22 Feb 2010, Posted by admin in L'Epicurien, 0 Comments

supper club #3: lady mendl’s tea salon

Just a few blocks from the bustling crowds of Union Square, Lady Mendl’s, an intimate, Victorian-style tea salon, is tucked away inside a brownstone turned bed and breakfast from 1834. Our supper club convened there on a Sunday afternoon and was immediately charmed by the beautiful and enchanting setting: a cozy fireplace, old world architecture, chaise lounges, fine china and peacock print wallpaper. It’s a girl’s tea-party-dream come true.

Once seated, we began with our individual tea selections (of which there are many black, green, and herbal teas). Then we gorged on a delicious five-course meal featuring classic finger sandwiches, fresh baked scones with Devonshire clotted cream (yum!), Lady Mendl’s multi-layer crepe cake with raspberry coulis, and an assortment of cookies and chocolate-covered strawberries.

While there were many highlights throughout the meal (I especially enjoyed the cucumber with mint crème fraiche on brioche and the signature cake), the food does not compare to a Waldorf or a Plaza tea.  Another downside: the service was surprisingly poor, and we were rushed at the end after being warned that tea service would end promptly at 4:30 p.m. regardless of when we started (2:30 p.m.). While I’ve tasted better scones and cookies in my day, the setting and decor is absolutely beautiful and the tea service is a steal at $35 per person. Overall, Lady Mendl’s is a wonderful place to get together with your girlfriends for a special occasion (it’s very popular for birthdays and bridal showers)–and, of course, it’s testosterone-free.

Lady Mendl’s

56 Irving Place (bet. 17th & 18th St.)

New York, NY

ladymendls.com

–Jennifer Sung