Café & restaurant · Rouse Street, Tenterfield

Home cooking, a roaring fire and a garden full of roses.

Breakfast, lunch and a proper Devonshire tea in a heritage brick house on Rouse Street. Sit out on the veranda among the hanging baskets, or come inside by the fire with the books and the fine china.

Call 0402 391 090 Opening hours

4.3

53 Google reviews

Open Tuesday to Sunday
Dinner Friday & Saturday till 8:30pm

The front steps of The Parrots Nest at 89 Rouse Street, with hanging flower baskets either side

High tea laid out with fine china and a tiered cake stand

Devonshire tea by the fire

BreakfastLunchDevonshire teaFriday & Saturday dinnerTakeaway

The heritage brick house with its white lace-iron veranda, rose beds and lawn

The house

A place that harks back to simpler times

The Parrots Nest lives in a red-brick heritage house with a wraparound veranda, iron lacework and hanging baskets spilling over with petunias. Out front there are rose beds and flowers everywhere you look.

Inside it's all antique sideboards, patterned tiles, shelves of books and china cabinets, with the fire going when the Tenterfield cold sets in. Take your time and have a look around. Guests always do.

“The place to go to on a chilly day with a fireplace and cosy meals.”

Secret Sydney, on things to do in Tenterfield

Indoor & outdoor dining
Plenty of off-street parking
Disabled access
Baby change facilities
Gluten-free & dairy-free options
Groups & celebrations catered

The long timber veranda with lace-iron railings, flower baskets and tables looking over the lawn

Inside or out

Coffee on the veranda

On a fine day grab a table along the veranda, looking out over the lawn and the garden beds. When the weather turns, the dining rooms are warm, and the fire's roaring.

From the kitchen

Home-cooked, every plate

A good mix of breakfast, lunch and sweet things, with gluten-free and dairy-free options. The specials board changes, so here's a taste of a recent one.

Specials

subject to change

Fish of the day: Barramundi$29
Lamb cutlets$33.50
with chips & salad
Spinach & ricotta cannelloni$22
with chips & salad
Bacon toast$4

Swap chips & salad for potato salad & coleslaw if you like.

Desserts

Apple crumble$10
with cream or ice-cream
Fruit cake, served warm$8
with cream or ice-cream
Panna cotta$12
with cream and blueberry

Two plates of crumbed fish with chips and salad — Fish, chips & salad

A dining nook with a round table, brick wall and the handwritten specials board — The specials board, inside

Always a favourite

The things guests keep coming back for, in their own words.

No. 1
Devonshire tea
Freshly made scones, the way a Devonshire tea should be.
No. 2
Toasted melts
Chicken, avocado & cheese, or ham, tomato & cheese.
No. 3
Milkshakes
Chocolate and strawberry, the old-fashioned kind.
No. 4
Home-made treats
Including a gluten-free chocolate brownie people take home for later.
No. 5
Breakfast & lunch
Home-cooked meals with a good mix on the menu.
No. 6
Takeaway
A coffee and a home-made treat to take with you on the road.

Groups & celebrations

Birthdays, get-togethers and long tables

The parlour dining room seats a long table by the fireplace, surrounded by books and china, and the team are happy to cater for individuals and large groups alike. Planning something special? Give us a ring and we'll talk it through.

“The fabulous team at the parrots nest catered for my mothers surprise 90th birthday. The restaurant is a beautiful venue with amazing atmosphere and great service. The food was delicous with a variety of meals on the menu, all quiet reasonably priced. Staff were friendly & helpful with also organising the birthday cake. All who attended were very impreessed with the day”

Terry Johnston, Google review

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The parlour dining room with a long table set for a group, antique chairs, fireplace and bookshelves

Kind words

What our guests say

4.3

from 53 reviews on Google

3 months ago
“Stopped in here yesterday for a coffee and home made treat- a delicious GF chocolate brownie. Stopped in again for breakfast and took yet another GF brownie home for me and some freshly made home made scones for my husband. Home cooked meals , beautiful garden and welcoming staff. We thoroughly enjoyed eating here , cosy fire, lots of books and fine china on display. Worth a stop to enjoy everything unique this place has to offer, caters for individuals and large groups and does take aways.”
T D
3 months ago
“absolutely the best Devonshire Tea. My dog and I were so very welcomed. The girls/ staff are lovely, the service outstanding and professional with a caring attitude. The food is absolutely amazing. Thank you for taking care of us. The Property is an absolute wonderment. Roses and beautiful flowers everywhere. And inside! Do take time to look around- it's brilliant 👏 👌 😀”
Gigi Greiner
6 months ago
“Beautiful grounds & building. I love everything that is aesthetically appealing about the decor & exterior of this establishment. It harks back to more refined & simpler times. Indoor & outdoor dining available. We ordered a chicken avocado & cheese melt, ham, tomato & cheese melt. Chocolate & Strawberry milkshakes which were absolutely delicious. The cost was around $43 which includes the lovely surrounds. Customer service was great. Friendly & accommodating. Dairy free options available. Definitely will stop here on our way back home. Lots of off street parking. Disabled access. Restroom facilities which includes baby change table”
Ninny