Shop Local: Emerson Creek Pottery & Tea Room

Hungry for lunch and looking to explore Oswego, I invited my mom and aunt to Oswego to experience The Emerson Creek Pottery and Tea Room which is located off the beaten path at 5126 Stephens Road in Oswego, just look for the red wagon! I have always been curious about this place and couldn’t wait to go.

Upon arriving you notice the peaceful setting of the gentle rolling fields as you pull into the farm. The parking lot was full, but the usual hustle and bustle of a lunch crowd was absent. Walking up the porch, past the rocking chairs, to the tearoom you knew you were in for a special treat. Walking through the front door we were greeted like old friends and led to a cozy table in the corner with another great view of the fields outside the window. My mom and aunt both grew up on a farm and were enjoying themselves immensely as the lunch chat turned into a trip down memory lane for them.

You would never guess that the charming tearoom where you can enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch was once the same spot that horses dined on less civilized fare. Converted in 2002, the old horse stables on the property seemed to be the perfect spot for a one-of-a-kind café. Their weekly menu offers a variety of homemade dishes including their popular Emerson Creek Flower Pot Salad, Apricot Chicken Salad Croissant, and Asparagus Quiche, all of which is served on Emerson Creek Pottery. They use fresh ingredients to prepare your meal. Their soups, salad dressings, sandwich fillings, and desserts are nearly all made in-house from scratch.

We started out with their hot spinach dip as an appetizer. The creamy spread was made with artichokes and goat cheese, baked and topped with Parmesan and served with pita chips. For the main course I decided on their signature salad and could immediately tell why it was a staple of their menu. The salad was a mix of greens, pears, sugared walnuts, gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries, and was served with a sweet vinaigrette dressing and the best carrot muffin I have ever tasted. My mom chose the ham asparagus crepes (with a side of taffy apple salad- need I say more?) which she raved about and my aunt chose the chicken stir fry which she enjoyed as well. Even though we were stuffed from the main course, we decided we could not pass up their dessert. We chose to share the warm and gooey Chocolate Pecan Turtle Pie which was served warm with vanilla ice cream. The service and price were unbeatable. The setting was amazing and most importantly the food was outstanding.

The menu changes weekly so make sure to check out their website to see what is new and if you’re looking for a unique venue for a special event look no further. Their newly remodeled barn and outdoor patio located in a peaceful country setting is perfect for weddings, showers, reunions and corporate events. Make sure you reserve your spot for their special holiday fair for the Christmas season on Friday, November 11th and Saturday November 12th. Open 10-4, the barn will be decorated for the Christmas season with vendors, music and cheer! I know I will be back to check that out!

After lunch we decided to take a peek at the pottery shop to see what it had to offer. Located inside a renovated 100 year old farmhouse the unique shop offers a wide array of handcrafted gifts and accessories as well as their namesake hand painted pottery. The shop also offers locally made hand-poured candles, greeting cards and local honey. Each item in the shop is personally selected to offer a unique and original collection of merchandise so be sure to check out it for the upcoming holiday season for some great gifts!

Whether you are looking for a great place to have lunch, hold an event or add to your collection of  Pottery, there is something for everyone at Emerson Creek Pottery and Tea Room. The tearoom accepts reservations Tuesday through Saturday between 11:00 am and 1:45 pm. To make a reservation, please call (630) 554-7100 or email them at reservations@ecreekpotteryandtearoom.com