Author: GCS

Garden Court @Palace Hotel, San Francisco
High tea, served daily during December; weekends only otherwise
Review date:  December 2009

Carlos had a yearning for a high tea, so we took BART over to the city for tea. Lovejoy’s in SF is quite good, but I didn’t feel like driving across the Bridge so this was our public-transit option.

Inez had a good time, Carlos and I were less enthused. The GC tea is served in three courses: open faced sandwiches, a single currant scone each, lastly an assortment of small cookies and mini-tarts. The waiter, an experienced staffperson who should have known better, tried to bring the scones before Carlos had finished his sandwiches. In fact, they were still sitting on the serving plate, so both of us were extremely unimpressed with his attempt to rush us out, which was ridiculous since we were there at 3p and they finish tea service at 4p.

Sandwiches were good but skimpy, the scone was tender, the desserts quite good (we’ve made note of the Palace’s pastry chef before on our visit to Maxfield’s, GC’s sister restaurant).

What really annoyed us was how they’ve set up the tables. At one time – Carlos used to work as a banquet waiter here on occasion – the tables were oriented so that sightlines for the diners focused on the glories of the interior skylights, which are of course the highlight of the dining room. 

Now, however, tables are set up so that diners at the outside tables have a direct view towards the room’s walls, where the waiters are clearing dishes and tallying up bills. This is somewhat less than beautiful, and detracts from a gracious dining experience – which is what you’re paying a lot of money for, at $40/person for a high tea (more if you pick champagne instead of tea).

Since they use the same kitchen, I’d much rather eat at Maxfield’s, where the ambiance remains soothing from every table (especially the few old-fashioned high-back wooden booths on the side) and the service has always been faultlessly professional. 

Three people for high tea, with tip $152.