The Tuck Box
(22 reviews)Dolores St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, USA 831-624-6365 Website Owner?
Recent reviews
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Jubriel Meneses
This place is in a beautiful area of town. Very quaint, and the staff was subsequently accomodating. The food was very simple but not bad and the tea was really good. Also the tea-ware was pretty nice. They have a little shop where they sell local goods. It is a little on the pricey side, but it's nice to have the option.
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TJ
This is a restaurant, with a dog friendly patio in a traditional Carmel Cottage building, that also serves tea, homemade jam and marmalade and their own signature version of what they call a scone. It is large flat round unsweetened buttered cornbread creation that isn't crumbly. It's quite good, presented with jams and whipped cream, but not a traditional scone. They are the only restaurant I know of in the area that serves Welsh rarebit. They also have a pub style chicken pie, beef pie, and shepherd's pie. They have daily lunch specials, a variety of salads, and sandwiches- egg salad and BLT sandwiches among others. They make an excellent BLT. All the sandwiches are served with a fruit salad topped with whipped cream. It is a filling lunch. The business is cash only. Lunch for two with tea and a side of the signature 'scone' will run you about $40.00. Service is always top notch and the staff is friendly.
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Karen
I love the Tuck Box. It is such a quaint little tea room. The scones are not traditional but are wonderful! When we visit, we always buy a can of scone mix and a jar of preserves to take home. It's not the same as eating them at the Tuck Box, but they're still delicious. Sandwiches are yummy too.
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Cheryl Graf
My husband took me here while on our aniversary trip to Carmel. I loved it.
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Roseanna
I don't know why this is on tea map it is not a tea room. I asked for tea and got a tea bag. Very small menu, oatmeal, eggs, etc.. Very cute inside and outside, small inside though, had to wait awhile. and servers were a little rude didn't greet us as we walked in. Cash only I think they should have it posted.
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The Tea Fairy
The Tuck Box is by far the DARLINGEST little tea room I have ever experienced! You feel like a storybook character in the adorable cottage and the tea, food, and service are all equally wonderful. Don't miss this great Carmel experience!
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Elsa
My friend surprised me with a trip to this Tea Room. When I saw how cute the outside was I was very excited to go in and have tea. Well, my excitment ended at the front door when we we told 'Go away we are closing soon and there is no room for you anyway'. I was shocked to say the least. Then my friend said we had come a long way couldn't we sit on the patio. 'Oh yeah' was the girls response 'I forgot about that, but you can only order from this side of the menu.' When I looked at the wrong side of the menu it was jerked from my hand and I was told, NO ONLY THIS SIDE!! I asked about loose leaf teas and was told they only had tea bags!!!! What kind of tea room only serves tea bags??? No bone china cups or pots here, just white heavy coffee cups and pots with the tea bags still hanging on the out side!!! We were then asked if we would like out tea heated because it was rather cold out and we said please and to our horror the girl poured from a coffee pot some luke warm water and over filled the pot and lucky we were outside because the water went everywhere. The waitress had NO knowledge of tea and could of cared less if we enjoyed ourselves.
Service was lousing, scones horrible, and they use whipped cream!!!!!! Only thing going for this supposed Tea Room is location and the building. I do not recommend the long drive and the walk to find parking to go to this
place. My friend was quite embarassed she had brought me here and promised not to surprise me anymore.
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Tea Connoisseur
An acquaintance recommended the Tuck Box for afternoon tea. My mother and I made the trek to Carmel for my birthday, expecting a lovely afternoon tea experience. We were disappointed to find that the Tuck Box was not a tea room, but more of a cafe.
The food was good, but nothing that you couldn't find in a nice diner or cafe. The china was clunky and diner style and my tea was served in a coffee mug.
The building itself was quite charming and unique; you feel like you are in a fantasy world upon entering.
We were fortunate to eat outdoors and enjoy the lovely weather.
If you are interested in a charming lunch, the Tuck Box is perfect. If you are seeking afternoon tea service- look elsewhere!
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Elena de la Rosa
So glad we ignored the negative reviews and gave the Tuck Box a try on our recent vacation through Carmel.
The scones prepared with some corn meal were delicious, as were the homemade marmalade and berry preserves prepared by the kitchen.
The scone mix and preserves are offered for sale.
Would have liked loose leaf tea instead of tea bags, but the charming place and cheery service made up for that.
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Denise
We had seen this reviewed on '$40 day with Rachel Ray'. Our family loves Afternoon tea & High Tea, so we decided to take the trip. SO DISAPPOINTED, service was terrible,anything we ordered on the menu they were out of, so basically we got what they had,& when my husband only ordered a drink, we got socked with a $8.00 cover charge. Air conditioning broken, patio closed, I went to complain, but saw the 'manager'smoking a cigaratte by the back door & oven-figured I would forget it. very cute building, is all I can say.
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Valerie
I can't imagine a cuter cottage to enjoy an afternoon tea. Too bad the owners don't know what an afternoon tea is. What a disappointment. If you are in Carmel and want a nice tea service, walk a couple of blocks to the Carriage Hotel. I enjoyed tea in their patio next to a warm fire place. Tasty sandwiches, somewhat limited tea, but very pleasant overall.
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Marie
What a disappointment! No longer is this the same place we knew years ago.What was once a special, charming tearoom is now a very mundane, rather depressing run-of-the-mill breakfast & lunch joint. Service is lackluster and unfriendly. The tea was of poor quality and the food average at best. Another disturbing element in the mix is the lack of posted hours. Their sign says 'English Afternoon Tea', but the place shuts down at 2:30 pm! Don't waste your time or money here. You'll go away very disappointed.
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Bridget
I had so looked forward to having tea here, but was sadly disappointed. It really is not a tearoom at all, but a breakfast cafe. The tea choice was limited and poorly prepared. There is NOTHING elegant, fine, relaxing or unique about it. Even the tattooed servers were distant and unfriendly. What a shame that this place has become what it has.
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SH
l am sorry to say that my trip to this Tea Shop was not a good one. The outside of the building is picture book perfect,an ideal setting for what l was anticipating to be a perfect tea experience. This was not so. The staff were unfriendly, and the scones were stodgey and tasteless.l had traveled so far to Carmel to have tea here. It was so dissapointing.
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Kadie
This is one of my most favorite places! Although not a 'traditional' tea place, the atmosphere is wonderful, the food is exceptional and very English. The tea choices are lovely and the desserts are to die for! I have always had good service, although you do need to go early because sometimes they run out of the special. Highly recommend!!!
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BB
Very good food but very poor waitstaff. Very unfriendly and never even a smile. We like to be served by people who are smiling and friendly. Would definitely never recommend. Try Katy's - the food is more than ample and the service staff is so nice - they always remember your name and have a great smile to go along with a your meal.