The thought of hot tea and pastries sounded so welcoming in this winter wasteland that Gut Check couldn't wait to check out the London Tea Room's (3128 Morganford Road; 314-241-6556) new digs in Tower Grove South. During its soft opening weekend, staff busily steeped loose leaf teas for a busy brunch-time crowd. Pot after pot of fragrantly flavored liquids came out from behind the counter on bulky plates along with miniature decanters of cream, tea cups atop saucers and tiny stirring spoons.
See also: London Tea Room Reopens in Tower Grove
Behind the counter, where the employees could be spotted in their matching "Tea Shirts," a busy baker appeared every now and then to replenish the glass display cases with freshly baked goods. From towering slabs of cheesy quiche and blueberry-topped cake slices to the Tea Room's signature "eccles cake" and tall, layered scones dotted with fruits, customers had plenty of options to choose from despite the new location's trimming of its lunch items.
Even though this second incarnation of the Tea Room did away with the majority of the hot food items offered at its original downtown location, some pre-made sandwiches and wraps still provide an option for hungrier visitors along with cups of hot soup.
The cafe's tea options takes up four full pages of a laminated menu with the following categories: breakfast teas, smokey teas, flavored black teas, single estate black tea, oolong tea, green tea, white tea, red tea and herbal tea. They start at $4 per individual pot which evens out to about two cups -- just enough for a comforting sit and sip session.
In the new double-capacity space, which seats about 25 patrons in the main dining area, the Union Jack flag displays itself prominently atop shelves which contain take-home teas, cozies, mugs and more for sale.
The London Tea Room's current hours are Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It now offers tea classes and a private event space for rental. For more information, check out the London Tea Room's website and Facebook page.
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