Harvard Square is about to get a serious saj upgrade. About Thyme, a Lebanese fast-casual bakery, is slated to open by early August, bringing saj-baked wraps, labneh spreads and specialty drinks to a compact storefront at the corner of Brattle and Mt. Auburn streets. Founder Taha A. Mikati says the spot will lean into a student-friendly, fast-service setup with a tight menu and limited seating. If all goes according to plan, it will be one of the Square’s few places devoted specifically to Lebanese cuisine.
As reported by The Harvard Crimson, Mikati, a Columbia University graduate who interned at Blank Street, first pitched the concept during that internship and wants to pair simple food with standout drinks. The paper notes that the flagship is expected to run on a concise lineup of five wraps, five lemonades and five other drinks, and that Mikati hopes to grow the concept in East Coast college towns after fine-tuning the Harvard Square operation.
License, seats and hours
According to city licensing records, the 1 Brattle Square space has been approved for a 13-seat Common Victualler license with a total occupancy of 19. The proposed hours run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The filing describes roughly 1,100 square feet on the ground floor, a single public area with a service counter, a rear kitchen and limited seating, with Taha Mikati listed as manager on the application.
What they’ll serve
The menu centers on the saj, the domed griddle used to bake Lebanese flatbreads, and will feature saj-baked wraps alongside coffee, matcha and lemonades, according to The Harvard Crimson. Planned fillings include sumac chicken and spicy kafta, while labneh spreads are expected in flavors such as chili-crisp, pistachio-rose and za’atar. Mikati told the paper he wants the drinks to be “equal partners” with the food and to keep the menu approachable for students.
Hiring and what’s next
About Thyme has been hiring for management and operations roles as the team gets the space ready. Job listings describe a small frontline crew of three to four people and an “anti-chain” ethos built around electric sajs, per a Workable posting. Taken together with the licensing details, those filings point to a compact grab-and-go setup with limited seating and an emphasis on fast service. If timelines hold, the corner of Brattle and Mt. Auburn could gain a new late-day food option for students and locals by early August.
Mikati has said he plans to focus on building a single strong community in Cambridge before scaling, which could leave About Thyme’s Harvard Square shop as a model for future college-town locations. For now, the planned opening adds another fresh choice to a Square that has seen several new cafes and eateries in recent years.
