One of my favorite places to meet for lunch or a late afternoon snack is the English Rose Tea Room located in the town center of Carefree, Arizona just north of Scottsdale. I’ve mentioned this charming restaurant and store a couple of times before, but have yet to do a post on it.
The English Rose Tea Room is such a wonderful place to spend some time, enjoy British traditions and sample some delicious tea and food. The store is comprised of a retail area where you can buy pretty much anything related to tea and tea-making as well as some gift items from the U.K. Once you walk through this section, you reach the dining area. (Note: The retail store is going through a renovation through the end of September 2012. The restaurant will be open for service during that time.)
There are several dining options for you to choose from, ranging from small dishes like soup and salad all the way up to a traditional, formal English Tea.
The Formal Tea is quite the presentation. You are served a pot of tea of your choice, (I really enjoy the Spa tea,) and a three-tiered stand overflowing with delicious treats. The bottom tray comes with a selection of tasty finger sandwiches. The second tray is scones with Devon cream and strawberry preserves. The top tray is filled with petit fours and pastries. You will certainly not leave hungry and it is quite a fun treat.
What is really fun is if you come with your children or grandchildren, they have a Nursery Tea, which is the formal tea on a smaller scale and more kid-friendly scale for younger diners. The nursery tea comes on a tiered stand as well with tea sandwiches that include peanut butter and jelly or cheese and mayonnaise. The next tier has fruit and the top tier has the petit fours and sweets. This also comes with a pot of tea (which is decaffeinated) or hot chocolate. I love this option because the little ones get the full experience without all of the food that comes with the grown-up version. What is even more fun is that there is a selection of beautiful hats that guests young and old can try on and wear during tea.
If you are not looking for a full tea experience and just want to have more of a meal, there are many options to choose from. Some of our favorites include:
– Earl of Sandwich – A selection of six tea sandwiches that come with fresh fruit.
– Hampshire Chicken Salad -A serving of delicious chicken salad that is served atop fresh greens.
– Cream Tea – This is one of my favorite things to eat anywhere in Scottsdale. It comes with a pot of tea, two fresh-baked scones, Devon cream and strawberry preserves. The scones are truly out of this world and they are huge. And when paired with the cream and jam, they are heavenly.
If you are looking for some more traditional British food, there are a few options to choose form like “Beans on Toast,” Cottage Pie, Baker’s Jacket and Ploughman’s Lunch.
Definitely make the trip to the English Rose Tea Room when you can. It is well worth the time.
More Information:
English Rose Tea Room
201 Easy Street, Number 3
Carefree, AZ 85377
(480) 488-4812
www.carefreetea.com
