Our second day in London was a bit subdued, due to the fact that we couldn't get Sam or Danielle out of bed until 2:00pm. :)
Fortunately experienced traveler and planning nazi Danielle had built the sleeping-in into the schedule, so our first plans for the day did not start until 4:30… well, actually, they started at 4:00, but she was certain they started at 4:30… and since she can't get her data plan to work, she spent the two hours prior to leaving for the afternoon on the phone with tech support.
NOTE: when you are jetlagged, in a foreign country, and have plans in the next two hours, DO NOT CALL TECH SUPPORT. You will not be a pleasant person to be around.
Anyway, Danielle hung up on tech support so we could make it to our afternoon appointment at 4:30, for the Mad Hatter Afternoon Tea at the Sanderson Hotel. She had planned for the group to leave at 3:15 to give them an extra 15 minutes buffer in case they had to wait for trains. At 3:15, she double-checked the reservation to confirm the address, and saw that it was for 4:00pm. OOPS! The 15 minute buffer quickly became "15 minutes fashionably late." So they took a cab from London Bridge station, and made it around 4:10. Fortunately the restaurant was also running late, so they offered us a free glass of champagne, and the opportunity to cool our heels in the very fancy bar area.
The tea room was lovely, if a bit modern, and not as campy as some in our party had hoped for. The company was wonderful, the food was mediocre, and the service was awful. We actually asked them to remove the service charge, it was so bad.
We had the usual finger sandwiches, tiny quiche, and mini scones. For dessert there were Victoria sponge cakes, cheese cakes with an attempt at being cosmopolitain (there was a mango gelee in the shape of an egg yolk inside of the cheesecake, it exploded all over the plate when you hit it with your fork), little chocolate teacups filled with a delightful mousse, and some very weird bright orange meringue carrots. There was also a cute potion bottle with a label that said "drink me," the contents of which were absolutely foul. We tried to keep a straight face while tricking each other into trying it. It was allegedly comprised of three layers (from the bottom up): some kind of mango / passion fruit smoothie (room temperature), coconut panna cotta (also room temperature), some other top layer that no one remembers, because the first two were so awful. I don't know if this is something that is enjoyed in London, but room temperature dairy liquid/gels are not delicious.
The nice British ladies at the table next to us agreed it was terrible service, and that they had higher expectations as well. Oh well, I cannot say I would recommend that particular High Tea experience to other travelers in the future, but you certainly must have tea somewhere!
Overall: Suka Mad Hatter Tea at the Sanderson Hotel:
Theme - 4 stars
Food - 2 stars
Atmosphere - 3 stars (too stuffy, not campy enough)
Service - (-)2 stars
<<More details about the following events to be added after we return, no time right now>>
THEN Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, after some drinks at the pub across the street.
Café Rouge
Emergency cab ride to "Midnight Train to Westcombe"
Fortunately experienced traveler and planning nazi Danielle had built the sleeping-in into the schedule, so our first plans for the day did not start until 4:30… well, actually, they started at 4:00, but she was certain they started at 4:30… and since she can't get her data plan to work, she spent the two hours prior to leaving for the afternoon on the phone with tech support.
NOTE: when you are jetlagged, in a foreign country, and have plans in the next two hours, DO NOT CALL TECH SUPPORT. You will not be a pleasant person to be around.
Anyway, Danielle hung up on tech support so we could make it to our afternoon appointment at 4:30, for the Mad Hatter Afternoon Tea at the Sanderson Hotel. She had planned for the group to leave at 3:15 to give them an extra 15 minutes buffer in case they had to wait for trains. At 3:15, she double-checked the reservation to confirm the address, and saw that it was for 4:00pm. OOPS! The 15 minute buffer quickly became "15 minutes fashionably late." So they took a cab from London Bridge station, and made it around 4:10. Fortunately the restaurant was also running late, so they offered us a free glass of champagne, and the opportunity to cool our heels in the very fancy bar area.
The tea room was lovely, if a bit modern, and not as campy as some in our party had hoped for. The company was wonderful, the food was mediocre, and the service was awful. We actually asked them to remove the service charge, it was so bad.
We had the usual finger sandwiches, tiny quiche, and mini scones. For dessert there were Victoria sponge cakes, cheese cakes with an attempt at being cosmopolitain (there was a mango gelee in the shape of an egg yolk inside of the cheesecake, it exploded all over the plate when you hit it with your fork), little chocolate teacups filled with a delightful mousse, and some very weird bright orange meringue carrots. There was also a cute potion bottle with a label that said "drink me," the contents of which were absolutely foul. We tried to keep a straight face while tricking each other into trying it. It was allegedly comprised of three layers (from the bottom up): some kind of mango / passion fruit smoothie (room temperature), coconut panna cotta (also room temperature), some other top layer that no one remembers, because the first two were so awful. I don't know if this is something that is enjoyed in London, but room temperature dairy liquid/gels are not delicious.
The nice British ladies at the table next to us agreed it was terrible service, and that they had higher expectations as well. Oh well, I cannot say I would recommend that particular High Tea experience to other travelers in the future, but you certainly must have tea somewhere!
Overall: Suka Mad Hatter Tea at the Sanderson Hotel:
Theme - 4 stars
Food - 2 stars
Atmosphere - 3 stars (too stuffy, not campy enough)
Service - (-)2 stars
<<More details about the following events to be added after we return, no time right now>>
THEN Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, after some drinks at the pub across the street.
Café Rouge
Emergency cab ride to "Midnight Train to Westcombe"
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