Russian-born antiques dealer Inessa Stewart had a tea restaurant in Baton Rouge, La., after she and her husband, John, settled in his home state. Then she went into the antiques business. In 1998, she opened a second showroom in Dallas and added the tearoom in May 2000. Tables set for lunch or afternoon tea are interspersed between groupings of imposing, strikingly beautiful European and French antiques, an atmosphere that suffers from its strip center drive-up. No one wanting a quick lunch should even consider stopping here.
Service ranges from leisurely to real slow.
A mixture of wild greens in a creamy dressing comes alongside. Chef Carruthers, whose resume includes stints with hotels and private clubs, has found an outlet for her European sensibilities. The addition of toasted almonds gives the salad a crunch and nutty flavor that heighten the sweetness of the grapes and silky texture of the chicken. The freshness of the breads and pastries underscores that they're made in-house. Only a thumb-sized cream puff had a tired texture.