Watershed Restaurant has been a fixture for over a decade serving up classic southern cuisine  in the heart of Decatur.

Housed in a refurbished garage, Watershed is open for lunch and dinner, but recently added tea service to the menu. This isn't the only recent addition. In June, Chef Joe Truex, formerly of Repast restaurant, took over as chef of Watershed, adding some new menu items while preserving the Southern favorites.

Why tea service? The idea behind this "Tea Time," is to remind Atlantans of Southern hospitality, Truex said. The folks at Watershed did not disappoint.

Our gracious server immediately made us feel welcome, and the catering continued throughout the service.

On my visit, the crowd was mostly mothers and daughters, whether young or grown. I was no exception to this rule, with my future step-daughter in tow.

I was expecting to have a selection of teas to choose from, but service began with a pot of Jasmine Green tea followed by Organic Black tea. For those who prefer a caffeine-free option, chamomile is available.

Pots of tea are brewed to order. The fragrant smell of Jasmine made its way to our table even before the pot was set down. It hit the spot on this cold, dreary December day.

What would afternoon tea be without finger sandwiches and sweet goodies? We were treated to pimento cheese and curried shrimp salad sandwiches. Other offerings were spiced pecans, cheese straws, pound cake and cookies. The good thing about these snacks is, while they are tasty, they are light, so as not to spoil dinner appetites.

Of course, pimento cheese is ultimate comfort food, but the winning sandwich was clearly Truex's curried shrimp salad. Laced with the slightest touch of curry, every bite was full of tiny shrimp and crunchy celery. Another highlight of this tea: the pound cake, sweet and buttery. I quite enjoyed dipping it in my black tea.

Watershed evokes hospitality, which is the epitome of what their tea service is all about. More than that, it reminds us to slow down. This tea service isn't about grabbing a quick bite in between errands. It is about quality time spent with people who are close to you and shutting out the chaotic world, even if it is for just an hour.

Tea service at Watershed is available Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 3pm and 5pm. The cost is $15 per person.