While the British Museum is worth the trip in its own right, this is a review on Oliver's Tearoom that is nestled within the Museum.
I made some reservations, as I wasn't sure if the place would be hopping or not. It was a Saturday, and I didn't want to take any chances. I need not have worried, there were plenty of tables available and we chose table next to a TV playing non-stop British television. It was a little distracting, the sound of the show trying to compete with the music in the background. If you don't want a fight over your auditory attention, just pick a seat further away. We only noticed because the television was a foot away from my elbow.
The tables are nicely laid out and, I have to make mention, have very comfortable seats. Really. Some places have the most terrible chairs with hard backs and stiff cushions. Often mixed and matched antiques. Here they are uniformed and very comfortable. Oliver's tea room also has cloth napkins, and the mixed and matched antique teacups common in many of the other tearooms. It is slightly more feminine, but still very haimish. Since it bunks up against various display cabinets of museum items, there is plenty to look at and talk about.
We had the Taste of Britain high tea that goes for about $12, though if you paid an extra .50 you can choose your own selection of tea. Otherwise it is plain, dependable Yorkshire tea.
I have Yorkshire at home and wanted something a bit more unique so I forked out the -EXUBERANT- price and picked my own tea. Well worth it! The choice of teas are many, and you choose from a full spectrum of types. The company they sell is Metropolitan Tea company, which isn't the highest quality but the flavoured teas are really rather good.
We received our teas in little silver pots in knitted cozies, and waited for it to steep. They put loose tea into make-it-yourself- tea bags, which is safer for health reasons. The trouble is the water traveled up the bag, out the lid, and all over my side of the table. There is no place to put your tea bag when it has reached the desired strength either. So you let it steep, and your second cup can become rather bitter. Actually, Yorkshire tea is made with the CTC method which means it steeps quite quickly and if left too long it can make the water very astringent. Makes me glad I did pay the very inexpensive price for the upgrade. If you do get Yorkshire tea, and are worried about over steeping, make sure you ask for a dish to place your teabag in. They were also very accommodating with requests for milk. I asked for skim, my tea companion asked for regular, and we each got a little pitcher of our own.
The food arrived in charming silver platters, with sandwiches, two petite desserts and three British...rolled up things. I say things because the waitress did not offer to explain what they were. I was a little surprised by this, especially since it is British food that isn't common in BC. She left before I could inquire, and I just threw caution to the wind and ate it anyways. Fortunately I am not allergic to mushrooms, only filled with deep disgust of them. A bite into my rolled up...thing proved to be chalk full of them. Oh dear.
The sandwiches were tasty, and the cucumber sandwiches have the added bonus of cream cheese in it. This is the part of the meal that fills you up, as it comes with four little sandwiches. Which, if you think about it, makes one complete sandwich. Very good. The petite fours were not actually four, but two. They looked very dainty and a bit like wrapped up gifts. They weren't overly sweet and when a server did come around, she was able to tell us the types. It was a little disappointing in quantity though. Two little desserts and a slice of orange? I actually asked if the Taste of Britain came with anything else, like a scone. What was there was very delicious (well, maybe not to me, but if you like mushrooms you're fine) just it seemed to be a little on the light side. I could have filled my belly with a lot of tea, but it was very difficult catching the eye of my server to request more hot water. By the time I did, I had only one weak cup (most of the flavour was sucked up entirely in the first pot) and not much time to enjoy it.
This is an excellent place to sit after the stroll around the wonderful museum, sweet shop and reference library. Make note of the closing time and plan accordingly; you will want to take your time! There is a myriad of things to see while just sitting at the table, and conversation will never be wanting of a topic. If you are a regular tea drinker and want something fancy, opt to choose your own flavour of tea. Ask for a dish to sit your tea bag on and maybe have a meal before you have the Taste of Britain here.
And then sit back and enjoy the atmosphere, tea, and British Television. read more
