Taking Time for Tea

When in Millerton, stop for tea. Where? Harney’s, of course. Let’s snuggle into the Harney’s Tea Lounge banquette and order up from their gorgeous tea menu, which doubles as their catalog. Not an easy decision — there are scores to choose from — but we settle on Viennese Earl Grey. Like all teas in the catalog, it is described: “...adds Darjeeling into the  base blend before Bergamot is added,â€� and rated: briskness (1); body (2) and aroma (3).

     Our pot of tea is served in a plump little purple pot along with milk in a sky-blue pitcher, which arrives on a tray with a big white cup and a glass of water (just like Europe) and . . . this might be the best part — a fat, fresh scone, brushed with cinnamon. All this for a mere $4, surely the best deal in town. Add a dollar to the bill and that scone will arrive with clotted cream and jam (just like Europe).

      While you sip and munch and let the day’s stresses wash away, you can peruse the newspapers and magazines left out to read or just rest your weary gaze on the rich sunflower walls and the brown upholstered seats and enjoy the quiet music, which you can’t quite identify, but is undeniably French. Likely as not, Brigitte Harney, the inspiration behind the adjoining tea-and-more-shop, will waft through at some point and say hello in her breezy French accent and likely as not your good-natured waiter will be a son of hers — one of whom, Alexander, dreamed up the idea for the restaurant and its menu.

     But maybe you’re actually hungry. Good. That gives you an opportunity to actually order some food, most of which is named after the extended Harney clan, with entertaining asides. There is a daily soup from Farm Country and a couple of salads, one of them named after Harney matriarch, Elyse, with the parenthetical note “(They always have to be difficult).â€� A rash of sandwiches includes the Mike “(Half-Century Man)â€�: ham, Gruyère, tomato, French mustard and arugula; the Mimi “(The Girl Next Door)â€�: cheddar, mayo, tomato and basil and the Brigitte “(Classic Parisian)â€�: French butter, choice of prosciutto or ham on a baguette. For the kids, there’s Little John, which wisely offers a choice of crunchy or smooth peanut butter and jam. Oh, there’s more,  and it’s all very amusing and tasty and French. (Most of the sandwiches are $6.50, all on whole wheat or white baguettes).

      It’s kind of hip, kind of traditional, very comfortable and quite cozy. You’re likely to think you’re in a whole other land. With a particularly American touch: When you’ve finished lunch, you can move one room over to shop. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Telephone: (518) 789-2121.