“Brunch” parties have taken over the dining scene in a way that is mildly disconcerting to those of us not interested in dancing on tables….at 3 p.m…..on a Saturday.  Although a few restaurants in the Meatpacking District really kicked this trend off last year, the day party concept has infiltrated much of downtown Manhattan, loudly spilling out onto the streets.  That’s why walking into the Crosby Street Hotel on one of my favorite (quiet) blocks in Soho for a lovely afternoon of high tea was escapism at its best.

The hotel, which opened last year, has an incredible air of serenity in the midst of bustling Soho.  So much so, that, while sitting in the garden for tea, I heard several tables around me of (slightly jaded) New Yorkers echo sentiments of feeling like they were on vacation and jokingly reprimanding themselves for being tourists in their own city.  I find the tradition of afternoon tea very fun, an elegant way to gorge on tea sandwiches, baked goods and pastries.  The only thing that beats afternoon tea is a boozy afternoon tea, or champagne afternoon tea as it was more thoughtfully called on the menu, which is what I was having.

First, I will give the positives.  Everything baked and sweet was amazing.  I ate the most delicious, impossibly thin tart shell I’ve ever had, filled with a delicate almond cream and raspberries.  The carrot cake and buttercream on the cupcake (because, really, who cares about the cake part) were also delectable.  Flaky scones, tasty preserves, and clotted cream…de rigeur and also great.

The tea sandwiches?  A French friend of mine with impeccable taste often refers to things he doesn’t view as up to par as “sort of”.  And that’s what these sandwiches were.  The unfortunate thing about that was that I was still hungry, and, in looking at the menu, I ended up ordering a small, but heaping, plate of spicy wings.  So my afternoon of elegance devolved into wings and champagne…which is actually not so bad in my book.

I would certainly go back – make an afternoon of it with a bunch of friends.  The hotel also has a Sunday Night Film Club, an idea which I really like.  Dinner and/or cocktails and snacks at the bar beforehand followed by some great movies in their 100-seat theatre after.  Sounds like that may be the next plan…