There aren’t many places doing high tea like Dartealing in SF - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation
"Dartealing Lounge in SoMa is basically what kids imagine when they take pretend sips from plastic cups with their stuffed animals. Behind a nondescript gray door is a Victorian dollhouse brought to life, complete with floral wallpaper, frilly-skirted armchairs, and cupboards stocked with mismatched china that look like they’ve been passed down for generations. Despite being right under the 80, all you’ll hear is the soft clink of cups from a tiara-clad birthday party, murmurs of friends, and the glug of pouring tea. A reservation nabs you 90 minutes, but we’d be happy to lounge around for a while longer, sunken into one of the throne-like armchairs with a good book or passing the time with a friend, taking turns pouring each other cups of tea. video credit: Patrick Wong video credit: Patrick Wong video credit: Patrick Wong Pause Unmute The $42 menu includes a three-tiered tower of rotating bites—blueberry scones, mini-empanadas, and an assortment of finger sandwiches and petit fours. For the most part, it’s all solid, but the selection of housemade teas is more impressive. The list covers a lot of ground from herbal to green to riffs on Earl Grey that taste like toffee. Everyone gets one pot per person, and top-offs are frequent. Afternoon tea isn’t exactly an SF staple—and there certainly aren’t many places that look like Dartealing—so we like to save this spot for special occasions that call for something besides a dinner reservation or a round of drinks. How to get into Dartealing Lounge Dartealing’s tea service is offered only on weekends. Make a reservation request on their website. The 90-minute slots book up quickly, so it’s best to plan at least a week out and to be flexible on timing. Food Rundown Proper Afternoon Tea This is your only option. The daily selection of snacks is mostly great, with the finger sandwiches and petit fours as the standouts. Cross every available appendage that you end up with the cucumber radish with gochugaru and the romaine caesar with herbed potato sandwiches. (The one-bite fruit tartlet with a snappy crust is also fantastic.) If you’re graced with the sausage roll, feel free to ignore it as it’s dry and bland. As far as teas go, staff will provide a thorough walkthrough of the menu and provide suggestions—we’ve never been steered wrong. photo credit: Patrick Wong" - Patrick Wong
