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With a sleek wood interior and an experimental menu, this teahouse scores in presentation but lacks substance in the kitchen. When it comes to just tea, Sanctuary reinvents nicely; wine decanters replace handle-and-spout pots, and are kept warm atop a bowl with a lit candle. A long list of high quality leafs are available, from perfumed European styles to natural, Asian varieties. For a calming afternoon shopping break, it doesn’t get much better. The same can’t be said for the bizarre and overpriced food. Gnocchi in brown butter with Black Tea have an unexpected sweetness that makes the dish taste more like French Toast than like pasta, and the tea flavor is missing entirely. Salmon poached in Red Moon Tea and served with Brussels sprouts and cucumber is a house specialty—but it’s boring and the flavors seem misguided. Desserts, similarly inventive, fall short. — Benjamin Kneen

Pot of tea, $10-$15