To celebrate my birthday this year, D took me out to afternoon tea at the Westin Moana Surfrider. I love the tea at Halekulani’s Veranda and the Kahala Hotel’s Veranda and I had always wanted to try the Moana Surfrider.
The Veranda is an open-air restaurant located just off the center lobby, overlooking the courtyard shaded by this historic banyan tree.
In the beginning our server came by with each of the six loose teas to smell which was a lovely touch. D chose the Moana Sunset and I chose the caffeine-free Lemon Rooibos and of course, milk for Nomz.
We ordered a Keiki Afternoon Tea menu ($22.00) for Nomz which consisted of PB&J and tea sandwich, assorted desserts and potato chips with milk or juice. I LOVED that they offer a kids menu because 1) it made us feel welcome as a toddler-toting family, and 2) this mama didnt want to share! and 3) we didn’t have to order the full menu which Nomz probably couldn’t finish anyway.
I ordered the basic Veranda Tea ($34.00) option which consists of three finger sandwiches, scones, assorted desserts, choice of tea and a sorbet at the end. Today’s sandwiches were: pesto chicken with goat cheese and roasted tomato, smoked salmon wrap, and curried egg salad tart.
Top tier: Haupia roll cake, hazelnut eclair, and macadamia nut shortbread.
Middle tier: blueberry scones with devonshire cream and lemon curd. I’m still dreaming about that devonshire cream…
Bottom tier: Pumpkin macarons, mini apple tarts.
For comparison D ordered the Moana Classic Tea ($40.00) which included everything I had plus an additional savory item (the seafood profiterole below) and a pot de creme with biscotti.
And we all were served a lemongrass sorbet at the end.
In conclusion, the food was comparable to the Kahala and Halekulani but the ambience was a bit lacking (the whole restaurant and courtyard/beach bar area was noisy and bustling, and the patio directly in view was a bit worn and in disarray) and the service less polished. I think my favorite is Halekulani. When the Four Seasons opens in Ko Olina next year, my wish is that they offer afternoon tea so we can enjoy an elegant tea service close to home.
I love everything about afternoon tea. I love scones, I love tea, I love sweet & savory items together. I love getting dressed up and chatting the afternoon away like I don’t have a care in the world. I feel blessed that I got to spend this afternoon with my two favorite people in the whole wide world.
The Veranda website
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