The Olive Branch

I recently had a family outing to Olive Grove, where we enjoyed a leisurely walk followed by tea and coffee before lunch. The only downside to my visit was the way the tea was served - with a separate pot and tea bag, to be mixed together at your convenience. Personally, I believe that tea should be prepared with boiling water in a warm pot, as this method didn't work well with the teas I drink, especially breakfast tea. Despite this, our lunch of delicious pizzas, salad, and ice cream was excellent. It would have been a perfect five-star experience if not for the tea service. It seems to be the French way to serve tea with the pot and bag separate, but who has ever had a good cup of tea in France?

I had high expectations after hearing great things about this restaurant being a fine dining bistro, but I was left feeling a bit disappointed. Despite the excellent service from one waiter, the overall experience was just okay in a pleasant garden setting. The food was decent, but I was hoping for a more impressive menu. While some may enjoy the Olive Grove, I personally was not wowed by my visit. I just wanted to share my honest experience and not deter anyone from trying it out for themselves.

We made a reservation for afternoon tea and found some aspects of it to be disappointing. The bread was too thick, with no crusts removed and not visually appealing. However, there was a generous amount of food provided and we were given boxes to take leftovers home.

Popped in with a friend for an afternoon cuppa. What a lovely setting, seating inside and out. Good menus choice if eating, but plenty of lovely cake to accompany just a drink. Friendly staff, will be visiting again.

Stopped off on a wet Friday afternoon and enjoyed the coffee and Christmas fare. Some of the shelves in the garden centre are very rickety and need some tlc to prevent breakages.