The Culver Hotel

We had a great wait staff, so my complaint is about the food and tea, which were shocking for the price. I love afternoon tea and have tried many places across the city and in New York. We came for my birthday and left very disappointed after paying over $200 for two with tip. That feeling of being charged a luxury price for a poor experience? If you want to avoid it, skip tea here. The scones were flat and crisp, as if they’d melted before baking. They came with whipped cream instead of clotted cream. The sweets tasted like sawdust and seemed thawed from frozen, maybe from a commissary like Sysco. The tea sandwiches were dry and congealed, as if they’d sat out for hours. They served tea bags instead of the loose leaf tea I’d expect from a nice hotel.

The salads were probably the best thing we tried, and they tasted like they came from sprouts. Everything else was a letdown. We’d seen all the positive reviews and decided to give the restaurant a try, but it was the worst decision. We paid for Beef Wellington, and the menu didn’t say anything beyond that, so imagine how appalled we were when our entree turned out to be a SLICE! 0/10, wouldn’t recommend.

We went as a group for happy hour and waited 20 min for the first drinks, then another 30 min for a second round. The bill also included drinks we never got, adding $50 more. Check your receipt before paying!

The service was professional, attentive, and friendly, and parking was really convenient. The food was excellent too. It’s a real jewel, with a beautiful setting, warm lighting, and glass everywhere that made the place sparkle. They have live jazz Tuesday through Friday from 7-10p, and I’m going back!