Colleen Smith at Tea Bar
Into its doors and an exhale will follow. Owner Colleen Smith calls the atmosphere “decompressed”. If you’re looking for a drive-thru window, drive on through, because Tea Bar and Bites is not the place.
Tea Bar is nestled on the south side of Pickwick Place. It has a simple menu and the food is made from scratch daily – so when it runs out, it’s gone. Smith develops the specials based on what is available locally. The ingredients come directly from the source, farmer’s markets and other local-owned farms.
While Smith was attending Missouri State she became a regular at the old Earth Wonder Natural Foods, that’s where she learned to appreciate fresh, healthy food. She later started a catering business, but always had an eye on the location at 621 S Pickwick. More than five years ago, the space became available and her house began to empty. “My kids were moving out of home, and I needed a new baby,” she recalls. Since that time, Tea Bar has expanded to a 55-seat restaurant, with inviting outdoor seating.
Inviting entrance at patio of Tea Bar
The food offerings have a Mediterranean flair, influenced by time spent with friends in Greece. You’ll find hummus, tzatziki, and feta cheeses scattered around the menu, but the outside influence doesn’t end with the food. Smith emphasizes the atmosphere. With Irish ancestry she wants it to feel like your coming into her home where the staff is a “little family” and they provide a total “around the table” experience.
Smith says she doesn’t plan on further expansion, because she “wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” She credits the neighborhood for getting business going. “I’ve let the business lead itself,” she says, “so it’s grown simply (by) referral.”
TBA - the BLT on HGH
Our experience
With the warm July sun shaded by a few (I thought they were) decorative umbrellas, we settled into a spot outside. It’s an early lunch so we skipped the Meditteranean Platter, though it was part of the craving, and jump straight into the Turkey Bacon Avocado (the special which is a BLT on HGH – the BLT for which you’ve waited your entire life) and the Turkey Gouda Panini (grilled sandwich with turkey, smoked gouda, artichokes and a house pesto … a ‘roided Grilled Cheese). My eyes swelled as a huge slice of avocado – which was holding a piece of bacon – tumbled out of my sandwich and onto the brick floor during a clumsy bite.
The bite that got away
The entrees took some time, but were very much worth the anticipation. For dessert, we ordered a brownie topped with a peanut butter icing, all of which was created just before consumption (we wanted the coconut cupcakes, but they sold out).
Expect to spend around $10/person, and want to try all of the desserts they have available.
To find out more, visit Tea Bar and Bites online.
Tea Bar and Bites
621 S Pickwick
(417) 866-7500
Tues-Thurs: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday
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