Do you even work at a studio if you haven’t had Olive and Thyme’s fattoush salad for lunch at your desk while on mute on a conference call?
Sometimes I wonder if Olive and Thyme would be the same if it weren’t a stone’s throw away from the Warner Bros lot. After all, a part of the experience is trying not to make awkward eye contact with professional acquaintances while eavesdropping on studio drama.
Then again, the food itself is undeniably good. It’s like Toluca Lake’s very own Joan’s on Third. Where you can get your lunch along with an afternoon pick-me-up (are their vanilla lattes extra good, or is it the desk job context that makes it that much sweeter?) and grab a last-minute gift for your coworker who’s birthday you almost forgot, and be back at in for your 2:30.
For anyone who has worked in the area, O+T is a bit of a sanctuary. Everyone’s favorite escape, even if it’s just for a quick coffee run to break up a tiring work day. Just don’t come between 4 and 5, when it’s closed… or you’ll end up having to resort to Starbucks in the ABC building. Consider yourself warned.
the details
| Address | 3821 W Riverside Dr, Burbank |
| Website | https://www.oliveandthyme.com/ |
| Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/biz/olive-and-thyme-toluca-lake-2 |
| @oliveandthyme | |
| Hours | 8a-4p and 5p-9p on weekdays, brunch from 9a-3p on Saturdays, closed on Sundays |
| Price | $ – your typical LA cafe prices, most items run for around $15, plus or minus a couple dollars |
| Aesthetic | modern farmhouse aesthetics, pretty pinterest-y |
good to know
Go here for: a work breakfast, or a casual lunch meeting, or a quick coffee run so you don’t have to deal with trying to get a table
Order this: fattoush salad, variations on an avocado toast, actually pretty much any of their salads and sandwiches are solid. Also, anything in their pastry case.
Amount of time to spend: since it gets hectic, I prefer getting things to go, but a quick breakfast or early lunch can be nice too.
When to come: there really is no good time to come because honestly, unless you work nearby, it’s not worth it to deal with the crowds and risk run ins with industry people. Try to avoid weekday lunch hours. It’s usually pretty peaceful mid-afternoon, but they do close at 4 before their dinner service.
Parking: assuming you don’t have a friend at WB who can write you a drive on pass, you’re stuck with street parking or valet. You can try your luck in one of the residential streets for free parking. Meters tend to get pretty high turnover throughout the day too, so it’s worth circling around a couple times.
Other things to note:
- Check out their website to see what deli case salads and daily specials they have.
- Also, if you’re trying to pick up lunch on a weekday, it’s best to call in your order ahead.
Last visited: March 2019
Last updated: October 2019
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