Cottage Cafe and Tea Room Serves Old World Hospitality and Antique Elegance

Stroll under the vine-covered arch to the garden path and you’re one step closer to old world hospitality and elegance. Huge oaks with sprawling limbs protect the grounds at Cottage Café and Tea Room.

From those first steps, you’ll feel you've been whisked away to a magical world.

The staff offers a friendly welcome, as your gaze travels across wall-filled displays of tea sets in every imaginable style.

No corner of the café is left unadorned. Even the restroom offers inset shelves of tea sets, nightgowns and a mannequin dressed in a frilly dress of antique women’s handkerchiefs.

Owner Debbi Hunter rejoices in the atmosphere. Her childhood, growing up in Europe, was a journey of adventures. Her dad served in the military, which meant frequent moves and 26 schools for the kids.

“You love all the old things,” said Hunter, of being raised overseas. “The States is more of a throw-away society. I learned at a young age to love antiques.”

The café entertains visitors in one of its four eclectic tea rooms. Each room holds its own charm. The popular pink room, with flowing white curtains and pink walls, is fit for a princess of any age.

Draped in white tablecloths, the dining sets are fitted with traditional condiments and extraordinary teapots. Antique photos of babies dressed in their finery take you back in time. Various gifts, like specialty cards, tea sets, and teddy bears, fill the room’s armoire.

Hunter’s love of antiques sparked her desire to open the antique shop in 2000. The store is filled with antiques and collectibles of every kind- from her beloved tea sets and antique handkerchiefs to Red Hat Society hats, clothing and accessories.  

Staff member Denise Slattery started three years ago in the antique shop and now helps with the café.

In 2006, Hunter opened the cafe and tea room, which serves breakfast, lunch, tea, special occasions and dinner. All the food is homemade, including the scones and petit fours.

Hunter's signature dishes are her homemade quiche and grandmother's chicken salad.

"It's so rewarding, to cook something to serve it on a beautiful plate and hear 'Oh, my God, that's gorgeous'. It's like if you painted a picture," Hunter said.

The Cottage Café also serves its own special tea blend, called Cottage Girls Tea, a decaffeinated tea of rose hips, lavender, blueberry, red raspberry, vanilla, hibiscus, elderberry and rose petals.

“It smells heavenly. We also offer sample teas, so you can try it first,” Hunter said.

A year and a half ago, she hired Chef Eddie Von Schondorf. He cooks dinners, which range from chicken marsala, homemade lasagna and shrimp parmesan with pasta to rib eye steaks and filet mignon.

The café creates a beautiful ambiance for many kinds of celebrations.

Weddings, engagements, parties and even job interiews have been held in the tea rooms or in their backyard, which offers an open air setting.

A local church held a live who-dunnit mystery play at the café. In between courses, the actors tried to solve the murder.

“We love our Red Hat ladies. They visit for a garden party, and we put on a different theme and serve foods related to the theme,” Hunter said.

“Last month was Mardi Gras. We served muffa lata sandwiches and king cake. Next month is a birthday theme because they had a lot of birthdays in the month. The following month, we’ll put on an Easter egg hunt [for the group]”.

In the backyard, a princess-themed decorated bus awaits young girls for special Princess Parteas. The kids can dress up in frilly dresses and feather boas and learn the proper etiquette of teas. Older girls paint their nails and decorate their hair with glittered hair spray.

“For young kids, it might be lemonade and finger sandwiches are really PB & J cut into animal shapes. I want the girls, at least eight-years old, to try the teas,” Hunter said.

Hunter and her husband Sam were one of the founders of Largo’s Art Hop. They are one of the stops for this year’s event.

 “We’re going to have raspberry wine...It’s delicious. We’re going to serve it with all mocha and chocolates, which will complement the raspberry perfectly. I’ve been wanting to do the cupcakes forever.”

The cafe is a dream come true, a combination of Hunter's love of antiques, cooking and visiting with new friends.

"I am so blessed with the best customers."

With a lifetime of travelling as a child and later in her career at Wal-Mart, Hunter has found a permanent home in Largo.

"I've lived in Largo longer than any other place in my life. I consider it home. It's a small town feel, I like going down the street and seeing people I know," Hunter said.

The Cottage Café and Team Room is located at 607  1st  Avenue S.W. Largo, Florida  33770. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, or to make reservations, call  (727) 581-3663.