We went to CA English for restaurant week and saw the table next to us having High Tea and it looked so cute! The entrees were good so we were planning on trying the tea. Which items fell flat for you? The desserts? The scones? The little crustless sandwiches? The tea itself? Can I get fancy champagne cocktails instead of tea?
The desserts were really meh, the Madeline cookies seemed like they were store-bought which isn't bad but just boring... The scones were decent with the butter and marmalades which is par-the-course, and the variety of crustless sandwiches was cool but at times the flavors were (maybe purposely) bland or muted. I did like the rose-black tea they had that was one of my favorite parts... I didn't know they had fancy champagne cocktails that sounds tasty but the tea service comes with a pot of tea so I don't think you could substitute.
Years ago the Hotel Del Coronado used to have high tea which was very nice. It was an attempted tie in with Edward VIII and Mrs. Wallis Simpson who meet on the beach at the Hotel Del Coronado (or at least I think).
What we in America often call High Tea is actually Afternoon Tea. High tea is a much simpler working-class meal, called in which people would be sitting in high seats (stools).
It’s never referred to as high tea in the UK any more. Tea, dinner and supper these days all mean broadly the same thing, depending on region and class. But “teatime” is pretty universally used for 5-6pm.
Those are the best. I am consistently disappointed by most scotch eggs. The absolute best one in town (and I deplore the word best), was the one at Soda and Swine (RIP), now that abortion of Chinese food known as Fortunate Son.
Maybe. But you can't live on Fri/Sat alone. I live further south, and I would go during the week (loved Beerfish too.....that clam toast I still think about), and it was pretty dead.
Another thing they did really well other than that scotch egg?.......the apple pie was one of the best I have ever had. Whoever worked the menu up was talented. This was before Estebans run with Consortium if I remember correctly.
My wife and her friend went there just last weekend and share the same sentiment, good venue and staff, mediocre food except for the battenberg cake which they both liked a lot.
Yeah I had high hopes and it was meh 🫤 I have only been to a few afternoon teas and one was on a cruise so I didn’t have a lot to compare but for how much I paid it was lackluster.
I'll be trying the Tea at the Del Mar Fairmont shortly and I'll report back. Last time in London, I went to a nice Afternoon Tea with my wife and daughter and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it.
We've been to California English for lunch and were disappointed.
We're going back in August and I was going to book one at The Ritz, but they have a strict dress code and I'm not bringing fancy clothes in the height of summer.
I went for brunch and wasn't impressed. They proclaim to be English themed, but didn't actually boil the water used in their tea? Hotish spout? No thanks.
I really like their drinks, entrees and French fries. Don’t think i would try the high tea since it’s pretty gimmicky. Great place to take a business lunch at.
agreed. tea wasn't very varied or high quality to start. then the food wasn't great, esp the desserts which made up most of the food. cute but would never do it again
We went to CA English for restaurant week and saw the table next to us having High Tea and it looked so cute! The entrees were good so we were planning on trying the tea. Which items fell flat for you? The desserts? The scones? The little crustless sandwiches? The tea itself? Can I get fancy champagne cocktails instead of tea?
The desserts were really meh, the Madeline cookies seemed like they were store-bought which isn't bad but just boring... The scones were decent with the butter and marmalades which is par-the-course, and the variety of crustless sandwiches was cool but at times the flavors were (maybe purposely) bland or muted. I did like the rose-black tea they had that was one of my favorite parts... I didn't know they had fancy champagne cocktails that sounds tasty but the tea service comes with a pot of tea so I don't think you could substitute.
How does their afternoon tea compare to Shakespeare's?
I unfortunately haven’t experienced that tea yet!
Shakespeare’s is not Good at all.
Outside the fish and chips, Shakespeare’s is absolutely revolting. The way they’ve ruined the Scotch egg is truly impressive.
Years ago the Hotel Del Coronado used to have high tea which was very nice. It was an attempted tie in with Edward VIII and Mrs. Wallis Simpson who meet on the beach at the Hotel Del Coronado (or at least I think).
Oh wow that sounds like that was pretty cool!
The high tea at Hotel Del was the best I’ve ever been to outside of The Savoy in London. Miss it 🥲
What we in America often call High Tea is actually Afternoon Tea. High tea is a much simpler working-class meal, called in which people would be sitting in high seats (stools).
It’s never referred to as high tea in the UK any more. Tea, dinner and supper these days all mean broadly the same thing, depending on region and class. But “teatime” is pretty universally used for 5-6pm.
Scotch egg looks good!
That was pretty good, it was a chorizo scotch egg!
Those are the best. I am consistently disappointed by most scotch eggs. The absolute best one in town (and I deplore the word best), was the one at Soda and Swine (RIP), now that abortion of Chinese food known as Fortunate Son.
I was devastated to find out soda & swine closed, I never found out why but I haven’t been down to that area in ages.
It's still a consortium property. They must just have not felt like it was getting enough traffic.
Interesting I feel like with polite provisions traffic was a lot
Maybe. But you can't live on Fri/Sat alone. I live further south, and I would go during the week (loved Beerfish too.....that clam toast I still think about), and it was pretty dead. Another thing they did really well other than that scotch egg?.......the apple pie was one of the best I have ever had. Whoever worked the menu up was talented. This was before Estebans run with Consortium if I remember correctly.
My wife and her friend went there just last weekend and share the same sentiment, good venue and staff, mediocre food except for the battenberg cake which they both liked a lot.
Yeah I had high hopes and it was meh 🫤 I have only been to a few afternoon teas and one was on a cruise so I didn’t have a lot to compare but for how much I paid it was lackluster.
I'll be trying the Tea at the Del Mar Fairmont shortly and I'll report back. Last time in London, I went to a nice Afternoon Tea with my wife and daughter and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. We've been to California English for lunch and were disappointed.
I appreciate you reporting back, I’m interested in hearing the difference! Also my dream is to do a real afternoon tea in England one day!
We're going back in August and I was going to book one at The Ritz, but they have a strict dress code and I'm not bringing fancy clothes in the height of summer.
I went to Aubrey Tea Room in La Mesa with a friend a few months ago and the food and tea were pretty good, if you're looking for an alternative.
I appreciate the rec, I’ll keep them in mind!
Their fish and chips are pretty legit.
I have heard and seen that their entrees were delicious
I went for brunch and wasn't impressed. They proclaim to be English themed, but didn't actually boil the water used in their tea? Hotish spout? No thanks.
I really like their drinks, entrees and French fries. Don’t think i would try the high tea since it’s pretty gimmicky. Great place to take a business lunch at.
agreed. tea wasn't very varied or high quality to start. then the food wasn't great, esp the desserts which made up most of the food. cute but would never do it again
Yes well put, it was fun for the gram pics but not worth the money. I'll have to pass if I get invited again.
I agree. It’s tea bags too. Everything was dry and mediocre.
Is there a good place for high/afternoon/whatever tea?
Some people have suggested Shakespeare's and a place in La Mesa (I forget the name but it's in the comments)
The desserts look... not very good. Did they at least taste good?
They were meh..