The Sweet Tea

I had heard mixed things about The Sweet Tea, a lunch restaurant that has been open now less than a year but probably around six months or so. It’s located in the Sweetwater Branch Inn and seems to be an extension of other activities of that bed and breakfast. The manager noted to me that when I dined there, the previous owner of the house itself was also dining there with some friends across the room from me and a number of the recipes were her own. The focus is on what they call «new century Southern», a term I really like and feel is appropriate for their approach to Southern cuisine.
The space being used for their restaurant includes the side porch as well as a parlor inside: it’s probably enough space but feels a bit unfinished or less than unified, despite the superb Victorian home its located within. The waitstaff is great: despite having several large (and probably unexpected) parties at once and other things going on, they were as prompt and attentive as possible. For most lunch-​oriented restaurants I expect a very high degree of attention and speediness, however, for a place like this that harkens back to slower times and ladies who lunch, I do not expect such. I get the impression for those on a lunch hour rush they will try to expedite things, but there is a sense here of genteel decorum and I would not come here if very rushed for time.
I had the fried chicken with grits and their special side of the day, which was a rosemary roasted okra. The roasted okra was a welcome departure from the standard options of either frying or stewing okra with tomatoes and was quite good. The grits also were most certainly well-​prepared, neither too runny nor dried out, and the fried chicken was expertly breaded and fried. This fried chicken was, in a manner most appropriate for this type of luncheon restaurant, akin to how you’d find fried chicken done in refined settings and places like homes and restaurants in Charleston or Savannah as opposed to the more heavily-​breaded, greasier, fried chicken of the summer cook-​out or dinner on the grounds. I wondered if they would present their fried chicken in keeping with the more country, heavier, variant but thankfully they found a recipe fully suited for their approach and atmosphere. I also had a double-​chocolate pie for dessert, which is more like a large round cross between a very dense pie and a cookie and was somewhat dry though very rich and flavorful. I am not sure I’d recommend it though. I would like to see lighter desserts, perhaps a lemon pie, for lunch but I know their dessert menu varies by day so some days they may offer such options.
Overall, I was quite impressed. The caliber and fortitude of this enterprise as well as the resolute understanding of true Southern cuisine really comes across in this small restaurant and I hope it won’t be overlooked simply because it only serves lunch and has a somewhat odd, or at least hidden, location in an inn. Based on the menu and what I had to eat, I can firmly say they’re following the hallowed trends of Nathalie Dupree and other scions of the New Southern movement here and doing a superb job.

Such a lovely place!!! I cannot recommend The Sweet Tea enough!
First, the food: delicious! I mean, so delicious that we’re agonizing over having to wait till tomorrow to eat again. We got flavored sweet tea (hibiscus!), fried green tomatoes, a catfish po’ boy with a side of sweet potato and butternut squash hash, and their winter pear salad. They could literally release their own cookbook. Not only was the food delicious, it came out quickly and fresh. And for an extremely reasonable price!
Secondly, the staff. As helpful as they were kind. Very attentive, informative, and sweet. The hostess (who I think is the owner as well.?) was sooo gracious, and makes you feel at home.
As far as the location, it’s reasonably close to campus, and it looks cute cute cute from the outside. A all around gorgeous place.
You’ll just have to try it once to be hooked. As for myself, me and my lot will definitely be regulars.

Trying to decide on a new destination for lunch, I stumbled upon The Sweet Tea. The menu intrigued me, a new twist on southern cooking, and there are so few good southern restaurants in Gainesville.
My Dad and I were seated in a quiet dining room, only three other tables were seated. A complimentary tea cup of boiled peanuts which were delicious, started off our meal! Tender, and zestily seasoned. We were off to a good start.
Parousing the menu I had to choose between pot pie, southern stew, or the southern sandwich. I was feeling sandwichy so that was my choice.
The southern sandwich is a new twist on the blt. Country ham with both a fried green tomatoes and a fresh red tomato. Fresh field greens topped it, and a smear of their house made pecan mayo melded the flavors together. Slices of buttered bread lightly toasted held the flavor powerhouse together.
The collards were roughly chopped and tender. Notes of garlic, and the savory salty kiss of a pork product of some sort was infused in the greens. A little pepper vinegar added after the fact completed the dish.
It is rare to find a good twist on classic southern fare. Rarer still to have it done so well. I look forward to visiting The Sweet Tea again, and if the standards hold I will be tempted to bump this rating to five stars. The Sweet Tea did not suck!

I love the historical homes driving along University Ave. I love even more that one is a restaurant. This was such a lovely place to have a intimate lunch. Great food and wonderful staff.

Absolutely wonderful. We were warmly greeted and immediately given complimentary boiled peanuts; I was sold from then on. The specialty teas look amazing: I had the mango mint and it was delicious. Then for my main course I had the southerner sandwich with a farm to table salad. The sandwich, featuring fried green tomatoes and Cajun pecan mayo, was crazy great. I could eat one everyday. The salad was light and crisp with a killer dressing. To finish off, we had the blueberry cheesecake which was beyond expectations. I will definitely be returning soon.

Not there yet… The Sweet Tea just opened and they’re still trying to figure it all out. The waiters are nervous and don’t know what’s in the food. This is especially rough because the menu is unclear causing customers to have lots of questions.
THE GOOD:
Catfish and tartar sauce were out of this world
Fried chicken was good
Peach gazpacho worked
THE BAD:
greens — meh
pimento tomato — pile of mush
cornbread — awful
completely insufficient parking
The ambience is not cohesive. The tea kettles are cool, but don’t go with the silk harem lanterns. The quilt pieces could work, but they are framed badly with stark white backing. The owner is certainly on her grind, working hard, but it may take a couple months for them to get it all together. The staff is definitely doing their best to make everything right. I feel confident that in a couple months, this place will be on point.