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| - My wife and I went for the classic afternoon tea for two. It was okay, but for both of us it missed the mark in a few important ways. The tea service itself was generally sub par, starting with the menu of teas to choose from. There were no small samples of the teas to inform the guest of the hints of the aromas and not even a description of the teas the server has experienced or might pair well with their selection of quiches, sandwiches, scones, and sweets. The servers at T Buds were pleasant enough, I suppose. This touch may seem small but it is an important one as it sets the tone the rest of your afternoon tea. The sandwiches were average, and we were informed they were made ahead. The first plate had of all things cheese and crackers. No explanation of the cheese and why it was served with what looked to me to be Brenton crackers. The tableware was not clean, when we sat down I immediately noticed that there was lipstick on my tea cup. It was replaced as soon as I brought it to our server's attention. The first plate that came out also had a green smudge on it, as did the champagne flutes that arrived to end the afternoon tea. The whole experience left us feeling distracted, not really pampered and focussed on the soothing tea,gazing out the window as we talked, transfixed on the Aroma cafe signage waving in the window.
In T Buds favour, I can say the scones were good as were our pots of tea. Their display of the book culinary tea caught my eye and curiosity. Their restroom is beautiful. So much so that it made me fantasize that our visit would be much improved if the entire place was done up in the style of stone. Something of a stone floor and wall that conjures something serene like a ryokan. That would be an experience to come back for.
We both went in hoping for something special outside the afternoon teas that are attached to hotels, but were greeted with the dowdy offerings of an eccentric relative who had only learned of the existence of afternoon tea from super market magazines.
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