The Lavender 'N' Lace Tea Room, a unique establishment in Lake Alfred, is a perfect choice a Valentine's Day lunch or dinner.
Inspired by the romantic elegance of Victorian England's tea culture, this restaurant is rich in themed aesthetics, pleasant staff and warm family history.
In 1989, Lavender 'N' Lace was merely an abandoned and dilapidated building, but the Bajwa family noticed its potential and snatched it up to start a restaurant business. The 1929 house was remodeled and relandscaped into a charming place to eat lunch, drink tea and enjoy the surrounding gardens and lakeside off Lake Shore Way.
The project took the Bajwa's eight months to refashion, including the oversight of soiling the landscape, which was once clay based. It's now an orchid-colored house surrounded by draping oak and palm trees, lush green gardens and vibrant roses.
Various private rooms are available for big parties. All rooms boast china tea sets of all hues and sizes.
Lavender 'N' Lace is not just a tearoom; it includes a quaint antique gift shop and new bakery. It appeals to Lake Alfred's antiques market and has a unique history all its own.
The Victorian tea room theme materialized from Hafeez and Sehar Bajwa's appreciation of English culture. Originally from Islamabad, Pakistan, the Bajwas lived in London for 11 years, where Hafeez was a ship captain in the British Merchant Marines. They moved to Florida in 1987.
Lavender 'N' Lace was opened by Hafeez and Sehar in September 1990. They still run things today with the help of their children, daughter Tabina and son, Taimoor. The business is open for lunch Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and offers a candlelight dinner once a month.
A Valentine's Day lunch and dinner will be held this year from 11 a .m. to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.
The special dinners will include a five-course a la carte menu including a soup, salad, antipasto and dessert. Beef Wellington and Edinburg Lamb will be two of the five choices for an entrée. Live entertainment will be provided by musician George Durham.
Lavender 'N' Lace is located off Lake Shore Way in Lake Alfred. For details and reservations, call 863-956-3998.
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