Cheap Eats: Scones and a spot of tea at Clara J's

May 12—The terms "cheap eats" and "afternoon tea" don't usually go together. But we're here to assure you that they absolutely can.

At Clara J's Tea Room in Maumee, we enjoyed a lovely cream tea: a pot of fresh-brewed tea ($4 small) served with a scone ($3.50). This version of the traditional 4 p.m. restorative event gets its name not from cream poured into the tea, but rather from the decadent Devon (a.k.a. clotted) cream that accompanies the scone.

A simple but sublime treat, a cream tea offers all the respite and relaxation, just on a smaller scale.

One of the scone varieties being offered the day we visited was root beer float. You know we had to sample something so unique, and it was a wonderful vanilla-forward surprise. We topped the beautifully tender crumb with a dab of strawberry jam and a dollop of the rich clotted cream, in our preferred Cornish form — jam first — rather than the reverse Devon style. (Owner Gretchen Fayerweather told us she doesn't choose one region's tradition over another; she just wants cream, with no jam at all.)

She recommended a pairing of London Fog tea, with hints of lavender, bergamot, and vanilla that complemented the scone to perfection. We were very appreciative of her expertise, as choosing from the more-than-two-dozen daily options — out of a rotating stock of 150 — would have been nearly impossible.

Note that Clara J's also offers savories within our $10-per-person budget, with a classic broccoli cheddar soup on the menu at all times and another special offering changing weekly.

Regular customer Sandy Bowdle, who sat tucked away reading at a small table, heartily recommended the mushroom soup to us.

"This is my favorite place," she said. "I'm here five or six times a month."

So we knew she was a reliable and trustworthy consultant, and we're immensely grateful that she chimed in.

The fragrant, delicious soup was beyond exceptional. Almost as thick as the Devon cream and studded with tidbits of wild rice, it offered a richness and depth of flavor that made us crave a bowl ($4.75), though the cup ($3.75) we enjoyed was a perfect size since we were sampling other items, too.

"Isn't it awesome?" Ms. Bowdle enthused when we thanked her for the soup recommendation. Yes, it was — in fact, it's the best mushroom soup we've ever had.

Finally, we let ourselves be led into temptation by the dessert tray which offers miniatures for $1 to $6 apiece, selecting a sampler of three treats. (You could also order the Sweet Tray for Two: six items for $9.50.)

We chose the bright, sweet-tart, and spring-y lemon-berry parfait; a tender chocolate cake filled with strawberry cream and topped with luscious fudge icing; and the classic, beautifully crumbly (in the best way) lemon-lavender shortbread cookie. Fresh fruit rounded out the ideally-sized servings.

Everything at the tea room is made in-house (including gluten-free items), and Ms. Fayerweather likes to hire Owens Community College culinary arts students and graduates to produce it all. "They're the best!" she said proudly, as an instructor in that program who can personally vouch for their talents and creativity. (It was a student, she told us, who created the root beer scone we so enjoyed.)

So stop by the charming tea room (though reservations are recommended) — just look for the Little Free Library ("Take a Book. Share a Book.") out front.

Then enjoy a cuppa tea at Clara J's, where every day's a holiday and you can blissfully escape from the rigors of life for awhile.

Clara J's Tea Room, 219 W. Wayne St., Maumee, 419-897-0219, clarajsat219.com.