As much as I love reviewing food as part of an invitation (i.e free), I will have to admit that you can only truly experience the real deal when you head over as a paying guest. It’s quite upsetting when it’s from a brand close to heart.
I sat on the fence on this one for awhile : should I email them directly? or should I simply leave a blog and send it over? This is not a new outlet, in fact probably one of the older ones, so I’m sorry….. no excuses… and I’m tired of giving any of the Jumeirah outlets a second chance.
Here you go, a review of our experience at afternoon tea recently, redeeming our Isme Elite app :
To everyone who purchased the Isme Elite app (for 4000AED to 5000 AED), and wanted to redeem the afternoon tea voucher at Palm Court, here is what you will likely be faced with :
a) Voucher states “Afternoon tea Invitation for Two at Palm Court”, and in the Terms and Conditions, it states that this is for a complimentary “Traditional Afternoon Tea”, valid for 2 people.
Please note that when you get to the venue, you will be presented this menu – but they will then explain to you that the “Glass of Gancia Prosecco” is not included.
b) If you ask them where does it state this : they will simply explain that the Isme members get the afternoon tea without the Prosecco, eventhough the menu itself lists it.
If you push on to ask if they can explain further, you will be given an explanation that they have spoken to Isme about this, and apparently it has been updated to state so in the normal Isme app, but not in the Isme Elite app……. which does not make any sense, as you don’t actually have a complimentary afternoon tea at Palm Court with the normal Isme membership anyways.
c) Menu states “Freshly brewed tea or freshly ground coffee.”
If you have been to any other afternoon teas in the other Jumeirah properties (Al Samar Lounge, Al Fayrooz Lounge, and Sultan’s Lounge) – you get unlimited refills of coffee or tea (or at least, for when I have tried their afternoon tea there), and you may switch from one to the other.
Please note that this is different at Palm Court, as you are only entitled to one choice of coffee or tea, and no refills. Confusing.
On the spread itself :
a) The finger sandwiches were all prepped on the spot (we were sitting next to the open kitchen) – so ingredients were all fresh. Yummy I’ll say, but I expected more, presentation-wise, coming from a supposedly 200 AED spread. Also, coming from a Jumeirah-property afternoon tea. I’m just comparing it with the ones in all your sister properties. And please, get these wonky bird cages straightened up, I thought my plate was going to slide out!
b) One jar of clotted cream and one choice of jam ?
To top off my experience, we were actually served with an almost empty jam jar, which I did go up to show to the staff and they were quite apologetic about and replaced with a new one, thanks.
So there you go.
My review is purely in comparing what we have experienced in the other Jumeirah properties i.e we had high expectations. And I would have thought that as they all fall under the same hotel group, they would have similar standards and provide similar things i.e unlimited coffee / tea. So confusing.
For 200AED, I would happily recommend someone to go to Al Samar Lounge (185 AED, in the Entertainer), or Al Fayrooz Lounge ( 225AED, in the Entertainer). Or if you don’t mind venturing to the Palm, try the one at Sultan’s Lounge (195 AED).
And Isme – if you want to remove something from what you have clearly offered in the Elite App, please get it into the Terms and Conditions. Guests hate surprises. How much is a glass of prosesco compared to what we have paid for this membership? And please let the staff in the outlets know how to explain to users of your Isme Elite app. I’m sorry, but “It’s been updated in the Isme App but not in the Isme Elite App” is unacceptable 🙁
- Afternoon Tea at Palm Court
- 1 Traditional Afternoon Tea Experience, redeemeable with Isme Elite app – minus the Prosesco
- Otherwise, 200 AED per person ( 241 available in Isme App, or Entertainer App)
Disclaimer : We redeemed the afternoon tea experience, with our Isme Elite membership, which we have paid for ourselves. All thoughts are our own.