The Best Tea Room in Northern England - review added on Thu 3rd Jul 2003

I'm a tea room fanatic - every time I go to England I remind myself that, although to a Yank their coffee is pretty awful, no one in the world knows more about teas. Teas here aren't Lipton's, running the gamut of taste from A to A - they're art forms, and Betty's not only sells the best teas you will ever drink (as well as coffees and other irresistables) but has the most wonderful tea room I've ever found. Having tea here is a taste experience you'll delight in. The downside - it can be very crowded, since everyone wants to try out Betty's. The upside - everything else, from the charming decor upstairs and down, the light and delightful menus, and (most important) the teas or coffees and everything that goes with it. Whatever you do, find 45 minutes to come plonk yourself down at Betty's after spending almost all your cash on the beautiful nearby Stonegate shops - take a deep breath, order full cream tea, and enjoy yourself down to your toes. I loved their "fat rascal"pastries so much I ate one and took one away in a napkin, feeling guilty but unable to resist. And their "China Rose"tea has to be tried to be believed - can you imagine the world's most delicate flavors of fine tea and the fragrence of a garden-blooming rose? Do not miss it!

Overall:	10
Food:	10
Service:	10
Ambiance:	10

Recommended Dishes: fat rascal, any pastries

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Review added on Fri 11th Jul 2003

We were at Betty's last week (for my daughter's first traditional tea). It was a wonderful experience. The food was very good, my husband espically liked the pea soup, my daughter the scones and myself, the complete package. We bought several of your tea's to bring home as gifts. I have hoping to order more through this web site. Thank you for the occassion.By the way, we asked who Betty was and our server very kindly responded that even she didn't know the family secret!

Overall:	6
Food:	8
Service:	10
Ambiance:	10

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Fat Rascals - Unbelievable - review added on Sun 18th Jul 2004

We visited Betty's in May 2004 on the basis of reviews in various travel guides. The prices for tea in the tearoom were a bit steep (very quaint period rooms though upstairs) but we bought two fat rascals on the way out and enjoyed them in a nearby sunny (weren't we lucky that day?) square. Like anything irresistable, they are rich, full of raisins, cherries and spices and definitely worth the visit - the kind of treat that once you start, you cannot stop until they are completely eaten! Although at first we thought only one would have sufficed, by the time we had finished every last crumb, we were glad we had splurged on two of the big boys rather than one. Viva rascals! We have nothing like them in Virginia.

Overall:	6
Food:	10
Service:	8
Ambiance:	8

Recommended Dishes: fat rascals

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Absolutely Fanatastic - review added on Wed 23rd Mar 2005

This tea room is absolutely amazing. It is quite crowded, all the time; however I think this adds to the impeccable atmosphere, and it just shows how this cafe never gets old and decraped. I would go here everyday if I could afford it, and never get bored

Overall:	10
Food:	8
Service:	8
Ambiance:	10

Recommended Dishes: fat rascals

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Loved the Fat Rascal - review added on Mon 19th Jun 2006

We visited Betty's in June, 2006, on our whirlwind tour of British tea rooms and antique shops. By the time we got to York, I had had plenty of scones, so I decided to try the fat rascal. Although I was slightly embarrassed when it came and I realized it was so much bigger than everyone's scone, I ate every bit of it. The tea room was wonderful and we bought some tea to bring back to the States.

Overall:	10
Food:	10
Service:	10
Ambiance:	10

Recommended Dishes: fat rascal

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Cheers from the States - review added on Wed 16th Aug 2006

My wife, a tea fanatic, and I stumbled onto Betty's when our feet could carry us no further on an uncharacteristically (I'm told) warm day touring York. That was in 1995 and we still talk about it today. The tea, the setting, and the pastries were all simply terrific. We have yet to find anything comperable in the US, though we are still looking. Well Done!

Overall:	8
Food:	10
Service:	8
Ambiance:	8

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High Tea A Must at Betty's - review added on Wed 9th May 2007

We visited York in April 2007 and found Betty's just wonderful! We had the tea for two and everything was just yummy, the service excellent and the decor very much added to the ambience. We would highly recommend it! I would love to be able to find the little 3 tier caddy they brought to our table with the sandwiches, scone and tarts. I want one in the worse way so that I can pretend we are still there, only in California. Can someone at Betty's tell me where to find one?

Overall:	8
Food:	10
Service:	10
Ambiance:	10

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