I’ve always said that if I ever get sick of having afternoon tea, then I really need to get a grip on myself. Even though I’ve been to so many, there’s something so exciting and new as no afternoon tea is ever the same. Each tea has its own stamp or personality to it and you never really know what they will be like until the tiered stand is brought to you. If it’s done well, there is an involuntary reaction- your eyes widen and there may be a squeal of delight and I’ve known to clap my hands excitedly too. It’s a pretend tea party but for adults-except unlike when you had teddy and your toys as guests, you actually get to eat the food.
A get together between Celia, Charlie & Tania was scheduled a few weeks prior and our destination was Little Darling Diner, a cute little place which sits on a corner of Darling Street. I arrive early and park on the adjacent street Elliott Street (tip: there is unlimited parking on this street in this restriction aplenty suburb).
There are several places to sit in Little Darling Diner from the front window seat with Moët cushions and a pretty couch to more conventional tables. Walking through further and downstairs the space opens up to house a large table with two Chesterfield couches. There are bird cages, ornate patterned wallpaper and a garden courtyard which is where most people seem to be soaking up the spring sunshine.
Afternoon tea or high tea as its called here is a very reasonable $37 a person here and comes complete with a glass of Chandon sparkling wine. Everything but the bread is made on the premises using the one oven and I watch as the display fills gradually with fresh pastries made from the oven and chef Melinda slides a tray of bright pink macaron shells in the oven.
A glass of Chandon is poured and we sink into the comfortable couches and they bring us our stands. They’ve organised a dairy free high tea for Celia and she looks very pleased with her selection. The front tier is of the selection for the remaining three of us.
There is no menu as items change daily and purists might comment on the lack of scones but you know I didn’t actually notice that there weren’t any scones because there was really just so much food on these tiers. Service from Nour and the staff is wonderful and attentive.
Celia’s dairy free afternoon tea stand
We started with the savoury tier (does anyone start with the sweet tier?) and I start with the quiche with a lovely shortcrust pastry. There are two varieties: three cheese and walnut and a tomato, onion, leek and mushroom. The sandwiches are generously portioned and there are two types: smoked ham and garlic aioli with mustard which was my favourite and smoked salmon and sour cream on a brioche bread. There was a little dryness on the sandwiches on top from being exposed to air so we took them from the bottom.
Onto the middle sweets layer and there’s quite a variety of sweet items. I start with a moist petite almond cake with flaked almonds on top, choux puffs with chantilly cream where the pastry remains nice and dry even with the cream inside. There’s a lovely lemon tart with a smooth meringue hat. Another favourite was a simple vanilla custard tart with a glazed strawberry on top. Finally there is a dacquiose square with a chocolate bottom topped with a dollop of chocolate orange mousse.
The top layer holds a treasure trove of gilded goodies including the gold dusted Cointreau truffle made with Valrhona chocolate and a pretty passionfruit curd tart with a surprising bottom layer of raspberry gel which really packs a tangy punch. There were also three types of macarons – the pink was a salted caramel which had a middle filling layer of salted caramel. Celia remarked that it was a bit chewy and I agreed, but this may be because it was straight caramel and not whisked or a buttercream form. The yellow macaron was a tangy gorgeous passionfruit chocolate macaron and the green a nutty pistachio.
The best pairing with these sweets was a cup of tea and here they use Tea Drop teas. I order an Earl Grey and it comes in a glass teapot with a gorgeous cup and saucer set. Just like you would have perhaps dreamed of in your childhood tea parties.
So tell me Dear Reader, did you play tea parties when you were young? And do you eat the savouries before the sweets at afternoon tea?
Little Darling Diner
485A Darling Street Balmain NSW 2041, Australia
Tel: +61 (02) 9810 5255
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52 Comments | Add your own
What a delightful spot for afternoon tea – one of life’s simple pleasures!
What a lovely tea, and reasonably priced even by Toronto standards. I love the beautiful colours on the tiered tray and the glass of sparkling wine is a lovely touch. I’ve had high tea at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto and it was extremely beautiful.
I still have my porcelain tea set from childhood.
I don’t think I’ve ever had high tea, its not common here. I plan to try before I die – its not quite on the 100 things to do before I die list:)
Hullo Lorraine, Great post. Didn’t know about this l’il gem in Balmain. Can you now please start a new ‘crusade’ (after this and the Dilmah interview posts)to rid the ridiculous notion that afternoon tea is a strictly female only bastion? I am male, and not afraid to venture into any tearoom, but that does not mean I am unaware of the lifted eyebrows from the practically all female partakers. The look of terrified relief from the very rare and occasional other males in the room would be comical if it wasn’t so tragic. And all this from a very recent fallacy drummed up by marketing companies that afternoon tea is strictly females only! Afternoon tea certainly is non-gender specific in its country of origin (dear Blighty) as well as in more progressive societies such as in Hong Kong, Singapore et alia. Dilmah should also take on this ‘crusade’ to crush this ridiculous notion and expand its demographics in the process!
Oh I love it!! Oh course I played tea parties when I was a child, and I still enjoy playing real tea parties now as an adult! I love the selection the offer here, and the cute little Moet cushions. Great value. I will have to pin that one!
It looks like a lovely afternoon tea. I remember playing tea parties with a my friend Agnes when I was five because she had a tiny plastic tea set – so cute!
How lovely. I love high tea. At $37 that’s a steal with such a high selection of pastries, tarts, sandwiches and other finger foods. So envious. As a Torontonian, I agree with Eva, the poster above, that’s a great steal. In Toronto, high tea is usually around $50.
I could have afternoon tea like this for breakfast, lunch and dinner! and how nice to have a dairy free stand for Celia! Love the macaroon with blueberries inside, a great idea to borrow sometimes!
Ciao
Alessandra
I love the pretty vintage china you use when you go to high tea! And this one in particular looks lovely. I normally do eat the savouries first – though it’s definitely hard not to dive straight into the sweets! It’s also a great time to catch up with your girlfriends (:
I never get sick of afternoon tea either
And i think it’s the best to go with a group of girl friends and just sit and enjoy the lovely sandwiches and cakes 
I always start with the scones which I noticed that they didn’t have ~ But everything makes up for it hehe~
I’ve been meaning to plan a high tea at home… but haven’t gotten around to it
will need to do it soon!
I cannot believe how filled up the platters were. It looks amazing! I’ve not had high tea yet (I know, shameful) even though it’s been around for a while now.
You captured the day so well with your beautiful images. I didn’t notice the lack of scones either. Everything was so pretty xx
I think I need to move to Australia (and I think I already said so before) just for the tea and all it comes with. I love to drink my tea from a real cup and saucer (not from the huge mug); I like to have my tea in an elegant setting. And most of all I like to have a real tea, with it’s aroma and taste, and not something in a teabag. By the way, do you know what they put in those tea bags? I always wander…
You know me; I’d likely skip the savouries altogether
But yay for dairy-free!!
I love afternoon teas too – whether put on by the CWA or the Ritz. I hope you enjoy one at Moana Surfrider.
Getting sick of afternoon tea is not a concept that I can grasp in any way! Looks like you girls know how to treat yourselves.
I like to start with the savouries but save one so when I over-do it on sweets I can balance it out.
That was quite a selection!
I’ve never had tea parties when I was young let alone played with dolls.But I must say, what A lovely quaint & delightful little place! the food is so enticing.That’s definitely on my To-do list! And you’re right about the Salted Caramel Macaron being chewy, that’s how you know you’re eating a genuine Macaron! Yummos!
I’ve been known to admonish companions who try to start with anything but the savouries
I’m a bit fastidious about these things!
Thanks Loraine. Gorgeous, gorgeous gorgeous! I am not really into scones – too filling when there are so many other goodies on offer.
I’m a savories first girl myself.
Yes we used to hold grand tea parties as children with dirt cakes and invisible tea.
I am overcome by how utterly cute delicious and adorable this tea is my friend
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
What a lovely wat to spend an afternoon, playing at Grown Ups (as I’ve met you, Charlie and Celia I know it really is just playing!)
Yummo!
It’s also nice to see that dietary issues are so nicely looked after too
Wow, came back from early lunch [yep, moreish!] and found your post there at last
! This is the second blog I have read on this particular establishment: compliments on your rich variety of photos. Have already recommended this place to about a dozen Balmain/Birchgrove friends: worth the money methinks! Yes, things change: quiche instead of some of the sandwiches, macaroons instead of scones – OK, I can live with that 
! Sweet or savoury first: silly Q for me: I only have the savoury 
! Did I play tea parties – never, to my recollection: too busy drawing house plans [wanted to be an architect at that stage] or designing dresses for paper dollies [that was my Christian Dior phase: the New Look had just come in]!!!!
Wow, everything looks so pretty Lorraine…the only time that I had tea like this was in Victoria…at the Fairmont Empress
Have a great week!
I grew up with a brother, so no…not many tea parties when I was a child! As an adult I love them and will always head for the savouries first! (although those meringues look very tempting to start with!)
I loved playing tea parties when I was a kid. Frankly, nothing has changed.
I would love to attend a tea with the 3 of you!
Yum. And the dairy free selection looked really good. I love High Tea. On our most recent visit to Singapore we had a most disappointing High Tea at Raffles. It used to be so good. Fortnum and Mason High Tea is fabulous, though London is a little too far away. I force myself to eat the savouries first, but really it is all about the sweet stuff!
Woah, they really loaded the plate with pastries and sandwiches! I just had afternoon tea yesterday too, it’s one of those things I really enjoy too.
I have read a few of your afternoon tea reviews and noticed that the savoury tier is at the bottom of the tea stand and the sweet tier is at the top. Is that the norm in Australia? Usually in England the scones/sandwiches are in the top tier so you could start with those, and then move down to the cakes and pastries. Your photos are so pretty by the way!
I can’t imagine why you aren’t fat!!! OMG, this all looks so good (well, though I can respect it, dairy-free teas don’t much appeal). I just like it all–in no particular order, but maybe I’d prefer savory first.
What an amazing afternoon tea selection, none of the one bite per person nonsense. I am now going to go for my Christmas present – thx for the great review.
I did play tea parties when I was a kid. But believe you me, the offerings looked nothing like those. Wow, what a feast you had. I have to say that I much prefer grown-up high-tea to make-believe tea parties. The eating is way better.
Wow!! That looks absolutely amazing – definitely putting that on my holiday list of things to do!! Thanks for sharing
Wow this place looks so nice. I’ve been to Balmain so much and never heard of it
Time to get my friends to go!
ok Loraine, please reserve a table for us, Jo is coming too……….oh how I wish!! One can always dream – what a beautiful place, nevermind the food which looks so divine,I just simply love the whole set-up. Thanks for sharing this with us. Ciao Carina
Ok Lorraine, please book a table for the 3 of us, Jo is coming as well……..oh! how I wish!!
Joking aside, this place looks absolutely wonderful, their food etc. divine, just our kind of place. Nothing like this here, sadly – but soon we will be in Bangkok – Lunch at the Oriental! Tea at the Shrangi-La, Dinner at the Intercontinental……envies? lol, lol, lol
All of those cakes and sweets look so cute and delicious! I absolutely love afternoon tea! There are some wonderful places in Melbourne, I think I’m going to have to go over summer!
I’d totally start with the savouries then go on to the sweets, makes it feel like having a main course and then dessert.
This high tea looks great! The food looks great and I don’t think you are missing much without the scones.
oh it was fun….and prettier every time I see pictures of it. I just love that I ate all of your discarded 1/2′s. Thats how she doesn’t get fat peeps with someone like me eating all the leftovers!
I love high tea! However, there must always be scones
One of the best places I have found in Brisbane is Room with Roses in the Brisbane Arcade because their gluten free vegetarian (difficult child that I am) high tea is on par with their ‘normal’ high tea. Next time I’m in Sydney I’ll have to try Little Darling Diner out, I owe it to science I’m sure…
High tea in Balmain. It sounds like a lovely dream. I’ve had a few high teas in the UK – Browns was a good one – and the savoury always comes first!
I do so love afternoon teas, so much so that I got thrown two surprise afternoon teas for my hens
Here you go again Lorraine, tempting my little overworked, sweet, taste buds! I’m a sucker for High Tea and would gladly have it all day long. What a bargain at $37 and with a glass of bubbly as well! I always start with the savoury tier then work my way up or down depending on how they are set.
Little Darling Diner seems a lovely place and if I’m ever up that way, I’d love to try their High Tea with a few girlfriends.
You must try high tea at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair. Attentive service, good range of teas treats.
What a lovely afternoon tea that must be …
I have never been to a proper tea. What lovely fun!
Gosh – looks brilliant…I live in Kenya and can but dream of an afternoon tea like this.
I dont get to Balmain enough! Such a great food spot. I love this high tea
I’m a huge sucker for afternoon tea. Everything made me drool. A lot
Oh no goodness if I started with the sweets the savory would never get touched. This actually looks like a lovely high tea and the tiers look so full. I agree that I would not actually miss the scones, truthfully although they are the high tea staple I find them to be the least exciting part in most cases.
Hi Lorraine,
oh my gosh this place is so beautiful!! I’ve been wanting to go to this place for a while now and i keep stopping myself because i feel like a place this pretty and beautiful should be reserved for a special occasion. After reading your blog on it i feel like i may have celebrate life as my “special occasion” and go to little darling diner asap!! YUM
Hello!
I know this is an old post but I was having trouble finding a High Tea for my girlfriends and I that wasn’t $70 or higher that didn’t leave us starving afterward! I just called them and made a reservation and it is still $37 which includes scones AND chandon!! Thanks so much for this post, I will be reading your blog frequently now
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