Located in the basement of the elegant Takashimaya store, The Tea Box offers a quiet respite for frazzled 5th Avenue shoppers. The restaurant's menu describes itself as "a unique experience in cross-cultural cuisine" and includes Japanese and French delectables. Hungry patrons can order one of 36 different types of tea to accompany either a sweet or innovative savory cookie sampler. We recently enjoyed the Makaibari Darjeeling tea with a warm chocolate and hazelnut cake. Full lunch entrees are also available for the famished. The walls in the back room are beautifully silvered, giving one the impression of sitting in an actual teapot!