I attended the Cherry Blossom Tea this weekend with five friends, and it was pretty nice! Two people in our party had strict dietary restrictions (gluten free and dairy free), and they were perfectly accommodated. I do agree with what a few others have said about the service taking a while (our seating was at 2:30 and we didn’t finish until 4:30, making us a little late for a 4:45 event we were all going to). The tea was lovely though and the desserts + tea sandwiches were surprisingly filling! Not to mention the complementary mimosas were an added bonus. The price was a little high at $110 per person, but I guess it is the Ritz. We had purposefully picked this tea experience because it was supposed to be a little bit less compared to some other cherry blossom teas in the DMV, but it ended up being about the same. The restaurant was also a little bit loud, but overall it was a pretty good experience I’d recommend, especially if you have friends with dietary restrictions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Dasol Jung
I took my mom and my sister for an afternoon tea. The food - both the savory and sweets - were impressive! The champagne was great. The tea was average. We finished every single piece. As for the ambiance, it is not picturesque. It’s basically a dingy dark lobby. What was the lackluster was the service. It took about 15 minutes to flag down anyone. When we finally got the check, I tried to use a gift card and one of the managers, Korynne, made it so difficult and awkward. She grabbed my phone and emailed things to herself without my consent and it was very rude to say the least. The type of service was not what I expected at the Ritz.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: High Tea, Afternoon Tea
Katrina Chan
Eleven of us went to Santé today for afternoon tea, and we were pretty disappointed. For a 12:30 reservation, 10 of us arrived before 12:35pm. Our champagne glasses were poured immediately, but everything else was chronically late. Our food was served approximately one hour in, even though it’s a set menu (unless with allergies/modifications). Our tea took 1 hour and 18 minutes to arrive — that’s when the FIRST cup was poured. Most of the food was already gone. It’s not really “tea service” if tea is the dessert.The manager apologized and tried to make it right with extra champagne, but I still don’t understand the delays when we were one of only 3 active tables in our section. The savouries are tasty, but the desserts were just weird. Personally I wouldn’t pay the $110 per person (inclusive of tax and service) again.I have been to hundreds of afternoon teas around the world. If anyone reading this wants a great experience, I recommend the St Regis in DC, the Waldorf Astoria in DC, or Lady Camellia in Virginia.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Katherine Patterson
Stopped for a quick bite at noon. The salad was terrible; drowned in balsamic. The lentil soup not very good texture or flavor. I make better lentil soup. The Parmesan fries were the best item. The best thing about the restaurant was the lovely hostess and server. A luxury hotel with bland food is surprising. Who is the chef?
Keily Abouye
I just love this place. It never disappoints.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Austin Graff
Customer service is where Sante shines. Within the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, one of Arlington's only luxury hotels, Sante borrows from the Ritz's brand of impeccable service. From the moment you walk in, the host greets you by name and leads you to your table. Your server also remembers your name and gives you their undivided attention.Sante's food is Mediterranean so expect a combination of seafood and dips. Staying at the Ritz for two nights, our favorite dishes were the smoked Atlantic salmon, Sante trio (garlic hummus, muhammara, fava bean dip, grilled pita, crisp fresh vegetables), and the octopus.They have a robust kids menu and treat every child like royalty. Our seven-year-old daughter loved dining here.They have a full bar menu. The smoked Old Fashioned was fun to see the bartender create. The brunch sangria was nice and sweet.They also have fun happenings like Afternoon Tea with scones, pastries, little sandwiches and a kids version with kid items and a Teddy Bear. It makes for a fun date idea to do with your child!(Disclaimer: Sante comped our meal since we were hosted by the hotel, but did not require me to write this. I did it on my own.)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Rudy Dockery
It’s the great people who work in Sante who provide for the best experience possible. They’re so attentive and genuinely want you to have a pleasant time. Just the right balance of being attentive and not intrusive! And it’s not a one-off, we’ve stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City multiple times and the excellent service is always wonderful and consistent. The bartenders and the wait staff are to be commended. You won’t regret the excellent service they provide.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus, Braised Short Rib, Organic Roasted Half Chicken
Ranjini S.
My friend and I went to their holiday afternoon tea a few days after Christmas. It was pricey and there's no option for non-drinkers (the service includes a glass of champagne or a mimosa). The presentation was impeccable, but despite alerting them to food sensitivities, our service came out with the wrong items and they had to take it back to fix that. The egg salad was my favorite followed by the chicken salad. The desserts were well presented and the mini tiramisu layered cake was my favorite. Service was very good and the staff is really friendly. You're definitely paying for the location (it's in the Ritz Carlton), but it was a fun afternoon and they had interesting holiday tea selections.
John Brown
Great celebration with family and friends. Kym and his crew were on point and made the experience a holiday memory. Thank you all to the staff at Sante!!! Bravo!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Batipps
Excellent! But Very Expensive.Parking: Easy Valet parking
We had afternoon Tea to celebrate the Christmas Holiday. From the time we made our reservations to when we had completed our fine dining, the staff were superb. The Teas offered were exquisite, and the tea cakes were wonderful. The wait staff were attentive, but not intrusive and the entire atmosphere was relaxing and peaceful. It gave my wife and I an opportunity to relax and wind down from the lead up to Dec. 25. Our thanks to the entire staff.
Unique C.
This restaurant is located inside of a hotel and historically I've not had great experiences with hotel restaurants. Sadly, this experience left much to be desired with a hefty tab. The service was fine, our server pleasant and food came out in an appropriate amount of time. This is where the stars get deducted-- nothing we ate taste good. The octopus- was very tough. Yes, octopus is a generally chewy item, but this required a decent amount of piling and tugging to get a bite.The cauliflower soup- our guest didn't take more than few spoons. Cauliflower is a bland vegetable that requires a reasonable amount of doctoring to taste good. The soup was bland.The lamb shank - tender and seasoned well. The accompanying risotto didn't taste like anything at all. The hummus / dip Trio- we were only able to eat one of the dips, the others were just bland and not appetizing.For a tab of over $200 and to not have enjoyed our food or was disappointing.
PattyW
It was nice. We have been going for tea during the Christmas holiday for several years now. My only suggestion would be to make the dining room more festive. Add some red and green to the decor. The all gold christmas tree was kind of boring and didn't stand out in the room since it was basically the same color as everything else in there.
Elizabeth W.
This review is specifically for the holiday afternoon tea experience. My husband and I had a wonderful time with the afternoon tea experience, but it was probably the most expensive non-meal we have had in DC given the 20% gratuity and 10% tax (total check for 2 people came out almost be $200). The bite sized pastries, sandwiches, and scones were delicious and the tea was amazing as well. The service was incredible-from someone calling me days ahead to confirm details, to the hostess, and the wait staff. We were offered mimosas, champagne, juice, all are included in the package. Children were given a teddy bear as a gift. The restaurant is located in the Ritz Carlton so the interior is beautiful, clean, and decorated for the holidays. Ultimately it's a seasonal experience and not an everyday meal, so we thought the price tag is alright (and the lowest compared to other similar experiences in upscale DC hotels).
Dana G.
Lovely dinner experience inside the Ritz! The greeter sat us with a pleasant smile in the banquet section. Our server came right away, and I was very happy that he knew what kind of whiskeys, scotches, and other alcohol types they had. The food is delicious and plated beautifully. Highly recommend this spot if you are staying at the Ritz.
I attended the Cherry Blossom Tea this weekend with five friends, and it was pretty nice! Two people in our party had strict dietary restrictions (gluten free and dairy free), and they were perfectly accommodated. I do agree with what a few others have said about the service taking a while (our seating was at 2:30 and we didn’t finish until 4:30, making us a little late for a 4:45 event we were all going to). The tea was lovely though and the desserts + tea sandwiches were surprisingly filling! Not to mention the complementary mimosas were an added bonus. The price was a little high at $110 per person, but I guess it is the Ritz. We had purposefully picked this tea experience because it was supposed to be a little bit less compared to some other cherry blossom teas in the DMV, but it ended up being about the same. The restaurant was also a little bit loud, but overall it was a pretty good experience I’d recommend, especially if you have friends with dietary restrictions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
I took my mom and my sister for an afternoon tea. The food - both the savory and sweets - were impressive! The champagne was great. The tea was average. We finished every single piece. As for the ambiance, it is not picturesque. It’s basically a dingy dark lobby. What was the lackluster was the service. It took about 15 minutes to flag down anyone. When we finally got the check, I tried to use a gift card and one of the managers, Korynne, made it so difficult and awkward. She grabbed my phone and emailed things to herself without my consent and it was very rude to say the least. The type of service was not what I expected at the Ritz.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: High Tea, Afternoon Tea
Eleven of us went to Santé today for afternoon tea, and we were pretty disappointed. For a 12:30 reservation, 10 of us arrived before 12:35pm. Our champagne glasses were poured immediately, but everything else was chronically late. Our food was served approximately one hour in, even though it’s a set menu (unless with allergies/modifications). Our tea took 1 hour and 18 minutes to arrive — that’s when the FIRST cup was poured. Most of the food was already gone. It’s not really “tea service” if tea is the dessert.The manager apologized and tried to make it right with extra champagne, but I still don’t understand the delays when we were one of only 3 active tables in our section. The savouries are tasty, but the desserts were just weird. Personally I wouldn’t pay the $110 per person (inclusive of tax and service) again.I have been to hundreds of afternoon teas around the world. If anyone reading this wants a great experience, I recommend the St Regis in DC, the Waldorf Astoria in DC, or Lady Camellia in Virginia.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Stopped for a quick bite at noon. The salad was terrible; drowned in balsamic. The lentil soup not very good texture or flavor. I make better lentil soup. The Parmesan fries were the best item. The best thing about the restaurant was the lovely hostess and server. A luxury hotel with bland food is surprising. Who is the chef?
I just love this place. It never disappoints.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Customer service is where Sante shines. Within the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, one of Arlington's only luxury hotels, Sante borrows from the Ritz's brand of impeccable service. From the moment you walk in, the host greets you by name and leads you to your table. Your server also remembers your name and gives you their undivided attention.Sante's food is Mediterranean so expect a combination of seafood and dips. Staying at the Ritz for two nights, our favorite dishes were the smoked Atlantic salmon, Sante trio (garlic hummus, muhammara, fava bean dip, grilled pita, crisp fresh vegetables), and the octopus.They have a robust kids menu and treat every child like royalty. Our seven-year-old daughter loved dining here.They have a full bar menu. The smoked Old Fashioned was fun to see the bartender create. The brunch sangria was nice and sweet.They also have fun happenings like Afternoon Tea with scones, pastries, little sandwiches and a kids version with kid items and a Teddy Bear. It makes for a fun date idea to do with your child!(Disclaimer: Sante comped our meal since we were hosted by the hotel, but did not require me to write this. I did it on my own.)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
It’s the great people who work in Sante who provide for the best experience possible. They’re so attentive and genuinely want you to have a pleasant time. Just the right balance of being attentive and not intrusive! And it’s not a one-off, we’ve stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City multiple times and the excellent service is always wonderful and consistent. The bartenders and the wait staff are to be commended. You won’t regret the excellent service they provide.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus, Braised Short Rib, Organic Roasted Half Chicken
My friend and I went to their holiday afternoon tea a few days after Christmas. It was pricey and there's no option for non-drinkers (the service includes a glass of champagne or a mimosa). The presentation was impeccable, but despite alerting them to food sensitivities, our service came out with the wrong items and they had to take it back to fix that. The egg salad was my favorite followed by the chicken salad. The desserts were well presented and the mini tiramisu layered cake was my favorite. Service was very good and the staff is really friendly. You're definitely paying for the location (it's in the Ritz Carlton), but it was a fun afternoon and they had interesting holiday tea selections.
Great celebration with family and friends. Kym and his crew were on point and made the experience a holiday memory. Thank you all to the staff at Sante!!! Bravo!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent! But Very Expensive.Parking: Easy Valet parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We had afternoon Tea to celebrate the Christmas Holiday. From the time we made our reservations to when we had completed our fine dining, the staff were superb. The Teas offered were exquisite, and the tea cakes were wonderful. The wait staff were attentive, but not intrusive and the entire atmosphere was relaxing and peaceful. It gave my wife and I an opportunity to relax and wind down from the lead up to Dec. 25. Our thanks to the entire staff.
This restaurant is located inside of a hotel and historically I've not had great experiences with hotel restaurants. Sadly, this experience left much to be desired with a hefty tab. The service was fine, our server pleasant and food came out in an appropriate amount of time. This is where the stars get deducted-- nothing we ate taste good. The octopus- was very tough. Yes, octopus is a generally chewy item, but this required a decent amount of piling and tugging to get a bite.The cauliflower soup- our guest didn't take more than few spoons. Cauliflower is a bland vegetable that requires a reasonable amount of doctoring to taste good. The soup was bland.The lamb shank - tender and seasoned well. The accompanying risotto didn't taste like anything at all. The hummus / dip Trio- we were only able to eat one of the dips, the others were just bland and not appetizing.For a tab of over $200 and to not have enjoyed our food or was disappointing.
It was nice. We have been going for tea during the Christmas holiday for several years now. My only suggestion would be to make the dining room more festive. Add some red and green to the decor. The all gold christmas tree was kind of boring and didn't stand out in the room since it was basically the same color as everything else in there.
This review is specifically for the holiday afternoon tea experience. My husband and I had a wonderful time with the afternoon tea experience, but it was probably the most expensive non-meal we have had in DC given the 20% gratuity and 10% tax (total check for 2 people came out almost be $200). The bite sized pastries, sandwiches, and scones were delicious and the tea was amazing as well. The service was incredible-from someone calling me days ahead to confirm details, to the hostess, and the wait staff. We were offered mimosas, champagne, juice, all are included in the package. Children were given a teddy bear as a gift. The restaurant is located in the Ritz Carlton so the interior is beautiful, clean, and decorated for the holidays. Ultimately it's a seasonal experience and not an everyday meal, so we thought the price tag is alright (and the lowest compared to other similar experiences in upscale DC hotels).
Lovely dinner experience inside the Ritz! The greeter sat us with a pleasant smile in the banquet section. Our server came right away, and I was very happy that he knew what kind of whiskeys, scotches, and other alcohol types they had. The food is delicious and plated beautifully. Highly recommend this spot if you are staying at the Ritz.