Where: Dunwoody, Georgia
Style: European salon
Tea Selection: 13 loose leaf teas, bagged herbals
Teatimes: Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30, 1:30 or 3:30; Special Tea Events, Private Parties
Reservations: Required
Contact: Reserve here
Cost: $75 Traditional Afternoon Tea; $75 Vegan Afternoon Tea; $75 Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea ; $45 Children Afternoon Tea; $20 Cream Tea; $20 Dessert Tea
Destination Tea Tips: Park at the rear of the Park Place complex and walk into the Eclipse di Luna entrance to quickly find Le Faucheur on your right. See below for our recommended special requests for tea preparation.
Prices and teatimes are subject to change. Please see our Georgia Afternoon Tea Directory for the latest details.
Destination Tea Notes: This post may win the award for most pictures ever included in a Destination Tea afternoon tea review, but when a tearoom opens in our very own backyard, you can be sure multiple visits will ensue. We’ve actually visited three times since Le Faucheur opened in Dunwoody last month, and have a fourth reservation booked this month.
[Full disclosure: Le Faucheur owner Valerie Fatemi is a friend of Angela’s, the two having met when Valerie launched her tea party catering business — The Cheeky Teacup — five years ago. Incidentally, she continues to offer her catering services, now under the Le Faucheur brand. Valerie has also advertised with Destination Tea and provided the catering for our two Metro Atlanta industry tea parties.]
So yes, we know and love Valerie, but would we feel the same about her new tearoom? It helped to experience it with three different groups, to make sure this review represents an objective consensus.
What we found is that Valerie has exquisite taste. She designed the full build-out of her space to include a parlor, mirror-walled tearoom with seating for 22, and second floor private dining room; all decorated with imported Italian marble and Victorian antiques. Valerie does not compromise her aesthetic sense, even in the gorgeous bathroom. She also decorated the shopfront where several covered tables invite guests to enjoy an al fresco afternoon tea.
In the parlor, a grand piano is ready for a player or can self-play, locally made gifts such as brooches, tea hats, fascinators and designer sugar cubes are for sale, and a small piece of art done by Valerie’s grandfather gives tribute to the origin of “Le Faucheur” – the family name of Valerie’s French ancestors. The hostess stand is a marble replica of Juliet’s balcony at palazzo Casa di Giulietta in Verona, Italy. As you approach your table, you’ll see that each has its own unique inlaid marble flower, precision-cut by artisans to fit perfectly without any grout. Valerie sets tearoom tables with beautiful vintage teacups, some of them very rare and expensive, (because she believes they are meant to be enjoyed rather than stored away), alongside decorative water glasses, and vases with fresh flowers, changing the color palette seasonally.
The afternoon tea menus feature Valerie’s favorite perfected recipes, including Valerie’s own scratchmade clotted cream, which Kim Jordy of Tea Leaves & Thyme says is the best homemade clotted cream she’s ever had. To fully enjoy the sumptuous tea selection, see our tips below. Our favorite moment is when our very sweet server Janelle, who is just the right amount of attentive, rolls out the tea cart to present the three-tiered tray, with warm scones tucked into a cloth. All of these special touches add up to leave guests feeling properly cared for, which is precisely the effect Valerie intends.
Tea Selection
Each guest receives a pot of tea, which they are invited to have resteeped or switched out upon request. For an additional fee, you may add wine, champagne, a golden milk or Persian Sharbat. We recommend trying the Persian Cardamom Tea, Pu-erh Tea or Orange Blossom Tea. Caffeine-free herbal teas are available upon request.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Destination Tea’s Afternoon Tea Scorecard
