San Francisco - March 27, 2006

Tea Party

Modern Tea Opens

Pu-erh. Oolong. Assam. You are getting very, very sleepy …

Don’t nod off just yet. These soothing words are, in fact, feisty tea leaves — brewed to keep you bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Because you wouldn’t want to snooze through the mammal-free menu of organic edibles and extensive rare tea offerings at Modern Tea — a rustic yet elegant restaurant-meets-tea salon on the corner of Hayes and Laguna.

Owner Alice Cravens (tea program designer for Zuni and Delfina) even dug up cast-iron waffle makers circa 1840, so you can have toasty Civil War Waffles slathered with yogurt and jam alongside your Taiwan Beauty Black.

The decor? Thank Craven’s husband, Greg Dunham, for the lemon yellow walls and cherry wood that make stormy Sundays as calming as China Green.

So much so that you may want to stay in bed just a little longer.

Modern Tea, 602 Hayes Street, at Laguna Street (415-626-5406 or moderntea.com).