The Great Court At The British Museum

I made a reservation for afternoon tea here since all other hotels were fully booked. Unfortunately, the sandwich bread was dry, as if it had been prepared in the morning and left out all day before being served. It shouldn't be difficult to make fresh sandwiches. It was quite disappointing. The scones were served cold, but at least they were somewhat edible. I didn't even bother trying the sweets, but I suspect they weren't fresh either. Overall, I don't think the £30 per person charge is justified. I would recommend going somewhere else for afternoon tea.

We reserved a table for 1 PM, hoping to ensure an early meal and a prompt departure due to an afternoon commitment. Unfortunately, the service was excruciatingly slow, and we nearly missed our schedule. We had to request the bill twice, and when it finally came, it was incorrect as the two-course menu deal had not been applied. On a positive note, the food was quite good. However, I won’t be returning.

I ordered the traditional Fish and Chips along with a homemade lemonade, which was delicious. However, I noticed that a couple of ladies at a nearby table sent their Fish and Chips back, saying it was nice but served cold. Perhaps it was just an off day for the restaurant, but I would be willing to give it another try to see if it deserves a five-star rating.

The hostess was rather unfriendly, but fortunately, the waitresses were pleasant. Upon our arrival, we were informed that the only option available was afternoon tea, while other guests who came in after us were allowed to order from the menu. It seemed as though the hostess might have preferred us not to stay since we had a baby with us, though we can't say for sure. We agreed to the afternoon tea, but it was quite disappointing. The only redeeming item was the scones. The sandwiches were very dry, reminiscent of bread that's been left out for a day or two, and they weren't particularly tasty. The cakes lacked any distinct flavor aside from being overly sweet. Additionally, our four teas were served in two teapots, each with two filters, which felt less than elegant after ordering four different varieties. The place has potential to be nice, but there is certainly room for improvement.

The food does not live up to the elegant decor and fancy names. For instance, the Norfolk free-range chicken (which is highlighted in bold) and the leek mushroom pie... Well, it's just a pie with some chicken, leek, and mushrooms. It seemed poorly cooked, as if it had come straight from the freezer. Maybe they just forgot to serve the chicken that day? In summary, the food was disappointing (the safest choice was the cheese board, which turned out to be decent and the best dish we had). However, the location is really lovely and quite peaceful, which is definitely a significant advantage.