Peninsula afternoon tea recs?

[Claudette]

I'm meeting a friend that I haven't seen in decades, and we need to find a nice, quiet place for afternoon tea or such on the Peninsula - would anyone have any recommendations? (Something similar to Lisa's Tea Treasures in San Jose, or the Imperial Tea Court in the SF Ferry Bldg?) TIA!

[sairuh]

Are you familiar with Tea Time in downtown Palo Alto? Although it's not quite as good as Samovar and Lovejoy's (my current favorite tearooms in the Bay Area), I do prefer it to Lisa's Tea Treasures. It's also more relaxed (less formal) and less pricey than Lisa's.

http://www.tea-time.com/default.asp?m...

[smlee]

If you really want to go to Lisa's Tea Treasurers, there's supposed to be one in Menlo Park.
http://www.lisastea.com/photogallery....

[SanMateoFoodie]

The Menlo Park Lisa's Tea Treasures is pretty decent. The space is a lot larger than the old Burlingame location. Ask to sit in the main dining room which is less crowded than the one in the front. The English Rose is in San Carlos. It is a small space and the food is only so so. You might try the Four Seasons in Palo Alto to see if they serve afternoon tea. I've had in Washington, DC and San Francisco, and it is fabulous! The Fairmont in San Jose does afternoon tea but you have to reserve 24 hours ahead of time.

[rworange]

Have you ever tried Sweetea's?

[Kim Cooper]

In response to The English Rose having so-so food, my partner says, "It's English food. It's all so-so." That said, we enjoy going there for brunch. My partner has breakfast and I have lunch. The Chicken Julia is very tasty. We like the Rumbletythumps too. I used to always get the Cornish Pasty. It's a lovely, homey place. Nice atmosphere.

[Claudette]

LOL! My husband spent many hours wandering around London looking for something edible, and finally found a French pastry shop...

What is a Rumbletythump? You've got to love the (real) English language!

[Kim Cooper]

Rumbletythumps are, I think, also called "Bubble and Squeak". It's potatoes and cabbage. Like "cottage potatoes" or "country potatoes" with cabbage added.
They are quite nice with a hearty breakfast.

[Claudette]

Ha! Sounds yummy to me, but I'm afraid my hubby and daughter won't eat it no matter how cute the name.

[YSZ]

You might try the Neiman Marcus Cafe at Stanford Shopping Center, They do afternoon tea with twenty-four hour notice. Nice service, relaxing atmosphere. I quite like their lunches and the hot water is always hot enough for tea.

The Four Seasons might be really good if they do serve an afternoon tea.

There is a new restaurant over at Allied Arts in Menlo Park, Red Currant Cafe. I haven't yet eaten there, but the setting would be lovely.

Link to their menu: http://www.alliedartsguild.org/cgi-bi...

rworange: How is Sweetea's? I haven't heard of it.

[Claudette]

I'd forgotten that AAG had remodeled recently - thanks for the reminder, YSZ. And thanks, too, to everyone else for the great suggestions (I'll have to try them all!).

BTW: I looked at the Four Seasons East PA website, and they do not mention tea. I've had breakfast and lunch there many times, and they seem to cater to a more corporate clientele than a Ladies Who Tea crowd (but being an office worker, maybe I'm just not plugged into the right network).

[newhart06]

Anyone done tea on the peninsula this year? Would love any current recommendations - thank you!

[Kim Cooper]

the English Rose is the same as ever. We ate there recently. they are now open Sundays too.

[K K]

On my to try list sometime:

Sweetea's
25 W 25th Ave
in the Patio Shops Courtyard
San Mateo, CA 94403

[phone]
www.sweeteas.com

Don't know if they still offer it, but some friends enjoyed the afternoon tea offering at Ritz Cartlton Half Moon Bay.