Thyme Matters

New owners! Thyme Matters had a complete upgrade! Wowsers! Really beautifully renovated. Same delicious food and guacamole freshly made to our liking. I would say the only loss is the drink menu; it definitely leaves much to be desired. Had the purple rain and it was okay. Would have loved a thymtini from previous drink menu. Otherwise, everything was wonderful!

A Fancy Westside Spot with Hits and MissesThyme Restaurant, formerly Thyme Matters, has been reimagined by "a couple of couples" into a fine casual dining space on El Paso's Upper Westside. Their vision emphasizes good food, wine, and conversation in an upscale neighborhood setting.From the outside, the restaurant looks simple, but once inside, it leans more towards fine dining. I picked this spot last minute for a birthday lunch with friends, and we weren't exactly dressed for the occasion in our casual workout clothes. Upon arrival, I was surprised that they asked for a reservation despite the place being mostly empty, but they were able to seat me for three.As I waited, I noticed the clientele was mostly well-to-do older ladies and business professionals--a bit of a social schmoozing spot rather than a cozy neighborhood eatery. The atmosphere felt polished but slightly forced, and with only one waitress handling the entire first floor (while also setting tables with tablecloths), service was understandably slow.Food Breakdown (Best to Worst) Saku Tuna Ceviche ($19) - This was a standout! Fresh, flavorful, and elevated by the chipotle mole-style paste. I'd come back just for this. Hamachi Tiradito ($22) - Large, fresh slices of fish in a delicious ponzu sauce. Another winner. Baked Brie ($16) - Creamy and well-balanced with spiced pear chutney. Great for sharing, but I could've used more baguette slices. Mussels ($18) - Overcooked and overwhelmingly salty. They also forgot the bread, so we struggled to eat it on its own. Ribeye Sandwich ($18) - This was a disaster. The bread was rock-hard, and the meat was chewy, stringy, and dry. I wanted to send it back, but the waitress was already stretched thin. A friend later confirmed their ribeye sandwich experience was just as bad.My friend enjoyed her salad, mostly because of the dressing, but overall, the meal took a long time to arrive, making it clear that this is a leisurely lunch spot rather than a quick bite destination.Final ThoughtsCome for the appetizers - They're about the same price as the entrées, but far superior in quality.Service is stretched thin - The staff works hard, but the restaurant seems understaffed for its level of formality.The ambiance is hit or miss - If you enjoy a country club-esque lunch vibe with business conversations around you, you'll fit right in.Not ideal for a casual meal or date night - It's more of a "ladies who lunch" or business meet-up spot.While I'm grateful for my friends taking me out, I don't see myself making this a regular go-to. The concept and execution don't fully match the "neighborhood gem" description they aim for. Thyme Restaurant5857 N Mesa St #24, El Paso, TX 79912

I feel the place is not the same since Alejandra sold it. It is still nice and they have done some remodeling. However, the menu and other details seem to not be as good as before. It seemed to favor Italian more than New American. I didn't understand why there were "reserved" tables when for hours no one came to sit in them. I also think that the prices have been raised and it is a bit overpriced for what we got.

Food was badCharged for bread with dinnerCharged extra for sweet potato friesFixed tip of 20%Waited an hour for the food

Ambiance and decorations were lovely. Service was extremely slow and the waiter was not attentive to the table at all. Food was ok. When I took my leftover salad to go, they boxed it up in the kitchen and did not include my remaining dressing or a new dressing as I never poured the dressing directly onto the salad. I was definitely disappointed with this experience and will not be returning.

The food tastes fantastic and the service is fenomenal always make sure to stop by when your in town if you want to be blown away by the flavor of all the food here

I was very impressed with this place. The corn soup and guacamole were incredible. I had a salmon, and it was cooked perfectly. Our server and hostess were very nice. Great experience overall!

The service quality and friendliness was outstanding. Pricy food with a classy ambience with table clothes and clean decor. Small bar but good mocktail options. The waiter is an expert at upselling which is understandable but easy to get your bill climbing high so be careful. Food options range from $14 for a Caesar salad (which uses some grilled Romain and is very good with a good portion, a $23 for a spicy shrimp pasta dish to $31 for a scallop dish on a cheesy orzo which I would recommend. I don't recommend the $14 desserts since the portions are too small. We had 2 entrees and a salad and a dessert with only waters to drink and no coffee or alcohol and our bill plus tip was $150, so it was really expensive for the area. Good place for a special event in search of high quality service but way too expensive to be a more regular place to go.

Food was good, but my wheelchair got tangled in the very long tablecloth and turned stuff over, and we still miss the pork chops which they did so well but no longer offer.The server was very kind, though, and was attentive.

We had often gone to Thyme Matters and looked forward to it today. And so we were terribly disappointed that it looked like there are new owners or new management. The lovely continental cuisine was gone and replaced by pretty ordinary stuff. We left without ordering anything. The inside front of the menu said something about a couple of couples being the owners. I wish them well, but they are disappointing people who are looking for a nice dining experience.