Afternoon Tea at Mandarin Oriental always promises to push the boundaries in taste and innovation and the Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo more than lives up to this reputation of perfection.
On entering the Oriental Lounge of the Tokyo branch one is greeted with awe inspiring views over the city and the extravagant large windows offer unrestricted views across the neighbouring districts and off into the mountains. On our visit we were treated with a particularly rare view of Mount Fuji illuminated by the sunshine which elevated our experience into the clouds, the kind of clouds you long to visit especially with a chilled glass of Laurent Perrier in hand.
From the moment of arrival the Mandarin afternoon tea experience feels like a journey into patisserie perfection which offers finery without the stead fast team over egging the cake. Tea is served in stages like an opulent tasting menu starting with the savouries, but there’s no fingers sandwiches chucked together by a limited mind here!
"Mandarin Oriental Tokyo provides an unforgettable afternoon tea experience with views and food to die for."
Every savoury has its place firmly secured on the menu and each offering is worlds apart from what follows. The first sandwich that lured me in is the Open Face Sandwich of Smoked Chicken and Marinated Red Cabbage, delicious! Then I opted for the Foie Gras Parfait and Sweet Potato Mousse with Champagne Jelly. The foie gras was divine, so light and velvety, and exactly as I'd like to see it served more often with a hint of sweetness that implodes on the pallet. The Mandarin also provides an option for any pastry fiends and it comes in the shape of the Salmon Rillette with Persimmon and Cream Cheese Tartlet. Last but by no means least I try the Pork Ham with Cucumber and Potato Salad Sandwich. Now your brain may suggest that potato salad inside a sandwich cannot work but I can confirm that the brain is wrong on this occasion and this sandwich is served in such a way that it isn't even instantly apparent what you are consuming as satisfaction overrides.
First course complete we are invited to try a selection of warm for the oven scones, they come in a selection of flavours which include Plain, Chocolate Chip and Cranberry. When you've consumed as many scones as I have, simply innovative flavours such as chocolate and cranberry provide a welcome change to a sometimes tired bake.
The pinnacle of Mandarin Orientals afternoon tea experience arrives, the beautifully decorative tiered tea stand filled with every cake you could ever desire. From Pistacchio Macaron to Strawberry Tartlet, Praliné Cream Puff to Chestnut Pie, Fresh Cheese Mousse to Hazelnut Cookie and lastly the Sour Plum and Sesame Stick Pie. Rare as it is, every patisserie offering was more delicious than the previous and there were no black sheep in this dessert family. Aside from swallowing the clichés, the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo provides an unforgettable afternoon tea experience with views and food to die for.
The Bill: £39 per head
