Maria's Vintage Tea Room in Colchester

Stopped her for lunch. Excellent service. Big portions. Lovely setting. Decent prices. Lovely food. Cheese toastie amazing!

Great lunch venue. Lots of choice and very helpful staff. Food is delicious. Plenty of outdoor seating. Thoroughly recommend this cafe.

Lovely little cafe good choice of food ,reasonably priced lots of lovely cakes to choose from , very friendly staff, the table are spotlessly clean, would highly recommend.

I discovered this café on a morning walk and had a coffee and fruit scone that was delicious!, Lovely staff and i will definitely be coming back!!

Little gem in Mersea that does beautiful food. Friendly staff highly recommend. We visit Mersea regularly so this will definitely be somewhere we visit again.

On Thursday I took my Mother (95) and my sister to this lovely Cafe, and had a lovely lunch, with very attentive & friendly staff, good home cooked food, and presentation excellent. As it was a nice sunny day, we had the restaurant to ourselves, as everyone else was eating outside! This is the first time we had visited since the new management, but, like before, amazing service. Well done, we'll see you very soon again.

Omg what can I say the new management at tea rooms are.amazing the service was first class well done sharp and family members you are going to make a superb business work the right way amazing food will definitely be back very soon and regularly ! If you want a.nice meal served by fab staff look no further love the new decor too!!

Now called Vineyard Cafe, we had the most gorgeous lunch at incredible, yes incredible, value for money. The food was great quality, the service was outstanding and the icing on the cake (which looked amazing) was the coffee was probably the best I have ever tasted. Out of superlatives now, enjoy your visit, I can't recommend enough!

It's always been good but now it's excellent. Superb food, excellent portions all presented beautifully and the staff are so friendly. This is now my number one place to go to eat on the island.

Having eaten regularly here for years I was dubious when I heard new management would be taking over as the food and service had always been nice!! Well, what a difference the new management have made!! The whole place has been refreshed and looks brilliant!! The menu hasn’t changed drastically but the quality and presentation has exceeded my expectations!! Plenty to choose from with a regular menu and specials (give the special Vineyard sandwich a try) and delicious homemade cakes!! What used to be nice is now delicious and beautifully presented!! It’s so difficult to know what to order as the food going to tables all looks incredible!! I would like to highly recommend the whole menu!! Well done to all the kitchen and front of house staff!! P.s the homemade coleslaw is a must!!

A favourite stop off over many a year on our Mersea walks but visit today, following a change of management and revamp, provided a very warm and sincere welcome. Coffee and scone delicious with unexpected finite touches. We will certainly be back to sample more fare and vino. Thank you Ian and your staff and we wish you all the success you deserve going forward.

Very good cakes and very attentive service. Stark contrast to Mersea Island Vineyard B&B next door...

What a treasure this was to find. Gorgeous food, outstanding service and beautiful wine. Loved it here! Highly recommend.

Staff friendly and accommodating. Varied menu and choice of roast. Good size portions and varied veg. Homemade gravy was to die for! Great choice of deserts. I had the crumble which was the best I’d tasted and a friend had a fantastic pavlova. Good price with excellent service. Would thoroughly recommend.

Lovely, if small place, tucked away amongst the vineyards. All home cooked food & no chips on the menu which is rare but quite refreshing these days. An abundance of homemade cakes on offer for the sweet-toothed. Really friendly welcome too. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Large portions of typically British type food using good quality ingredients, reasonably priced. Lots to choose from on menu.

Very friendly staff and lovely Sunday roast for a really reasonable price. Locally made wines on offer too. Highly recommended

Lovely little gem of a place. The tearoom was recommended by friends and it didn't disappoint. Good service and excellent food, highly recommend the Ploughman's but everything that came out the kitchen looked lovely. It was a lovely sunny day so every outside table was...

Found this gem on the way home from a lovely walk at the country park Lovely food and service - at little under staffed for the number of tables especially on a sunny bank holiday Monday but definitely will return

Tried to visit yesterday. The website, the sign on the main road, the sign at the entrance of the drive all said open daily 10-4 , however the place was closed. A few people about the place ( staff I would imagine ) but no...

A lovely light lunch.. freshly cooked panini, Jacket potato with chilli con carne, ham baguette..and was even offered half a potato with beans for my 18 month old Granddaughter.. drinks and a pot of tea.. all fresh and very nice.. friendly staff and pleasant surroundings...

Lovely location, great staff and the roast dinner is amazing! We’ve been to this restaurant every Sunday for the last 3 weeks.

There were eight of us for lunch today. A really large varied menu, something for every taste and pocket. Beautifully cooked food, quickly and pleasantly served, nothing too much trouble. Can't recommend it enough.

Don’t be deceived by the title “Tea room”. We had full blown Sunday lunch and sea food platter with wine tasting from their vineyard. They also brew their own beers

This is a favourite of ours and seemed the ideal place to go for our 1st lunch out after lockdown restrictions have been lifted and we had a great time. The owners have made a lot of effort to make sure you feel relaxed and...

Small boutique tea room on the vineyard estate. Excellent range of savoury and sweet dishes, including vegan and gluten free, with friendly service. Popular with locals and holiday makers

We took a group of adults with learning difficulties to this lovely tearoom, the waitress was fantastic nothing was too much trouble, and the food was excellent with big potions, the ploughman’s went down very well and the quiche was amazing! Faultless! A true little...

Sunday menu is great, Food is good, we go once a month, Can get packed so best to book and go early miss the noon rush

I took a party of 17 for lunch at Maria's, a few more than I had originally booked. What a great little place. I had known it was here for some time but didn't realise they did proper hot lunch time meals. I did arrange...

We popped in for lunch and was greeted by a lovely lady called Simone. She was very attentive and helpful. The food was lovely and served quickly. Would definitely recommend.

Fantastic home cooked Sunday roast. Loads of fresh vegetables and generous portions. Very friendly, relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable staff. Looking forward to my next visit.

Our first visit for a couple of months warm welcome order taken quickly lovely coffee as always and food as expected well prepared and very tasty we had the steak and ale pie and a ploughmans with ham and cheese the pie came with mashed...

First time we have been. We had lunch here, 7 family members. Food was gorgeous, we actually thought it was light snacks. But the special board was amazing. The desserts to die for. Staff helpful and friendly. Can’t wait to visit again. You can Finnish it off with a walk along West mersea beach a 10 minute drive away.

Charming cafe next to the vineyards and Island brewary. Friendly lady (Maria I think) delicious scones and you can buy the Islands beers and wines here

We arrived to an awful smell inside the cafe which smelled like poo. I thought it was kind of odd that she told a couple that they could not bring in their dog when it smelled so bad. We were snapped at by the lady serving because we were trying to decide what to have and she hadn’t made it clear she had finished serving the people in front. The gingerbread latte had far too much syrup in them - that it was horrible to drink. The cakes we chose were nice - but we will not be returning - we will stick to the Dog and Pheasant where they have far better welcoming hosts. Please take note.

Had the Sunday roast have to say it was vary nice my friends had dessert of apple crumble and custard and sponge pudding custard I had the pistachio ice cream ice cream heaven

we were staying at cooper beach and the vintage tea room was across the road we stop for tea and coffee and looked around therelittle shop very interesting

We visited here for Sunday roast lunch, whilst staying at Mersea Island Holiday Park 5 minutes drive away. Four adults & 2 children dined and we had a lovely roast dinner, with starters & desserts. The tea rooms are small, and it was very busy, but the service was very good, and the food was lovely. Must book to avoid being disappointed, as it was very busy for a bank holiday weekend. Imagine this would be even more popular during school holiday times. Choice of chicken/pork £10.95 or beef £11.95 - all of which were very nice. Roast potatoes, and a selection of vegetables. Very pleasant meal, good service, and reasonable prices.

I find the word vintage so over used now days. These tea rooms were nothing like I expected. The crockery was modern, the furniture just regular tables and chairs and the art work and decor was just like a village hall.

Had lunch here had vegetarian pinnini but not many vegetables inside. Sorry didn't enjoy this pinnini

We have been here a number of times. The food quality and quantity was superb. Cooked to perfection. We had a variety of meat and individual vegs.

I visited the tearoom on Sunday with a friend. We had a lovely time sitting out in the sunshine enjoying the view. The food was as delicious as ever; I always have the macaroni cheese and it is consistently yummy. We washed it down with a lovely glass of red.

Have been to the tea rooms on many occasions, the service is great and the prices and really reasonable. Local alcohol is served which is very nice and goes down well on a lunchtime!

great roast at Maria's... we really enjoyed a traditional beef roast here. other options on the menu. they are quick and it gets busy so do book up...fab.

The roast chicken, beef and pork were all excellent as was the fruit crumble and hot chocolate fudge cake - relaxed atmosphere and friendly service, as usual.

lovely tea served in a proper tea pots, home made cakes to die for and what a bonus with the owners own produce of honey.

Just discovered this secret gem. Food fantastic, beer & wine amazing, staff brilliant. Really clean, in fact spotless. Def the best eating establishment on the Island

4 adults and 3 large dogs needing something before they head off home. Dogs can sit outside so we were lucky as the sun was shining. Quick service and food was ok. Very pretty inside and very clean outside.

Called in on Sunday for a drink after a short walk along the shore. We were lucky to get a table outside as we arrived at peak lunch time.

On a day-trip to Mersea Island with friends, we dropped in here as one of our group was interested in checking out their home-brewed beer.

Seating outside ( Plenty ) a little small inside but manageable.. Nice and clean. Friendly helpful staff. A nice place for lunch and cakes.

It is a lovely place to have a drink, piece of cake. Friendly and excellent service. I had a Latte with soya milk.

We called in here whilst on our visit to the vineyard. We are so glad that we did. We ordered coffee and cakes - the cakes were delicious. I looked around at what other people were eating for lunch and everything looked appetizing and home made. We bought some of the local beer and only wished we had bought some wine as well but we were unable to carry it. Will definitely go back.

As I said in November last year, at the request of our members 20 of us were back again on the 13th. Don't let it be said 13 is unlucky. We had a most enjoyable afternoon. The starters of prawn cocktail were lovely and fresh. The variety of roasts were beautifully cooked. The vegetables and meat were more than ample. Also available were smoked fish platter, dressed crab, salmon fillet and quiche. Because of our numbers we do pre-order our requirements. Dead on time the meals were served, bearing in mind that all tables were reserved the service was brilliant. Dessert were varied from fruit crumbles to cheesecake and ice creams. I do not know how they manage to cater for so many. They also had some second sittings. It is essential that you book early for Sunday. Thankyou Maria and staff and yes we will be back for a 7th time.

Travelled up from Hastings simply to have Sunday lunch here again We went on Sunday 29th April 2018. A rather chilly day but a lovely warm welcome from all at Maria's Tea Rooms. Excellent roast lunch just like Mum used to make.! Good choice of beef, pork or chicken all with traditional roast potatoes and fresh veg with gravy to die for! Lovely wine & very reasonably priced with substantial puds. Can't wait to go again!

Nice surroundings, nice people, excellent food. best lasagna ever. Nicely served and reasonably priced. Dogs welcome outside. Shame on some of the dog owners for not picking up in the grounds, just hope it doesn’t result in a ban. Please pick up

A lovely place to have a lunch meal or sandwiches.And a glass of wine and they have there own wine as it is a vineyard as well.sit outside or inn and you can see the sea.very nice people good service.

We booked Sunday lunch just yesterday, its quite important to book as it can get very busyand it certainly was busy today however the staff were friendly and provided first class service with just the right amount of time between our courses.

Haven’t eaten here for a long time but based on tea and cakes alone, it really is so lovely. We usually sit outside even in colder weather as if the wind is in the right direction the patio area can be quite sheltered and cozy.

Lovely hidden away gem on the island. Excellent home cooked food, very generous potions. Lovely Sunday roast with home made yorkshires like elephants feet!, good bacon or sausage sandwich breakfast time. best to book at weekends.

On Sunday 26th 18 adults booked a meal for 1pm. This is going to sound like a broken record because this is our 5th visit in 2 years at the request of our members. If you read my previous reviews. Nothing has changed. Quality of food 10/10. Cooked 10/10. Service 10/10. I can't see how Maria and staff can improve what they have. There was one addition to the meals which 7 took up and that was dressed crab and were duly impressed. We had pre ordered our requirements as usual. If you want a Sunday meal, it is essential to book as it has now become so popular. They also cater for group functions weekday. Maria and staff thankyou for

Delicious food to eat,they do a loverly roast for about £10.95.lovely afternoon tea,also you can see there Vineyard they sell different wines,larger size, beers,honey from there own bees,for £4.95,from there Vineyard you can see the sea.

Popped in for an afternoon treat. all own cooking and to a very high standard. Can't wait until my next visit.

Stop here after visiting the beach, been here a few times now and have only sampled the coffee and cake. Delicious. Friendly staff, dog friendly outside would recommend 5*

The tea room is set in the lovely setting of the vineyard, and is quite cosy. We were surprised by the number of food options available for a tea room - it covered options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drinks were nice too; a couple of local mersea island ales on offer and wine to taste too. The service was friendly and accommodating to our baby and pram needs.

After passing the sign for Maria's Vintage Tea Room we decided to stop for lunch. The menu had a good selection of sandwiches, baguettes and paninis. In the end we all had sandwiches which came with crisps and a tasty side salad, which was very filling. We debated whether to choose one of the desserts (pavlova, sticky toffee pudding or cheesecake, to name a few), which all looked a good size and very tempting. However the selection of freshly baked cakes won us over. The cherry bakewell slice was delicious, the death by chocolate cake was gooey and the fruit scone and jam was enough to be a meal in itself! My only wish was that the pot of tea for two did more than the three small cups we got out of it. Our visit to Maria's Tea Room was also made so enjoyable by the lovely staff, ready to help out anyone with directions, local walking routes or any other advice. If I come back to Mersea I will definitely visit Maria's Tea Room again, hopefully when the sun is shining so I can sit outside in the courtyard and enjoy the lovely view of the vineyard!

Very good food but could use more staff as very busy, nice lunch a lot of options on the menu and great cakes... you should try it..

We have called in many times and found good food and cheerful staff in a homely atmosphere. Seating is also available outside in the courtyard on the edge of the vineyard.

Nice cafe/ restaurant/ tea rooms.

We also visit Maria's when we come to Mersea, and this time pre-booked an Afternoon Tea,

We'd booked lunch by the coast but stopped off here to look at the vines and buy some wine - couldn't resist a scone (me) and cake (friend), both of which were fantastic. Sitting in the sun you can just about see the coastline and the vines - we also saw swallows nesting in the eves of the cafe and because it's so quiet and peaceful, it was lovely just listening to the birds and the breeze in the trees. WE got there quite early but it did get busy around 1pm so agree with what another reviewer said, it's worth booking. They have rooms too, so i'm planning a few days there later on in the year by myself to just read, walk and recharge.

A wonderful place to spend a few hours at eating fabulous food and very tasty cakes. It's very vintage, quite small so booking is advisable especially at weekends. It's very popular because the food is so good. It has good parking overlooking the vineyards. Just a lovely place to take family for a bite to eat. Also there is outside eating if you have your furry friends with you. There is a good range of food available and their Sunday roasts are good value and again wonderful. It is also possible to buy their wine and beers on sale in the shop.

From the onset the staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was fantastic. The lamb curry and smoked fish platter were superb. Will definitely go back and look forward to our next visit taking family and friends.

I had spotted Maria's Vintage Tea Room on the way in East Mersea and wondering why we'd never noticed it before...decided that we would take a look on the way back, which happened to be lunchtime.

Owing to its location on a vineyard, on a sunny day it actually feels like you could be in the South of France, so that was me sold before we even sat down! And the fact that you can have some Mersea wine or beer with your lunch...it just gets better and better. The gentleman that served us was really friendly and helpful, taking time to explain the different wines on offer, and making my lunch decision for me when I was torn between two! Lots of lunchtime-y options - sandwiches, paninis and jacket potatoes, as well as some hearty home cooked meals on the specials board. We had two paninis - large portions with a very creamy coleslaw and attractive salad. When the rain unexpectedly came down we finished with coffee and jumbo pieces of cake - the coffee and walnut cake was great, Bakewell tart a slight disappointment (a bit crumbly and dry). Some outdoor seating, and you can book in advance - I'll be back.

As recently diagnosed as a Coeliac I was curious to see what gluten free food they do, I was amazed at the choice of gluten free Panini's, jacket potatoes and a few dishes on their specials board, not forgetting their gluten free Lemon drizzle cake, purchased a slice to take away.

As a couple we have eaten several times at Maria’s, either eating a light lunch from the menu or choosing from the daily board. We decided to share this gem with our family and booked a table for 10 of us to have Sunday lunch. We were not disappointed in our choice. We had a selection of meals-roast dinners, jacket potatoes and macaroni cheese. Nothing was too much trouble for the excellent waiting staff, they changed the order of potatoes for one of our party from roast to dauphinoise, gave us extra gravy and crackling. The meals were all consistently tasty, the individual vegetable sections were cooked to perfection. A couple of our family said they were the best roast dinners they have eaten at a restaurant. We had desserts, which were impressive and enjoyed by all. Before we left we were already planning our next visit to Maria’s, we are all looking forward to coming again

So glad we did, busy but accommodating, the lady running front of house was welcoming and helpful, she seemed to know her regulars! We both a a ploughmans, fresh and plenty big enough, good value, we also took two bits of cake away to have with a coffee later on in the evening, and again the next day they were so big and scrummy! All in all excellent certainly go back!

Lovely little tucked away amongst the vines and fields. Relaxing, intimate and the staff are lovely. We ate Thai Green Curry, jacket potato with Tune and Ploughman's. Accompanied by the vineyards Rose which was delish and a bottle of the Island Gold Lager which very good.

We stopped in for a coffee snack in late April. It was a beautiful spring morning so we were able to sit outside and take in the view of the vineyard and a bit beyond, the seacoast. Everyone enjoyed their various coffee selections: cappucinos, americanos as well as breakfast snacks. The location was ideal. Would love to go back soon if I didn't live in the States!!

Service was good. Seafood platter very very disappointing. Veg soup lovely. Cakes to take away dry and rejected by kids which is a bad sign.

On Sunday 23rd we visited Maria's tearooms for the fourth time as a club. It was at the members request because of previous visits. The food was pre-ordered for 12.30pm. The meal was served exactly on time.I sound as if I am repeating myself.The tables inside and out were all taken. Mike and the waitresses provided top rate service with nothing being too much trouble. The food was cooked to perfection and was top quality. The roasts ample meat,Yorkshire puddings,roast potatoes with a side dish of five veg. Some had smoked fish platter which was a lovely dish of different fish with accompaniments. The Salmon fillet with a sweet chilli sauce. Very nice.The desserts were very varied and ample. Strawberry Pavlova. Cheesecakes. Crumbles. I had ice cream and have never tasted Strawberry ice-cream like it. High quality for sure. Vegetarians are catered for with quiches etc. A lovely meal thanks to Maria and staff. Highly recommended but Sundays you need to book.

Lovely fresh home cooked food. We have eaten here several times-meals, snacks,Sunday lunch and the service is good and the food is very enjoyable. Watch your bill though- the last 3 times I have been over charged by over £1 each time always by the older gentleman who serves. The fact that it keeps happening is too much of a coincidence and it is getting embarrassing having to challenge the bill each time.

staying in mersea so when out and about called here for afternoon tea. good service and nice food . we saw a large group have a good selection of cakes /tea.

Stumbled across this hidden gem by accident whilst walking the dogs with family. Wow! We were spoilt for choice with the fresh cakes and biscuits but I was glad I went for the lemon drizzle cake which was light and fresh. I was told the chocolate cake was wonderfully rich and gooey too! They certainly don't scrimp on portion sizes and the service and atmosphere is friendly. Would have taken some photos but we gobbled our treats down too quickly!!!

We have very high standards when it comes to food, but could nt fault the Sunday roast yesterday. Homemade yorkshires, lots of tender meat and 5 vegetables. Amazing quality excellent service. The desserts are homemade too. Give it a go, you won t be disappointed.

Lovely choice of light lunches and main meals with specials most days . Cakes are all homemade and excellent quality Coffee is very nice and so are the afternoon teas .

Once again we decided to have our pre Christmas meal here and as always it was great.

Found the tea room by chance whilst exploring Mersea Island, Decided to have a snack while there and very glad we did. Nice ambiance, very pleasant staff. Very tasty sandwich and a piping hot coffee. Menu has a good reasonably priced choice and I am led to believe that their Sunday roast is excellent.

Popped in for breakfast. Great service and one of the best Bacon and sausage sandwiches I have had. Good value for money with very friendly service. Well worth the visit.

This is the third time in about a year we have visited these tearooms for Sunday lunch.There were 15 of us today ordering various meals, which we had given prior notice of requirements. The food varied between the usual roasts, smoked fish platter and salmon fillet. These meals were of top quality food, cooked to perfection and served efficiently by two lovely waitresses.They were certainly on the ample side with all the extras. This tearoom has never let us down hence the third visit.Can I just say to Maria and staff. Well done and thankyou for making the afternoon so enjoyable.Highly recommended. Suggest book for Sunday meals.

This is a popular tea room offering wonderful lunches and afternoon teas. The cakes are fabulous and you get very large slices. Sitting outside on a beautiful sunny day overlooking the vineyards and out to sea is glorious and should not be missed. They also offer Sunday roast but you need to book. You can sit inside too which is adorned by flowery tea cups and plates and typically vintage. We had lunch but decided to take our scones home with us which were very nicely parcelled up with cream and jam, bliss. It's a bit hard to find if you don't know the area and is situated on The Vineyards where they make their own wines and beers. Well worth a visit.

My husband and I came across this tea room whilst we were walking around Mersea Island. It is situated in a vineyard and of the main road. We couldn't believe that at 3 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon how busy it was, people just kept on coming and having to sit outside! We only had a drink as we had already eaten but the coffee was first rate. I then bought my mother back in the week and again with my eldest son at the weekend. My mother also came over with a friend. The food on all occasions was excellent, good quality, portions and price and we'll presented. The staff were very friendly and efficient. It's in a lovely location and I would imagine lovely in the summer. Definitely on my favourites list.

We visit the tea room several times everytime we holiday on the island, which is twice this year. Just come back from the last visit. The tea room itself is lovely, very nicely decorated with a vintage feel to it. The staff have always been friendly and welcoming. There is good outside seating when the weather is nice. There is a good array of choices on the menu, whether it be for lunch, a snack or a yummy treat. The cakes are scrummy as is the cream tea. Everything has good sized portions and presented really well. Can't wait to go back again.

Everything about this place is just right - the delightful location, the excellent food and drink and the presentation of it, the pleasantness of the staff. I would (and do) recommend it to everyone.

I met up with friends today for a coffee and light lunch. We had a lovely long chat (2 hours plus). The weather was perfect and we sat outside to eat. Coffee was great followed by panini and sandwiches. All were presented with salad and crisps. There was a great choice of cooked lunches on the boards. The service was excellent. This was our second visit and I'm sure there will be more.

Called in for brunch after completing a 6 mile walk around East Mersea. We both had a very tasty BLT baguette with salad, followed by some delicious home made cake, washed down by one of the great Mersea beers - Yo Boy for me & Oyster for my husband.

Maria and her staff are very friendly and helpful. The food is amazing and if you are sitting outside the view is great. I visited today with my granddaughter and we both had Mac N Cheese and strawberry pavlova both were very fresh and tasty. The pavlova was homemade and huge with strawberries and strawberry coulee. I'm going back next week with four more family members.

The tea room is in a nice spot, next to the vineyard on Mersea Island near Colchester. We had a lovely prawn cocktail and a very good tuna baguette, washed down with the island's rose wine. A touch pricey if you have it in (£15) but cheaper to take away (£11).

Restaurant a bit claustrophobic and dated, although I understand it's a vintage tea room, it just seemed a bit chintzy. Lovely clotted cream scones and tea though, would visit again.