Sally Lunn's Restaurant & Tearoom

Good Food. Very nice servers, but the owner is terrible. Not a nice person.

So, this will be a long post. I rarely ever write anything bad about a business. However, this post and experience needs to be posted. I have been a very regular customer for YEARS of Sally Lun’s in Chester. This week, and yesterday was a NIGHTMARE! It started out with me making a reservation with “James” for 6 people. The next day, I called to say I needed to add a person to my reservation. Emily who answered the call proceeded to tell me there was no reservation for me in their books. Then she told me I would need to give her my credit card number and information for her to write down in the “book”. The book is kept at hostess station and can be seen by any staff member. I said I was not comfortable doing that. Then the manager/owner got on phone and started to berate me about not wanting my card to be put where others could see it. I was told that they put a hold of $10/person in case no one show up and that “she” has a business to run. I then offer to come in and physically hand her $70.00 in cash to hold reservation. After some back and forth, she finally agreed. So, I got in my car and handed her the cash attached to a paper with the information for my reservation. I came in for my reservation to see the area we were set up in. We were to be seated in back area which was fine, BUT the table that was set was in no way big enough for SEVEN people. I asked if we could also use the two top table (only other table in back). I was told by staff they needed to call owner to ask. When they called, I overheard the owner make a comment that I would not be welcome back. When I asked about that comment, the staff said the owner would be there in a couple minutes to speak with me. Mind you, I offered to pay an extra $100.00 just to have use of the two top table. When the owner came, she was emphatic in saying NO, and that she had a business to run. (Keep in mind that $100 would have been way more than a two top table could possibly bring in for a lunch). Then I said nicely that the table we were to sit at was not big enough for us to sit at or have food at. She then noticed the bags with gifts I brought and proceeded to berate me in front of everyone saying that they don’t do PARTIES and that taking up her tables to open gifts would not be allowed. I then told her the bags of gifts were for my guests to BRING HOME. She continued to berate me about how she has a business and this is a busy time for her. Then she went into a back room by where we were to be seated, brought out a proper size table for SEVEN people. I offered to help reset the table as she was physically BANGING things around while continuing to yell at me. I kept my calm, and even with her nasty attitude, I did help to reset the table. She then went to the front of the restaurant and left us to be. When we finally got to sit in peace, the food was good and the waitress was wonderful. This is an establishment I have gone to almost WEEKLY for years. With that said, I will NEVER go back!!! I will give my business to a place that appreciates customer service. Goodbye Sally Lun’s!

Too much decorations.

Parking: Busy on weekends. You have to wait for parking.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie, Egg Salad, Salads, Desserts

We were invited by 2 of our best friends to your restaurant for the first time, we had great time , and the owner was very friendly was introduced to us by our friends.
Great experience will do it again.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Lobster, Sally Lunns Famous Scones, Desserts

I wanted to like this place more, but unfortunately was disappointed. Like similar reviews, staff wasn’t attentive. Not a packed house, and still took over 10 min for our waitress to approach our table for the first time.
The scone, good.
The lobster Mac and cheese… horrendous. It tasted like wet shells with some cheese and loads of butter and some lobster. I mean just NOT GOOD; I was starving and I couldn’t finish it.
The garden salad was fine, but they gave you lots of lettuce and spinach leaves piled on top of each other and served on a flat saucer… not smart.

It’s also a crowded store with lots of Knick knacks…. Personal preference if you like them or not. I’m not rating them on decor style.

Based on the food I had, and my experience, I wouldn’t recommend people to visit.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Sally Lunns Famous Scones

I read some of the reviews on here about the service/staff not being attentive… well after going for an afternoon tea with my family. I can confirm that they don’t have the most attentive staff.

The first red flag from our waiter was when I asked about their gluten free options. I didn’t know that each person would have their own food tower because everyone in our group picked the Victorian tea option. When I asked if my food would be separate because it was gluten free, the waiter responded back to me like I was an idiot for asking.

After we were done eating, we must have waited 15-20 mins before seeing our waiter. When we were finally able to get her attention, she never asked us if we wanted anything else but simply with dead eyes asked us if we wanted the check. I had to ask her myself to please clear some the dishes away from the table since they do take up a lot of space on the small tables. Again, she acted annoyed at us for asking her to remove our dishes from the table.

It’s a cute spot but I probably wouldn’t come back again due to the service from the staff. It just makes me feel better that others have experienced this and that I wasn’t overreacting to their lack of attentiveness.

On the plus side, they do offer gluten free options without extra charge which I really appreciated!

Dietary restrictions: Gluten Free

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 1

Recommended dishes: Victorian High Tea Sandwiches, Sally Lunns Famous Scones, Clotted Cream

One of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. The concept is adorable and the other tables around us seemed to have fun, but quite the opposite for us. We were immediately seated at a table and provided menus which was lovely, except that was the last time we had interaction with any service staff. Not sure what was going on but this felt like a very targeted prejudice against our table. EVERY waitress would dodge eye contact and even when you would try to politely lean over and ask for assistance they PURPOSEFULLY turned their backs to us, EVERY last waitress. There were about 6/7 of them and only 10 tables were occupied during our experience (we had plenty of time to keep track). Tables seated after us were getting their food before we finally made contact with one waitress, who had the audacity to say “I’ll go find your waitress for you.” After 45 minutes we finally put in our order of a prefixed menu, but were never brought glasses of water, utensils, or complimentary condiments for tea. Not one waitress even asked “has your server come over to you yet”, I just don’t understand how delirious you can be…and let’s spill the tea about the tea….tasted like a Lipton teabag was used when I ordered a white grape tea??? At that point (62 mins) we were so fed up we just walked out. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone for dining, but if you’re looking for a great game to play, count how many stains are on the tablecloths that are never cleaned in between parties…YIKES.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Love the food the service & the ambiance

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fresh Baked Desserts, Key Lime Pie, Lobster Salad, Lobster, Potato Salad, Salads, Wedding Cake, Victorian High Tea Sandwiches, Sally Lunns Famous Scones, Desserts, Croissant, Seafood Melt

I was extremely excited to have a high tea experience but this place fell short as soon as we were seated. They placed us at a table in front of the emergency exit with columns right next to it. No one spoke to us once we were seated or even brought us waters. Numerous waitreses had walked back and forth passed us and after 30 minutes of no interactions with staff, we had to flag down a waitress to put in our order.
Tables seated after us were receiving their food at this point. Once we finally received our tea, 45 minutes after being seated, they did not provide milk or honey as they did the other tables. We sat for 15 minutes waiting to see someone to ask for some but the floor had no waitresses in sight. At this point we walked out. The lack of service spoiled this place.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Pictures were better than the experience. Initially we had a very good and attentive server for afternoon tea with the tired food accompanying it. Maybe the staff was there only for the lunch rush, because they all left. The one server left kept rushing us to finish, something that is supposed to be slower and relaxing. Considering that we were the only customers there and hours before closing, we couldn’t understand why the rush, or the very bothersome attitude from the cashier and owner. Other than the scones, don’t waste your time. The mini cakes are mass produced, and dry. They could barely supply the jam and cream in very little cups for the scone

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 2

My wife and I recently visited this place and, unfortunately, had a less-than-satisfactory experience. Despite the restaurant not being busy, we had to wait 10 minutes before our server approached us to take our order.

We ordered the Basic and Victorian Tea, and I requested water as well, which the server acknowledged but never brought. When our tea arrived, I was served a chipped teacup and the dirtiest spoon I’ve ever seen (see picture). I asked for a replacement and received a new cup, but they gave me back the same dirty spoon. At that point, I decided not to push the issue further.

We also asked for some milk, which, like the water, never arrived.

As for the food, it was okay but a bit overpriced. The scones were the only highlight.

Overall, the experience was disappointing:

• 0
• Food: 6/10
• Ambiance: 7/10

I hope they improve their service because the potential for a great experience is there, but the execution was lacking during our visit.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1

Recommended dishes: Sally Lunns Famous Scones, Clotted Cream

The best tea house ever! High tea to breakfast lunch to dessert!!

I walked in not realizing what a cute tea house this was but I’m definitely glad I found it! The food was delicious and the service was great!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food is delicious, however the owner is very rude. Went with a few friends and two of the orders were wrong and the owner gave them a hard time about it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 2

In the middle of quaint Chester, NJ is a cute English Tea Cafe....I tried it today for the first time and was enchanted by the English motifs, lace tablecloths and apron-donned service staff. Delightful! The food was unique and very tasty, the waiting staff courteous and prices, as expected. However, I opted NOT to order a flavored or caffeinated tea with my lunch since I had ordered a savory food profile and thought it conflicting. Instead, I used one of my own decaffeinated tea bags (I do not tolerate caffeinated tea well) and the waitress kindly offered to bring a cup of hot water. Once the bill arrived, I noticed there was a $4.50 charge for tea & water so I asked if it is typical to be charged for a cup of plain water. She informed me the boss/owner/manager said she wanted me charged for a cup of tea. I then said okay, may I take one of your flavored tea bags then as part of that charge to take home. The boss/owner/manager came over and surprisingly proceeded to confront me in what is a very small café space “asking what is the problem?” which was very embarrassing to me publicly since everyone could hear her dictatorial voice. Her objective was obviously to disgrace me as a customer who would dare to ask for a possible tea bag to take along with the $4.50 charge for water. Everyone in the cafe had to hear her demeaning and ostracizing me and I found her behavior unacceptable and a contradiction to the proper English Afternoon Tea atmosphere that the ambiance was to portray. Instead, her behavior was bullyish, low class and a personal affront and insult to me as it would be to any innocent paying customer.....She was a disgrace to the cafe overall. Beware....

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Recommended dishes: Tiddy Oggi