Reservation Guidelines and Policies
Reservations are required for both Afternoon Tea options: Themed Afternoon Tea and the Classic Afternoon Tea. It is expected that all adults in a reservation will have the same Afternoon Tea option. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance. Please note that Saturdays often fill up quickly so you may need to reserve for a Saturday well in advance, often a week or more. We are open one Sunday per month as well, called Bonus Sunday. The Bonus Sundays for 2024 are: Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 17, Apr 21, May 12, June 23, July 21, Aug 18, Sep 22, Oct 20, Nov 17, Dec 15.
To request a reservation, please fill out the contact form below. Please include in your message the date of the requested reservation, the number of guests in your party, type of menu, (Themed Afternoon Tea or Classic Afternoon Tea), Royal option? (Sparkling Wine or a Wine Cocktail), payment arrangement (pay in advance or day of reservation) and any special requests. Be sure to include your phone number and e-mail as well. Someone will contact you to confirm. Your reservation is not confirmed until you receive a phone call or email that specifically states that the reservation is confirmed. If you requested your reservation via e-mail, you will receive a confirmation via e-mail. If you don't receive an e-mail confirmation, check your spam or junk folder first, before contacting us about your reservation confirmation.
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Due to the size of our dining area, the size of our kitchen, and the number of staff we are able to employ, and in order to provide a positive experience to all our guests, we have implemented the following guidelines regarding reservations:
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Themed Afternoon Tea and Classic Afternoon Tea
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Reservations must be made at least one day in advance, no later than 5 pm.
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Cancellation Policy: Please read carefully. Credit card information is required to confirm your reservation. If you fill out the form below, someone will call you to get the credit card information. In the event a party is a "no show" or same day cancellation the card will be charged for the full amount of the reservation. (For more explanation on this policy, read the information below.) If you do not want to provide your credit card information over the phone, you may request to pay in advance with an invoice which will be e-mailed to you. The invoice needs to be paid at least one day in advance of the reservation. This is non-refundable. You may reschedule a pre-paid reservation with at least one day advance notice.
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Any changes (such as the number of people in your group) and cancellations to an existing reservation must be made one day in advance, also before 5 pm. If you are not able to reach us by phone, then you can send an email through the website.
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On the day of the reservation it is expected that the guest count of the reservation will be honored and paid for. Afternoon Tea is a handmade culinary experience crafted only for the number of expected guests. You will be charged full price for the number of people you have reserved for, whether they join you or not. Any unconsumed food can be boxed up and taken home.
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It is expected that all guests at the table will be served the same Afternoon Tea option
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Children age 10 and under have the option of a smaller portion due their smaller appetites. If there will be children age 10 and under and you want them to have the child portion, please let us know at the time the reservation is made. Children may, of course, have the full "adult" menu and the price will be the same as for the adults.
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If you have difficulty with the form below, you may send an e-mail directly to Dragonflytearoom7@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name, e-mail address, phone number, preferred menu, number of people in your party, date and time preference.
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Paying by debit or credit card: we now charge a 3% fee on all debit and credit card payments.
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Large Parties
1. The largest size group we can accommodate on a weekday (Wed, Thu, Fri) is 10 people. No exceptions.
2. The largest size group we can accommodate on a Saturday, or on the Bonus Sunday is 8 people. No exceptions.
3. Large groups choose 4 different teas to share with the group. We do not make individual pots of tea for large groups.
If you want to have a larger party, please check out Showers and Private Parties.​
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Children at the Dragonfly Tea Room
Children are welcome at the Dragonfly Tea Room. In order that all patrons have a pleasant experience, please follow the guidelines below.
We do not do children's parties. Children may accompany their parents or guardians to a regularly reserved afternoon tea. The ratio of adults to children should be no more than 1 adult to 3 children. Children are defined as age 17 and under. Children age 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The following are guidelines for Afternoon Tea with regards to children:
For children age 10 and younger we have a smaller portion menu available for both the themed menu and the Classic Afternoon Tea menu (the Petite Tea). When you call to make a reservation, let us know if you want the child portion for your child who is age 10 and under. Some children in this age range have good appetites and will be able to eat the regular portion and will be charged the regular price. If you order the child portion and your child does not get enough to eat, you will not be able to order more food, especially on a busy day. Make sure you request the right portion at the time you make your reservation.
Toddlers and small children are welcome at the tea room. They must be supervised by their parents or guardian at all times. Children should not be allowed to wander around the tea room unsupervised. We understand that small children do not have big appetites. These are the guidelines as to whether order a child's menu or have the child eat from the parent's plate. Unfortunately, we do not have a high chair. Children will either have to sit in an adult's lap or in a chair. If a child will sit in a chair, they will be required to get one of the options for children: the Petite Tea or the child portion on the themed menu, indicated by an asterisk (*). If a child will sit on the parent's lap they may eat from the parent's plate at no charge, but tea or a beverage must be ordered for them. If we provide a place setting there will be an extra charge. In general, if you want to give your small child a tea experience, we recommend that you bring them on a weekday, when we are not busy and just order a scone and tea instead of doing a full afternoon tea.
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Birthdays
People love to celebrate their birthdays at the Dragonfly Tea Room. It is a fun and unique place for this occasion. We do have a few rules regarding birthdays. If you let us know in advance that you are celebrating a birthday, we will put a Happy Birthday pick in one of the sweets.
Rules for Birthdays that reduce the disruptions to other customers who visit the Tea Room:
1. No outside food or drink is allowed to be brought in to the tea room.
2. Please do not sing "Happy Birthday".
Why do we require your credit card information when you make your reservation?
Why do we charge you for same-day cancellation?
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This is a small business. I have learned over time that in order to stay afloat we need to run a "tight ship." This means we have just enough staff on hand to handle the reservations. We make enough food for the reservations and none extra. By the time we open at 10 am, all the food is prepped and all the tables are set. With these parameters we don't waste time, food, or energy. When we take a reservation, that time is blocked off to other reservations. Occasionally we may book two small parties at the same time, but those are exceptions. We schedule reservations every half hour so each group has time to select their tea, be served their tea and their food before the next group arrives. This allows for a peaceful and unhurried tea time for each group, as much as possible.
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This does not happen often (thankfully) but when someone doesn't show up for their reservation, not only is it disheartening, but we have wasted time, food, and energy. And there may have been other customers who wanted a reservation but were turned away. Calling at 10 am or an hour before your reservation to cancel is not helpful either. The work to prepare for your reservation has already happened.
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Positive COVID Test: a positive COVID test is a valid reason to not come to the tea room. That is well established. However, if you find out on the day of your reservation that someone is your group tested positive for COVID, you will still be financially responsible for your reservation. (Perhaps comparable to concert or sports tickets). We will happily box up your Afternoon Tea and you can enjoy it at home, to be picked up by someone who doesn't have COVID. OR we suggest you gift your reservation to someone else, either at the tea room or at home.
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That being said, we also understand that there are definite life events that occur, such as a death in the family, or a sudden serious illness, or similar crisis. We would never add to your burden by charging you for your missed reservation.