Service was bad, quality was mediocre, too expensive for what is offered
Katherine Stanley
I truly regret visiting The Tea Room.
While the atmosphere and décor are charming and clearly show the owner’s effort, and the food presentation was beautiful, my experience was ruined by the appalling customer service.
I booked an afternoon tea through OpenTable App, but nowhere did it mention a strict 2-hour time limit. Only after we were seated and opened the menu did we discover this policy. My friend and I hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and after paying the bill, we were abruptly told to leave because “other guests” were coming. The restaurant was only 25% full, with multiple empty tables—including others that could accommodate four people—yet we were not offered the option to move. In reality, we were just forced out.
When I asked to speak with the restaurant manager, no one was available. Instead, the hotel manager came and suggested that we “continue our conversation on the couch in the hotel lobby.” I have traveled extensively worldwide, and never in my life have I encountered such dismissive, disrespectful treatment.
Adding to my disappointment, my friend was initially hesitant to visit because of the low 3.6 Google rating based on 143 reviews. I told her not to judge too quickly—we should try it ourselves. Unfortunately, in this case, the reviews were accurate.
I sincerely hope management takes a close look at what is happening and implements real change. For a place that considers itself high-end, this kind of treatment is absolutely unacceptable.
Today, you're not just losing two disappointed customers—you’re losing many potential referrals and future visits we would have gladly made.
The food may be decent, but hospitality and customer service are what truly define a dining experience—and here, they were shockingly poor. I will never return, and I strongly advise others to avoid this establishment if you value respect and professionalism.
Jasnit Kharbanda
We had a girls day out afternoon high tea experience with the family, and it was lovely. The table was a little congested for 8, but the service and food/Tea’s were great!
Rosie served us well, helped us with suggestions of tea based on our palate and the fact that I am a nursing mother gave me great caffeine free options.
We most definitely would be making a trip back soon with friends and family! The Windsor Arms Hotel Tea Room, provides the perfect ambiance and menu options for Vegan, Vegetarian and Meat eaters.
The Quiche, Sandwiches, Jams and desserts were the best!
Definite recommend for a lovely afternoon experience with the ladies!
Diya Saigol
The place was splendid, wonderful ambiance that just transports you with gorgeous flowers and decor. Everything we tasted was excellent, it seems they might make their own clotted cream. They accommodated a vegetarian menu with no quiche/scrambled eggs perfectly.
However, our service this Friday afternoon could have been better, and I am removing 2 stars because of it. It did not meet the 5-star environment and charm you would expect from a place like this - he generally came off as rude and stingy.
For example, I asked whether I could start with one tea then switch to another, as all the high teas in London are unlimited. Perfectly fine that this is not their policy and they charge extra for more tea, but he could have communicated that in a more friendly way. Instead, he aggressively said it’s 1 tea per person, I said ok and ordered one, but he continued repeating loudly “one tea per person” with his finger up multiple times after I had ordered, to the point that my mother got confused and thought she had to change her order and that he meant one for the table.
Another example, while their scones were delicious they do not give enough clotted cream at all - it was enough for 1 and we had 5 scones (one extra to replace the quiche). Every time I asked for more he made a bit of a face and begrudgingly brought it. Then, we got a lot of our order packed for takeaway including 2 scones. I asked to pack the clotted cream and jams for the scone and again he made a face, as if this was an unreasonable or spectacular request, and said he would have to ask. Please, they even could have packed what was left on our table. Also, if they are so stingy about the clotted cream then they should serve enough to begin with for the amount of scones. He did in fact bring the packed cream and jam, however I did not appreciate the attitude - there was no need to be stingy when I’m paying over $100 per person. I don’t see how anyone is meant to eat the scones for takeaway plain, without the accompanying jam and clotted cream.
Overall everything else was fantastic, but I would have appreciated and expected more gracious and friendly service to match the 5 star environment.
Kennedy MacGirr
Excellent tea and a great spread of snacks. Their scones were particularly wonderful ❤️ Unbeatable ambiance and service.
Sher Khan
Had a great time with my friends, the food was alright but the tea and the experience was great. A bit pricy though. They also have halal options!
P
Beautiful room, excellent food, and very fairly priced! Jacob was our server and he was lovely. Highly recommend! Also I love that they accommodate vegetarians
Olesya Katherine
Enormously disappointing experience. Our table cloth was stained, the table was crammed, service was slow. Cups were stained too. It was over $500 for 3 people for high tea and one wine each and very much not worth it remotely at all. Lobster roll bread was stale and hard. The rest of the food was okay. Just very unimpressive.
Victoria Smith
My first high tea experience and definitely an amazing one ! The food was delicious the service was impeccable. I unfortunately do not remember the name of my server but it was 2 pm on a Saturday and he was a kind man so do with that what you will lol. Wasn’t too busy, went for my sister’s birthday and was not disappointed. Will be back !!!
Ninthujan Mahalingam
Save your money and go to Tim Hortons and get a steeped tea. You’ll save $98
The Tea Room at Windsor Arms is the perfect spot for an elegant and relaxing afternoon. The ambiance is timeless, with beautifully set tables and a cozy yet sophisticated feel! The tea selection is extensive, offering everything from classic blends to unique flavors!
The pastries and finger sandwiches are just as impressive—fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. The attention to detail and top-tier service make the entire experience feel special. Whether it’s a casual outing or a celebration, the Windsor Arms Tea Room is a must-visit for anyone who loves a luxurious afternoon tea!
Jianyi Xu
The afternoon tea is a good experience! Some pastries are freshly made.
Delany Nathan
A delightful experience!! Visited this place on Wednesday afternoon • Savory options: Finger sandwiches (e.g., cucumber, smoked salmon, egg salad), quiches, or savory pastries. • Sweets: Scones with clotted cream and jam, macarons, petit fours, and other pastries. • Tea selection: A variety of teas, such as Earl Grey, Darjeeling, chamomile, or green tea.
The scones were so scrumptious and savoury with the cheese and jam! A little bit on the pricy side but worthy the experience
The waiter was very nice and informative!!
Jackie Hamilton-Smith
We took my mum here for her birthday this year and it was a lovely experience from start to finish. There was a ride range of cocktail and tea options, the atmosphere was stunning and the food was good as well. My family all had the normal afternoon tea while I had the gluten free option- they all loved their sandwiches, cakes and scones and thought it was amazing. Mine was good also, but I wouldn't say it looked as nice and the options were a bit more limited. Other than that, our servers were brilliant and very attentive and the atmosphere was lovely for a celebration!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: High Tea Sandwiches, Savory Tea Sandwiches, Tea and Scones
Terri Troy
Booked a high tea at Windsor Arms on Sunday Nov 3 at 3 pm. Shocked when we got there to find an extremely loud wedding party going on in room beside tea service. Shocked that the hotel did not inform us about this. We left in disgust.
Service was bad, quality was mediocre, too expensive for what is offered
I truly regret visiting The Tea Room.
While the atmosphere and décor are charming and clearly show the owner’s effort, and the food presentation was beautiful, my experience was ruined by the appalling customer service.
I booked an afternoon tea through OpenTable App, but nowhere did it mention a strict 2-hour time limit. Only after we were seated and opened the menu did we discover this policy. My friend and I hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and after paying the bill, we were abruptly told to leave because “other guests” were coming. The restaurant was only 25% full, with multiple empty tables—including others that could accommodate four people—yet we were not offered the option to move. In reality, we were just forced out.
When I asked to speak with the restaurant manager, no one was available. Instead, the hotel manager came and suggested that we “continue our conversation on the couch in the hotel lobby.” I have traveled extensively worldwide, and never in my life have I encountered such dismissive, disrespectful treatment.
Adding to my disappointment, my friend was initially hesitant to visit because of the low 3.6 Google rating based on 143 reviews. I told her not to judge too quickly—we should try it ourselves. Unfortunately, in this case, the reviews were accurate.
I sincerely hope management takes a close look at what is happening and implements real change. For a place that considers itself high-end, this kind of treatment is absolutely unacceptable.
Today, you're not just losing two disappointed customers—you’re losing many potential referrals and future visits we would have gladly made.
The food may be decent, but hospitality and customer service are what truly define a dining experience—and here, they were shockingly poor. I will never return, and I strongly advise others to avoid this establishment if you value respect and professionalism.
We had a girls day out afternoon high tea experience with the family, and it was lovely. The table was a little congested for 8, but the service and food/Tea’s were great!
Rosie served us well, helped us with suggestions of tea based on our palate and the fact that I am a nursing mother gave me great caffeine free options.
We most definitely would be making a trip back soon with friends and family! The Windsor Arms Hotel Tea Room, provides the perfect ambiance and menu options for Vegan, Vegetarian and Meat eaters.
The Quiche, Sandwiches, Jams and desserts were the best!
Definite recommend for a lovely afternoon experience with the ladies!
The place was splendid, wonderful ambiance that just transports you with gorgeous flowers and decor. Everything we tasted was excellent, it seems they might make their own clotted cream. They accommodated a vegetarian menu with no quiche/scrambled eggs perfectly.
However, our service this Friday afternoon could have been better, and I am removing 2 stars because of it. It did not meet the 5-star environment and charm you would expect from a place like this - he generally came off as rude and stingy.
For example, I asked whether I could start with one tea then switch to another, as all the high teas in London are unlimited. Perfectly fine that this is not their policy and they charge extra for more tea, but he could have communicated that in a more friendly way. Instead, he aggressively said it’s 1 tea per person, I said ok and ordered one, but he continued repeating loudly “one tea per person” with his finger up multiple times after I had ordered, to the point that my mother got confused and thought she had to change her order and that he meant one for the table.
Another example, while their scones were delicious they do not give enough clotted cream at all - it was enough for 1 and we had 5 scones (one extra to replace the quiche). Every time I asked for more he made a bit of a face and begrudgingly brought it. Then, we got a lot of our order packed for takeaway including 2 scones. I asked to pack the clotted cream and jams for the scone and again he made a face, as if this was an unreasonable or spectacular request, and said he would have to ask. Please, they even could have packed what was left on our table. Also, if they are so stingy about the clotted cream then they should serve enough to begin with for the amount of scones. He did in fact bring the packed cream and jam, however I did not appreciate the attitude - there was no need to be stingy when I’m paying over $100 per person. I don’t see how anyone is meant to eat the scones for takeaway plain, without the accompanying jam and clotted cream.
Overall everything else was fantastic, but I would have appreciated and expected more gracious and friendly service to match the 5 star environment.
Excellent tea and a great spread of snacks. Their scones were particularly wonderful ❤️ Unbeatable ambiance and service.
Had a great time with my friends, the food was alright but the tea and the experience was great. A bit pricy though. They also have halal options!
Beautiful room, excellent food, and very fairly priced! Jacob was our server and he was lovely. Highly recommend! Also I love that they accommodate vegetarians
Enormously disappointing experience. Our table cloth was stained, the table was crammed, service was slow. Cups were stained too. It was over $500 for 3 people for high tea and one wine each and very much not worth it remotely at all. Lobster roll bread was stale and hard. The rest of the food was okay. Just very unimpressive.
My first high tea experience and definitely an amazing one ! The food was delicious the service was impeccable. I unfortunately do not remember the name of my server but it was 2 pm on a Saturday and he was a kind man so do with that what you will lol. Wasn’t too busy, went for my sister’s birthday and was not disappointed. Will be back !!!
Save your money and go to Tim Hortons and get a steeped tea. You’ll save $98
Restaurantji Recommends
The Tea Room at Windsor Arms is the perfect spot for an elegant and relaxing afternoon. The ambiance is timeless, with beautifully set tables and a cozy yet sophisticated feel! The tea selection is extensive, offering everything from classic blends to unique flavors!
The pastries and finger sandwiches are just as impressive—fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. The attention to detail and top-tier service make the entire experience feel special. Whether it’s a casual outing or a celebration, the Windsor Arms Tea Room is a must-visit for anyone who loves a luxurious afternoon tea!
The afternoon tea is a good experience! Some pastries are freshly made.
A delightful experience!! Visited this place on Wednesday afternoon
• Savory options: Finger sandwiches (e.g., cucumber, smoked salmon, egg salad), quiches, or savory pastries.
• Sweets: Scones with clotted cream and jam, macarons, petit fours, and other pastries.
• Tea selection: A variety of teas, such as Earl Grey, Darjeeling, chamomile, or green tea.
The scones were so scrumptious and savoury with the cheese and jam! A little bit on the pricy side but worthy the experience
The waiter was very nice and informative!!
We took my mum here for her birthday this year and it was a lovely experience from start to finish. There was a ride range of cocktail and tea options, the atmosphere was stunning and the food was good as well. My family all had the normal afternoon tea while I had the gluten free option- they all loved their sandwiches, cakes and scones and thought it was amazing. Mine was good also, but I wouldn't say it looked as nice and the options were a bit more limited. Other than that, our servers were brilliant and very attentive and the atmosphere was lovely for a celebration!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: High Tea Sandwiches, Savory Tea Sandwiches, Tea and Scones
Booked a high tea at Windsor Arms on Sunday Nov 3 at 3 pm. Shocked when we got there to find an extremely loud wedding party going on in room beside tea service. Shocked that the hotel did not inform us about this. We left in disgust.
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