Forsyth’s Tearoom

Hidden away down Chalmers’ Close, off the High Street, Forsyth’s Tearoom has been trading for twenty years or so. I popped in for a visit on a wild and windy weekday.

Quaintly decked out with tea cosies and other touristy knick-knacks, this place is an Old Town classic. I think twee probably covers it.

Service is a distinct strength with the wonderfully welcoming owner an absolute joy. She kept up a steady dialogue throughout my visit and was full of cheery banter.

The menu has an all day breakfast option front and centre and aside from tea and cake I imagine this is what they sell the most. I was, however, in soup and salad mood, so opted for broccoli and stilton soup, in preference to lentil, then followed with a bizarre sounding cheese, peach and prune salad.

The soup promptly arrived, served with a fresh and floury morning roll. Made by the owner’s fair hand, it was absolutely delicious, so rightly joins the merry band of Soupquest exceptionals.

The main course was exceptional only in its strangeness. Tinned peaches and prunes topped lettuce, peppers and tomatoes, with beetroot, lemon and crumbled cheddar the other main constituent parts. It was garishly bright and some of the flavour combinations just about came together, but it was a profoundly odd confection. While it will certainly live long in the memory, it wasn’t a dish that I would recommend.

So overall, Forsyth’s was a wonderful little curio. The soup was absolutely first rate, but the salad was completely bonkers. Judicious ordering is definitely the name of the game. I can see myself coming back again, so maybe I’ll give the breakfast a whirl, next time.

Scores
Blythe scores Forsyth’s Tearoom
3.5/5 for food
3/5 for presentation
4/5 for service
3/5 for setting
giving an overall 13.5/20

I ate: broccoli and stilton soup; cheese, peach and prune salad

I drank: water

I wore: winter boots

Total bill: £11.90