It’s true: grandmas do know best...

The chic little tearoom, which opened last month at the corner of Rustlings Road and Ecclesall Road, owes a lot to grandmas, actually.

Owner Sarah Schofield says hers were her inspiration. “My grandmothers Nelly and Rosie always served guests home-made cakes and tea in beautiful china cups and saucers.

“In those days, tea was taken in the parlour,” says Sarah.

La Petite Salle is French for The Little Room, or Parlour, she adds.

“I hope I’ve created a cross between Betty’s Tearooms and the Paris cafes where the tables are so close that people chat to one another.”

Sarah, whose joiner husband Gareth kitted out the cafe, has 25 years of catering under her apron – she was manageress of Sarah’s in Chapel Walk and is also the former manager of Vittles cafe in Broomhill.

She makes all the cakes daily and home-made soups and sandwiches are on the menu, but the house speciality is Tea For Two, a vintage three-tier cake stand stacked with sandwiches, salad garnish, scones, clotted cream and home-made jam, plus English truffles. It’s £7.95 for two, with a pot of tea.

Choosing the brew could take time, though – there are 25 loose leaf teas to try.

Sarah loves China Rose, which smells of Turkish Delight, light and refreshing Russian Caravan and Tea Bloom, a hand-woven bundle of tea leaves which opens like a flower in the pot.

Grandma Nellie had a gift for reading the leaves, but Sarah says she’s too busy to follow suit.