Painted Lady Tea Room, Norfolk, Virginia Restaurant Details

Food:

I was very excited to try this restaurant and finally made it in with a friend for afternoon tea. I would have said it was average in the food department until we got the bill. I was astonished at how two pots of tea, a few tiny sandwiches, and some sweets could cost that much. I was actually a little embarrassed that I had suggested we go there because it was so overly priced for what we received. This was my first time having afternoon tea, so maybe they are all that expensive, but regardless, I do not feel it was worth it. Think twice before you go.

Food:

My husband and I have been to the Painted Lady several times since it has re-opened and have really enjoyed ourselves. However, we recently ate there for Sunday Brunch on Mother's Day with another couple and had THE MOST HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE experience. Once we were seated and ordered, it was another hour and a half before we got our food. Granted it was a busy morning, our waitress seemed to forget we existed since we were seated outside on the patio. Once our food came, 2/4 of the orders were completely wrong. Once we notified the waitress of the error, she and the manager did very little to correct the issue. The two orders were supposed to be Steak and Oysters benedict and they were instead served Steak and Eggs dishes. Instead of taking back the order, the waitress left the (cold) steaks on the table, then brought two plates of fried oysters ONE HOUR LATER. It took the staff one hour to piece meal a dish that wasn't what we ordered in the first place. To make matters worse, the waitress and manager were not at all apologetic and the manager had the nerve to be confrontational with us when we tried to inquire what was going on with our meals. We (thankfully) didn't end up paying for the two incorrect meals, but only after we proposed that solution to the manager. He had every intention of charging our party with the horrible/incorrect meals they had served us. Our total dining experience lasted almost 3 hours and only half of the party ended up eating.

While the food (when you get what you order) is delicious, poor customer service can ruin the dining experience. We won't be going back for as long as that manager still works there. EAT HERE WITH CAUTION!

Food:

My wife and I had a GREAT dinner a week ago (Late January 2010). I thought it would be a "frilly"/victorian place, but was VERY pleasantly surprised (it used to be this way until a few months ago when it was completely remodeled).

Great staff, VERY cool historic house (actually two of them, circa 1900) with an exceptionally classic feel to it....remodeled with lots of art and cool historic furniture...multiple, old fireplaces. I even checked out the bathrooms for the sake of how cool the place was and they were also great.

Now for the food...outstanding! I had flounder and my wife had salmon...it's literally one of the best meals I've had in a few years of dining out. (Much better than 456 Fish IMO, which is high end in downtown Norfolk). I'll probably remember this for many years to come.

Highly recommended!!!!

Dan

Food:

So this place might be charming from the inside out, but prices are not reasonable in terms of the "magic tea" and really small food portions! I paid $5.00 for a small teapot and $12 for a tiny meal... I'd rather go eat somewhere else! Mahi-Mahi was tooo salty as well, and I was the only person in there....