Crown & Crumpet…A Room with Tea & Wit
A few weeks ago, I was introduced to the most lovely little tea room: Crown & Crumpet. Crown & Crumpet, located in historic Ghirardelli Square in the city by the bay… San Francisco. This is no ordinary tea room. With a solid “doily free zone” rule, the charming owners, Chris and Amy Dean like to describe their place as “…a tearoom that might have been opened by Paul Smith, Cath Kidston and Vivienne Westwood.”
A room with tea and wit, indeed!
Usually when such fantastic little places open up, they are far, far away from me, so I was ecstatic when I found out Crown & Crumpet was merely up the road from my little house by the sea. This was such a treat for me, that I was counting down the days until my friend, Julie, and I could head up for a girly-girl day in the city.
Strolling through Ghirardelli Square is such a fun and exciting experience on its own, but finding the bright and happy Crown & Crumpet in among the pigeons and tourists was like finding that elusive pearl in the oyster.
When we walked through those glass doors, we both stopped with a bated breath and tried to take in all the joy that radiated from that room. The walls a creamy white with one accented a beautiful robin’s egg blue… the tables covered with floral Cath Kidston-esque cloths… the floor a red and white checkering… At that moment, I wanted to fold it all up, put it in my pocket, and take this magical room home with me. Julie described it best when she said, “It’s like living in a paper dollhouse decorated with cute stationary.”
Seated by the delightfully British co-owner, Chris, Julie and I felt honored to be placed at the old farmhouse table in the corner overlooking the bay. If you ever get the chance to tea at C&C, ask for this table specifically. Not only do you have an amazing view, you also have lots of privacy and access to the adorable “sitting room” with the Pop/Victorian couch and televised “fire” ablaze in the fireplace. I tingled from head to toe with anticipation for what would come next…
Our waitress (or Trolly Dolly as they are known in the tea room) took our order of the “Tea for Two” meal:
Three warm, homemade scones with clotted cream,
jam & lemon curd
Selection of eight tea sandwiches
Eight homemade sweets & treats
Two toasted crumpets with butter
Two large, endless pots of tea
Wanting to try as much as possible, Julie & I both ordered different teas: she the Black Tea Orphee, I the Fruit & Herbal Piccolo. The teas - so different in taste, but so warm and cozy in our tummies - were amazing: black and rich… fruity and sweet. If that had been all we were given that day, we would still have left Crown & Crumpet with warm hearts and happy stomachs. My only regret of the day? Not being able to try all 38 in their tea selection. Another day… another day…
While we waited for the treats to be served, we admired the view, the decor, and most especially the silverware. Silverware, you say? Yes. I felt like I was dining with utensils straight out of a ritzy 1930’s hotel. To me, each piece had a story hidden beneath its silver. The fork fed cake to a queen, the spoon stirred the coffee of a movie starlet, the knife buttered bread for the city’s elite.
But all thoughts of silverware flew out the window when our tower of treats arrived…
Open 7 days a week
11:00am - 6:00pm
(last tea service served at 5:00)
Yeah!
Abbey-Lyle is back!
I don’t believe anyone has more fun sipping and pic-ing than you! This article makes me home sick for California! Love it! Fumiko