A Bit of Britain in San Francisco

The Windsor Tea Room at the King George Hotel in San Francisco, is a gentle and welcome break from the bustle all around you. Located at 334 Mason, near Geary, it is right in the heart of a bustling shopping district. Nearby are galleries and one of my favorite places to waste an hour or two, Sephora, with its interesting display of personal care products. But when you've looked through the galleries, and purchased a new lipstick and a beutifully scented powder, your feet are likely to hurt.

So if it's Saturday or Sunday, between 2 and 5 pm you might just want to wander in, and see if they can take your party for a delightful tea. Through the lobby, into the waiting area for the restaurant, and give your name to William, who treats all comers with great courtesy and kindness. You might want to make a reservation, though, for your sandwiches may be prepared on site, and your tea will be perfectly made, but the desert portion is certainly made elsewhere.

But William, or someone, follows the excellent advice of some millionaire or other and buys only the very best. We had the King George Tea which started with scones, double Devonshire cream, and little pots of preserves, followed up by a simple salad of fresh greens, sandwiches and a choice of fruit tarts or tea cookies. I recomend the tarts, although the cookies were good, too. My favorite sandwich was the green apple and cream cheese. All in all it was a very good tea for $18 each. The Queen Mary Tea comes with a selection of two sandwiches and tea cookies - $13.50. Other items were available, such as: Crumpets with lemon curd or marmalade for $4, a fruit and cheese platter - $8, English trifle - $6, or a pot of tea - $5, An $8 minimum applies. .

The dining room was blissfully empty the day we went, and William carefully arranged the tea service, so that each plate looked as pretty as possible. The linen was spotless, the china and the room were quite elegant, and it was a never ending pot of tea, kept hot and fresh by solicitous service. In fact, although the food was lovely, William's service was the high point of the afternoon. It was a trip to another era, where good waiters know just how friendly to be, without overdoing it, and light and polite banter is appreciated. You're going to want to tip William well, so be prepared.