Rik Squillari
Situated in the heart of the rolling Davidsonville countryside is Harvest Thyme Tavern. A favorite among the locals with a friendly, down-to-earth vibe, perfect for date night dinner, happy hour after a round of golf, or brunch with your family.
From any table, there's a clear view of the open-galley kitchen, where you can see the chefs preparing fresh, bistro dishes and a wood-fired pizza oven, which adds to the cozy feel. One wall is dedicated to a full bar, and the other to a floor-to-ceiling wine rack and in-house retail liquor store.
Harvest Thyme Tavern is owned by Chef Rik Squillari, who was voted Best West County 2020 Food & Dining for Chef. He's a descendant of Italian immigrants who grew up in a family of chefs and cooks. Later, he spent years in the restaurant and wine businesses before opening the restaurant in 2017. When you visit, chances are you'll spot him making the rounds to say hello or suggesting a wine pairing.
Harvest Thyme Tavern's vision is high-quality dishes paired with unique and fantastic wines at a great value. This simple formula has cultivated an enthusiastic and tried-and-true following in the local community.
It's Chef Squillari who personally curates the menu and adapts it seasonally, bringing his guests the freshest, all-natural ingredients available.
"When you use fresh produce, top-notch meat and seafood, and traditional techniques of cooking, it isn't difficult to create a flavorful and healthy dining experience. We strive to give a balanced, delicious, and healthy meal to everyone." Squillari says.
Wine is the other half of Chef Squillari's passion, visually brought to life in a wall-length wooden rack displaying hundreds of bottles of small-batch and unique wines from around the world. He is well-known for the variety he offers and likes to change up the selection regularly for his customers, tailoring it based on what he knows his customers will appreciate.
Squillari also holds a tavern license and houses an expansive, retail liquor store on-premise offering bottled wine at competitive retail prices with a nominal corkage fee. If you prefer beer or cocktails, he also sells numerous craft beers, as well as an array of unique and limited-edition spirits.
As much as you see Chef Squillari’s touch in every aspect of the restaurant, he attributes the bulk of his success to his competent and charismatic team, many of whom have been with him from the beginning. “There is no ‘I’ in Harvest Thyme Tavern,” Squillari says. “Everyone has each other’s back, and we all genuinely like each other.” It’s this dynamic that allows the team to deliver high-quality food and exceptional customer service consistently for guests.
Just in time for summer, they've added al fresco tables under a covered portico, with patio heaters and a fire pit for when it's chilly. Plus, dogs are always welcome. It's a win-win for diners.
Overall, the food and drinks show great skill and self-assurance, without the pretense. You can tell when you eat at Harvest Thyme Tavern that Chef Squillari and his staff are serving things they'd eat and drink themselves.
Mangia!
Harvest Thyme Tavern 1251 West Central Avenue Davidsonville, MD 21035 443-203-6846 To make a reservation click here
