Ceylon Tea Centre, Tearoom/Restaurant Options

[*Guest Little Eva **]

I wonder if anyone remembers the Ceylon Tea Centre, an upstairs off-the- street entrance in Buchanan Street? This innovative restaurant-cum-tearoom was a revelation after the tearooms of Trerons, Copland and Lye and the famous Wendy's. Its attraction lay in the new-style salad bar and choice of proper leaf teas, followed by the most magnificent, decadent cream cakes ever!
This establishment was queued up the stairs every lunchtime and also stayed open for tea until 6.30pm. I have no memory of when it closed, but along with the Kenco Coffee House, it filled the gap between Tearooms and Stakis Steakhouses in the 1960's.
Eva.

[Tennscot]

My Wife worked there when it first Opened. Down stairs was Cakes & Sandwiches & upstairs Salads. Food was excellent.

[bluebell woods]

Hi little Eva............the Ceylon Tea Centre was in Queen St, and the Kenco Coffee House was next door. Greggs the bakers was on the opposite corner of Queen /ST and George Square, I worked close by. The Ingram Bar was also opposite. The food was lovely and there was no other place to match it. We went there for lunch every day, if there was a big queue in one, then we went to the other.

[*Guest wilma **]

I WORKEN IN THE CEYLON TEA CENRE IN BUCHANAN ST IN 1969/70 I LOVED IT THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD HEARD OF SPORKS ANY ONE REMEMBER THEM SPOON COME FORK AND KNIFE.
I LOVED WORKING THERE I HAD MY REGULAR CUSTOMERS WHO WOULD WAIT FOR ONE OF MY TABLES I WAS VERY CHUFFED !! WHEN I GOT ENGAGED I RECEIVED SOME LOVELY GIFTS FROM THEM. THE FOOD WAS FANTASTIC

[*tony phillips*]

As a visiting yank studying at the university in the early 60's, I found the Ceylon Tea Centre to be a necessary alternative to the institutional food. I ate there often, along with many ladies who ate salads so that they could enjoy big desserts without guilt. Thanks for the memories! -- Tony

[mrssnuffy]

Hi, well do I rememeber the Ceylon Tea Centre. Thought it was wonderful. My Mum and I used to have lunch there once a week. One time, we were just about ready to leave when she noticed that the diamond from her engagement ring was missing. She had just been to the loo and washed her hands, so they went to the trouble of taking off the u-bend but no luck!!! Fortunately, we saw a little piece of "glass" on the car floor mat!!!

[*rosemary.halley@nt*]

I remeber going to the Ceylon Tea Centre with my sister every Friday luchtime to alleviate the boredom of working in a lawyers office. Would love to know what dressing they used on the salads, it was very creamy but not mayonnaise. Anyone have any idea.

[*jmhayes*]

Our whole family were very fond of the Ceylon Tea Centre in Buchanan Street, Glasgow. We did not even mind the half an hour wait on the stairs to get into the restaurant. The choice of delicacies was absolutely fantastic. I remember especially enjoying sardines, rice mixtures and other salad combinations, etc. Accompanied by the compulsory brown bread and lashings of Ceylon tea. I've often wondered where one could get the recipes for such fantastic and simple foods. Anyone out there know of such a recipe book?

[littlebernie]

cafe,s what about the cafe called franci near abercrombie st
tea coffee icecream the italian ice cream 1960s

[kalgje]

I remember the Ceylon Tea Bar (as we called it). I must have been about 18 then, we felt quite sophisticated drinking our tea from a tall glass mug, no milk of course, salad with fruit and nuts, delicious then pastries to die for, great memories

[*lottie*]

My husband and I often talk about our visits to the Ceylon Tea Centre when we were poor students at Glasgow Uni. between 1968 and 1971. We used to save our bus money each week by walking from the Uni. to the Central Station, and what we saved treated us to our tea at the Ceylon once a week. His favourite salad was the fried bread in tomato sauce, and I loved the salad dressing. The queue was often half way down the stairs but the food and the lovely tea made the wait worthwhile. I agree with the prevoius poster - a recipe book of the salads would be wonderful! We once went to the Ceylon Tea Centre on Regent Street in London, but it wasn't a patch on the Glasgow one. Any prevoius employees know the secret recipes to the salads and the dressing?

[Rosebud]

What was in the Carott, cheese and onion salad to bind it together?

[ashfield]

What was in the Carott, cheese and onion salad to bind it together?

Welcome to the boards Rosebud, was it Evostick

[Tennscot]

My wife sez.. Food good.. Staff worked their botts off. one lady only , called Jean, cleared all of the tables,at the cash register you`d to total every thing in your head ,no totalizing on the cash register no price list beside the register.Tips few & far between. The late Gordon McCrae`s wife sat at the same place everyday. This was not long after it opened

[Rosebud]

Its a shame the only response I got to the request for an ingredient in the carrot, cheese and onion salad was"evostick". I'm sure somebody out there must know the answer. Please?