Harvest Thyme Tavern

Jordan Watson

2024-03

I had placed an order today via phone call, the Bison Burger and Fried Oysters, pretty standard order. So once I get there, I pick up my order. My problem is after I had walked out and had already paid the bill, I see that the amount I had was GROSSLY more expensive than I had originally estimated. Checking on the website as of 2/29/24, the price for the burger was $20, the fried oysters were $16. After Maryland tax it should have been $38.16. Imagine my surprise when I when after I was walking to my car the bill is $48.16. Seriously?? I walk back in to complain after discovering that the Fried Oysters had jumped up in price from $16 to $23 and I had also been charged a $2.58 To Go Service Fee as well. What is a "To Go Service Fee", you're charging me to come and pick up my food now??? This was not explained to me anywhere, be it on the website or on the phone.They had given me an explanation that the website had not been updated for 6 or so months and is using an old menu, which I had heard several times before from other restaurants that aren't giant chains. It's a very poor excuse to me, pulling the rug out from under customers and saying that the website isn't right when I'm already at the establishment and paying. I already drove the distance and I don't feel like wasting anymore of my time. As some consolation they had given me a $10 gift card, which while is a very appreciated gesture, the experience has already been ruined and I do not want to come back, ESPECIALLY after this next point.When I had arrived back home, I checked my food and found that those oysters that I had already paid roughly 45% more than expected for, was so pathetically small that it's absolutely criminal they handed me this with a straight face. 7 TINY pieces of fried oysters (the 8th in that picture is just breading) that wouldn't even satiate a young child, you have to see the picture I'm providing to believe it, costing me $23 for it. This small portion of oysters cost more than the burger and fries, how does that make sense? You COULD have argued market price value...but on the website it said no such thing on fried oysters. It was on some other stuff such as the crab cakes, marked as "MP" but it was not on the oysters. I flew off the handle at this point and had to write this up.I know the staff reads these reviews, so I want to be clear about something. I think you guys were pretty kind given the situation and were very swift to give some sort of rectification and I don't exactly have a problem with any individual in particular, but you can understand my frustration here when I'm checking your website and it's not accurate to what I'm given at checkout. Your website is of equal importance to driving customers to your store, it needs to be updated and kept on top off to avoid situations like this. I heard of this place by word of mouth and unfortunately this will be the only time I will ever be partaking here.

Lindsey Asarch

2024-04

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Samantha Perry

2024-02

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Melissa

2024-03

My family stopped by here last December during Christmas time…by random choice! We just went to the Homestead Gardens and looked for a place to eat dinner and this place sounded pretty good to try. We got in and oh my goodness! The atmosphere was rustic, clean, vintage and romantic.We met the owners who were absolutely incredible and so kind! They told us how they met, how they started their business and it just gave us that feeling of always being welcomed back. We ordered a variety of food and dessert and I have to say, I have never in my ENTIRE life tasted anything so amazing! Cruise ship food, fancy restaurants, you name it…NOTHING compares to this place. Everything is local, everything is fresh, everything is absolutely incredible!The only downside is they do need more restrooms but other than that, everything else is amazing and I will gladly drive out of my way to eat here again.

Alaina Del Real

2023-08

A hidden gem, worth the call-in reservation. There's a reason they highly suggest reservations, it's a small restaurant that knows how to make great food from scratch. The kitchen is the center of the restaurant and you can see it from any point of the restaurant. If you want to dine last minute, call ahead to see if you can fit in. The foods worth the extra effort.The pizza was just right and the wine/beer selection was on point.When I was there, there was a meeting of the staff discussing pairings. They take pride in their food and pairings.

Lazaro Gonzalez

2024-03

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Tina Madison

2024-05

Best food anywhere in Anne Arundel or Howard County. Visited on Mother's Day as a party of 5. I had Crab Imperial on pear ricotta sacchetti, delicious! Baby lamb chop appetizers were shared and we all agreed the sauce was delicate and delicious! They have a kids' menu too! Every person in the group praised the food and its presentation.

Dana Polmateer

2024-02

We hosted a dinner party for my husband's birthday and Rik was our chef. The entire experience was perfect - from the food to the service - I would HIGHLY recommend spoiling yourself or a loved one with this experience! We had a variety of great, unique dishes paired with cocktails/wines that went perfectly. The oreo cheesecake Rik's wife made was delicious! Thank you for making our night memorable! Your team was awesome!

Christy Robinson

2024-03

I recently moved close to Harvest Thyme Tavern and heard great things about the restaurant. So I was excited to try it. The food was good, but the experience was truly disappointing!I arrived at approximately 8:35 pm on Friday (3/1) to meet a friend for dinner and drinks. We sat at the bar. After perusing the menu, I decided to order the Rack of Lamb and substituted the side for mashed potatoes. My friend ordered mussels as her meal.After about 25 minutes, our food arrived. Although the lamb was tasty, the potatoes were extremely cold! I alerted the bartender and he promptly took my plate and said that he would have the issue fixed.About 10 minutes later, I was presented with another plate. Although the mashed potatoes were steaming hot, the lamb was VERY COLD!! I again alerted the bartender and asked him to feel the lamb so he could confirm that I was not exaggerating. He agreed it was very cold and said he would take it back. I then asked for the manager, asI thought being served cold food TWICE was extreme.The manager came over and apologized and said that he would make sure I received a hot and fresh meal. Afterwards, I ordered a pizza to go.About 25 minutes later, my original dinner arrived, although the pizza arrived shortly before. I finally received a hot meal at 9:52 pm. My friend had already eaten, while I sat waiting.The meal was tasty, but definitely not worth the wait. To make matters worst, as I was eating, staff members were putting up chairs and sweeping. Music had been turned off and my dining experience consisted of employees cleaning up around me as I tried enjoy my dinner.My dining experience was extremely disappointing!!And…the manager didn’t even bother to discount my meal. Not that came for a discount. But how did you not to try to compensate me in some way for the repeated inconvenience?

beyondTabu

2023-05

Nice layout. It was very busy and staff were running around trying to keep up.We got a bison burger, catch of the day sandwich and a cheese pizza.Food tasted good, though the fish in the sandwich was a bit small and it needed some salt.All in all we’ll probably try it again if we’re in the area.

Louis Longo

2024-05

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Aaron A.J. Johnson

2023-05

Great experience and the food was excellent. Very fresh. The family that runs it was so nice. We will be back.I said I was going back and.....We went back. Still good and my steak.No knife needed.

Nina McGarry

2024-04

This is my go to restaurant. It's pretty close to my home. Always glad they locally source their food. Meals are always delicious. They have a great wine selection. Wait staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The wait staff know how to provide you a service and then step back from regularly asking if everything is alright. The matre'd is quite pleasant. A really great choice for nice dining

Cindy Garhart

2024-04

Made a reservation for 6 and asked for round table not by bar. We got a table by bar. Male server never introduced himself. 2 dinners arrived 15 minutes after the other 4 dinners. That was after asking a manager where our dinners were. Automatic 20% tip on menu. We had to search server down to get additional drinks. We will not be back. So sad because food was very good.

Gwendolyn Lassiter

2024-04

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Queen

2024-03

I went with friends and had crab dip, lasagna, glass of wine and apple pie. The crab dip tasted more like cream cheese with a bit of crab than crabby; I wouldn't order it again. The lasagna was fresh but too cheesy; it overwhelmed the flavor. The waiter suggested I get extra sauce but it never came. The Syrah wine was crisp and smooth. The apple pie was excellent with a thick crust, lots of nuts and filling and had a yummy buttery taste. I recommend it.I like the ambiance and the family ownership feel of the place. The staff is well trained and efficient. We were annoyed by the numerous times (at least 6) someone stopped by to check on us. It became a distraction to our conversations. Further, we felt very rushed; they provide about 1:45 minutes to dine and they mean it. I suggest dining with no more than 2 people to make it worth the visit.I really like the place but the owner responses to the negative reviews have me concerned if I were to have an issue. I'll be joining a group of 8 soon so I hope it all goes well and we are not rushed in and out. I do another review afterwards.Update, I went back with a party of 7 and all went well as expected. The meatballs, shrimp and grits were toothsome and the apple pie was scrumptious. The calamari was overcooked and didn't taste fresh. My son was disappointed in the burger which was bland and fries wear not the best. My husband got pancakes and french toast and it not only didn't look appetizing it wasn't very tasty. They could have offered some type of compote, additional flavor and whipped cream or butter to enhance the experience. I'd skip the brunch in the future; as it's not their repertoire. Nonetheless, we had a good time with good company over food and drinks.

Koreen Waz

2023-08

Lunch at Harvest Thyme - delicious food (I ate half before thinking about taking a picture 😁) Great service. Oysters as an app followed by tender, juicy steak (onions, mushrooms, and cheese) sandwich with shoe string fries automatically served with malt vinegar and ketchup. Plus, they remembered that I wanted blue cheese on the side (I usually have to ask twice)! Check them out!

T Hayes

2024-04

I was at Harvest Thyme Friday August April 5th, Few friends Asked about meeting up after work, for happy hour. I get there and we're in the bar area, a few minutes later in walks a couple with a dog. I am not an animal hater, however I don't feel animals should be in Restaurants, where people are eating, If you know you're going to a restaurant why bring your dog leave them home when I go out to eat I leave my dog home, unless it's an outside designated seating area restaurant. The dog started shaking its fur As dogs do, thank goodness my friends was able to cover the food as hair was flying. If you're going to allow dogs/animals in restaurant you should have a designated area to be seated for people with animals... (service animals incuded). It's just not sanitary to have animals in restaurants.Please know I've been to Harvest Thyme many of times, but has never experienced a dog being inside the restaurant.Other than that, the food is great the staff is great and very informative.ThanksDietary restrictions: YesKid-friendliness: YesWheelchair accessibility: Yes

Jeffrica Lee

2024-04

[edited **04.04.24This is to address the misstatements made by the Owner in response to my honest depiction of his rude and petulant verbal assault on my family during our dinner on 03.23.24.The issue was never about the temperature of the pork chop, but rather, its color and appearance. As stated before, my husband specifically requested that his chop be cooked well done, with no PINK. The chop was pink inside (see photo). Thus, Rik’s claim that the "pink on your meat … was Korean BBQ sauce," is ludicrous.Rik's "science lesson" is irrelevant and misses the point. As he seems to acknowledge, "no PINK" is a matter of diner preference.When a diner tells you that they will not return to your restaurant and, would not recommend your establishment to others, you should state: "I regret that your dining experience did not meet your expectations. I hope that you will reconsider, and give us another chance, as our success is built upon return customers and word of mouth."Finally, it would behoove the Owner to take some instruction in English grammar, sentence composition, and spelling. His response is rife with poor sentence structure and atrocious misspelling.]The whole dining experience left a bad taste in our mouths and we would not recommend this restaurant because of the disrespectful and rude manner in which we were treated by the owner, Rik.My husband and I had dined at Harvest Thyme on one previous occasion about a year ago and had a pleasant dining experience. We decided to go there again to celebrate his recent birthday, and our party of 5 dined there on the evening of March 23, 2024.My husband ordered the pork chop dinner. Prior to placing his order, he specifically requested that the meat be cooked well done, that is, with no pink. Upon receiving his dish and cutting into the chop, he immediately saw that it was undercooked (showing pink), and informed the server (who, by the way, was not the server who took our orders). The server apologized and asked if he wanted it re-cooked. My husband, being turned off by the sight of the undercooked pork, instead requested chicken wings, with a side of fries. The server happily agreed to bring the substitution.We were thus all quite taken aback when another restaurant staff person, who did not identify himself, approached our table and angrily and rudely demanded to know why the pork chop was sent back. My husband explained to this person that he had requested a well-done pork chop, but received an undercooked chop instead. This person proceeded to have a hissy-fit, repeatedly insisting that the chop was well-done because he checked it himself. When our daughter asked him if he was the manager, we were shocked when he stated that he was the owner/chef! After continuing to rant for far too long, I told him that we would not ever dine at his restaurant again, and he stated, “fine,” or something to that effect.The server who initially took our orders dropped by the table a few minutes later to check on us and we told her about our experience with the owner. She returned again with another staffer, Anthony, who identified the owner as Rik. They apologized for Rik’s behavior — and we got the impression that it was not the first time they had heard such complaints about Rik. (We later surmised that Anthony might be Rik’s son)We were appalled that the owner of an establishment in the hospitality service industry would so rudely address his customers and tell them that their business was not appreciated. It appears that Rik is very thin-skinned and was offended that we found his cooking to be substandard.As for the taste of the food itself, the calamari was bland and chewy; the oysters were tasty, but way over-priced; my bison burger was rather bland, as were the chicken wings ordered by my husband and daughter-in-law. The pizza ordered by my daughter was adequate, as was the lasagne ordered by my son.In sum, our interaction with Rik left a sour taste to which we will not again subject ourselves. Nor would we recommend the restaurant to others.

joey b adventures

2024-02

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Alison Kelly

2024-01

We attended a private party here and loved it! Our server and chef were outstanding. Great food and really good wine. Didn't know it is also a wine store. Coming back soon, the wine was worth the drive! Highly recommend.Dietary restrictions: The chef seemed happy to accommodate. Everything made to order. Excellent.

Ed Arnold

2021-05

So you may drive by this place and not even realize that it is a restaurant and bar. However it is and it is wonderful. On a recommendation from a friend we went there and glad we did. As you notice I gave it 5 stars. For me you really have to earn it and they did. As you walk in the staff is welcoming and friendly. The atmosphere is inviting. They have extensive wine collection and many craft beers on tap. It appears they have Grawler fills as well. They also carry revular dinks and beers as well. Now the service is very good and the food comes out in a very reasonable time. The quality of the food is very good and the taste is fabulous! Happy hour is from 4 to 8 pm and they offer food and drink specials however the locals flick there so go early for bar seating. Overall this is a must try place.

Theresa Cerveira

2019-05

What a Hidden Gem! It hasn't been open long but I've been there a couple of times. They have a good happy hour, and a nice wine selection. I typically get one of the specials for dinner and have never been disappointed. The menu is simple which works well for them...you don't need a huge selection as long as what you do you do well. The owner is always there & very friendly and hands on. If you love a good desert, I highly recommend the  Harvest Smash ala mode...its worth the calories ☺

craig mossinger

2021-05

Overall experience here was phenomenal. The beer and wine list are extensive which was a nice to see. I selected the 8 Point from Devil's Backbone which is a well balanced IPA and paired nicely with our appetizer and dinner. My girlfriend and I shared the Cheese Board which came with four different cheeses, honey and orange zest, cranberries, candied pecans and dried apricots. Dinner we selected the recommended Lemon Herb Chicken and the 8oz Ribeye which were both jam packed with flavor from beginning to end. Ace suggested that we get the Oreo Cheesecake so we decided on a slice each but go them packaged to go because we were full from dinner. If you have the option to request Molly then I highly suggest you do so. Make sure to say hello to Chef Ace as he has put together a wonderful menu. Rick the owner will strike up a conversation at some point in your experience and he's full of information. The restaurant itself gives off a homemade rustic vibe and it's placed right in the middle of Davidsonville. I will absolutely be back to visit and I highly suggest this place to anybody who is in the area.

Reed

2024-04

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Jacqueline Short

2023-05

Stopped in for brunch this morning and had a tasty meal. We ordered Shrimp & Grits and Crab Cake Benedict paired with a Spicy Bloody Maria and took a piece of the flourless chocolate cake home. Everything was absolutely delicious. Our bartender Alejandro gave us friendly attentive service. Highly recommend this spot and don’t skimp on the dessert, you’ll regret it!

Micheal Temal

2022-05

I loved this place! The staff were excellent and so was the food and service. My wife and I ordered the French dip and the Chicken Milanese and loved them both. Just a heads up there is a $10 corkage fee for each bottle ordered so make it count! The Hefeweizen was a good addition to the French dip and it was an all around perfect meal.

Rob Conley

2024-04

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Ervin Harris

2024-05

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Kelly Russo

2024-02

This place was having a terrible day, I guess because I heard good things about it. The food took an hour, my aunt’s French toast was burned, my other aunt’s food was cold. My food was barely enough for a child. The chef was screaming at the staff and banging on the counter. Our waitress was completely out of it. The bathrooms were a mess. Just a rough day, I hope?