- Venue: The Elford Hotel, Mt Lawley
- Cost: $70 pp
- We loved: fresh take on afternoon tea petit fours
- We weren’t expecting: such a fun vibe
There are dozens of venues hosting afternoon tea in Perth, some offering endless drinks, others just a glass on arrival for a more refined afternoon. Over the years, my two girlfriends and I (aka the Three Amigas) have sampled our fair share of these experiences, with mixed results when it comes to service, atmosphere and the flow.
Most recently, we found ourselves at The Elford in Mt Lawley – a relaxed, stylish pub that once lived its former life as The Flying Scotsman. Sitting proudly on the ever-trendy Beaufort Street, The Elford brings a contemporary twist to the traditional afternoon tea: Bottomless Bubbles. The concept is exactly what it sounds like and has quickly become a Saturday afternoon favourite. With good reason.
Gone are the elegant, tiered cake stands of delicate and classical bites such as scones and petit fours filling each plate. The Elford is going for a more fresh, fun, and far-from-the-ordinary approach.
The current menu has a strong Spanish influence and has lots of GF and DF options for the crowd, including the star of the shared entrées – the prawn tostada. The large, pan-warmed prawn was covered with pico di gallo (salsa) and sat atop a large corn chip. We certainly weren’t in Kansas anymore.
The shared mains kept the vibe with chargrilled chicken thighs and black bean salsa, paired beautifully with crispy potatoes and a standout avocado salad. And not just any avocado salad. This one came with kikones, a crunchy roasted corn snack popular in Spain, adding texture and personality. Dessert rounded things out perfectly with a dark chocolate and sour cherry brownie; a grown-up nod to the humble Cherry Ripe. Boom.
Drinks-wise, the Villa Fresco Prosecco (VIC) flowed freely, with staff topping up glasses before we had a chance to notice they were empty. They also reminded us we could swap in an Aperol Spritz under the package, which we happily did, purely for research purposes (and politeness, of course). For an extra $15 per person, you can upgrade to the Boozee Package ($85pp), adding cocktails to the mix. Both packages also include tap beer and cider for two solid hours of sipping.
Overall, we loved the change of pace at The Elford and it’s great to see a refreshing take on the classic afternoon tea offering on a Saturday afternoon.
Bottomless Bubbles at The Elford has attentive service, great food and flair. The Three Amigas will drink to that. Salud!
Disclaimer: The reviewer was not paid for this review, which has been conducted without the involvement of the venue.
