2 /5 Joe Cannon: ⭐️ Holiday Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas — Honest Review
I attended the Holiday Tea at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas and, while a couple of savory items were genuinely good, the overall experience felt surprisingly disorganized and unpolished, far below what I expect from the Ritz brand or a Michelin-recommended property like Fearing’s.
Food Highlights
The tea sandwiches were the strongest part of the service:
• The smoked salmon & crème fraîche sandwich was excellent — easily the best bite of the afternoon, balanced and flavorful.
• The lobster roll was a close second, generous and perfectly seasoned.
Unfortunately, the desserts were underwhelming, lacking the refinement or execution that typically elevates a high tea experience. By the time they arrived, any excitement for them had unfortunately faded.
Service Issues That Defined the Experience
What should have been a polished, leisurely holiday tea was marred by service issues from the moment we sat down.
Missing Basics
• Our table was not set with teaspoons, which is baffling for a tea service priced at $95 per person.
• After ordering, the waiter poured the wrong teas into both cups and then disappeared for 35 minutes before anyone returned with sandwiches.
• When my tea was finally refilled, I had to request a spoon just to stir it.
Strange Handling of Food & Equipment
Several things felt unprofessional or simply out of place:
• Wait staff consistently carried tiered cake stands down near the floor, rather than on a cart or holding them elevated, which did not inspire confidence in the handling of the food.
• At one point, we watched a waiter have a full conversation with a cake stand by their leg before walking it to another table.
• When our desserts arrived, the server pointed at each item with her finger, trying to describe what she saw rather than naming them properly — despite the menu clearly listing each dessert.
• She even wiped something off the serving stand with her bare finger, which was unsanitary and unprofessional.
At this point, my entire pot of tea was long gone, and I was not offered a refill.
Dessert Delay
Desserts arrived 30 minutes after sandwiches, and because no spoons were provided again, we had to request them a second time — especially confusing since one of the desserts (the peppermint verrine) requires a spoon to eat.
Interaction With Staff
After 1 hour and 30 minutes of slow, confused, and inconsistent service, I finally asked about the lack of spoons and the excessive delays. I clarified that it wasn’t the waiter’s fault, to which he replied, “Yes, it is,” and then told us not to pay for the tea.
We insisted on paying so we could at least leave a tip. The hostess ultimately generated a bill for 11 cents, and we left a $100 tip for the staff. While this gesture was appreciated, it also underscored just how unusual and off-kilter the entire experience felt.
⭐️ Overall
The Ritz-Carlton usually excels in elegance, presentation, and service. Qualities that make experiences feel special. Unfortunately, the Holiday Tea missed the mark entirely. The sandwiches were delicious, but the desserts were forgettable, and the service was so inconsistent and unprofessional that it overshadowed the food altogether.
I sincerely hope this was an off day, because this experience was not reflective of The Ritz-Carlton Dallas or a Michelin-recommended property. As it stands, the Holiday Tea fell far below expectations.
