The Nutmeg Tree — Restaurant in Lewes

I CANT SEE WHERE IM ABLE TO REPLY SO WILL ADD IT HERE… the date of my visit was 13th December 2023-apologies for my error that it was actually a Wednesday (not a Tuesday as I stated)-if that helps.. Thank you for responding.

My review on another site appears not to have gone in this website, so I’ll post it directly. I cannot remember the last time I gave an eaterie a bad review…. I generally only write in to praise. Was at the nutmeg tree on Tuesday last week. It was extremely quiet in the teashop-I was to find out why. Advertised on the door as open till 4. Arrived at 3:30. Told sternly ‘we shut at 4 no hot food possible as kitchen shutting… just sandwiches and baguettes or cakes, tea cakes’(paraphrased). Told the table to sit at though loads of tables free. Given menu and waitress so impatient were given 30 seconds to read it…. Sandwiches ridiculous prices for basic sandwiches… some priced at £7.50 for not even a bit of salad with it. Said we’d have cakes as not paying that much for unimaginative choice of sandwiches -went to choose cakes in the entrance lobby, which seems to annoy them. I suppose precious seconds were lost to the waitresses by doing so. While I looked at the cakes for a few seconds I saw hot sausage rolls, pasties etc in a warming tray. Yes-apparently we could have those. Pasty on own £4:50, with chips £11:50. Some chips then for that price I thought … oh, they come with beans too. Were served tea and pasties. Pastie plates whisked away at just before 3:50-seconds after the last mouthful hit my lips. Waitress came about two minutes later to ask to remove rest of the tea things(as she did it). Took the milk jug without asking-I took it back saying I needed it for the tea just poured(teapot not actually empty yet either that they took). Was told they’d leave me with the cup. Lights dimmed in the shop by about 3:55 and the hoover out right next to us though 90% of the cafe empty… not surprised in hindsight! Then after cup of tea finished we went to pay- by approx 3:56 as so rushed by then so unpleasant what’s the point… … had to wait at the till about 4 minutes to pay though about 4 staff in the area and why the seeming rush given us to then make us wait? Another snooty waitress. Paid and reached the crossroads at 4:08. Rude, abrupt, rushed, snooty, unprofessional service. Won’t go there again.. The Green Welly cafe on the corner are a lovely, friendly team. Unfortunately they were...

Lovely lunch, great service. Staff helpful and implementing Covid procedures effectively. It is a small entrance into the cafe with social distance markers on the floor. There was a group waiting to be seated in the entrance area so we waited outside until they were seated. A certain degree of common sense from the customer has to be implemented (unfortunately this seems lacking in certain members of the general public) with regards to Covid procedures. May I suggest that if there is a group waiting to be seated inside, wait outside until they have been seated rather than entering the small entrance space and consequently complaining on your review that 'got your arm knocked' 🙄. It's a small business which has implemented Covid procedures to the best of its capabilities and some members of the public have to take responsibility for their own actions and senseless choices. Lovely outside garden with tables sensibly spaced, tables inside have plastic dividers protecting customers. May be beneficial to take the bill/collect payment from the tables to reduce the flow of customers in the entrance area but felt completely safe and I have no...

We had a large pot of tea for two, which was ample. I had the toasted tea cake, and my partner had buttered crumpets. very friendly efficient staff. Very busy and rather crowded. Numerous tables that had been "reserved for lunch", so were unoccupied, and caused a incongrous delay in seating us; a bit Fawlty Towers. The long delay was a pity. Then there was the Nationalistic decor (complete with numerous Union Jacks) of the Vera Lynn room in which were placed, but wished we hadn't been; also a shame. I did wonder what a European would make of the room's decoration. Would Vera have approved of those pictures- particularly the large picture of a bomber in the cafe foyer? It hardly creates the right ambience for a tea room... There were too many Vera pictures in that room. The owner, has now explained to me why and I accept that this is a 1930s/1940s theme tea room. I understand that Vera lived in the village and the pictures and photos were all donated by her family and others. I just wanted to highlight that I feel Nationalism at the present time is a rather dangerous and divisive theme, perhaps some botanical pictures would help....