The Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shop

based on 3 reviews

Category: Tea Rooms [Edit]

1711 Elm St
Sumner, WA 98390

(253) 826-4479

www.sgtea.com

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Hours:: Wed-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Price Range:: $$
Accepts Credit Cards:: Yes

Parking:: Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible:: Yes

First to Review

Wendy H.

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3 reviews for The Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shop

Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'

Cara L.

Seattle, WA

7/2/2007 1 photo

This beautiful tea room and gift shop is well worth the drive!

I had the chance to visit the Secret Garden Tea Room on Sunday afternoon with my best friend. although we didn't make reservations, we were seated quickly. The waitress was attentive and friendly and the food and tea were fabulous! Since we weren't able to order a tea setting (due to no reservation and a small kitchen staff), we each ordered the Secret Garden Sampler: A cup of soup, half sandwich, Orzo Pea Salad and Frosty Cranberry Salad. For dessert, my best friend and I shared the Plate of Sweets for Two. We were not disappointed with our options.

The tea room also has a very large selection of teas to choose from. I ordered a small pot of Blueberry-flavored black tea. It smelled just as good as it tasted. One pot was enough for 3 cups of tea--the perfect amount for me to enjoy throughout our meal.

One thing worth mentioning: We were told it is better to make reservations, especially if you are visiting on a Saturday and/or want to order one of the tea settings.

I have added this tea room to my list of favorites and hope you do, too!

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Elite '09

250

nancy c.

Federal Way, WA

Updated - 10/1/2009

I'm standing behind my original review. Let me respond to Mark (you doesn't have a profile that I can find) I did state that we didn't see any where that was wheel chair accessable (maybe post some signs). Maybe the stairs are "up to code" but both my mother and a friend of hers (who showed up at the same time and wasn't with our party) struggled incredibly to get up and down the stairs (they are treacherous.............) I turned over our tea cups and they were stamped "Made in China". I'm sure if I would have paid more, I would have got the made in England china. Maybe some items are unlimited but you can ask til you are blue in face and they just ignore your request. Also, it was 1 1/2 hours from closing and no one came in after us - so let's not go with the reservation theory. I really wanted to love this place, I'm still searching for a great tea room to take the girls to.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

4/12/2009
1 Star is generous. This place is so overated. The outside looks like the Adam's family house with… Read more »

Comment from Mark E. of The Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shop 10/1/2009

Due to incorrect facts, we feel it necessary to respond to… More »

Wendy H.

Reading, PA

2/4/2007 3 photos

1890's Historically registered building. The decor is high quality without being either kitch or overdone. It's classy and retro.. White table-clothes and napkins. Antique furniture that is not 'distressed'. The establishend blends beautifully American and English tea taking ceremonies with excellent food in a tasteful, timeless ambiance. Let me say 'excellent food' once again. While prices were not cheap they were also not ehorbitant. I had a large bowl of Coconut Chicken Lemon grass soup with a scone and a pot of Darjeeling which came to about $10 including tax.

English
- clientelle included men as well as women.
- a jug of milk was offered before it was requested
- sugar-cubes in a bowl with tongs
- matching china crockery and psuedo-silver flatware
- soup served with an actual soup spoon

American
- Merchandising. There is a shop section that sells quaint things, pink things and sparkly jewellry things.
- A glass of iced water, regularly topped-up.
- The scones (more like English rock cakes)
- wide choice of sugar substitutes in sachets on the table.
- staff attentive and clearly amenable to customer requests not currently on the menu. I overhead a customer asking for, and receiving, iced tea.

Those tiny imperfections that even a 5 star establishment can have...they are trivial....
- small (3 cups) stoneware (not china) pot with external tea leaf strainer, no extra pot of hotwater provided. I was offered a top-up for the existing pot with stewed leaves. Yuck.
- multiple paintings of roses (all shades of red-pink) and FAKE flowers on tables.
- 30 mins or more drive from Downtown Seattle.
- it's popular, you should book in advance.