Now open: Trailside Café and Tea Room
A tiny café with a big menu just opened up on the Frisco Trail. The Trailside Café and Tea Room caters to serious tea lovers, big and small appetites and our growing bike/pedestrian culture in Fayetteville. Located in the old practice spaces on Center Street (formerly Razors Salon), this café offers a full menu of teas, tisanes, elixirs, and frivolous concoctions such as root beer floats and Boston Coolers (rainbow sherbet and ginger ale).
The Trailside Café is open seven days a week and located at 546 W. Center Street. The hours are very convenient for Fayetteville heathens looking for a Sunday bite to eat (noon to 7pm Saturday AND Sunday), 10am-4pm Mon-Tues, and 10am-7pm Wed-Fri. There is limited parking, but drivers can also park in the municipal lot on Dickson and take the trail a mere block.
For anyone who has ever been in the hangar-like building that Fayetteville bands have practiced in since time immemorial, the Trailside is like the second-to-last scene in The Neverending Story where the world is new, bright and clean (minus luck dragon). Lots of plants, open windows, soft music and framed pictures of real and fictional people enjoying a cup of tea. A friend remarked on the experience that it was like going to a “hipster Country Club”.
While that’s a wry way of putting it, the surroundings hold none of the trappings of a stuffy dinner room, or even the pretension one might assume from the term “tea room”. You order at the counter and seat yourself. Side items such as boiled eggs, hummus, and toast run cheap and delicious. Vegetarians can go crazy with a menu full of choices, and even vegans will have luck with most of their made-daily, from-scratch soups. I had their special salad with Stilton blue cheese, egg and dill tea sandwiches, and a pot of white tea. My lunch companions finished off their Butternut Squash Curry soup and homemade bread before the tea cooled.
For those whose ethical concerns don’t obscure the menu, try the Pot Roast Bowl with French bread, tuna salad with apples, walnuts and raisins, or a cup of the daily soup with a Smoked Turkey & Mango tea sandwich (crusts trimmed off!) Expect a full meal with tea or coffee to cost under $10, at the most.
I’ve eaten at the Trailside Café twice since its opening last Monday and I’m delighted by the range of its menu and the whimsical atmosphere. Stay tuned for brunch hours!
Comments
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Jcx
March 4, 2009
I went there on Friday. I was pretty impressed with how well their act was together for their first week; the only problem was that they had to fetch the milk for my tea. Other than that, their selection is great.
Milky
March 4, 2009
This place sounds amazing! Will be taking a tea date there this weekend!
Total Bastard
March 4, 2009
So it won’t be a problem if I show up sweaty from riding 5 miles of trail?
Todd
March 4, 2009
Does anyone know the phone number for this place?
Amy Brown
March 4, 2009
It’s not listed on their menu.
@Total Bastard: though it may not be obvious in the article, my rubrick for awesomeness includes an “appropriate attire” scale from ecru mohair cardigans to road grime/slug trail.
Boggy Creek Creature
March 4, 2009
Plus the kids working the late shift are total hipster hotties.
Rawr.
roger
March 4, 2009
TG – the number is 479 966 4945
roger
March 4, 2009
PS the hummus sandwich rules, as does the potato soup.
Todd
March 4, 2009
@roger Thanks! Added.
Total Bastard
March 4, 2009
I ate there 2day. Pot roast was super.
Thx FF!!!11
Corbin
March 4, 2009
When they say “tea room” what sort of tea selection does that mean? Also, anybody know any places to buy good tea around here? I usually stick with adagio.com.
Justin
March 4, 2009
Their tea list is a few pages long. Greene tea, red tea, white tea, black tea, mate, chai, herbal. Stuff with milk, stuff without. Ya know … teas. As far as their suppliers, I’m not sure, but I’m bet they would love to tell you.
Chainsaw Riggins
March 4, 2009
Oh, the things I’ve done in those buildings. Good times. I think…
sofresh-n-sogay
March 5, 2009
lychee bubble tea?
Total Bastard
March 5, 2009
The bubble tea is a great idea, but maybe one of our Asian places on Dickson (of which we have several) could take this on as a way to stand out. I know I’d get one now and again. They’re fantabulous.
Corbin
March 5, 2009
Ok, that sounds really great. I was just curious if by tea room they meant tea meal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_(meal)] and only had a few types of tea.
Toni
March 5, 2009
Corbin: They have quite a good tea selection and also sell bulk. Also, I think they are open for suggestions and if you are a tea lover, you will not be disappointed!
I posted a few pictures on flickr here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonisonja/sets/72157614780318683/
El Duderino
March 13, 2009
Ah wow, I am getting old, I have “hung out” there with many bands over the years, I even went to my first Fayetteville dance party/rave there in like ‘93 and now it is a tea room. I love it.
Kadie Campbell
March 20, 2009
Trailside is seriously considering adding Bubble Tea…keep checking in.
Total Bastard
March 20, 2009
That would be super. Even if they just had like 5 flavors that would be great.
Or one, even.
I’d come get one once a month or so. Maybe more in the summer.
I love tapioca like fat kids love cake.
Kadie Campbell
March 20, 2009
Trailside Cafe & Tea Room is now a group on facebook if anyone is interested to join up.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58232386838#/group.php?gid=58232386838
a. brown
March 20, 2009
Every table in the place was filled at lunch today. That’s kind of amazing in these times. Try the hummus pita. I vote yes for at least 3 flavors of bubble tea: taro, honeydew, and milk tea.
a. brown
March 20, 2009
Oh, and pudding tea, too.
Chad Warren
March 23, 2009
I enjoyed your review of the Trailside Cafe and Tea Room. When riding down the path for the first time, the idea of operating a business that caters to this new traffic came to my mind. I’m going to go by there today and check it out. I’m impressed by how the path must improve the property value and quality of life for those who live nearby. I think, that used to be the apartment unit that was off in the back and now its the one closest to the path. It makes me proud to see that Fayetteville is poised to seize this shift in our way of living that puts value on the simple wonders we once neglected.
Deste Gem
April 9, 2009
*Correction to above article* The new hours are 11am-5pm daily.
Kim
April 10, 2009
Went there today and had Salsa Salad and Pepper Pot soup…both amazingly delicous! I wasn’t going to, but I also had a fresh out of the oven brownie that was to die for… Great food, cool wait staff, low prices, just have to find a parking spot and you’re good to go ;)
emma
May 17, 2009
if any one is looking for bubble tea, try pho quen on 6th street (or is that MLK blvd. now?).
i love this place. the people are nice, the pastries are amazing and the tea menu is endless.
Sita Scott
December 28, 2009
Well, it’s December ‘09 now and they are currently open 11-5, Mon.-Sat. (with exceptions posted on the door). The pot roast is my favorite and is available Fridays and sometimes Saturdays. Also, you can’t go wrong on their desserts! I eat there a lot!
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