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| - Clementine's is what I'd describe as an old-fashioned, country-style tea room. Not the ornate, filigreed, lace and satiny fabric type, but homey and home-spun casual.
In the 1930''s it could have been one of those places nearly everyone looked forward to visiting, just to spend a couple of relaxing hours sipping Darjeeling or Earl Grey and enjoying someone else's meatloaf and apple pie instead of their own---and likely comparing them, too---after a hot, exhausting week at the local factory or helping to till the last two acres. It has an authenticity that had me imagining what it might have been like back then, nearly 90 years ago---newer farmhouses (century homes now), church socials, sensible brown shoes, peach harvesting, calico aprons, tractors, general stores, 4H competitions, and radios the size of dishwashers. Clementine's is perfectly suited for it's historic locale---the Grand Pacific Junction---and is just one of several buildings with little shops, all within walking distance of each other. (Allow enough time to visit the Artist Colony, next door. Fun stuff. Didn't have time to visit any others, though, but plan to return.)
I'd like to mention here, too, that the small corner of Grand Pacific that we walked through was nicely landscaped, very well-kept, and the plants and flowers looked amazingly healthy. Pride of ownership is evident.
Nora, our 5 star server for about 4 tables (of maybe 6 or 7 total) in one of their three dining areas, was cheerful, friendly, VERY likeable, and even managed to water the indoor plants between her attentive service.
The colorful, beautifully presented luncheon dishes with little paper doilies under each bowl of green mixed-variety salad, were generous servings of two large salmon patties with creamy dill sauce, and a baked sweet potato with a side of honey-cinnamon butter, and the other a huge 2.5 inch high wedge of a spinach & vegetable puff pastry pie, with two smaller slices of pumpkin bread.
Our choices from their surprisingly extensive menu were okay---2 to 2.5 stars---but I'm pretty particular. The standouts were their DILL SAUCE, their sweet potato with HONEY-CINNAMON BUTTER (on ANYTHING---even your knife or finger...and NO, I didn't do THAT), their salad with HERB & CHEESE DRESSING (might be a Ranch-type---which I'm not a fan of---but theirs was very good, pale green, with a thinner than typical consistency), and their excellent, 5 star, moist, sweet, PUMPKIN BREAD, available for sale by the loaf. Luncheon menu prices seemed high---$10-$13---for the results, but likely due to overhead, being part of the Grand Pacific Junction experience. I can't remember, but I think most of the daily specials were less than that. Lots of fans, though. Check out reviews.
BAKERY and GIFT SECTION, too.
Down a short, L-shaped hallway is another dining room and a charming little country-type store with a refrigerated bakery case and a variety of gift items including small floral arrangements, teas, tea paraphernalia, homemade jams, and even jewelry.
We were disappointed with the out-sourced Spiced Blueberry & Lemon jam. Runny-textured with a very strong cinnamon taste (listed ingredient). Good, but not what was expected. Maybe it was just that batch, so worth trying this one---or another.
Found a silver-toned tea pot charm bracelet that I thought seriously about because it was so cute, but ended up leaving behind on the display hanger. If something isn't at least 14K gold, .925 sterling, stainless steel, silicone, or stunning sophisticated high-class plastic, because of sensitivities I have to admire mystery metal trinkets from a safe distance. If you're not allergy-prone, check out their jewelry. And if TEA happens to be your beverage of choice, you MUST buy one of those adorable bracelets!
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