CSAdams
Registered: November 2007
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 8
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Review Date: Mon January 18, 2010
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Entire experience
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Cons:
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None
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My mother and I attended tea on January 2, the last full day of our vacation. This was a wonderful experience. We were seated promptly at a beautifully set table. Our waitress was very attentive and pleasant and made some good recommendations based on our preferences. We had a very filling meal of tea sandwiches, a scone, a jam tart and two delicious pastries. We particularly enjoyed the swan puff pastry filled with fig mousse, which was wonderful and different. It was a relaxing, lovely way to spend the last afternoon of our vacation.
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LoriW
Registered: January 2010
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Sat January 16, 2010
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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gracious service; good food
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Cons:
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I met a friend who lives in the Orlando area for tea on Saturday, January 10. This was in the midst of the Florida cold spell and tea, while planned a month before, seemed just the thing that day. We had the Sally Lunn bread and the strawberry trifle with a special blend black tea. More importantly, we had a wonderful visit and left two hours later when the tea space was totally empty and set up for another event. We were not at all rushed out. So glad we did this.
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pinprincess
Registered: January 2010
Posts: 3
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Review Date: Fri January 15, 2010
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Wonderful Authentic Experience
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Cons:
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Wait to be seated
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My husband and I are huge tea drinkers and were excited to discover the Garden View Afternoon Tea. When booking through Disney Dining, I asked if it were appropriate to bring my 2.5 year old, and was told "absolutely." When we arrived and noticed the elegant place settings and authentic China, not to mention the older "ladies-who-lunch" types in their formal hats, we began second-guessing our decision to attempt this with a toddler.
The host was very cordial at check-in, but we did wait about 15-20 minutes after our arrival to be seated. Finally, we were escorted to our seats, which were ideal for a traditional English afternoon tea... A wicker sofa and two cushy wicker chairs with low marble tables in between.
Our server, Amanda, was perfect and made us feel comfortable right away and paid special attention to our 2 year old! I chose the Grand Tea with Champagne and my husband had something similar without the Champagne... I think it was Buckingham Palace... The little one had Mrs. Potts tea but actually chose a decaf English Breakfast as opposed to the Chocolate Milk.
Based on our preferences, Amanda reccommended the Garden View Blend (FABULOUS) and English Breakfast. One pot would have been more than enough for us! It was promptly delivered with a gorgeous Red Velvet cozie. Our daughter's was served in a miniature version of our teapot with a smaller child's sized cup.
After the tea sandwiches, my hubby and I felt that we would be leaving hungry since we skipped lunch for this, but after those, we had delicious (best ever) Sconeswith Devonshire Cream and Jam tarts followed by Trifle and assorted pastries!
Our 2 year old was very well behaved and we were so glad we chose to experience this with her! The staff was extremely friendly and proffessional! Can't wait to do it again!
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mkprincess
Registered: December 2008
Posts: 22
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Review Date: Tue December 22, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Tea selection, vegetarian tea sandwiches, atmosphere, helpful staff
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Cons:
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Waitress became distracted with large party
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I have wanted to attend the Afternoon Tea for years now, and I finally decided to book a reservation for my fiance and myself on Wednesday December 16. The food and the tea did not disappoint! We had the Oolong tea and it was delightfully sweet and flowery. We also asked our waitress about vegetarian options for the tea sandwiches and she obliged by bringing us egg salad, cucumber and watercress, onion tart, and grilled pear with Gorgonzola cheese. They were all delicious! I could eat a whole platter of those.
We also tried the English trifle and the Sally Lunn bread. The trifle was layered with mixed red berries, a thick custard, and fresh whipped cream. It was delicious, but very rich. The two of us had trouble finishing the one serving. The Sally Lunn bread was lightly toasted with apricot jam. It was sweeter than I expected it to be, but very nice.
I liked that the "courses" came out one at a time. I did not feel rushed at all. However, our waitress did become distracted by a large party that were very demanding. I do not blame the waitress--I think the Lounge was a bit understaffed and the other guests were particularly grumpy. The other diners were quite polite and I imagine that is the typical atmosphere. We just happened to come on a slightly atypical day. The overall experience was fantastic, refined, and delightful. I will be going back for sure!
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rsnovak
Registered: October 2008
Posts: 12
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Review Date: Thu October 29, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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atmosphere
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Cons:
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price
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We went on Oct. 20th and had reservations for 2:00. We were seated right away and had a wonderful waitress who didn't rush us at all and was very informative about the selections. My sister and I both chose the Grand Tea. I thought the tea sandwiches seemed like they had been made before hand and refrigerated--they were a bit stale.The onion tart was very good and so was the scone. We got to pick two choices from the dessert tray. This was a nice, relaxing way to spend the afternoon and I'm very glad we went but I think the price is high and the portions are very small. It comes pre-plated, with 4 different small sandwiches(when put all together equal 1 sandwich).I thought we would maybe get a tray of them and could chose what we wanted, same thing with dessert--very small portions, you get to chose 2--too small to share. I don't know if I would do it the next time I come, but I would do it again sometime in the future.
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disneygirlinnj
Registered: December 2007
Posts: 18
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Review Date: Mon October 19, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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beautiful, relaxing, perfect
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Cons:
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none
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We checked in at the hostess stand and were told to go sit by the couches for about ten minutes because we were early for our reservation. I quickly took a peek into the tea room and there were very few tables sat already. Oh well...mom and I headed over to sit. About 15 minutes later, we were called over to be seated.
We were seated on the right of the tea room as you walk in, right by the windows. My back was to the rest of the room but it was beautiful. The sunlight was just coming through the windows and it was what i would think a typical tea should look like!
Our server, at first, I thought was going to be pretty cold but she warmed up throughout the tea. She had a really large table with a few little girls so I think she might have been a little overwhelmed at first with them and her other tables. But she was pretty helpful and around if we needed anything. She explained the different teas and gave us some recommendations. Also explained the different meals you can get or that it can all be ordered a la carte too.
Mom chose the Chamomile tea. I chose the Eros, which was recommended by our server. Mom enjoyed her tea and said it was very good chamomile. I thought the Eros was delicious! You could taste the mandarin and vanilla but neither overpowering.
The presentation of the tea was beautiful as well. The china used was gorgeous and dainty, for lack of a better word.
We decided to just order a la carte off the menu because we wanted a little bit of everything. Ordering everything we wanted separately was actually cheaper than choosing one of the meals and not eating some stuff. And we ordered a LOT I feel!
Mom ordered the Lemon Pound Cake for one option. It came out as two one inch thick pieces of typical lemon pound cake. She enjoyed it and ate every last bite. I tried a piece and thought it was kinda dry and nothing special.
We also ordered the strawberries and cream, with the cream on the side. It came out in separate bowls so we obviously lost a little in the presentation but the girls next to us also ordered and it looks YUMMY when combined together. The strawberries were ripe and sweet, not mushy or bruised at all. The sweet cream was definitely made in house and was delicious. I'm usually not a fan of whipped cream but could have eaten this alone with a spoon. Light, airy, and perfect.
I ordered the Freshly Baked Scones with Devonshire Cream and Preserves. Now you'd think when it says 'scones'... it would mean more than one, right? Well when I ordered she asked me if I wanted one or two, so naturally I said two. Little did I know that there was an extra charge for the second one! I didn't mind though because they were seriously the best things I had the whole tea. Wow, I could have eaten 5 more. They were sweet enough, moist, and with the Devonshire Cream? Heaven. I even forgot to try them with the preserves! I was upset when the girls next to me pulled out the preserves. I was tempted to order another one just to try it all together.
I also think I ordered a Jam Tart and this is where it gets a little fuzzy. I remember asking for them, but they're not on the receipt and there's supposed to be two of them, according to the menu. So I'm thinking our server might have just thrown one in complimentary OR the 'extra scone' on my receipt is actually the jam tart...and the two scones I got were the correct number. Does that make sense?
Anyways...the Jam Tart was just that... a raspberry (or strawberry) jam tart. It was good, but I took two bites and left the rest. The scones were just calling my name.
For the next round of food, we both ordered from the pastry tray. You were allowed two per order. Mom was eyeing the white chocolate covered strawberries so she had two of those. She devoured them, which meant she loved them. I didn't try them since I'm not a fan of white chocolate.
For my two pastries I chose the hazelnut mousse and the raspberry mousse. The hazelnut was good, but nothing that amazed me. The raspberry mousse, on the other hand, was delicious! Again, I wished I ordered two of these instead. Light and creamy and just all around great!
Overall we really enjoyed the tea and I can't wait to go again. It was relaxing and something different to do at Disney, but still had the Disney magic. The atmosphere was just what we needed after traveling all day. And where else can you go for such a nice tea? Other than having Afternoon Tea at the Plaza Hotel in NYC, I can't think of a better place. If any of you get the time and chance to go, please do. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
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Roundelais
Registered: October 2009
Posts: 6
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Review Date: Wed October 14, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Excellent service, exquisite fare.
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Cons:
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None
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We visited the Garden View Tea Room for our afternoon meal on Tuesday, September 29, and had an absolute blast. Our server was funny and engaging, and made us feel quite at home. There were so many different teas to choose from, and the one I chose was quite tasty. Apparently the Princess Breakfast Tea blend is exclusive to the Garden View, but it's possible to purchase a tin to take home if you ask your server.
The Stilton cheese plate was a very tasty change of pace, and the sandwiches were lovely. I particularly liked the caramalized onion tart, though the jam tart wasn't terribly memorable. The only slight negative I can think of is that the jam served with the scones was pretty common stuff that comes in single-serving containers, but that's a minor quibble.
We had the trifle for dessert, though I wish I had asked to see the pastry tray before deciding. It went by while I ate my trifle, and everything on it looked good!
One particular bit of praise for our hostess - when she asked if she could get us anything else, my husband asked if they had any after-dinner mints. While they don't generally have them at the tea room, she had someone bring some in from another venue. We were particularly impressed by the high level of service, and had a wonderful time.
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xrayvision
Registered: August 2009
Posts: 15
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Review Date: Sun August 30, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
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My DH and I decided to do the tea the day of our departure, before dropping off the rental car at the car care center. We have done this tea twice before with parties of 8-10 people. This time it was the two of us and we were looking for some relaxation along with great teas and food. The Buckingham Palace is our favorite and it did not disappoint again. Dotty, our server, was great. We even saw Cinderella's carriage and horses making there way over to the wedding pavillion. Bought some Eros teas to take home to our daughters, who just love it!!!
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brannenm
Registered: April 2008
Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 6
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Review Date: Mon July 13, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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quiet setting, quality tea and food
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Cons:
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This is a great way to surprise your wife.
I surprise my wife with tea on July 10th. We had a later seating, and it was great. We both had the Buckingham. They easily made substitution for two of the sandwhiches for me. They presented a rose to my wife. It was not very crowded. They told me that they have 3 "turns" and that the easiest time to get an ADR are at 2, 3, and 4 p.m.
My wife will be bringing her mother, and our daughter the next time we go down to the World.
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mawdryn
Registered: August 2007
Location: Oswego, Il
Posts: 52
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Review Date: Sat July 11, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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relaxed setting and wonderful food
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Cons:
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None
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This was an awesome experience, very relaxing and a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the parks. My husband and I enjoyed this on July 9th. We each had the grand tea and shared a fruit and cheese tray. I had the Mad Hatter tea and my husband had the eros. Both were lovely. We had champagne, tea sandwiches, sconces, and pastries too. Everything was fresh and delicious.
The service was ok. I'd really like to do this again...
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jacqueboyles
Registered: January 2006
Posts: 38
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Review Date: Mon May 25, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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View, serenity
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Cons:
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Had a 2:00 PM ADR and was seated in a quiet corner with a lovely view of the courtyard with a peek of the Wedding Pavilion. Also got to see a bridal party go by - magical!
Really enjoyed the Grand Tea - all the sandwiches and pastries were very tasty. The service was timely and attentive without being intrusive or rushed. There was a table of ladies in tea hats across from me, which was fun.
A very nice break from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the World and there was enough food to substitute for lunch.
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nnpmom
Registered: March 2009
Posts: 4
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Review Date: Sat March 7, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Atmosphere
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Cons:
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None!
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This is my favorite part of my vacation- alone time for me and my favorite tea made just for the Garden View (you can purchase it to take home too!). I went at the last reservation time and had the Grand Tea which served as my dinner. The sandwiches were delicious, and the scones warm. As it was late the dessert selection did not have my favorite, but she gave me an extra pastry instead. The lemon creme swan is my new favorite! If you want to relax and enjoy a different experience, this cannot be beat!
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allearsfan
Registered: February 2009
Location: So. Carolina
Posts: 11
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Review Date: Tue February 17, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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lovely room, good service
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Cons:
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price
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Husband decided not to attend the "girly" tea with my daughter and I. He missed out.
My tea (eros) was delicious. I could have indulged myself there all day if my 4 year old hadn't become restless toward the end. We felt like princesses. She had the Mrs. Potts tea, and I enjoyed the Sally Lund, which was more than enough for an "early dinner" for the two of us, since I had to help DD eat all her sandwiches.
I didn't want to disturb the other customers (this is a quiet, elegant setting), so when she got restless, we asked for our check. I had forgotten she got 2 pastries with hers, but the server showed us to where she could pick them out and packed them up to go (she picked a huge chocolate covered strawberry and a cream filled "swan")
All in all, this made a most wonderful (though expensive) light dinner. Quite possibly the best "meal" of our trip.
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TBY2225
Registered: October 2006
Posts: 45
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Review Date: Fri February 13, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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atmosphere and tea
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Cons:
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server
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We arrived just in time for our 3:20 ADR and waited about 5 minutes. I am glad I called to see if I needed ADR’s because even though they don’t take the dining plan, you still do need to have them. We were both looking forward to this, especially my friend since she is the only girl in her family this is something she probably won’t get to do again for a long while!
We were seated in a small garden type room with a patio feel. It has plenty of windows and natural light and a picturesque view of the lagoon and the Polynesian hotel. They brought out Royal Dalton china for a really tea party feel.
Our server was the only problem with our whole experience here. She was rude and arrogant and we have no idea why. We told her up front that we wanted to split the check and she acted like she didn’t understand. Then we watched as she gave 2 other tables excellent service, bringing them extras and checking on them. After she dropped off our order, we didn’t see her again until she brought the checks. Then she made the comment “Well, if that’s the biggest complication in my life then I’m a lucky woman”. We almost asked to speak with the manager, but decided to drop it.
We ordered a Fruit and Cheese tray with 5
cheeses, crackers, and fruit. It was all good and fresh. We especially liked the garlic cheese spread!
We ordered two teas. I wish we had known that they give you a whole teapot full and we would have ordered only one. This is something I later overheard the server mention to one of the other tables! We got the breakfast tea (vanilla/strawberry) and the Madhatter (passion fruit, vanilla, and pomegranate). They were both good, but the breakfast tea was probably the best tea I have ever had! We had sugar on the table, but I would have liked some lemon and milk which we never did receive, but the other tables were offered and did.
We enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and tea, but were very disappointed in the server. She kept this from being the great experience we had hoped it to be. Would have been a 10 if we had better service!
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melapot
Registered: September 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 32
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Review Date: Tue November 25, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very relaxing.
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Cons:
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My husband and I had tea here on the day of our Annivesary. It is a great way to relax, and have a nice snack. The tea sandwiches were good, and so were the pasteries. My husband loved his cheese plate.
I want to do this again with my daughter.
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