Passion Tea Lounge Replaces Jazz Cafe (not Jazz Cat) in San Gabriel

[Chandavkl]

Passion Tea Lounge has opened up at 1900 S. Del Mar Ave., and with all of the boba places opening up in the SGV these days would not be especially notable, particularly since the menu is mostly drinks and few edibles. However, I would like to give a tip of the hat to the predecessor Jazz Cafe, which was one of the early independent boba places when it opened up back 10 years ago. Jazz Cafe holds a special place in my heart because I was their first customer. How do I know I was the first, particularly when Chinese eateries sometimes keep the "Grand Opening" sign up for 9 months or more? Because when I ordered my drink, nobody inside had the slightest clue as to how to prepare a boba drink. An older woman who I presume was the proprietoress took my order. She then called her five or so waitresses behind the counter and had them gather around her. She then pulls out the boba machine and takes out a manual from which she reads aloud as she and her helpers go step by step through the boba drink production process. And that's how I know I was number one.

[ipsedixit]

Do you know if they framed the dollar (or whatever denomination) that you gave them for their first order of boba?

[Chandavkl]

I don't know. I never went back as being the guinea pig didn't work out too well.

[TonyC]

Jazz Cafe, between 2001 and 2008? Turned Vietnamese and stopped serving boba. I think they finally got the hint.

The cafe sua da was solid, but I have no idea how they survived between 2007 and 2012.