Calico Rose Cafe
(14 reviews)19 NJ-23, Hamburg, NJ 07419, USA 973-827-5578 Website Owner?
Built in 1874, this colorful Victorian home and the carriage house are nestled in the foothills of North Western New Jersey. This unique gift shop was opened in 1985 serving Sussex County and beyond. The elegant Victorian Cafe was opened in 2004.
Welcome to the Merry Go Round and The Calico Rose Cafe! We invite you to relax and enjoy our warm friendly atmosphere while browsing through a charming Victorian home. Explore all the nooks and crannies and discover that perfect gift or home accessory at reasonable prices – sure to please everyone!
Our elegant Cafe and tea room is open for a delectable lunch daily from 11-3, afternoon tea and desserts from 3-4. Bring a friend and let us help create memories- plan a party here!
We always have a special sale – plus daily arrivals of new treasures to be discovered. We would love to meet you! Stop in soon!!
Recent reviews
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Breanne Kastner
Absolutely delicious! I've been going here since ever since I can remember and the food is exquisite all the people are so nice and it's really a wonderful experience.
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Kathleen San Martino
This place must have been designed with me in mind. The colorful buildings, including the purple consignment barn out back, were enticing. As I entered the Calico Rose Cafe, I was greeted with a kiss of cool air and heartily welcomed by the elderly Miss Pittypat (the house feline).
There are two floors of assorted tchotchkes and numerous country paintings for sale. My friend and I browsed for over twenty minutes and every space, shelf and wall was abundantly filled with salable items--surprisingly few were tea related. The store reminded me of country comfort; what some others might call country clutter - certainly a place after my own heart.
The tea room is spacious and free of the baubles that command the store. It is also imbibed with what I would describe as Victorian French country charm. The creamy white bean soup I ordered was served in a large ramekin and was delicious. I also ordered the cherry green tea. Since it was a green tea, I did instruct them to use water that was a few minutes off of boiling so that it would not be bitter. I like my green tea brewed between 175 and 185 degrees. The tea was delicious. The cherry was clearly detectable in the brew, which is not always the case with flavored teas. I wish I had asked them what brand it was because it was really good. Had they boiled the water, however, it would have been bitter.
I also ordered the tea sampler which consisted of four tiers of dessert-plate size. The first tier came with a salad, the second with four very tiny tea sandwiches, and then two plates of desserts. There were a bit too many sweets to my liking but everything was very, very good. Next time I will order a pot of tea, soup and sandwich. I am definitely going to come back. Soon they will open the purple barn out back that contains the consignment items, so that I’ll be able to browse that too.
Not only is the Calico Rose Café a tea place with Victorian French country charm but the food is good, the proprietor and waitress very personable, and Miss Pittypat so welcoming that I felt I could stay all day. It seemed like home to me and since we were the only customers in the building at opening time, I soaked up all the feline attention Miss Pittypat dished out.
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Frances Ann
You will take step back in time a little into a lovely Victorian setting. I would define the atmosphere as “shabby chic.” My tea was served nice and hot and all my food selections were delicious. I enjoyed the wide array of gifts available for purchase in the adjourning rooms nicely displayed. I did pick up a few items for myself. Plan to go back for more visits.
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Orchid Chai
Not that great. Typical Sussex Co. fare. Offers no vegan dishes or desserts. I won't go back.
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Karen Cucci
Excellent food and great service. They make you feel like you are sitting in your dining room at home. Great place to find unique gifts also.
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Ilona Formisano
If you want great food, excellent service and wonderful ambience, this is the place to go! When I want some quiet time and some comfort food, this is my home away from home. My daughters and I also try to come once a week for some special time together. Leslie and her staff treat you like family and always out to please. Thank you ladies for your warmth and kind friendship.
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K.R.
This tea room was a disappointment. We waited forever (on a very slow day) to be served. I had to actually go find the server in order to place an order. The food was mediocre at best. Personally, I think that it was just bad. Tea selection was limited. Decor is a bit cluttered, and somewhat uncomfortable.
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Cathy
The owner Leslie needs to take classes on how to speak to her customers without being argumentative and nit picky over the small stuff like chocolate cupcakes (was told she can make any kind we chose) and more than one drink on the table. A week before our daughter's party I was told to call up with each child's order. We were given the time frame 3:30-5PM. Rather than the parents pay for their tee and dessert I thought we could bring our own. I was not told of the rules and regulations about outside food until 1 week before the party. Instead of opening the kitchen was told it was just a child's party and wasn't accommodating the adults that I'm welcome to my refund. The owner Leslie became overwhelmed due to a simple fact of miss communication on her part. I felt more involved than needed to be. No one should go through this ordeal!
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Theresa
We love the Calico Rose, with its resident feline, Miss Pitty Pat, and the lovely people who work there. My 6 year old daughter and I frequent this tea room often. Last November, we had her 6th birthday party there and they did such a wonderful job. One of the mothers remarked to me that it was the nicest birthday party she'd ever been to.
The tea is Republic of Tea, so loose-leaf afficionados might be diappointed, but personally I like Republic and the food prepared by the owner is always good. Their hummingbird cake is one of my favorite desserts!
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Theresa Bergen
My 5 year old daughter and I had lunch here on a cold Sunday in March and had a delightful experience. The waitress and the owner were such friendly and welcoming ladies, we felt right at home. I had the quiche of the day, which came with soup and a tasty maccaroni salad. My daughter had a Pb&j sandwich with goldfish crackers an veggie sticks. Everything was artfully presented and delicious. The desserts are to die for...I had the Hummingbird cake. The teas are from Republic of Tea...a nice selection. I know some tea aficionados don't care for bag teas, but I was happy with my pot of Spring Cherry Green Tea.
We have been to this tea room several times before and will be back again.
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Tara
I thoroughly enjoyed the Calico Rose. The food was delicious and the tea was served promptly and piping hot! The staff were all wonderful and friendly, even offering my husband a cup of soup for free, simply because it was freshly made and we said it sounded good (and it was!). My 5 year old daaughter loved it so much that we're having her 6th birthday there (very kid-friendly, with kid-sizes pots of tea--hot or iced--lemonade or cocoa, and their own menu). She loved trying onhats and boas. I'll go again and again!