Abbey Stores And Tearoom

Nice lunches and cakes with some Gluten Free options. Indoor and (beautiful) outdoor seating. Friendly service!

Had a ride over for breakfast on Sunday, seems to be a popular stop off for bikers. A bit busy but well worth the wait, beautiful full English breakfast and a nice pot of tea, will definitely call again. Called again Bank holiday Monday, another superb breakfast, I've also added a photo of the breakfast.

Where can I begin. My experience at this store recently was nothing short of disappointing. I was passing by, as a tourist, with my family and I was met with an appalling lack of customer service. The rude staff did not help in finding the necessary items I wanted and I was met sarcasm and ignorance coming from some of the people. Rosedale, I will always visit and come back (it’s such a lovely place), but this store? Count me out.

We visited this tearoom in Rosedale Abbey on a warm Bank Holiday Monday and found plenty to admire. The food was made to order and well worth the wait – fresh, tasty ingredients with soft bread and a good range of savoury choices on the menu. The cakes looked absolutely lush (though we didn’t try them this time). Drinks arrived reasonably quickly and, once it came, the food was very good – proper tearoom fare done well. Seating outside was fully taken, as you’d expect on a sunny day, but there was still plenty of space indoors. Unfortunately, the atmosphere let the experience down. The staff were clearly overwhelmed and under a lot of pressure, and it showed. Orders took a long time to be taken, and the two owners were openly stressed, frequently speaking sharply to staff in full earshot of customers. The result was a tense, uncomfortable environment that made it hard to relax and enjoy what should have been a treat. The food took a long time to come and the payment system also added frustration. Food is served at the table, but you have to pay separately in the adjoining shop, which has a £5 card minimum (cash preferred). The bank holiday and payment system led to a long queue at the till – it took ten minutes just to settle the bill which was frustrating on top of the delays in the tearoom. Using a handheld card machine would be a simple fix that would save time for both customers and staff. It would also help to make the card policy clear on each table so people know in advance. Overall, the food deserves five stars, but the service, poor systems, and tense atmosphere dragged the experience down. With some thoughtful changes – staffing up on busy days, reviewing processes, and fostering a calmer environment for both staff and customers – this could easily be a five star traditional tearoom.

We arrived at around 11.45 on a sunny Saturday in June and were helpfully warned there was already a wait for lunches. Very friendly and chatty staff even though obviously busy. So we opted for cakes and coffees instead, which were generous portions and more than enough for an early lunch. Carrot cake and brownie - can recommend. Lovely picnic seating area outside overlooking the green and surrounded by trees and stone-built cottages, very picturesque. Dog-friendly. Space for kids to play. Popular stop for bikers too.