I moved to Seattle a little over a year ago from a small college town in Oregon where my cultural indulgences took the shape of weekend farmers markets and seasonal art exhibitions at my university's art gallery.
I love food; I love all of the flavors and the smells and colors and way certain dishes bring you back to Christmas mornings at your grandmother's house when your relatives were all together and they were all fighting but you loved it anyway because everyone was there, together, in one place.
When I moved to this city, I saw new opportunities to explore the wonderful world of food and dining - from the eclectic gastropubs and Korean BBQ joints to the classic American fare and Italian pizzerias.
Flash forward one year and many delicious meals and wonderful brunches later, to two weeks ago when I joined my boyfriend's mother and a small group of women for brunch at the Queen Mary Tea Room.
Located in Ravenna north of The U District, on a quiet street opposite the Calvary Cemetery, sits the Queen Mary Tea Room. A quaint brick building framed by a rich blue awning and ensconced by English hedges, the tea room is a warm and inviting ode to the Victorian era.
You are first greeted by the warmth of the dark walls and the homey feeling of the floral wallpaper. Cans of tea line the wall to the right of the entrance, inviting you to partake in their rich and wild and storied scents. Below them sits a desserts case filled with classics, from German Chocolate Cake and Macarons to the traditional Sticky Toffee Pudding and Burnt Creme. The case is lined with trinkets and toys and knickknacks paying homage to the old country and the feminine, from simple plastic princess wands to tin sets and a variety of diffuser mugs.
The dining room is small, housing less than 10 tables, and the walls are lined with dark wood wainscoting and floral draperies, books about old English culture and its ties to tea resting upon floating shelves.
Our group was seated at a large table nestled between the dining room's main entrance and a hidden hallway leading to the restrooms and kitchen. The table decor was delicately elegant, the surface lined with soft white linens and a myriad of vintage floral teacups served to demarcate each place setting.
The menu boasted a wide variety of teas from Flavored Black teas to Oolong and Green, and from all the regions of the once great British Empire. Each guest was offered their own pot of tea - which could easily be shared, I might add, but a good deal at only $6. The Tea Room also offers breakfast and lunch options, along with Afternoon Tea, a traditional platter offering pastries and fruits, as wells as finger sandwiches and soups. (Afternoon Tea is served any time during regular business hours.)
Our group chose to indulge in breakfast, each of our eyes scanning over dishes ranging from a simple two eggs with toast and Bangers n' Mash to quiches and french toast and scrambles. I settled on pairing traditional English Breakfast tea - I needed as much caffeine as possible in a place that doesn't serve coffee - with a sausage and potato scramble, finished with caramelized onions and red peppers.
My conclusion? You need to try this place.
The dedication to detail was apparent from the start of our meal until the check was paid - the intricacies in the decor from wall-to-wall, the simple yet sweet trinkets and keepsakes spread throughout the restaurant, to the service which was stylized with elegance and grace and invaluable knowledge and enthusiasm about our experience. The food was phenomenal, cooked using traditional English meats and seasoned to perfection, all of the dishes were paired with fruit seemingly to fresh for late October.
The warm tea paired perfectly with the warmer company and a group of fine women spanning three generations gathered together to share in tradition.
The Queen Mary Tea Room is located at 2912 Northeast 55th Street and open Wednesday thru Friday 9 am - 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am - 6:30 pm.
