I had afternoon tea with a party of 10 yesterday. ...

I had afternoon tea with a party of 10 yesterday. I knew about their tea service for a long time, but was afraid to go due to bad reviews citing rude servers. They must have been really old reviews! Everyone was so welcoming and accommodating! My friends were impressed with the ambiance and we all had a great time!

The tea was bagged instead of loose-leaf, which might deter some, but I enjoyed it. (The brand was The Republic of Tea.) They kept coming back to make sure we had enough hot water and insisted we take as many tea bags as we liked. Instead of the standard 3-tier tray of finger foods, we were individually served our own plates of sandwiches, scones, and sweets. I thought this was unusual and didn't really like the sandwiches, but the sweets and jam all tasted like they came from their own food department! If you've shopped there, you know how delicious their baking mixes and spreads are!

I plan to go again and again because the price is so affordable and the service is excellent. Just remember to make reservations for tea. (I didn't realize it was a regular cafe, so I hope to walk in one day to try their regular menu as well.)