Lady Mendl's

Traditional English tea with five courses / $$$

56 Irving Place between E. 17th-18th Sts.
4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W trains to Union Square-E. 14th St.
(212) 533-4466
innatirving.com

Served Mon-Fri at 3 and 5 PM, Sat-Sun at noon, 2:30 PM, and 5 PM
Reservations required
No takeout or delivery
Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover

Only a tiny plaque beside the door gives a clue to the gracious old-fashioned interior. Pray you're asked to wait—you'll get to do it in a homey setting with working fireplace. In one of the two pretty dining rooms, with candles burning, you get a prix fixe meal starting with a pot of tea and proceeding to green salad, sandwiches, scones, dessert, and cookies. Crustless tea sandwiches are the heart of the meal. When we visited they were salmon, turkey-cranberry, sundried tomato, and cuke. Two kinds of small scones include the plain type and a second—ours were cranberry-raisin—plus dishes of clotted cream and strawberry jam. Our dessert was a vanilla-cream crepe cake. Service is formal and attentive. Come on a slow weekday and you may get a second round of sandwiches and extra tea without asking. No dress code, but do dress up—you'll have more fun!

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