Jacqueline B.
Yelp
You get what you pay for! I try to go to afternoon tea in every city I visit and I've had some of the best tea experiences worldwide. I'd say on average, an American style afternoon tea is between $60 to $90, often including a glass of champagne, so to me $40 seemed like a good deal. The historic hotel, Christmas decorations, live piano, and overall atmosphere was totally worth $40. The tea selection and quality were slightly above average. The accompanying food was the worst I've ever had as I'll explain below.
Booking was difficult. I tried booking tea for two for the MLK long weekend over a month ago, only to be told it was fully booked all weekend. This morning I called to see if there were cancellations and again I was told they were fully booked. So, I decided to just stop by at noon. It was fairly empty and I was seated immediately. A bit weird but maybe they were understaffed. I recommend just showing up if you have a small party but can't get a reservation.
When I got to the table there was already a bowl of cream sitting there uncovered. How long was it there for? Frankly, it scared me. I only tried a drop, but as another reviewer stated, it wasn't real Devonshire style clotted cream, just whipped cream.
After I ordered, my tea and tray were brought out 15 seconds later. So, it was just sitting in the back gathering dust? At least pretend you made everything fresh for me and bring it a full 5 minutes later. Scones were not hot or fresh. To me they tasted like a processed gas station muffin that had been shaped into a triangle. I think a good scone should be toasted or baked till you get a crumbly golden crust on the outside and a warm, buttery, and fluffy inside. These scones were squishy and uniform like wonder bread. I barely had one bite, but the tables around me were gobbling them up, so maybe it's a Denver thing!?? Jam was a mini jar of Dickinsons, a smuckers product, so nothing special. How hard is it to make a house jam or preserve? Especially if the tea service is a big draw to the hotel.
Sandwiches were the most basic you could think of and the worst tasting by far. Egg salad tasted old and sour. Ham and cheese tasted like cheap processed ham and cheese. Cucumber was fine but not fresh or crisp. I don't care if it's basic at $40, but please at least be fresh.
The petite fours were fine. Again not fresh or interesting. Too sugary and processed. I took a mini bite and of each. Nothing to write home about.
Overall, go to socialize and enjoy the atmosphere of the beautiful historic hotel, but don't expect a great tea service. Not for foodies. I suggest they raise the price but offered a real gourmet selection of treats made fresh on site.