We absolutely love the The Tea Room of Rustic Root in Beech Grove, Indiana! We stumbled upon this adorable tea room a few years ago, and every time we go, we fall in love with the food and atmosphere over and over again!
Here’s the lowdown on this cute tea room and gift shop that is somehow both downhome and fancy.
By the way, if you’re not familiar with Beech Grove, it’s a small city within Indianapolis.
What’s Inside
There are two parts to this building at the corner of Main Street and 7th Street. The first section is the Rustic Root retail shop opened by Tammy Hanna in 2015. In this beautiful shop, you’ll find:
- Antiques
- Repurposed Items
- Homemade Cards
- Locally-made Gifts
- Candles
The second part, The Tea Room of Rustic Root, was added in 2017. They serve sandwiches, soups, brunch, desserts, and tea, of course!
Walk-ins are accepted, but they do suggest that you call ahead to make reservations.
Food and Drinks
The menu has something for everyone and every age. There are 20 different tea options on the menu as well as coffee and a variety of soft drinks.
For lunch, sandwich options, priced under $15, come with a salad and choice of specialty bread or fresh fruit. The sandwich options on the menu include:
- Rustic Chicken Salad on Croissant
- Oven Roasted Turkey Panini
- Garden Lover’s Veggie Wrap
- 7th and Main BLT
- Sweet and Spicy Turkey Sandwich
They also have salad and soup options that include:
- Cobb Salad
- Salmon Salad
- Berry Chicken Salad
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Soup of the Day
Brunch are available until noon and include:
- Quiche
- Petite Omelette
- Eggs
- Specialty Waffle
- Breads
Children have their own menu options for $10 each. These meals include a choice of side and a cookie:
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- PB&J
- Gobbler and Cheese Sandwich
At the end of your meal, the waitress will bring out homemade mints that are absolutely delicious!
Our family has loved everything we ate every time we’ve visited. The food is always fresh and filling.
Lovely Afternoon Tea Time
If you want a total tea time experience, this tea room has several options:
- Cream Tea costs $12 per person and includes your choice of tea, a scone served with clotted cheese, and a cup of soup.
- Petite Tea costs $15 per person and includes your choice of tea, a sandwich choice, scone, and sweet treats.
- Princess Tea is for those ages 12 and under. The cost is $12 per person and includes your choice of tea or sparkling lemonade, 2 sandwich choices, a cup of fruit, and a variety of sweet treats.
- Grand Tea Time is $21 per person and includes your choice of 3 different teas, 2 sandwiches choices, scone, specialty breads, and sweet treats.
Desserts and Gwendolyn Lee Cakery
The Rustic Root has a variety of fresh baked specialty breads, cookies, and other rotating desserts available.
And here’s where things get crazy. Not only does Rustic Root know how to do brunch, lunch, and tea, but they also have Gwendolyn Lee Cakery inside!
Currently, you can buy Gwendolyn Lee Cakery’s cake by the slice while dining in the restaurant or order a whole cake ahead of time with 48 hours notice. This cake is over-the-top delectable.
We’ve had the cherry chip cake both in the restaurant and at home for birthdays, and it is the best cake I’ve ever eaten. And I’ve eaten my fair share of cake. Please do yourself a favor and go eat this cake.
Hours and Location
The Tea Room of Rustic Root is open 9:00am to 4:00pm Tuesday through Saturday. They are located at the corner of Main Street and 7th Street in Beech Grove.
The Pickup Truck
Are you wondering, like we did, about the iconic red pickup truck on the Rustic Root logo and how that fits into the tea room decor?
The answer is that the truck pays homage to the owner’s hardworking father who drove a similar truck as a “junker” during the winters when she was young.
Even though Ms. Hanna and her sister, Jenny Wensel, who also works at Rustic Root, were once embarrassed by their father’s truck, they now embrace this symbol from their childhood.
Another part of the tea room that is rooted in the family’s history is the “Rose Room” that was designed based off of the pattern from their mother’s china.
There is a quaint homeyness about this tea room and gift shop that stems from these sweet touches of family history.
First Friday
The Tea Room of Rustic Root participates in First Fridays each month. These are hosted by the Beech Grove Artist Collective and many of the shops and restaurants on Main Street participate.
At First Fridays, artists sell their wares and the shops sometimes have special deals for customers.
The Tea Room offers a special dinner menu on this night. We’ve visited during the First Friday dinner a couple of times, and it is just as lovely as visiting during the daytime!
Special Events
The Tea Room of Rustic Root also holds special events such tea with various princesses and cookie making with Santa. Make sure you like their Facebook page to receive notifications about upcoming events.
We highly recommend the Tea Room of Rustic Root for your next brunch, lunch, or gathering. Even though we don’t always show up dressed to the nines, and even though the Adventure Kids are not used to handling real china, we all have a great time and are definitely made to feel welcome whenever we dine here.
We’re certain you’ll enjoy your tea time as well, so will you take one lump or two?
One Comment