Donna B.
Yelp
We came here for my cousin's 40th birthday, excited as longtime afternoon tea lovers. The ambiance was beautiful, servers elegant, and drinks enjoyable -- but the food and service did not live up to expectations.
First impressions: The atmosphere is beautiful, elegant, and welcoming. The servers looked polished in their fascinators, which added to the classy vibe. We were seated right away and offered flat or sparkling water, which was a nice touch. Drinks were also promising -- I especially enjoyed my peach bellini.
The food: We ordered two individual towers ($65 each) plus a bread basket. Unfortunately, the food presentation did not match the quality. The scones were dry, the chocolate chips overbaked, and the sandwiches were skimpy -- we literally received half a sandwich. The quiche was okay, the crostini chewy and cold, and the fruit tart was served in a wafer shell instead of pastry, which gave it a store-bought feel. I had asked for a boiled egg sandwich (since the menu said eggs any style were available), but what came out was a tiny round piece of bread with some scrambled egg on top -- For the price point, we were expecting high-quality, memorable finger foods, but instead it felt more like style over substance -- beautiful from afar but disappointing up close.
The service & billing: Service was just okay. We had to request basics like milk and sugar, which should be standard at a tea service. What really soured the experience, though, was the billing issue. My cousin had paid a $100 deposit, which we were told would be applied to the bill. Instead, the system charged us the full amount without deducting it, leaving us with an extra $100 charge. Staff explained it was due to a new point-of-sale system and promised a refund within 3-5 business days. Regardless, it felt careless and unprofessional -- especially on a milestone birthday.
Overall: Ambiance and drinks were the highlights. But the food was underwhelming, service lacked attentiveness, and the billing mishap left a bad impression. For $65 per person, we expected a polished high tea experience. Unfortunately, this one fell short, and it was disappointing to have such a lackluster celebration for such an important occasion.