View Full Version : Review: Thyme Cafe, Broomhill


Tony
24-07-2004, 07:24
As soon as we walked in it felt very good.

That was the last time though. From then on it just got worse. Here's the sequence of events:

Walk through the door, greeted and shown to table
Wait at table while they clean it (very Little Chef)
Sit down...
Wait...
Wait...
Wait...
After sitting for 15 minutes with no drink, we wonder... why is no-one taking our order despite 5 waiters hanging around?... s'cuse me, what's happening, can you take our order?
"You have to order at the counter"
WHAT!!!!!

Person I was with says... "they took our order at the table when we came in at lunchtime the other day" :confused:

Go to counter... trying to remember the order
"What table are you sitting at?"
That one (points, expecting to be asked for a table number - luckily for her she didn't)
"Can I take your card for payment now?
WHAT!!!!!!
Do I look as though I'm about to leg it through the toilet window?
"No, we always do it?"
WHAT!!!!

Then the food...
Bread and dips: Frozen bought in bread. Tasteless beetroot humus and pifflingly weak chilly oil. Not a good start.
`
A £9 beef-burger with inedible, salty frozen fries and lettuce dripping with water served on a board, a la plank steak - which it is definitely not. Rubbish.

Meat and potato pie. Not too bad at all! In fact pretty good, if too huge for one person.

"Everything OK for you?"
No... the fries are too salty - i can't eat them
"Ah yes, they are really salty aren't they - I had some earlier"
WHAT!!!!!!

The staff looked a little perplexed when I didn't leave a tip as I stood and paid at the counter - and even double checked the table.

Not impressed. Rubbish implementation of a rubbish concept. Won't hurry back.

The overall impression? More Transport Caf' than Bistro Café.

I’m amazed that Sheffield people accept this shoddy concept so gladly. Mind you – Slammers was popular for a while too until it was sussed... and then it closed.

Rich
24-07-2004, 10:23
*sigh*

Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT compulsory to leave a tip, it's optional depending on the quality, or otherwise, of the service :loopy:

Wonder if there's actually anywhere in the Crookes/Broomhill area that DOES good service :loopy:

Remember the farcical Italian meet back in June at Maria's? :lol:

tas1
26-07-2004, 08:00
Well I have to say that when we went we couldn't of had a more different experience. The waiter showed us to our tables, and told us to order at the bar. I don't think they took a card but can't be 100% as I wasn't paying.

Food was reasonable - OH had sausages and they were really good and I opted for a portugese stew that could have done with less chorizo, and more pork but that's just my opinion.

Service was good as well. We didn't have a starter or fries so can't comment on them.

Thyme restaurant in x-pool is superb when it comes to quality + service.

If you had a problem, then I'd suggest writing to Robert Smith and letting him now that maybe they need to look at their quality + complaint handling.

fuzzy
26-07-2004, 16:23
Friends also been to Thyme in Crosspool recently and said it was good.

This is not the cafe though, did wonder if it would work or not.

ReginaldD
01-10-2010, 10:57
Has anyone been here recently? someone at work said he loves it but just wondered what others thought before I made a trip.

ta

Babooshka
01-10-2010, 11:19
Yes, Reg. It is one of my favourite eateries. The food is fantastic. It is served piping hot, and remains hot, the service is very friendly, it is clean, welcoming, cosy, warm. The music is the right volume. The whole ambience is perfect. Do go! You won't regret it. It is one of Sheffield's best places to dine, in my opinion!

Captain_Scarlet
01-10-2010, 11:33
The overall impression? More Transport Caf' than Bistro Café. In this day and age bistro café means frozen microwave food whilst transport caf' as you call them make the homemade wholesome dinners.

maverick
01-10-2010, 11:51
I love Thyme, the burgers there are my favourite, definitely try it :)

ReginaldD
01-10-2010, 13:10
Sounds good, thought it be good to see what people think now as the others post are really old, obviously lots can change in 6 years.

top4718
01-10-2010, 13:19
Well I have to say that when we went we couldn't of had a more different experience. The waiter showed us to our tables, and told us to order at the bar. I don't think they took a card but can't be 100% as I wasn't paying.

Food was reasonable - OH had sausages and they were really good and I opted for a portugese stew that could have done with less chorizo, and more pork but that's just my opinion.

Service was good as well. We didn't have a starter or fries so can't comment on them.

Thyme restaurant in x-pool is superb when it comes to quality + service.

If you had a problem, then I'd suggest writing to Robert Smith and letting him now that maybe they need to look at their quality + complaint handling.

Wonder what the lead singer of The Cure thought to the complaint. :hihi::hihi::hihi:

medicgirl
01-10-2010, 14:27
Another fan here. For us it is our 'go to' place when we want food that may not be revolutionary or exciting but is filling, comforting and well cooked. The fact that the menu changes regularly is nice as there is usually something different to try. Dishes I've had which have been particularly good are the crab cakes, the prawn burger, the market fish stew and the beef brisket.

iheartsheff
01-10-2010, 15:30
Last time I went there it was for sunday lunch and it was lovely. I've never had a real fault with the food and the service.
The only real problem I have with the place is that it does get really busy and you can't book a table, but I can't really have a grudge against a restaurant that I like for being busy.

Hoddock
01-10-2010, 18:52
As soon as we walked in it felt very good.

That was the last time though. From then on it just got worse. Here's the sequence of events:

Walk through the door, greeted and shown to table
Wait at table while they clean it (very Little Chef)
Sit down...
Wait...
Wait...
Wait...
After sitting for 15 minutes with no drink, we wonder... why is no-one taking our order despite 5 waiters hanging around?... s'cuse me, what's happening, can you take our order?
"You have to order at the counter"
WHAT!!!!!

Person I was with says... "they took our order at the table when we came in at lunchtime the other day" :confused:

Go to counter... trying to remember the order
"What table are you sitting at?"
That one (points, expecting to be asked for a table number - luckily for her she didn't)
"Can I take your card for payment now?
WHAT!!!!!!
Do I look as though I'm about to leg it through the toilet window?
"No, we always do it?"
WHAT!!!!

Then the food...
Bread and dips: Frozen bought in bread. Tasteless beetroot humus and pifflingly weak chilly oil. Not a good start.
`
A £9 beef-burger with inedible, salty frozen fries and lettuce dripping with water served on a board, a la plank steak - which it is definitely not. Rubbish.

Meat and potato pie. Not too bad at all! In fact pretty good, if too huge for one person.

"Everything OK for you?"
No... the fries are too salty - i can't eat them
"Ah yes, they are really salty aren't they - I had some earlier"
WHAT!!!!!!

The staff looked a little perplexed when I didn't leave a tip as I stood and paid at the counter - and even double checked the table.

Not impressed. Rubbish implementation of a rubbish concept. Won't hurry back.

The overall impression? More Transport Caf' than Bistro Café.

I’m amazed that Sheffield people accept this shoddy concept so gladly. Mind you – Slammers was popular for a while too until it was sussed... and then it closed.

In general, people looking for a problem usually find one. Thyme Cafe is excellent, and a great atmosphere.

People who complain are usually small men with a failing career (odds on a teacher).

sibon
01-10-2010, 18:57
In general, people looking for a problem usually find one. Thyme Cafe is excellent, and a great atmosphere.

I like it too.

People who complain are usually small men with a failing career (odds on a teacher).

He's considerably older and wiser now.

If you can read dates, thank a teacher:roll:

skinner
03-10-2010, 17:42
We popped in for tea last week having not been for a while.

Food was OK but my god it is expensive in the current climate.

We had 3 cokes (horrible mixer coke - not proper stuff) which were an eye watering £ 2 each and a water and an apple juice which were same price.

Bread and hoummous £ 3 , olives £ 3 ...

2 fish and chips at £ 12 per portion and a lamb kofta at £ 12 also.

Total £ 52 ...

Guy who runs it was a little off when I asked if the burger (my first choice) can come medium rare , " no , we have to cook them through" was the answer , " you can have them like that or well done".
Now that tells me the burgers are not in the slightest bit fresh and probably not made on the premises.
So fish and chips it was.

We had to wait ages between the nibbles and the mains - like 30 minutes.
Considering we were the second table in on an early midweek night , not sure what happened...

Place itself seems a little tired and scruffy, I guess some people view this as "character"?

Fish and chips were OK - lamb koftas were very solid and only warm - tasty though.

I wont be going back , the prices are just outrageous.

Most places at the moment are offering some kind of early menu or special offers - perhaps Thyme cafe is either living on its prior reputation (I have been before and thought it was better) or just the good footfall it gets.

They did not get a tip.

S10matt
04-10-2010, 19:57
I personally don't get the hype of Thyme Cafe. Very overpriced for what it is.

I don't mind paying a bit more but not for the sake of it.

Darth Vader
06-10-2010, 01:34
In general, people looking for a problem usually find one. Thyme Cafe is excellent, and a great atmosphere.

People who complain are usually small men with a failing career (odds on a teacher).

You must get a fair few complaints then, as the only people I know who go there are all teachers - or should I say 'went', now? :)

libertarian
06-10-2010, 01:57
I personally don't get the hype of Thyme Cafe. Very overpriced for what it is.

I don't mind paying a bit more but not for the sake of it.

Yes, this post.

I've not been that often but when I have I've always had an odd feeling of 'mutton dressed as lamb' about the place. It tries to be a superior eatery with superior prices (fair enough) and yet it doesnt quite hit the mark. Dont get me wrong there are far worse places out there but I've always left underwhelmed...

jaystarchic
07-10-2010, 08:45
you want to try old grindstone,home made food only £ 3.25,for a good meal.

alexm100
19-10-2010, 17:56
I went to the Thyme Cafe many times when I lived in Broomhill, and I have nothing but praise for it. I know that the prices are fairly high, but it is good value as you get what you pay for - the fact that it is ALWAYS busy is testament to this. Good food, good atmosphere, and good service. It also has a nice little garden at the back. Recommend!

kirkyb
19-10-2010, 18:16
In general, people looking for a problem usually find one. Thyme Cafe is excellent, and a great atmosphere.

People who complain are usually small men with a failing career (odds on a teacher).

Is this guy for real? What a complete tool!