Wild Thyme Cafe & Bakery

«Wild Thyme Café & Bakery» closed. Sorry to see it go. I ate there several times. I would have given it 5 stars if it was still around.

This place (Wild Thyme) is now CLOSED… and has now become some Hawaiian cuisine restaurant called Canoe House. Wild Thyme is yet another place I now have to wonder what caused its demise. Bummer.

Coming into this place I already knew it was an old-​fashioned, mom and pop diner type of place. so I knew the food was either going to be really good and comforting… or really mediocre and tasteless. Unfortunately it was the latter. But I drive by this place to work everyday so I still wanted to try it out, just to say I did and so I could cross it off my list! But sadly the food was mehhhh. I don’t know how to explain it really but the food tastes… cheap? My turkey sandwich tasted like something someone had just made at home with cheap Wonder bread and packaged meat, haha.
The salad wasn’t fresh and the dressing again was nothing original. Unfortunately my friend’s blue cheese dressing was WAYYY expired and spoiled, and I was disappointed to see that the waitress didn’t even offer to comp her meal or bring something else, she simply took the salad away. The prices aren’t the cheapest but I’m glad I came by and tried the restaurant so I can stop wondering what kind of food they serve every time I drive passed by it. Haha.

This review is actually just for their QUICHE! The first time I was introduced to this was when my coworker brought a whole pie to work. It was divine!
I was craving quiche last weekend and drove there myself!
I ordered the Southwestern Quiche and hands down I haven’t found one that’s beaten it! The quiche isn’t too eggy, which I like. The quiche was infused with veggies, chicken pieces, and spices! It went PERFECT with a douse of hot sauce!!! The flavors of the veggies and the chicken really take the quiche to the next level. I’m not to keen on just egg on a crust… so I’m glad this place has mixed it up a bit.
The quiche slice was pretty big and you get a side salad or a fruit medley. The price is about $ 20 for this entrée. It is affordable but I’ve seen quiche at a lesser price. I would probably just invest in a whole PIE!!!

I was thinking I’d give this place three stars, but «Meh. I’ve experience better» totally describes how I felt about this place. I came with my mom and my brother because we had a coupon for it. On the surface, it looks pretty nice. I thought’d it’d be one of those hidden treasure-​type restaurants (I hadn’t looked at Unilocal reviews before I went).
I liked the service: it was pretty prompt and our waitress was really friendly. But the food was just so… blah. I had one of the brittany crepes: the one with salmon and asparagus. Salmon and asparagus are two of my all-​time favorite foods, and I like crepes, too. All of that in one dish sounded like heaven! Unfortunately, everything in the dish was very bland. The asparagus was overcooked an had no bite. The salmon was okay, but it got lost in whatever sauce everything was doused in. The crêpe tasted like nothing. Oh, but I did quite enjoy the garden salad that came with it.
I also had a taste of my brother’s linguine. It didn’t really LOOK that good, and it tasted how it looked: bland. I think he enjoyed, but I thought it wasn’t worth it.
Oh, also, our coffee was bland, too. And our waitress also never came by to refill our cups either. I was pretty disappointed.
I’m glad that I had a coupon coming here. Maybe their cakes and pastries are good, but I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

Service 3.5÷5
atmosphere ³⁄₅
food ⁴⁄₅
price ³⁄₅
Unfortunately we went in and the electricity was down so no Sodas, no Crepes and they did not have mozzarella cheese for my panini! I decided to have Gouda Cheese instead. the sandwich was good and the french fries were delicious. especially with the powder seasoning on top of them… make sure the electricity is running before you go in!
I will make sure to give them another try before i decide to X them out

Another nice, simple breakfast/​lunch, 12:00 on a Sunday.
We both had the frittata omelette, several eggs (probably 3?) wrapped around sauteed mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes and cheese. Served with ripe, delicious fruit (slice of cantalope, watermelon, and a small bunch of ripe grapes) and toast. The omelette really is delicious and reminds me of the frittatas served in Italy.
We also couldn’t resist the french toast moulin rouge. I had seen it passing the table one day, and it looked like brioches battered and fried and served with shaved chocolate on the top, along with a little dish of strawberries. Yum.
But when it came to the table, I could have sworn there was no brioche — just sort of pancake-​y pieces with the shaved chocolate. I asked the server to ask the cooks and they said that the french toast was battered brioche. Hmmm. Not too sure about that. But it was still very tasty, although the dish is so large we couldn’t finish it.
Such a pleasant little simple place, with a nice calm crowd. A nice way to spend a Sunday morning. Good place to take yer mom or gramma.

If ur a big «BIG LOVE» fan, then will recognize the counter where Bill decides that he wants another wife (Anna the Russian). This is total BS cause in real life men can only handle one wife.
Anyway, we bought tickets for a movie and had 2 hours to kill. It was rainy, a little cold, and we wanted to come in from the weather to have a romantic treat.
We ordered chocolate cake, cheesecake and 2 coffees. Service was ok… a little slow (and spot was empty). The chocolake cake was dry and tasted a bit over baked. Really disappointing. The cheesecake was super yummy.
So we are split 50/50…she hates it… i love it!
Not sure if I would come back since there r other places with better desserts.

Ah, the day was New Years Eve and where did I have dinner? I came to Wild Thyme for a wild time! Well, not really, but I figured I’d try to make a joke and make you smile while you read my review!
So the story goes… I came here with my best friends in search of a very comfortable setting for dinner to enjoy a peaceful evening and rejoice the last hours of the year of 2010. As we walked inside the restaurant I took notice that it was indeed a very homely and cozy ambiance. As the hostess was showing us to our seats I acknowledged that the kitchen was an open kitchen. I was pleased right away!
When we sat down the waitress came too greet us in an instant and handed us the menu. I quickly read the menu items and their descriptions. I was a bit confused on what theme the restaurant was trying to project. On one side of the menu they had a Thai Beef Salad, on the other side they had a New York Steak, on another side they had Fish Tacos, and on another side they had «Giant Brittany Crepes.» The first thing that came to my mind? «IS THERE ANY ACTUAL THYME USED IN THESE RECIPES?»
Moreover, my friend informed me that they took the «Giant Brittany Crêpe» out of ready-​made plastic bag and placed it on the crêpe pan instead of making their own crêpe batter. First of all crêpe batter is not really hard to do. I’ll give you the basic ingredients to a crêpe batter: flour, eggs, milk, butter, and a pinch of salt. VOILA! In my opinion, if you are going to make crepes, fresh batter is always the way to go! It’s a shame because crepes originate from Brittany. Also, I’m not sure if the Wild Thyme uses a buckwheat batter to make their savory crepes (called galettes in Brittany and other parts in France) and a wheat batter to make the dessert crepes.
Moving on, I ordered the butternut squash ravioli since it was an item from the «seasonal special» menu. The butternut squash was a bit bland and the cream sauce overpowered the delicate flavor of the squash. The vegetables that accompanied my dish were too oily. To sum up my dish I had an oily bland creamy plate.
This place is overall a mediocre café to dine in. I did no try any of the desserts. The waitress and hostess were very friendly and attentive.
The only reason I would come back here? Probably be for coffee and pie.
I think they need Chef Gordon Ramsey to help them reconstruct their menu and food philosophy!

I had dinner at Wild Thyme for the first time on new years eve– my group was looking for a suuuuper chill place for dinner, to avoid the crowd and not have to pay exorbitant amounts of money on a simple friday night meal.
The menu was varied, the people were polite, and the food was alright. Nothing that rocked my world, but it was completely edible and enjoyable.
One complaint– the menu said I would get bowties with pesto, but instead it was cream pesto. They should have written it plainly on their menu (I’m lactose intolerant). I was able to eat it thanks to my trusty lactase pills, but still… not cool.
I was hoping for a richer flavor, but alas, i did not receive that.
The server was helpful and we left satisfied.
THE END!

Sunday breakfast sounded like a good idea.
Drove by Marston’s… too crowded.
Drove by Russel’s… a line of people.
Drove by Central Park… a line of people.
Drove by Lucky Boy… too greasy.
Driving towards Mike and Anne’s and saw Wild Thyme.
We haven’t been there in ages… was it good? I don’t remember.
No line at Wild Thyme… can’t decide if that’s good or bad. At the moment it seems good.
Service was friendly and attentive.
Food was meh.
The kids ordered blueberry pancakes. The pancakes had no blueberries in them, but a mountain of blueberries on top. Not tasty. The kids brushed them off.
The wife ordered a breakfast burrito. She ate half of it because she was famished and then stopped because it just wasn’t good. Not bad, but just not good.
I ordered the Huevos South Pasadena. Bland. The salsa was canned-​tasting tomatoes and there were a couple slivers of avocado on a rubbery egg. I don’t understand how you can make a dish like this taste so bland?
Bacon and eggs. I thought I liked bacon, and I don’t think I’ve ever had bacon I didn’t like… until now.
Sorry, I really wanted to like Wild Thyme. We remembered, after our meal, that we didn’t like Wild Thyme years ago. I guess I’ll try back in another decade or so… or maybe never.

To be completely honest, I thought the food was okay-​not raving or superb, but reliable.
I was here on Halloween waiting for my daughter. There was one young male server tending the entire restaurant. He was excellent. Service couldn’t have been any better.
This is a quaint place to visit for coffee. Parking is convenient. Service is impeccable. It’s kind of a nice homely restaurant.

I actually like Wild Thymes very much and have been there many times. I love their Ahi Tuna Sandwich and most of the Crepes are really good. The service is very attentive also. I am taking one star away because it is hard to eat healthy here, not too many low fat/​low calorie options.

Short summary: Decent food, but probably the least sexy restaurant in the Greater L.A. area.
Want to keep that relationship with someone strictly platonic? Nothing makes the point better than a dinner at Wild Thyme.
Yes, the food is traditional American and not half bad, but the décor makes Carrows look like Katsuya. It will hit the spot if you’re looking for some classic American baked goods (zucchini bread, pumpkin pie), so be sure you order some or you might just go home disappointed.

Right when you walk in you are greeted by a large statue of a pig, or maybe it’s a hog, I don’t know; the swine is a good indicator that you better be ready to stuff yourself silly. The service here is superb and honest. If they don’t think the soup of the day is top notch they will tell you so. Here is what I have put in my face at Wild Thyme:
TRI-​TIP THAI BEEF SALAD Chopped Romaine Lettuce, Iceberg,
Red Cabbage, Carrots, Scallions, Snow Peas & Tomatoes tossed in
a Sesame Ginger Dressing, topped with Marinated Tri-​Tip &
Crispy Wonton Strips.
AMAZING! The beef is tender and delicious. All of the fixings come together to complement each other in a fantastic way. I wanted to stick my face in the salad to get it in my mouth faster.
WILD MUSHROOM PENNE PASTA Fresh Exotic Mushrooms
sautéed with Garlic, Fresh Herbs and White Truffle Oil, Basil
& Italian Parsley.
Rich and decadent and something you would expect from a swanky establishment. The truffle sauce is supreme.
SAND DABS WITH LEMON CAPER SAUCE Lightly Seasoned,
sautéed & topped with Lemon Beurre Blanc Sauce, Sautéed
Seasonal Vegetables & Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
I am a fan of the caper and this dish soothed the caper beast in my. The sautéed season vegetables turned out to be asparagus on my visit. HOLY COW! Who would have thought that a sauté in butter and honey would be so amazing?
I highly recommend Wild Thyme. The menu is huge and will satisfy any appetite and any price range.

Came here for Sunday lunch and was unimpressed. Maybe breakfast food items are better? Had to wait 30 minutes for a mediocre hamburger. In and Out does a better job for a few bucks less. Granted, it was after the brunch rush… but frying a piece of frozen beef does not take 30 solid minutes. Brie-​Spinache crêpe was also ordered, it was good but needed more spinache and less cheese. MiL’s Italian chopped salad was just sad looking… overly dressed, with miniscule chunks of low grade meats and cheese piled on. Luckily, her split-​pea soup was decent.
If I ever come back here again, I would give their breakfasts a go. But with all the other many cafes/​brunch places to choose from, along with the slow and mediocre service presented here, a revisit here is unlikely.

I’ve been trying restaurants owned by the Shakers group and saw this on their website so decided to try it. I particularly WANTED to like it because they had crepes on the menu, one of my husband’s favorite things. So off I went the other day.
Because I was sort of testing the place out before recommending it to my husband to visit, I ordered a bunch of things. The dinner side salad had a WONDERFUL vinaigrette salad dressing, but that was the best thing I ate.
I tried the chicken and mushroom crêpe. For those of you who like gooey moist, you’ll love this because it was loaded with melted cheese. Unfortunately, it was a little bland and not flavorful enough for my palate. I ordered a side of their garlic cheese flatbread (sort of a Peta bread with some seasoning on top) for my salad … and found that to be a little bland … in fact I took the leftovers home and even my dog wasn’t interested. Don’t blame him. I then tried their rum banana desert crêpe. It was okay, but the rum tasted like flavoring instead of the alcoholic product one drinks. In my desperation to find on the menu something really delicious, I then ordered their mac-​and-​cheese to go which I figured I’d try the next day. Ho hum … that was bland, too, even after I added a ton of Romano cheese to it when reheating.
Overall, what a disappointment. They do make the carrot cake which is sold in the few restaurants Shakers owns, and my ho-​hum experience at Wild Thyme reminded me that the Shakers carrot cake was the best in the world back in the ‘70s (heavy, dark with lots of spices and wonderful cream cheese icing), but now it’s still pretty good, but not the extraordinary product it once was.
P. S.: If anybody knows of a carrot cake out there that’s similar to what I describe above, please let me know.

12.7.08: It’s more of a 3.5 stars because I wanted to slap the waitress. I understand that sometimes people hate their job but as a server you got a put up a front. And I just don’t understand how you can be so rude when no one was being rude to her.
It was for brunch and the menu looked delicious. It was hard to me to decide on what to eat but I finally did order and I would say the eggs benedict was really unexpected. I thought it was better than most brunch places that I have tried. The biggest compliment to the eggs benedict is their potatoes, it was a perfect match.
Parking is a pain here as well. So beware. Did I mention the waitress? Yea her, I swear it was really difficult for her to come take our orders or actually apologize that she forgot our bread, it took her half hour to remember, she is so lucky I forgot her name. One day I should just make a list of horrible servers so I can slap them the next time they make a mistake. Alright that’s just my world.
This place I would recommend on eating brunch here again.

Met with some friends here. Would have loved to have tried the delicious sounding things on the menu, but was still full from breakfast earlier, so a friend and I split a brownie sundae instead.
It was your standard sundae (delicious) but what was so great was they brought it out cut in half and in two different bowls. Totally unnecessary but awesome nonetheless. Our service was great — the server was attentive and refilled my coffee whenever it was even half empty.
Maybe I’ll be back again, if I ever find myself back in Pasadena.

Here we go again. Blueberry fruit tart, apple pie, brownies, a plate of homebaked cookies, etc., etc. For an additional $ 1.10, you can have a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream with any dessert order. Not this time, though.
(I still can’t believe this enormous willpower I now have when it comes to sweets. My sweet tooth must have a cavity or something.)
So anyway… I had the chicken caprese sandwich which had grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, field greens and balsamic vinagrette in between two pieces of focaccia bread. DELICIOUS! However, the side of fruit wasn’t as delicious — cantaloupe and watermelon were tired, but at least the grapes were edible.
Atmosphere is cute — kind of a country kitchen-​type of setting, and the clientele is a mix of young and old. They also have a bakery counter in the front that displayed goodies which I looked at, but didn’t touch. (This can’t be happening…)
Wild Thyme is a good place to go for lunch or dinner if you happen to be in the South Pas area. The food is great and I’m sure the desserts are great, too.