Restaurant Degolyer — Restaurant in Dallas

I took my elderly parents and six month old infant to the arboretum. It gets very hot there and I was assured by the visitors center when we arrived that we could sit inside at this restaurant which was an important factor of us buying memberships in the first place because my baby and mother have underlying health issues and would need a place to escape the heat later in the day. It was 100 degrees outside with high humidity and my baby was getting overheated. The restaurant wouldn’t let us inside not because they didn’t have seating capacity but because they don’t allow children inside (the visitors center knew I had an infant with me). They told me they didn’t want the baby handling the fine china they use for tea. I told them I desperately needed to get my mother and baby in out of the heat and that my baby wouldn’t be using the china because she’s only a few months old and is in a carrier anyways. They still refused to let us inside. I asked if there was at least anywhere in the park we could just go that had AC so they could cool off for a few minutes because of their health condition but the hostess replied that the restaurant was the only place with air conditioning. We had walk a ways to get back to the car to turn on the AC. I later found out there is at least a gift shop with AC not too far from the restaurant we could’ve gone to. I can’t believe after spending an arm and a leg on memberships this is how we were treated. I can’t believe how awful, unsympathetic, and unhelpful...

This was the most disappointing experience I have ever had at a restaurant. I made this reservation over a month ahead prepaid. It was meant to be a nice holiday experience for our family and my mom, who visiting from out of town. The service was extremely slow, the servers were not attentive at all and whenever they poured the tea they were spilling in the tea saucer and on the table. Our tea experience started at 2pm and it took over 30 minutes before we were served the first course, which was a soup in expresso size cup. It was then another 30 minutes before the second course arrived, which was also disappointing in size and taste. At this point a manager came by to ask how everything was. I do give them full credit for doing their best at that point to make us happy. However, by that time the experience was ruined. I appreciate the managers stepping up and taking care of us, but this was not the experience we were looking forward to. We didn't leave hungry, they let us order food from their restaurant menu and they were very nice! Regardless, I would not have reserved this seated tea had I seen pictures of what was served. Also, if I knew that we will only be served tea and an espresso size soup for the first hour, I would have passed. I did ask the waiter for more soup and I did ask for the second course, however nothing else came until after the manager checked on us. My daughter is 10 years old, it was unacceptable that she had to...

I recently escaped to the DeGolyer House Tea Room at the Dallas Arboretum and found it to be a flawless blend of history, elegance, and flavor.

Sunlight pours through large windows, illuminating delicate china and crisp linens as you settle in.

The three-course service begins with a velvety seasonal soup served in a petite demitasse, followed by an artful selection of tea sandwiches—think smoked salmon, chicken salad and curried egg salad among others—and finishes with petite pastries: lemon tarts, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and house-made jam.

Service here is the real standout (Olivia particularly, but all the staff, really). Our server anticipated every need, seamlessly refilling bone-china teacups and even smuggling for me an extra chicken salad sandwich which was the most delicious tea sandwich ever.

Each course was paired with a thoughtfully chosen tea— chamomile, robust black English breakfast, and a rotating herbal infusion—that complemented the flavors beautifully.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a refined afternoon retreat, this tea experience feels like a mini-vacation amid the gardens and is absolutely...