I was expecting afternoon tea to be amazing, but it was subpar. The Mandarin is a beautiful space and the ambiance is nice. The service is eh. I wouldn’t go again.
dana skelly
Craft cocktails with an Asian theme, like the plum whiskey old fashioned or the Empress martini. Both were smooth, refreshing and unique. Complimentary wasabi peas a nice touch. Relaxed but slightly upscale atmosphere where you can have a quiet conversation with friends. Wonderful staff.
Cindy Fong
Beautiful and tasty tea service with a harpist for entertainment
Joe J.
Visited empress for a lovely tea experience but I would also recommend going here for a drink as well. Located in the Mandarin hotel, it's a nice place to hang, lounge and enjoy a refreshing beverage. The location is close to the ever developing wharf area and the Potomac river so there's a lot to see in the area as well.
Paul Sahy
The blue crab cakes are excellent! The bar has a good variety of liquors and unique cocktails. It is an open format so it is loud. Friendly helpful staff, expect slow service during peak hours.
Adam Dyson
I am currently sitting in the restaurant as we speak. We ordered 1.5 hours ago and we have not received our food yet. Our waitress took our drink hours 10 minutes after we sat down and never asked for refills (no contact in the hour and a half) I will update this if we ever get our food. The only reason we are even still here is we got into a good conversation.
Michael S.
Style over substance. Very disappointing. The lounge is lovely as is the china, decor and presentation of the tea. But nothing is really good. The bread on all of the savories was a bit stale as if they'd been sitting out, the flavors lackluster and the scones dry and uninspiring. All of the other sweets were mediocre- I've had better at my neighborhood bakery. The tea was served in clear coffee press style tea pots that allowed tea leaves in the cup. No strainers we're available. The tea selection was also quite limited. The menus were paper and stained and then they asked to collect them as soon as we had ordered because there were not enough for the other guests! It was like being in a diner! This tea is so expensive I would have expected an extraordinary experience and that's what I got ... extraordinarily subpar. I would not visit again. I've tried a few teas in the area. So far, the Ritz is my favorite. But still haven't found any that comes close to a London tearoom.
Annika K.
Came for a late mothers day/early fathers day afternoon tea at the famous Mandrin Oriental! I was so excited to take my parents here as their first afternoon tea experience. The service was excellent our waitress was very accommodating when it came to wanting to substitute and try something different for tea or our mocktail. I cannot rave enough about the lychee red tea this was most definitely the best tea ive ever had. so fresh and sweet! the food that was my favorite was the foie gras pb and j a - such an interesting take on duck in a simple food. in general all the finger foods were delicious we left so full! i loved that most of the desserts were fruity since im not a chocolate lover. another great unique element of dining here is the live harp player who played super cool tracks including the game of thrones intro theme song. 10/10 would recommend and come again.
Tre S.
Today we had High Tea at the Mandarin. It was beyond our expectations. They delivered!! The savory and sweets were delicious. The service from the staff was impeccable. Thank you Mandarin for this lovely experience.
Brittany N.
Decided to spoil my 7 year old and take her to empress lounge for her bday party . It was fabulous:) I know a lot of people complain about the price , but I think the prices here are fair for an upscale hotel high tea experience. In fact, if you compare the price for other high tea parties for children, it might even total to more. We were able to make reservations a few weeks in advance and they texted to inquire if anyone in our party had allergies ahead of time which was appreciated. My daughter is a huge tea fan and this was such an exciting experience for her . We ordered her fancy tea outfit a few weeks before and she couldn't wait . We had a total of 10 in our party and they really did a great job in making sure we were all seated together. We opted for the valet parking and were greeted as soon as we got inside . They even seated us before everyone in the party arrived . Each person got to choose the tea of their preference and we had an assortment of tea cakes and sandwiches brought out . Our host was fantastic and helped take pictures . After we got up, all the children were given a stuffed panda . Great experience.
Met a friend here for a late night cocktail and a bite to eat on a Sunday night. Love that this is open late. But the love doesn't stop there... They have blue cheese-stuffed olives so I indulged in a perfect vodka dirty martini with those delicious blue cheese-stuffed olives. There were three olives and they were a nice size. She brought out some snacks: wasabi peas and a crunchy mix. I really liked the peas. They complimented my cocktail. I ordered the cheeseburger and fries. Burger was done perfectly and they remembered the extra lettuce. I got the olio on the side. Fries were very good! Hot and crunchy. We finished with a chocolate martini. Perfect! Creamy and decadent like it should be. Atmosphere was classy and quiet. That late there were only a few tables so I felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We stayed pretty late. Service was great. Our waitress was attentive and not intrusive. My water glass was constantly filled. I highly recommend this place for your late night indulgences!!!
Brandon Heath
I had a decent dinner at the Empress Lounge but there does appear to be some challenges they're facing.We arrived at the lounge at 7PM for our reservation, where we were seated very quickly at seats that were plush, comfortable and with a marble table in front of us and given a small complimentary snack. This was nice.Our waitress proceeded to take our drink order and our appetizer fairly quickly, however this is where things became a bit lacking. The cheese platter when it came out was a bit lackluster. There is no description of what constitutes "artisan cheese" noted in the menu but I assure you the likes of "Bleu cheese, Cheddar, and Gouda" are the extent to which you should expect. There was a fine selection of accoutrements including mustard, honey, nuts, etc notes clearly on the menu.It was after finishing the cheese platter we noticed that there was a delay in the ordering process. To be clear we ate each of our items within 20 minutes, but the dinner took over two and a half hours. This included the refilling of drinks.It was here where my fianceè attempted to order the duck confit flatbread, what she was looking forward to as the single most desirable item on their menu. However it was when we tried to order this that we were notified they were out of all flatbreads. This should have been communicated to us when we sat down.Upon learning this, changing her order and waiting for them to come out the food was decent. Not spectacular, not terrible, somewhere in the middle.It was after finishing and waiting a great deal of time (two hours had passed at this point) that we were allowed to order dessert. Due to early morning plans and a desire not to exceed three hours at this restaurant we asked for the check while our dessert order was put in. It took about 15 minutes for our dessert to come out and I enjoyed mine, I actually have no complaints from here.This restaurant is adequate, but time consuming, understaffed and unprepared in its current state for the fine dining prices they charge. I give no recommendations either way but wish to share my experience.
Mark P
My fiance and I and my family went for afternoon tea. Paid upfront with our reservation. We were able to choose a glass of sparkling wine or a cocktail, a tea (they would refill and you could pick another tea if you wanted to try multiple).They brought out two of each thing. The plate of desserts were on top and the savory bites were in the middle. Biscuits on the bottom. All of it was delicious. We were all surprised how full we got with all these tiny bites, we didn't even have dinner!The service was fantastic, attentive and helpful and kind.
BenTettris
Sunday May 1 2022. I went during afternoon tea without a reservation and was accommodated by Else with a table despite not having a reservation. But. When I ordered the food it took a long time for it to come out. I mean. I saw people seated a half hour after my arrival eating and drinking before me whilst I waited for my food. I complained to the Food and Beverage manager and she behaved as one would expect at a 5 star establishment. The food came quickly and she comp'd it and was VERY apologetic. She mitigated my feelings of dis-taste with aplomb. Between her and Elsa the experience was extremely positive. The professionalism of the Food and Beverage manager and Elsa, was enough to mitigate the food delay. I will indeed return but I will steel myself against whatever delays may be encountered during afternoon tea....I must say that they did accommodate me even though I did not have a reservation. I was thankful for this since I was in the mode for 5 star service and 5 star food and indeed I was not disappointed. Not in the least.
ritajT2609MJ
We enjoyed drinks, snacks as well as lunch at this location. The turkey club was excellent. My kids enjoyed the complementary offering of wasabi peas, nuts and crackers. The staff is very attentive.
I was expecting afternoon tea to be amazing, but it was subpar. The Mandarin is a beautiful space and the ambiance is nice. The service is eh. I wouldn’t go again.
Craft cocktails with an Asian theme, like the plum whiskey old fashioned or the Empress martini. Both were smooth, refreshing and unique. Complimentary wasabi peas a nice touch. Relaxed but slightly upscale atmosphere where you can have a quiet conversation with friends. Wonderful staff.
Beautiful and tasty tea service with a harpist for entertainment
Visited empress for a lovely tea experience but I would also recommend going here for a drink as well. Located in the Mandarin hotel, it's a nice place to hang, lounge and enjoy a refreshing beverage. The location is close to the ever developing wharf area and the Potomac river so there's a lot to see in the area as well.
The blue crab cakes are excellent! The bar has a good variety of liquors and unique cocktails. It is an open format so it is loud. Friendly helpful staff, expect slow service during peak hours.
I am currently sitting in the restaurant as we speak. We ordered 1.5 hours ago and we have not received our food yet. Our waitress took our drink hours 10 minutes after we sat down and never asked for refills (no contact in the hour and a half) I will update this if we ever get our food. The only reason we are even still here is we got into a good conversation.
Style over substance. Very disappointing. The lounge is lovely as is the china, decor and presentation of the tea. But nothing is really good. The bread on all of the savories was a bit stale as if they'd been sitting out, the flavors lackluster and the scones dry and uninspiring. All of the other sweets were mediocre- I've had better at my neighborhood bakery. The tea was served in clear coffee press style tea pots that allowed tea leaves in the cup. No strainers we're available. The tea selection was also quite limited. The menus were paper and stained and then they asked to collect them as soon as we had ordered because there were not enough for the other guests! It was like being in a diner! This tea is so expensive I would have expected an extraordinary experience and that's what I got ... extraordinarily subpar. I would not visit again. I've tried a few teas in the area. So far, the Ritz is my favorite. But still haven't found any that comes close to a London tearoom.
Came for a late mothers day/early fathers day afternoon tea at the famous Mandrin Oriental! I was so excited to take my parents here as their first afternoon tea experience. The service was excellent our waitress was very accommodating when it came to wanting to substitute and try something different for tea or our mocktail. I cannot rave enough about the lychee red tea this was most definitely the best tea ive ever had. so fresh and sweet! the food that was my favorite was the foie gras pb and j a - such an interesting take on duck in a simple food. in general all the finger foods were delicious we left so full! i loved that most of the desserts were fruity since im not a chocolate lover. another great unique element of dining here is the live harp player who played super cool tracks including the game of thrones intro theme song. 10/10 would recommend and come again.
Today we had High Tea at the Mandarin. It was beyond our expectations. They delivered!! The savory and sweets were delicious. The service from the staff was impeccable. Thank you Mandarin for this lovely experience.
Decided to spoil my 7 year old and take her to empress lounge for her bday party . It was fabulous:) I know a lot of people complain about the price , but I think the prices here are fair for an upscale hotel high tea experience. In fact, if you compare the price for other high tea parties for children, it might even total to more. We were able to make reservations a few weeks in advance and they texted to inquire if anyone in our party had allergies ahead of time which was appreciated. My daughter is a huge tea fan and this was such an exciting experience for her . We ordered her fancy tea outfit a few weeks before and she couldn't wait . We had a total of 10 in our party and they really did a great job in making sure we were all seated together. We opted for the valet parking and were greeted as soon as we got inside . They even seated us before everyone in the party arrived . Each person got to choose the tea of their preference and we had an assortment of tea cakes and sandwiches brought out . Our host was fantastic and helped take pictures . After we got up, all the children were given a stuffed panda . Great experience.
Restaurantji Recommends
Met a friend here for a late night cocktail and a bite to eat on a Sunday night. Love that this is open late. But the love doesn't stop there... They have blue cheese-stuffed olives so I indulged in a perfect vodka dirty martini with those delicious blue cheese-stuffed olives. There were three olives and they were a nice size. She brought out some snacks: wasabi peas and a crunchy mix. I really liked the peas. They complimented my cocktail. I ordered the cheeseburger and fries. Burger was done perfectly and they remembered the extra lettuce. I got the olio on the side. Fries were very good! Hot and crunchy. We finished with a chocolate martini. Perfect! Creamy and decadent like it should be. Atmosphere was classy and quiet. That late there were only a few tables so I felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We stayed pretty late. Service was great. Our waitress was attentive and not intrusive. My water glass was constantly filled. I highly recommend this place for your late night indulgences!!!
I had a decent dinner at the Empress Lounge but there does appear to be some challenges they're facing.We arrived at the lounge at 7PM for our reservation, where we were seated very quickly at seats that were plush, comfortable and with a marble table in front of us and given a small complimentary snack. This was nice.Our waitress proceeded to take our drink order and our appetizer fairly quickly, however this is where things became a bit lacking. The cheese platter when it came out was a bit lackluster. There is no description of what constitutes "artisan cheese" noted in the menu but I assure you the likes of "Bleu cheese, Cheddar, and Gouda" are the extent to which you should expect. There was a fine selection of accoutrements including mustard, honey, nuts, etc notes clearly on the menu.It was after finishing the cheese platter we noticed that there was a delay in the ordering process. To be clear we ate each of our items within 20 minutes, but the dinner took over two and a half hours. This included the refilling of drinks.It was here where my fianceè attempted to order the duck confit flatbread, what she was looking forward to as the single most desirable item on their menu. However it was when we tried to order this that we were notified they were out of all flatbreads. This should have been communicated to us when we sat down.Upon learning this, changing her order and waiting for them to come out the food was decent. Not spectacular, not terrible, somewhere in the middle.It was after finishing and waiting a great deal of time (two hours had passed at this point) that we were allowed to order dessert. Due to early morning plans and a desire not to exceed three hours at this restaurant we asked for the check while our dessert order was put in. It took about 15 minutes for our dessert to come out and I enjoyed mine, I actually have no complaints from here.This restaurant is adequate, but time consuming, understaffed and unprepared in its current state for the fine dining prices they charge. I give no recommendations either way but wish to share my experience.
My fiance and I and my family went for afternoon tea. Paid upfront with our reservation. We were able to choose a glass of sparkling wine or a cocktail, a tea (they would refill and you could pick another tea if you wanted to try multiple).They brought out two of each thing. The plate of desserts were on top and the savory bites were in the middle. Biscuits on the bottom. All of it was delicious. We were all surprised how full we got with all these tiny bites, we didn't even have dinner!The service was fantastic, attentive and helpful and kind.
Sunday May 1 2022. I went during afternoon tea without a reservation and was accommodated by Else with a table despite not having a reservation. But. When I ordered the food it took a long time for it to come out. I mean. I saw people seated a half hour after my arrival eating and drinking before me whilst I waited for my food. I complained to the Food and Beverage manager and she behaved as one would expect at a 5 star establishment. The food came quickly and she comp'd it and was VERY apologetic. She mitigated my feelings of dis-taste with aplomb. Between her and Elsa the experience was extremely positive. The professionalism of the Food and Beverage manager and Elsa, was enough to mitigate the food delay. I will indeed return but I will steel myself against whatever delays may be encountered during afternoon tea....I must say that they did accommodate me even though I did not have a reservation. I was thankful for this since I was in the mode for 5 star service and 5 star food and indeed I was not disappointed. Not in the least.
We enjoyed drinks, snacks as well as lunch at this location. The turkey club was excellent. My kids enjoyed the complementary offering of wasabi peas, nuts and crackers. The staff is very attentive.