Ciao Thyme

Food is interesting and quite good, but DAMN, is it expensive! There are too many other excellent places to eat in Bellingham without having to pay these prices.

My husband brought home the Shepherd Pie for our anniversary. I am so impressed! The meal was wonderful. I love that it was in a beautiful glass dish. I hope he surprises me again… soon!

I love this place. The menu is small but I always find something I like. Interesting flavors, nice service. Organic local food!

I was super skeptical when I first walked in and there was only a few things on the menu and almost left the first time I went there. But I am so glad that I didn’t. Everything that I had was cooked amazingly and tasted even better. The dessert was to die for. And they have home cooked meals that you can buy and you get some of your money back when you return their glass pan. Don’t let the little door fool you when you walk in cuz they’re the sit and rest place in the back that’s hidden.

Let me start by saying I am a tough restaurant patron, given my many dietary restrictions. I don’t normally review restaurants, but I have to make an exception. My mother and I had lunch at Ciao Thyme yesterday and we were bowled over by the deliciousness and presentation of the two dishes we each had: Moroccan Chicken Salad and Roasted Cauliflower Soup. The chicken salad, which the kitchen made dairy free for me, was bursting with complementary flavors. I especially loved the pomegranate-​citrus vinaigrette and found the salad a satisfying meal, even without a cup of soup. Now to the cauliflower soup: I think this has to be one of the best vegan soups I have ever experienced. With a wonderful array of ingredients, including chickpeas and garam masala, it is an absolute winner that I am going back for next week. Bravo, Ciao Thyme!

I’ve been once and have no intention of going back. I ordered a burger, I think it was $ 15, came with nothing (maybe a pickle). Served on some terrible whole grain organic bun that probably detracted from the overall burger. You order at the counter, the staff is pleasant enough but there’s not really much service– you get your own water, silverware napkins etc.
I guess I don’t get the place. For what you pay, you could do a lot better elsewhere.
In short, the foods not great and it’s too expensive.

I’ve been to Ciao Thyme seven times over the last two years for lunch and twice we have taken out a main course. In the beginning I was very impressed, but lately the quality has fallen off considerably. There are two specific incidents I’d like to mention here. First, using a small jelly jar for a serving of something vaguely like apple pie may look charming, but charging $ 4.50 for it is, in my opinion, extreme. Second: we picked up a take out meal when we had company coming. The chicken piccata was not cheap but the serving dish was good sized and we decided to give it a try. The quality was very poor. The chicken should be tender, but it was tough. Piccata sauce is supposed to be light, a little buttery with a good lemon zing. Capers add another dimension, and a important contrast. What we got from Ciao Thyme was tough chicken with a (very meager) sauce that was terribly over-​spiced and left a burning sensation in the mouth. It tasted only vaguely of lemon, and there were too few capers to make an impression. There was, on the other hand, a lot of wild rice. I would say more than half the serving dish worth. I found this experience very disappointing, and I won’t be going back to Ciao Thyme.

The food here is excellent. The atmosphere is great. The price is a bit high, but that is expected with locally sourced organic food. Great place to eat.

I absolutely loved the food at this little restaurant. I can’t recommend any particular item as the menu changes weekly. I would highly recommend eating here.

Fresh and full of flavor. Some of the best food in Bellingham, by far. I’ve been wanting to come here for a long time, and finally I can say it was worth the wait! I’ll be back again sooner this thyme ;-)

After reading reviews online, finally got a chance to drive down over the border and check this place out! Love their concept of open kitchen, communal tables and supporting local farmers using seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Between the 3 of us we had the Tamarind Beef Salad, Chicken Meatballs with Polenta and the daily special which was Flatbread Pizza $ 45. The portions are a bit smaller than I hoped but you could definitely taste the freshness and quality of the ingredients that were used! Hope to be back again in the fall when the menu changes

My first time here. Simply amazing. My daughter’s response was «oh, my God’ every other bite. The service was cheerful and helpful. The menu changes frequently focusing on local farms. Mateo is a creative wizard with food with wonderful food combinations. I had chicken meatballs with polenta, mozzarella, pickled onions, bell peppers and basil. She had a chicken meatball sandwich. Then we shared a grilled stone fruit and marsapone salad that was amazing also. And mint jasmine iced tea. I definitely will go back. The only problem that I can see is limited hours. Just 11−3pm. And they can run out of room if they get anymore business.

I’ve been a CT patron since they opened and EVERY time I eat here I am giddy when my plate arrives (no really!) and I always leave feeling inspired about my own culinary exploits. Despite the bustling pace, the owners Mateo and Jessica always make an effort to connect with customers about their experience.

A quaint restaurant that truly brings the farm to the table. We ordered a burger with aged cheddar and a pizzette with broccoli, zucchini, onions and sausage and both were scrumptious and sublime. Service was impeccable and the next time we’re in the area, we will be sure to stop by!

Go there. OFTEN. Owners are delightful, as is the staff.

I don’t know where we were headed for lunch prior to this, but I’m very glad we ended up here. We were visiting friends in the area and on our last day in town, we spent the day cruising around Bellingham. Ciao Thyme popped into our chauffeur’s head and we were off!
When you enter, it’s a small store front and I was a little confused because I didn’t think we were getting it to go. However, we walked down the hall way and it felt like we were transported to Mataio & Jessica’s home and were sitting in their dining room. The menu options are limited, but it changes every day. No, not once or twice a week; EVERY DAY. The thought of being able to go to the same place for lunch every day and never being bored is pretty freakin’ cool.
For today’s lunch I opted for the Thai Beef Salad while my three dining companions all got the Chicken Pot Pie. The beef was cooked perfectly rare with a nice sear on the outside. The green curry dressing tied everything together nicely: carrots, slaw, lettuce. So simple yet so delicious. Our companions were telling us all about the Incognito dinners they’ve been to and enjoyed.
This is a jewel of a place to have in a rather small town area. Bravo!

I love to eat. I love to eat good food. I love to eat good food in unique quaint spaces I don’t think I have eaten better food or had a more fantastic dining experience. I love Ciao Thyme! I love incognito dinners. I love lunch. I appreciate what I learn about food, textures, aromas, pallets, pairings, etc. The service is top notch and the owners care about the community.

Words really can’t describe just how wonderful this place is. To dine at Ciao Thyme is an experience for the tastebuds, a treat for the senses and an entirely social space all catered around delicious decadence.
A unique set up once you walk in, there are menus by the front door that shows the offerings for that day. Pick and choose or select a menu tasting (highly recommend) for which you get to sample several fares that they are made as single items.
Food to go with a twist; there are refrigerators where you can purchase items made in house. From soups to full course meals, all you have to do is heat it up and voila. Your family and friends will be awestruck.
Dining in is a must. The tables are set up farm-​style which seems to be common in town. Get to know your seating companions – or better yet what food they decided on. I ordered a menu sampler, which is more than enough food for me. But since when do I deny gourmet fares? The menu had a creamy coconut beet soup which was heavenly, a mediterranean chicken salad and a side of seasoned yams/​sweet potatoes and whipped cheeses. The salad would normally had been enough, as even in the menu sampler it was large. I believe the price for the sampler was $ 22, which is a steal of a deal.
There are so many offerings that will bring me back in. Regularly. The local ingredients, cooking classes, Incognito nights and the dining room aesthetic. To be able to watch very few people create gorgeous dishes with such finesse is candy for anyone who appreciates fine dining. By far the best restaurant I have found in Bellingham.

How I heard of this place: When looking for lunch spots to enjoy a meal with our good (local) friends, we often hear of great spaces. Ciao Thyme is now among them.
Type of cuisine: «The menu will change with the farm produce of the seasons. There is no pretense in this space, just high quality ingredients prepared with care and delivered with love. Folks come knowing they can trust that the food that is prepared here will be sourced responsibly. They know that by choosing Ciao Thyme On the Side, their dining dollars will go farther in this community to support local families, local farmers, and other small businesses in Bellingham-​keeping our community thriving.»
Ambiance: We walked up to the corner of Unity Street and Flora Street downtown and were struggling to find the name imprinted on this quaint garage-​style building, freshly painted in a rusty red with turquoise trim. Upon closer inspection, the trim-​matching font could be seen against the windowed storefront. Inside, we were welcomed into a small lobby-​like area, with window-​front barquettes and an array of items for sale. After perusing the desserts, our dining companions joined us; we placed our orders and carried our own desserts towards the back, where we could join the dozen others seated at long, cafeteria style tables. The amber glow of lighting, the smooth jazz overhead and the open kitchen gave us an at-​home feeling as we sat down to dive in to our sweet treats!
What I ordered: Having had to order upon entering the bright and Martha Stewart-​inspired orange and blues of the space, we were immediately greeted by a handful of dessert options. Placing our orders at the front, where our selections were taken on an iPad, using Square, none of us could refuse the desserts staring us in the face. So, we started with sweets! I selected the Strawberry Rhubarb Clafoutis ($ 5), a gluten-​free concoction prepared with a crêpe-​like batter layered beneath rhubarb strawberry compote, soufflé-​like top, rhubarb curd flecked with vanilla bean and spiced (cardamom) whipped crème fraîche. My husband chose the Chocolate Chip Cookie ($ 3) made with large discs of Vahlrona dark chocolate topped with vanilla salt, and our dining companions shared the Chocolate Cardamom Pot de Crème ($ 4), a honey-​sweetened, gluten free dark chocolate baked custard infused with cardamom, topped with cardamom whipped cream. Of the four of us dining cafeteria style at Ciao Thyme this afternoon, three of us were immediately intrigued by the Special of the Day Filet O’ Fish ($ 15 each): Hawaiian Opah served on a toasted sweet roll with tropical aioli and kale salad slaw with a mango pineapple lime vinaigrette. The fourth in our party enthusiastically enjoyed a cup of Red-​Lentil Coconut Soup ($ 6).
What I loved: Dessert. Each one better, more flavorful, more vibrant and smooth than the last. The cardamom infused the chocolate with such precision, the rhubarb slightly tart with its hint of summer, and the large discs of dark chocolate melted like a layer throughout the center of the cookie.
Why I loved it: Among numerous reasons to Ciao Thyme — ambiance, presentation of each dish, community-​building-​encouraged seating, creativity of flavors — one of them is definitely their commitment to the local community!
«Our community is important to us – so, we like to give back to this place we call home. Ciaò Thyme donates 10−15% of its annual revenue in goods and services each year to local non-​profits. From auction items to discounted catering for fundraisers, we’ve given to the organizations that help make Bellingham a great place to live and work.»
Cost: High ($ 13 — $ 15 per dish)

Delicious food, fresh local ingredients and totally gourmet. I also love the feel of the little café with all the Le Crueset dishes and the bright color scheme. My only complaint is affordability, it’s a bit expensive for me, wish they had more affordable lunch specials under $ 10.