Columbia Kate's
(85 reviews)22727 Columbia St, Columbia, CA 95310, USA 209-532-1885 Website Suggest Changes
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Columbia Kate's occupies a designated historic building in the historic Columbia State Park.
The nucleus of the building is a barn built in the 1890’s by long time resident, barber and County Supervisor, Frank Dondero. The rustic building is a perfect venue for enjoying the comforts of tea, food and nice things.
Traditional tea accompaniments such as fresh baked scones and tea sandwiches share a diverse menu including artisan soups, quiche (egg pie for men), salads, chicken pot pie, award winning Pear Pecan Pie, bread pudding and fabulous homemade bread. All items are made fresh daily in our own Bakery next door.
Columbia Kate's Bakery has more of the fresh baked items, beyond what we have in the Teahouse restaurant.
“We want every visitor to enjoy the Teahouse experience and we try to provide a relaxing and comfortable venue to explore our food and teas”
Recent reviews
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Andrew Risso
When I lived on the Central Coast, Kates was one of our favorite weekend rides on the Bike. Always freindly, great atmosphere and food, and the selection of teas that they offer is uncomparable to any other place I've been to.
Living in Vegas now, I still order from Kates and have gotten so many others to do so as well
I'm so glad that during these times, Kate has been there for all of us who know of them.
Thank you
Andrew R.
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Mei Jones
I am a long-time resident of Sonora and currently reside only a few minutes from Historical Columbia. I absolutely adore Kate’s Teahouse and am always more than completely, 100% satisfied with what I get there.
I am a bit of a tea snob and I can tell you that there isn’t a tea on their menu that isn’t phenomenal. I am known to order their chicken pot pie, as well, as is it one of my favorites of any restaurant I’ve been to. The venue is beautiful and very cozy, it makes me feel at home.
One of my favorite memories is sitting in the garden room with my best friend on Valentine’s Day. It was raining, but the heaters were on and the service and food was amazing as always.
The selection on teas available is long and very comprehensive. They offer green, black, white, herbal, and flavored teas. One of my favorites is their Lapsang Souchong, though the Almond-Orange Rooibos is also wonderful.
Definitely visit Kate’s Teahouse. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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Rita Price
I visited Kate's Teahouse in Feburary 2019 with my sister and brother. It's such a lovely quaint place. The teas are to LIVE for, and I just had to bring some home. They even threw in some Chai tea to sample. Lunch with awesome and we ordered lavender & chocolate scones for dessert . It was awesome. My brother even enjoyed it, so men love to be pampered too. Staff was caring and AWESOME!!! Such a wonderful tribute to Katy. I will definitely be back!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND SO DESERVING OF 5 STARS!!!
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DeAnna DeLeon
Having tea has been a celebration ever since I was a small child serving my grandparents and stuffed animals with my play tea set and imaginary food. Columbia Kate's is child's dream brought to life, with delicious food and aromatic teas in the most charming setting of bygone era. The biggest bonus being the welcoming and attentive service one receives while at Kate's. Our family celebrates so many special moments with tea, but none so memorable as the times we have shared at Kate's. 5+ stars every time we go.
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Fred
I love to bring my wife here for lunch. My wife enjoys tea sized sandwiches their chicken pot pies fits my larger appetite perfectly. The scones and French pressed coffee are fantastic too. They even have gluten-free choices for our son. This is a fantastic destination in Columbia. My wife also enjoys shopping in the boutique across the street.
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Rhonda Buess
One of the best tea houses ever!! Truly a gem! If you are traveling through Gold Country...do not miss it! The scones are delectable! There is also a boutique across the street that is just wonderful operated by the same owner!! What a treat!!
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Marcia Martin
My art group friends and I drove from Modesto just to try lunch here. Oh how I wish I could order some of those scones and baked goods delivered, but of course, I plan to return as soon as possible. The place is quaint and beautifully decorated with fine china teacups and antique crystal sugar and creamer sets and a variety of fancy silverware. You can purchase lovely unusual gifts at the boutique including jewelry and accessories. In the restaurant, there's indoor and outdoor seating...all comfy. The menu is original and all fresh ingredients with sampler plates so you can try several items. They give you the tea of the day. There are so many teas to chose from including chocolate and lavender..oh it's so good. I really can't wait to go back. Colombia State Park is a wonderful enchanting step back in time. I'm so lucky to live within a couple of hours from this place. I hope you get to go there. It's a dream you won't forget.
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Wendy Gifford
My 14 year old and I love to visit tea houses and this one has become one of our favorites! We were made to feel very welcome. The tea and food was excellent and the atmosphere of the tea room was very inviting. We had a wonderful time and will absolutely go there again sometime. The owner came and spoke with us at one point to see how we were doing and we didn't realize she was the owner. She gave us a fun map of tea houses in the area and a little history about hers. The boutique shop and bakery across the street are also part of the tea house. They are wonderful as well. We found some beautiful items in the boutique and some tasty pastries to take with us at the bakery. I highly recommend going there and I'll tell all of my friends that go to this area. We came from Mendocino County, about 4 hours west of here, but we will make our way back sometime soon!
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Beverly B
I've been to Kate's 3 times in the past 5 years. I'd go more often but it's 2-1/2 hours away. It's been such a delightful experience each time. This time I left with Royal Irish and Almond Orange Rooibos to steep at home. My scone and cucumber sandwiches were excellent. We also visited the Boutique and were able to find unique gifts. Pretty unique to watch the stagecoach go by as we walked to our car!
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PamRidenour
My husband and I drive from Modesto to Kate's once a month to stock up on the amazing teas, to enjoy a delightful lunch, visit the bakery, and to stroll through the boutique. I was so very excited to see Lavander Lemonaide. A must try on our next trip up. Kate's staff is always so very helpful., that and one of Kate's famous apricot scones.
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Ray Patterson
I had the most delightful surprise when my wife and I visited Columbia Kate's for a break after spending the antiquing in Sonora and Columbia. We were blown away by the friendliness and knowledge of the staff. I asked for a suggestion ona light snack and was told I had to try the Apricot Scone. The server made a couple suggestions on a tea to accompany the scone and we selected the Almond/Orange Black Tea. What a magnificent paring. If you are any where near Columbia or the Gold Country in California, be sure to stop in and try this Gold Nugget of a tea house, just waiting for you to discover. You will feel rich beyond measure.
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Julie Goodwin
I had a delicious tea luncheon with several friends this past Sunday! Everything from the waitress to the table setting was delightful! My Buckingham Palace Garden Tea was such a nice compliment to the fabulous Apricot Scone and Chicken Pot Pie - My mom will be getting a Gift Certificate for Christmas!
I can't wait to invite friends for a future tea date!
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RebeccaTheGreat
Columbia Kate's has the best Teas hands down out of any tea house I have ever been to! Because I live on the east coast I don't make it out as often as I would like, but never fear they do online orders. The almond orange rooibos is enough to convert even the accomplished tea hater(my boyfriend was one). I also really love some of their berry teas (like the raspberry green which has real berries (I know, surprising, yes?). The quality of all their teas is amazing. I have never ordered a tea that I didn't love off their menu. The tea house food is fabulous and they have lots of creative vegetarian options that don't feel second best at all. Columbia Kate's is also in a great little town, I can recommend panning for gold or shopping the general store when you have had your fill of fabulous tea
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Linda Franklin
Today, July 10, 2013 was my first visit to Kate's Tea House. I and my two friends enjoyed emensly the choices of tea and dining selections and shared a 4 cup tea pot of Lavender Earl Gray with delicious chicken salad sandwiches and chicken pot pie. I loved the decor and can't wait to go back for another wonderful experience. Oh yes, did I mentioned the waitresses were most friendly and attentive. I give the entire time spent there Five Stars.
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Carly Alcorn
I love Columbia Kate's with all my heart! We visited 3 times during our honeymoon trip to Gold Country. We were greeted right away by Clare, the teahouse owner, and took a lovely seat by the window where we could look out onto beautiful Columbia, or look within at the absolutely adorable atmosphere. The tea list was was lengthy without being overwhelming. We first tried Russian Caravan - a delicious smokey black tea. We ordered a 4 cup pot along with two cups of smokey maple butternut squash soup. Heavenly. The food menu and and combinations are well thought, supplying a choice for every appetite and pocketbook. On our second visit, we came hungry and ordered the Motherlode Tea and the Dondero tea. The scones were the best I've had - apricot and white chocolate served fresh with cream, lemon curd, butter and jam (so good, i even finished off the condiments! so unladylike, i know). The tea sandwiches were nearly too lovely to eat. I particularly liked the Pickled Asparagus and dill cream cheese. The day's soup was a root vegetable with the most astounding brilliant rose color and delightful flavor. We also had Lapsang Souchong (woo! that has some punch!) and Roasted Mate. Both were delightful, and it was the eloquent wording on the menu that enchanted us into trying new flavors of tea. The third visit, I found wonderful vintage buttons for my collection, a gorgeous beaded blouse and gloves to wear to the theater later that night, and of course, drank tea and ate tasties til we nearly burst. The chicken pot pie is full of vegetables and flavorful chunks of chicken. The Turkey pot pie... now that was something extraordinary. Thanksgiving all baked together in a lovely heart shaped dish. I enjoyed a pot of my favorite tea - Assam, while my husband had a pot of China Gunpowder. I enjoyed the selection of cups for use and for purchase. The staff was so friendly and attentive, though all our needs were met the instant we came through the door. I love this place! You must go!
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Sharon Quintana
My husband and I live in the Mother Lode and discovered Kate's on a trip to Columbia our first November in the area. We love it and come at least once a month for a fix. I am a member of a tea group in Calaveras County and so I am familiar with a good tea experience. This is a great tea experience with fantastic food. The menu has a large variety certain to please everyone.
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Stacy s.
I love coming here for lunch. I live an hour away but will gladly travel for the tea, scones, and macarons. They offer a wide variety of teas. The ambiance is also very nice. My children like to come for a ' proper tea.' My husband is not a tea drinker but he enjoys the food and coffee here.
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Tammy Foth
I fell in love with this lil quaint tea house back in 2008. I took my mom up to Columbia, Ca to show her the park and town. We stopped into Columbia Kates teahouse and we both felt that we were transported into a different time. A time where life was more simple and people appreciated the small things in life. We both ordered a couple of finger sandwiches and some lovely ice tea. I ordered the angel's dream and without a doubt feel instantly in love with the aroma and delicate flavor of blackberry. I can't remember what my mom ordered but after completing our great light meal, I decided to ask about their teas (they have a HUGE selection) and whether they did mail order or perhaps online ordering. To my delight, they DO! I've been an extremely satisfied customer of this teahouse ever since. Their friendly yet professional service was fantastic and appreciated. Their selection of teas, phenomenal! The owner is HIGHLY knowledgeable in her field and could answer all of my many questions. Not once making me feel as if I was wasting her time. The shipping on all my teas thus far (and I order a lot!), excellent! Quick, never missing any teas and always a friendly 'Thank you' with each order.
Last time I was there, I bugged her a little more about her tea knowledge and found out she actually creates all of the teas I really like from there! I just think that is amazing! For anyone out there (like me) who does NOT appreciate lemon in their tea, as most do. Her own creation, named 'Meyer Lemon Cream'... is not tart nor bitter (like with typical lemon teas). It's smooth and well... creamy as the name implies. She uses Meyer lemons and as all those who bake knows, those are the BEST lemons around! I also highly recommend the cream of potato sausage soup! It was absolutely divine!
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Rosemary Bliss
My favorite place to go. Authentic ambiance, eclectic and interesting shabby chic decor, huge tea selection, gift shop, and garden.
They make everything from scratch and have won awards for their unique and delicious deserts.
I love this place and go every chance I get!
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Caroline
My mom and I were finishing a two day road trip through Gold Country and stopped by Columbia for lunch. If only I had known about Kate's at the time! While eating at another local eatery I found Columbia Kate's in a brochure and set out to find the tea house - being quite a tea lover myself.
Our first step in the door was filled with the most beautiful aroma, and the tea menu itself took me several minutes to pour over and decide. After we finally settled on a tea to share, we moved on to the delectable list of desserts (and the lunch menu looked amazing too!). The tea was wonderful (and the loose blends I bought to take home are even more amazing), the food was great, and the service was attentive and pleasant. The tea garden was cute and whimsical. I highly recommend the Paris and Buckingham Palace blends.
I definitely plan to go back, regardless of the 7+ hour drive!
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Donna S
My friend and I went to Kate's Teahouse & we were delighted Everything! The tea,food and ambiance were wonderful. There is so much to see and enjoy inside of Kate's. I had a yummy sampler plate of cookies, sandwiches and sweets and then we started shopping! I bought their homemade scones to go. Can't wait to go again. (which is next week)!
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Jenine-Lacette
I'm wasn't really into tea culture before I visited Kate's! Now, I can't wait to make the six hour drive from L.A. to Columbia to visit it again. Aside from a vast array of teas (my favorite rooibos tea came in about 10 varieties), the staff members were friendly and patient even when hoards of tourists showed up. No one rushed us or made us feel anything but welcome while we finished our delicious tea, soup and sandwiches (vegan options, no less!). I also found myself spellbound by the dazzling array of on-trend yet unique clothing items and jewelry. Owner Clare creates many of the pieces herself, even my favorite steam punk cuffs and earrings! The combination of architectural charm, history and warm smiles makes this my favorite teahouse and an amazing cultural experience.
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Erin O'Hare
I have to confess...I am lucky enough to live just a few miles from Columbia Kate's Tea House and today was the first time I visited. My loss for not having done so sooner! The atmosphere is relaxing and comfy, artistic and inspiring. The menu selection, for both teas and food is vast and fantastic. I visited with my best friend, my Girl Scout co-leader, my eleven year old daughter and her best friend. The girls had a great time searching through an antique chest of drawers that was filled with buttons (available for purchase) both before and after they ate lunch. The presentation of our food was worthy of a foodie magazine photo contest (seriously!) and it was all DELICIOUS (and very reasonably priced too). Our food was fresh, pretty, imaginiative and most importantly, healthy and homemade. I had a really delicious lemonade that was infused with lavender, it was amazing! Everything about Columbia Kate's is welcoming and warm. This is a fabulous place to have lunch with friends, family, out of town guests or even by yourself if you're so inclined. On my way out I couldn't help but notice all of the unique gift goodies they offer, one of the items was a plaque that read 'women are like tea bags, you never know how strong they are until they get in hot water', HA, so true. I'll definitely be going in again soon for lunch and a little shopping!
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Bonita
As an avid teahouse connoisseur, I was absolutely delighted to find Columbia Kate’s Teahouse! I visited with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law on 5-5-11. Unequivocally, this best-kept-secret is the finest place to enjoy the pleasures of tea in every way. The extensive menu offers deliciously superb food . . . we have never tasted finer! The vast selection of tea prepared to perfection is unsurpassed. It is an understatement to say the entire staff is warm and hospitable. As a bonus, Columbia Kate’s Teahouse offers a variety of unique products at very reasonable prices. Overall, our experience created a memory that we want to repeat soon.
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Janelle
The best teahouse I've ever been to! The deserts are out of this world and the decor is so warm and inviting. My husband and I now make a yearly trek for Valentines Day and make a point to stop on our way to Yosemite! The soups and the sandwich's are sooooo delicious. Try this place if you haven't and be sure to have the tea sampler...mmmm!
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patty brown
I enjoyed going into Columbia Kate`s for a quiet afternoon tea. I was by myself, but soon had great conversation with other patrons and the very friendly staff. The food and tea was superb, I can`t wait to go back again! The atmosphere was incredible. It would take quite a few visits to take in all of the cups and saucers that are on display. The button collections, fine teas and other beautiful items were so fun to look at. What a nice quiet place to go to read a good book, and enjoy a beautiful cup of tea in the late afternoon. Or better yet, come earlier and enjoy a wonderful lunch and dessert. I can`t wait to go back!!!
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Kathy G
I've been to a lot of tea places, but this is the best. The delicious, fresh food was outstanding. Even the sandwich bread was made fresh there! From the owner, Clare, to the staff they were all pleasant, helpful and accommodating creating an environment that everyone just seemed to be having a great time - we certainly were! Wishing I could go back tomorrow!
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Barb
The Merced Roaming Elks Red Hat ladies felt we had found the perfect place when we were lucky enough to visit Columbia Kate’s shortly after it first opened four years ago. We have been coming every year since to enjoy the warm hospitality which Clare and her staff provide. When the weather cooperates we enjoy being in the garden room while selecting from the delicious offerings on the menu. Besides the unbelievable varieties of tea, all of the artfully presented food is prepared fresh daily in her shop. “Outstanding” is the expression from all who have been there. This has become our favorite yearly destination. Don’t miss this unique experience.
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California Tea Queen
My Dad, step mom and I had a wonderful relaxing afternoon tea today at Kate's! I had not been in a couple of years....what was I thinking????? This is the BEST tearoom in the area! Also, this was the first time I ever had tea with my Dad who is 80 years old. :) Such a special afternoon!
Food: The scone was warm and flavorful--just delightful. We all had the Chicken Salad sandwich which is yummy yummy yummy! The 'house bread' is DELISH!!!! The tea choices as always are amazing....I had apricot decaf and Mom and Dad had Raspberry--hot, wonderfully brewed--perfect. For dessert--bread pudding...again--a winner!
GIFT SHOP: And I have not even raved on and on about the gift shop which has so many delightful tea items. Plus you can buy any tea that is on the menu and take it home with you. :)
SERVICE: Amazing hospitality! Everyone is so friendly and accommodating. You really do feel so pampered, not rushed and like you are having tea at a good friends house. Do yourself a favor...and come up to Columbia Kate's! You will not be disappointed.
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Jennifer
I went here w/ my 2 sisters, niece, and mom the day before Christmas and we all had a WONDERFUL time! I am not a tea drinker, but thoroughly enjoyed the peppermint herbal tea and an AMAZING gingerbread scone with creamcheese frosting. The interior decorations are very interesting (and not in a bad way) and we just loved looking around the tea room during our visit. Thank you for such a wonderful time!
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Andie and Maggie Rosendin
After a long year of waiting for a chance to make the trip from the East Bay to Columbia Kate's, we finally made it today! The tearoom is wonderfully decorated and just our cup of tea, actually - charming, chic and artistic!
My daughter (10) and I enjoyed a pot of Jasmine flower green tea which was delish! Maggie had the rocky road brownie and I had the AMAZING bread pudding. I love that you can enjoy a pot of tea and treats a'la cart without being tied into a particular prix fix service. The flexibility, variety and value are exceptional! The service was impeccable and all of the gals so stylish and kind. I have been following Columbia Kate's on Facebook after finding it here. I told our server and Clare (the owner) came by to meet us! What a lovely treat!
Don't forget to save time to shop in the boutique! We found many wonderfully delightful holiday pressies for others, ourselves and for our own at-home tea garden!
Both Maggie and I cannot WAIT to come back. My only regret is Columbia Kate's isn't Livermore Kate's :) so we could go as often as we want!!!
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Sabrina
My mom and I took a trip to Columbia and stopped in to Kates. It was a great experience. We have been to many teahouses, but this was one of our favorites. We went back the second day of our trip. The staff is wonderful, as well as the delicious food and teas. We also enjoyed looking at all the beautiful gifts to purchase. I give it an A++++.
Thank you
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Brian Devereaux
Let me first start off by saying that Columbia Kate's is just awesome. It really is as good as it gets. To think that there's an amazing tea house in Columbia, CA is just mind-blowing.
The tea is absolutely fantastic. With a choice of over 80 teas, you could go and have a new tea every day for virtually three months, plus I believe they rotate their teas every now and again. But as good as the tea is, the food is just incredible as well. It's everything you'd want from a tea house.
My wife and I went during a visit from my wife's parents and we went inside just to take a look around. We were greeted by an absolutely warm and friendly staff. After looking around a bit, we decided to sit down and have some tea. When we looked at the menu, we decided to try some of their food along with the tea.
My wife and I shared a slice of mint chocolate cheesecake and also an apricot scone. Let me just say that the apricot scone was PERFECT. It was amazing. Fluffy and freshly baked with the consistency of a biscuit, rather than a dried out cookie. The flavor of the apricot was perfectly balanced inside the scone as well.
The scone also came with butter, jam and their house 'Devonshire cream', which we were told was a twist on the classic, marscarpone cheese with whipped cream and a bit of lemon peel. Just their Devonshire cream was incredible, in and of itself. Divine.
The mint chocolate cheesecake was also very good. Definitely has the perfectly home-made touch/feel, with the consistency being perfect. Not too overly processed, it had a bit of bite to it which was perfect.
My mother-in-law also had an egg salad sandwich, which everyone around the table decided to sample except for myself. They all loved it, my mother-in-law claimed it was the best egg salad sandwich she'd ever had. My wife was also blown away by how good it was.
My wife also had a Rooibos tea, 'Berry Blast', I believe it was called. Perfectly refreshing for a summer day. It was suggested by the waitress for my wife and they really hit the nail on the head.
Let me just finish by saying that Columbia Kate's is world class. It's amazing that it's located in the middle of Gold Rush Country and everything is so amazingly perfect. You can tell it's definitely a labor of love. They go the extra mile to have something that's really uniquely special and head and shoulders above anything you could probably find for the nearest couple hundred miles.
Definitely one of my favorite places. We'll be going for brunch on Saturdays any chance we get!!!
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Melissa Robledo
This place is like a retreat from the world. The atmosphere is relaxed, but it gives off a feeling of elegance at the same time. It made me want to put on gloves and an antique hat. The food was incredible! Before Columbia Kate's I hated cucumber sandwiches, in fact I'm not a big fan of cucumbers, but trust me... they are SO good here! Truly delightful. I was completely satisfied and charmed by this place. There were several pages of tea to choose from. Black, white and green in various flavors (I don't know much about tea, but the menu is on their website). The service was prompt and the staff and owner so kind. My favorites out of the sampler plate I shared with my friend were: the green tea scone, the pistachio scone (with cream... yum!), the cucumber sandwiches and the lavender lemonade.
There are tons of cute odds and ends for sale as well. They offer indoor seating and an enclosed patio. My party of 6 sat indoors and had the place to ourselves until the very end of our visit. Delightful! I can't wait to go back!
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Gary
I FOUND THIS NICE REVIEW ON YELP.COM & thought it should be shared (link from the Columbia State Historic Park reviews on yelp is http://www.yelp.com/biz/columbia-state-historic-park-columbia )
4/28/2010 Where else could you find a twister dog and a tornado potato? Why just outside Columbia State Park, that's where!
Gold was discovered in Columbia in 1850. Thousands of miners poured into Columbia to 'make their fortune'. Could they have imagined more than 150 years later folks would still be panning for gold there?
Horse drawn stage coach rides take you through the streets of another era. Little House On The Prairie did some of their filming on Main Street as did the movie High Noon with their famous shoot out.
My favorite book store captures my interest with each visit. Mi Wuk and Fox Indians artifacts are on display. Some are for sale. So many items of interest and books for varied topics. Brought two more home to my library today.
Watching families walk along the wooden sidewalks and quiet street reminded me of Main Street in Disneyland. It's a great place to people watch.
Columbia Kate's Teahouse was my destination. After an amazing lunch made in the their tiny efficient kitchen, I could see why they won two first place ribbon's in Sonora's bake contest again this year. Thought I was too full for dessert until I saw the bread pudding with rum sauce. Sat back, watched the people enjoying their day as I took my time memorizing each delightful bite of the dessert.
Drove home enjoying the lush green hillsides with oak trees leafed out in their brightest spring green. The four deer grazing in a brilliant raspberry sunset brought this relaxing day to an end.
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Dawn Kelly
This is my favorite place to go eat! I drive over an hour to meet my girlfriends there and enjoy the delicious food, the wonderful and kind service and the unique items for sale. DELICIOUS bread pudding. The best I've ever tasted, and I've tasted a LOT. I recommend Columbia Kate's to anyone!
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Denise
Mother and I stopped by today on a whim and could not stop talking about are wounderful experiance on the hour long drive home! Are server was great and so helpful, all of her sugestions were perfect. The food fresh and delicious and the tea brewed to perfection. We both had ice tea and so enjoyed it. My new favorite tea house!! Thanks for the great afternoon!! Ps you ast. manager deserves a raise!
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Marion, from the Silver Teapot
My two friends were visiting from England when we came to your tea room in April. Your food was wonderful, our waitress was wonderful and the owner very friendly, we loved your place. I am the owner of the tearoom in Manteca and I thought Columbia Kates was outstanding!! It is nice to know I can go to a nice tearoom to relax, that is not my own place.
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Lucy
Columbia Kates has amazing tea and EXCELLENT food! Their chicken pot pie is amazing. As is ALL of their salads. The peanut butter and jelly is made on homemade bread. The desserts are always great too. The teas are delightful. I love their cute little spoons and the tea cups hanging on each table. My fiance said it's too cluttered, which may be true but somehow it seems fitting of the eclectic little house. Our waitress was nice enough. I wish they stayed open later though!
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Randy Lundgren
Columbia Kate's is one of the Mother Lodes best kept secrets. The food and desserts are fresh and flavorfully old fashion and handmade with love and great care, bringing back memories of flavors I haven't tasted since my childhood. The tea flavors are multi-dimensional and unlike any I have ever tasted and the presentation is wonderful. The quality of service is superb and the atmosphere is quaint, reminds me of Grandma's House. Kate's is not just any teahouse, it is an experience!!
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Shauna Love
We LOVE going to Columbia Kate's Teahouse!!! The teas(The Peach is Yummy!) are Amazing & the food is homemade and Exquisite, it is always presented beautifully. Then there's the desserts, ...they're to DIE for-Bread Pudding my fav...
This is a wonderful place & Clare and her staff are Wonderful!!
This is a must when visiting Columbia...
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Sharon Marshall
For a relaxing and charmed tea experience, I can't imagine anything better than Columbia Kate's. Every time we go there is something new to try. The staff is wonderful and the food beyond description. It's like a mini-vacation!
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Two for Tea
Our afternoon tea at Columbia Kate's was delightful! Upon entering the charming historic building, we were warmly greeted. We had Kate's Tea. The cranberry/white chocolate scones were wonderful. I chose Thai Chai which was perfectly brewed & delicious. The coconut cheesecake was divine! The terrific staff were so gracious & provided extraordinary service. Clare has created a very special tea room.
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adrian page
Had afternoon tea there today. The tea was the best blend I've ever tasted - as a Brit abroad I'm pretty fussy - and the apricot scones were to die for. If anybody is visiting the Yosemite area, then take a small detour. It really is worth the effort!
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Corinne Egle
During the holidays, my family and I, for the second year in a row, made the trip to Columbia to enjoy this quaint tea house! It is by far the best tea house I have ever been to. It's just like you would imagine - a cozy little old place filled with warmth, love, and hot tea! Oh, and great food! Thank you, Columbia Kate's for making people happy!
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Lynne K.
I went to Columbia Kate's yesterday and had a delicious lunch of Maria's Favorite sandwich, fresh fruit and sweet potato tea...YUM! The pear blueberry pecan pie topped it all off. The staff at Kate's is so friendly and efficient. The service is excellent. I had such a delicious lunch that I decided to g back today with two other friends. Again, the lunch is so yummy...Creamy Artichoke soup with hazelnuts, homemade bread and Almond Orange tea to top it all off. the ambiance can't be beat. Thanks you staff of Columbia Kate's for two delicious lunches.
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Lynne
We go to Columbia Kate's Teahouse any chance we get. The teas are many, the food is homemade and so very tasty, plus beautifully presented. The desserts, well...they're to die for. Clare, the owner, is very gracious, as is the rest of her staff. Go to Columbia Kate's for a real treat.
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Holly Bowen
I had been to Kate's Tea House with some girls from work and knew I needed to take my mom here. My sister and I surprised her with lunch at Kate's on 11/29/09. We had delicious warm scones with lemon like butter,fabulous chicken pot pie and wonderful hot tea. They had a raspberry and I had the white tea tropical ambrosia! It was a wonderful day and my mom will return again, as will I.
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Jill
What a fun place! Buttons and tea knickknacks everywhere! There was a wonderful variety of teas to choose from, and the food was excellent. Our group all tried the Kate's tea. We had a choice of scones (most places just have 'the scone-of-the-day), and this tea has a small salad (again, a choice of several--try the strawberry spinach salad-delicious!) in addition to the sandwiches. No sweets are included in that particular tea, but really, you don't need any, what with the delicious fruit scone to start. Also, by the time you've finished your scone, salad, and tea sanwiches, there's no room for any more! Our hostess Claire was wonderful (turns out she knows a fried of ours). We would definitely return! It makes for a nice stop when you're spending the day in Columbia.
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JH, Traveling Tea Tarts
We are a group of 6 ladies who travel around the Bay Area and No. CA visiting tea rooms. This is one of our favorites. Like Debra, we loved the unique way the tea cups are presented. The selection of teas is extensive. The scones are delicious as are the tea sandwiches and lovely salads. The presentation and service is outstanding. Claire, the 'Button lady,' and her staff are great. The gift shop has a variety of delightful and fun items. Columbia Kate's Teahouse is located in historic Columbia State Park/old town which is a delight to walk around and enjoy. We even went on a stage coach ride in the park after tea!
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Debra
We've been visiting tea rooms as we travel and so far this one is my favorite. Loved the way the cups are presented, (see photos) discovered a new favorite tea from the extensive selection. I especially like that the tea comes to you perfectly brewed and the leaves are left in the kitchen. The fresh fruit was a work of art, tea bread delectable. One of the servers didn't seem to enjoy her job much, or maybe we offended her in some way, but everything else about the experience was above our expectations.
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A big fan
I was on a tearoom trip with a friend this weekend. We drove from the Bay Area to experience Columbia Kate's. It was wonderful. Claire and her staff were very attentive and knowledgable. The homemade bread, sandwiches, scones and desserts were yummy. They have an extentsive tea list, something for everyone. An overall pleasure to have tea here.
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Richard 05-30-09
I had the distinct pleasure to visit Columbia Kate's for high tea today. I agree that the place is haunted by spirits of good things. Every item I devoured was of top quality! The scones and tea breads were so wonderful I felt that I had already enjoyed dessert when the excellent waitress asked me if I wanted any. I had to indulge my gluttony and order the apple, berry, cherry crumble. I know now how this delicacy is supposed to taste. It was so sweet and tarte at the same time, a masterpiece.My wife had to take some of the African Solstice loose leaf tea for a repeat of her ice tea enjoyed at high tea. The last time I had tea at Kate's the resident spirit had transported me to another realm of peace and tranquillity. I ended by expanding my tea education and tea items I could not find elsewhere. This exquisite 'barn' is truely a destination to experience for mental and physical health. Everyone owes it to themselves to indulge this perfect gift at least once in their lifetime.
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Rachel F.
This is still the best tea room I have been to. The atmosphere is cozy and victorian, but also funky, which is fun. Their tea assortment had its own menu and was at least 8 pages long, if not more. The food was yummy and the tea was excellent. The employees were friendly, helpful and dressed to match to tearoom. The gift shop has awesome jewelry made by the owner, and drawers and drawers of vintage and new buttons for purchase. It was a great experience!
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Roberta
We just spent our 14th Anniversary on Valentine's Day at Columbia Kate's. We had visited two teashops in San Francisco the previous day, but decided to celebrate at Kate's. Super decision! The Valentine's menu was delicious, colorful and beautifully presented. Even the teacups were heartshaped so poured tea looked like a heart (we had raspberry tea, so our 'tea heart' was red). The atmosphere was warm, the service friendly. Columbia Kate's was the perfect place for a very special day.
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Sandra
My boyfriend and I took a drive up to the snow and stopped into Columbia for a spell (1/25/09). I fell in love with Columbia Kate's. We stopped in on a cold rainy afternoon for a nice pot of hot tea and were amazed to find the overwhelming variety of teas offered. I had the Monks Blend and my boyfriend opted for the Grapefruit. We went home with some loose teas including the Bosphorus, and let me tell you, that tea is addicting! Clare was very gracious and her staff was very attentive and sweet. That visit really made the rest of the day very special for both of us. We will remember it for a long time and do plan to re-visit as often as we are able. The teahouse is very quaint, adorned and festooned with lovely little treasures. A very pleasant time was had by all. We did not have any of the food as it is difficult to eat out when you are diabetic, but I did appreciate the fact that they offer Splenda as their alternative to sugar.
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Janet
My friend and I, two retired teachers who are now locals in Tuolumne County, enjoyed another delightful tea lunch today at Kate's. The lentil soup was superb, as was the scone I couldn't resist. The service was excellent, prompt and friendly. We both had places we had to be this New Year's Eve afternoon, but getting out through the enticements in the gift shop still took longer than we meant it to. We will continue to visit this oasis often.
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Carina
Last Sunday, Dec. 21, my family and I wanted to escape the hustle and rush of holiday happenings and find a quiet respite to truly enjoy the beauty of the season. We drove 2 1/2 hours from our home in Clayton to the charming, historic town of Columbia, CA to enjoy tea, scones and chicken pot pie! What a treat it was! We were inspired by the web page and the pictures of Columbia Kate's, which was our reason for choosing it over other tea rooms nearby. My children who are 13 and 15 loved it as much as my husband and I, and we hope to make it a yearly tradition during the Christmas season. Please take some time yourself, during the busy holiday season to unwind, relax and enjoy this wonderful little tea house. After you enjoy your tea luncheon, you can walk around the little town of Columbia to browse the small shops and discover some history of California's gold country. Thank you, Columbia Kate's, for making our visit a very special and memorable family day!
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Janet
This tea room has a wonderful choice of teas but visiting from England and not having had a 'proper cup of tea' for 2 weeks,the English breakfast tea was the definite choice for us. Perfectly served with a delicious apricot scone in delightful surroundings, we really enjoyed our visit.
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Julia
An absolutely blissful experience. Claire was friendly, helpful, and informative! We shared our memories of English cream teas, and - in my opinion - she has devised the best clotted cream this side of the Atlantic. She also serves a proper pot of tea, perfectly warmed and steeped. The food was wonderful, too. The squash soup and chili (not a usual afternoon tea meal for me!) were both terrific, and warmed us through. The Tea Sampler was perfect for two people, augmented with the soup and an extra scone. The ambiance is delightful without being frilly. I cannot say enough about Columbia Kate's. It set us right for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I wish I lived close by!
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Treya
Columbia Kate's Teahouse just off the main road in Columbia is a lovely oasis of tea and gourmet food pleasure. My quiche was amazing and the peach cobbler was made from Farmers Market produce Kate purchased and made herself. She makes every effort to have a quiet and delightful experience in her well appointed and thoughtful tearoom of historical significance.
We are a small family of three and there was something for all of us on the extensive menu. Kate will bring you a sample of lemonade-homemade of course!
We look forward to returning to this gem of a tearoom soon.
The Weintraub Family
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Heather
I just want to say that AI stand by my review. To Eleanor- Did you read my review? I have been there 3 disapointing times. And to Gary- I have nothing to do with that other teahouse, except as loyal customer. Maybe you should try it. Reminder, this is an opinion!!! There are obviously a lot of satified patrons, I just don't happen to be one of them.
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Britt
Consistent with all the other reviews (apart from one grumpy outlier who must have been in the wrong tea house), I feel lucky to say that I've found one of the best tea houses: Columbia Kate's Teahouse. My husband who grew up in both England and Ireland knows his teas and his scones and double cream and lemon curd. He, too, was blown away with the delicious food, wonderful presentation, fabulous flavors (loved the apricot scone, but the lavinder one was my favorite), and impressive variety of teas. The service is great as well. I recommend this teahouse to anyone.
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Eleanor
This tea house is fantastic! The food there is amazing and the award winning desserts are rightfully acclaimed. I would reccomend this tea house to anyone, even those who do not normally fancy tea parties. It will be an experience you will never forget. And to Julia, my appologies, but perhaps you should actually visit Columbia Kate's before before you make completely untrue accusations.
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Linda
I was on a trip for one of my college classes about the history of the mother lode and we came upon Columbia Kate's Teahouse. I will have to remember to thank my professor for it. I loved this place. My mother and grandmother traveled with me. We had a large pot of tea that we all shared. It was so smooth. It took us a few minutes to decide because we had so much to chose from. I think we picked the Buckingham Palace tea there were so many it is hard to remember the name.The service and atmosphere there was divine. From the tea cups and decorations down to the music they played. I would love it if I lived closer so that I could go there all the time. We loved the Quiche, fresh bread all the food, and even took some scones to go so we could have them for breakfast.(we wished we would have bought more than we did) I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys tea and a lovely place to enjoy it. (The menu also had great information on the history of tea). WE all LOVED IT, LOVED IT, Um did I say I LOVED It yet?
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Carol
Three friends and I visited Columbia Kate's recently and were delighted with the experience! We loved the quaint location, the mismatched decor, the cozy tearooms and screened patio area! The tea selection was great and the sandwich fillings delicious! The crunchy tostettes were a little hard to chew for my more 'mature' friends, but the owner was very open to accommodating us next time! We loved the unsual tea gifts and book collections offered too. Columbia Kate's is definitely a nugget we're glad we found!
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Kathy E
Myself and 3 friends visited Columbia Kate's this weekend and it was a wonderful experience. Much more than I expected. The ambience and exceptional service was great. We all ordered different lunches and they were all delicious. The scones and bread pudding were sumptuous. It was a day to remember and we will definitely be back in the near future.
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Elfie
Our visit today was delightful. The food is exceptional, I understand everything is made fresh on the premises. Our hostess went out of her way to make us comfortable and welcome. She patiently answered all our questions. I highly recommend 'Kate's Tea'... it was perfect! Can't wait to visit again!
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Elizabeth
I have visited this tea room three times and left with a smile on my face and experienced all that I had wished to and more. From the sweet period atmosphere, artistic porcilan jewlery to the perfectly brewed tea and satisfingly delicious eats my senses were charged. Way to go Columbia Kates!
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Anne Mingus
Our tea was absolutely wonderful--very substantial and so very good. The scones were really special. Kate's teahouse is delightful--a warm, inviting atmosphere. Our server's knowledge of the teas available--and there were a great many--seemed very exceptional. We look forward to many more teas at Kate's.
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Pat Gordon
This is a must visit when I travel to Sonora for a visit with my best friend. We always have to go to Kates. It is wonderfully cozy. The tea selections are not to be believed...so many. The food is hearty,simple and delicious. Their Tea sandwiches actually have filling in them, where as some fancier tea houses have a smear instead. The decor makes you feel like you have stepped back in time to a civilized time. You can purchase quantities of your favorite teas and also many tea accessories are available. There is also a huge button collection, and you can purchase them. This is a favorite place of mine and I hope you take the time to try it.
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Wendy Palmer
What a lovely afternoon!!! My friend and I enjoyed a wonderful tea experience at Columbia Kates. We have been to many tearooms (including ones in England and Ireland) over the past 15 years, and we were especially impressed with the delicious, freshly baked scones and homemade bread. The selection of teas was quite extensive and amazing. Everyone was so friendly and made us feel at home. We look forward to our next visit.
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brenda edwards
I have had several tea dates here with my sisters in law and my children. we have had such great service and excellent teas that we are always looking for the next open date to return. I would recommend to all.
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Malinda
I had the pleasure of sampling Kate's teas at a get together with friends. The food was wonderful (it's obvious they bake everything fresh daily), and the atmosphere is relaxing. I enjoyed the fact there was absolutely no pressure to buy their teas or goodies, they truly focus on you having a good experience in their shop!! I will definitely return, and have raved to several friends at work already!!
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Sandi
I have been to Columbia Kate's twice now and I love it. It's a charming building, the service is great and there is quite a variety of tea's to choose from. I really like that they have an item menue called 'tea tasting' where you can choose four different tea's to sample. The food is good and the bread pudding is wonderful! I would highly recommend this shop and I plan to return often.
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Kim and Carol
We frequently like to visit delightful tea rooms and recently discovered Columbia Kate's--a true 'gem' in the Mother Lode. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon full of special touches:
*Tabletop choice of mismatched tea cup and saucer
*A pick of tasty scone flavor
*Unique toastette sandwiches and other creatively garnished edibles
*A variety of yummy salads included in the reasonably priced Tea Sampler
*Cute seating available indoors or in an enclosed porch area
*Homemade tea bread complementing other freshly made goodies
After lingering over many cups of delectable teas selected from their extensive tea menu (Berry Blues was our favorite!), we leisurely browsed thtough the trinkets tucked in the nooks and crannies of the historic, restored barn. You, too, can strike gold by visiting Columbia Kate's!!!
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Lee J
I have visited the shop for tea twice and I must say their food is delicious and it is presented very nicely. I especially liked the scones, served nice and hot and fresh!
The tea was not hot when it came to the table.and I had to ask for more. However, they do serve my favorite tea, and that is a plus! They have a very nice selection and I was really happy to find my 'Lady Grey' on the menu.
I'm sure as they get up and running these little problems will be ironed out.
They have a small selection of gift items that are really tempting too and have more items each time I go in.
Altogether it was a very pleasant experience and I'm sure I will return often. Their location is charming, an old house in Columbia, which reflects the gold rush town heritage and they even have a patio room. When I was there the second time there was a small group in that part of the shop and it made a cozy out of the way place for a group.
All in all, I enjoyed my visit, and will go again for sure!