If you are looking for a hidden gem in Costa Mesa, this spot is an absolute must-visit. From the moment you step inside, you are greeted by an adorable interior and decor that cleverly and beautifully matches the restaurant's theme. ​ ​Every single item we ordered from the menu was exceptional: ​Beet Salad & Bone Marrow: Both made for fantastic starters, setting a high bar for the meal. ​Beef Tartare: Served with house-made potato chips that are a masterclass in texture--thin, fried, airy, and crispy all at the same time. ​Steak and Fries: Classic execution and wonderfully prepared. ​Duck Confit: Superb. The pairing of the rich mole sauce and sweet potato puree takes the dish to an entirely different level, complementing each other effortlessly. ​Baklava Cheesecake: A creative and delicious twist on a classic. The cream cheese filling is light rather than dense, and instead of a traditional graham cracker crust, it features a fantastic baklava crust. It is nicely balanced and not overly sweet, though you will definitely want to pair it with a cup of coffee to finish it off. ​ ​Service: The staff is exceptionally friendly, highly attentive, and organized, making you feel well cared for throughout the meal. ​Portions: Portions are slightly on the smaller side. My husband and I ordered three appetizers and two main entrees to share, and we were still quite hungry by the end--so you may want to order an extra dish or side if you have a hearty appetite! ​Overall, a wonderful dining experience with incredible flavors and charming ambiance. Highly recommended! read more

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My wife, daughter, and I discovered Lemon & Thyme completely by chance - and what an incredible find. It took a minute to locate the restaurant and figure out parking, but once we arrived at the door, the experience was first-class from beginning to end. The hostess was charming and welcoming, the staff kept our waters filled and the table spotless, and our server, Juan, was outstanding. His knowledge of the menu, detailed descriptions, and personal recommendations made ordering easy and built our anticipation for every dish. We started by sharing the beet salad and Chicken Tinga Empanadas with the Gringo Killer Sauce. The beet salad was fresh and beautifully balanced, while the empanadas were packed with rich, savory flavor. The Gringo Killer Sauce added a bold kick that made them especially memorable. My wife ordered the wedge salad, my daughter chose the Grilled Octopus Al Pastor, and I had the 8 oz Picanha special. Every dish was exceptional. The octopus was a creative and flavorful take on al pastor, and the Picanha special was perfectly cooked, tender and was an absolute standout. Everything was so impressive that I sent my compliments to the chef and was fortunate enough to meet Chef Jackie personally. Then came dessert. Juan described a peach cobbler special that immediately had my mouth watering, while my daughter ordered the Espresso Crème Brûlée. Juan returned to our table with three plates and spoons and informed me that Chef Jackie has recommended her specialty. I did not argue, Chef knows best. She surprised me by sending out something different: a slice of Baklava Cheesecake accompanied by a scoop of house-made peach cobbler ice cream. Now, I have eaten some outstanding cheesecakes all around the world, but this Baklava Cheesecake was on an entirely different level. It was rich, layered, perfectly textured and flaky, and so unbelievably delicious that I nearly licked the plate clean. The house-made peach cobbler ice cream was equally impressive--light and creamy, yet captured the full peach cobbler flavor. The Espresso Crème Brûlée was also beautifully executed, with a crisp caramelized sugar shell and a deep, smooth coffee-flavored custard. My daughter ate half of hers before turning her attention to the cheesecake, and she does not even like cheesecake. That alone should tell you how special it was. I live three hours away, but I will absolutely be making the drive back. Lemon & Thyme delivers exceptional food, thoughtful hospitality, creative dishes, and the kind of personal service that turns a meal into a lasting memory. This is my new favorite restaurant!!! Do yourself a favor and make the trip to Lemon & Thyme. Ask for Juan, trust Chef Jackie, and do not leave without desert. Chef Jackie, Juan and the rest of the staff, thank you for the amazing experience!!! read more

This is a great little spot. We have driven by the restaurant many times and decided to go for dinner. The inside is small and the decor is very nice . The menu isn't large but there is a range of different options . Everything we had excellent. My husband had grilled octopus Al Pastor and I had Short Rib Ravioli with a Demi glaze that was so full of flavor. They offer a nice wine list as well. Our server Robert, was great. Because of the location, you can drive right by it and not notice it . Please take the time to try this neighborhood gem.You won't be sorry. read more

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I don't know why it's taken me so long to write a review but believe you me, the food is worth it. Little did I know my mind would be blown with this gem hidden in a corner. The moment you walk in, you are greeted so warmly by the staff. I came with two girlfriends for dinner and our server was just so incredible. We felt quite honestly like we were the only ones in the restaurant but we def weren't. The vibes were beyond quaint, they exceeded in all aspects that we laughed, we devoured each plate that was brought to our table and I just left feeling so deeply content for the kind of service we were provided. Thank you for an out of this world meal, that still makes my mouth water thinking why on earth did I not order more?! Until we meet again Lemon & Thyme read more

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Made a reservation for two last night at Lemon & Thyme for my friend to take me out for an early birthday celebration! For everyone who had to do multiple laps around the plaza's parking lot to find this place, you're not alone. We were struggling, but eventually found the restaurant tucked away on the outskirts next to a private training gym (the one with the super tinted windows). Upon arriving, the restaurant was very gracious to bestow upon us a pair of complimentary lemon and thyme dinner rolls. They were warm, fluffy, and everything a carb should be. Honestly wish we had more of them, to be honest! The menu was short, which was helpful in its own way. I have such chronic decision paralysis, meaning the more options I have, the more ordering conflicts I'll have, lol. Forever petitioning for every establishment to have tasting flights!!!! We ordered the Grilled Octopus Al Pastor and Ora King Salmon entrees. The octopus was a unique take on the dish, but I don't think I would order it again. I was hoping for more sauce and flavor, but it was more of a dry dish. Still something everyone should try at least once -- especially because feedback is subjective and my experience may not be yours! My friend enjoyed the salmon dish, but it looked pretty standard to me. They also brought out a complimentary Epresso Creme Brulee for my birthday, which was both figuratively and literally sweet. Very decadent and kinda had a nice tiramisu taste to it -- order this! The service was excellent and very attentive. Was very hydrated during this meal because my water cup was never empty! I would come back to try the other dishes with a larger group so I can pick at everyone else's plates, hehehe. read more

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Apps -shrimp saganaki: fav of night. Came out hot. Pita was well toasted and seasoned. Tomato sauce had a kick from the Calabrian chili -beef tartare: one of the better versions I've had. Capers were present but not overpowering Mains - grilled octopus: wish it wasn't cut up and whole piece instead. Everything was mixed and cooked together. Would've liked it more if it was separate and the potato/chorizo was made more crispy -duck mole: great flavor on the mole and sweet potato mash -steak frites: fries were excellent but the picanha was a little chewy and wish they kept the fat cap on there and seared it a bit -short rib ravioli: pretty standard and very rich flavors -baclava cheesecake: tastes exactly like how you expect. Very good Service was great as it was kind of empty for Friday night dinner. It's a small restaurant with limited parking. Decor inside was cute and the tables were not too crammed. Would def come back to try more apps as they were the stars. Free bread and complimentary ice cream since we were celebrating bday read more

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From the moment the glistening rolls hit the table, we knew we were in for a good night. The rolls were coated in butter infused with zesty lemon and thyme (Yes, like the name of the restaurant! Isn't that adorable and clever?) Then came the entrees. Knockout after knockout. The Pork Belly with Black Garlic and the Seared Duck Breast were both perfectly executed. Crunchy, golden skin. Juicy meat. Rich, flavorful sauces paired with comforting, silky purées. Balanced. The kind of plates that make us slow down to savor each mouthful... and then shamelessly scrape up every last bite. We were so smitten after those first two dishes that we threw all caution and control to the wind. I asked staff to surprise us with one of the dishes recommended earlier. Out came the Grilled Octopus Al Pastor. Nice char, tender bite, and a tangy sauce. For dessert: the Baklava Cheesecake. Lightly spritzed with aromatic rose water, ultra sweet, and unapologetically indulgent. Beautifully crafted and shareable, though you may not want to. Beyond the food, the ambience really shines. Intimate, classy, and whimsical, with a charming playlist. Ideal for date nights or special celebrations. Service was outstanding. Warm, attentive, and passionate. Staff enthusiastically walked us through the menu and offered recommendations. Our server was on point. Water glasses were never empty, plates cleared promptly, and everything flowed seamlessly. An incredible experience from start to finish. I couldn't stop yapping about the duck and pork belly since our first dinner here. So we came back the following weekend! We ordered our favorites again - the Pork Belly with Black Garlic and the Seared Duck Breast. To our surprise, the meats felt rather chewy and tough. I'm hoping this was a hiccup, but would love to see consistency in texture. Will be coming back for more :) read more

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Made reservations to this quaint little family restaurant and was pleasantly surprised by the outstanding service, food quality and diverse menu. It was our first time there, and Gabe and the whole staff made us feel at home. Seemed like the whole place really enjoyed themselves. The cheesecake baklava is one of the best I've ever eaten. This is truly a must try spot. Make sure to make your reservations, it always seems busy. Only downside, a small parking place. It's ok though, I went there to eat. read more

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

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I had such an amazing dining experience here, the food was so delicious and came out very quickly. Our server Matthew really took care of us, he recommended the shrimp ceviche which was very good. The service and atmosphere is amazing. I'm surprise they weren't super busy, such an underrated spot. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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What a great hidden gem. Quaint place with the cutest lemon wallpaper. White tablecloths finer dining style yet not pretentious, just right. Excellent fresh food with outstanding flavors. Got the harissa roasted cauliflower appetizer, beet salad and vegetable Ratatouille. All delicious and unique culinary creations. Love the Italian music in background as ambiance and attentive servers. Recommend for a nice meal. read more

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One of the best hidden gems I've discovered. If you didn't know exactly what you were looking for, you'd probably walk right past it. It's a little tricky to find, but once you do, it's absolutely worth the effort. We started with the grilled peach and burrata salad, followed by the shrimp saganaki and the short rib ravioli. Every dish was exceptional--thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. It was truly one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. read more

Lemon & Thyme - Grilled peaches and burrata salad - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I really wanted to like this neighborhood place tucked in a small strip mall, but was underwhelmed. I ordered the beet salad with shrimp. The portion was small for $20 ( on a small plate), the small pieces of beets are more of a decoration on top of greens, and the 5 shrimps ($14) did not seem grilled as the server claimed, as they are colorless and flavorless. Friends got the roasted bone marrow and branzino and said those were good. We were part of a large group. We had people ordered the same exact appetizer and main dish, but dishes did not come out the same time. Several people had to wait quite a while to be served. Seems the kitchen was only able to cook 1 of each dish at time. The complementary warm dinner rolls were a nice touch, and help with the wait. read more

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I've been to Lemon & Thyme several times since they've opened, and always thought the food quality was great at an affordable price point for the area. This place is a quaint hole in the wall location really close to the Triangle Square center. It's in a strip mall and is technically right behind Social with parking right in the front. The food menu is extensive and leans Italian, though there are elements of many cuisines sprinkled throughout all dishes. Appetizer wise, I always enjoyed the beef tartare and also the cheese / charcuterie board. I'm not normally a big fan of charcuterie boards but the cheese selection here is actually delicious and unique, so certainly worth a try. One dish that's not technically an appetizer but I always order for the table - the ratatouille. The ratatouille here is spectacular and, in my honest opinion, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't try it. Entree wise everything I've had is solid, and I definitely enjoy the Octopus and various meat related dishes here. There are deserts as well and as someone who doesn't order deserts often, friends I've taken here that love deserts always rave about the baklava cheesecake and sorbet. The wine offerings are well curated and all generally tend to pair well with the food. It's pretty hard to go wrong with a shared bottle. The only real downside is service can be a little inconsistent. The husband is super sweet and always timely for water refills, and for the other servers I've had everything from spectacular service to a bit lackluster. There is one standout server who has an amazing sense of humor, I don't recall his name but his knowledge of wine is good and attention to detail is excellent. If he is your server, you are in for a good time. Overall, a great date night spot for locals. Wonderful food and at prices that won't break the bank. read more

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I can't remember his name and if he was the owner, chef, waiter, or all of the above, but the sweetest man working there came out to stop me in the middle of many reparking attempts into a very tight parking spot, so he won me over before I even stepped inside. Then he told us about all the specials and favorites and was just very warm and inviting and funny. The food was delicious and the venue was cute but the main guy (sorry I forgot your name!) made the experience. you could tell he really cared. a true host. I'll be Bach! read more

Really welcome service ~ food is decent I like the seasonal vegetables duck well stewed read more

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First time at Lemon & Thyme and it was a great experience overall. The ambiance was calm and quiet enough for our group to comfortably talk throughout dinner. The food was excellent, but our server Gabriel really made the night. He was attentive, funny, and gave great recommendations while answering all of our questions. We started with the prime beef tartare, shrimp ceviche and roasted cauliflower. All three were delicious. For entrees, we ordered the grilled octopus al pastor, short rib ravioli, branzino, and the 24 oz ribeye. Every dish was flavorful and well executed. The ribeye with mashed potatoes and mushrooms was cooked perfectly, but the standout for me was the short rib ravioli. I had heard of it before but never tried it until this visit. The pasta to filling ratio was spot on and every bite was excellent. For dessert, we ordered the espresso crème brûlée, which was rich, creamy, and well balanced. Gabriel also surprised us with a baklava cheesecake on the house, and our group could not stop talking about it. Combining baklava and cheesecake was a game changer. Definitely a place I would come back to. read more

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Absolutely loved Lemon & Thyme! My boyfriend and I live right across the street and have been driving by this place for months, so we're so happy we finally came in. The service was 10/10. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, warm, and genuinely enthusiastic about the food. He gave us the best recommendations, and everything he suggested was amazing. The meal itself was incredible. The shrimp saganaki was my favorite, and my boyfriend loved the short rib ravioli. You can tell everything is made with love it has that true mom and pop restaurant feel that's so hard to find. The chef came out at the end and we had such a great conversation. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Great service and nice decor but limited parking. Recommend Shrimp saganaki. The sauce was so delicious and the seasoned pita wedges were perfect to dip and mop up every drop of the sauce. Beef tartar: 5 stars. Well seasoned and so flavorful. Duck leg with sweet potato purée was very good. Short rib ravioli: good but the flavor was as expected. Octopus: I wish the piece was a whole leg or bigger pieces. The flavor of the octopus was subtle. Steak frites: not as noteworthy as the other menu items. Baklava cheesecake: fun, next level cheesecake on steroids! Wine list is limited but they had one of my favorites. read more

I LOVED coming here! It's an intimate space and upscale - perfect for a date night and celebrations. The service was sooo good too! They constantly checked on us and refilled our waters. It's also very easy to make a reservation online. The food here is amazing! The complimentary bread we got was so yummy and had a unique lemon zest flavor to it. I highly recommend the ratatouille which was super flavorful and tomatoey. The salmon was delicious with crispy skin. And the rigatoni pasta was so creamy! We ordered the peach cobbler which was on the seasonal menus and it was to die for! Came out nice and hot with ice cream on top. read more

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

Cute little restaurant that has good service (although sometimes almost too quick like rushing?). I sat down before my other guest arrived and they already brought out the waters and the bread. Also I just noticed they put an anniversary sign on the dessert LOL even though we were celebrating a birthday! I liked the food and how they had a lot of vegetables available on the menu, but for the price point I just wish there was a little bit more of the proteins on the plate. The espresso crème brûlée was yummy, and their shrimp was fresh and cooked perfectly. Wine selections also paired nicely with the dishes. read more

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We were here to celebrate my wife's birthday and our experience was exceptional. The peach and burrata salad was amazing, it was fresh and peach was tangy with charred grill lines. Amazing. My enter was the standout branzino, it was cooked to perfection not to mention they de boned the fish! Lightly charred finished with salt and pepper, eating it was such a delight! The service was professional and very attentive! It was over and beyond, very classy atmosphere! Perfect for couples and group occasions. I'm coming back for that branzino for sure! read more

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Last minute get together. Wasn't expecting much at all but the food was all excellent. I love burrata so had to choose the seasonal peaches and burrata which was mind blowing good. The peaches were perfectly sweet and gave a great balance to the burrata and balsamic. Are every morsel of food on that plate. Had to pair it with something more savory and the server recommended the short rib ravioli. So I'm not a fan of ravioli but I was looking for a small plate so decided to go along with it. Omg and boy it did not disappoint. The ravioli was absolutely delicious. Could have ordered a second plate of it and finish it. Overall excellent experience here. Good was fantastic and the staff were all amazing. Saw a few other dishes on the menu I would like to try...branzino (plenty for two) and the grilled octopus. read more

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My wife and I walked by this place on a Saturday evening, saw it, and went in. Great meal! All dishes had vivid flavor and presentation. We shared the Empanadas de Bacalao appetizer, the Pork Belly and Black Garlic BBQ entrée, and the Seared Duck Breast entrée with a spicy mole negro. Several dishes were topped with pea tendrils, which provided a great visual accent. The Baklava Cheesecake was big enough for three portions, had a few edible flowers, and was drizzled at the table with rose water! read more

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The perfect dinner! Such a small and intimate environment. The booth was very comfortable. Wait staff was attentive and polite. Service was timely. The food was delicious! read more

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My friend and I spent the weekend in Newport Beach and enjoyed our dinner here. We were able to make same day reservations, the waitstaff were friendly, and the food was good. Definitely a local neighborhood joint. read more

I recently dined at Lemon & Thyme and had a lovely overall experience. The ambience is warm and romantic--perfect for a relaxed evening out--and the service was truly outstanding from start to finish. For my entrée, I ordered the salmon. While it was slightly overcooked for my taste (and as someone who knows their way around cooking salmon, I'm a bit particular), it was still flavorful and enjoyable. My friend, however, ordered the branzino, and that dish absolutely stole the show--perfectly cooked and incredibly delicious. Even with the minor critique on the salmon, the combination of impeccable service, inviting atmosphere, and standout dishes like the branzino makes this a place I'd happily return to. read more

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

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We walked in on a Sunday around 1:15pm. The restaurant was not too busy. The decor was clean with a modern rustic vibe. Parking is a bit tight for the plaza it is in. For drinks we ordered bottomless mimosas. The brunch menu had lots of options; however the staff kindly informed us that we could also order from the dinner menu, which we ended up ordering from as well as their brunch menu. We ordered the roasted bone marrow, market vegetable ratatouille, prime beef tartare, pork belly and black garlic bbq, and the ora king salmon. The food was delicious, although we wished the chips that came with the prime beef tartare were crunchier. Overall, all the food was very good, and we enjoyed eating it all. The service was good. Despite closing at 3:00, the servers did continue to top up our prosecco for the bottomless mimosas past the close time. The food was served quickly. I would definitely come back to try different items on the menu, and $19.99 bottomless mimosas are definitely a steal! read more

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

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Our large party of 10 friends were treated wonderfully here. Our table was ready for us even as we arrived early. Drink orders were taken right away. It's a cozy place that can probably have 30-40 guests at a time. Parking is the hardest part as there are just a couple of spaces out front. This was a solid fine dining experience. The menu is varied enough so that anyone can enjoy something. Every dish we tried was enjoyed and appreciated. Several of us enjoyed their perfectly cooked garlicky mushroom risotto. Others indulged in the pork belly with its crispy top crowning an unctuous and rich hunk of pork. The wine list was well curated and added to the meal. Dessert did not fail to impress. The coffee crème brûlée was delicious but the baklava cheesecake was astounding. No wonder they offer whole ones to go. read more

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This place is such a hidden gem The atmosphere is cozy and super elegant--perfect for a girls' dinner or a romantic date night. The food was amazing and you can definitely tell everything is made fresh to order. It did take a little bit of time to come out, but honestly, it was worth the wait because you can taste how fresh and high-quality everything is. The star of the show for me was the mushroom short rib ravioli--it was absolutely incredible. Rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. I'm already thinking about going back just for that dish alone. Skip the Mac & cheese! read more

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

A cozy date spot with delicious and elevated dishes. It was super empty when we came here for dinner so that was a little bit weird though. Short Rib Ravioli: Get soooo rich and savory, this was filled with so much flavor and umami Grilled Octopus: Get also so flavorful, the char was great and had a good pop of brightness Ratatouille: Get just a solid ratatouille but personally i think it was a little bit under salted Food: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Value: 7/10 read more

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Cute restaurant tucked away in Costa Mesa. We had great service and enjoyed the vibes overall. The menu is simple, clean, and offers a few unique twists of flavor. We were a party of 4 that ordered 3 appetizers and an individual plate each. Overall, the bone marrow and pasta dishes were the winners. The artichoke was underdone, the cauliflower was lacking flavor, and the octopus was a bit chewy. read more

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Great service & food. Warm lovely restaurant. A wonderful find. This was a second time back & it didn't disappoint.. Highly recommended! read more

Great! My better half made reservations for 6pm and we met with a good friend who's also a foodie. Robert was extremely cordial, informative and helpful. As it's Italian themed we were excited to try the artichoke, cauliflower, lamb croquettes and lemon & thyme salad. Except for the cauliflower which was a bit bland (thanks Robert for helping shoosh it up) all the dishes were extremely tasty, well prepared and, very important, easy to digest. I'd definitely recommend those croquettes though, I can only remember eating similar ones overseas. As dessert each of us had our own baklava cheesecake.... chunky, filling but definitely something to NOT share (which may sound weird coming from someone who loves family style). Lastly, the ambiance is very cozy and intimate... cork on one wall and lemon / thyme wallpaper on the opposite wall are nice memorable touches. Highly recommended, 10/10. read more

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

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I was looking forward to trying out this place but what a huge disappointment. My husband and I went for brunch. We were the second people there at exactly 11am. First glance, it's a very cute restaurant. We ordered and our food took a very long time which doesn't make sense because it wasn't busy. When our food did arrive it was cold. My husband got the chilaquiles. The sauce on it was good. I got the egg Benedict's it was very plain. I'm not sure if dinner food and service is better but I'm weary to give it another shot. read more

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

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I have had this restaurant to my radar for some time now and finally came here with some girlfriends. The food, service and space far exceeded my expectations. Such an unassuming place but our group of 5 had the best time. I wish I had taken note of our server's name because he was attentive and had a great sense of humor (the owner too). We ordered the following and shared everything: grilled artichoke, beet salad, octopus al pastor, spicy rigatoni, and branzino. There really isn't anything I wouldn't recommend from what we ordered. Everything was fresh, well flavored and beautifully presented. We ended the evening with a slice of the baklava cheesecake and flourless chocolate cake. The baklava cheesecake is such a unique dessert I think it needs to be on everyone's "must try once" list. It's very very sweet but very good. The space is small but quite charming and equally suitable for small groups (4-6) and perfect for date nights. There are a lot of other menu items that sound enticing and based on my first visit, it certainly won't be my last. Can't wait to come back for dinner again or maybe even brunch! read more

I came for a late lunch with a friend. My friend found this spot and we decided to try it with no expectation. The menu was simple , we ordered the pasta, Branzino, and baklava cheesecake, they were so yummy and delicious. I didn't expect much from this cozy restaurant, but It turned out to be perfect food with friendly service. Definitely come back if I am around. read more

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

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Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Noise level: 4 stars Food: 1 stars Parking is available at the front, but confusing for newcomers--we ended up parking behind Social. The interior is cute and kitschy, and the staff are friendly, though they tend to brush off complaints about the food with "it's healthy for you." Bread: Fluffy but overly sweet and sticks to your teeth. Pass. Beef Tartare: Tasteless, and the first batch of chips was burned and cold. When we requested a replacement, the new batch arrived after we'd already finished the tartare--at least it was fresh and warm, but the timing ruined the experience. Branzino with Beluga Lentils & Market Vegetables, Citrus Reduction: The fish looks beautiful but is powdery and flavorless, with lemon sauce hard to scoop. The lentils are inedible--hard, powdery, and gritty. When I mentioned this to the waiter, he just said "it's healthy for you" and walked away. Friendly service, but not attentive. Baklava Cheesecake: Sprayed with edible flower essence for flair, but the cake itself is cloyingly sweet and heavy--'healthy' it is not. Overall: The restaurant leans on the "healthy food" excuse to cover bland, poorly executed dishes--burned chips, tasteless tartare, gritty lentils, and overly sweet desserts. Healthy can be delicious, but this isn't it. read more

Ambiance was understated elegance and the service was exceptional and personal! We tried several appetizers including the cheese board and it was delicious. Our entrees were plated like a Michelin star restaurant and were equally incredible. Very much worth finding and we will be ba read more

Ambience: 4 stars, small, clean, and simple. Intimate space with oldies music playing in the background. Service: 4 stars, simple good service. Parking: Free parking in the back of the restaurant. Our Tes took us to the parking lot outback when we punched in their address. Food: 4 stars. Small menu selection with a couple of specials for dinner. Really enjoyed the burger + fries + beer trio. Good solid food. Creative and generous serving portions. This is really out of the way for us, but since we were doing some shopping in Costa Mesa, Grok recommended this restaurant based on a few of our filters... Wow, the food was phenomenal...but what pushed this from a 4 star to a 5 star experience were the warm towelettes and lemon for me to wash my hands with. I guess they saw me using my hands to eat their delectable empanadas, they brought a plate with warm towelettes and lemon over. Pleasantly surprised and impressed. Highly recommended, and will definitely be back. We come down to the OC a few times a month to see friends and escape our regular routine. read more

Suuuper mediocre. Pretty inexpensive but mediocre both in terms of food and service. We didn't enjoy our experience.