Sweet Peas is everyone’s cup of tea

Why: Sweet Peas Tea Room has been open at its new location for nine months. Owner Sharon Harbeck and her daughter, Chantelle, operate the tea room Wednesday through Saturday during the afternoon hours. The tea room offers a traditional English tea experience complete with soup, sandwiches, desserts and tea.

What I tried: I had the luncheon plate, which includes an assortment of four tea sandwiches of the day, a traditional English scone with homemade preserves and their secret family recipe of clotted cream, a cup of homemade soup of the day, and a pot of diner’s choice of tea.

I settled on Earl Grey tea, which was served in a blanketed tea pot to keep it hot. The soup of the day on my visit was tomato bisque, which sat in the middle of the plate and was surrounded by a smoked salmon on rye bread sandwich, a traditional cucumber sandwich on white bread, an egg salad sandwich on a croissant topped with grape tomato section, a piggy in a blanket drizzled with caramel, and the scone accompanied by the clotted cream and raspberry preserves.

Every little sandwich was yummy and brought its own flavorful presence to the experience. I appreciated the range of textures and flavors in the selections. The scone was superb, but topped with the clotted cream and preserves, it was out of this world!

The soup was delightfully smooth and delicious.

Menu highlights beyond what I tried: The menu has five separate options. The Union Jack tea is for 9 years of age and younger and includes a cup of soup, two assorted sandwiches, a scone with preserves and clotted cream, two desserts, and a pot of tea. The afternoon tea plate consists of a cup of soup, a three-tier server filled with sandwiches, scones, and desserts, plus a pot of tea. The Sweet Pea tea starts with a cup of soup followed by a two-tier server filled with sandwiches, scones and desserts, along with a pot of tea. Tuesday through Friday, the tea for two is available with sandwiches, scones and desserts in twos. This of course comes with a pot of tea. Teas are available in both caffeinated and decaffeinated assortments — I counted 24 in all. Among the flavors are apple spice, cranberry blood orange, ginger peach, blackcurrant, apricot, blackberry sage, passion plum, and peppermint bark.

Atmosphere: The building stands alone on the corner of Southeast First Street and Clark Avenue. A formal entry sets the stage for a visitor’s tea experience. Pretty lace panels adorn the windows, and edges are all trimmed in white moulding. Red carpet and red damask wallpaper above white wainscot gives the tea room an elegant look, complemented by a potpourri of formal, antique dining tables and chairs dressed in burgundy clothes and set with an assortment of traditional teaware. In the rear of the establishment there is a gift shop stocked with teaware, candles, hand-knit sweaters, loose-leaf tea, and related items. Walls are decorated with plates and framed prints. In addition to florescent ceiling lights which are cleverly boxed with moulding, sconces add a warm glow to the space.

Other observations: I have never been to England, but I feel a little closer to it after my visit to Sweet Peas. It is a marvelous treat, whether you treat yourself or someone else. The atmosphere is proper and comfortable (yes, they can coexist). The tea and food are fun and delicious and the service is spot on. Reservations are recommended.

Cost: The menu’s offerings range from $12 per child up to $35 per pair.