Much has been written about Miro, whether or not the tea should cost this much or the food should take that long to make, and so on. But the pleasant surroundings make up for all of that, and weekday evenings are uncrowded and relaxing. It's a bit noisy in here, so think of it as more of a place to experience the vibrant atmosphere, to see and be seen, or meet a date for the first time. This is not a place to sink down in a corner and sip quietly from a special cup with a cat on your lap.

The d/cor is bold and roomy rather than cutesy and cluttered like one might imagine a teashop to be. With free Wifi and numerous seating options, hanging out is encouraged. Nearby residents seem to have adopted the place as their second living room, as they settle in with playing cards and laptops. Interesting light fixtures create a variety of lighting in different areas of the caf/.

Instead of flowered pillows and wallpaper, Miro sports red cushions on wooden benches and nicely textured walls, along with the wildest burl furniture we've ever seen. These big pieces of wood twist crazily into a counter and a coffee table, showcasing the interesting fare to be found on the menu.

Listed by category, tea is presented attractively with four different freshly steeped samples provided on the counter. More than 250 varieties of tea are offered, making it easy to assume that the food might be secondary at Miro. But it's front and center. The sandwiches, wraps and crepes are freshly prepared with seasonal ingredients and brought tableside hot and with a minimum of rigmarole, another nice thing about Miro. The absence of phony-baloney cheer underscores the natural and sincere style, with the food ordered at the counter, and delivered quietly and without pretension.

While sandwiches are good (particularly the French-style ham and cheese baguette), crepes are really the king here. The savory Christy ($7.25) reveals fresh spinach and goat cheese, with Serano ham and a lightly fried egg on top. The wrapper itself is good enough to eat alone, all light, delicate, and fluffy. The Harvest Crepe ($7.25) features a colorful variety of market vegetables, topped with mild puffs of goat cheese and deep-red roasted tomato sauce. Zucchini, yellow squash, red and green peppers and oh-so-sweet onions celebrate the season, creating a mini-lasagna.

Another good choice is the Matcha Chicken Wrap ($7.25). When staff offer to heat it on the Panini Grill, say yes. It's much better that way, with flavors of mint mayonnaise, spinach, cucumbers, and red pepper blending to complement the roasted chicken.

While Miro defies all odds as a coffee-free zone, there is no shortage in variety of beverages. In addition to all the regular tea choices, iced concoctions are offered, such as the Green Tea Mojito ($3.50), a fusion of tea, mint, and fresh lime juice. Chai and Tea Lattes are also offered. Tea is priced by the level, ($2.75 - $4 a cup, $1 extra for a pot) and is allowed to steep tableside with a timer so you know when to take the infuser out of the cup. This would be a fun activity for kids a little past toddler stage.

If you want to get away for a mini-vacation, sit at the big front windows overlooking Ballard Avenue and the Bell Tower. Beautiful, dreamy music plays on a good sound system, so you can listen to the mixture of modern folk, rock and jazz and watch all Ballard go by. It's hard to talk with a mouthful of warm spinach and goat cheese wrapped in a thin layer of perfectly cooked crepe. But if you must converse, chatting is possible at low speaking volumes, even with the assertive music volume levels aimed at an audience not afraid of mixing real music, real food, and real tea.

Miro Tea

5405 Ballard Ave. N.W.

782-6832

Open Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 8 a.m.-Midnight

Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Patricia Devine and Jim Anderson may be reached via bnteditor@robinsonnews.com