New Daylight Concept Targets Family Dining QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine is launching Afternoon Tea at QUA, a seasonal tea service that applies Chinese culinary traditions to the afternoon tea format. Available exclusively on the restaurant's open-air patio, the experience pairs a tiered presentation of Chinese-inspired sweets and savory items with a shared pot of tea. The concept originated with Kei Concepts co-CEO Ivy Ha, who drew on personal memories of hosting tea with family and friends. "Afternoon tea has always felt like permission to slow down," Ha said. "You're not rushing through a meal or moving on to the next thing. You're sitting, talking, and enjoying the people you're with. I've hosted tea at home with my friends and our kids, and those are some of my favorite memories. When we created QUA, I wanted to bring that same feeling here and express it through our food and culture." Rather than replicate a traditional English afternoon tea format, QUA's culinary team spent months developing the menu from scratch. The offering includes house-made pastries, freshly sourced teas, and carefully selected tableware, with equal emphasis on food quality and presentation.

Menu and Service Details The tiered service begins with sweets: Mango Sago Pudding, Egg Tarts, Black Sesame Cookies, and fresh fruit. Savory selections include Vegetable Crudité with Whipped Tofu & Chili Crunch, Honey Walnut Shrimp Youtiao, BBQ Pork Puff Pastries, and Tea Egg Sandwiches, accompanied by Siu Mai. Each service includes one pot to share, with herbal, green, black, and oolong tea options. Mimosas are available for $12 per glass. Afternoon Tea at QUA runs Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pricing is $45 per person with a two-person minimum. A children's option at an additional $10 includes Red Bean Panda Bao, Taro Snow Bunny Bao, and apple juice. The September menu marks the first of planned seasonal iterations. QUA plans to rotate offerings throughout the year to reflect different celebrations, ingredients, and occasions. Reservations are available online.

Why It Matters

QUA's afternoon tea positions a Chinese restaurant in the daylight-dining market, a growing category for independents seeking to diversify revenue beyond dinner service. The seasonal menu structure encourages repeat visits and supports operational flexibility for sourcing and staffing.


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Written by FBM Publications Editors