Thyme Has Come Today...

[Servorg]

Can't put it off another day...

Or it certainly looked like it when I rode by a little while ago. The front windows were uncovered for the first time since their construction started way back when. If someone tries it out (cafe and prepared food / and? higher end market) please do post. See this previous thread for the "back story" on Thyme: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/621612

Plus more info here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/10/thyme-cafe-market-opens-in-santa-monica.html

Located midway between 16th and 17th Street on Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica.

And their website here: http://thymecafeandmarket.com/

[Bradmeister007]

What's Hot:

1) The Key Lime Pie is one of the absolute best I have ever experienced anywhere. Perfect tartness and the freshly whipped cream on top is soothingly fluffy.

2) Delicious pannini sandwiches.

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What's Not So Hot:

1) The too-dry salmon filets are topped with a salsa that is so garlic-infused you will be burping the flavor up for many, many hours after your meal.

2) The soups are way too peppery. Why do restaurants feel compelled to drown out the natural flavor of the soup with an overabundance of pepper?

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Thyme Cafe & Market
1630 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

[epop]

Went to Thyme with an hour for lunch. Stood in line for 10 minutes and hadn't moved. I calculated it would be 20 before I got to order. The line wasn't very long. A manager or owner came around and hugged a couple friends. But there was no attempt to expedite the line. I left. Others left. Most stayed. Definitely not my cup of tea. No time for this sort of thing.

[Funwithfood]

I've been hoping for a place like this for a long time!

(Wooster, tell me about Curious Palate--I've never heard of it.)

[omotosando]

I haven't been to the Curious Palate, but here is their menu.

http://www.thecuriouspalate.com/image...

I am curious whether they have desserts and, if so, they are any good.

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The Curious Palate
12034 Venice Boulevard, Mar Vista, CA

[sel]

Only been to The Curious Palate a couple of times, had a couple of good sandwiches and a good brownie AND mind-blowingly wonderful Chocolate Chip Cookies! Well I have been a couple more times and stopped for the cookies but please don't tell my personel trainer!

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The Curious Palate
12034 Venice Boulevard, Mar Vista, CA

[Dommy]

They also have wonderful veggie tarts and carry all sorts of wonderful chocolate bars, and recently added Milk Ice Cream Sandwiches... basically I am only allowed to go there if I ride my bike... to Santa Monica and back before I can actually stop in...

--Dommy!

[wooster]

Curious Palate is on venice, maybe two short blocks east of Centinela, south side. I love the place and have tried nearly all their menu and have learned of a couple of amazing cheeses from those guys. Smoked salmon sandwich, egg salad, cuban sandwich, chicken satay sandwich, triple pork chili, all so good. Helps that I live and work near it, so i can grab a sandy and eat at home with my pups. I'm not a sweets or baked goods guy, so I can't speak to their pastries, but I have turned so many people on to that place.

Also went back to Thyme and had a better experience, but I still say the comparison to Dean and Deluca is both hilarious and ludicrous. The first sandwich I tried at Thyme was the Salami pressed with gruyere (i think) and olive tapenade. they probably overdid it X3 on the tapenade, so I didn't like it that much, but the idea is good. Many things looked nice. Very standard for the genre.

[Veggo]

Thanks a lot. The tick-tock of the Chambers Brothers is resonating in my head ;)

[Servorg]

Why should I be the only one! ;-D>

[wooster]

Commented on it on another thread. Had lunch there. It was decent. They need some practice. $45 for a take and bake lasagna. I'll keep going to Curious Palate and try back in a month. I'm sure they will have it together by then.

[maxzook]

The LA times says it opens today:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/daily...

[Servorg]

I think I linked that in my post?

[maxzook]

Of course you did <kicking self>.

[RicRios]

There should be a law prohibiting the use of the much abused and meaningless phrase "fresh gourmet" .

[Servorg]

It can't be all bad that this was "Inspired by Clementine in Century City and New York's Dean & DeLuca..." Hopefully the "inspiration" will translate into something more than advertising sloganeering.