After allowing myself to be run ragged through the American Girl store I felt it was time for a little quiet luxury and where better than the tea room at the Drake Hotel.
The ambience was lovely - there''s a fountain in the middle of the room in which the girls could pitch coins and make wishes without disturbing the other guests. The wait staff did not look askance when we spilled ice water all over the floor not once, but twice. The room was full of all sorts of people, divorced dads with daughters, ladies who shop, hotel guests, lone tea drinkers and parties so the girls and I blended in easily despite the occasional bit of bad behavior.
Recommendation - if you''re there with young children, choose one of the tables around the edge of the room, you''ll be less conspicuous. I sat near the steps leading down to the main lobby. The girls could run up and down the stairs and knock each other silly without getting in anyone''s way as the stairs were blocked with a rope at both ends. Also, we were there just before Thanskgiving and there was a beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby that they enjoyed.
The food - the usual tea room fare. Nothing remarkable but all quite good. I ordered a full tea for myself, fyi. you can''t just order a cup of tea & an a''la carte scone or something - it''s all or nothing. However I didn''t think the girls each needed a $35 tea so I bought them overpriced ($6) smoothies and let them eat my scones & cream.