laurel
User's reviews
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The Quail & Thistle Tea Room
I love this tea room! The setting is beautiful and serene with goats frolicking in a meadow next to the parking lot. As you enter, you see a roaring fire (weather permitting) in a huge stone fireplace, and the owner's tea cup collection decorates the plate rails and china cabinet. Each china setting is unique so if you love dishes this place will give you a fix! And then there is the food... First, you start with a vegetarian soup. I've been twice. First time - roasted tomato. Second - butternut squash. OMG so good. It comes in a china teacup, making it the perfect portion. Then you have a choice of sandwiches - my favorites include pear and stilton, chicken salad on puff pastry, and the classic cucumber. The chef includes little nibbles like toast points topped with sundried tomato tapenade, as well as house-baked scones with jam and lemon curd. The tea finishes with delicious cookies and chocolate-dipped strawberries. I got the Copper Mountain Oolong tea each time, but they have a carefully curated collection from which to choose, including the classic PG tips. They have as many decaf teas and tisanes as the fully-leaded kinds. EVERYTHING is made from scratch - even the butter. The owners do a lot to support local farmers, and that includes buying cream from grass-fed cows to make the butter for your scones. All in all, if you need a weekend getaway but only have a few hours, treat yourself to a drive in the redwoods followed by a tea in this lovely spot. Bonus points if it is raining...