Hello readers,
I am a frequent patron of this establishment having been here 4 times since Thanksgiving and another reservation later in this month. The menu here is as such that each offered selection is either 3 or 4 courses.
Firstly, a Tea Cart is brought to the table where a delightful gentleman, retired Doctor, offers you a selection of over 100 teas for your smelling choice and to make your selection from. He explains tea styles by colors, tea leaf, and tea liquor and related to oxidization levels of tea. The teas are in six major tea styles: Green Tea, White Tea, Oolong Tea, Red Tea, Black Tea and Herbal. These are handed to you to look at, smell the aromas’ and decide. This is called service. Your selection is brought to the table; the teas are poured for you and continually refreshed ... (more)to return piping hot. This again is service.
When menu selection is made and your order is taken you are asked if there are food allergies, likes and dislikes in your selection, this is also called service! When your menu selection is delivered, the sandwiches are placed one by one by silver service on to your plate and you are also told what each sandwich consists of, again service!
When it is time for scones, straight from the oven too, a cart with 5 different jams and preserves is brought to your table for you to select to have with the scones, again service. No other Tea House in California offers the level of service or the large menu that the High Tea Cottage does. Lots and lots of service and an abundance of extremely tasty and delightful cuisine are offered.
The atmosphere is friendly and professional. Some say this place is expensive, but as another diner pointed out to me last time I was there, if you go to any restaurant and order a 3 course meal with bottomless premium drinks it cost a lot more than $34 and wew always take food home.
I have seen though rude patrons wander in with no reservation, cell phone in hand chattering away with no consideration for others dining, manners are especially required when having Tea!
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