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For years, Delia McKernan collected tea time trinkets and decor to throw parties in her and her friends’ homes.
“This has been my dream for 20-plus years,” she said. “It’s got to the point where I have an attic, two sheds and a trailer full of props and things from traveling around. This is exhausting, I can’t do this anymore, I need a home base.”
She found her home base at 154 Montauk Highway in Blue Point, right next door to Hot Chicken Mama — opening the Mad Batter Tea Room and Café in February. McKernan has since guided her patrons down the rabbit hole into her Alice in Wonderland inspired Victorian era tea room beyond the bar area at the front of house.
Elegance coats every wall and piece of furniture in McKernan’s special space. Each seat boasts its own individual tea pot and food tower.
Mad Batter offers about 40 different types of teas and a handful of coffees on a rotational basis, McKernan said. At the bar, customers can order from her ever-changing daily menu board.
“It’s just whatever strikes my fancy,” McKernan said of her daily menu. “I’m one of those people, I don’t like a boring, consistent menu. Then when I see what people really really like, then I’ll narrow it down to keep on a consistent menu.”
So far, she said, people enjoy her fresh angus burger and the pan-seared talapia. Many others take to the Mad Batter salad of mixed greens, sliced pear, candied walnuts, crumbled blue cheese, dried cranberries and the house vinaigrette.
The tea experience for friends
McKernan’s tea room provides the full tea experience for guests. She serves chocolate chip and blueberry scones and loads tea towers with various sandwiches. She said the turkey, brie and green apple, the regatta, arugula and pear, and the roast beef with horseradish mayo are her most popular sandwich creations so far.
The tea maker, baker and chef draws on her previous aromatherapy experience to infuse much of her tea room menu with fresh floral ingredients, including lavender infused scones, loose tea and lemonade.
While parties of dozens of guests celebrating bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays and christenings book her tea room, McKernan believes her wonderland is perfect for small groups of friends.
“Tea is the type of atmosphere where you come and you’re not rushed,” she said.” It’s not crazy busy and noisy with too many distractions. When you come for tea, you come and you hang out for a while and you enjoy yourself. The tea room is a place for people catching up with friends.”
Hours and photos
The Mad Batter Tea Room is open Tuesday, from noon-5 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, from noon-7 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, from noon-8 p.m. (or later to enjoy live entertainment). It is closed on Monday.
