Today we decided to venture into downtown Toronto on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to have afternoon tea down at the Royal York Hotel. We have had other high tea sessions and we were told that this one was one of the better ones. Our little one tagged along in her stroller. The hotel was very accommodating. We got there a couple of minutes late however we had reservations at the restaurant so that was not a problem.
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| Seasonal Berry Cocktail |
We went with another couple and the four of us, decided to order two different types of teas. My wife got the Earl Grey Tea while they got the Green Tea. The Earl Grey Tea was quite strong in taste. It certainly was more bitter than what you get from the tea bags. Even with the addition of sugar and milk it was in my mind a little harder to stomach.
For appetizers we had a Seasonal Berry Cocktail. Mixed with blueberry and raspberry fruit the entire cocktail along with its "pancake" was a good combination. The pancake was glazed I believe and it certainly was light enough so that it didn't ruin the rest of the meal.
Next we had the traditional finger sandwiches. There were four different types of sandwiches. There were the PEI Lobster in Mango Salad, Nova Scotia Smoked Salmon, Smoked Turkey Breast and Ontario Brie with Strawberry, Apple and Peach Reserve.
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| The Four Sandwiches |
We tried the strawberry reserve first. The sandwich was sweet in strawberries. Couldn't really taste the peach or the apple pieces however. The fruits were definitely very fresh. At first, I thought I was not going to like the goat cheese with it however it was rather light and not too heavy. It contrasted with the fruits very well. We next tried the Smoked Turkey Sandwich. It also had arugula cress, apple chutney and dried cranberries. Honestly it was difficult to taste the smoked turkey. It actually tasted like a normal ham sandwich with little to taste from. The smoked salmon was next. It had some cucumber, arugula cress and wasabi chive with it as well however the only thing I could taste was the smoked salmon. The rest of the ingredients did not dominate the sandwich and again one could barely taste the other ingredients. The waiter says that some will be able to taste the wasabi however I would like to differ. We saved the best for last. The lobster sandwich was loaded with mango salad and lobster meat and it did not disappoint. It was juicy on every bite and by far the best one of the four.
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| The pastries |
The pastries came next and it all came on the tall tray. The Choux Pastry Swans were the first pastries we tried. Loaded with organic cream, the pastry was quite creamy. Personally I thought it was a tad too heavy. Since I am not a cream loving person, to me this pastry was a little too much for me. I tried the Fresh Fruit Clafouti next also known as the strawberry tart. The strawberries were glazed with either sugar or honey. Regardless it didn't quite stick with the tart too well and with one bite the strawberries were all gone and the tart was left sitting on the plate. As well, some of the tarts were seared or burned on the outside. Next up was the Chocolate Crunch Flourless Cake. It was fluffy and the chocolate was okay but unfortunately I took one bite and I was done. The Royal York Rooftop Honey and White Chocolate Madelaine was next. This honey I believe actually comes from the bees that are on the rooftop of this hotel hence the name. I remember reading about it in a local newspaper a couple of years back and the fresh honey certainly did not disappoint It was certainly the best pastry of the four. Moist and very sweet it was certainly a huge contrast compared to the more drier pastries that were present.
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| House Baked Cranberry Scones |
Finally the House Baked Cranberry Scones were next. I don't know about many of you but these scones were dry, floury and somewhat difficult to eat. I grabbed a raspberry jam that was on the table and threw the whole jar on the scone. It was the only way to eat it. Otherwise, it would stick to your throat and would make it quite difficult to swallow.
All in all the experience was a fair one. Located inside the library bar, it's antique and richness in history made it an unique experience. All four of us had a free coupon for the day so the entire meal was free. However we still placed a gratuity on the table when the meal was done. The entire meal is actually $35.00 per person. We parked over at the Esplanade which is about a 5-10 minute walk. It was a Sunday afternoon so certainly parking in downtown was plentiful and cheaper than a weekday. Probably the only thing I would say about Afternoon Teas are that they are never filling. The pastries just make you want to stop eating. The thickness and throat sticking experience will make you want to stop. Some will say this is the way of the higher class and some will say that one can stretch the $35.00 a lot more. Personally other than the lobster sandwich, everything else seem to be like any other sandwich. Next time I will profile another Afternoon Tea at another restaurant. I enjoyed the social afternoon with our friends however I can tell everyone was glad no one had to pay for this food. None of them were actually full and one can tell everyone was wondering when the next meal was going to be. I give this place a 3.5 out of 5.
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