Afternoon Tea at The Waiting Room is set in one of Melbourne’s most luxurious lobby bars and features a three-tiered silver stand, delicious finger sandwiches, the most beautiful pastries and Champagne served by poised staff.
Inspired by the elegance of the 1940s, The Waiting Room bestows not only a classic cocktail and wine list, but also an exquisite small plates menu, which has been tailored to tempt and delight any palate.
When the afternoon tea was launched at The Waiting Room back in 2013 it was managed by Neil Perry, but it has been managed by Crown Melbourne for the past five years.
You have a choice to sit out the front where you have are part of the hustle and bustle of the hotel foyer and a chance to have a front row seat to listen to the pianist playing on a black grand piano. The other option is to take a table inside The Waiting Room, where it is quieter and more intimate. I recommend you book an inside table.
The staff are well presented in black and white attire and were very attentive, refilling our cups throughout the service.
Served on a three-tiered silver stand, the afternoon tea service includes a delectable selection of assorted sandwiches, savouries and sweet treats, served with Dilmah Tea and Vittoria Coffee.
We started with the savoury selection, the Southern rock lobster thermidor with tarragon aioli was delicious there’s also a divine Lamb shank and pomegranate pie with fig relish Tea.
On the gluten free menu, the gluten free bread was soft and fresh and tasted as if it was normal bread.
The chicken and celery sandwich was the standout offering, I could have eaten a plate just of these sandwiches. The other sandwich flavours included smoked ocean trout, triple decker; poached prawn, kohlrabi remoulade, brioche and buffalo mozzarella, kumato, vinocotto muffin.
Once the savouries were finished, we were presented with fresh plates. This was a welcome surprise as it is always pleasant to start afresh between savoury and sweet.
The exquisite pastries sit on the bottom level, featuring a passionfruit and blueberry tart, cherry and chocolate cone, vanilla and apricot and pistachio mousse cake. The highlight was the strawberry and rhubarb layer cake, which was light and flavoursome and dissolved inside your mouth.
The scones were enjoyable and a highlight of the service, featuring both plain and chocolate date scones served with strawberry jam and cream.
This is a great gluten free afternoon tea, and understandably there are a few differences in the pastries with, raspberry vegan chocolate cake, vegan carrot cake and mango and pineapple roulade. The lychee and blueberry jelly was a palate cleanser which was light and refreshing.
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Chef De Cuisine Naveen from The Waiting Room talks us through the Afternoon Tea menu.
Afternoon Tea Menu:
Hot savouries
- Southern rock lobster thermidor, tarragon aioli
- Lamb shank and pomegranate pie, with fig relish Tea
Sandwiches:
- Chicken and celery sandwich
- Smoked ocean trout, triple decker
- Poached prawn, kohlrabi remoulade, brioche
- Buffalo Mozzarella, kumato, vinocotto, muffin
Pastries
- Passionfruit and blueberry tart
- Cherry and chocolate cone
- Vanilla, apricot and pistachio mousse cake
- Strawberry and rhubarb layer cake
Freshly baked scones
- Plain and chocolate date scones with strawberry jam & cream
Mignardises to finish
- Selection of petit fours Afternoon Tea
Gluten Free Afternoon Tea Menu:
Hot savouries
- Moroccan wellington
- Lamb shank pithivier, tomato relish
Tea sandwiches
- Smoked trout, horse radish cream, avruga caviar
- Buffalo mozzarella, fig relish, kumato, vino cotto
- Poached prawn, kohlrabi remoulade
- Chicken and celery sandwich
Pastries
- Raspberry vegan chocolate cake
- Vegan carrot cake
- Lychee and blueberry jelly
- Mango and pineapple roulade
Freshly baked scones
- Plain gluten free scones, strawberry jam and cream
Mignardises to finish
- Selection of petit fours
The afternoon tea menu changes each season.
Afternoon Tea at The Waiting Room at Crown Melbourne is a sophisticated affair, in a stylish and classy location. Perfect for a special occasion it serves the sort of food and service you would expect from a five star hotel.
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Reviews for this venue:
- 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
- 4 June 2013: High Tea at The Waiting Room Melbourne
- 28 April 2012: High Tea at The Waiting Room Melbourne
