NYC tea at Lady Mendl's

At a rather non-descript location in Gramercy Park, if you look closely above the left blue hydrangea you will see a tiny teacup sign indicating that you have, indeed, arrived at your destination.

Welcome to the 1834 brownstone the Inn at Irving Place and the Victorian tea salon within, Lady Mendl's. An historic home with tables tucked into rich tapestry adorned rooms.

Notice the crystalized ginger on the table. This was served instead of sugar for your tea.

 First course:
 A palette cleansing melon, feta, basil amuse bouche

Second course:

 My veggie sandwiches included cucumber with mint crème fraiche on pumpernickel, crostini with butternut squash and arugula with Boursin and maple balsamic reduction, goat and fig on pumpernickel

Third course: Classic scone with lemon curd, preserves, and Devonshire cream

Fourth course: Lady Mendel's famous layer cake

Fifth course: Strawberry and chocolate macaroons, chocolate dipped strawberries, sugar cookies

Tea with a great friend and my sister from another mother - Stacy aka SheStacy in the house.

My review: excellent period ambiance - you feel like you are stepping back in time, the décor is very detailed and well done. Asking our bow tied server for this picture = awkward! "I don't take pictures." Um excuse me, we are paying a lot for these little delights and we aren't the paparazzi - we went to the Met Gala later that weekend, ahem. However, the hostess did take pictures although this is not the first take as we had the most befuddled look on our face after the server snubbed us. I had to ask her later to take another so we didn't look we saw a snobby well dressed ghost.