Tim Hawkins

General Manager

As the General Manager, Tim oversees the daily operations of the restaurant with special attention to event planning and the award-winning Barcelona wine list.

Experience

A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Tim refers to his leaving an accounting internship to move into the restaurant business as a “higher calling.” During his 20 years enjoying the Philadelphia restaurant scene, Tim learned the business by bussing and waiting tables, bartending and managing. After relocating to Columbus in 1997, he managed and tended bar at the former K2U Bar and Grill in the Short North until 2002.  In January of 2003, he joined the Barcelona team as manager/bartender. He jokingly states, “I was and always will be, Scott’s first manager-hire.”

Tim’s love of Barcelona Restaurant has been enhanced throughout the years by the incredibly optimistic and helpful working environment. With 40+ years in the industry, he has never experienced a more positive atmosphere in a restaurant. For Tim, home entertaining has always been a passion. Making sure that every guest, whether at home or in a professional setting, has a great time is paramount to him. He finds this easily achieved with the impressive atmosphere, wine, food and service that Barcelona offers its guests.

Tim still follows his favorite Philly sports teams, and has become a true Ohio State and Blue Jackets fan. If not at Barcelona or at a hockey game, he can be found tearing up the bowling lanes or enjoying his time at home with his husband Carl and their dogs, Lola and Maya. If you want to know more about the Riviera Maya in Mexico, just ask Tim about his favorite vacation destination!

Drake Lok

Sous Chef

Never in a million years did I think I would become a chef. I discovered my passion for food in 2016 when I started working as a line cook at G. Michael’s. I started working there because I was in sober living and needed a job. I am a recovering addict and always will be. The one thing that kept my curiosity and creativity going was how beautiful food can be. I quickly found out that becoming a chef is what I wanted to be. I would always take pictures of the dishes I made. It gave me the ultimate satisfaction when someone would tell me how beautiful a plate looked. I took even more pride when people would tell me how delicious it was of something I made. My biggest critic, my mother, would constantly benefit from my cooking. If she loved it, it had to be great.

So many tragic things have happened in my life. I honestly thought I would never make it to this point. But the one thing that gave me utmost confidence was cooking. I am grateful for so many people in my life who have kept me on this path. My mom, and my two beautiful daughters. I am also grateful for Scott Heimlich, who gave me this amazing opportunity.

If I’m not working, I devote all my time to my family.  My daughters take every bit of energy I have left and some. The best part of my day is coming home and seeing my daughter greet me at the door (she should be in bed by then) but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

George Monson

Guest Service Manager

I moved to Columbus, Ohio in April of 2021 from New Orleans in search of a city with a rapidly growing food market. I have been working throughout many facets of the service industry for the past 15 years and am in search of bringing my culinary experience and business dreams together.

My fiance, Nick, who works in the Chicago music industry, moved with me and our adorable husky to work on our goal of one day opening a music venue. I love to curate experiences that bring people together over food, music, wine, and culture.

Scott Irish

Guest Service Manager

Scott Irish’s roles include overseeing our host staff as well as assisting the General Manager with special event coordination and the award-winning Barcelona wine list.

Experience

Scott comes to us with over 20 years of restaurant experience which includes stints at The Cooker Bar & Grille, Max & Erma’s and most recently as the General Manager of Cork Wine & Dine and The Wine Bistro. Scott brings to the team a passion for excellent customer service and the unwavering belief that everyone that walks into our restaurant should be treated as if they were a guest in our home. Scott also enjoys the challenges that present themselves everyday in the restaurant business.

In his free time, Scott loves spending his time socializing and traveling with his friends.

Kevin Sergent

Sous Chef

Kevin was raised in Columbus, Ohio where he developed his passion for cooking while watching his mother preparing family dinners. This passion only grew stronger as he took over the making of family meals.

After graduating high school, Kevin moved to Louisville where he graduated from Sullivan University with a degree in the Culinary Arts.  He then relocated to Bowling Green, KY where he assisted in opening three successful restaurants.  Eventually, missing Louisville, he returned in 2015 to except a position at the Louisville Boat Club as Executive Sous Chef.  During that time, he also worked with Musselman Hotels at the Marriott Louisville East, a three-star diamond hotel. In 2018, Kevin joined the team at the Seelbach Hotel as Chef de Cuisine; eventually making his way back to his home state of Ohio in 2020 where he assumed a position at the New Albany Country Club.

Kevin joined the kitchen management team of Barcelona in early 2022. He quickly fell in love with dynamics of working at Barcelona. As Sous Chef, Kevin can showcase his passion and cooking techniques all while bolstering the fabulous culinary team. In his free time, he enjoys being the single father of one dog (Mona), while also enjoying golfing, buying vintage clothes and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Aaron Fancy

Bar Manager

Residing in Columbus, Ohio for over a dozen years, Aaron has spent that time and more working in the hospitality industry. His love for food, wine and especially spirits, has only grown after joining the Barcelona team in May of 2013. Working behind the bar, Aaron enjoys mixing up many a spirit-forward gin or rye whiskey cocktail (his top recommendation: a Bijou. It will change your life).

Other than food and drink, Aaron enjoys electronic music (disco never died), role playing games, science fiction and horror films. Please join Aaron at the bar and toast to another wonderful meal at Barcelona.

Nate Bingman

Executive Chef

Growing up an Ohio native, I discovered my passion for cooking at a young age. My brother and I would watch “The Iron Chef” and we would try to recreate some of the dishes that we saw. Later, this lead me to cooking with the family for holidays and events for our church.

I graduated in 2005 from our vocational school c-tec for culinary arts. Since then, I have traveled through many types of kitchens. Eventually landing me an opportunity in Columbus with a corporate dining concept. There I trained to become a manager and an Executive Chef for many years. During this time, I realized how much I missed the full restaurant atmosphere, ultimately leaving the corporate world.

Came back into the fray, applying everything that I had learned. But I felt something was still missing.

After working for a few well-known places in Columbus, I was able to meet and apprentice under my mentor/chef Jamie George, the co-owner of [plas.] He was able to inspire a new passion of cooking within me and helped me pursue my opportunity at Barcelona.

I owe great deal of gratitude to him and my fellow cooks; I wouldn’t be where I am today without their guidance. 

Kayla Holbrooks

Pastry Chef

Kayla Holbrooks grew up in the small town of Clemson, South Carolina. As a child, she was a very picky eater and extremely wary of trying new foods. She marvels today about how she has developed her voracious passion and appetite for food.

After high school, she knew she wanted to learn more about food in general. She would often hear others speaking about food or a particular dish and she was intrigued. Kayla wanted to know more, she wanted to taste more as well!

Kayla moved to Charleston, SC and enrolled in the baking and pastry program at Trident Technical College. Being a big fan of science, she knew that the accuracy and artistry of baking would suit her well. As she worked in various bakeries and restaurants in Charleston for years, her passion for baking grew immensely leading to her destiny of becoming a Pastry Chef. 

She moved to Cleveland in 2017 to gain more experience and learn new skills. While excelling in bakeries, Kayla knew that something was missing. She knew that she needed to be able to express herself with menu creation and dishes within a restaurant setting. She finds restaurant work to be liberating and an outlet to showcase her infinite passion for food.

Now living in Columbus, Kayla has found her home, at Barcelona.

Patrick Winchester

Assistant GM

It takes unique, heartfelt individuals who love a crazy and intense atmosphere to thrive in the restaurant environment, and Patrick is just that. 

As the Assistant General Manager, Patrick is responsible for overseeing floor operations, ensuring optimal utilization of staff and resources, and maintaining the stellar service standards for which Barcelona is known.

Patrick boasts a rich history of fine-dining experience providing him the skills necessary to contribute and thrive in every area of the restaurant; from front-of-house, behind the bar, and in the kitchen, to managing staff, running floor operations, and ensuring the efficient performance of the restaurant and its staff. He began his career bussing tables at age 14 and, over the past two decades, has advanced his way through various roles in the restaurant industry, ultimately leading him into management and the position of AGM at a renowned Columbus restaurant. It was at Brazenhead Irish Pub that Patrick learned to work under pressure and thrive in a busy environment; working at BLT Prime in Miami, Fl., Patrick refined his service standards and broadened his wine knowledge; at G. Michael’s, he was able to grow his already-robust bank of food knowledge and elevate his passion for high-end cuisine.

When he’s not at Barcelona, Patrick enjoys woodworking, gardening, and hanging out with his amazing, beautiful, talented wife and their two young children. His quick-witted humor and easygoing demeanor are always present, and you probably can’t give him a riddle he can’t solve.