s
shawn
Greater Boston3 reviews
- Overall 3
- Food 2
- Service 4
- Ambience 3
A Rather Disappointing Flutter at The Silver Dove
One does so hate to write a lukewarm review—after all, the business of afternoon tea is a sacred one, a ritual of clinking porcelain and genteel indulgence. Alas, The Silver Dove in Boston left us more perplexed than pampered.
Let us begin with the positives, as a good guest must: the service was prompt, and the staff were ever-present—efficient, if not effusive. The atmosphere showed flashes of promise: a wall of flowers offered a charming backdrop, and the emerald green tufted benches had a certain je ne sais quoi. The table settings were, admittedly, quite photogenic, and the surroundings were bright and clean. One could almost imagine oneself in a proper tea room. Almost.
Then, the reality set in. The layout was tighter than a corset at a Victorian luncheon—conversations from neighboring tables intruded upon one’s own with alarming clarity. Privacy was but a distant dream, and one couldn’t help but feel rather enmeshed in the lives of fellow patrons.
But the true tragedy lay in the food. The pairings were puzzling, the flavors lackluster. We found ourselves delicately sampling each offering, then discreetly abandoning most. A valiant effort in theory, but in execution? Rather like a teapot with a broken spout—all promise, no pour.
[Keep in mind, there’s an automatic 18% gratuity added to your bill]
If it’s a proper tea experience you’re after, might I suggest Jenny’s section at the Boston Library Tea Room? One leaves there feeling rather more *satisfied*—and isn’t that the point?
2.5 stars, dear Silver Dove. With a heavy heart, and a rather light stomach.
