Boston Tea Party — Restaurant in Exeter

Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you something. We go out to cafés and restaurants every day. We sit down, we order, we eat, and we leave. Most of the time, it’s fine — good food, decent service, nothing more, nothing less. But every so often, someone comes along who changes that routine. Someone who takes what could have been an ordinary meal and turns it into something you actually remember. For me, on this day, that someone was Meg.

From the very first moment, Meg didn’t just serve. She welcomed. She paid attention. She carried herself with a kindness that felt real — not rehearsed, not mechanical, but heartfelt. Every interaction, every check-in, every word she spoke was filled with the kind of care that makes you feel not like a customer, but like a guest of honor.

And that matters. Because it’s easy to overlook the impact of service. But think about it: food will fill your stomach, but people — people like Meg — they lift your spirit. They create moments. They leave you walking out the door with more than just a receipt in your pocket. You leave with the memory of how you were treated, how you felt. And that’s what lasts.

Boston Tea Party has good food, yes. A welcoming space, yes. But Meg — Meg is the reason today stood apart. She turned coffee and a meal into something far greater: an experience worth remembering, worth talking about, worth celebrating.

So here’s my word to Boston Tea Party: recognize her, appreciate her, because she is the heart that makes the whole place beat brighter. And here’s my word to anyone reading this: if you’re lucky enough to be served by Meg, know this — you’re in for...

Edit: One year later, I'm back for a group meetup, and was hoping the comments BTP made below to cater for GF had been put into place. Sadly, nothing has changed. Chips and hash browns are gluten-free, but the oil they're cooked in is not. Then why not invest in a separate fryer? Clearly, there is no interest in people with genuine allergies. They do have the option of Genius gluten-free bread, but it's so overly processed that many coeliacs can't eat it. I ordered a £4.95 green smoothie instead and got half a cup of froth and ice cubes. Really disappointing.

NO GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS! Having not realised there was an upstairs, I was excited to try brunch at the Boston Tea Party. However, nothing on the menu is labelled gluten-free (or a gluten-free option!). So I went downstairs to ask, and they told me that all the hash are cooked in the same oil as the chips (which are not gluten free!). No toastie gf options, no pancake options, no burger or muffin options, no sourdough toast options. Even if there had been an option, I would not trust it was gluten-free just because there has been no attempt to cater for people with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance. Sadly, I won't be...

We’re not easy customers and we are well travelled so we tend to judge… But! By not being easy I mean we have dietary requirements (no garlic or onions), we are particular about food (they offer free-range meat - wow, love that so much!) and sometimes we require extra ketchup;). We also came in with a (well-behaved and tired) dog but everything was a breeze!!! Loved the generous space, we were in on Monday so hardly anyone upstairs! It’s refreshing that the tables are not cramped, we do love our space when enjoying our food. And boy was the food to enjoy! One of the best burgers I’ve had, with soft and tasty bun (they get underestimated often) and exceptionally soft meat, very tasty! Loved that sofisticated sauce (no onions;). Chips were generous but I’d say average, but no harm done here:). I really appreciated the well-balanced approach from the staff - very sensitive, no pushy at all, gave us our space, only just making sure we were ok. When we needed anything, they were extra attentive and all with a smile. I did feel well taken care of, from food and service to the environment. I wish more of my eating-outs were...