I'd heard good things about the food at the G & Tea House, a café/restaurant at Angrove Country Park, near Great Ayton, mainly from my sister, who had visited several times with her work colleagues, so on a (another) rainy summer Saturday, we went along for lunch. And it turned out we weren't the only ones who'd had the same idea.
The immaculate park, with its pretty holiday lodges, is just to the south west of Great Ayton, off the A173, close to the River Leven. The G & Tea House is within an L-shaped timber-clad lodge, surrounded by well-tended lavender borders. On a sunny day (or even just a dry one) it would be a lovely spot to sit outside in the large open air dining areas and enjoy a leisurely meal, but this was not that day.
The couple who arrived just before us bagged the last free table, so we loitered inside the main doors, opposite the counter, and waited our turn to be seated. It was clearly a busy day, and the team were under pressure as more people joined the queue behind us, while other groups came up to the counter to pay, but it was a little disappointing that no-one at least made eye contact for a good ten minutes or let us know how long the wait would be. Still, it gave us time to check out the decor (smart and in keeping with the modern country park-feel) and eye up the sweet treats.
Happily, once a few tables were cleared and we got to sit down, things vastly improved. The menu has two main sections – chef's choice, with options including soup (£8), goats cheese and red onion tart (£12) and sticky, crispy belly pork (£13), and a selections of sandwiches. There is also a choice of platters for £14 each – butchers, seafood and garden, afternoon tea (£20), teacakes, scones and cakes.
The drinks choice is also pretty extensive – as its name suggests, it offers an assortment of gins, as well as plenty of hot and cold options.
Both Claire and I chose from the sandwich menu – I went for the steak chimichurri on grilled sourdough with sunblushed tomatoes, rocket salad and chunky chips. Claire opted for the fish finger sandwich with minted mushy peas, tartare sauce and chunky chips. Both were £13.
Our meals arrived promptly and mine in particular was a feast for the eyes. The steak was tender, and the sourdough crisp without being tough. The chimichurri was delicious, but I did find the garlic a little overpowering after a while. The chips were excellent – I could have eaten twice as many, but the portion was probably just about right, and indeed, saved me from my greedy self.
Claire's fish finger sandwich was a hearty size, and absolutely packed with meaty fish, in nice, light batter, layered with the minted mushy peas on the bottom and the tartare sauce on the top. Thankfully, as she is not a huge fan of anything minted, the flavouring was delicate enough not to detract from the other fillings.
With a glass of wine and a cappuccino, the bill came to £36.40, which we thought was about right in today's climate given the quality of the food. Sadly, despite our admiring glances, we had no space to fit in a dessert. Service, once we were seated, was excellent.
People were still queuing to get in as we went on our way, so clearly, the G & Tea House is very popular, and it is easy to see why, especially given the handy location and extensive car parking. I look forward to returning, this time on a sunny day, to enjoy both the views, and the delicious food.
G & Tea House
Greystone Hills, Great Ayton, TS96RN
01642 750777
info@gandteahouse.co.uk
www.gandteahouse.co.uk/
Ratings (out of ten): Surroundings 8 Service 7 Food quality 8 Value for money 8
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here