Ruby Lena's Coconut Cream Pie is the Best

Branson's best coconut cream pie

Ruby Lena's Tea Room and Antiques

Coconut cream pie warm from the oven

You may walk in the door of Ruby Lena's Tea Room and Antiques looking for antiques. Or, possibly

intend to have lunch but not desert. If it is your first time at Ruby Lena's home turned tearoom, maybe you really don’t know about the coconut cream pie.

The food is very good. The service is great. And, the freshly prepared lunch specials and quiches are reason enough to come here. But this little tea room is known for the deserts, especially the pie.

Ruby Lena’s serve the typical tea room lunches of quiche, soups and sandwiches. I asked our waitress, Sue, for a light lunch suggestion so there would be room for their famous pie. I had an almond crusted chicken salad half sandwich with a cup of cold fresh strawberry soup. Pink soup is something I would expect to find only in a tea room, so I gave it a try. The strawberry soup was thick, creamy and tasted like a cool strawberry smoothie.

The special that day was a large cabbage roll with an orzo/wild rice mix, sweet corn and a home made roll. Quiches that day were crab cheese, spinach feta, and chicken pecan quiche. All come with a crisp mixed greens salad and a roll.

The old house is filled with antiques and country style gifts ranging from delicate old china tea sets, to dolls old and new, and an authentic old rolling pin with red painted handles. In the dining area, big windows allow the light to shine through lace curtains. Table cloths and the cloth napkins are different at every table. The salt and pepper shakers are an eclectic collection of reproductions and antiques.

Branson has most every fast food chain, and several restaurants famous for their country cooking. Ruby Lena is a wonderful escape to lighter, freshly prepared fare. But the real reason most folks go to Ruby Lena’s is for the home made deserts.

The pies change daily, when we were there, the pies were chocolate meringue and lemon meringue pies. Coconut cream pie is always on the menu and the reason some folks are regulars at this tiny hillside restaurant. Owner Bobbi Helms says the coconut cream pie is their most popular menu item.

“Baked one at a time, right here,” said Bobbi Helms.

We ordered the chocolate pie. It was still warm from the oven, topped with a sweet and airy, perfectly browned meringue. The lemon pie was the perfect combination of sweet and tart crowned with a meringue lighter than air. Our lemon pie slice spit apart on the desert plate, which happens if you don’t let a pie cool long enough before serving.

“We cut it too soon,” explained Sue as she served the pie.

Located in Branson’s historic downtown district, the restaurant is a block uphill from the heart of down town.

Order whole pies by calling day or two in advance. The restaurant is only open for lunch, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Stop here for a special occasion lunch or, a relaxing break in a busy Branson day. Ruby Lena’s can seat groups of up to eight with advance notice.

If you are looking for a girlfriends getaway or a special place for a ladies luncheon, Branson has a well kept secret: Ruby Lena's Tea Room. Be sure to ask the waitress about the Tea of the Day.

Ruby Lena's Tea Room and Antiques
“Great Lunches and Sweet Memories”
224 W. Main Street, Branson, MO 65616
Hours are Tues-Sat:11AM-3PM, closed on Sundays and Mondays. Phone: 417-239-2919

“Great Lunches and Sweet Memories”

If it is your first time at Ruby Lena's tearoom and antiques,