Chef Jonathon Sawyer, a Cleveland native, first learned to cook at the age of 13. After attending the University of Dayton and graduating from the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, Sawyer went on to work at The Biltmore Hotel in Miami. One year later, he was working alongside renowned Chef Charlie Palmer in New York at Kitchen 22. Following his work with Charlie Palmer, Sawyer moved back to his hometown of Cleveland to open Michael Symon’s Lolita as Chef de Cuisine. This relationship opened many doors for Sawyer, and eventually led him back to New York City to open Parea, another venture of Michael Symon. As Executive Chef at Parea, Sawyer built upon his culinary repertoire. After receiving a two star review from The New York Times and a five star review from Time Out New York for his work at Parea, Sawyer decided to move back to his hometown of Cleveland to pursue his dream of opening his own restaurant.
In 2007 Chef Sawyer became the Chef/Partner of Bar Cento, a modern Roman enoteca in Ohio City. He introduced the community to seasonal and affordable cuisine with traditional and modern pizzas, as well as entrees that can be considered true expressions of local proteins. His work at Bar Cento received many accolades including Restaurant Hospitality & GAYOT’s Rising Star Chef and Northern Ohio Live’s Best New Restaurant. Sawyer left Bar Cento in 2008 to pursue the opening of his restaurant, The Greenhouse Tavern. Chef Sawyer’s commitment to the use of local ingredients’, sustainable food and building materials, and the eco movement has inspired him to open The Greenhouse Tavern located in the East Fourth Entertainment District of downtown Cleveland. Sawyer also collaborated with the Green Restaurant Association to become the first certified green restaurant in Ohio. The Greenhouse Tavern offers French inspired dishes using local and sustainable ingredients all created with the belief that the proximity of farm and soil to directly correlate to its quality. The Greenhouse Tavern was recently named ONE of the TOP TEN BEST NEW RESTAURANTS in America by Bon Appétit Magazine. When outside the kitchen, Sawyer enjoys walking his two dogs, a pit bull named Potato and a pug named Vito in the Cleveland Metroparks, as well as spending time with his wife, Amelia, son, Catcher and daughter Louisiana. Sawyer is also heavily involved in the cooking community both locally and nationally. He has appeared on The Food Network’s Dinner Impossible and Iron Chef America. His local culinary involvement includes organizations such as Slow Foods, The Countryside Conservancy, and The Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association, and the Green Building Coalition. Chef Sawyer is an avid activist for the green movement as well as a major supporter of local agriculture and farmers.
So why not head over to E. 4th street and enjoy a meal at The Greenhouse Tavern during Restaurant Week. Click here to check out the menu they will be offering.
