St James Tea Room — Restaurant in North Devon

Have been visiting this tea room on and off for years, always our first choice for a cream tea. Today was obvious that it has new owners as didn’t recognise the two gents in charge. All seemed as was before until my fruit scone appeared which was obviously the one dud one in the bake and half the risen size to my daughters. No problem, asked the waitress to change it (make a lot of scones myself so want a proper one). She just went red and took it back and brought out one the same size as my daughters (and everyone else’s in the tea room). All good quite happy with that. Maybe a sorry about that might have been nice. Next moment one of the new owners leans out from the kitchen and shouts at me (in a tearoom with other people all sitting in it) to say the scones are fresh today and come as they come, rudely and not nicely at all. Everyone looks at me and I feel very uncomfortable as if asking for a scone which isn’t undersized and stunted is something unreasonable. I enjoyed my cream tea as did my daughter. Will we return or recommend as we used to? No I am afraid we will not. I am sorry I sent my scone back because it was undersized, and making them myself quite regularly, I wouldn’t have served that one to anyone because it wouldn’t be one I was proud of and likely to rejected if someone was paying for it. Was I rude? No. I told the waitress it needed changing because it was more like half a scone than a whole one. Was the gent in the kitchen rude shouting at me across the room? Yes he was. Am I some sort of rude bolshy woman? No I am a 50 year old nurse and foster carer and avoid confrontation where possible. I hope you don’t treat all your customers like this, as this tea room has been going a long time, it would be a shame for it not...

Disappointed in this lovely little tea room , I Felt for a ham and cheese toasted sandwich with a very mini side salad and half a dozen crisps was over priced at £10.00 . The bread was not of good quality, I feel the salad had no presentation on the plate half a dozen tiny leaves ,two half's of cherry tomatoes, one slice of cucumber with shaving of carrot. Others in my group had salad but again the presentation of them was nothing like the ones we have viewed in the past reviews. Again Disappointing. Especially for the price. Last but not least cappuccinos, we're the most weak watery we have ever had . Perhaps the staff who are preparing these should try them for them selves, so they know what they are expecting their customers to drink . This tea room could be a really lovely place , perhaps they should stick to cream teas as everyone seems to be very happy with them . Also I feel the toilet should be a bit better looked after . Waste bin needs cleaning and a definite No No to the dirty wet stripey towel that was there to wipe your hands on . Paper towels were provided . So take that towel...

Had a lovely lunch here 18/5/24 with my husband and daughter, there was plenty to choose from on the menu including vegetarian options. My husband had a jacket potato with cheese and beans, it was also served with a lovely side salad, my daughter had an egg sandwich which was generously filled and also came with a side salad, I decided to have a crab salad which came with the dark meat and light meat separate on the plate with a generous salad and bread and butter as well. All our meals were very fresh and well presented. We received attentive service from a very nice man who made sure we had everything we wanted. All the meals were reasonably priced and I thought good value. We would definitely eat...