MESSY HIGH TEA -- Located on the 3rd floor of the NGV International, the Tea Room offers High Tea at 57 bucks per head, a glass of bubbly included, or two pots of tea if you don't drink alcohol. My first High Tea at the TR was good regarding food and tea, but not good regarding everything else.
GOOD FOOD
I found the food great regarding quality of ingredients, amount of food served, cooking expertise and taste of the food on offer. I could not finish the 3-tier serving tray.
The lower tray had a selection of mini-sandwiches: Smoked salmon with chive cream cheese, classic egg and cress, coronation chicken, cucumber and dill, and cheese and pickles. All of them were super-fresh and utterly delicious. Despite being classics and simple, they tasted great. Only the cucumber one was a bit meh.
The second tray had scones with Chantilly cream and raspberry jam. I thought they were OK, a bit too dense and floury for me.
The upper tray had the sweets: Pecan tart with spiced poached pear; egg custard tart with nutmeg; kumquat financier; matcha and yuzu eclair, and brandy snap. All of them were top-notch, but the eclair and the pecan tart were my favourites.
On a side plate were served three hot canapes: Mini-lamb shank pativier, Mushroom and truffle quiche, and a five spices duck breast with orange marmalade and taro chip. All of them fine cooking, flavoursome and delectable. Loved the trio.
Besides, they have a large good-quality selection of teas: black, flavoured black, herbal tisanes, white teas, green teas and flower teas. I had one the Sencha teas, and the Grand Yunnan, the latter was fabulous.
BAD THINGS
> Bad service, actually a mess. They needed at least another staff member when I visited to to attend to the avalanche of customers already seated and cueing to be seated. This is a pricey place, why are they short of staff?
> Some of the staff were nice, especially the male manager, but others bordered rudeness, and the service was overall careless, unfriendly, hurried and, at times, unprofessional. Examples:
>>>The food tray was put in front of my nose, literally, and I had to rearrange things myself because it was impossible starting eating otherwise.
>>>> When I asked for a piggy bag, a box was put on my table for me to pack it myself.
>>> Empty cups and dishes are not removed from the table until you leave or request the waiters to do so.
> I booked online, in advance, via email and I exchanged several emails about timing, replacements etc. Upon arrival, my booking was not there. I was lucky enough that there was an empty table at peak hour; otherwise I would have to go elsewhere. The waitress who attended to me first asked me to show the emails... Would I lie? The person with whom I booked and exchanged some emails happened to be there as well, and when I told her what has happened, she blamed the system. Yes,sure, then fix the system or do not offer booking online or by email. And she introduced my data manually, I blame her not the system.
> Paper serviettes for High Tea... is not High Tea.
> Noisy crowded place.
It is a pity that the good work of the chef/s is wasted by the slovenly service.
Put yourselves up guys, or decrease the price of the High Tea!
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