I invited my daughter and her out-of-town friend here for a tea date about a year or so ago. I have to admit that I was a bit UNDERwhelmed. However, I am a little spoiled from after my very first "high tea" at London's Four Seasons Inn On The Park, then the St. Regis in Washington DC. BUT, after all, this is Carefree Arizona, not Hyde Park! Accordingly this place hits the mark for its locale.
The atmosphere is lovely with nice shabby chic touches throughout. The tables are packed in a bit tight and the service could be a great deal faster and attentative. The teas are excellent and scones are lovely. We had the Duchess of Bedford Afternoon Tea - the proper title includes the word "Formal" but it is just the kind of offering at any pedestrian English tea establishment. The cakes and sweets on the top tier are just average. My main complaint is that the tea sandwiches taste like they had been frozen and recently thawed out. Ours were a bit icy on the inside and tasted of the fridge.
That said, I'd like to host a small baby shower for my daughter soon, providing the packed in seating will accommodate 12 to 16 women, along with the flurry of gift-giving. The ambience of this restaurant negates many of the cons.