Where: Rockville Centre, New York Style: French restaurant Tea Selection: 50+ loose leaf teas by Simpson & Vail and Harney & Sons Teatimes: Daily, 9 to 5 Reservations: Reservations recommended, especially Friday to Sunday Contact: 516-208-8521 Cost: $27 Afternoon Tea; $17 Child’s Tea Destination Tea Tips: Guests can choose afternoon tea and/or a combination of items from Chat Noir’s full breakfast and lunch menu. On-street metered parking is scarce around the restaurant, but there are two municipal parking lots (also paid) on Lincoln Road behind the restaurant and around the corner on South Park Avenue.
Destination Tea Notes: Afternoon tea is made from scratch at this neighborhood restaurant in Rockville Centre on Long Island. Open since 2009, the popular tearoom expanded into the space next door in 2015, a boon for we afternoon tea-goers. Throughout the week, Chat Noir now accommodates afternoon tea walk-ins in its main dining room while hosting bridal or baby shower tea parties in the private dining room. New owner Melissa Kelly credits Chat Noir’s loyal customers with the restaurant’s continued success throughout the pandemic, during which high demand for takeout kept the business going. We can see what’s to love: kind service, scratchmade pastries and a long list of aromatic teas enjoyed in a charming setting, all for a very affordable price. Chat Noir is another great choice for mixed groups who may not all want the afternoon tea menu, as you will order off the full menu (which includes afternoon tea, breakfast and lunch), once seated.
The original storefront of Chat Noir
An antique tin ceiling painted ivory is reflected in the crisp white tablecloths covering tables radiating off the room’s statement piece: a giant flower-bedecked green Eiffel Tower.
The tearoom’s mascot, “le chat noir” reappears in pictures and other wall art, including a print of the famous advertisement of Paris’ 19th century Le Chat Noir cabaret, today a popular symbol of French culture.
Tea Service
Each guest selects a tea from a large variety of choices. We are very happy with our picks: Royal Wedding, Organic Passion Plum, Almond Sugar Cookie, White Peach, Darjeeling, Red Velvet and Moroccan Mint. The one drawback is how the tea is served. Three-cup teapots come to the table with tea floating loose inside, paired with decorative individual tea strainers. The trouble with this method is that it allows teas to oversteep unless the entire pot is poured out at once.
Pretty floral patterns trip across teacups, saucers, tea plates and sugar bowls, emphasized by lovely fresh flower centerpieces.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Afternoon tea includes three tea sandwiches, an astounding variety of scones and three desserts.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for
Large cucumber, egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches are tasty and freshly made. We agree we’d prefer daintier portions and a fourth option that is less mayo-heavy.
Chat Noir also offers tea sandwich substitutions for kids such as turkey and ham.
Oh, the scones you will see! We feel spoiled by the variety and number of scones served: Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Chip, Blueberry, Raisin, Butterscotch and Apricot White Chocolate – wow!
To doctor your scones, Chat Noir’s mock clotted cream is served alongside mouth-watering homemade raspberry preserves.
The desserts — Dessert Tart, Swan Cream Puff and moist Spice Cake with Whipped Cream — are luscious. While we like that this course is just right with 3 items, we would appreciate a bit more variety, (even though it’s hard to think about parting with this divine pastry cream). We might swap out the dessert tart for a non-creamy option.
We love comments! Destination Tea's comment policy shares a guiding principle with afternoon tea etiquette: please be gracious. We welcome honest comments that are not rude or scathing.
The scones look amazing! I love the decor too. Thanks for sharing!
An incredible variety and many more than our party could eat – very generous!