Tea Time: Sipping a cuppa at Mad Hatters in Anoka

Take the kiddos - and maybe grandma, too -- to Mad Hatters Restaurant and Tea Room for a delightful lunch out.

Looking for something special to do with Great-Grandma, we stumbled upon the tea room online, and I knew we needed to visit it. I've admired the historic Woodbury House from Ferry Street for years.

We felt like we were stepping off the beaten trail into a mysterious and lovely house on the hill when we pulled up on a Friday afternoon. The leaves were falling and it was slightly rainy, adding up to the perfect day for tea. We followed the signs that promised we were almost there - and stepped inside to a Wonderland. It's simply gorgeous inside. The owners, Tim and Liz Koch, did a fantastic job renovating the 155-year-old house. We were seated in a wood-paneled room with a fireplace and amazing tin ceiling.

The tea arrived in cute white teapots with the cup underneath. The kids simply loved them, and polished off the tea quickly. It was flavorful tea - well worth the slightly steep $3.50.

We opted to dine off the regular lunch menu instead of doing one of their fancy tea services because of our dietary restrictions. It looks like they accommodate gluten-free, but I didn't know if they could also do dairy-free.

The Woodbury House, designed in the Greek Revival and Federal styles in 1857, is the third-oldest building in the county, said Todd Mahon, executive director of the Anoka County Historical Society. Dwight Woodbury, who bought the two-story house in 1860 from Anoka’s first doctor, was a state legislator. He helped develop Anoka with his water-powered flour and sawmills on the Rum River where City Hall now sits. During the Civil War, Union army volunteers rested at the house on the way to Fort Snelling.

Mahon said Anoka area people have a deep interest in the old mansion, owned from 1985 to 2006 by former legislator and civic leader John Weaver....

At least two Minnesota governors, writer Ignatius Donnelly and several early legislators have visited the house. It sheltered area settlers who fled their outlying homes during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. The home was added in 1979 to the National Registry of Historic Places. ...

Anoka County’s oldest building is the Banfill-Locke farm house in Fridley, now housing an arts center. It was built in 1847 as an inn and tavern on the Red River Trail, which ran up the Mississippi and through Anoka, Mahon said. The second-oldest building is also in Anoka. The Shaw-Hammons House, built in 1852, sits a few blocks north of the Woodbury house. 

From The Star Tribune

After lunch, we wandered around to check out the whole building. Don't miss the bathrooms - they are simply adorable! Upstairs is a cute shop with fantastic hats, tea, and more. Some of the proceeds benefit cancer research, because Liz's former partner died a few years ago of cancer. I am always impressed with business owners who give to worthy causes. (And if you're interested in a worthy cause, check out Team Yarn - Head Huggers, a group I help run in the Twin Cities area.)

ABOUT THE MAD HATTER

The Mad Hatter began as a small Tea Room & Boutique in 1999 in the historic post office. Sixteen years later, it has grown to become a full–service restaurant located in a historic Anoka home built over 150 years ago. Offerings include Tea Service, Dinner, Lunch, Brunch, Beer & Wine and more.

IF YOU GO:
1632 S. Ferry Street, Anoka MN 55303
Hours

Tuesday – Friday | 11:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday | 10:00am - 8:00pm
Sunday | 10:00am - 3:00pm
{ Closed every Monday }