English Rose Tea Room

We went to the English Rose Tea Room today. It's easy to miss--I drove past it the first time, and only found it on the second try because I knew the building number. Nine tables, about half full when we got there at 2:30. Dusky rose walls, a faux fireplace, and background music contributed to the ambiance, although it's marred by fluorescent lighting. Shelves on the wall behind me had various tea mixes, including caramel truffle and some less exotic blends. The china didn't come in sets; each cup went with its own saucer but there didn't seem to be two cups of the same pattern, and the plates were different as well.

First select your tea, one pot per person; we got white plum and raspberry almond, both of them made with loose tea and you had to remember to put the strainer on your cup when you poured. It wasn't as hot or strong as I'm used to (admittedly, I usually let mine steep for quite a while); it didn't come with cream, although that may have been because they weren't black teas. The sugar came in cubes, or formed in the shape of a mint leaf or maple leaf. After that came the food:

• Two scones, one cinnamon and one crème brûlée flavor, with Devonshire cream.


• A saucer of fruit, including blackberry, sugared grapes, and slices of apple and strawberry.


• Soup and quiche. The soup du jour was tomato with carrots, potato and chicken, served in a teacup


• Tea sandwiches (cucumber and cream cheese on white, roast beef on wheat, ham biscuit, pimento cheese on pumpernickel) and sweets (banana bread, cream puff, coconut macaroon with chocolate, and cake). The roast beef and the ham could have used some sharp mustard, in my opinion. I think of pimento as Southern, but I'm told it's popular in Britain.

It was a bit pricey ($50 for two) but enjoyable.