12-7-12
This weeks restaurant is Columbia Kate's Tea House in Old Town Columbia.
Nestled just one block behind the main drag of Old Town, Columbia Kate's Tea House is a gem of a find.
'What if I don't like tea?' you ask...well not to worry as the menu is so deliciously varied and rich that there is surely something that will tempt your senses and please your palate.
Entering through the door your are greeted with a taste of old England mixed with tantalizing smells and old country charm. Every available wall space is utilized with pictures, tea saucers and cups as well as arts and crafts handmade by locals and for sale.
Greeted quickly by a server you find yourself seated at a table for two (or four or six etc) with a collection of mismatched tea cups and saucers awaiting your choice of teas. Apple spice for me please. Whereas my shopping partner in crime Maggie ordered an apricot something or other that when served smelled simply delicious...I wouldn't know though as sharing is not much of an option here...once you have what you have ordered and taste it sharing is not on your mind.
We did however order a scone to share. An english toffee and nut scone. Decadent, flaky and dense at the same time. Served with butter, sweet cream and jam. I cut..she chose - fair. Probably the best scone I had ever had.
Though the menu had much to offer along the lines of quiche, chicken pot pie, sandwiches and salads, I chose the spinach ricotta quiche. Definitely NOT a mistake. It was literally filled with spinach and cheese and so large I was fairly certain I would not be able to finish it. It was served with a baby green salad sprinkled with cranberries and Gorgonzola crumbles and drizzled with a raspberry vinaigrette. Maggie had a sandwich combination... unfortunately I did not spend much time perusing or admiring her selection as I was too involved in consuming my own.
As if that was not enough our waitress kindly handed us a dessert menu. Lemon bars, macaroons, cheesecake, bread pudding and so much more. Where does one start? I choose the lemon bar and Maggie chose the Praline pecan pear pie...say that ten times fast!
So at the beginning of the feast I was certain that I could not eat it all...let me tell you, there was not one crumb left on either my lunch plate nor my dessert plate. Delicious to the last crumb.
A definite 'go to' restaurant if you are in the area. If you are not in the area I would make the effort to head that direction. And since it is a tea house you can have your tea dream fulfilled and purchase some to take home.
There is outside dining with a heater. It is wonderful to look out at the garden, but bring a sweater. This is not 'quick' dining. Kate's is a sit-down-enjoy-the-scenery- and-ambiance kind of restaurant. Relax and let the tea you have chosen work its magic.
By, Charity Maness
For more information about Kate's Coffee House visit http://www.columbiakates.com/
(My little disclaimer: 'To dine or not to dine' is meant to be a
helpful - and humorous - informational piece only. I receive no monetary
compensation for this column nor do I endorse any one eatery. This
is simply my opinion. My tastes will be different from others and I
readily admit that I have no culinary background, but I am pretty
confident I know when food is cooked correctly or not, whether a drink
is poured well or not and especially whether wait staff is
first-rate or in need of a career change.)
