Wyld Thyme Cafe & Wine Bar

My wife and I had lunch on January 3, 2007 at the Wyld Thyme Café and Wine Bar, 3103 Valley Avenue, in Winchester's Creekside Station business park. This was a new restaurant that had been described in The Winchester Star that very morning.

The restaurant has one L-shaped room, with tables that would seat perhaps 55 people. The floor was covered with a plastic material; the ceiling was quite high, perhaps as much as 16 feet up, and planked.

The wine bar was along the back of the room, but had no patrons while we were there. The walls had a few artsy pictures of various types. The kitchen entrance was on the left side of the room, in the front.

The single-sheet luncheon menu listed soups, salads, and sandwiches, along with a single main-dish entree with ravioli. In addition, a small blackboard listed several daily specials. We both selected chicken salad sandwiches from the menu.

While we were waiting to be served I asked to see a dinner menu. The evening offerings included steaks, salmon, chicken, lamb, shrimp, and scallops, all at somewhat upscale prices. I learned that Wyld Thyme had been open since August, but had not previously heard about it.

We were seated next to the door, and could see everyone who came in. While we were eating, my hike leader and her husband came in, and were surprised to see us there. They had also read the newspaper article and decided to try out the place.

A few minutes later, former Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr., came in; he's a friendly person and said hello to us. The Senator had lunch with two other people.

My wife and I have visited here twice now -- once for lunch and once for dinner -- and all we can talk about is how much we can't wait to go back again. The food is simply the highest quality and best tasting food in the area. (I had to ask where the chef got his vegetables, because they were so much better than anything I'm finding in the local grocery stores.) The service is incredibly polite, efficient and helpful. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing with a fantastic looking wine bar.

My only complaint is that lunch is not offered more days in the week. It seems that whenever we're out in town and looking for a tasty lunch, it's on one of the days they're closed. But, if good things come to those who wait, then phenomenal things come to those who have to wait for a different day to enjoy their lunch.