Too wordy: her side with balsamic asseverations and cloying evasions, his with...

[Gray]

“An acidulous tone had crept into both sides of the conversation, her side with balsamic asseverations and cloying evasions, his with a bite of horseradish astride a malt vinegar redolent of London fogs, fish and chips, and tabloid treacle and gossip (it was, in fact, revolting).”

What does this mean – in parts and in its entirety?

[Milanya]

They both were mean (to each other or speaking of somebody else), but she was more covert and pretentious and he was openly rude.
(Absence of context makes my guess very questionable.)

[Gray]

@Milanya

They both were mean (to each other or speaking of somebody else), but she was more covert and pretentious and he was openly rude.
(Absence of context makes my guess very questionable.)

You have done it this time – without context Thanks for listening the words.