Conveniently located on the Tasman Highway amidst the green rolling hills of Pyengana, Willows Roadhouse is a typical old school roadhouse servicing the needs for fuel and steak sandwiches. It’s a peculiar place to find a Devonshire Tea, but it’s well sign posted and I guess it draws in the crowds. Tasmania is after all Australia’s unofficial home of the Devonshire Tea, so why not offer them at a roadhouse alongside chips and Chiko Rolls? It’s too windy outside to comfortably take tea at one of the timber picnic tables on the front lawn, so instead we sit in the dining room, which also houses Tasmanian souvenirs including quirky Aussie road signs. The smell of cigarette smoke is strong, like it’s embedded in the carpet and lounges and reminds me of pubs before the no smoking laws came in. The menu reads like a 1980s outback diner, and nostalgia tragics will love it. The scones are surprisingly good – fresh and pretty, and far better than I expect. The spread is let down by the average strawberry jam and the synthetic cream from a can. With some healthy competition in the area, the Roadhouse may want to pick up their game but by all means keep the scones; it’s a quirky place to have them!

Scones:

Jam:

Cream: 

Tea: A basic range of tea bags served in a mug.

Price: $$

Overall: Homely old school roadhouse.

Location: 27921 Tasman Hwy, Pyengana TAS 7216 Ph: 03 6373 6140

Reviewed December, 2017