It’s the perfect pairing that will get Melburnians buzzing with delight. The Waiting Room at Crown has teamed up with Vittoria Coffee to present an ultra-indulgent coffee high tea that delivers the ultimate caffeine hit.
Located in the lobby of Crown Towers, The Waiting Room is not your average cocktail bar. With its plush bespoke furnishings and rich emerald tones, the luxe venue is the perfect place for a pre-dinner drink, or in this instance, for indulging in a specially-curated high tea experience.
Meanwhile, little touches like sugar cubes with silver tongs and white linen napkins heighten the sense of elegance.
The Waiting Room’s Chef de Cuisine, Prashanth Bairy, said The Waiting Room team had tapped into Melbourne’s thriving coffee culture when developing its latest menu.
True to its word, coffee high tea begins with a tantalisingly good Nitro Espresso Martini Taster on arrival.
Although an espresso martini at any time is a good idea, my recommendation is to start proceedings with a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut NV and get your Nitro Espresso Martini Taster served when you’re starting dessert – it’s the perfect liqueur accompaniment to the delectable sweet treats on offer.
If you’re so inclined, there is also a trio of other coffee-inspired cocktails available at an additional cost.
Served on The Waiting Room’s signature four-tiered stand, the offering is a feast of the senses. It’s colourful, aromatic and plentiful – so bring your appetites and remember to pace yourself!
Intrigued, we start with a promising coffee-infused teriyaki chicken wrap with caramelized pineapple that perfectly balances the light bitterness of coffee with umami from the teriyaki chicken and the sweetness of the pineapple.
But the real hero dishes out of the savouries are a lightly crumbed lobster and king prawn bonbon packed to bursting with fresh seafood and topped with a tart lime mayonnaise, and a thick blini topped with vibrant pink beetroot cream cheese, fresh trout, cucumber ribbon, black salmon roe and gold foil.
Meanwhile, a mini charcoal brioche heaped with lobster, Wakame Salad and Wasabi Tobiko rates a special mention for its divine tangy and creamy filling.
By the time we move to the desserts, we’re already starting to feel pleasantly full, but nothing is going to stop us from sampling the supremely light and fluffy tiramisu served in a small glass.
The classic flavour combination of coffee and chocolate is also prominent in the sinfully rich Mocha Coffee Bean, a light chocolate casing with a creamy chocolate centre and topped with a glazed “coffee bean” that truly meets the brief of this coffee high tea.
The mini cannoli with sweet ricotta brings a welcome savoury surprise with a pistachio filling in the centre, while a beautifully presented pink Limoncello Raspberry Rocher is also a showstopper.
No high tea would be complete without scones, and in keeping with tradition The Waiting Room serves up both traditional and raisin varieties, complemented by vanilla whipped cream, a blood plum and raspberry jam to die for, and triple citrus marmalade.
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Finally, there is a box of four chocolates to take home and enjoy afterwards.
The Waiting Room’s Vittoria Coffee High Tea is an opulent affair that enchants with every sip and bite. This menu is only available until 29 September 2024, so get in quick!
The Waiting Room Vittoria Coffee High Tea menu:
Welcome drink: Nitro Espresso Martini Taster
Scones:
- Traditional & Raisin Scones
- Vanilla Whipped Cream, Blood Plum & Raspberry Jam, Triple Citrus Marmalade
Cold savouries:
- Coffee Infused Teriyaki Chicken, Caramelized Pineapple, Spinach Wrap
- Umami Lobster Brioche, Wakame Salad, Wasabi Tobiko
- Curried Smashed Egg, Sun-dried Tomato Bread, Kasundi Relish
- Blini, Smoked Trout, Beetroot Cream Cheese, Salmon Roe
Hot savouries:
- Lobster & King Prawn Bonbons, Char Grilled Lime Mayonnaise
- Truffle Mushroom, Chicken Pie, Sweet Onion Compote
- Lamb & Rosemary Sausage Roll, Bush Tomato Chutney
- Halloumi & Spinach Roll, Harissa Aioli
Dessert:
- Mocha Coffee Bean
- Limoncello Raspberry Rocher
- Pistachio Ricotta Cannoli
- Tiramisu Verrine
High Tea Melbourne – find more experiences
in our High Tea Venue Directory
Reviews for this venue:
- 30 April 2024: Aperol High Tea at The Waiting Room, Crown Melbourne
- 31 December 2023: Moët & Chandon High Tea at The Waiting Room, Crown Melbourne
- 29 July 2023: Nikka High Tea at The Waiting Room, Crown Melbourne
- 1 February 2023: Hendrick’s High Tea at TWR Crown Melbourne
- 2 August 2022: High Tea at The Waiting Room Crown Towers Melbourne
- 2 October 2018: Afternoon Tea at The Waiting Room Melbourne
- 4 June 2013: High Tea at The Waiting Room Melbourne
- 28 April 2012: High Tea at The Waiting Room Melbourne
