service 5 stars. food 5 stars. outdoor tables 5 stars. our waiter was fantastic and helped our decision making expertly. octopus al pastor exceeded my expectations-- was like a party in my mouth. artichoke was tender and well dressed. rigatoni with broccolini al dente and saucy-licious. totally coming back to try the steak read more

Excellent. Service was fabulous. Food amazing. We had the branzino whole fish and it was super. Also the beet salad and don't forget the homemade baklava cheesecake. Oh and the homemade Parker rolls with lemon thyme butter. We will be back. read more

amazing food and service. My Branzino was better than Bestia in los Angeles for half the price. only negative is parking read more

Tldr; had a great thyme eating. First off, the service was amazing. The attention to detail and the warm treatment made me feel at home. All the staff were extremely kind and polite, and one even ran to get the door for on our way out. You know when a movie sneaks in the name if their title in a scene, but executed well? Lemon and thyme does that-- with lemon and thyme. Their house made rolls had lemon zest, sea salt flakes, and thyme, and were fresh from the oven. Yum. Beef tartare had house made chips which were crispy and waffled. The octopus was SO tender. The grilled pineapple slaw along with the aguachile was sweet, tangy, and refreshing while containing bits of adobada-- crispy, right amount of salty and savory. Must try. They also had back to back indiana jones movies playing on the tv which was interesting-- but entertaining nonetheless. The house made lemon and thyme sorbet was amazing. Topped with lemon zest, it was a nice cool dessert to finish with. Definitely helps with the tummy. I also really liked their water glass and their water service. I left with my hunger satiated, thirst quenched, and a full smile. read more

My wife and I went to Lemon and Thyme over the weekend and had the best time. The service was amazing and the food was delicious and good portions. We had the beef tartare, the beet salad, which we aren't beet people and we did it on a dare and we loved it. Are main was the Octopus Al pastor and it did not disappoint. And the baklava cheesecake is well worth it. We loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back. It was so nice to have such great service in a restaurant like that and it just made you feel special. Thank you Lemon & Thyme read more

Excellent service by Gabriel and the food was amazing. We had the rib eye and it was enough to share between two people. The bone marrow was delicious' for dessert we had the baklava cheesecake. I've never had anything like it. This place was perfect. We're definitely coming back as this was our first time here and it exceeded our expectations! read more

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

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We are not frequently out on the town on dinner dates, but we tried this Newport-adjacent dinner place on Thursday night which recently opened to good yelp reviews. Thank you, yelpers! It is not near our home but it was worth the drive. I am happy to confirm what others said: Good food, tastefully presented, great table service and a cozy dining experience for two. We ordered the beet salad to share, as did many reviewers, then had octopus and potato main dish, again to share, with a glass of wine for each of us, a tasty dessert and a cappuccino for less than $100 (before tip). The baklava cheesecake is not for dieters, to be sure, but offers a new twist on a decadent end of meal calorie splurge. You can even take a full baklava cheesecake home for $75 dollars, undoubtedly worth it if you are hoping to move up a size in your wardrobe. If not, one slice was big enough to share. All in all, very glad we went to this excellent, uncrowded midweek boutique. read more

This place is a gem!! Just had a wonderful anniversary dinner and the food here is amazing as was the entire staff. Special thanks to Gabriel for making the evening extra special with all his special touches and extra kindness. All his recommendations were fantastic. The artichoke starter, spicy rigatoni, coffee and baklava cheesecake all were sooooo good. I don't have pictures because the food was so good I ate it all . Great music, ambiance and overall experience. Must go l! read more

Food was delish! The empanadas and Shrimp were so good, unfortunately i didnt get to take a picture cuss i ate them so fast read more

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

Excited to find this gem. Cute place, food was wonderful and our waiter was awesome! Highly recommend read more

Love the restaurant! Good, tasty food, with beautiful presentation! Great service and wonderful cook that we met in person. Definitely we are going back again!! 5 star for everything!! read more

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New hidden treasure on corner of 19th and Harbor. Our server Gabriel was phenomenal! He had some great recommendations and walked us through the menu. We had the artichoke (a must) and the empanadas. For dinner we shared the spicy rigatoni. Let's jot forget their garlic bread was delicious! read more

Although I eat out often, it is not that often that I have a memorable meal. Lemon & Thyme is one of those exceptions. The food is delicious, and the chef's creativity is on full display. The staff is welcoming and gracious. The ambiance is casual yet very appropriate. A return to sample more on the menu is definitely soon. read more

Probably one of the best meals we've ever had. Branzino and spicy rigatoni and beet salad. All had excellent flavors. And our waiter Gabriel was knowledgeable and fun. Would highly recommend and will be back read more

Food is amazing! A hidden gem! We shared many plates & all fantastic. The artichoke was delicious. read more

Ten out of ten hospitality and food. We were here from out of town and stumbled upon this place. Such an amazing experience all around. We will be back next time in Cosa Mesa! read more

Great food and service! I would highly recommend this restaurant. The grilled artichokes are a must have. There were 4 of us in our party and we ate family style so we enjoy everything. My whole family loved it. read more

Gabriel was a wonderful waiter. Food was delicious. Highly recommend the artichoke, the beet salad, and the spicy rigatoni. Prices were great. read more

Wow! What an amazing meal! Loved this place! Did not know much about the restaurant when I made the reservation, and was not sure what to expect when I saw the small, low-key spot. But once inside, there was a lovely ambiance and energy. Gabriel, our server, was amazing and amazingly helpful. We had the artichokes (definitely recommend!), the octopus appetizer (definitely recommend!) and the beet salad (definitely recommend) and two amazing deserts - cheesecake and a peach ice cream. The chef, Jacqueline, came out to chat with us at the end of the meal. What a lovely woman! Will totally support this restaurant/return/recommend to everyone. Sorry I didn't take photos! read more

My husband and I had tried Lemon & Thyme while we were on a stroll with our newborn. The staff was inviting and friendly. They made us feel so welcomed! We ate the Al pastor octopus, artichokes, and the prime beef tartar and it was all so delicious! Especially the complimentary warm bread dwarves with a lemon and thyme butter. We've also now had a decadent chocolate cake and now the baklava cheesecake! Such a lovely first dinner date out with our newest little addition to our family! read more

Lemon & Thyme - The server was kind enough to take a photo for our first dinner out with our baby and we enjoyed such an amazing chocolate cake! - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Definitely a great experience tonight! The waiter, the salads, prawn appetizers and the ambience was incredible! My main dish and dessert was on another level! Can't wait to return here with the rest of my family!!! read more

Menu is pretty small but has good staples. Our server was very nice and had good recommendations plus led us through the wine list throughly. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side but full of life with white linen and clean silverware. Very much recommend! read more

3rd time visiting and I will keep coming back! The food is delicious, and the staff is very friendly. The dining area is small and inviting. They do take reservations which I recommend for large groups. The prime beef tartare & baklava cheesecake are a must try. read more

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My name is Gabriel and i an server at this Restaurant.. This is a Mediterranean and Mexican Cuisine with a little French influence.. The food is flavorful, unique, and quite inventive. The service is absolutely perfect....! read more

My first time to Lemon and Thyme and the entire experience was lovely. I gave it a try for a date night because of the positive reviews and it did not disappoint. The location isnt great - in a very small strip mall on harbor; however, as soon as you walk in, its high-class all the way: white linens, beautiful glasses and set ups, etc. We were greeted immediately and served ice cold filter water. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We ordered the wedge to start, which was good. I got the burger which was delicious and my husband got the octopus which he said was very good. Almost forgot about the ROLLS! we were brought complimentary fresh, warm rolls with a sweet butter and sea salt on top - So good! Overall great experience - highly recommend. read more

Amazing super nice newish restaurant. Each food item , plus service are the tops. Staff is excellent and experienced. Will go back again for sure. read more

Great food and awesome service! Every dish was outstanding! Definitely a fav and will recommend wholeheartly!

We brought a group in to Lemon + Thyme this weekend for Brunch. The place is a hidden gem in Costa Mesa and had a great family feel to it like a neighborhood spot for locals. We had this epic French toast that was worth all the carbs, an amazing breakfast burrito and these house made biscuits with country gravy that was so delicious. Our server was on point and very attentive. The bottomless mimosas was a great value as well. We will be back for sure! read more

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

Great dinner in a strip mall! Visited October 2024 Everyone on the staff was great! Courteous, helpful, warm smile faces, glasses were continuously filled, dishes delivered and cleaned off the table within perfect timing! Didn't feel rushed and didn't feel ignored. We were asked about our satisfaction with food and drinks after allowing us enough time to taste and have an opinion. Waiter's suggestions were in the spot without pushing! Ambiance was pleasant with background pleasant music that allowed us to converse without raising voices. Food was delicious and portions are large, but not humongous. Among the two of us we shared the perfectly dressed and balanced burrata and grilled peach salad (have to find that recipe), the grilled artichoke (3 halves artichokes) and the grilled octopus that the staff so kindly served to us in 2 individual plates. The salad and the octopus were my favorites! The octopus came with fingerling potatoes and avocado foam and was perfectly cooked and delicious. I thought that the artichoke was a little over grilled, but I'm not an artichoke fan. We appreciated that the dishes came one after the other, allowing us to enjoy each one and having some time in between to savor. One of the best meals! Too bad it's over an hour drive from us! read more

I got food poisoning from here and yacked within 4 hours of leaving the restaurant. I ate the truffle pasta and the service was slow. There was no one in the restaurant and it's probably for a reason. read more

Great service and loved the waiter. He was engaging and the food was wonderful. He helped us order the different courses including wine.

I'm a little remiss about positing this review and have been meaning to do so for a several weeks now. We recently had a wonderful meal at Lemon & Thyme. The food is amazing and so is the service. Don't let the location tucked away on Harbor fool you - this is an unexpectedly delightful place. The food is sharable so you can experiment with things that you might not otherwise order so go ahead and try it. You won't be disappointed. read more

My friend and I stopped by Lemon and Thyme to pick up dessert. We got the Baklava cheesecake and it was amazing! I've never had baklava before and having it on top of my #1 dessert was interesting! The cheesecake was creamy and lemon-y, we enjoyed every bite! The gentleman that helped was very friendly. He welcomed us with open arms when we arrived 30 mins before closing lol I plan on coming back to try their lunch and/or dinner menu. If their dessert was wonderful, I can only imagine the food! Thank you Lemon and Thyme! read more

Tried out this new restaurant in Costa Mesa near triangle square. Even though the restaurant is just starting they are winning in all aspects. As soon as we sat they brought out these freshly baked buns that were warm and absolutely delicious. Next we started with a beef tartar which was absolutely amazing. By far one of the best I've had which the freshly baked potato crisp. A Caesar salad because why not. For entree we shared a whole branzino. The citrus reduction gave this white fish a delectable touch. We had to end the night off with their cheesecake baklava. I'm not one for sweets but this blew my mind. When they brought it over they sprayed a rose water on top which added a nice aromatic twist to the dessert. Chef Jacqueline definitely outdid herself with all the items. The servers, Roberto and Gabriel both were attentive charismatic and made the experience all that much better. Definitely will be coming back! read more

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My wife and I went for our first time. This restaurant is amazing. The staff is wonderful and the food is even better. The menu is out of this world. This restaurant is a must visit. We will be back for more for sure... read more

Everything we tried was good. Nothing was exceptional. The baklava cheesecake was something different and is worth trying, if you have a sweet tooth (it's not too sweet). read more

Wonderful experience dining here tonight with my husband and another couple. Food and service were outstanding. We shared most items family style in order to try different dishes. To start, the table was given a plate of homemade rolls that had lemon and thyme butter on them - oh my! For appetizers we had the hiramasa aguachile, which was refreshing, fresh and tasty, and the grilled artichokes which were served with a lemon and thyme vinaigrette on top and came with two different aiolis for dipping- the spicy one was very good, we then tried the beet salad and wedge salads -- both excellent. The burgers were the star of the night - so juicy, and full of flavor, served with rustic fries that were crispy with just the right amount of salt. Other entree choices were the airline chicken and rigatoni - both of these were also good. The baklava cheesecake is their signature dessert which is good for sharing, very different and oh so good! The chef and owner, Jackie came out to introduce herself and greet us after dinner - she is very gracious, warm and an excellent chef. We will definitely be returning. This little gem is tucked away in a corner of a strip plaza at 19th and Harbor in Costa Mesa, and could easily be missed unless you knew to look for it. Once you discover it, you'll become a fan too. read more

great experience! very interesting menu and great service with Rob and all around staff!

They don't know what they are doing. Got on the waitlist at 7:20. Told we'd be seated by 7:35. Have been strung along for about 45 mins now. Guy at the front is a mess. Will not come back. Clueless. read more

The artichoke is perhaps the best thing I've eaten this year. 100% recommend; we ordered it twice. The server was very friendly and great at making suggestions/offering substitutions. Can't wait to go back for the artichoke.... read more