Alice and Rose — Restaurant in Boulder

Oh man, if there was ever a restaurant that seemed tailor-made for me (and my friend), it's Alice and Rose. I'm a New Yorker who is snobby about breakfast food, loves meeting people with passion, and also super into fantasy books. I'll start with the food first - they are known for their Californian eggs Benedict (which has a hollandaise sauce you could bathe in it's so good, which melts and mixes with an incredible cream cheese smear) and it is basically the platonic ideal of an eggs Benedict. I had the French toast (with a side of extra Nutella) - but the secret was to ask for it as a bread pudding, which means it comes with gooey caramel instead of syrup. I also got a side of bacon. These seem like basic things - not, so at Alice and Rose. The presentation, culinary perfection and imagination on display elevates each dish. Oh, and I got a blackberry based mocktail which was basically heaven in a glass.

We met the owner, an absolute ray of sunshine who happened to be training a new server. Before I even address her passion, I just need to talk about how incredibly kind and warm she was to this new member of her team. It was the most heartfelt shadowing I've seen. We all schmoozed and it was clear that every single detail, from service systems to the unreal decor, came from a place of passion and care that is genuinely unusual and magic.

Alice in Wonderland is so many people's first introduction to wild imaginary places, and Alice and Rose is a stunningly detailed ode to the surreal and beautiful parts of that story without ever coming across as oppressively kitschy or embarrassingly theme-based. It's its own thing - it's Alice and Rose, but it's tapping into a world of wonder in a way that draws you in and adds to the feeling that you've slipped outside of boring reality.

I'll end this gushing review (and really, I'm just a colorful New York artist and not a plant of the restaurant!) by saying that there is a signature quote you can find throughout the restaurant - I'm sorry to say I don't remember it exactly, but it was something along the lines of "you belong here" (it wasn't that) or something that just drove home the message that Alice and Rose is accepting and welcoming of everyone, and encourages you to find your authentic weird self.

Boulder is lucky to have this gem. Go fall down the rabbit hole... and eat some French toast...

Our experience was more of a 3.5 star, but overall, we had a nice experience so I kept it a 4. They seem to be relatively new and still maybe working out some kinks so keep that in mind.

Pros: The place is absolutely adorable. Really enchanting and unique. Staff was friendly. Food was good. I loved the herbs in my hollandaise sauce. The bacon was really flavorful too.

Cons and some Suggestions:

1. Still working out kinks. I’d ordered a regular chai. It came spicy and had to be sent back. I’d requested bacon added to my California Eggs Benny. It came on the side.
2. It’s on the pricey side for food portions. But mildly expected in the area. We were satisfied with what we got but if you come hungry, you might be a little disappointed.
3. Coming into what looks like a tea shop, you would expect to have access to a variety of tea. Unfortunately, you only have that variety if you’re there for high tea. Otherwise it’s a small selection of bagged tea. So you’re staring at a shelf of tea you can’t enjoy. It would be nice if they offered the loose leaf teas all day. Even if it’s only available as a whole pot. That was our experience at Dushanbe, which was nice.
4. They serve fruit as their side, which I don’t mind. But my husband commented that having it served in the same dish with his lobster benny, had his cantaloupe tasing like old bay. I’d recommend the fruit be served in its own medium ramekin on the plate. I would love it too if they had a small side salad as an option with the benny’s. Obviously that’s a personal preference.
5. The tables- they have two top tables set for three people. Menus for three people don’t fit on the tables, I don’t see how plates and drinks would. As a party of three, you’ll be really cramped if you’re set there. Thankfully they did accommodate our party of three at a four top when requested because they had the space at the time.
6. Staff may need a little help focusing on the customer experience. It’s a small place so checking back more frequently, removing plates quicker, etc… And as I was getting up from the table to leave, the server next to us was more interested in squeezing by me to deliver plates to his table than letting me by.

We’d like to give this place another try so hopefully some things...

Just don’t do the high tea. The price is criminal for what you get. I asked if it was filling over the phone. They said that it was a three course meal. It was $45 for kids pancakes and $58 for a small sandwiches and desserts/scones. It was good but not good enough for the price. I would go anywhere else for tea this was just too much $$ and I was expecting more. We went and got more food afterward because we were hungry. The restaurant seems to have responded and they did directly tell me it was a three course meal. The “strawberries and cream” was in fact singular not plural and was literally one single strawberry per person with a dollop of cream to share. For the money, and compared to other high teas available this was the definition of stingy. The scones were mini—less than the palm of your hand. I spoke to girlfriends who’d also been there and their experiences were similar. It was good ambiance but the tea felt secondary and the stingy helpings weren’t worth the price. There is also a mandatory 20% gratuity. It was just too pricey. Go somewhere else because everywhere else I checked was closer to the $25 range and I’ve heard from friends who have been here and other high teas that other places are better for high tea—this has been my...