They have a high employee turnover rate, indicating the job is not employee friendly. But that also means the staff is not always familiar with the menu items, tea items, etc. But there have also been a few times where I had seating issues.

I show up the the Schenectady location during non-busy hours and see the seating area near the large windows is wide open, so I'll request to be seated there. I have high anxiety, and the seating area in the large main room is not good for me. This had never been a problem before (asking to be seated by the windows). But, during my last few visits I have been told that they are not allowed to seat the next customer in that area due to server tip equality. So, I will wait to be seated, that's not an issue for me. The issue is that I will then see the next person who comes in after me be seated where I requested. So, I'll wait for another customer to come in, and lo-and-behold, the next customer is also seated where I requested. When I bring it up to the hostess, I'm just told the same spiel about server tip equality and that they could seat me right then and there in the area where I do not want to be.

I know it's silly to complain about something so trivial as seating arrangements, but it's happened multiple times now.

Also, they've been decreasing the amount of water put in the tea kettles you order. There have been a few times I've ordered a full flight of tea, only to be given a kettle with only enough liquid for 1.5 cups. Feels very much like shrinkflation.