Located in the old post office at Spotsylvania Courthouse, the dining room is nestled in the back of the tiny, five-room building. Squeeze through the Pear Tree's jam-packed gift shop, through sparkling display cases of lovely earrings, shelves of sweet-smelling soaps and other tantalizing sundries to get to the cozy dining room.

There you'll fine three small tables covered with heavy damask cloths, soothing music and the smell of fresh-baked goods and coffee. If the weather is nice, diners can eat at outside tables.

With its small kitchen in the back, The Pear Tree often relies on a microwave and quick-prepare dishes. Scones (cinnamon, cranberry and blueberry) and cookies (chocolate chip, peanut butter and oatmeal) are baked on the premises.

Sandwiches, coffee and tea are good bets at The Pear Tree. On a recent visit I had a hot sun-dried tomato bagel piled with ham, sweet red onion and melted cheddar cheese ($3.75). The sandwich is simple, delicious and a favorite of Pear Tree regulars.

Other sandwiches include egg, tuna or chicken salad as well as ham and cheddar, smoked turkey and cheddar, and roast beef with hot pepper cheese. Sandwiches come on sliced bread, a bagel or kaiser roll for $2.95. Get them on a croissant for $3.75.

The diners next to me--a three-generational trio of mother, grandmother and brand-spanking newborn baby--were having the club sandwiches, which looked delicious.

I ordered the soup of the day, Italian Wedding Soup ($3.25). It was a thin broth with pearl pasta and tiny sausage balls. The small bowl of soup looked appetizing with its bright green bits of spinach, but was bland and tasted of canned broth. I don't recommend it.

The Pear Tree offers a few lunch salads ($4.75-$5.75) including chef and tortellini. The Caesar Chicken Salad wasn't a Caesar at all--no croutons, romaine lettuce or Caesar dressing--but it was a respectable salad with a warm breast of chicken, dry grated parmesan, fresh tomatoes, boiled egg and bacon bits on iceberg. It is served with ranch dressing.