NYC Afternoon Teas-Part 3
Hi Steepers! Let’s check out three more afternoon tea spots in NYC. Today we are focusing on restaurants that serve afternoon tea, but it’s not what they are most known for. They are brunch, lunch, dinner spots that are popular and happen to have a nice little afternoon tea experience as an extra treat. To note, this is my review of JUST THE AFTERNOON TEA EXPERIENCE and does not reflect the restaurant as a whole for any other meal.
Spoiler alert: these restaurants aren’t known for afternoon tea and there’s a reason. None of these tea experiences were that memorable in my opinion, but I would happily go back (or have previously gone) for a regular meal.
Today’s tea spots are:
Little Hen
Oscar Wilde
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
1) Little Hen
A Little Bit of History: Little Hen is an English-inspired breakfast and brunch boutique that combines a cute, pastel-colored space with a focus on high-quality, freshly sourced ingredients. They offer a menu that blends global flavors with classic afternoon tea, breakfast, and lunch favorites. They have locations in Miami, Weston, Houston, and NYC. This review is for the afternoon tea experience in the NYC location.
The Experience: Little Hen is really cute when entering, yet depending on where you are seated, it can be a somewhat cramped setting for an afternoon tea experience. The section of tables where my friend and I were seated was small and the tables lined by the window could not really get out unless the people next to them moved. There’s also only a single bathroom in this space, so if it’s crowded expect a little bit of a wait. Unfortunately, the service was a bit lacking during our time there. It was often difficult to get the attention of our waitress, and judging by the surrounding tables, it seemed others were experiencing the same challenge. While the staff was friendly, the overall service felt scattered and inattentive.
Their afternoon tea experience is the traditional three-tiered tea service including a selection of savory items, sweets, and scones. The savory tier featured classic finger sandwiches—salmon, egg salad, chicken salad, cucumber, and tuna salad. For dessert, we had three macarons and two mini truffles. The scone tier, which was my favorite, was two scones, one lemon and one blueberry. It was served with clotted cream, lemon, and raspberry jam. They offered a house tea which I selected. It was a caffeine-free blend of honey, lemon, and mint. Although the restaurant mentions a 90-minute seating limit, we were not rushed after two hours, though it’s worth noting that we weren’t checked on during that time, which contributed to our extended stay.
As of Today: Take a look at the current menu. The tea is priced at $36 per person which is very reasonable for an afternoon tea experience in the city. They also offer upgrades with champagne.
My Rating: 3/5 teacups. Again, my rating is only for the afternoon tea experience. I would go back here for brunch as my friend and I split a banana foster waffle before our tea, and it was delicious. However, I would not go back for the afternoon tea. The afternoon tea experience was not memorable and the service was very slow.
2) Oscar Wilde
A Little Bit of History: Oscar Wilde bar embraces the spirit of the legendary Irish playwright, celebrating his life with a nod to the Victorian era—glamorous without a little bit of flare. The building designed in 1909, and the space has NYC’s longest bar at 118.5 feet, along with an extraordinary art and object collection. The building has a rich history, serving as the Prohibition Enforcement Headquarters in 1919, and even being discovered with its phone lines tapped in 1922. Following the end of Prohibition in 1933, the building hosted various novelty and apparel firms before Oscar Wilde found its home.
The Experience: The afternoon tea experience at this spot left much to be desired. Service was slow and the tea presentation was underwhelming, with hot water served in a single teapot alongside two tea bags for both guests—hardly the thoughtful, immersive experience you’d expect from a tea service. Frothed milk and sugar were offered with the tea, but overall, the tea felt more like an afterthought than a highlight. We went in February so the venue was decorated for both Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year. I think it could easily be overstimulating for some, but we thought the decor was fun and festive.
The traditional three-tiered tea service was offered. Instead of eight finger sandwiches, we were served four traditional sandwiches, each cut in half. So the same portions but as half servings instead of quarters. The cucumber, egg salad, and salmon and cream cheese sandwiches were fine, but the prosciutto and fig sandwich we could not finish—something about the prosciutto just didn’t taste right, and I could not force myself to eat it.
For desserts, we were given four macarons and six mini tarts, but the tarts were a mystery, as nothing was explained to us in terms of flavor. The scone tier was the standout, offering two scones, two muffins, and two coffee cakes, which were a fun addition. The scones were the only real memorable part of the experience for me.
As of Today: This is the current menu. The price was $59 per person and is served from 11am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
My Rating: 3/5 teacups. Between the service, the gross prosciutto, and how expensive this experience was for what you recieve, I would not return for afternoon tea. I have been to Oscar Wilde’s just for dinner and the options and experience are much better.
3) Lillie’s Victorian
A Little Bit of History: Lillie’s Victorian Establishment is built in honor of Lillie Langtry, a renowned British actress, and socialite who captivated audiences in the late 19th century. Born on the Isle of Jersey, she became famously known as “Jersey Lillie” and was admired for her long list of prominent suitors, including the future King Edward VII. In 1882, she came to America to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Lillie was admired and envied by many, and she defied Victorian societal expectations, challenging the roles of women. Her legacy, which spanned over five decades, inspired the creation of Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, a tribute to her lasting influence and forward-thinking spirit.
The Experience: There are two Lillie’s Establishments in NYC, one in Time Square and one in Union Square. I am reviewing the Time Square afternoon tea experience. I have been to Lillie’s before for brunch, but this was my first time going for afternoon tea. First thing I noticed was the similarities of Lillie’s and Oscar Wilde’s with both the decor and afternoon tea experiences. A little googling revealed to me that they are not just both Victorian themed but they are in fact owned by the same owners! Celtic Developers Group (CDG). Oscar Wilde and Lillie Langtry were friends so this was a cute connection in honor of them.
The afternoon tea experience here was solid, with good service and a nice selection of cocktails, which we ordered separately from the menu to enhance the experience. They offer a full bar and serve lunch during the afternoon tea service as well. Afternoon tea is just an added touch. The three-tier display was traditional and similar to Oscar Wilde’s, but they offered eight full finger sandwiches instead of four halves. Once again the prosciutto and fig sandwich was a letdown—something about the prosciutto just didn’t taste right. I think it has something to do with where these companies get the prosciutto because they tasted exactly the same and it was not good. However, there was a nice chicken and pesto finger sandwich that was a welcome addition.
The scone tier was another highlight, offering plain scones alongside buttery croissants, adding a little variety to the typical tea service. The most unique and fun touch was the inclusion of mini crème brûlées, which were delicious and a creative twist on the standard afternoon tea selection. Overall, the experience was enjoyable with good service
As of Today: You can look at the menu here. Currently the afternoon tea is $50 pp which is less than Oscar Wilde and you get more bang for your buck.
My Rating: 4/5 teacups. I did enjoy this experience and vibe and the service was good and the wait staff was very nice. The crème brûlées were a great touch and the cocktails were yum!
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