Question of the Day - 25 March 2007

No. But we think what you actually mean is afternoon tea, in which case the answer is yes. And although some people on the forums and elsewhere laughed at us when we addressed this question once before (yes, we know who you are), it's not only a question that we receive with some regularity, but also a popular pastime that's apparently taking Las Vegas by storm -- turns out you can barely move for cucumber sandwiches and clotted cream these days. Hence, whether you like it or not, we're going to answer the question again, and in even more detail than we did last time. So there.

Firstly, to clarify the distinction between high tea and afternoon tea, the latter is a mid-afternoon social event that became popular among high society ladies in the mid-1800s and consists of dainty dishes like tea sandwhiches, scones, and pastries, all washed down (very delicately, of course) with a pot of tea. High tea, on the other hand, is an altogether more substantial and masculine affair -- an early supper for working men, served around 5 or 6 p.m., and consisting of savory dishes like Welsh rarebit, Cornish pasties, and various other meat and fish offerings. The only thing the two meals have in common is the beverage.

Now that we've got that cleared up, here are some suggestions as to where you can find the genteel afternoon version.

If you're looking to partake of scones and preserves in a casino setting, there are a number of options. Just be aware that it's not an impulse activity, with most venues requiring at least 24 hours notice.

• The Verandah at the Four Seasons still serves afternoon tea from 3-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with reservations required at least 24 hours in advance. The menu features the classic array of tea sandwiches, including smoked salmon and cucumber with cream cheese, plus scones with traditional Devonshire clotted cream and jam, fruit cake, and pastries. And tea, of course. It's $30 per person or $38 with a glass of Louis Roederer Champagne.
• The Firenze Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton (Lake Las Vegas) also serves afternoon tea Friday through Sunday from 1-4 p.m. It's not strictly "English" but rather a Florentine twist on the traditional high tea, with sandwich fillings like proscuitto and curried lobster, plus pastries and biscotti, and a couple of scones with various classic (lemon curd) and not-so-classic (think mascarpone, think Nutella) toppings. It's $30 per person, or $38 if you opt for the Numi teas (those hand-sewn organic flowers that "bloom" when the hot water's added). Add another $8 if you'd like a glass of house champagne.

• Bellagio's Petrossian Lounge still offers its afternoon tea between 2 and 4 p.m. daily, with seatings on the half-hour and reservations required at least 24 hours in advance. It's $35 per person for regular tea, with a choice of four out of seven possible sandwich fillings, plus pastries, scones, and one cheese selection. Add $2 for jasmine tea or $12 for a glass of sparkling wine.

The Carmel Room at the Rampart, a late addition to our previous list, only offers this option on a seasonal basis and it's not currently "tea season," apparently, although they will arrange a classic afternoon tea for you if you have a party of 20 or more and book well in advance.

Last time we investigated this topic, we only looked into hotels. This time around, we figured we'd venture a little further afield and were amazed by how many options we came across. Just as in England, it seems that tea rooms here go hand-in-hand with antique malls, which are also popping up all over the place.

The Tea Room Gallery is located upstairs in the Not Just Antiques Mart (1422 Western Ave., T: 702/384-4922), which is just west of the Strip at the southern end of the Arts District. Afternoon tea is available daily from about 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., with reservations appreciated, especially for larger parties. It's $19.95 per person and features all the usual fare, including sandwiches, home-made scones and preserves, and pastries. And the antique mall is worth a browse, too.

Cobblestones Tea Room is another of the venues located in an antique mall, in this case the Antique Mall of America (9151 Las Vegas Blvd. S., T: 702/933-2791). It's owned by a Brit., albeit a long-transplanted one, so expect authenticity down to the sausage rolls (her bangers are made by a real live Englishman!) Tea sandwiches include ham and asparagus and tuna, as well as the classic cucumber and egg salad varieties. The scones are homemade and they serve around 20 types of tea daily from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Reservations are required and two day's notice is appreciated, so they can make sure that they have everything ready for you. It's $18.95 per person.

Two Sisters Tea Café & Gifts is in Henderson (1720 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, T: 702/365-5900) and is located inside a gift shop that sells all kinds of tea paraphernalia, candles, incense, collectibles etc. and prides itself on serving over 70 different teas, along with sandwiches, pastries, crumpets, cookies, and cakes. It's open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. on Saturday. Closed Sundays for private parties.

Lastly, if you're headed out to Boulder City, check out the Treasured Times Teahouse (550 California Ave., Tel: 702/293-6369), which is located in the historic Old Town and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. for afternoon tea and/or lunch, featuring home-made scones and cookies. Reservations are suggested for groups of three or more. This teahouse also sells an array of gift items and clothing.

Many thanks to reader Ted Walters who wrote in with the following tidbit: "I always read your question of the day with great interest. On the question about afternoon tea, you missed one. We just stayed at Wynn and they do "afternoon tea" as room service. $35 per person. Maybe some of the other hotels do in-room afternoon tea, too?"