by Janet Wilson
posted March 9, 2007
A longtime friend of mine has opened Beyond the Garden Gate at Streetside, a Tea Room located at 5706 Main St. in Ooltewah, and I have been lax for not getting by there sooner.
I decided to take a friend and go there for lunch recently. Creating a tea room should be a labor of love and I was amazed at what my friend, Jackie Jones, has accomplished with this building.
Attention has been paid to every aspect of detail in the two-story building. The patio area in the back (where you park and enter) has an inviting feel, featuring a plant-covered archway and little welcome signs.
Rooms are such that almost every room is a private area. The day we were there, a large “Red Hat” group was in one of the rooms for a luncheon.
The tables feature tablecloths, most with lace toppers, and napkins so nice I didn’t want to use them! They are more like satin than linen, with embroidery on one corner. Nothing has gone unnoticed. Tables are set with fresh flowers, crystal salt and pepper shakers, sugar bowls with cubed sugar and gold tongs, and even silverware rests.
My friend and I were shown to a table in the upstairs area as the downstairs was completely full, and the upstairs only had one remaining free table. Of course, I had waited until the last minute to call for a reservation!
We both ordered a glass of the Raspberry Iced Tea – which was quite good. The Garden Gate does have a full menu of hot teas, but on this nice warm day, we were both looking forward to a refreshing iced drink.
It was a difficult decision as we wanted to try everything (which means another trip). Sandwiches include Chicken Salad on a Croissant with Cranberry Congealed Salad ($9.50), Roast Beef and Pepper Jack Cheese on warm toasted Wheat Berry Bread with veggie slaw ($9.50), and Homemade Pimento Cheese on Sweet Buttermilk Bread with a side salad ($8.95). On this day, the soup was Creamy Vegetable.
The Salads were equally tempting – Baby Spinach with black olives, feta cheese, grape tomatoes, served with Basil dressing ($8.50), Mixed Greens with egg, tomato, bacon and Colby cheese with hot bacon herb dressing ($7.50), and Mixed Greens, pineapple, mandarin orange slices, diced apple, berries, and pecans served with fat-free creamy raspberry vinaigrette dressing ($8.50).
Both of us finally decided on the Quiche of the day (Spinach), and added a serving of Chicken Salad ($2.95). The Quiche is served with a generous portion of fresh cut fruit in lovely stemmed crystal dishes, along with a light dip. The Quiche was absolutely delicious. It was moist and creamy with just the right texture consistency. The plates are prepared with elegant presentation, including the delightful sugared pecans and celery stalk filled with the homemade Pimento Cheese.
By the time we finished, there was no room to try any of the desserts or scones with Lemon Curd or Raspberry Cream.
Advance reservations are required for the Streetside and Magnolia Teas. Each features Scones, Tea Sandwiches and a variety of other items.
Beyond the Garden Gate at Streetside is definitely a place you will want to visit. A nice, relaxing atmosphere for an enjoyable afternoon.
Hours for lunch are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Tea and dessert is served from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m.. The Gift Shop is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Beyond the Garden Gate is now open for lunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month.
They are now taking reservations for Easter Tea and a Victorian Mother’s Day Tea. Call for reservations.
READER COMMENTS TO PREVIOUS PET PEEVES:
“This just goes to show that you can't please everyone: Unlike the two peeves this week, I much prefer my check to be brought quickly; with the food is just fine with me. Nothing irritates me more than finishing my meal, then waiting for the check to arrive. It ain't that big of a deal to take the check back if I decide to order dessert or add a drink!”
“Music blaring over normal noise is deafening and I dislike not being able to hear the person across from me, much less two seats down. There are restaurants with fabulous food that I will not frequent b/c of this.”
THIS WEEKS PET PEEVE:
“When you ask for non-smoking and you sit down at a table (A-la-Steak-n-Shake) that is only separated by a short wall and some class right next to the smoking section. HELLO?”
“My restaurant pet peeve is when you ask for non-smoking, and they seat you at a table just across a wall from the smoking section. The big reason we no longer go to Outback in Hixson is that they did this two or three times in a row and acted as if they couldn't do any better. Once, we saw them seat a couple who didn't like their table at the table they were preparing for us, and then seated us across the wall from someone who would use the dying embers from one cigarette to light his next one. Not good for a kid with asthma. We haven't been back. The Longhorn in Hixson is good about seating you as far from smoking if you call ahead and tell them of your plans.”
cdojanet@ChattanoogaDineOut.com
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Rear of the tea room building
Photograph by Janet Wilson
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