Friday, March 31, 2006

Tea Room Review: City Cafe

URL: http://www.citycafedallas.com/tea.htm
Address: 5757 W. Lovers Lane Dallas, Texas
Phone: 214-351-2233
Hours: Th-Sun, 3pm
Price: $25
Reservations required.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 teacups
Ambiance: 4
Service: 5
Food: 4
Tea: 4

Located on Lover's Lane in the "Tea Cup" of Dallas, the City Cafe tea room has captured the tea captain from the Aldolphus - much to the credit of City Cafe.

The tea room is quiet and well appointed, definitely a haven from the everyday bustle of the street. An interesting selection of music compliments the atmosphere and effectively masks any noise that might seep in from the restaraunt. The china is elegant rather than ornate as is the silver tea service.

The food was impressively good and unusual, starting with a tomato basil soup and fried green tomatoes that they were "trying out." Sandwiches were tasty, but compared to the rest of the food, unremarkable. The scones were delicious (with generous portions of clotted cream) and the desserts heavenly.

An interesting selection of loose leaf teas is provided, with a different pot of tea served with each course. All of the teas were flavored or herbal, favoring those with a sweet tooth. The tea captain was able to provide feedback as to which teas matched best with milk, which were caffinated, which were ideal for pregnant or nursing mothers, and a wealth of other tea-related information.

Service was impeccable, providing not only knowledgable recommendations for the tea but also an entertaining patter. We were "my lady" and "my lovelies" and definitely felt pampered, fussed over, and adored. Possibly the most unique and genteel service we have ever experienced in a tea room - each diner is left with the impression that they are on par with royalty.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Tea Room Review: Into My Garden Tea Room

URL: http://www.intomygarden.com/
Address: 1017 East 15th Street, Plano, TX
Phone: 972-509-0292
Reservations required.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 teacups
Ambiance: 5
Service: 5
Food: 5
Tea: 4

Tucked away in the back of a cute gift shop in old downtown Plano, Into My Garden Tea Room is a hidden treasure. With a variety of levels of tea service, ranging from full three course tea to a child's tea party, this tea room has something for everyone.

The homey atmosphere with beautiful china provides a welcome contrast with so many of the tea rooms found in Dallas by stressing comfort and quality rather than appearance. Upon sitting down, you immediately feel as if you have simply stopped by a favorite aunt's house and are being served a really lovely tea in her kitchen. Tea is served in an arbor-like retreat which provides a nice separation from the rest of the cafe.

A single pot of good quality loose leaf tea is provided for the table, with ample refills on both hot water and leaves. No tea menu is provided but the selections (listed from memory by the hostess Sue) are extensive. The hostess was able to provide extensive information and advice about tea selection, including suggesting a highly caffeinated floral tea for one dinner who had been up too late the night before.

The presentation of food perpetuates the feeling of "home" that pervades this tea room. The generously portioned sandwiches use a simple, crustless white bread decorated, amusingly, with small silk flowers. However, it is the delicious gourmet sandwich fillings (such as wild rice chicken salad) that make them stand out as exceptional. The second course had multiple scones and moist tea bread of various flavors served with a homemade clotted cream and a delicious plum jam. Dessert - four bite-sized delicacies (such as a key lime tart) - completed the experience nicely. Each course had remarkably large portions and, even with skipping lunch, we were unable to finish all of the desserts.

Service was impeccable - the hostess remained attentive without becoming intrusive and immediately ingratiated herself with the table with her friendly demeanor during a brief cross examination about the tea selection. We never had to ask for refills on the tea - they seemed to appear almost magically while we had been deep in conversation.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Tea Room Review: Cafe Danielle

Phone: (214) 741-2244
Address: 5710 W Lovers Ln Dallas, TX 75209
Reservations recommended.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 teacups
Ambiance: 2
Service: 3
Food: 5
Tea: 4

Nearly invisible behind the Buffalo Gap Trading Company, Cafe Danielle provides a surprisingly delicious addition to the Lover's Lane tea rooms, acquitting themselves admirably along side the Renaissance Garden Cafe, Maudee's, and City Cafe.

From the outside, the cafe has a pleasant feel, lovely trumpet vines spilling over the adjacent wall. A smattering of antiques are hung on the walls and from the ceilings - the price tags detracting only slightly from their eclectic charm. The tables are spare with bamboo folding chairs that provide no cushioning and minimal comfort. On our visit, the windows were extremely dirty, detracting from what would have been an otherwise lovely view of the flowering vines. The table setting itself was charming, with an interesting mishmash of cups and saucers and teapots provided with pressed glass plates that seemed at odds with the spare surroundings.

A selection of five teas from Tea Forte (http://www.teaforte.com/) is provided, in charming silk tea bags. The pyramid shape of the bags alone afforded a great deal of comment and interest. The quality of the teas were excellent - unfortunately, we were left to our own devices in determining which to try as our server did not provide any information about the varieties, their characteristics, and what they might match best with. A tea menu with a brief description of each tea would be a welcome addition.

The food was, by far, the most enjoyable part of the entire experience. The enormous scone was served with a lucious clotted cream (the best I've tried in the metroplex to date) and a generous portion of jam. The sandwiches were both delicious and imaginative - excellent breads served with up-to-date versions of old favorites. The dessert course was as wonderful as the sandwich course and included a heavenly warm chocolate cake that stole the show. Each course was of impeccable quality and presentation, although we were uncertain exactly what each sandwich and dessert was since the server offered no information about any of the courses.

Service was prompt, polite, and cursory. Our server spent most of the time in the kitchen, audibly giving directions for a catering job later in the evening. We were definitely left with the feeling that tea is not the primary (or indeed, even the secondary) business for this cafe. Nevertheless, we look forward to returning to sample more of the wonderful food.

Tea Room Review: Renaissance Garden Cafe

URL: http://www.inessa.com/index2.html
Address: 5201 W. Lovers Lane Dallas, TX
Phone: 214-366-7770
Hours: Th-Sat, 2-4pm
Price: $20
Reservations recommended.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 teacups
Ambiance: 4
Service: 4
Food: 4
Tea: 5

Located in the upscale Inessa Stewart antique shop, this tea room provides a high quality experience in lovely, unique settings. Everything from the china to the table and chairs at which you sit exudes elegant refinement - and are for sale. Perfect for a quiet, upscale, quality tea

The sandwiches are consistently imaginative, if not always a hit. Fillings are presented in unusual container such as tiny puff pastries and tart shells - a welcome departure for the adventurous. Each selection appears to be a tiny work of art almost too pretty to eat, like the salmon mousse, piped into a puff pastry and topped with a miniature mound of caviar. While the scones are a bit dry, the tea bread is wonderfully fresh and delicious, served with clotted cream, jam, and a lovely lemon curd. The selection of desserts is as varied as the sandwiches and just as tasty - definitely a source of creativity for the chef.

The tea is outstanding quality loose leaf with new varieties added regularly - Nicholas II and Silver Jasmine are both exceptional. Patrons may choose only one tea, but each guest gets an individual pot and sharing is encouraged. A tea menu is provided along with a very professional and detailed overview of the tea selections (that includes such useful bits as which teas are best with milk) of each variety by the server.

Service is attentive but varies depending on the server - some of the wait staff is quiet and efficient while others are more boisterous. The manager always checks in regularly without being intrusive, leaving you with the feeling that you are being attended to without being hovered over. The only distraction from the otherwise elegant surroundings is the occasional shopper that wanders through looking for the perfect addition to their home.

Saturday, March 18, 2006