Empire Tea & Coffee, Newport, Rhode Island
Empire Tea & Coffee
401-619-138822 Broadway, Newport, RI
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“Ice Cream...wrapped in rice paper? WTF!?”
Sean's Review
02/08
I probably go to Empire Tea & Coffee in Newport about a dozen times a year. Inside you find a very cozy atmosphere, much like a Starbucks or your typical internet café. Their menu is filled with fun things to try, and most of the time the service is excellent.
Empire has a dessert, which no matter how you describe it, sounds like it's going to taste like crap. Trust me, as a skeptic it took a lot of coursing to get me to eat a Mochi. What is a Mochi you ask? It is a ball of ice cream wrapped in pulverized rice paper. See? I told you it sounds like crap... but man, they are SO good. They usually come in a variety of delicious flavors that change out consistently, like Tiramisu, Adzuki Bean & Mango, and they cost about $1.25 each.
One thing on their menu, which I personally think sucks however, is "Bubble Tea"... It is basically a flavored tea filled with tapioca chunks. If I were you I would go with a more traditional beverage and experiment with the eclectic sandwiches and tasty snacks they have to offer instead.
Empire supports local artists, and they go out of their way to house different events like live music and poetry readings. Wi-Fi is free, and they have a bunch of iMac's in the place free to can use as well.
Sean the human gives this joint 4 scoops.
Erik Says
I totally agree with Sean, Empire is not to be missed, but neither is the Bubble Tea! I am a big fan of the tapioca chunks (although I agree that it does sound unappetizing) and I encourage everyone to try them. The teas come in a variety of flavors and it is always fun to shoot the ‘bubbles’ in your friends face with the oversized straws.
