What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than to have high tea? The past weekend, my friend and I went to The Urban Tea Merchant for some relaxing tea time after shopping. I made reservations beforehand since I’ve told that this restaurant doesn’t have the largest seating area. Upon arrival, we were greeted quickly by a hostess and brought to our seats. I liked the elegant and clean layout of the restaurant, but it was nothing too fancy-fancy.
Urban Tea Menu
We decided to get the Summer West Coast Tea Service because it appeared to be a nice comprehensive package. First off, we each had to choose our own tea. Since me nor my friend are tea experts, we needed some serious help in choosing our tea from the extensive menu. Fortunately our server was extremely patient and knowledgeable, and after smelling some of the loose teas, I decided on getting the Chinese Oolong Tea which helps with digestion. I like having this tea while eating sweets because it balances out the sugar.
Chinese Oolong Tea
My friend opted for the White Palace Tea, which helps detoxify your body. It’s a much sweeter English tea.
White Palace Tea (+$6)
For starters, we were each given a Raspberry Sorbet which was perfect to have in the midst of a hot summer afternoon.
Raspberry Sorbet
And then, the main course.
Summer Westcoast Tea Service ($32 per head)
The savouries included were:
- Nuwara Eliya tea-infused cured swordfish loin and humus crostini
- miso-maple glazed sable fish wrapped in butter lettuce
- green asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and basil stamped filo pastry
- potato basket with baby artichokes and confit tomatoes
- edible flowers
Savouries
The desserts included were:
- tea-infused macaron
- chevron strawberry
- chocolate truffle
- fresh seasonal fruit
Desserts
I really liked having such a wide variety of bite-sized treats in front of me to munch on. Every bite was something new and a different flavor. The savouries were very delicious, and I especially liked the sablefish. The desserts, however, could’ve been better. The fruits were fresh, but the truffle and the macaron were way too sweet for my liking.
My Little Teapot
After tea surchages, tax, and tips, my trip to Urban Tea Merchant got a bit pricey. What’s worth it was the service and the savouries, but the desserts and the atmosphere were just mediocre. This was not a bad experience, but I’ll probably try out a few other high tea places before coming back.
- Convenient location
- Excellent staff and service
- Can get pricey
- Desserts were a miss
