Reynolds Saunders, MD
User's reviews
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Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor and Gift Shop
My wife and I have taken tea in many parts of the world, including Brown's Hotel in London, the Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, the Rose Cottage Tea Room in Pasadena, and the Chado tea rooms in Los Angeles. Despite the limited selection (but of high quality—my Assam and my wife's Earl Grey were both superb), our experience today ranks equal to the best of the best. The quiche was magnificently savory; the scones were mine, which are the best I've ever had; the asparagus wrapped in puff pastry was crunchy but not stringy; the chicken salad sandwich in a tiny, delicate brioche-tender roll let the flavor of the chicken come through without smothering it; the rich, complex chocolate pot de creme served cold in a tiny phyllo pastry cup, and many other tastes were all incomparably memorable. The table settings were elegant without being fussy, each table and chairs set with different sets of fine china teapots and cups. The overall effect in the dining room itself was stunning, especially since the room was dominated by a huge highboy with many shelves of teapots, cups and dishes on display. Lest you think I'm a restauranteur, or a food editor female and fiftyish, I'm a male professional, 63, who's been baking seriously for 42 years and who is married to a woman who is a tea and teapot addict. I'm lucky she chooses great places to go for tea, including this one, one of the best in the world. The shop was not my cup of tea (remember, I'm a guy) but my wife found unusual and delightful tea greeting cards that she had not seen before. Teas are sold there as well. By the way, Lynn went out of her way to find the name of the album of romantic flute music she was playing when we entered the dining room, helping me track down Berceuse by Faure, a composition I had been trying to find for 35 years. This was typical of her helpful, meticulous and friendly service. The attention to detail and devotion to customer service are the hallmarks of her tearoom and the basis of her success. The world (and Carlisle, Pennsylvania) are richer for her endeavor.