The Old English Tea Shoppe & Cafe — Restaurant in San Antonio

I was really hoping to come away from a recent breakfast visit with great reviews. I hope a future visit and choosing something else will rectify that. In fairness, I’d say the food was more of a 3 1/2 but 1/2 stars aren’t an option and rounding up to 4 is a bit of a stretch. I’m not British but I married into it, so I’m sharing my experience as an American who’s had plenty English breakfasts and input from my husband who’s had a lifetime of them. We ordered two full English breakfasts ($18.95 ea) added an egg (extra $1.50 ea) because that’s how we’ve always had them elsewhere and that’s how we make them at home. The eggs were far too runny (ordered medium) and bland. We all know there are different types of eggs and some have delicious flavor in the yolks, but these were the cheap flavorless variety. Salt and pepper added, of course, but that only makes a bland egg more salty and peppery. The bacon was good, the black pudding (blood sausage) was okay, the one mushroom required salting every bite, the tomato was like the worst quality supermarket tomato that’s flavorless and it had a hard center core that you could not cut through (had to cut around it). The beans were not the iconic Heinz baked beans- the texture of these beans was firmer and the sauce was (guess?) bland. Toast is toast, so that was ok. The sausage link was the star of the plate! That was indeed a delicious and proper sausage, but one sausage wasn’t enough to elevate the mediocrity of the entire plate, especially when the plate is costing over $20. To drink, my husband had a cup of tea and I had a $2 bottle of Costco water. The owner had publicly stated that the price of breakfast is fair because another establishment across town charges that much. One cannot charge the same based on name only- quality and quantity matter, and should be considered. The atmosphere wasn’t particularly “English” with sparsely decorated cold white walls. I think more red/white/blue/Union Jack/landmarks and other things associated with England would be a great addition! It was very clean though, and staff worked hard to make it so. Speaking of staff, everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and service was great! From an American perspective, I think the full English would satisfy the American curiosity (PS Americans, don’t be afraid of black pudding just because of its name and color! It’s tasty!) but I don’t think this version is impressive enough to make it high on the list of most desirable breakfasts. It could be, and it has great potential with the right ingredients, but not as it was prepared during our visit. From my other half’s British perspective, when you’re paying that much for a full English, you expect it to be as good or better than the one you make at home. We definitely plan to return and we’re excited to try other things but, for now, we’ve crossed the Full English...

I was very excited about a new place for afternoon tea in San Antonio. Having owned a tearoom and extensively traveled throughout the UK enjoying many afternoon tea experiences and casual cream teas, this fell short of my expectations. I expected to have freshly baked warm scones with jam and cream and instead had cold scones that were dry and a bit stale. I could have lived with that, but to be given 2 little smucker jam packets to use on the scones with 2 little plastic containers of whipped cream from a can for 3 persons, is really sub par. The sandwiches were OK, we were told we could choose 2 per person from their list, however our 3rd guest was told it was only 1 choice of sandwich. So we had several cucumber sandwiches to split between the 3 of us which was fine, then 1 serving each of a coronation chicken sandwich and a few little salmon & cream cheese on a tortilla. There was a nice serving of quiche for 2 and a sausage roll that I requested and was thankfully warm and adequate. The were several desserts of which were large pieces of cake that we split up to enjoy between us and those were tasty and seemed to be home-made. The little cake pops were too sweet as were the 2 meringues. There were 2 little plastic cups of chocolate mousse with honeycomb that was tasty, but we could only use our clean spoon to take a taste of that or spoon onto our sandwich plates which were never replenished. The teas were good, I enjoyed Earl Grey by Ahmad Tea, although from a teabag. My friends had a Yorkshire blend and PG Tips and seemed satisfied. The servers were friendly although busy as the afternoon tea sitting is among the other diners in the little restaurant. The tea table did have a linen table cloth & napkins and cute teapots. The owner did stop by our table and was friendly. If you have never had afternoon tea before, this might be an OK experience. I would suggest they look into a simple fix of serving jam from a pot and even a mock clotted cream would be better than whipped cream from a can, and make a note of warming the scones. For $50 per person, this afternoon tea experience is overpriced for the quality of...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Olde English Tea Shoppe, and it was truly a delightful experience reminiscent of authentic British cuisine. From the moment I stepped in, the ambiance transported me to a modern yet authentic setting.

The food was simply amazing, offering a genuine taste of home-cooked British dishes. Each bite was filled with the flavors I remember from home cafes. The tea, in particular, was brewed to perfection, making it a highlight of the meal.

Kirsty, my server, was a gem. Her warm demeanor and thorough knowledge of the menu made the dining experience even more enjoyable. She was attentive to my needs without being intrusive, ensuring I had everything I needed throughout my visit.

One thing that stood out was the efficiency of service. Despite the bustling atmosphere, my food arrived promptly and was piping hot. It's clear that the kitchen staff takes pride in their work, as each dish was prepared with care and attention to detail.

Dr. Rob, the owner, made rounds to check on each table. His friendly demeanor and genuine interest in my dining experience added a personal touch that is rare to find in many establishments today.

Additionally, Olde English Tea Shoppe offers a tempting selection of British snacks and desserts. I couldn't resist trying a few, and they did not disappoint.

Overall, Olde English Tea Shoppe exceeded my expectations in every way. Whether I was craving a taste of Britain or simply looking for a spot to enjoy quality tea and food, I highly recommend paying a visit. You'll be treated to not only delicious fare but also warm hospitality that makes you feel...