Russian Tea Time

“No-frills” is the best way to sum up afternoon tea at Michigan Avenue staple Russian Tea Time. There’s no formality or pretension here, just a casual restaurant that happens to offer tea service from 11am until 7:30pm daily. For $36, you’ll get the basic tea service that includes one type of tea, some crackers with various toppings, and a few small desserts that may or may not have been purchased from Costco. Afternoon tea here feels less like a meal and more like a snack option for tourists when they need to kill time before heading to the Art Institute across the street.