English Tea @ St James Restaurant, Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly, London

Note: if you're seeing this post somewhere else, his post has been shamefully plagiarised from www.tummy-rumble.com.

For those of you who didn't know, I'll list a couple of things about Fornum & Mason.

1. Queen Elizabeth has given her approval of the place and is rumored to shop there.
2. It resembles a mini Harrods, selling all sort of premier things from clothes to food.
3. Their food brand is probably more or as expensive of stuff from Harrods.
4. They sell Amedei Porcelana (at 10quids a bar) which tend to run out of stock rather quickly.
5. They are famed for their afternoon tea at St James Restaurant.

Tea Set

Served in expensive teaware, one had a choice of a strong, mild or aromatic tea from around the world. Under each category, there is a choice of 3 teas respectively. I opted for a mild tasting tea. Mild tea do not require sugar or milk.

Canape

From top to bottom: clotted cream, strawberry jam and raspberry jam.

Highest layer: cheese cake, lemon meringue, ginger biscuit, strawberry cake.

Middle layer: Plain scones and raisin scones.

Lowest later: Sandwiches (cream cheese and cucumber, smoked salmon, roasted chicken) and chocolate cake.




Raspberry Cake



Cheese Cake



Lemon Meringue



Clotted Cream



Assorted Sandwiches

From 1 o clock clockwise: smoked salmon sandwich, cucumber and cream cheese sandwich, egg sandwich, curry on toast.



Ginger Cake and Jam Biscuits



Assorted Scones



Strawberry and Raspberry Jam



Chocolate Cake, Fruit Tartlet, Ginger Cake and Jam Biscuit

For 34 pounds, tea was rather pricey. Then again, the Ritz is serving afternoon tea for 40. Most of the small eats were alright. Ingredients used were of premium quality. The jam was rather good. Scones were warm and moist. The sandwiches and cakes are refillable. Tea is refillable as well.

All in all, Fortnum & Mason is a nice place to catch up over tea. I guess the 34 pounds is justified by the top notch service and the nice environment one is being served in. As afternoon tea is served from 3-6pm, my advice is to spend a couple of hours there enjoying cups after cups of tea to get your money's worth. I was so full that I skipped dinner that night.

*Opinions expressed are solely based on my personal experience

Map to Fortnum and Mason

Nearest Tube Station: Green Park/Piccadilly Circus

Address:
Fortnum & Mason plc,
181 Piccadilly,
London W1A 1ER,
United Kingdom.
Contact:
Telephone number: +44 (0) 845 602 5694
Website: http://www.fortnumandmason.com/stjames-restaurant.aspx

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday
Lunch is served from 12noon to 2.00pm and Afternoon Tea from 12noon to 6.30pm.

Sundays
Lunch is served from 12noon to 2.30pm and Afternoon Tea from 12noon to 4.30pm.

Bank Holidays
Lunch is served from 12noon until 2.30pm and Afternoon Tea from 12noon until 6.30pm.