Trish S.
Yelp
The Aubrey tea room is charming, casual and tasty - with a long list of teas that I enjoyed. The chill atmosphere makes this a perfect entry level tea room for maybe a first timer, good for a small group or a great place to bring your kid for their first time. It's the kind of place that is approachable, and would set a future tea house lover off on a good first footing. I would not call it cozy, because the room can actually get pretty loud with groups chatting and having a great time. It's not pretentious, despite the super satisfying cottage core decor.
They pour their signature hour tea to begin if you'd like and then check your pots to make sure they're hot, switching out your selections as you'd like. An expected tower of treats arrives, and the food offerings rotate. For folks with dietary restrictions, its likely helpful to know that they can accommodate Gluten-Free, Vegetarian and Nut-Free but are unable to create a Vegan or Dairy-Free option.
Beyond a holiday, the cost is 35.95 for adults which I felt was reasonable. You DO need a reservation (always) and throughout May they'll be serving their Mother's Day tea on the weekends. (May 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st) it is about 10$ per person more than the normal price but it's unclear on if that's just a premium for the holiday or if something extra is included.
In terms of food quality, I felt the savory items won out in terms of flavor over the desserts. I'd love to see them partner with a local business to elevate the sweet bites. We have so many amazing bakeries and patisseries in SD, I think they could bring them in and have a slam dunk. I'm not sure if they bake items in house or order them from a supplier, but beyond the scone, I'll leave you to judge what's worth the calories.
Service is kind and lovely, this place is a staple.