Afternoon Tea at Parker's Tavern

Review summary

1. P

   Peter

   Houston

   3 reviews

   4.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on January 12, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   The food was extremely good. The cakes were excellent. As is typical in most places since the stupidity of Brexit service was less perfect. Long wait for food. Milk was not offered with tea.
   

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2. C

   Catherine

   London

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 12, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 1

   We were very excited to try the winter afternoon tea at Parker’s Tavern to celebrate my husband’s birthday, especially after the wonderful Sunday lunch we enjoyed there a few months ago. Unfortunately, the experience fell far below our expectations. The service was slow, and it was evident that the team running the service lacked experience. While the cakes looked delightful, I was surprised and disappointed to find that the tea was presented without clotted cream and jam for the scones—a staple of any proper afternoon tea. When I inquired, I was told they would check, and five minutes later, we were brought clotted cream and marmalade. Marmalade with scones is highly unusual, and I can confirm it doesn’t work as a pairing. I had to specifically request jam, which was then hurriedly brought to us. To add to the disappointment, the tea order was brought out incorrectly, despite us only ordering two teas. Considering the high cost of the experience (and this was without champagne), the quality of service and attention to detail left much to be desired. This was not the special celebration we had hoped for, and sadly, we left feeling bitterly disappointed.
   

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3. D

   Desiree

   London

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on January 10, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Beautiful ambience and atmosphere for an afternoon tea. Food overall good even though the sandwiches were nothing special.
   

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4. C

   Clare

   Cambridge

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 3, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   The experience was average and not good value for money. It feels like a quantity/appearance has been prioritised over taste. We had the festive afternoon tea. There was lots of food presented (5 sandwiches, 2 scones and 5 cakes per person) but the quality of this was not great. The afternoon tea is ordered in from elsewhere and had clearly been stored in a fridge as 3/5 sandwiches were dry. The other two items were a wrap/taco and a sausage roll which were very nice. The scones were lovely and served warm, the jam was liquid and went everywhere. Out of the 5 desserts, 2 were lovely and 2 looked pretty but were inedible. We were able to takeaway the items we couldn’t eat (and wanted to eat). None of the tables could finish the whole afternoon tea. The tea itself was not loose leaf tea but served in sachets. Service was slow and had to ask multiple times for cream/jam. It also felt like there was a script they needed to run through and was not really personal. The room we were sitting in was nice, but seats were uncomfortable. Sofa is so large, low down (and worn out) it was uncomfortable to sit up and eat at the table. I have had much better afternoon teas elsewhere in Cambridge and would not return.
   

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5. N

   Nicole

   VIP

   Cambridge

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on December 31, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Family of 4 for Festive Tea. Absolutely stunning presentation. Lovely setting in the Library. Highly recommend!
   

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6. R

   Rebecca

   Norfolk/Suffolk

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 28, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   We booked the champagne afternoon tea, got the festive afternoon tea due to menu change, which was not communicated to us, so £49.50 for 3 glasses of champagne was added to our bill, which after our complaint was removed. BUT, the service, delivery and fanfare of the afternoon tea was lacking. A small plate consisting of a very small amount of savoury food was provided, had to ask three times for clean plates for the cakes, which were just placed at the end of our table with no description or interest, the scones were not warm as they were delivered at the same time as the savoury and there were way too may cakes for three people to enjoy. It was a very expensive 2 hours and we will certainly not recommend or return.
   

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7. E

   Elizabeth

   Cambridge

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 21, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   The festive afternoon tea was delicious (we had a vegetarian version). Friendly staff with the right amount of attentiveness and a wonderful setting.
   

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8. J

   Jeanie

   London

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 17, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food in a lovely atmosphere. Elegant library surroundings. We weren't rushed.
   

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9. S

   Sarah

   Cambridge

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 15, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   The food was excellent so it’s such a shame the rest lest it down. I went as a pre Christmas treat for my mother who was visiting. When we arrived we were put on two tiny tables and two lounge chairs that were covered in drink and food stains. The waitress commented that our table was clearly not big enough but would not move us. We then had to perch the food and tea pots etc on the two tables and eat in our laps. The waiter and waitress who served us were polite, if very low energy. The large table next to us was empty when we arrived and covered in detritus from the previous party. Including food mess from a toddler / baby. This was left like this until we had almost finished. So the environment was a bit of an eyesore. What should be a relaxed refined experience was cramped and shabby. Food was great, we took most of it home to enjoy it in a nicer environment. Dining room was otherwise almost empty which affected the mood too. Will go back here for cocktails or dinner but not afternoon tea.
   

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10. d

    devyn

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Must try when in Cambridge! Loved it so much! Food was good and the ambience was impeccable
    

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