One of Thyme Table’s most popular dishes, it was lifted directly from Smith’s catering repertoire. Of course, much of the food translates be- tween ventures, too, like the barbecue-and beer-braised short ribs ($24). “That mentality has been a big part of us being able to maintain some consistency at the restaurant.” “In catering, we prepare for everything we possibly can so that when unexpected things happen, we’re ready to deal with them,” he says.
Although he’s quick to point out the many differences between catering, food truck service and restaurant operation, he credits his former businesses with preparing him for the latter, namely in teaching him the art of remaining calm under pressure. “We don’t take ourselves very seriously, but we take what we do very seriously,” he says. so they joke that I’m a 5-to-9 person.”Īnd yet, for all his busyness, Smith and his staff are fairly laid-back. doing paperwork and don’t finish work until 9 p.m. “In college, I told my parents that I’m not a 9-to-5 sort of person. “I kind of like the insanity of it,” he says, laughing. The father of five also owns both a popular food truck, Thyme Traveler, and a thriving event business, Thyme Catering and Special Events, which he opened in the fall of 2017 after a decade of working at Marigold Catering. Ironically, the idea of relaxation is a bit foreign to Smith himself, who admits that he thrives on chaos. “Just somewhere to go and relax and enjoy.” “We wanted it to be like that Starbucks concept of the third space,” he says. Indeed, Smith conceived of Thyme Table, with its recognizable American fare and dinner-party-with-friends vibe, to remedy the lack of mid-range restaurants between Market in Rocky River and Nemo Grille in Avon. “It’s just that idea of a place to gather.” “The idea was to create a living room - that feeling of friends getting together,” he says. That’s the point, says chef and owner Mike Smith, the 39-year-old Bay Village native who opened Thyme Table last April.
From the forest green walls to the plush couch in the waiting area to the tall bookshelves behind the bar, it feels like stepping inside a friend’s home: cozy and conversant, filled with chatter and buzz. The first thing you notice when you walk through the door of Thyme Table in Bay Village is just how homey it feels.
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