This is a small gem tucked in a small space on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa. As you enter you feel a welcoming atmosphere. It is a small restaurant with very charming design with white linen tablecloths. The service is impeccable. The food is excellent and imaginative. I enjoyed every minute I spent there. I highly recommend it. read more

What a lovely, pleasant surprise!! Small, but varied Mediterranean forward menu definitely something for everyone. Warm, friendly, old school genuine touch service. Very nice European wine list. No booze unfortunately hopefully that comes soon. Standouts: Yellowtail Spicy rigatoni Prawns Knock your socks off: Grilled octopus al pastor Baklava cheesecake (insane!!!!) Loved all of their sauces- aïoli, dressings all homemade and delicious. Everything had a homemade with love and care touch that really came through with the food and service. Cute interior will absolutely go back. read more

Went for brunch on a Sunday. Only one person working the front of house. Very attentive & friendly. Took quite a while to get our food. Tried the breakfast burrito, and breakfast sandwich which were both very good. The biscuits and gravy were just OK. Had a less traditional taste to them. The French toast was delicious! Sweet and fruity, perfect. Prices were inline, but overall just slightly above average. read more

Last night myself and a dear friend had a fabulous dinner at this gem! Stellar staffing from check in and throughout our almost 2 hour catch up holiday meal. Actually, I can't remember the last time I did not feel rushed in a restaurant. I haven't even gotten to the meal itself yet. Started with the Artichoke appetizer which was perfectly delectable. We had the salmon dish and the filet both cooked and seasoned to perfection. Personally I enjoy restaurants that have small menus and then nail the dishes. This was a fine dining experience at a very reasonable price! A perfect example that by keeping the menu tight with local fresh ingredients most everyone can have a memorable date night here. Leave the kids with a sitter and you and others can "dine just fine"! Note...loved the holiday playlist read more

Delicious food with an eclectic menu! We loved the short rib ravioli, octopus, and beet salad. The service is also excellent!

Our new go-to spot for Mediterranean cuisine! Everything we had was delicious, the wait staff was attentive, and our server Gabriel gave us some great recs: Grilled artichokes - takes a lil bit of work but the editable bits, especially the heart of the artichokes, are tasty with or without the dips. Beet salad - exactly what you would want from a refreshing beet salad. Truffle tagliatelle - pasta was cooked perfectly al dente with just the right amount of black truffle in the cream sauce that makes it decadent but not too rich. Branzino - beautifully cooked whole fish with simple seasoning that highlights the fish itself. Ribeye - perfect medium rare with a nice char, and the bone marrow butter takes it over the top. Baklava cheesecake - so unique! Delicious cheesecake sandwiches between a top layer of flaky baklava and a pistachio crust. read more

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This place is absolutely amazing, I highly recommend it this place. It can easily be casual or fancy depending on the vibe you want to create. My boyfriend and I went for our anniversary. We got the bone marrow, short rib ravioli, grilled peach Barada salad, the artichoke and the crème brûlée. PSA The bone marrow is heaven on a slice of bread. Get the artichokes. Trust me you won't be upset you did. Everything was outstanding as well as our server Juan G. He made us feel like we've been friends with him for years. Will be returning 10/10 read more

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

Lemon and Thyme deserves all the stars! I wanted to find a place for a nice birthday dinner and seriously, this restaurant hit all the marks. Service was perfect, pleasant without being intrusive, every bite of food was a party, fantastic wine and it was quiet enough to have a decent conversation (which was mostly about how amazing the food was) We are lucky to have a lot of fine restaurants in Costa Mesa but I have to say that Lemon & Thyme is fine dining at a whole new level. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Food and service were both very good. The restaurant is smaller but cozy and welcoming. I would definitely go back again read more

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One of the best dinners we've had. Came here prior to our concert at Segerstrom. Our server Gabriel gave his recommendations so we tried a few apps and all 5 of us had our main dishes. One thing I appreciate is that Gabriel had all the dishes and utensils changed out after each course. I had the mole duck over a nice carrot purée topped with whole baby carrots and it's was phenomenal. Wife and kids had the chicken and filet, all great. All of their sauces are made in house so with all of the wife's allergies she was able to enjoy the sauces since some were made with egg, tyme, and lemon for the artichoke, and butter tyme and lemon for the chicken sauce. Very "clean" eating and nobody including the wife had any reactions. read more

1st time checking this place out and it lived up to its Yelp rating. The Blue Cheese wedge salad, Ribeye, potato purée and wild mushrooms were all spectacular. We finished our dinner with the espesso crème brûlée and flourless choc cake. Yum yum yum! read more

I was looking for Italian restaurant in Anaheim and I found this restaurant's as a5 star ,I'm really believe they are 10 star ,nice atmosphere and good foods ,I recommend read more

I went for my bday dinner with all of our friends and we all loved this place! Everything from the service to the delicious branzino, veggies, truffle pasta, ribeye and all of the above were amazing! Thank you for an amazing experience lemon and thyme!!!! read more

This place is an amazing restaurant that offers delicious food and service. I'm we had a wonderful time and Gabriel's service should have its own rating of satisfaction because he is more than 5 stars! I appreciated the chef coming to our table and telling us more about her background and culture. How they pour their hearts into these recipes. I highly recommend this place and we can't wait to go back. read more

Lemon & Thyme - This rib eye with potatoes and four different mushroom was mouth watering and even more delicious in flavor au ju and chinichurri - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Amazing so glad my bf found this place! What a gem I feel like im in new york or la need more gems like this in OC! Service was also amazing shoutout to Robert! read more

I went to lemon & thyme with my husband, simply because we saw the cute new sign. 100000% glad we went, the food here is phenomenal! I am a more adventurous eater, compared to my husband. Our waiter, Robert had great recommendations, for both of us. We started with the grilled artichoke and beef tartare. For a main, my husband had the spicy rigatoni and loved every bite. I went with the grilled octopus Al pastor and the FLAVOR BOMB WAS AMAZING!!!!!! (Great recommendation from Robert, who genuinely asked me what flavors and foods I liked, and had my water glass and beers full, so service alone ) Definitely recommend for any occasion. Great for date night, casual dining, and just in the mood for good food. I wanted to take more pictures but I got so caught up in the food and conversation with Robert, my husband and I had a blast! read more

Lemon & Thyme - Grilled artichoke, couldn't even wait for a photo so good. - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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So this was my second visit after a couple of weeks, I have returned and brought a friend because it was good. Usually sequels are not better than the original, but my second visit exceeded my expectations. I came back for the mushroom risotto and the grilled artichoke. Both were very good. I strongly recommend the risotto, I know it's a simple dish, but this risotto is so comforting, and it's yummy, not over seasoned, its just well balanced. The grilled artichoke was also yummy, I particularly liked the dressing slathered over the grilled artichokes, I was dipping my delicious complimentary bread in the dressing concoction. A farm to table concept so for tonight they have a grilled peach burrata salad, sprinkled with pistachio and mint. This salad was divine, it surprised me how happy this salad made me feel. It's refreshing, it's playful, tart and sweet. I can't believe I would rave about a salad, but this one was delicious. So if you had a chance to get this salad I highly recommend. My appetizer and salad was paired with a delicious Pinot noir. I have to give 2 thumbs up to our knowledgeable server Gabriel, he gave me a quick lesson on what wine will pair. And he was spot on as I paired my main course of rib eye with a robust Cabernet Sauvignon. And my ribeye, cooked to perfection, served with broccolini and mashed potatoes sipping my red wine, every bite was heaven. Also, my water was always full, a sign of great service. Dessert was peach with ice cream pairing well with my latte. It's a way to end my dinner, I had grilled peach as the main flavor in the beginning of my meal and ending my meal with a sweet peach dessert rounded up my memorable meal. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, and I love the music playing in the background. This place is quaint, but it's a perfect trio of excellent food, service and ambiance. By the way, Chef Jacqueline came out to say hello and she's a rock star! I'm not going to be surprised if she gets a Michelin star. It is inevitable, a superb and talented chef who is passionate about food and excellent customer service, a Michelin star is bound to happen. I highly recommend Lemon and Thyme! read more

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Not sure if coming Sunday morning for brunch was the best time to visit. My friend's dish was over cooked and meat not tender for the steak and eggs. My avocado toast was typical but satisfying. read more

I don't know if i spoke to the owner or with someone else but im trying to book a reservation but their so rude . I'm very dissapointed .

We came here for our anniversary and everything about the experience was perfect! Service was very attentive, welcoming and honest. Food was a 10/10. We got the branzino, spicy rigatoni with broccolini and baklava cheesecake which were all perfect. Definitely coming back again to try the rest of the menu! read more

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What a disappointment. Wouldn't go back. We were really excited and looking forward to enjoying it based on reviews, the menu and pictures. What we saw compared to what we experienced was absolutely the opposite. read more

This restaurant is an absolute gem! Friendly staff and cozy ambiance. You can tell the food is sourced with quality fresh ingredients. I'm looking forward to coming back for the baklava cheesecake! read more

I simply cannot say enough good things about our dining experience this evening- so much so that I ran home to write a 5 star review. Our server, Gabriel, immediately welcomed us like family when we sat down- he truly has a gift for people. The seasonal grilled peach salad was perfect to start- light but delicious. The artichoke appetizer was the best grilled artichoke I've ever had-the amount of sauce and herbs packed into each bite plus the dipping sauces- and it was a lot more food than I was expecting! For mains, my husband and I shared the octopus Al pastor and the truffle tagliatelle. Now, while I am a sucker for truffle anything, and it was in fact delicious, the truffle flavor was very mild and the homemade pasta was super filling. But the octopus. Oh. My. God. This dish had such an amazing blend of flavors unlike anything I've had. It was smoky, tangy, hints of salty... all rolled into one. Truly a stand out dish! Lastly we ordered an espresso creme brûlée and our server brought out an anniversary rose sorbet. The crème brûlée had a lot of espresso flavor but was good (I'm not huge on coffee flavors but can't say no to a brûlée). The rose sorbet, however was completely unique. Very light and subtle, with tiny little crunchy candied bits and dried rose petals. I could eat this every week and not get tired of it because it was so refreshing and light! When all was said and done, we couldn't stop smiling about the new gem we discovered so close by, and our server gave us each a big hug as though we were now family. We can't wait to go back, and all joked as we left- "See you tomorrow!" read more

Lemon & Thyme - Espresso crème brûlée and rose sorbet - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

New restaurant that opened 3 months ago. Tried it for the first time. Got the shrimp, and peaches with burrata for appetizers. Delicious. Peaches were grilled and the shrimps were well seasoned. Had one of their homemade spaghetti and the whole branzino. They were both delicious and well seasoned. Service was great. Restaurant is in a strip mall but the interior and atmosphere inside were refined. Highly recommend and hope they are successful read more

Great food and service!!! The ambience is nice, and it's a small intimate restaurant. It gets a little hard to hear as it gets busy.

I've spent quite a bit of money at Lemon & Thyme because the ambiance is charming and the service has always been pleasant. That said, I was really disappointed during my recent visit. I found a hair in my food--unfortunately, I didn't notice it until it was already in my mouth, which completely ruined the experience. The portion sizes also feel a bit small for the price, and when I ordered the duck, I wasn't even given a steak knife, which made it tough to enjoy properly. The flavors themselves were actually pretty good, and under different circumstances, I would've rated this a solid four stars. But hygiene is something I take seriously, and I hope the team takes this feedback to heart. I really want to keep supporting this place, but I'd appreciate a response or gesture of goodwill for the experience. read more

It's almost not fair to say we had GREAT service because we went very early (had to catch a show at Costa Mesa) and we had the restaurant to ourselves so the chef took care of us. I ordered the short rib raviolis that were EXCELLENT and the chef made a tomato base pasta for my 11 yrs old kid out of the menu that he loved. We'll go back for sure at a regular dinner hours and hope for the same. read more

First time going , the food was amazing and the service was great . We will definitely go back

My husband and I went to dinner at Lemon & Thyme, which was a block from our condo. The food was excellent and service was fantastic. We highly recommend the place. We asked what the staff liked (gambas, octopus), and also ordered what we typically prefer, all to share. We had the beet salad, gambas al ajillo, roasted bone marrow, and octopus al pastor. Dessert was baklava cheesecake. The beet salad was absolutely delicious. It had red and yellow beets, with fennel shavings and greens, accompanied by a light citrus dressing. It is one of the best beet salads I have ever had. The gambas (shrimps) were grilled with heads on and shells on. The shrimps were large, and very tender. The roasted bone marrow came with toasts and salt grains. They were really well prepared, just like what we had in Paris. The octopus had many accompaniments, and was delicious. The baklava cheesecake is very nice, even for me who is not a dessert person; it is a bit on the sweet side from the honey and pistachio. For my next visit, I would definitely try the empanadas de bacalao, seared duck breast, and pork belly. read more

After reading Yelp reviews my wife, daughter and I decided to try Lemon & Thyme. We were not disappointed, in fact it was one of our best food and service experiences in a long time. We had artichokes, grilled octopus, bone marrow, truffle pasta w steak and mushroom risotto. Each dish was unique and spectacular. Service was first class as well. Highly recommend! read more

This romantic restaurant has an expertly curated menu. The flavors pair incredibly well. We tried both the grilled octopus al pastor and honey citrus glaze salmon. Both were cooked to perfection. The service was impeccable, all suggestions lived up to their expectations. I will be dreaming of these flavors. read more

Cute and cozy Italian restaurant with delicious food and amazing customer service. From the host to the server and to the cook. We felt welcome and taken care of the moment we stepped in. So much good food and wines to pick from! Highly recommended this place. Try it yourself and you know what I meant.. read more

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We came here a month after opening for one of the dinners during our Babymoon and we are so happy that we did!! It's kind of in a random location but the food was incredible. We got the beet salad (delicious), the Al pastor octopus (flavor bomb in your mouth!) and the wagyu burger. My husband said it was one of the best burgers he has ever had and burgers are his favorite food. The service was also exceptional! I can't remember our waiter's name but he truly elevated our experience and made it so special! Wish we didn't live so far so we could come more often but highly recommend this place!! It won't disappoint!! read more

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

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Their truffle pasta was amazing. The Branzino fish was the best fish i ever had. Don't underestimate how delicious the lentil beans are as a side to the Branzino. It's delicious and the vegetables that accompany it are just as good. The only thing that rivals the taste of the food is incredible Service and hospitality. The chef and owner are creative. Best restaurant in Orange County hands-down read more

Excellent food and service. Enjoyed everything about Lemon & Thyme. Very friend staff as well. Patti Simab read more

Very nice and welcoming decor with a bit of modern style. The service was superb and ALL of the staff were super nice, funny, and so attentive, yet you didn't feel rushed at all and it ended up being a relaxed evening. And of course the food was really good. This may seem small, but I believe it speaks volumes...my iced tea was never empty and I never had to ask for any. Will definitely be going again! read more

FANTASTIC. Gabriel is amazing. So kind, friendly and great service. I had a chance to talk to him and the chef/owner who was super sweet too. The food was delicious. I had the mushroom risotto and the artichokes. I don't know what else to say, but go try this place, you won't be sorry. read more

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

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This is a hidden gem! My husband and I eat out a lot and the food here was phenomenal. It's in an unpretentious strip mall, but had cute ambience. We had: 1. Beet salad (we both agreed best beet salad we've ever had) 2. Beef Tartare (phenomenal) 3. Rib eye ( soooo good. Cooked exactly how we wanted). Service was great. Will definitely be back. read more

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

I have been very fortunate to eat at some of the finest restaurants throughout the United States. I am totally blown away by lemon and tyme. The dishes are simply outstanding. Every bite is so savory. The food combinations are outstanding. You simply can't get much better. Service is fantastic. This is a very simple restaurant serving Michelin graded style food. The ribeye was the best ribeye I've ever had in Southern California The Branzino was so succulent and cooked to perfection The baklava cheesecake was the best cheesecake I've ever had. Make a reservation and get in there you will not be disappointed Thank you, thank you thank you read more

We had an incredible dinner here but perhaps the best part was our server Gabriel. I live in LA but if I lived in OC this would be my regular spot. read more