High Tea at The Terrace

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On Mother's Day, I surprised my mum with tickets to an opera concert at The Art Centre - followed by a leisurely Restaurant in the Botanic Gardens.

Mum and I really enjoy our High Teas and we've been fortunate enough to sample some amazing ones over the years - Raffles in Singapore, The Fairmont Resort on Lake Louise in Canada, The Tea Room at the historic Queen Victoria Building in Sydney.

So how did The Terrace in Melbourne's Botanic Gardens measure up?

Well, we certainly enjoyed the food and were impressed with the generous mix of sweet and savoury. Ribbon sandwiches, chicken pies, goat's cheese tarts and the usual selection of scones, macarons and other delectable sweets to indulge the palate.



Having very healthy appetites, mum and I were surprised that we couldn't finish everything and even contemplated stashing a few of the leftover chocolate truffles in our handbags. The tea was quite lovely and freshly brewed, and a glass of bubbles was a nice touch.

The Botanic Gardens is the perfect setting for a High Tea and we enjoyed looking out on the Ornamental Lake that The Terrace restaurant is situated on.

Now for the downside, which is possibly a deal-breaker for many. The ambience. I can't figure out whether The Terrace is going for the casual cafe vibe, or elegant tea room setting. Unfortunately it is trying to do both, and it doesn't quite work.

We were seated amidst the bustling backdrop of families and tourists scrambling to order food in the "school-canteen" style cafe. Not exactly the perfect atmosphere for a leisurely High Tea.

Mum and I didn't let it spoil our experience though - we made the most of the situation, enjoyed the tea, food and bubbly - and ended up having a great chat with the family sitting at the next table.

After we had completely gorged ourselves, an afternoon stroll around the gardens was an absolute necessity. Something (anything!) to help our food digest. There is certainly no better place for a stroll than The Botanic Gardens and it was a lovely end to our day.



Would I return to The Terrace Restaurant? Yes I would, but perhaps for a quick bite of lunch or a cuppa and scones after exploring the gardens. I think I'll save the High Tea experience for the more refined venues and tea rooms across Melbourne.

#cafes
#food_wine
#girls_day_out
#high_tea
#city
#restaurants
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