Service 11/10 We arrived on time for our reservation but our table wasn't ready yet. The staff accommodated this situation by seating us at the bar during our wait with complimentary wine and rolls. All staff members checked in on us and ensured we were taken care of. Once we were moved to our table, great service continued. We always had a full glass of wine and full cup of water. Robert was our server and absolutely killed it. He was very attentive and explained every dish we ordered. The chef came to meet us at the table and we were able to compliment her on all of the menu and the experience. It was an overall great experience. Ambience 10/10 The place is small, but it's what we loved for a date night dinner. It felt cozy in the best way. Food 12/10 OMG! Literally devoured the food. I didn't know what to expect, but every dish exceeded our expectations. Each plate was sent back empty. I'm not big on octopus because it can be tough to chew, but the texture of the octopus al pastor was perfection. We were hesitant on ordering the artichoke but it quickly became one of my top choices of the night. And to end all of these dishes... the baklava cheesecake. The best dessert invented. Great balance of soft and flaky and sweet! We loved it. Overall: loved all of the food and excited to come back again soon for some favorite items and to try some new ones! read more

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Cute spot with good food. Try the soup and the duck. Skip the croquets. Very goood service. Thanks!

Great local restaurant, food was fantastic and the service was wonderful. We had rib eye, artichoke and the Cesar salad. Definitely recommend for anybody in the neighborhood to give this place a try read more

Amazing restaurant, amazing food, amazing service!! My sister and I, who both were visiting from out of town, stumbled upon Lemon & Thyme and figured we'd give it a try. Best decision we made on that trip!! The food was fresh and so flavorful. The staff were welcoming and made us feel like part of the family. Oh and the baklava cheesecake was to die for :) 10/10 would go back again!! read more

Lemon & Thyme - Baklava Cheesecake- AMAZING!! - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We had the honor of being the first guest on the official opening day. The food was amazing. High end. Classy. Great service. Highly recommend for date night. read more

We were in Southern California celebrating my birthday weekend, and we ate at Lemon & Thyme twice in four days. This restaurant could be anywhere in the world, and it would be one of the best restaurants wherever it was located. I'm not exaggerating. Gabriel, our server on the second evening we dined there, was attentive, knowledgeable, and above all kind. The salmon was the best my husband had ever eaten. I said the same about the mushroom risotto. The baklava cheesecake is a MUST try for dessert. Lovely ambiance too. Can't wait to return to Lemon & Thyme. Forever grateful for the best birthday dinner ever! read more

Please give this place a try. The decor isn't glamorously lit up but clean and cute. Think simple decor with white table cloth and fresh daisy. What they lack for trendy they make up in abundance in quality of food and service. Their menu is small and carefully curated. They have a little of everything for everyone. Vegans, meat eaters and pescatarians in your life will find something to be happy about here. The husband and I ordered ratatouille to start. They gave us freshly made Parker rolls. For our main we had their ribeye with roasted mushrooms. The steak was expertly done. The gravy they served with it was excellent. The mushrooms was cooked perfectly and I was happy that they had a wide variety of the them. Dessert was equally impressive. We had the baklava cheesecake. It was gently sprayed with rose water before presented. A very unusual and tasty offering. Jackie the chef came by and to deliver some of the dishes. She came off as unpretentious and warm. A native Californian woman that worked her way up in a hard and often male dominated trade. She is definitely a fighter making her way in the culinary landscape of Orange County. Her dishes represent the diversity of area. Anyone who can bake, make sauces and grills steak and seafood with equal aplomb deserves recognition. Her team of staff definitely see her potential. Each member doing their job with the best attention to details. It makes me think that Jackie has taken the best restaurant crew with her to Lemon and Thyme. read more

This is a fabulous restaurant!!! I am eating low sodium diet and they were so knowledgeable about guiding me on the menu choices! And every dish was amazing!!! From the fresh peach salad to the shrimp ceviche to the ratatouille. Wow! Just wow! read more

Food and service were outstanding- Ambiance doesn't refer the food quality and excellent service

Service was good and the servers were attentive. Ambiance was just ok. Nothing remarkable about it. Busy weekend had you shoulder to shoulder with the next table over. The food was a big letdown given the prices attached to it. The taste is what I'd expect from an $20 plate of pasta, not $29. Which means very tasty, but did not blow me away. Food portioning seemed more European side dish size than American standard. If you want a filling plate of pasta, look elsewhere. If you care more about taste than price, give it a try read more

I was so sorry to see Basil Mediterranean close. But, in their place is Lemon & Thyme. This new restaurant has very good food and service. Our server, Robert, was friendly, professional and helpful. And he brought champagne for the birthday girl and me! He also treated us to a baklava cheesecake for dessert. Where has this pastry been all my life? Robert is a rock star! We had an excellent Caesar salad, octopus and the rib eye. Everything was very fresh and beautifully cooked and presented. Thank you for a great dining experience! read more

This place is an absolute gem! The vibes are cozy yet a modern setting the perfect tone for a great dinner! Service was AMAZING! Our server Gabriel provided top notch service and provided honest and delicious recommendations! He even provided us with an appetizer on the house! Food was simple yet packed with flavor! Oh! Don't forget to order the baklava cheesecake it threw me into orbit! read more

Extremely satisfying and delicious food. We ordered the roasted bone marrow, artichokes, tartar for starters and grilled octopus and truffle tagliatelle for entrees. Everything was absolutely amazing! Service was very accommodating and attentive. Highly recommend. read more

Very cute restaurant. Food was fresh and well seasoned. Will definitely come back to try more dishes. Staff are very friendly & service is excellent. read more

So glad we found this gem. The service was top notch and the food was amazing! The short rib ravioli and baklava cheesecake are a must! We will definitely be back. read more

I loved the food and the service. I'm really picky with my food but honestly everything there was top notch. The service as well was amazing Robert is a great helped in every way possible. read more

11/10 experience. My fiance and i were so amazed with their customer service and their food. We got the Cesar salad and the bone marrow - they went above and beyond and split the cesear salad for us, without even asking, because I told them, briefly, I have a slight intolerance to gluten. So they made mine without croutons. The bone marrow was to die for, so buttery. We also got the salon and ribeye which were both Incredible. We were sooo happy we tried this spot, def going to be our new weekend spot read more

Lemon & Thyme - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

10/10. The food was outstanding. I highly recommend trying the short rib ravioli. The service and overall ambiance is great. My husband and I will most definitely be back. read more

Yes! Yes! Yes! The food & service are on point! I almost don't want to write a review to keep this to myself, but this place is amazing! From start to finish, you will not be disappointed. The fresh rolls, salads, octopus and the baklava cake. So fresh and definitely made with love. Parking can be tricky, it's located on harbor right before 19th. If you miss it, you can hang a right on 19th and park by social. This will definitely be a contender for a golden foodie award and the oc newest hotspot! read more

Best little restaurant in Orange County. 10/10 food. 10/10 service. Zero complaints. Our waiter Gabriel made our nights with his excellent customer service and one of the nicest people I've ever met. Everyone's dishes were cleared and the appetizers were to die for. Went for the artichokes and left knowing we will come again. read more

Hidden gem!! This place just opened a few weeks ago. It's like a Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican fusion cuisine all married together!!!!! Must try the grilled prawns, artichoke, beef tartare, steak is amazing, branzino fish are all delicious. You will not be disappointed!!!!!! I would give more stars read more

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It's one of the best brunches in OC! My friends and I came here for the bottomeless mimosas and brunch. The food and drinks were delicious! Also, not everyone has to do the bottomeless mimosas, so it's a great place for people in a group who don't want to drink. I had the bottomeless mimosas, and my glass was never empty. We had four juices to pick from for our mimosas. Rebecca provided us with amazing service! We ordered close to 8 different entrees, my friends and I liked every single dish. We recommend getting something savory and sweet for brunch. The steak and eggs were to die for as the steak wasn't your typical flank steak, but steak picanha. It paired well with the sweet French toast, making the perfect match. It was a great place to celebrate our birthdays as the interior was pretty for brunch! (I forgot to take a pic of the steak and eggs) read more

Lemon & Thyme - French toast! - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

A new restaurant to try and I would definitely come back. Excellent service from Robert. The octopus was everything; tender and full of flavor. My friend enjoyed the salmon and it was a nice surprise to receive the expresso crème brûlée for my birthday . The restaurant is small but well appointed. read more

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Had a delicious dinner on our first visit to a new dinning gem. Friends picked it out based on reviews and they did not disappoint. Plates were shareable and large portions. Two appetizers and main dishes were more than enough for the four of us. Highly recommend the baklava cheesecake...unforgettable. We will be back. read more

Just enjoyed dinner at Lemon & Thyme! The atmosphere is nice and inviting. Everything was absolutely delicious. We started off with the aguachile and it did not disappointed. It was very flavorful and light. Our second appetizer were the grilled prawns. Every bite was amazing. We followed that up with the octopus carpaccio, Caesar salad and the truffle tagliatelle pasta. For dessert we had the lemon sorbet and the baklava cheesecake. The cheesecake was to die for and my favorite. I can't wait to come back again and try some of their different items. read more

Lemon & Thyme - Baklava Cheesecake - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Artichoke appetizer is so delicious, 100% recommend. Also, try the empanadas!! Truffle pasta was delicious! read more

Lemon & Thyme - Truffle pasta - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

It was quiet when we arrived but steadily filled up. Our server was super engaged and helpful. Food was great. A good call to get away from the crowded areas. read more

This was a charming cute cafe tucked away into a hidden corner spot. We loved the quiet ambiance. We enjoyed our burgers and steak fries but our Baklava Cheesecake was to die for! Our server Robert was super attentive and friendly. The pastry chef, Jacqueline even chatted with us for a bit. Thank You for a wonderful experience! read more

Lemon & Thyme - Baklava Cheesecake - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The food was delicious and the service was top notch. We could not stop talking about how great the evening was, including the wine and music. read more

We went to Lemon and Thyme last night and it was an amazing experience and meal. The service always outstanding. Some of the items we enjoyed were the beef tartar, wedge salad, peach salad, Branzino, grilled artichokes, Ribeye, roasted mushrooms, roasted vegetables and the espresso crème brûlée, and baklava cheesecake. The meal did not disappoint and I would highly recommend. read more

What a great spot! Delicious and varied menu, attentive and friendly service (Gabriel is wonderful!), lovely ambiance. It's off the beaten path but so worth it! read more

This is such a hidden gem. Don't let the strip center or lack of patrons scare you off. We are foodies and everything was absolutely dynamite. You will never regret eating here and the staff is amazing!! read more

Amazing food, great atmosphere, and outstanding service. What more could you ask for? Every dish is melt-in-your-mouth delicious, but my favorites are the mushroom risotto, short rib ravioli, seasonal burrata and grilled peach salad. Wine Wednesday is the perfect evening out with girlfriends! read more

Food is incredible. This is my new favorite restaurant. Order the grilled prawns appetizer, spicy rigatoni, and branzino (best I've ever had). Everything was exactly to perfection. The staff is amazing making the service impeccable. A must visit place. read more

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Lemon & thyme is the perfect restaurant for a date night or a delicious dinner with friends and family. We had the chance to eat here and we were not disappointed. First and foremost the restaurant is clean and the service is phenomenal. Robert and Juan will have you taken care of from the moment you sit down to when you leave. The food 10/10. My favorite was the wagyu burger and my wife's favorite was the fish crudo and pasta (has the perfect amount of spice). But everything is soooo good, the flavors pop with every bite! The artichoke to the Cesar salad and dessert will have you asking for more! we love coming here, definitely check it out! read more

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Amazing service and food! Rebecca took very good care of us and was very attentive. The ambience was super nice too. read more

Lemon & Thyme - Chilaquiles - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is a gem. The food was delicious. Everything was seasoned so well. Probably the best meal we have had in a long while. Our Server Juan was informed and fantastic!! We will be back. read more

We came here for our anniversary and without requesting, the team made sure we had a special night. They offered complimentary champagne but we declined since neither of us drink alcohol. So they substituted that with lemonade and made it look fancy. Their freshly baked mini rolls are to die for. That alone would've made me stay. Then we were introduced to the grilled artichoke - which is could eat without any sauce. The salt and lemon juice were more than adequate. Then came the grilled octopus. The trick is to layer the potatoes/ube with octopus and top it off with grilled pineapple. The mix of tangy with sweet is a kicker. When spicy rigatoni came - I couldn't resist. Although my stomach said, "please, no more", my tongue wanted more. But stay for dessert because their signature dessert baklava cheesecake with espresso is sooooo goood. I can't even describe this feeling other than I've died and gone to heaven. To top it off, it was a weekday and we were alone for majority of the time we were there. It felt so intimate and personalized. The chef came out and had a conversation. It was like having your own personal chef and server. I hope these guys stay in business because I want to try everything on their menu. read more

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Everything was delicious ! The table shared the Burrata peach salad, prawns octopus, filet mignon, espresso crème brûlée ! Would definitely return read more

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My husband and I went to Lemon & Thyme for the first time, and weren't really sure what to think about it. I'll give the negatives first. The location is not great: facing a busy street, in a weird little strip mall. The decor in the restaurant is a bit "cheap" for the kind of menu that it has. The restaurant is small (which is fine) but when we were there, it was crowded and v-e-r-y noisy. My husband and I could barely hear the waiter, and had to shout at each other across the table. Also, do not come here if you're in a hurry. It took about 2 hours from start to finish, and that was without dessert/coffee. I'd give 6-7/10 for ambiance. With that out of the way, I will say that the food was absolutely delicious! We had the cheese & charcuterie board for our appetizer, and it was fantastic. Lovely presentation, delicious flavors. The complimentary dinner rolls tasted homemade and were hot out of the oven -- absolutely delicious. My husband ordered the ribeye, and I ordered the salmon. He said the ribeye was *better* than Ruth's Chris (where we ate last week, so it was fresh in his mind). The salmon was extremely hot, which gave it a nice crust, but inside was very moist and tender. The potato puree that came with both our meals was excellent, and the broccolini with the ribeye was cooked to perfection. 10/10 for the food. So, if you're looking for really delicious food, cooked and presented well, this is a great choice. If you want an upscale location with a quiet, classy feel, this is not the place for you. Overall, I'm glad we tried it, and we really enjoyed the food. But I'm not sure we'll go back because there are plenty of other restaurants with great food AND nice location/ambiance. read more