Chamomile Cottage

Karen did an excellent job hosting our tea party at the Oakwood Bed and Breakfast. The shower could not have gone any better! The food was excellent and so was the tea selection. I highly recommend having Karen hosting any type of tea party for you! Pros: Super organized. Very Elegant more

Hi Karen, Everything was wonderful for the Bridal Shower Tea on Aug 9th! All of the guests had a great time and really enjoyed the food and the setting. We had a few stragglers which caused us to start a bit late and a few "talkers" who would have stayed at the table and chatted all afternoon (it was so pleasant just sitting there sipping tea!). All the food was great - especially the quiches and those delicious chocolate cakes! It's so fun to have a pretty assortment and we were all quite full by the end! The china was also lovely and everyone liked comparing their dishes to those around them. It was the perfect thing for a bridal shower and we thank you for making it all so easy for us - especially since those of us "giving" the shower were from out of town. Best regards, Nancy Brown more

Hello, If you are looking for an extraordinary baby shower, this is something you have to look into. We had a shower for my sister-in-law who has waited 12 years to have a baby. We wanted to make sure this was an experience she would not forget. We called Karen (the Tea Lady) and she came to meet us. Not only was she accomodating to all our needs and wants, she was flexible too. She met us at my house, and brought everything except for the tables and chairs. She did an outstanding job setting up the tables to look "elegant" and lady like. She also brought help, freeing up our time to mingle with guests and proceed with the shower. The tea was some of the best I've ever had and the sandwiches melted in my mouth. Everything was scrumptious. More than half the people commented on what a wonderful idea it was and how well it was organized. This was a day that will be talked about for years to come. Karen and her assistant did a fantastic job. Thank you for a page in our memory book! Rita Walia Pros: Food, Service and Convenience Cons: None more

I just had a tea party catered by Duchess's Tea at the Oakwood Bed and Breakfast in the historicial oakwood area (downtown raleigh). It was for a bridal shower for 20 people and it was absolutely beautiful. The table setting was elegent, the food was fabulous and the service was top notch. There was such a wide variety of teas offered . The ambience of the bed and breakfast was very victorian which created the perfect tea party setting. We all felt like such ladies and were having tea with the Queen. It was very educational, we learned the history of how the "proper tea" began and the history of the bed and breakfast (built in 1871). This was truly the best bridal shower I've ever given or attended!!!!!! more

Hi, I am Karen Choplin, the owner of Chamomile Cottage. I apologize that the writers of the last reveiw experienced driving to visit us and we were not open. Thank you for trying to support us and again apologize for your disappointment. Im not sure how to have given you the message that we were closed, however, thanks for letting others know. I have opened "The Duchess's Tea" Catering Company. We are catering "Tea Parties / Proper Teas" at The Oakwood Bed and Breakfast and the Tucker House located in the Historic Oakwood area of Downtown Raleigh. They both are close to The Governor's Mansion. Also, I have recently started giving "Tea Parties / Proper Teas" at the Baker's Dozen Bakery located on Six Forks Road in the Celebration Mall. The Tea Parties there are also wonderful! Baker's Dozen has wonderful goodies you can purchase before or after your party to take home. At all of these locations, The Duchess's Tea offers any kind of Ladies Socials. We also offer Ladies Socials at private homes, churches, and assisted living homes, or basically any location you may have. We give Little Girl Tea Parties in their homes and dress Victorian Style with a basic etiquette lesson included. Phone 919-614-2722 Pros: Great Food,Great Service, Beautiful Ambience, Ample Parking, more

This place is closed for business - according to a sign on the door. We drove 45 minutes for tea, just to turn around & drive home again. Apparently you can still arrange catered tea parties, but the tea room is closed! more

Of all the tea rooms I've been in this one has the most personable staff! They're very friendly and helpful. Since many of their sandwich selections feature red onions to which I am allergic, they were accommodating in offering me something onion-free for my tea. They have teapot warmers for each place, delicious tea and savories, excellent quiche and a very sweet cozy dining room. I'll always choose this place for afternoon tea if I'm in the area. Pros: Service, ambience, tea more

I took my mother there for afternoon tea one day in June and had a lovely tea! We had the full tea with sandwiches, scones, etc. and nice selection of teas. The food was delish and the tea was served in separate teapots on a quaint little tealight thing that was so cute! We each chose a hat they provide if you want to "dress the part" in case you didn't come dressed up and that was fun. Had nice leisure time, not rushed. The shop itself was very quaint and had a few items in front room for sale, vintage type things. The owner is really sweet and wants to make your tea experience a great one. We'll definitely go back and recommend it highly! There was some ladies there with a couple of young girls, looked like they had fun, and there was a single woman there reading and enjoying her tea time. A couple came in later, so will have to bring my husband back sometime. Not noisy, very vintage mood set in room, nice decor! Good customer service. Pros: Ambiance, quality, value, service Cons: Not for loud kids, but well behaved children who'd enjoy tea out ok. more

When I'm having a stressful week at school and just need to take a relaxation break, I just love going to the Cottage and getting some tea. The servers are more than just a waitress; they don't wait on you; they actually serve you. In fact it is funny to hear them use the phrase "My pleasure," instead of "your welcome" at times. Because it is such a peaceful and comforting atmosphere, this really helps me when I am so busy with work and school. I also love going to the Cottage with a group of friends from school. We go just to enjoy ourselves. Sometimes we dress up in the cute hats and scarves that are at the Cottage, and then the servers take a group picture for us. It is a really great time for us to catch up and just have fun. The atmosephere also gives a very elegant and girly theme so we can just go and be just that. Thank you to the Cottage for your amazing service. Pros: Dessert, Tea, Food!!!!, Ambience, Service more

This restaurant is my favorite place to eat lunch with my friends. It is cozy and relaxing, you don't feel rushed. The quiche is to die for , it practically melts in your mouth! If you want an overall sampling of their best foods, you should get the high tea. The scones with clotted cream are great. I usually order the fruit cup as a side and it is always made with ripe fruit that is sweet to taste. I can never leave without ordering one of their desserts, the cakes are always moist and the pies have flaky crusts. I love their hot tea selection and it is served in beautiful individual pots. It can be alot of fun too. There are hats and boas to use if you are in a festive mood. The waitresses are very nice and helpful, they don't mind reexplaining everything on the menu to you. This is not a fast food restaurant; it is a place to relax, enjoy delicious food and catch up on all the news with your friends! more

Upon entering the tea room, the dirty, buckled carpet should have been a sign of what was to come. The service was extremely slow from start to finish. I ordered a chicken slalad platter with fruit salad and baked potato salad and waited over 30 minutes for this simple meal to arrive at the table. As for the food, the chicken salad was very good; however, the fruit salad contained only apples and the potato salad was very bland. The waitress did not bring a check and after requesting one, it took over 15 minutes to receive it. We were told the computer was down, but how long does it take to write down two items and compute the tax? If you enjoy tea and quaint tea rooms, there are others available in the Raleigh area that are far superior to this one. more

You enter into another world at Chamomile Cottage where people are innately courteous and interested in YOU! It's a tonic in today's busy world to dine in a tranquil atmosphere with subtle decor in excellent taste. A new dimension has been added with Impressionistic Paintings for perusing or just enjoying while having lunch. The food and teas are superb, and at once you realize it's quality and not quantity that is important. Presentation is a plus and servers are aware of the clients' every need. Healthwise, you feel you are doing something good for your body with the tea room's menu. Upon leaving, your realize your spirit has been fed, too! more

My sister and I recently visited Chamomile Cottage for afternoon tea. It was one of the most wonderful afternoons we had ever experienced. The Chamomile Cottage Tea Room is oh so relaxing and soothing with it's warm tones and Victorian style old time comfort. The tea selection was wonderful. Service was perfect...attentive but not intrusive. And the food was delicious. I highly recommend the Chamomile Cottage Tea Room to anyone looking to get away from it all and have a mini vacation over tea! We enjoyed it so much and we will be having my sister's baby shower there! more

I visited Chamomile Cottage with a friend and it was very lovely. We certainly felt special..it was fun having a "Big Girl TeaParty"...we felt like we were in a Victorian Doll House...it was nice to get away from the Hustle and Bustle of the outside world and go back in time! The food was wonderful and service was great. The tea that was served was loose tea (Chamomile is served in bags due to it being so fine)...all other tea is loose. There were about 10 flavors to choose from. Please go and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere, and great food. You will love it! Pros: Fun&Diffrent Ambience, Good Food, Very Affordable Cons: Parking Difficult more