Tipped

afternoon treat

October 07, 2008

When our Muslim best friend got engaged, we couldn't really go to the pub to celebrate could we? So we decided to take her for afternoon tea.

The Wolseley was recommended to me because apparently it is the best value tea in London, and compared to the Ritz, Claridge’s etc it is. But I would agree with Andy M about the ambience, it is pretty bustling and the tables are quite close together – not really want you want for tea. The sandwiches were okay, although the woman did look at me funny when I asked for lemon with my Earl Grey – is that really such an odd request? I probably would pay the extra and go to Claridge’s for tea if I did this again (which I’m sure I will).

I’ve never been to the Wolseley for dinner, but the breakfasts here are pretty sublime. Actually I think whenever anyone cooks breakfast for me it is sublime (boyfriend take note!). It's the breakfast that the 4-circle(!) rating is for - get up early and enjoy it.

Tags: breakfast, afternoon tea, tea

Nice, But Not for Tea

October 01, 2008

I was surprised by The Wolseley. We booked an afternoon tea there based on a Time Out list of best places to have tea, but I had no idea how busy and bustling the dining room feels at The Wolseley. It reminded me less of a London tea room and more of a restaurant in Grand Central Terminal in New York.

I actually really liked the ambiance, and, had I come there for a business lunch or even a breakfast, I would have been perfectly happy. But for tea, it really didn't work. Tea should be quiet, subdued, refined, built for long conversations and a leisurely pace. This was the opposite: loud, hectic, rushed, and the waitstaff was harried and not always on the ball. There were about 10 waiters buzzing around behind our table, but none of them seemed to be our waiter. When tea finally came, it came with no milk and a single packet of sugar. The sandwiches and pastries were great, especially the buttery scones, but after they arrived, the waiters scuttled away never to be seen again.

I would come back if only to try their eggs Benedict, which looked awesome. But this is not the place to go for proper tea, at least not in my world.

Tags: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea

Delicious Food, Great Service

April 20, 2008

Harder and harder to get into (at peak times at least), the Wolseley has a great menu, and is surprisingly not as expensive as I expected it to be. The servers are knowledgeable, attentive and pleasant, which is not as easy to come across as it should be in this city. I had the escargot to start and the pheasant as a main (although seasonal, of course) and both were excellent. Highly recommended, close to the Ritz and Green Park tube station.

Tags: Euro-cafe style, delicious food, gourmet

Beautiful way to start the day

March 18, 2008

Why can't every morning start with brunch at the Wolseley? My morning oats at home made me grumpy for a week after my visit.

The Wolseley will never go out of fashion. The room has such a striking visual impact as you enter and the menu is as timeless and elegant as the silver teapots. Service was of course first class and it's an unbeatable weekend location - brunch is the perfect fitness fuel for posh shopping.

Do try the salmon and scrambled eggs, but the best thing is with lovely fruit salads and grapefruits, you really COULD have it every day!

Tags: Brunch

Smart, upbeat London lunching

August 04, 2007

I recently had the great fortune of being taken to lunch at The Wolseley, and can't think of anywhere better for feeling right in the mix of things `doing lunch` upbeat London-style - somehow all class without any cumbersome pretensions. My endive, Roquefort and walnut salad starter was exactly that: no complicating/ overpowering dressings, no silly names. Room-temp. Roquefort (easy enough to `do` but all too often neglected); fresh crunchy greens and nuts. The Severn and Wye smoked salmon with soda bread which followed would only have been improved by a slightly more generous helping of soda bread - but the salmon was really the point of the dish and had I asked for more bread I am sure it would have been forthcoming without fuss. I liked the water and wine glass refills too - service is always at risk of becoming intrusive if executed without thought, but here it was efficient and friendly without being over-bearing. The only downside to this otherwise excellent experience was being rushed past the dessert menu (at 1.50pm we were told that we were very welcome to order it but that the table muct be cleared by 2pm - a somewhat artificial choice). On the whole, though, I very much enjoyed not just the buzz but the high standards of this very London establishment.

Tags: Euro-cafe style, high standards, great for lunch