Afternoon Tea in Glasgow

At one point we went through a phase of Afternoon Tea experiences last year and have visited a few places in Glasgow.

Let me go back to year 2007 on my birthday - when my husband took me to a "proper" Afternoon Tea along with daughters and my mother-in-law to a famous 5 star hotel with eagle logo and golf courses, located in the central belt of Scotland (I shall not name the name...) for my birthday treat.

It ceremoniously commenced with selecting flavour of tea leaves and then with amuse-bouche (literally translated to mouth amuser, showcasing a chef's approach to the art of cuisine) consisting of series of beautifully flavoured and presented small dishes. As I don't eat, I neither ate nor took photos of any of dishes contained meat but salmon with white cream (see below left) was lovely and so as creme brûlée (below right).

Next, it moved to a selection of sandwiches and rolls with delicious fillings.

And then finally, delectable selections of scones and cakes.

Of course, by this point we were getting really full and could only manage some but not all of them. I especially had an eye on this lovely chocolate cake with gold leaf on it but alas, there was no room in my body to fit this, no matter  how delicious it looked. We hardly touched those lovely cakes sitting on the bottom tier. So we asked a waiting staff if they could box the rest of cakes to go. We were refused - due to health and safety, they said. I remember I felt like I was nearly crying, like a child whose birthday cake was snatched as soon as blowing candles. My husband tried to explain it was for my birthday but to no avail. Due to health and safety and we could stay as long as we wished to take our time to enjoy the afternoon tea, but unable to accommodate our request, they said. 

After all, it is a posh hotel.... commoners like us should not have gone to a place like that and asked for a doggy bag....?!?!?!  We did not make any scene and went home quietly afterwards, without cakes and feeling hugely disappointed... on my birthday...  All I have now are photographs of food we had and we could not have. 

Every time the word 'afternoon tea' came up, I remembered this experience and have had a mixed feeling. 

Then last year, probably fuelled by popularity of British Bake-Off programmes on TV, etc, suddenly everyone is baking cakes and doing afternoon teas. Then many on-line deals for afternoon deals started emerging everywhere.  

One day Emily said, 'Fancy going for afternoon tea but with cocktails?'  So, Emily, Maria and I went to Saint Judes in Glasgow last summer (see my blog for more information and photos, Intoxicating Tearooms at Saint Judes last year). This was the beginning of our Afternoon Tea sampling....

Saint Judes Verdict

WOW Factor	Afternoon teas but with cocktails and procecco!!!  We were WOWed - lovely cocktail to choose, potful of lovely pink procecco and mini cakes!
Service	It was the Winbledon Final, Andy Murray vs Roger Federer; everyone was watching TV but staff kept coming back checking customers if we were alright. And we got extra tier!
Tea Replenishing Factor	It’s all about cocktails….. AND cocktails were really good.
What's to eat Factor	Lots of cute mini cakes. If you don't eat meat, you only have cucumber sandwich to nibble. We did however order some chips afterwards as we wanted something savoury....
Take-home Factor	Best enjoyed while you were there…
Toilet Check	Not a lot of space, not for claustrophobic.
Total Enjoyability	Room was dark with dim lighting but eventually get used to it. We thoroughly enjoyed it.  Emily went back with her friends again…

We then went to Delise of Paradise, off Argyll Street, near Tron Theatre in August. It was not opened that long ago when we went there. The owner was very very friendly and we really hope she would be successful because she was such a lovely lady.

Delice of Paradise Verdict

WOW Factor	We checked their website before we went and raised our expectation too high.... No WOW but the owner was really nice.
Service	All staff and the owner were all very friendly.
Tea Reprenishing Factor	It was a normal tea and coffee....
What's to eat Factor	Cakes were all made at the premises but far too much coconuts used for everything. Could have more sandwich and cakes but it was on-line deal and very cheap so we got what we paid for....?
Take-home Factor	We ate all except coconuts cakes and biscuits so nothing to take home with.
Toilet Check	There is only one toilet for all with disable facility.
Total Enjoyability	Bright decor, nice sandwich and lovely owner but  not much of 'Afternoon Tea' experience as such …

Next we went to Stewarts Victorian Tearooms in the Merchant City of Glasgow. It is elegant with classical music in the background and really put us in the mood for Afternoon Tea. Everything is home made at the premises, the scones came with proper cream and jam, and we got 3 big pots of tea, each time with different flavours of tea. We did not even have to ask for new pot as someone always comes around, take an empty pot away and soon came back with another!!!

Stewarts Victorian Tearooms Verdict

WOW Factor	It lived up to our expectation of Afternoon Tea atmosphere, so we were WOWed. As soon as you step into the restaurant, you will be in the mood for the Afternoon Tea, with classical music in the background, elegant decor and friendly and efficient staff.
Service	Friendly and efficient service.  No problem for catering vegetarians.
Tea Replenishing Factor	Pots are replenished immediately without having to ask and each time came with different flavoured tea!  Really good tea.
What's to eat Factor	Cakes were all made at the premises. Scones delicious and came with proper cream and jam.
Take-home Factor	Best to enjoy at the restaurant with atmosphere, not much to take home with.
Toilet Check	Nice and clean toilets. There was no door knob inside of the toilet I went in but I managed to get out... phew....
Total Enjoyability	Good 'Afternoon Tea' experience with affordable price. Would like to take my mother-in-law sometime as I am sure she will enjoy it. They also do High Tea so we may try that too.

And then during Christmas holiday, we went to Chocolate Factory at Charing Cross for chocolate afternoon tea. They also cater children's birthday party making chocolates and also have good selection of vegetarian light snacks such as sandwich, panini, salad, soup, etc. Scones had chocolate chips in them and you finish off with lovely hot chocolate.

Chocolate Factory Verdict

WOW Factor	The shop was too spacious, a bit cold and less cosy but good for chocolate lovers. Hot chocolate at the end of Afternoon Tea was a nice little WOW -  really good as in photos!
Service	Staff was friendly and accommodating for vegetarians.
Tea Reprenishing Factor	Normal tea but no problem to ask for another pot of tea ....
What's to eat Factor	Scones had chocolate chips in them but nice. Eclair with chocolate cream filling was lovely, but there is only so much chocolate you can eat....  Make sure to leave some room for a small cup of lovely hot chocolate drink.
Take-home Factor	Took home left over cakes but best to eat them at the premises as we were chocolated out and did not manage to eat them at home, shame!
Toilet Check	Forgot to check....
Total Enjoyability	Interesting chocolate experience …  Vegetarian would have good selections of sandwiches and salads to order from menu. Parking could be a problem.

To be honest, after that experience in 2007, I went to all these places, carrying tupperware in my bag in case I may take home cakes that I can't manage to eat, but in the end you never eat them when you go home and left them sitting inside of the fridge for some time, eventually thrown away. So, it's best to enjoy cakes with pots of tea at the premises with the right atmosphere as Afternoon Tea as it is intended, not as Afterwards Tea at home sitting in front of TV.  It's just not the same.

I have also heard from people that the said posh hotel mentioned earlier now allows guests taking home cakes. This does not make me going back there as it only brought me back sad memories. You have no idea how disappointing that was ...  However, let's move on. Maybe we might not have eaten any of those cakes after all had we had taken them home, as you would never be able to recreate that afternoon tea atmosphere and experience you would get from 5 start hotel.

Afternoon Tea is alway best to be enjoyed at the right place with the right atmosphere after all!

That's all forks!