By Ali Noller
Special to washingtonpost.com
Thursday, April 10, 2003 From hotels to small teahouses, many Washington establishments schedule full afternoon teas that fit many budgets. While some have reduced rates for children, the majority offer the tea service at a set price. It's always best to call ahead for a table, especially around the Easter and Mother’s Day holidays.
Bailiwick Inn, 4023 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax; 703-691-2266
Tuesday, 3:30-5: $22; Sunday, 3:30-5: $27. Scones, sandwiches, pastries, sherry. Recipes available upon request. Not wheelchair accessible. Reservations required; taken up to the day. Easter tea on April 19, 3-4:30: $28; bonnet required. Mother's Day tea on May 10, 3-4:30: $28; must bring your mother. For groups of five or more, a $5/person deposit is required.
British Pantry, 42495 John Mosby Hwy. (Route 50), Chantilly; 703-327-3215
Daily, 1-4. Cream tea: $7.95; full tea with scones, sandwiches and tea biscuits: $16.95.
Casey Jones, 417 E. Charles St., La Plata; 301-932-6226
September-May, second Saturday of the month and occasional other dates, 1-3: $23 adults; $15 children 9 and under. Sandwiches, scones and pastries (monthly theme menus). Reservations and advance payment required. Sold out for remainder of 2003 season.
Ching Ching Cha, 1063 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-333-8288
Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30-9; Sunday, 11:30-7. Teas: $4-$20.
English Tea House, 4513 College Ave., College Park; 301-887-1777
Saturday, 2-6. Light tea with scones, pastries, one sandwich: $3.50; cream tea with scones and fruit: $5.95; high tea with scones, sandwiches, sweets and fruit: $10.95. Catering and outdoor cafe now available.
Four Seasons Hotel, 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; 202-342-0444
Daily, 2-5. Tea: $25. Sandwiches (monthly theme menus), pastries, chocolate-dipped strawberries, scones. Piano music. Reservations required.
Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria; 703-941-7987
Most Sundays at 1, tea and lecture program: $22; April through October, Thursdays at 1 with garden tour: $22. Scones, sandwiches, pastries. Canceled if less than 20 reservations are made; reservations required.
Hay-Adams Hotel, 16th and H streets NW; 202-638-6600
Offered as a catered tea only: $35/person. Scones, pastries, berries and sandwiches. Reservations required.
Henley Park Hotel, 926 Massachusetts Ave. NW; 202-638-5200
Daily, 4-6. Royal tea with fresh fruit, chianti and sandwiches: $25; English tea with scone, sandwiches and pastries: $16; tea and scones: $9.50. Not wheelchair accessible. Reservations required.
Hillwood Museum Cafe, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW; 202-686-8505, Ext. 8811
Tuesday-Saturday, 3-4:30. Tea: $7.95 ($12.95 for two). Finger sandwiches, scones, fruit and cookies. Museum tour ($10) requires separate reservations. (Museum and cafe closed during the month of February.) Reservations required.
Jefferson Hotel, 16th and M streets NW; 202-833-6206 or 202-347-2200 Daily, 3-5. Full tea with scones, sandwiches and fruit tarts: $38. Reservations required.
Laurel Brigade Inn, 20 W. Market St., Leesburg; 703-777-1010
Thursday-Saturday, noon-3: $17.95. Sandwiches, pastries, scones. Reservations required. Not wheelchair accessible.
Madison Hotel, 15th and M streets NW; 202-862-1600
Closed for renovations until August 2003, when tea service will resume.
Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-347-3000
Monday-Saturday, 3-5; Sunday, 3:30-5:30. Tea: $23.95. Pastries, seasonally inspired sandwiches, scones, etc. Reservations required.
Montpelier Mansion, Route 197 and Muirkirk Road, Laurel; 301-498-8486 (about a quarter-mile from Baltimore-Washington Parkway)
Two or three Fridays a month. Tea: $18. Tea at 3; mansion tour at 2, $2 additional; reservations required. Scones, sandwiches, pastries and clotted cream and jam. (Tea supplies at the Little Teapot at Montpelier gift shop, Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5; Sunday, noon-4.)
Normandie Farm Inn, 10710 Falls Rd., Potomac; 301-983-8838
First and third Wednesdays, 2:30-4:30. Tea: $18. Buffet service: scones, pastries, sandwiches, fruit, popovers and pastries. Music. Reservations required.
Oakland Manor, 5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia; 410-730-4801 or 800-730-4802
First and last Thursdays, 4:30-6. Tea: $15.75. Sandwiches, scones, pastries. Reservations required.
Oatlands, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg; 703-777-3174
Thursday-Saturday, May 15-June 28, excluding June 14; noon and 2 p.m. Tea: $17.95/adults; $8.95 children 8 and under. Sandwiches, scones, sweets. Reservations required. Reduced-rate tours available in conjunction with tea.
Ritz-Carlton Hotel - Pentagon City, 1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington, 703-415-5000
Daily, 2-4:30. Tea and scones: $20; full tea with sandwiches, scones and cakes: $26; royal tea with scones, sandwiches, cakes, champagne and strawberries: $31. Reservations required.
Ritz-Carlton Hotel - Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, 703-506-4300
Monday-Friday, 2-4:30; Saturday and Sunday, 11:30, 2 and 4. Full tea with sandwiches, scones and cakes: $28; royal tea with champagne and strawberries: $38. Reservations required.
Ritz-Carlton Hotel - Washington, 1150 22nd St. NW; 202-835-0500
Friday-Sunday, 2-5; Afternoon tea $32. Scones, sandwiches, pastries. Reservations required.
Stone House Tea Room at the Norris House Inn, 106 Loudoun St. SW, Leesburg; 703-779-2933
Theme teas approximately three weekends a month and first Friday of the month (see schedule at www.norrishouse.com); Tea: $20. Sandwiches, scones, pastries, fruit. Reservations recommended. Not wheelchair accessible.
Strathmore Hall, 10701 Rockville Pike, Rockville; 301-530-0540
Tuesday and Wednesday, 1-3. Full tea: $17, paid in advance. Scones, sandwiches, salads and pastries. Live music, usually harp or piano.
The British Collection and Tea Company, 119 S. Royal St., Alexandria; 703-836-8181
Tuesday, noon-6; Wednesday-Sunday, 10-6. Full tea with turkey, cucumber and ham sandwiches, scones and cream and cake: $12.50; with sherry: $14.50. Reservations required only for large parties (over eight).
Teaism - Dupont Circle, 2009 R St. NW; 202-667-3827
Tea served a la carte, daily.
Teaism - Downtown, 800 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-835-2233
Weekdays, 2:30-5:30. Traditional tea with sandwiches, pastries, ginger scones: $15. Asian tea with salmon, nori and sticky rice, tofu, pickles, sweet bean paste buns, green tea ice cream, sweets: $15.
Teaism - Penn Quarter, 400 Eighth St. NW; 202-638-6010
Daily, 2:30-5:30. Traditional tea with sandwiches, pastries, ginger scones: $15. Asian tea with salmon, nori and sticky rice, tofu, pickles, sweet bean paste bun, green tea ice cream: $15.
Washington National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues NW; 202-537-8993
Tuesday and Wednesday, 3-4, following 1:30 tour (children's choir Tuesday and Wednesday at 5:30; organ practice at 12:45 Wednesday). Tea and tour: $20, paid in advance; call for reservations Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10-4. Scones and a variety of finger sandwiches, muffins, chicken, ham or shrimp salad in miniature popovers, etc. Gift certificates available. Booked through May 2003.
Watergate Hotel, 2650 Virginia Ave. NW; 202-965-2300
Daily, 3-5 in the Potomac lobby lounge. Scones, pastries, fruit and tea: $15; full tea with daily menu of sandwiches, pastries and scones: $19. Reservations required.