Lavender ‘n Lace Tearoom is a family-owned business in Lake Alfred, Florida. It’s easy to drive right past it because it’s located in a residential area at the end of the block.
Hafeez and Sara Bajwa have owned Lavender ‘n Lace Tearoom for almost 35 years. As the story goes, Hafeez was a merchant seafarer based in London, England. He tired of the cold, damp climate and moved to Lake Alfred. Shortly thereafter, he turned their 1920s-era home into the restaurant it is today. I’m sure glad they traded in Britain’s rain and damp for Florida’s humidity and hurricanes but hey, at least they subtracted cold from the equation.
The inside is decorated with shades of lavender (go figure), and lace curtains adorn the windows. They have an array of homemade jams and pies on display as you enter. I glanced into the interior as I waited to be seated and noticed that even on a mid-week afternoon, the place was packed.
I liked that the menu wasn’t 10 pages long. It focuses on hearty, healthy entrees and sides and this, I think, gives them the time to turn out consistently good food. There’s a soup du jour, pasta florentine, cottage pie, curry chicken, crunchy chicken, puff pastry, alaskan salmon and quiche. For salads, they have a chicken salad with fresh fruits, a roasted beets salad, and a mediterranean platter with hummus, tabbouleh and roasted eggplant. The two sandwiches include a chicken salad croissant and a roasted beef panini.
I opted for the soup du jour (asparagus) and the quiche. Both were fantastic. That little side salad on the plate with the quiche? Crisp, light and flavorful.
And then there was the dessert menu. Never one to miss out on weight-enhancing sweets, I had choices of lemon ricotta cheesecake, hummingbird cake, peanut butter pie, dark chocolate mousse cake, coconut-lime frangipane tart and lemon-blueberry cheesecake. The waitress suggested the hummingbird cake so that’s what I ordered.
I’d never heard of it. It’s banana-pineapple spice cake with cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans. It was decadent, delicious, and surprisingly light.
And what’s a tearoom without tea? I’m not a huge hot tea fan so I didn’t sample any, but their list is extensive and impressive. I might actually sample something next time around. They have 12 black teas that include things like Earl Grey, chai, ginger peach, tropical breeze, cinnamon orange and Xanadu Tibetan raspberry. Additionally, they have 4 different herbal teas and 2 green teas. If you’re a tea drinker, there’s bound to be something you like.
Once I finished stuffing myself, I headed out to see the outdoor garden area and the gift shop. They were as quaint and thoughtfully curated as the inside of the tearoom.
Lavender ‘n Lace Tearoom has a lovely English countryside-ish charm and very good food. I would recommend making a day of sightseeing in the area – maybe Bok Tower Gardens and (next on my list) The Barn Antiques and then stop in for lunch.
Just be sure to make a reservation.
- 430 N. Lake Alfred Way, Lake Alfred, Florida
- 863-956-3998
- lavendernlacetearoom.com
- Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM / Closed Sunday and Monday
- Average price is $20-$30 per person
Lisa Browder 
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