"It's About Thyme", nestled in downtown Culpeper, offers charming European country cuisine. The ambiance was lovely, adorned with fresh flowers, murals, and plush carpeting. Owner John and his staff were exceptionally friendly, providing attentive service-tables were kept spotless, courses were cleared promptly, and water glasses were always refilled. The food was delicious, though on the pricier side. Beyond the listed menu prices, additional fees (like a service charge and an à la mode fee) plus city and state taxes made the bill add up quickly. What We Ordered: 4*Duck Pâté - Served with a fresh salad, crackers, mustard, and jelly. A delightful starter! 5*Pork Collar - Slow-cooked for hours, the meat was incredibly tender, and the sauce was heavenly. We nearly licked the plate clean-worth driving back for! A must-order. 4*Palazzo Pot Roast - The meat was a bit tough and chewy, but the flavors were well-balanced. Despite being full, we couldn't resist dessert-thankfully, the portions were small! Ice Cream Sandwich - very good, though we were surprised to learn it was store-bought, not made in-house. Mixed Berry Pie - A warm, petite slice served with a spoonful of ice cream (for an extra charge). Note: There's no dessert menu, so we didn't know about the additional fees upfront. Overall. a wonderful dining experience with standout dishes, though the extra costs were a slight downside. read more

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Second time here and we enjoyed every second. Amazing food, especially enjoyed the goulash with that incredible smoky paprika. I got the lobster Mac and cheese, tons of lobster meat, and he got the open faced ham. We will be back for sure. read more

It's About Thyme - Goulash - Mediterranean Near Me - Culpeper, Virginia

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A day trip of shopping and dining in Culpeper. We were doing a little Christmas shopping in Culpeper. I was getting hungry, as it was now about 3pm, and we'd skipped lunch. My husband mentioned grabbing a bite to eat (a late lunch/early dinner) from one of the restaurants on our list. We keep a running list of restaurants that we want to try in various locations around the FXBG area, as well as DC, and the Chesapeake/Virginia Beach region. My husband and I have only been to Culpeper once prior, and that was just for a doctor appointment. We started making our way down E. Davis Street, zipping in and out of various local shops. The town was buzzing with shoppers. For dinner we chose "It's About Thyme". They didn't open until 5:30pm, and we decided to wait it out. When we walked in, we were quickly greeted and seated at a small table for two, in a nook near the windows. They brought us complimentary bread and butter. We started with the bruschetta. It was soft, unlike a crunchy bread that I'm accustomed to; it was quite tasty. My husband ordered the swordfish with saffron rice, and broccolini. I had the lobster ravioli, which was in a thick cream based saffron sauce, with lump crabmeat. First off, let me say that the restaurant atmosphere was 10/10! The entire vibe was charming! I am very observant when it comes to details, and I took note of everything from the real long stemmed roses on the tables, to the vintage lighting on the walls and overhead. It was clean, and service was excellent! Our waters were refilled before we could even finish, the staff were all very active walking around, checking on us, and overly attentive to all of their guests. They opened at 5:30pm, and we were one of the first few guests to arrive, but within minutes, they were filling up quickly. And despite the influx of customers, their service and attentiveness did not waver. They remained steadfast and committed from start to finish. The entrées however were not as we'd hoped. My husband's swordfish was dry and overcooked. He wasn't a fan of saffron rice (that's not the fault of the restaurant though). My ravioli was lukewarm at best. The lump crab was very minimal. To advertise it as, "...topped with lump crab" was a bit of a stretch; it was more or less a garnish at best, and worst of all, it was stone cold. I too was not a fan of the strong saffron cream sauce that the ravioli seemed to be floating in. The lobster ravioli itself, had a sweet taste, but was overpowered by the heavily creamy saffron sauce. Final thoughts, we would absolutely dine again, but would definitely not order those particular entrees again. Also to note, not that it was a large fee, but that there was a 3% surcharge "to offset rising costs associated with the restaurant (food, drink, labor, supplies)". And not that it applied to us, but parties of 5 or more would incur an automatic 20% gratuity. Just a little more helpful info: Parking is street parking, with a free 2 hour max. The restaurant looks very small from the outside, but it actually goes deep into the back. They have a patio for dining when weather is suitable, and it's dog friendly. This is probably the most romantic restaurant in Culpeper, just by observation. Highly recommend! read more

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It's about Thyme is my favorite restaurant in Culpeper. Located right on East Davis Street in town. There is street parking and free parking behind the building. The owner is front and center and extremely welcoming and friendly. The wait staff is also very good and the service is that of a five star metropolitan restaurant. Started our meal with hot apple cider that seemed to appear at every table. It is very popular. I ordered the Palazzo Pot Roast braised in red wine and plum tomatoes. The roast was very tender and full of flavor. For dessert we ordered Carmel Crunch Cake which was quite tasty. The whole experience is unique as the decor and wall murals of various places in Europe make you feel transported to the old country. read more

It's About Thyme - It's about Thyme entrance and building - Mediterranean Near Me - Culpeper, Virginia

Excellent Valentine's night dinner! They let us add two more guest to our reservation which was very accommodating of them! Our server Peter was amazing! read more

Lovely atmosphere beautiful mural on the wall very attentive service as soon as I walked in the door. The manager John made me feel very welcomed as I was dining alone today Had an amazing meal First, I started with a virgin bloody Mary with a large prawn added I truly love bloody Mary's as my brunch go to, and this was a very savory and excellent tasting version with lots of horseradish on the top was a parental olive, a pearled onion, and a red pepper of sorts For main force, I had the pot roast. It was absolutely delicious. The only negatives were very shy on the carrots and the pasta. The flavor was out of this world. For dessert, a lemon meringue, ice cream sandwich that came served plated with fresh whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and raspberry sauce again amazing I will be back! read more

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I reserved a table for three tonight to celebrate a friends's birthday. I've been here several times and was excited to come again as it had been a while. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the quality of the food. We got bruschetta for an appetizer which was soggy bread with some tomatoes and melted cheese on it. I ordered a salad with shrimp and the salad came out with two shrimp that were rubbery. We had two waitresses for some reason. I didn't want to make a big deal about the shrimp but I did mention to one of them that the shrimp was not good (15.00 for that btw) and she comped our dessert. The owner and manager (I'm guessing) spent the entire time pacing the restaurant talking to certain guests which felt weird. I'm not sure what's going on with the establishment- maybe it was just an off night. With all the other choices in the area, I will try another restraint next time. read more

Great restaurant with great food. Nice variety on their menu. Service is always exceptional. One of my favorites in Culpeper. Definitely recommended. read more

This busy restaurant is beautifully decorated and the service is outstanding. Five of us enjoyed lunch; the menu was exceptional and all the food was tasty. I highly recommend. read more

Great food and staff. This is one our favorite local food stops. Lots of family recipes on the menu. read more

Great food and service. Our go-to whenever we want a great meal. Love their soups. The open face ham sandwich is always great for lunch.

Restaurant week is one of my favorite times to come to this restaurant. The 3 course meal has great selections and every dish my party has is always flavorful and we leave feeling satisfied. My friends, family, and I always enjoy the quality of the food and servers are normally very attentive. Only two cons/issues I've encountered in the past for people to be aware of: depending on the day I'm there, we're told they can't split checks by orders within your party. Also, I went with a friend once who ordered regular, non alcoholic lemonade. Anytime my glass of water was about to be filled, the waiter asked her if she wanted her lemonade filled too (whether it was still half full or two thirds full. She'd say yes just to save the waiter the trips. Apparently every time she said yes, they charged her for a full glass of lemonade. Had no idea that was happening till we got the bill, which is unreasonable. read more

Had a lovely lunch for 12 here after a graveside service on a Saturday. Table was all set and ready when we came in and waters and menus were soon all handed to the guests. Service throughout the lunch was great as well drink refills. Now onto the food and drinks! Food wise my end of the table enjoyed the ravioli of the day which was spinach as well as the homemade sausage and pasta dish of the day. The roasted chicken was also well liked. The crabcake was nice and full of crab. The lobster salad was also delicious. The sangria of the day was well liked and the focaccia bread that was served was delicious! The restaurant is not overly large but even with multiple tables there was still room for our large party and other guests. read more

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Came here for a weekend get away with my significant other and this is by far the best service we have had. Large servings and great food, very romantic with flowers and dim lighting, and service was very attentive and helpful. read more

Lovely atmosphere and service. We went for lunch and sat outside. We had the Cajun burger, Caesar salad with crab cake, and a sausage pizza. The crab cake was huge and delicious. The complimentary bread had a noticeably nice flavor and texture. We were only disappointed with the pizza and think maybe they simply forgot to salt the dough for the batch ours came from. We'd give it another try. read more

It's About Thyme - Caesar Salad with Crab Cake - Mediterranean Near Me - Culpeper, Virginia

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Love this restaurant, especially the lunch menu. I have had many business as well as lunch with friends here. Food and service is always top notch! read more

Everything was wonderful! Impeccable service, friendly and helpful staff, and the best steak salad I have ever been served . read more

It's About Thyme - Steak salad. - Mediterranean Near Me - Culpeper, Virginia

Sadly after several more visits, I have to change my review. My husband and I went for lunch today. While the food (we both had the chicken pot pie) was delicious the service is just awful. There is no assigned server so nobody knows what's going on at the tables. Not one person asked how our food was and my glass went unfilled the entire time. We were basically ignored. The worst part was the teenage boy with bushy hair kept walking by our table it was about 25 - 30 times. He would look at us each time and say nothing. It was very uncomfortable and I couldn't wait to leave. Also, they allowed someone to bring in a cat. I don't think I'll return. read more

The food was good, but the ciabatta before meal was sooooo good! I could eat the entire loaf myself. I got a special dish (duck or turkey meat pie with gravy) and it was ok. My husband got a burger and it came with potato skin fries, what a smart and delicious idea! We loved this side. The interior was very cozy and cute, reminds of little European cafe. read more

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No stars for the rockfish entree or the rest of the meal though a few items were OK. Fish was freezer burned, staff claimed the fish arrived whole and couldn't be freezer burned. Well, I'm pretty sure you can freeze and thaw whole frozen fish. Freezer burned or not, it was the worst fish I have ever been served. Inedible!! They even charged me for it ($42). Extremely disappointed on a dinner that was over $150 for two. Definitely a one and done at this restaurant. Also, the staff had a really weird vibe. I'm not even sure if we had a dedicated server. People just kept coming by and staring, pacing. They didn't look very happy with anything. Ugggh, we finally just paid the bill and got out of there. read more

Loved the food and beauty. Friendly place and very service-oriented! Bravo!! Encore!

First time here, Food was hot and fresh ambiance was excellent. Painted murals on the walls place was a little dark. Service was fast, did not wait very long for food. Would come back again. read more

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We visited again this past Saturday for lunch. This place is just awesome and continues to deliver. Service is impeccable. They are all over you. My water glass never got half empty before they were filling it up. All of the dishes we got were excellent. The beer is cold. Mimosas are good. Just a cool little place. read more

Beautiful inside the restaurant, good for photos (photogenic). Convenient parking. Reservation may required. A manager is friendly and courteous. read more

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A friend recommended this restaurant and I'm glad he did. Although it was a 90-minute drive, it was worth it. It's a beautiful drive out there and in a quaint town. There's street parking but not too hard to find a spot. The staff as well as the owner all make the customer the star. The setting is comfortable but classy; food and service are top-notch. I had the pork collar while my wife had the chicken pulao. Both were delicious. Although we were stuffed, we made room for dessert and were glad we did. read more

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I try to be very thoughtful before giving a 1 star review since I have a lot of love and respect for local businesses. Unfortunately, I've been here twice now and it's just been very very strange. The main issue is the service. The staff treat you like an inconvenience and are patronizing and rude. When the waiter asked my mother if she'd like anything but water to drink she said "water please" and he rolled his eyes and pointed at her glass (filled, on the table) saying "that's your water." It was so unnecessary and frankly, mean. The atmosphere is crotchety, dated and filled with elderly patrons, which is fine. What's not fine is that when coming in with two kiddos and a stroller for lunch on the weekend it's treated (by staff) as if a bull is loose in the place. Waiters coming over making big fusses to take sugar dishes out of the way and take away the breakable plates, as if the family was out of control or going to allow the kids to wreck things. It all just felt so unwelcoming and rude. Finally, the staff stands together in a pack and stares out at everyone, with arms crossed and a scowl. It's just STANGE. It's as if the whole time you're there, they're waiting for you to leave. There are a few bright spots among the staff, and they always keep your water glass full. The food is very run of the mill. I had short rib ravioli, which really was a piece of un-flavorful pasta wrapped around some microwaved-tasting meat, completely open on all the sides and covered in a spicy BBQ-marinara hybrid sauce. The potato skin side is tasty with a nice sauce. Overall, food is certainly nothing to justify the price and isn't something that would impress someone used to foodie paradise in a city like NYC, Austin or SF. read more

It's About Thyme - Short rib ravioli - Mediterranean Near Me - Culpeper, Virginia

One of the nicest meals I've had in a long time. Great menu, excellent wait staff and the food was delicious!

Wonderful service and fabulous food So many wonderful choices makes it hard to choose. read more

There is nothing not to love about this place! Service is wonderful and so is the food. Experience: staff are very attentive and helpful. It can get pretty busy and noisy (even at lunch time), but I didn't mind it at all! Food: I would recommend ordering off their specials menu if you're just visiting in Culpeper. We were lucky enough to go when they were offering their Thanksgiving meal and can't recommend it enough. DELICIOUS! They even perfected the stuffing like my Mama makes it. I highly recommend their hot apple cider on a cold day too. I personally didn't love my puff pastry special, but I can be picky sometimes so other people would probably enjoy it!! Their wedge salad was yummy with the perfect amount of dressing and bacon. LOVE LOVE LOVE read more

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Seated by the owner or manager with no instructions, so waited for an extended period before receiving menus. One dish was very good, and the second was a poor rendition of the classic. read more

Amazing food . From the salmon to the lamb. Even the bread and caesar salads were a cut above.

The ambiance is beautiful, friendly and inviting! - and the menu choices are all so unique and good, you'll want to go back! Our group of four each LOVED our meals - excellent food and the staff was warm and gracious! We highly recommend It's "About Thyme"!! 5 star! read more

The food is so delicious, the service is outstanding. My only complaint would be that it t was very warm without air conditioning. There are new dishes and awesome desserts. Every visit has left me very impressed. read more

It's About Thyme - John, owner of the restaurant, and side walk view. - Mediterranean Near Me - Culpeper, Virginia

Service was nice and took well care of my sons offering a lemonade and adjusting meals to split 2 entres. Unfortunately, the eggs Benedict was disappointing. The hollandaise sauce was bland and lacked the rich, creamy flavor that usually defines the dish. The English muffin was also not toasted enough, leaving it soggy under the weight of the sauce and eggs. While the service was fine, the quality of the dish didn't justify the price. If you're craving eggs Benedict, I'd recommend trying another place. read more

Yes yes yes I recommend It's About Time! We ate in the alleyway with our two puppy strollers and 3 puppies. The waitstaff couldn't have been more friendly. Cozy ally nestled between two restaurants with comfortable tables and cheers, eclectic art in the building walls have it an Eve cooler vibe. I had the open face Ham which was exactly like the Croque Madame we had in France. Everyone was interested and attentive to our puppies needs and even brought a nice bowl of water. read more

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When in Culpeper stop by the Thyme Alley. Connie will set you up! Food, ambiance, cocktails and wonderfully kind and fun staff. Connie makes the day, event, moment always more special! read more

It's About Thyme - Amazing scallops and fresh arugula and goat cheese. - Mediterranean Near Me - Culpeper, Virginia

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Was there on Saturday with 3 others. Had to wait 20 minutes even though we had reservations. The wait staff was excellent and very attentive. Prices reasonable. The biggest negative was the roasted chicken. It was extremely dry and unpleasant, unable to eat it. No flavor. read more

this restaurant used to be our go to for all special occasions and date nights. The last time we were there, however, we were ignored for 40 minutes before we had to ask for our salads, which were then served warm. When we asked for the manager so that we could discuss it he was indifferent. I'm not sure what happened to place, but we certainly miss it. We ended up leaving without having our dinner and now have a gift certificate that we don't know what to do with . read more

Always a great experience at this restaurant. Food choices are wonderful. Management is always friendly. I highly recommend ! read more

One of the best stops on Culpeper! I've been to It's About Thyme many times now and every time has been wonderful. The restaurant itself is very quaint and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The servers are extremely attentive and I've rarely had an unpleasant encounter. Now most importantly, the food is VERY good. They always serve fresh focaccia bread to start which is always delicious. For entrees, I made sure to include photos from different trips to show even more dishes. Both the tuna steak sandwich and the ravioli were excellent. The desserts here are also top tier- they recite an impressively long list of desserts offered when you ask. So many good things to say about this one-- go try it for yourself! read more

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