$20 should have bought us more

Hmm, Dining Queen is too generous. Millcroft Inn would not merit a passing grade from me.

While my Bukhial assam tea was fabulous, I was underwhelmed by the service and the quality of the food. I would expect nothing less from a tea rated TGFOP, now that I understand the rating.* In fact, I would say that the food and wait staff did a disservice to the high quality tea being served at this establishment.

Usually when I go to a restaurant and I tell them that I am allergic to eggs, they are quite accommodating. They won't revamp the menu but they will try to find ways to make sure I'm not hungry when I leave. It doesn't matter if it's the dodgiest dive in Chinatown or a fancy schmancy Italian place in Bloor West Village. They want repeat customers and they don't want to get sued. They either cater to their clientele or go out of business.

This afternoon, I asked the waiter to let me know if there were eggs or mayonnaise in anything. And that was all he did. I'm almost positive that most restaurants would prepare an alternate batch of sandwiches with butter instead of mayonnaise. Or at least prepare a few more sandwiches of a different variety. This place, not so much. Because, as our hostess informed us when she seated us, the food is prepared ahead of time. Sandwiches! And scones! Prepared ahead of time! Seriously?! That probably should have been our cue to leave. But I know I was starving and my tummy was making audible rumbly noises. One of the other ladies stated a preference for no smoked salmon. It was moot. There were no smoked salmon sandwiches at all that day. Perhaps we should have told them about our food preferences when we made the reservation? Silly me, I thought I only had to do that at catered functions.

Furthermore, I don't recall the menu stating that a 15% gratuity would be added automatically to parties of 6 or more. In fact, I'm looking at the online version and it specifically states that gratuities are extra. Both the hostess and waiter failed to mention it when they seated us. The waiter even asked if we wanted separate bills. He should have mentioned it then. Had I known, I would have been more demanding of his time and attention. I guess he knew that he didn't have to work for his tips with us. I certainly would have left less than 10%. At least we filled out the comment card.

So overall, I would not recommend the Millcroft Inn for afternoon tea. If you find yourself stranded and starving in the Village of Alton, by all means stop in for an inexpensive lunch. While it was nice to spend ten minutes sitting in the Muskoka chairs on the lawn in the sunshine, high tea at the Millcroft Inn is a definite miss. Spend your $20 on a bag of tea instead.


*According to the Holy Mountain Trading Company, Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe - This grade represents some of the most precious tea in the world. After brewing, it is not uncommon to see whole leaves in their original state. The tip on these leaves can make up as much as a fourth of a whole leaf.