

The Tea Kettle Cafe has hosted children’s tea parties and youth etiquette classes. Baby showers and bridal showers—some planned from out of state—may render all or part of the restaurant unavailable for lunch service on weekends, but when the door opens, couples and groups flock to the corners for their gatherings, Lawrence said.

Large pots and small pots of hot tea come in five flavors: Old Town Spice, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Triple Treat and Moroccan Mint. The teahouse also serves glasses of unsweetened iced tea in several flavors.

“During the week, people sit here for hours and talk… and we get to know customers that way, so there’s a lot of personal connections we made here. That’s what I love about a small business,” Lawrence said. “Even when I was 4 years old, I loved carving out time for tea. It’s just classic.”

The Tea Kettle Cafe
123 Midway St., Spring
281-528-6550
www.theteakettlecafe.com
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. noon-4 p.m.