Food
I have to say that of all the afternoon tea services I've tried in New York, this is by far my favorite. The food is made to order and you can tell that a lot of care is put into each piece. The canapé selection on Valentine's day was different from a previous time but nonetheless delicious and unique. I like that each piece is not enormous for portion control purposes. At first glance you may think jesus christ the portions are tiny, that's for two people?!? I may need to get Shake Shack after. But it is actually very filling and satisfying. After eating the savory canapés and scones, you'll realize that it is rather stuffing. I am always deceived by afternoon tea too.
The tea selection is pretty robust. They serve Mariage Freres and I'd expect nothing less. I tried the rose d'himalaya—a soft and gentle black tea that went exceptionally well with milk. I also tried the baccarat blend—a toned down blend that was less rich in caffeine.
Ambiance/Decor
I absolutely love the space. The high ceilings, modern design, lush and luxurious furnishing and spaciousness really contribute to the relaxing ambiance. Afternoon tea lasted about 3.5 hours with no one rushing you out. The large space allows for great intimacy. It's an excellent spot for casual business meetings or a place to discuss in great detail any topic you desire.
Price
It's definitely not cheap and on the higher end relative to its peers. Full tea service (The Prince of Whales) starts at $80 to include tea and the full 3 tier assortment of savory and sweet pastries. Then goes up to $105 and $110 to include a glass of champagne.
They also have a smaller size (Louis XV) to include 1 tier of pastries starting at $65. I don't recommend this as you don't get much out of it. There are only 5 pieces total. Horrible value. You may need a full meal after. Don't be cheap and just get the full service.
Reservation
For afternoon tea service you'll definitely need to make reservations in advance. I'd say one to two weeks in advance just to be safe.