Rosemary and Thyme, a brand-new boutique eatery serving up savory specialty sandwiches and scrumptious Straus organic soft-serve ice cream. Nestled in the flourishing neighborhood of Picfair Village alongside the trendy hot spots Riverbank, Mumu Mansion, Nivessa Vinyl Records and Mad Lab Coffee, Rosemary and Thyme answers the neighborhood’s call for an elevated take on the classic sandwich shop.
Combining Midwestern comforts with a fresh SoCal twist, R+T delivers mouthwatering sandwiches built on organic Black Forest Bakery bread with a crispy crust and springy sourdough crumb. A mature cross between Carla’s Cafe and Gigi’s Cafe, R+T also sells gourmet Italian oils, imported pastas and sauces, and homemade lemonades muddled with crushed fruit from the local farmer’s market.
Founder and entrepreneur Lisa Rotondi has run the city’s favorite go-to school lunch program Organic Kids LA for the past 10 years, and has learned a thing or two about crafting lunches to please all pallets. From the pickiest 12 year old getting buttered pasta or a plain bagel with plain fruit and plain edamame every day, all the way up to the 5 year old foodie ordering a Buddha Bowl or Chicken and Waffles or even Steak w Chimichurri sauce. For R+T, Lisa looked back to her own childhood, finding inspiration in her Italian grandmother’s summer sausage sandwiches and weekend trips to the Dairy Queen. Some of Lisa’s favorites from the menu include:
The Sierra Bonita Chorizo Melt with house-made chorizo, mozzarella, pickled onions, and spicy chipotle aioli on toasted Black Forest sourdough.
The Carmona Open-Faced Egg with creamy egg salad, a hint of lemon, and sprinkled dill on top of sliced avocado and toasted Black Forest sourdough.
The Curson Italian with aged prosciutto, soft burrata, salami, arugula and pesto on a Black Forest baguette.
The Saturn Turkey Sliced roast turkey breast, sharp aged cheddar, shredded lettuce, basil/parsley aioli on toasted Black Forest sourdough.
The Orange Grove Perfectly marinated, crispy, Mary’s chicken,served with pickles, thinly sliced jalapenos, slaw and spicy mayo on a toasted brioche bun.
Alongside their signature sandwiches, R+T also offers crispy sourdough pizzas, snazzy, contemporary sides, and of course a smooth, Straus Organic Creamery soft serve. Add some organic hot fudge for more joy. Harkening back to the effortlessly simple swirls found in drive-ins like Dairy Queen and Foster’s Freeze, R+T keeps their soft-serve creamy and smooth, with options to fill their warm waffle cones with organic hot fudge, brownie bits, or gooey chunks of chocolate chip cookies.
Rosemary and Thyme is open 7 days a week from 11am – 4pm, and is available for takeout and delivery on their website (including all delivery apps).
They are located in the old Olson’s Deli space on Pico and Spaulding in a walkable, quietly hip neighborhood.