VOTED BEST NEW RESTAURANT IN 2019 by cleveland magazine
Mike Smith, Owner + Executive Chef
Mike Smith, owner and executive chef of THYME TABLE, THYME CATERING and a project we recently put to rest, THE THYME TRAVELER.
Smith, voted BEST CHEF of the WEST SIDE in 2021 by Cleveland Magazine started his career in the industry at the age of 15 and has spent nearly three decades working every avenue the restaurant industry has to offer. While he’s spent years in fine dining, serving presidents, politicians, celebrities and athletes he found a sweet spot right in the heart of Bay Village serving thoughtful dishes to his community in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Mike spends countless hours bridging the two businesses together to incorporate a cohesive experience under the THYME umbrella. Whether it's serving dinner for 300 at some of Cleveland's finest wedding venues or serving dinner in his cozy restaurant, Smith brings the same attention to detail to every dinner service. Our concept is simple. "Good food. Good drinks. Good friends.”
Eric Scott, Operating Partner + Barkeep
Eric, originally from Detroit (don’t hold it against him), worked in the automotive marketing industry for many years before moving to Cleveland to pursue a career in hospitality in 2010. He has been with Thyme Table since it's conception and his vision was to bring a world class beverage program to the area while still maintaining an easy neighborhood charm. Since becoming a partner, Eric runs the day to day operations of the restaurant while still staying true to his desire to his passion behind the bar and Thyme's beverage program. He spends plenty of time behind the bar serving guests and dropping bad (good) dad jokes as often as possible.
Eric has been a part of the Tales Of The Cocktail’s apprentice program since 2017 and has been under the mentorship of the world's top sommeliers, mixologists and cocktail historians. He’s passed the vaunted BAR 5 Day certification in spirits and cocktails and has studied and been awarded in wine through the WSET program. The bar team’s work has been featured in numerous publications such as Wall Street Journal, Forbes as well as being named to the Top 30 restaurant bars in America in 2022.
Eric lives here in Bay Village with his family.
Laura Jerina, Pastry Chef
Around the Village this "sweet" gal needs no introduction. Laura Jerina grew up in Bay Village and received her culinary degree from IUP Academy of Culinary Arts. She has since traveled around the States and has served as a pastry chef for over a decade before hanging up her apron to raise her girls.. She recently moved back to CLE and started in the catering kitchen at THYME in 2017. She has been invaluable to us and we’re thrilled to have her join us full time as our pastry chef at the restaurant. Laura focuses on creating visually stunning pastries and desserts that taste exceedingly better than they look. Her attention to the entire dessert experience is admirable.
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Gaby Holzer, Lead Bartender
Gaby, originally from New Jersey, studied art and design at the University of Michigan before making her way to Cleveland. Utilizing her creativity and proclivity for hospitality, Gaby Holzer has been behind the bar for eight years and here at Thyme Table the last three. Gaby's creativity and attention to detail has helped to conceptualize what Thyme Table's cocktail program is today.
Gaby has very recently earned the title, Red Coat, with Tales of the Cocktail's CAP program. There she has fine-tuned her craft while simultaneously learning about both the history and future of cocktails. Gaby is a leader in the industry competing in cocktail competitions across the states such as Remy Martin's "Bartender Talent Academy Cocktail" competition, "Bacardi Legacy", Mount Gay's "More Taste Less Waste" competition and most recently, regional winner for Woodford Reserve's "Manhattan Experience".
Gaby's talents stretch beyond the bar as well. Her illustrations have graced our cocktail menu more than a few times.
Julie Chimes, Chef de Cuisine
Cooking up creativity for Thyme Table since 2022, Julie comes to the kitchen with more than 15 years of Cleveland culinary experience, accruing a talent for mixing flavors and pleasing palates. Julie loves the freedom to indulge in her creativity at Thyme Table along with nurturing new talent.
When not in the kitchen you may catch Julie exploring northeast Ohio's many parks and historical sites or at home hanging out with her rescue cat, Goaty and bearded dragon, Zen.
Melina MacAvoy, Floor Manager
Melina grew up in Avon Lake and started in the restaurant industry as soon as she was old enough to work. She started as our host in 2021 and her hard work and detail oriented nature earned her a position as a barback. Within a year she became our prep lead where she serves as the engine for our cocktail program- Batching, clarifying, acidifying, fat washing, and squeezing loads of citrus as part of her daily responsibilities. In early 2023 she was promoted to our floor manager where she trains all of our support staff, keeps a watchful eye on our dining room and reservations, continues to lead prep and jumps in where needed to make sure our restaurant runs smooth. She’s our “Jack of All Trades” and we’re so lucky to have her.