Elizabeth & Alexander’s English Tea Room

So sad they are closing! I love this place. Best English tea and food in the area! I sincerely wish the owner the best and hope that this won’t be his last foray into the culinary scene. This place has the best food quality, especially the scones and crumpets!

This little tea cottage is absolutely adorable! You wouldn’t think it from the outside, and certainly parking can be a challenge, but once you are nestled inside it is a perfect respite from the cold outside.
Don’t forget to check in here for a free scone or pot of tea! Then order up some scones — they are created so perfectly fresh, warm, and dense! I came here with a friend and we sampled a couple of different teas, scones, and the cake. If you are worried you won’t have enough to fill you up here, don’t be fooled! The tea, scones, and cake we had here were more than enough for us and we ended up bringing leftovers home.
If you are planning on coming here on a Saturday make sure you make a reservation ahead of time as they get very busy. The signs in the restaurant all recommend reservations and several people tried to walk-​in when we were there but had to be turned away without a reservation.

Great experience!
Like any tea room, it is overly priced for what you get, but I’ve been fortunate enough to leverage living social like vouchers to soften the blow.
The food is always yummy, the staff is always professional & courteous, they are eager to arrange reservations, and I love the tea.

Love love love this place! My mom and I have been going here since they opened 17ish years ago. The ploughman’s lunch is our favorite, and the staff is so great– they leave you plenty of space to enjoy the company you’re with.
We’re tea traditionalists, so we always opt for English Breakfast or Earl Grey.
Best to put in a reservation a couple days in advance, cause they fill up fast!
Always been our wonderful «hole in the wall» place to enjoy some proper English tea!

The service was fantastic (thank you, Shelby)! My friend and I had tea and scones. We loved every bite and sip. :)

I was hoping for a light and airy experience but unfortunately, came away with an impression of dark and dingy — like visiting an aged relative who’s been through better times and everything is faded and has seen better days. That said, it was a cold and rainy day when I visited with a friend for a bit of late lunch and visit over tea, so that could have contributed to the impression. The Tea Room is in a standalone little house with a front door that doesn’t close all the way so a cold draft came through the muddy front hall despite the heaters they had going.
We had the Alexander’s Tea, the curried chicken salad on a Croissant, a couple desserts — the cheesecake (likely frozen) and something else I do not remember except that it was much too sweet for my taste.
The Assam was tasteless — given how it was described (Golden tips, etc. etc.) — I expected better. Given that Assam is a delicate tea in the first place, we took it without cream and sugar to better experience it. Nope.
We moved on to a robust Irish — which was a little better but not anything to write home about.
Where the food is concerned, underwhelming is the term that comes to mind. If you enjoy sweets, you might enjoy this place as everything was sweet. The curried chicken salad, the little cookies and desserts, sweet, sweet, sweet.
Service was slow and unenthusiastic — especially given that it was past the lunch hour and a couple groups of be-​hatted ladies in flouncy dresses had left — maybe the waiter was tired out by them. Portions small. A pity. I had hoped to find a nice tea place like those I’ve experienced in my travels — a place to while a few hours away visiting with a friend, nibbling on excellent finger sandwiches, sipping on great tea. For that, I would gladly pay the prices that most English/​British tea houses charge in the US (and Canada — ever been to the Empress?)
I shall not be going back.

We had a Groupon voucher and followed the «rules» and made a reservation. Several people came in at once, and the group that came in after us was seated first. Once we were seated, we were given menus and left there for over 15 minutes. (I believe the woman’s name is Linda.) I saw the woman peek around the curtain at us TWICE, but she didn’t come over or say anything. After that long wait, she finally approached us, and I explained I had the Groupon and showed her the voucher on my phone. She then handed me a piece of paper and pen, asked me to write down all the information for the voucher (uhh, I was trying to go paperless), and then she walked off. After about 5 – 7 more minutes to ponder this experience, my mom and I decided to get up and leave. A nice young man saw us and quietly said he was sorry. Groupon was very awesome to refund my purchase, but I will never go back there.

I go there to sit in a girly place with friends and drink way too much tea with loads of sugar in it. If you go for that reason and nothing else then it’s a fine place to sit for a while and talk. We get the scones if we want something to eat.
Only thing is the tea is served to weak for my taste but then I love extra strong tea.

The service was the exact reflection of today’s weather… awful, depressing, and just downright yuck. There was never a hello or thank you from our server (a thin build younger gentlemen). I was not every impress with the food for the price. I ordered the Alexander Tea and Chicken Salad Sandwich. The service completely ruined the experience, it was very slow and lack any form of human element to it. I’ll definitely look elsewhere when my little princess wants afternoon tea.

I’ve been here maybe 5 times over the past 3 years. I use the Groupon every time. It’s a little pricey. My friend and I shared a pot of tea and each got 4 tea sandwiches, a few little pieces of fruit, 1 crumpet, a few shortbread pieces, and a tablespoon of lemon curd. With the Groupon we each paid around $ 15 including tip. There are a lot of negative reviews because of the reservation issue which seems odd to me because the Groupon, website, and the sign when you walk in the door are all very clear that you need a 24 hour reservation. The food itself is delicious and the environment is cute and relaxing. We’ll be back with another Groupon deal.

My daughter loves coming here. The menu is good and they display the treats/​tea sandwiches beautifully. The teas are good especially the decaf berry. I do bring in my own sugar because they don’t have a variety of those but that’s just a personal thing. Sometimes it can be a hit or miss on service but today went well. We enjoyed our time. Make reservations in advance and don’t bother with groupons. We didn’t have one to use but they were explaining what a pain they are…

Brought my daughter here for our Annual Tea. We both enjoyed the afternoon tea service. Food was fantastic and the price at $ 32/​person was on par with what we have paid for similar read throughout the United States. Reservations are a must especially if planning on going on a weekend or using a voucher.

E & A doesn’t warrant even 1 star but that’s the minimum I’m able to select. I’m confused as to why this place is still in business. The owner is very rude and doesn’t deserve to own this establishment. He has no sense of customer service and shouldn’t be serving the public. I’ve given 3 chances to E & A and I’m done. If you are looking for a charming, friendly, and lovely place to enjoy your afternoon tea, do NOT come here.

Everyone, stay away from this place! I decided to try out this tea room because I got a Living Social deal and I was excited about treating my parents out to something a little different than the usual lunch places we go to.
We wanted to go for lunch on a Monday and I had tried making a reservation but they were closed the previous day (Sunday) and the 3 phone calls I tried making Monday morning never got picked up.
We decided to go there anyways. From the moment we arrived, I knew it would be a bad experience. We were greeted at the door by an extremely rude waiter (who I later found out was the manager) who aggressively asked «do you have a reservation??» He then grudgingly led us to a table that he slapped some menus onto.
I tried to be positive, even after looking at their menu and seeing their over-​the-​top prices. There were 3 of us and we wanted to order the Alexander’s Tea ($ 18.95) and the Afternoon Tea ($ 32.45). When I placed the order, the waiter (manager) responded aggressively again with «I do NOT allow splits, you can’t do that.» I apologized and laughed nervously to diffuse the tension but I could tell my parents were uncomfortable so I moved on and also ordered an overpriced sandwich I didn’t want.
Finally, when the food came, everything was mediocre, the sandwich came with a stale croissant, the cookies and tea sandwiches were totally underwhelming… basically I was super unhappy.
Finally, it came time to pay and I let the manager know that I had a Living Social deal. He then, in the most condescending and rude way possible, said I couldn’t use it, it could only be used with a reservation. I couldn’t make a reservation!!! We asked if there could be an exception since it was our first time there and he refused, saying that it was clearly stated in the fine print. He made us feel absolutely stupid and ridiculous.
I’m usually very easy going as far as customers go: I can deal with rude service if the food is amazing, and I can deal with mediocre food if the experience is welcoming and positive. Elizabeth and Alexander not only serves crappy food, but management needs a serious tutorial on customer service.
I refuse to go back ever again and I don’t even care that I now have a wasted and unused Living Social deal.

I have been to several team rooms since I am a tea addict and love scones.
The parking here is abysmal. Tiny lot with narrow turning room = lots of unhappy customers before they even walk through the front door.
The list of teas to choose from is pretty limited with 10 options. My friend had tried calling several times before finally managing to make a reservation. She even tried emailing them to try to make a reservation and the response was that she had to call them. Not sure why they wouldn’t just take the reservation by email, at least that way, the customer’s name is spelled correctly and there is no chance of accidentally booking them for the wrong day.
I had the Alexander’s Tea which was ok. I had 1 smoked salmon sandwich (the best of the 3 options), and the rest were chicken salad. The other option was cream cheese and cucumber, but since I’m lactose intolerant, that wasn’t happening. There is a $ 1 charge if you want to change the crumpet that comes with this option for a scone. It is worth it as the scone was probably the best thing I ate aside from the salmon sandwich. The meal itself was not very filling and for almost $ 20, I expected the portions to be a bit larger.
We had the largest table in the place, and it fit 5 of us.
Do not try to go here if you have not made reservations. Especially do not go here without reservations if you are driving from below Tacoma as the drive back after NOT getting to have tea would be really sad.
Tip: Park at the Country Village parking lot which is next door and that whole area of shops is really fun to explore after the tea.

This was my first English tea room experience, and I thought it was very enjoyable. Reservations are a must on the weekend, as we walked in the weekend before, and were turned away. We came on a Saturday, and it seems as if there was only one server. He was working his ‘tail’ off, so it wasn’t poor service, but I’m thinking they would benefit from more servers, because everything took a VERY long time. That being said, we weren’t in a hurry to be anywhere. I think that one of the great things about afternoon tea is slowing down and chilling out.
We ordered afternoon tea for two, and used the living social. People have been complaining about it being pricy, but with the amount of work that goes into all of those sandwiches, cookies, and baked goods, I think it was more than reasonable. The tea was heavenly. I had the mango, and my husband had Earl Grey (both were awesome). Having never been to England or any other English Tea Room, I can’t compare the food to anything, but I really enjoyed everything. I especially loved the lemon curd, and my husband really liked the salmon sandwiches. We both loved the currant scone, which wasn’t very sweet, and had a great melt-​in-​your-​mouth consistency.
The décor reminds me of what I imagine Mrs. Weasley’s interior would look like from Harry Potter. Quirky, dated, English granny sort of stuff. I’d dress in layers, as it is an intimate, cozy space, and was very warm! It was more than enough food. We had to take home a box of all the treats we couldn’t eat. I will definitely be back on a lazy Saturday again soon.

I fell in love with the afternoon tea tradition while visiting London in college so naturally I was eager to learn of the places in Seattle with afternoon tea offerings. I discovered Elizabeth & Alexander’s English Tea Room through a Groupon offer for half price tea and treats. I couldn’t wait to come on a rainy afternoon to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes and for a great deal.
The overall décor of Elizabeth and Alexander’s is not what I had in mind. Nestled in the heart of Bothell a short drive away from Seattle, E&A’s is simply an old house on the side of the road with gravel parking. Inside you’ll find floral carpet, white lace everywhere, old wooden table and chairs and an old, musky smell. Imagine you were visiting your Grandmother’s house. You can take that however you’d like…
The tea was served in big china pots with all of the normal tea fixins’. My friend and I ordered to share:
Alexander’s Tea: Fresh fruit, assortment of shortbread cookies, buttered crumpet w/​lemon curd, assorted tea sandwiches (salmon, chicken and cucumber cream cheese). Overall, an authentic representation of afternoon tea fare and done well!
Cream tea: two scones served w/​lemon curd and whipped cream. Scones were a tad on the dry side (but when are scones not?) but made up for with the lemon curd. Coming from London where they had real, authentic clotted cream served with their scones, the whipped cream was über disappointing.
The food wasn’t amazing and yet it was traditional afternoon tea fare. If only Seattle would get on board with more afternoon tea spots then I could have even more options to choose from. Until that day, I will likely return to Elizabeth and Alexander’s on a rainy day to enjoy a spot of tea.

Cute concept, but underwhelming execution. I’ve been to Elizabeth & Alexander’s Tea Room several times and have had «okay» experiences.
I love the cozy feel of the place — think Pride & Prejudice meets your Grandma’s house. From oversized, plush seats to delicate tea sets, Elizabeth & Alexander’s has the charming atmosphere down.
The prices — I don’t love as much. :P Afternoon tea is about $ 30 a person and comes with a three-​tiered stand of tea sandwiches, shortbread cookies, scones and more. It’s a nice assortment, but for its price, the taste is a bit so-​so. The highlight for me had to be the scone with lemon curd — if I come again, I’d probably just order that with a pot of tea. :)
If you’re planning on using a Livingsocial Deal, be sure to call at least 24 hours in advance and make a reservation. If you go without a reservation, they won’t let you use your Deal. :(

I purchased a LivingSocial Coupon ($ 20 for $ 10) and was excited to try E&A, after a bad experience at The Village Eatery and Tea Co., next door in Country Village. Then I saw the Unilocal reviews for E&A and contemplated contacting LivingSocial to get my $ back.
Nevertheless, I made my reservation (as required) and decided to give it a try.
I second the reviewers who commented it is difficult to get a reservation — it is! I tried 2x, and called 4 days in advance.
The parking lot is gravely and small — we arrived early and had no problem parking. Although it was busier when we left and there was a back-​up of cars attempting to get in, spilling out onto the highway. A woman in a large SUV was thrilled to get my space, as we pulled out!
The building is basically an OLD house converted into a SMALL restaurant. The roof is in bad need of repair — and the bathroom is rather ancient looking.
However, despite these flaws, the dining room is lovely and cozy. Warm (as previously described) and small. Please be courteous to other diners and turn off your cell phone, and speak in hushed indoor voices.
The prices were NOT astronomical. My mother and I shared the Elizabeth & Alexander Tea, which was plenty for 2 adults. It came with an assortment of 2 types of sandwiches, fruit, and pastries, including tea. For my 6-​yr-​old daughter we ordered the kids tea, which included the same single-​sized assortment of food, plus hot chocolate instead of tea. Total cost was $ 30. I paid $ 20 with my coupon.
I will return again.

Extremely small Grandma shop with doilies, small portions, and extreme prices for mediocre food.
I came in with two friends who wanted tea. I got water (I don’t drink tea) and bread pudding while my friends each got a salad and bread pudding. Their salads were small. Our table was shoved into a corner in the tiny room.
I offered to pay the tab, not knowing what I was in for — $ 90 before tip. Holy freak. Were my friends drinking liquid gold?!
There were two servers doing everything, and ours seemed a bit flushed at all that she was managing.
The dirt parking lot was crammed and hard to manage coming in and also leaving.
For a $ 100 snack that was bland and small in an atmosphere I personally dislike after my car was covered in dust, I won’t be back.
Food: 2
Service: 3
Ambiance: 1
Parking: 0