Called into here for lunch on the way back from Southampton to home and what a gem of a place it is. Was very busy and realised it's table service only which was a welcome surprise. One lady was showing people to tables and another was going around taking orders from tables but in the correct order people had been seated.....thanks to the very good team work of these two lovely ladies. We were warned as so busy there would be a long wait but waited no more than maybe 7 or 8 minutes for order to be taken. Then our food arrived no more than approx 5 mins later. We ordered a sandwich and chunky chips between us as we'd already seen the size of sandwiches beforehand coming out and absolutely massive portions. Was an absolutely lovely lunch and freshly made and a good garnish of crisps and salad accompanied it. Staff were very friendly and organised and I'd highly recommend a visit to this lovely place tho it may be a good idea to book in case it's very busy like on the day we stopped there.
lollyp565
We went for the Christmas event with our 4 year old and it was brilliant! The entertainment from Picklebottom the elf was perfect and Santa was the real deal ?? highly recommend.
Sue D
Brilliant time at Tea with Santa great fun ,games magic show met Santa good food. Children enjoyed it
Jacinda D
We visited Groves last night so my autistic daughter (4) could visit Santa for the first time. This was the perfect setting, it was quiet, organised and very relaxed. Santa was lovely & patient and spoke to my daughter even though she is non verbal. I wish more places did SEN sessions like this. Would throughly recommend this and will be back next year!
jow800
The best breakfast at a garden centre restaurant we’ve had. We had the small full English and it was perfect. Lovely local sourced sausage and bacon, perfectly cooked eggs and lovely big chunky granary toast - fab ?
JDG1205
Nice food. But wanted cake. Went to ask for it and was told that it’s a table service. Never came to us to take the order. Shame.
Mark C
Excellent cooked breakfast, the eggs were perfectly done, sausages were perfect and the doorstep toast was nicely done. Good quality tea and coffee. Clearly well used by locals and travellers alike.
Caroline Beddows
Only had toasted tea cake and coffee but very good atmosphere good service and pleasant friendly
Emellia A
Came here for lunch, a lovely place to eat as like a giant greenhouse, lots of sunshine beaming in! Great choice on the menu, went for the soup of the day, and was delicious. The bowl was massive and came with lovely chunky bread. My partner had a tuna sandwich that was also giant but more bread than filling. Would definitely go back, quick service, although very busy, so might be best to book next time!
H T
The food is a good price but the cauliflower cheese was rock hard when arrived and when cut into almost smashed the plate, definitely wasn’t worth it for £12, had chips also which are dry and really pasty, not impressed
Having been served a very lack lustre prawn sandwich with stale bread and far too much margarine, I eyed the salad and could see it wasn’t look particularly fresh and crisp, but ate the first half of my sandwich before trying it. I unearthed a massive slab of slime, which was black, rotten bagged salad and slid it on to my paper napkin. It put me off finishing the rest of the sandwich. Mistakes happen and things go wrong, but when I called the waitress to show them the slime and explain that I couldn’t eat the rest now, she went to speak to her manager and came back saying I could have a cup of tea. I said “no thank you” being that I couldn’t finish my lunch I felt I should have some money taken off the bill. She went back to her boss and came back and said they’d only give me £4 off as I’d already eaten half the sandwich! The problem for me was there was no accompanying apology and I was made to feel that in some way I was at fault! They have a notice up saying they’re short staffed, I appreciate that, but don’t treat your customers badly when you make a mistake. I’d rather have had a good customer experience than the measly £4.
trescomania
The restaurant is lovely to look at and the breakfast was excellent. However it was so uncomfortably cold that we had to eat wearing our COATS! The staff were also wearing coats also which is probably the reason their welcome wasn’t particularly warm. Perhaps we’ll return in summer
Belinda Perkins
We only popped in for a hot chocolate! It was delicious! They do so many flavours and for extra you can have marshmallow and cream. pay extra for oat milk coconut milk.We will be delighted ? and will return again.
Karen Alner
Lovely place delicious food and cakes so handy to meet everyone and go for a cuppa or lunch
SandyDorset
Very disappointing. Had coffee & walnut cake. Very dry and over baked. Coffee served just warm., like mine hot. Staff eating food behind the counter then serving people. No hand washing! You get given a menu when you walk in and told to find a table staff not friendly. Overpriced for service & quality.
Called into here for lunch on the way back from Southampton to home and what a gem of a place it is. Was very busy and realised it's table service only which was a welcome surprise. One lady was showing people to tables and another was going around taking orders from tables but in the correct order people had been seated.....thanks to the very good team work of these two lovely ladies. We were warned as so busy there would be a long wait but waited no more than maybe 7 or 8 minutes for order to be taken. Then our food arrived no more than approx 5 mins later. We ordered a sandwich and chunky chips between us as we'd already seen the size of sandwiches beforehand coming out and absolutely massive portions. Was an absolutely lovely lunch and freshly made and a good garnish of crisps and salad accompanied it. Staff were very friendly and organised and I'd highly recommend a visit to this lovely place tho it may be a good idea to book in case it's very busy like on the day we stopped there.
We went for the Christmas event with our 4 year old and it was brilliant! The entertainment from Picklebottom the elf was perfect and Santa was the real deal ?? highly recommend.
Brilliant time at Tea with Santa great fun ,games magic show met Santa good food. Children enjoyed it
We visited Groves last night so my autistic daughter (4) could visit Santa for the first time. This was the perfect setting, it was quiet, organised and very relaxed. Santa was lovely & patient and spoke to my daughter even though she is non verbal. I wish more places did SEN sessions like this. Would throughly recommend this and will be back next year!
The best breakfast at a garden centre restaurant we’ve had. We had the small full English and it was perfect. Lovely local sourced sausage and bacon, perfectly cooked eggs and lovely big chunky granary toast - fab ?
Nice food. But wanted cake. Went to ask for it and was told that it’s a table service. Never came to us to take the order. Shame.
Excellent cooked breakfast, the eggs were perfectly done, sausages were perfect and the doorstep toast was nicely done. Good quality tea and coffee. Clearly well used by locals and travellers alike.
Only had toasted tea cake and coffee but very good atmosphere good service and pleasant friendly
Came here for lunch, a lovely place to eat as like a giant greenhouse, lots of sunshine beaming in! Great choice on the menu, went for the soup of the day, and was delicious. The bowl was massive and came with lovely chunky bread. My partner had a tuna sandwich that was also giant but more bread than filling. Would definitely go back, quick service, although very busy, so might be best to book next time!
The food is a good price but the cauliflower cheese was rock hard when arrived and when cut into almost smashed the plate, definitely wasn’t worth it for £12, had chips also which are dry and really pasty, not impressed
Restaurantji Recommends
Having been served a very lack lustre prawn sandwich with stale bread and far too much margarine, I eyed the salad and could see it wasn’t look particularly fresh and crisp, but ate the first half of my sandwich before trying it. I unearthed a massive slab of slime, which was black, rotten bagged salad and slid it on to my paper napkin. It put me off finishing the rest of the sandwich. Mistakes happen and things go wrong, but when I called the waitress to show them the slime and explain that I couldn’t eat the rest now, she went to speak to her manager and came back saying I could have a cup of tea. I said “no thank you” being that I couldn’t finish my lunch I felt I should have some money taken off the bill. She went back to her boss and came back and said they’d only give me £4 off as I’d already eaten half the sandwich! The problem for me was there was no accompanying apology and I was made to feel that in some way I was at fault! They have a notice up saying they’re short staffed, I appreciate that, but don’t treat your customers badly when you make a mistake. I’d rather have had a good customer experience than the measly £4.
The restaurant is lovely to look at and the breakfast was excellent. However it was so uncomfortably cold that we had to eat wearing our COATS! The staff were also wearing coats also which is probably the reason their welcome wasn’t particularly warm. Perhaps we’ll return in summer
We only popped in for a hot chocolate! It was delicious! They do so many flavours and for extra you can have marshmallow and cream. pay extra for oat milk coconut milk.We will be delighted ? and will return again.
Lovely place delicious food and cakes so handy to meet everyone and go for a cuppa or lunch
Very disappointing. Had coffee & walnut cake. Very dry and over baked. Coffee served just warm., like mine hot. Staff eating food behind the counter then serving people. No hand washing! You get given a menu when you walk in and told to find a table staff not friendly. Overpriced for service & quality.