Beverly, Jessica, Sharon and Liz
User's reviews
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High Tea Cottage
After seeing this Teahouse featured on TV last week, we decided to give it a try. We regularly go to Teahouses listed here on Teamap just had not made it to this one. With the pending 'Carmageddon' on the 405 this coming weekend we thought we would drive up on Monday, even though we had no reservations. We were met at the door by Jenn (we recognized her from the TV ) she asked what name our reservation was under and when we told her we didn’t have one she said, wait a minute and I’ll check for availability. she apologized that they had no space available, but if we didn’t mid waiting there should be a table available with 20 minutes. We decided to wait as we had driven up from the South Bay. She brought us some lovely iced mint lemon water to sip and returned to the other guests. A sweet older gentleman came and welcomed us and left us to our chatter. After 15 minutes a table cleared and we were seated. Firstly, the table was set with white linen cloth (no glass on top!) and starched linen napkins, there were fresh roses on the table, all our china was Royal Albert, I think the pattern was called Celebration, lump sugar and sweetener all in matching china to the teacups. The older man, Ken came with a Tea Cart with over 100 loose leaf teas. We smelled to our hearts content and finally made selection. I decided to go with 1 of the 3 premium teas and he explained there was an extra $5.00 charge due to this tea retailing for over $300 a pound, i didn’t mind as he said the tea pots were bottomless. Jen took our food orders, I decided to have just scones, my sister and friends choose the Royal, Traditional and the Lady Hamilton with chicken salad. My sisters china was changed to the most elegant beautiful china I have ever seen because she was having the Royal High Tea, served on a better china. When the food started to arrive about 15 minutes later we were all amazed at the presentation. Every plate had fresh roses as decoration with the exception of the Royal which had 2 magnificent Cymbidium orchids with fresh rosemary. The chicken salad was beautiful. Fresh strawberries, pineapple, mango, kiwi fruit, orange, beets and the chicken breast served with walnuts and cranberry, we all tasted, we all raved! Then the scones arrived served from a cart with no less than 5 jams, can’t remember them all but I had the fig lime curd and they were delicious. The scones were very hot and the best I have ever tasted at a commercial Teahouse. The desserts served to the rest of our party were just as thrilling, as I didn’t order them I can not personally comment on flavor but everyone said the flavors were tantalizing and fresh. I did try the tea sandwiches my friend ordered and they also were fresh and very tasty, certainly not bland or ordinary. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea that we were more than satisfied and pleased with the service, quality of food and surroundings, we stayed for nearly 4 hours, they even gave my girlfriend a beautiful birthday gift as it is her birthday later this week. We had a most enjoyable experience that we talked about all the way home and planned our next visit. It was a lovely afternoon from the moment we arrived until we left. My final comment is reflected to Maria below. I didn’t mind in the least paying an extra $5 for the premium tea, I drank 3 pots of it at the place and then they filled my thermos for our return journey home. Even at Starbucks you pay more for premium teas and coffee and if you want an extra cup, not pot, you have to pay for that too, businesses are in business. We all found Jenn to be charming and most accommodating,. Not all Tea establishments suit all people; this one definitely suited us.