Comments on: The Tea Room, Queen Victoria Building Sydney http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/ The slightly eccentric eating, cooking and travel adventures of a Sydney girl who loves cakes, cooking, Nigella Lawson and eating. She eats, breathes and dreams food and indeed will never get cable TV as she'd quit working and watch the Food Channel all day long. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:19:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Lisa KK http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-282217 Lisa KK Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:02:18 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-282217 Hi NQN and readers, I know it's been quite a while since your post about the Tea Rooms at QVB but I just wanted to add my experience at this place. I had the traditional afternoon tea which is now $39 and you'd be disappointed to know they now only serve 4 sandwiches, and the dessert selection is still ordinary. But more to the point, a warning about the service here, because to me, service is what adds that little cherry on top when you eat decent food. I thought the floor staff were really pleasant but the two front house managers/maitre d's were both so rude it really left a bad taste in my mouth. I'd taken a family member for her birthday and I came away embarassed at the way we (and it looks like many others) were treated. Such a shame because it is a very beautiful establishment.... It's hard to overlook as its the first thing you encounter and the last as you leave. A shame... Hi NQN and readers,
I know it’s been quite a while since your post about the Tea Rooms at QVB but I just wanted to add my experience at this place. I had the traditional afternoon tea which is now $39 and you’d be disappointed to know they now only serve 4 sandwiches, and the dessert selection is still ordinary.

But more to the point, a warning about the service here, because to me, service is what adds that little cherry on top when you eat decent food.

I thought the floor staff were really pleasant but the two front house managers/maitre d’s were both so rude it really left a bad taste in my mouth.

I’d taken a family member for her birthday and I came away embarassed at the way we (and it looks like many others) were treated. Such a shame because it is a very beautiful establishment…. It’s hard to overlook as its the first thing you encounter and the last as you leave. A shame…

]]> By: Miss Kimbers http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-158702 Miss Kimbers Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:54:07 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-158702 So many mixed reviews on the high tea. I went there on Easter Sunday and loved it! The scones were so good. I really must learn to make scones:) So many mixed reviews on the high tea. I went there on Easter Sunday and loved it! The scones were so good. I really must learn to make scones:)

]]> By: Pearl http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-110297 Pearl Thu, 17 Feb 2011 03:43:30 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-110297 We found our experience of high Tea at QVB disappointing. The scones were like the rocks and the cream to accompany it was tired (yellow along the edges) We found our experience of high Tea at QVB disappointing. The scones were like the rocks and the cream to accompany it was tired (yellow along the edges)

]]> By: V http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-80365 V Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:15:31 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-80365 I would like to share my experience with you at the Tea Room, Queen Victoria Building. My girlfriends and I experienced the 'high tea' service one afternoon at the Tea Room QVB. We were advised when we walked in that we only had a little over an hour due to closing, and was offered containers towards the end to take away because of the time. constraint. Being woman, and not having room in our bags to carry the box, we kindly asked for a bag in which to put the containers in. The waiter sarcastically (rudely in my opinion) suggested they did not have bags and commented: 'what bag? we only have garbage bags here' The audacity of him to suggest using a garbage bag to a customer! What era are we in? One of the girls became very upset and the good time were having came to an abrupt halt! I am deeply disappointed with this level of service attitude by today's standards. Surely, a place of this would have better trained staff - its not exactly McDonalds we are paying for? Needless to say we did not tip. Disturbed and disappointed (ex) customer I would like to share my experience with you at the Tea Room, Queen Victoria Building.

My girlfriends and I experienced the ‘high tea’ service one afternoon at the Tea Room QVB.
We were advised when we walked in that we only had a little over an hour due to closing, and was offered containers towards the end to take away because of the time. constraint. Being woman, and not having room in our bags to carry the box, we kindly asked for a bag in which to put the containers in.
The waiter sarcastically (rudely in my opinion) suggested they did not have bags and commented:
‘what bag? we only have garbage bags here’
The audacity of him to suggest using a garbage bag to a customer! What era are we in?
One of the girls became very upset and the good time were having came to an abrupt halt!
I am deeply disappointed with this level of service attitude by today’s standards.
Surely, a place of this would have better trained staff – its not exactly McDonalds we are paying for?
Needless to say we did not tip.

Disturbed and disappointed (ex) customer

]]> By: The Tea Room, Scone Recipe, QVB, Gunners Barracks @Not Quite Nigella http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-78434 The Tea Room, Scone Recipe, QVB, Gunners Barracks @Not Quite Nigella Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:01:46 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-78434 [...] place that does a terrific scone is the Tea Room at the QVB and Gunner’s Barracks (scene of the infamous kookaburra sandwich stealing incident). In fact [...] [...] place that does a terrific scone is the Tea Room at the QVB and Gunner’s Barracks (scene of the infamous kookaburra sandwich stealing incident). In fact [...]

]]> By: Gunner’s Barracks, Mosman, Afternoon Tea, Sandwich Stealing Kookaburras @Not Quite Nigella http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-72608 Gunner’s Barracks, Mosman, Afternoon Tea, Sandwich Stealing Kookaburras @Not Quite Nigella Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:02:03 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-72608 [...] a huge fan of their scones and I think these are the best I’ve ever had (I’ve also had these at the QVB tea room) and I even try wrestling a recipe out of [...] [...] a huge fan of their scones and I think these are the best I’ve ever had (I’ve also had these at the QVB tea room) and I even try wrestling a recipe out of [...]

]]> By: Diana Dee http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-66278 Diana Dee Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:02:54 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-66278 Hi MQN, Having been to the Ritz in London which lived up to expectations, I'm always disappointed to hear that many places here do not server clotted cream with scones. Have you come across any that do serve it?? Hi MQN,

Having been to the Ritz in London which lived up to expectations, I’m always disappointed to hear that many places here do not server clotted cream with scones. Have you come across any that do serve it??

]]> By: Lilia http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-65201 Lilia Sun, 04 Apr 2010 06:57:12 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-65201 Hi Lorraine. I just finished my high tea at Tea Room, QVB. Apparently the cost is now AUD $37 and it is included GST now. Yes, I did take a lots of picture and they do offer Easter High Tea by replacing scones with the cross bun, but we opted for scone instead as we have too many hot cross bun recently. Hi Lorraine. I just finished my high tea at Tea Room, QVB. Apparently the cost is now AUD $37 and it is included GST now. Yes, I did take a lots of picture and they do offer Easter High Tea by replacing scones with the cross bun, but we opted for scone instead as we have too many hot cross bun recently.

]]> By: Alyce http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-62520 Alyce Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:20:38 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-62520 I could not finish all of the tarts and little cakes- the chocolate squares were soooo rich, but the jam for the scones was delish! I could not finish all of the tarts and little cakes- the chocolate squares were soooo rich, but the jam for the scones was delish!

]]> By: Mariette Leong http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-39791 Mariette Leong Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:16:29 +0000 http://www.notquitenigella.com/2007/12/05/the-tea-room-queen-victoria-building-sydney/#comment-39791 I want to comment on my visit to your lovely tea rooms today. It was my husband's 68th birthday and I wanted to surprise him with a lovely morning tea. Your tea house was recommended to me by my daughter who loved the ambiance and the service. We arrived and were shown to our seat and were enjoying the atmosphere. The coffee arrived and then we waited, and waited and waited, I asked the waitress was our sandwiches and cakes coming and she reassured me that they were. The coffee was getting cold, - it really was not that hot when it was served. We must have waited 20 minutes or more and then the beautiful food tray came. We were a bit disappointed because we had to wait so long, and we were only the third table with guests. The hall was empty. I commented to my husband, if service is this slow with only three tables, how long would one have to wait if the whole hall was full of people. I loved the ambiance and the food, but the service was very slow and the coffee luke warm. I just want you to know so that you can possibly learn from our experience. My daughter was very surprised when I related this situation to her. She said that she had fantastic service when she was there with her friends and it was a Sunday afternoon and very very busy. Regards, Mariette I want to comment on my visit to your lovely tea rooms today.
It was my husband’s 68th birthday and I wanted to surprise him with a lovely morning tea. Your tea house was recommended to me by my daughter who loved the ambiance and the service. We arrived and were shown to our seat and were enjoying the atmosphere. The coffee arrived and then we waited, and waited and waited, I asked the waitress was our sandwiches and cakes coming and she reassured me that they were. The coffee was getting cold, – it really was not that hot when it was served. We must have waited 20 minutes or more and then the beautiful food tray came. We were a bit disappointed because we had to wait so long, and we were only the third table with guests. The hall was empty. I commented to my husband, if service is this slow with only three tables, how long would one have to wait if the whole hall was full of people.

I loved the ambiance and the food, but the service was very slow and the coffee luke warm. I just want you to know so that you can possibly learn from our experience.

My daughter was very surprised when I related this situation to her. She said that she had fantastic service when she was there with her friends and it was a Sunday afternoon and very very busy.

Regards,
Mariette

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