The Palm Court — Restaurant in New York

Had high tea with 3 friends earlier this year, found a 2 MILLION DOLLAR RING returned it and were never even given a single thank you or the gift of a free high tea after returning the ring for one of their “regulars” that is “very important to the plaza.” The service was okay and the food was good but the way we were treated after doing such a grand gesture will always leave me with the absolute worst taste in my mouth about the Plaza. Long story short, I did a girls trip the NYC this year for my birthday and my one request was to do high tea at the plaza. After the high tea we were walking out of the plaza and I found this insane ringpicture attached outside of the revolving door and I immediately knew it was of great value. My friends and I were in complete shock and had no idea what to do. After chatting for 10 minutes we decided to ask to speak to a manager. The security guard told us to call in because they didn’t have time for us. We stressed the importance of speaking to a manager and after finally convincing them, they came outside of the ‘members only lobby’ to have a chat with us. I told them I found something of high value and I believe the owner will come back looking for the item, gave them my phone number and left. I told the manager that if the owner came forward and described the item to me (not telling them it was a ring) and could provide proof that it was theres, I would return it. We left and went to Tiffanys because that was our original plan but who knew we would be walking into the store with such an incredible ring. My one friend kept wanting me to ask someone if it was real but I was too scared and also told her that the ring was absolutely real. While we were on the engagement floor, I was getting a phone call from the plaza manager, she said the original owner was there and was desperate to have us bring back the item. I asked her to describe what I found and she stated “an original Tiffanys ring with a 5.5 carat diamond centre, diamonds on the side, initials N&P and she has the paperwork and replace to show it is her” I was stunned with the description and knew we had to walk back to bring it to her. Once we got back, the escorted us into the ‘members area’ brought us to her and she gave me the biggest hug, thanked us and that was basically it. The plaza never thanked us for retuning such an amazing piece, the woman spoke to us for 5 minutes and that was it. Every single person that I have told the story to told me they would have never had it in them to retune the ring but I felt it was right. What was wrong was they way we were treated. Not even a, “wow, thank you, please have an evening of high tea on us” absolutely nothing. After paying for a service, getting treated like garbage and then escorting us like we were unwelcome is just beyond me. It might be fancy and a fun evening but there is zero value in the clients that go there. So sad and shame on you for treating people this way. Also for those wondering, I know who the owner of the ring is, she is actually an artist, has her painting in an art gallery in Chelsea NY and sent me a $50 glicee print of one of her paintings as a 'thank you' for retuning her 2M ring lol. In the end I know I did the ring thing for retuning it but experiences like this is why I am starting to understand why people dont do the right thing by retuning items like these because its never really truly...

High Tea.

A formal service of the subject in question that accompanies an assortment of “finger sandwiches”, pastries, and scones. It should be elegant, with great ceremony and theatre, and with the price of admission.

In the case of The Palm Court, at the The Plaza Hotel, their offering features the elements of a High Tea without the ceremony or elegance that might be expected for the exorbitant charges of the offering itself.

A reservation is effectively required, with a credit card, and the promise of a fee for cancellations.

The Palm Court is a large room with tables and booths comfortably spread about, with a horseshoe shaped bar in its center.

The High Tea itself is available in several offerings, each with a glass of champagne )for an additional charge) and there is some slight variance in the offerings, that were not easily discerned.

The server was quick to encourage the “High Tea for Two” (a nearly $600 offering, notably including caviar). When that was declined, the server was even QUICKER to lose interest in further assistance.

There is an assortment of teas that could have been explored, discussed, since that is the highlight of the event. A discussion of which pastries, why one service over another, however, the server could not be bothered to engage.

Perhaps it is important to note, and I do not recall being advised of this, there is an AUTOMATIC 18% gratuities added, which only became clear at the end of the service, and explained WHY the server was intent on encouraging the $600 service.

I very much prefer my servers arrive, donning a kerchief over their face with a 6-shooter, and demanding payment from the outset, if that is their intent.

Two pots of “Big Ben”, a tasty, if generic, English Breakfast, were placed, one cup poured,. The glass of champagne was brought with more formality, so that the bottle could be examined.

The “High Tea” itself arrived in a single carrier, with a gesture that one half represented one selection, the other half, the other (two different services were selected).

Which items aligned to which service remains a mystery. Was it a blend of all, should each service have arrived in its own carrier? Did a single service include the same number of items?

Perhaps The Palm Court has a policy of ONE carrier per table, not ONE carrier per service?

Three tiers, with the bottom containing 4 scones (two per service?), the middle tier an assortment of sandwiches, and the top tier bite sized pastries.

The presentation is breathtaking, the flavors are not all overwhelming, and some are better than others.

I will note, with some disappointment, that despite noting this was a “birthday celebration”, there was no singing as was observed at numerous surrounding tables. I can only presume this was reserved for an additional FEE, again, not disclosed, or I would have happily requested it.

The point of High Tea is its elegance and the ambiance of The Palm Court offers that with its circa 1900 structure, very well maintained.

For almost $450 for two, I would certainly encourage staying in your favorite hotel, having tea leaves flown in, arrange pastries and other fare, and serve yourself. Not only will you save a gratuity of $75 for indifferent service, you will know exactly what it is you are enjoying.

I absolutely DO NOT recommend this event and actively DISCOURAGE its continued operation...

Went there for afternoon tea with my fiancé and the service was absolutely terrible, borderline racist and discriminatory because we were people of color. Everytime we asked for something, our server, I believe her name was Alice, made it seem like what we were asking for was such a difficult request. I asked for iced tea - and was told the tea comes hot only so I requested a cup of ice and I’ll make my own ice tea along with simple syrup or a sweetener for my tea (first I was told I have to see if we have, then I was told we do have it and it’ll be right out, I eventually got the syrup 40 minutes later after asking 3x). However the table next to us requested the same thing and received it right away with no issues and yes if you were wondering they were not people of color. My partner and I informed the maitre D that we would be stepping out of the room for a minute to take a photo, with our friend before she left the premises, and the maitre D informed the staff that we had left without paying the bill. We came back to our table after the photo, to see the staff taking away our tea & hearing them discuss how we didn’t “dine and ditch” properly because we didn’t eat a single thing yet. The server then tells us, “this isn’t the first time someone’s done this” and then says “let me get you another tea - didn’t think you’d be back” blatantly implying that we couldn’t afford to pay our bill. The cherry on top had to be my partner asking the server for directions to the restroom, and she replied “it’s outside this room, go down the lobby & down the stairs, make a left, and then another left, then go down those stairs to the basement and all the way round to the end of the hall- good luck finding it” so my partner decided not to step out for a scavenger hunt. When the table next to us asked the same question about the restroom, the reply was “up the stairs to your left”. And we both looked at each other in shock that she really convinced us that it was so far away that we shouldn’t leave the room, and just wait til after we’re done with our afternoon tea.

I was hoping for our gratuity to show our disappointment with our service but of course gratuity was included so she felt comfortable treating us like we didn’t belong. Absolutely disgraceful and unacceptable. Thank you for ruining our anniversary celebration!

The room is beautiful but you’re better off going to The Pierre, also offering a beautiful afternoon tea in their Rotunda room with the kindest and...