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Harvest
Category: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
44 Brattle StCambridge, MA 02138
Neighbourhood: Harvard Square
(617) 868-2255
- Nearest Transit:
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Brattle St @ Massachusetts Ave (86)
114 Mt Auburn St (71, 73)
Mt Auburn St @ Story St (71, 73)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
230 reviews for Harvest
Review Highlights
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"What a little hidden oasis in Harvard Square." In 25 reviews -
"Others at my table tried the roasted beet salad." In 9 reviews -
"We ended dinner with banana creme brulee, which was so good." In 11 reviews
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230 reviews in English
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Review from Tayari J.
Jersey City, NJ
4/5/2012
I actually have dinner at the bar about once a week. There's a really warm vibe, especially on weeknights. Kelly is an awesome bartender and Lou is a terrific server. They will always take great care of you.
I reccommend the burger if you choose to eat at the bar. The best in town. -
Review from Adriana P.
Boston, MA
4/24/2012
I was super excited to try Harvest. I've heard nothing but raves over the last few years and alas, my time had come.
Sunday brunch is one of my most coveted experiences, and trying somewhere new offered sheer excitement. Unfortunately, Harvest was not what I anticipated. It started with a vile hostess who could not have been less helpful. We were a party of two, not ten - she made it seem as though it was such a hassle to seat us. This was only the beginning.
We were seated and informed that it was a prix fixe menu for brunch--don't get me wrong I LOVE to eat but three-courses for brunch seemed a little bit over the top. We decided to make our way over to the bar and sit-the menu was a la carte instead.
We were both hungry and devoured our bread basket--the only good part about the meal. We ordered some drinks and our food. Then waited. And waited. And waited some more. Our food, an order of Huevos and Eggs Benedict, finally arrived, nearly 45 minutes later. Another couple had sat a few stools down well after us and got their food 20 minutes before we did. To boot, the portions were teensy. I'm talking paltry, and for what they charged (and NO prices on the menus), I was overall completely dissatisfied.
Long story short, I will not be crossing the bridge to Cambridge to venture to Harvest again. Ever. Boo. -
Review from Cassy H.
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had some high expectations for this place given that it's suppose to be a fine dining type of joint. My girlfriends and I came here for restaurant week dinner, so after class, we head over to Harvest and were promptly seated. Overall, the place is dimly lit, classy with white linen table cloths and wine glasses. And.. that was about as high-end as it got.
Some deltas:
1) The food wasn't as impressive as I had anticipated. I ordered spring onion-zucchini soup, five spiced Vermont quail, and hazelnut torte. The soup didn't tast like anything special to be honest... I wanted some flavors, but was disappointed with blandness. The quail was probably the best part of my meal... juicy and tender. I could have used more flavor, but it was fine. Finally, the hazelnut torte was eh.. I love hazelnut as a dessert flavor profile, but this one just didn't seem like anything special. =/
2) Because I had anticipated this place to be high-end, fine dining.. I expected perfection, especially when it comes to plating. However, I noticed finger prints and smudges on my plates when they arrived at the table. I'm not trying to sound like a food snob, but seeing fingerprints on a white plate is rather distracting. I think my friend sitting next to me saw fingerprints on her plate as well. Annnd, actually she had a bug in her glass of water.
3) The service was great, but slooow. I mean, the table next to us sat after us and still finished before us. Now, it can be because my friends and I just eat slower, but I remember we had some extended downtime in between our dishes.. so the pacing of our meal was a little off.
Anyway, perhaps, this dining experience isn't accurate of your typical Harvest dining experience because it was during restaurant week... but still, regardless of whether it's restaurant week or not, I still expect the same. -
Review from Caroline S.
Las Vegas, NV
5/17/2012
We arrived 5 minutes before the kitchen closed for lunch. We were not rushed in the slightest. Our server recommended the tuna tartare. First came out the basket of bread. The corn bread was so moist and delicious! The tuna was fresh and tasty! I had the lobster sandwich and my soon to be Brandeis graduate daughter had the falafel sandwich. I was expecting tiny portions...boy, was I wrong! The lobster sandwich was full of huge, sweet delicious chunks of lobster. The bread was thickly sliced and very sweet. The lemon-scented falafel on two pieces of pita bread was fried to a crispy perfection. The spicy mayo was delicious with the heat of either jalapeno or habanero (not sure which, but it had kick!) Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert! Great start to a beautiful stroll through Harvard Square.
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Review from Bryan P.
Cambridge, MA
5/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great food and excellent service.
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Review from Mark H.
3/20/2012
I came here with my girlfriend and another couple on a quick weekend trip to Cambridge.
When we arrived we were quickly seated and without any prompting the hostess offered to hang up our group's coats. We were seated near the window in a comfortable booth seat.
It took a little longer than expected to get our first order taken, but afterwards there were no lapses in service. It was odd to hear there were no specials, but who needs specials with such a great menu on offer.
For an appetizer we went with the foie gras. This was easily, hands down, the best foie gras preparation I've had in recent memory. It was a good sized portion of foie gras atop an airy brioche. The foie was perfectly seared to a buttery perfection.
For dinner our table went with a variety of items and everyone seemed pleased with their choices. We probably should have ordered a side to split between the table as the entrees didn't come with much extra, but none of us left hungry. I went with the tenderloin. It was cooked well and the beef itself was excellent. I wasn't the biggest fan of the potato gratin, but it was tasty.
Overall it was a very good meal, with good service. The restaurant definitely got crowded around 8PM, so reservations are important. For dinner it was also a bit dark, but still not the darkest restaurant we've been in. I'm a bit torn between a 4 and a 5. For the amazing foie gras and no problems I'll go with a 5. But other than that nothing was truly exceptional, just all very good. We all had a good time and next time I'm back in the area I wouldn't hesitate giving Harvest another try. -
Review from Garret N.
Bishop, CA
5/5/2012
Fairly tasty, but incredibly expensive for the actual quality. This is very much a small meal, large plate restaurant with big aspirations. Unfortunately the food just isn't as stunning as the prices would suggest.
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Review from Abby W.
South End, Boston, MA
5/2/2012
I heard rave reviews about Harvest and decided to schedule a lunch meeting there. Unfortunately it was too cold to sit on the fabulous patio. Maybe if i had, it would have been a better experience. The waiter was wonderful but that was about the only aspect I enjoyed. We were seated toward the front of the restaurant and were swarmed with people coming in and out, proving very distracting and breezy. I had the lobster roll recommended to me but it was very messy and had an overpowering onion effect on the remainder of my day. Quite unfortunate. I don't plan on going back for lunch but might be willing to try cocktail hour.
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Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
3/13/2012
Probably my favorite dinner spot on the Square (though it can be tough to score reservations).
It is positively lovely in the summertime if you score a table on the patio. The food and the service don't disappoint and the place has a very relaxed but refined elegance that is hard to match.
I recommend and will most definitely be back. -
Review from Jordan S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/14/2012
Came here for a nice dinner with a friend and the service and atmosphere is right on par with what you would expect from an expensive retaurant such as this one. And make no mistake. Its pretty expensive. I normally only say that when I dont think the price of the meal matches the taste.
First off be prepared for the menu. It insists upon itself. Lots of ingredients you wouldnt normally see together at most restaurants. I would describe the menu like an episode of "Chopped" on the Food Network. If you are into that then you DEFINITELY need to try harvest. If you arent then I would suggest to stay away.
One other warning. If you are a drinker DO NOT order ANYTHING with sour mix in it. Its house made and unbareably tart.
On a positive note, the mac and cheese was really good and if you like venison you will certainly enjoy it. It was cooked perfectly and seasoned nicely.
I may give it another try in the near future and see if my opnion changes. -
Review from Becky M.
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Loved it from the moment I read other Yelpers' thoughts and started perusing the menu online. It only got better from there. My BF and I went for a romantic dinner getaway -- as we are not Bostonians.
To start: A Manhattan (him) and a glass of Sav Blanc (me).
For starting the noshing: oysters from Martha's Vineyard. I wish the shucker did a bit of a better job at seperating the neck from the shell -- but the oysters were delish just completely plain.
Moved to the Charcucharie -- WOW. Duck liver pate, pork county pate, and pork rillette served with pickles (regular and fennel), violet mustard and toasted bread. The portion was very generous. I am normally not a liver fan....but this was out of this world. The Country Pate was the best part of the plate. I would eat each again in a heartbeat.
For the main course, I had seared Scituate Scallops and my BF the tenderloin. I smelled the scallops as soon as we opened the door and could barely read the menu in anticipation of ordering them. They did not disappoint with a thick slice of bacon and apple salad with celery root. Perfectly cooked and delicious.
The tenderloin was THE MOST TENDER BEEF that has ever crossed my lips. Wonderfully cooked and poetry delicious.
I also had a class of Pinot Noir and my BF a neat Glenlevit. We were too full from our apps and main meals to be able to try dessert. Next time.
It was a wonderful meal. The service was attentive without being intrusive in our meal. We were among the last to leave, but were not being rushed out.
I look forward to going back. -
Review from Meagan F.
Boston, MA
3/23/2012
I'm glad I went to Harvest; glad, because it put some things into perspective, and I have since changed my rating for Jean-George's Market to 3 stars. I'll give the 2 stars to Harvest instead.
My man and I went to Harvest for Restaurant Week (RW), which I love because it shows the true colors of a restaurant. With a heightened number of reservations, a flood of people not necessarily the type to eat out at upscale restaurants all the time, restaurants participating in RW have a lot on their hands. I give restaurants a lot of credit for participating, especially those who surpass my expectations, or even meet them in terms of a nice meal. Some shine; some don't. I don't expect perfection this week, but I do expect to be treated with respect. More on this point later.
Harvest is a beautiful restaurant. I love the decor and the outdoor patio. I do wish, however, that they followed through with the folding screens across all of the back windows, not just a few, to block out the awful courtyard at 44 Brattle Street. It ruins the rest of this elegant restaurant. That is the only nice thing I am going to say about this place, if you can even call it a compliment. Maybe a half-assed one, since they only covered half of the windows. But that is what I think of this restaurant. The experience, over-all, seemed a little half-assed.
Let's start with the fact that my fiance and I ordered off of the RW menu, but we added an additional appetizer, cocktails, and wine pairings for our meals. Our waiter, therefore, should have expected a higher-than-average tip for our higher-than-average RW bill. Yet the service was so incredibly awful, he didn't deserve the tip I left.
Our cocktails were excellent, but we waited a full 30 minutes for water and cocktails after sitting down. As our part of the restaurant was empty when we sat down, it was not due to the RW crowd. We waited and waited, then asked about them and were told that (and I quote) "We would just have to wait." Pretty rude considering we were dropped extra money on our RW experience.
We finally were asked for our order after 45 minutes in the restaurant. We had a bit of a mixed-bag, both in terms of items and taste:
The ceviche (our non-RW purchase) was tasteless. I ended up adding extra lime juice, salt, and pepper to this dish to make it taste less like deli counter seafood salad. My spring onion-zucchini soup was excellent and my fiance's salad was superb (albeit a little small). My quail's sauce had a burnt aftertaste and was teeny, while my fiance's hake was way overcooked. My olive-oil cake was a bit dry and needed more sauce.
But the worst part our meal was our wine. The wine itself was good, but it was not what was listed on the RW menu. We tasted our first glasses, which we were told were one thing, but when we asked to see the bottle, we were told that the restaurant was (and, I'll quote) "too busy" for our waiter to go get it for us. Funny, since there were many open tables around us. We thought that was odd, until we tasted the wine again, and we knew it was not what he told us it was. There was no way mine was a Gruner Vetlinger and no way my fiance's was from the Loire Valley. And we were right, after hemming and hawing, we finally got the truth. He had poured us the wrong glasses, switched up the order to the pairing. I got something completely different for my starter that did not match the food at all, and my fiance got the Portuguese wine first, rather than with his main. We never saw the bottles, in all of this, so we can't be sure, but at least our waiter fessed up to his mistake. Scratch that, we caught him in his mistake, and he had no choice to fess up.
After all of these comments, I'll sum up Harvest in three words: Unearned Unerring Pretentiousness. -
Review from Sonia C.
Seattle, WA
2/26/2012
Pros: Delicious Sunday 3-course prix fixe brunch with plenty of variety. Classy and intimate restaurant. Ability to customize three course menu.
Cons: Slow(ish) service, some food items don't stack up to descriptions.
I went to Harvest for a birthday brunch outing with family. We were seating roughly ten minutes after our 1:30 reservation, which is much better than I've had at Upstairs in the Square, another well-known brunch restaurant in the Square.
Harvest offers a delicious three-course prix fixe brunch menu for $35 (appetizer, entree, and dessert) on Sundays. I was happy with the variety, and you also get to choose two appetizers + entree if you want to forgo the dessert option (which I did). I chose the oysters and Gulf coast shrimp for my two appetizers and the bavette steak and eggs for my entree. I loved the steak and eggs-- four people at my table got it and we were all really happy with the dish. The steak was tender and filling, and the mushroom and hashbrown addition to the meal added a nice balance with the eggs.
The service was a little slow, especially while we waited for our first course. I was a bit surprised because we didn't order until after 2 pm and the restaurant wasn't super busy at the time. The waitress also forgot our orders a couple of times and had a few mix-ups with some of our dishes, but these errors weren't egregious. It was simply a little more clumsy than I had expected for a restaurant of this quality.
Overall, I think Harvest offers an upscale brunch option-- if you're celebrating something special or just want a really nice Sunday treat, I would definitely recommend this restaurant. I hear it's great for dinner as well. -
Review from Jessica B.
West Newton, MA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Are you a hep cat? Do you got a killa swag? Well, in that case, young person, this is your daddy's (and mommy's) restaurant so please change those dirty jeans if you plan to join them.
We were looking for a quick bite in Cambridge and dropped in on a whim. The restaurant is cozy, welcoming and traditional. We were seated quickly, and happily not right next to the other people eating, because I hate that.
The bread was unremarkable cornbread and dry white bread with butter, no trendy olive oil or tapenades here.
We both had the Foraged Mushroom Soup, which was creamy and delicious. I had the Roulade of Giannone Farms Chicken with Roasted Cauliflower, Broccoli Rabe, Mint, Thai Basil, Toasted Pinenuts & Golden Raisins. It was very rich, unusual and delicious.
My dining partner had Rooibos Tea Marinated Pennsylvania Duck Breast with Bing Cherries, Fennel, Soy Beans, Forbidden Black Rice & Fresh Lavender. I had a bite and it was also very rich but delicious.
In the mood for traditional American food? Want to take your parents out to a dinner that they think is just swell? Harvest is the place.Listed in: Eat or Die
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Review from Sarah B.
Chelsea, MA
4/9/2012
Overpriced. Tiny portions that aren't worth the cost. The service was incredibly slow- took us 2 hours to receive 3 courses. I would not return t Harvest.
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Review from Reo T.
Brooklyn, NY
5/2/2012
Visited here for brunch with colleagues and his friend. Since we had a child with us we went to an outside seating area. A bit cold but a beautiful outside seating area. I ordered the chicken but was a little too dry. Servers also took a little time to take our order and kept on giving the wrong dishes to everyone until dessert. With the way the exterior looks of the restaurant, I had a little more expectations to this place. I will see how they are doing next time I visit.
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Review from Megan S.
12/13/2011
Hit and a miss. One really fabulous dinner one that was A-OK. I love that they source a lot of their ingredients locally and make their menu seasonally, though.
Hot tip: This place is classy. Dress 'er up a bit. -
Review from Simon L.
Updated - 12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
This ones for the burger alone. Such a mammoth patty of seasoned meat cooked to med rare. Delicious brioche bun situates the burger perfectly. Lettuce, tomatoe in-f-cking-credible. Nice spicy housemade ketchup to dip crisply salted fries served in a cone.
Maple bitters manhattan accompanies the six slightly small Island Creek Oysters, not the meatiest specimens I've eaten but more than made up for by the hamburger.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/30/2010
Having heard so much about this eatery, I will have to give them a second chance. The service at… Read more »
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Review from S W.
Boston, MA
3/24/2012
I love the bread there. It is the best bread I've ever had in Boston! The fish I ordered (forgot the name of the dish) is ok but not tasty. The desert is good. Price is quite high though.
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Review from Tom F.
Marblehead, MA
11/19/2011
Just had a killer brunch here. The French Onion soup was as good as it gets, home-made oozing with cheese and a fresh-baked crostiini. The Lobster Roll was out of sight, served on a home-made fresh pretzel roll -- crunchy and soft. The Lobster meat itself tasted like it was cooked that morning, and just lightly chilled -- unlike most lobster rolls, this one maintained the sweetness and flavor the lobster. The Bloody Marys were served with just the right amount of pepper and horse-radish. You're right in the middle of Harvard Square, so you can't do much better on location. Perfect for a nice nosh on a Saturday. The service was very good.
I'd give it 5 Stars, but I'm trying to reserve that moniker for only the most spectacular restaurants. Really don't have any criticism of this place. -
Review from Sara K.
CHESTNUT HILL, MA
4/12/2012
Great food, probably overpriced.
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Review from Thuy L.
Absolutely amazing. I was so thoroughly impressed with the food and the service, despite the very intimate table arrangements. And what a great place to go for a romantic dinner (but it might be you and everyone else on date night)
My hubby and I started off with some oysters which were great, i mean, can you really go wrong with oysters? Ever? I then moved to the steak tartare which was exceptional, especially since it had the egg yolk intact at the top. He got the charcuterie plate which was pretty good too.
The main course was ah-mahzing. If you are lobstah-lovin girl like myself, you cannot go wrong with the 1.5lb "snappy" lobster entree. It was a mixture of sweet and savory. My husband got the steak which was good as well, but the lobster was outta this world.
Finally, we left the night on a sweet note with the creme brulee (one of my faves) and the taza flourless souflee. Wow....the souflee was so moist and rich. I felt like I was swimming in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Definitely come here but make sure you make reservations. It gets tight quickly. -
Review from K T.
Tulsa, OK
2/13/2012
Great service. Lovely wine list with well prepared staff. Very good food. Desert is the least but in context of an exceptional chef!! Don't miss this place.
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Review from Julie R.
6/24/2011
I've always heard good things about this place. The place was a little hard to find, but once inside the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Since restaurant week was going on I opted for that menu.
My first course was a field greens, walnut and gorgonzola salad. This sounds simple but the combo worked well. The walnuts were candied, the dressing was perfect and the cheese was delivered in a large slice. Fiance had the Harvest charcuterie. A selection of meats and duck liver mousse. Great presentation and variety.
Second courses:
I had Scottish salmon: This involved a juicy cut of salmon, perfectly seared, accompanied by a curry sauce. The plate was very colorful. Fiance had the short ribs. He said they tasted stew like. Not bad but not as good as he hoped.
For dessert we split a panna cotta which was served over a thin brownie. This had the perfect amount of creamy and crunchy.
The atmosphere was country chic. Service was right on. This is one of the nicest restaurants I've been to in Harvard Square. There is even a small patio overlooking the courtyard of the Charles Hotel. -
Review from Chris J.
Cambridge, MA
11/7/2011
Harvest is certainly one of Cambridge's finer restaurants.
Food quality is excellent. The Gnocchi appetizer was superb - very flavorful and well prepared. The sauce that accompanies the Beef Tenderloin was excellent and the beef was perfectly cooked. The only complaint I have is that the food is quite salty. Despite that, quality and presentation were excellent all around.
Service is very good. The restaurant is quite small and noisy. I would expect things to be better in the warmer months when the patio is open. The atmosphere is nice and cozy. Most diners here are dressed business casual or better so keep that in mind if you don't want to stand out in the place.
There is also a small bar area with TV's. Noise from the bar area can spill into the dining room interrupting conversation. That minor quibble aside, the bar area seems like a nice spot for a less formal meal. The cocktails were average - nothing special. -
Review from Roxana M.
Medford, MA
Updated - 10/16/2011
Made a reservation for my husband's birthday dinner after having a great experience the last time we were at Harvest.Good thing we made the reservation as it was a very busy night with the host turning away those without a reservation. The place was extremely busy - a little too full. Disappointed this time, as the menu changed but not for the better. We had the ceviche for an appetizer which was fantastic, however I was underwhelmed by the new entrees on the menu. Had I looked it up online before, we probably would have gone somewhere else. I ordered the scallops - nice size, but not for that price and I was hungry afterwards. Husband ordered the lobster, extremely overpriced for what he received.
The waitstaff at the restaurant are fantastic and very attentive even during the peak dinner period. Too bad the food was overpriced. I understand paying for ambiance and service, but I would still like to be able to enjoy my food and not leave hungry. Don't plan on going back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/25/2010
Love. Didn't want to give a full 5 stars, because nothing can get my 5 stars as not to jinx my next… Read more »
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Review from Paula A.
Medford, MA
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
There were things about Harvest I loved, like the outdoor patio - even on a chilly night, the fireplace & heat lamps kept us toasty. Our server was pleasant, the bread was good, our wine was really good.
I wasn't happy that my chicken dish came out barely warm & boarding on cold. For $30 plates, I expect my food served hot. BF's pork dish was warmer than mine, but teetered on acceptable too. I'm not one to complain & we'd already had a misunderstanding with the wine so I ate it after deciding it was thoroughly cooked, it would've been better warm. The truffle/parm fries were fantastic & the peach salad was really good.
I just can't give 4 star after shelling out $200+ & neither meal was served warm - let alone hot. -
Review from Nally P.
Astoria, NY
10/24/2011
A wonderful dinner! We were in Cambridge for an event later in the evening, so my husband and I booked an early dinner at Harvest. Our table was ready right when we arrived for our 6:30 reservation, and I was excited to see Chef Mary Dumont in the kitchen as we walked by. The dining room is spread out between a few rooms in an odd shape, with the kitchen in the middle. There were a lot of large groups, so I was please with the quiet corner table at which we were seated. The patio-style chairs were uncomfortable--I couldn't lean back into the chair without feeling far removed from the table. But it's starting to sound like a negative review...
The food and wine were wonderful. We ordered a bottle of Seghesio Family Vineyards Venom Sangiovese (CA), which the sommelier brought out to describe after we ordered from our waiter. Appetizers: potato and sage gnocchi, and caesar salad. My husband wanted to try almost all of the entrees, but we selected scallops and butter cup squash ravioli. Everything was seasonal and fresh. My only slightly negative comment is that the entrees didn't seem any larger than the small appetizers.
I would definitely return to Harvest again. -
Review from Dani C.
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you are going to go high-end dining, and want presentation more than being completely stuffed with food, this fits the bill. We had a large group for a birthday party, so we worked with the planners in advance. It narrows your choices down but honestly that isn't a bad thing. They were very accommodating, we had a screened off place to the side of the entrance, and our own staff so service was pretty good. Let's just say no one's wine glass stayed empty for long.
There is no wifi through the restaurant but you can use the Harvard University guest access if you truly need to check Facebook during the evening.
The appetizer portions seemed a little on the small side, but that's because the Jonah Crab salad was magnificent and I wanted more. A lot of flavor in that little salad! I had the top sirloin and it was cooked perfectly, again tons of flavor. The potato puree was a bit on the salty side, but mixing it in with my bites of sirloin helped. The sirloin portion was a decent size, but the potatoes and vegetables were lacking a bit. Dessert was a tort, which I had to give the rest to my husband because it was just a little too rich for me. He was also still hungry, his cheesecake was much smaller sized than my tort. ;-)
All in all it was a wonderful dining experience, and more importantly the birthday girl was happy! -
Review from Ave H.
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was excited to finally make it out to Harvest, and I was not disappointed! The wicker chairs and really comfy, and the theme carries throughout the restaurant, even in the menu covers.
The menu isn't huge - but it has more than enough variety. It is also worth noting they have a wide price range for the apps and entrees, which is nice since the the entrees can run up into the $40's. They also have a raw bar, although I have yet to try anything from it since (from what i can tell) you have to order the larger plates, you cannot order a small amount.
Cocktails are delicious, along with a decent wine list. My favorite cocktail there is the Katy's Ruby Red - it's def worth a try!
The asparagus soup is lovely. It is served by pour the soup over the garnish in front of you, which is a nice touch. Its flavor is very strong, with a perfectly pureed texture.
The only entree I have tried is the 'Snappy' Lobster - it was delicious! A small lobster, with complete tail and bits of claw meat, on top of fingerling potatoes. A small green salad and a corn on a cob. No complaints here - it was amazing! And they promptly brought out a warm towel for me to wash my hands with once I was finished.
I also give them props because my DC and I were in a slight rush, having tickets to a show at the nearby Regattabar in under an hour from when we arrived. We had hit a ton of traffic on our way there, and they were kind enough to move our reservation when we called to inform them. They also were sure to be very quick in their service so we were in and our fairly quickly.Listed in: Drinkin' My Way Through MA
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Review from Jeremy K.
3/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Harvest is a restaurant that I had been dying to check out for a while now - I'd say almost four years and I just never got around to it - Fortunately, this most recent restaurant week seemed like a good time to make a dinner reservation and get my foot inside the door of the place while in the company of Erick.
We both walked in a few minutes early, after struggling to find the entrance to the place, accidentally ending up on the wrong side of the building while trying to use a shortcut. After finally stepping inside approximately twenty minutes early, we were greeted by a couple of very friendly hosts who seated us immediately. Seconds later, our menus were brought to us along with some bread, butter and glasses of water.
The menu was pretty diverse both in price and in range of food offered. They have a raw bar, various types of proteins and some vegetarian dishes as well. Most of it is pretty standard and few dishes are original by any means, whether it be their hen, their fois gras or their short ribs.
But Harvest has been in business since the '70s so I was rather excited and decided to order from the restaurant week menu along with their $15 half-wine pairing. I decided to start with a blue cheese terrine which came plated with a few greens, some warm walnuts and a cider gastrique. The wine arrived about fifteen minutes before the salad which was a major disappointment considering that we waited nearly thirty minutes for what has to be the most simple of dishes. It was tasty but far from great. The blue cheese was very creamy and the gastrique was good but again, nothing challenging about the dish... and nothing that justifies it taking so long to leave the kitchen.
The came the my second glass of wine, again about fifteen-twenty minutes before the entree arrived - terrible timing once again. The entree was great though and it was a smoked chicken breast with came plated with some soft polenta, some golden raisins, some wilted chard and some almonds. The chicken was cooked perfectly and was juicy. The smoky flavor was faint though to my disappointment overall it was a terrific entree. A redemption from the wine pairing timing and lengthy wait we had to endure at that point in the meal.
Finally our deserts arrived, along once again, with our wine. We didn't have to wait that long this time but the wine arrived, once again, way earlier than the dish itself. I had this lime pastry which came plated with a few raspberries. It was pretty good and was the only dish who's wine pairing hit the spot. The other two glasses of wine weren't all that great.
So what to think of Harvest? Well in many ways, it was a huge disappointment. Our waiter, David B. (according to the receipt) wasn't attentive at all and kept his attention to a minimum. The few times he addressed us, it was while he was walking away which I found extremely rude. The bus boys were great and kept the water glasses full though and cleared the plates as we ate.
Overall the restaurant definitely has some potential but lacks a very interesting menu. The kitchen's timing is also off and our meal took way longer than it should have, and maybe have caused us to get our wine way earlier than we should have had it, probably due to the fact that our dishes took a very long time to leave the kitchen. I'd love to give this place four stars as the food was good but the service was just horrendous on a lot of levels. I doubt that I'd go there again, restaurant week or not. Oh well...Listed in: Cambridge: Harvard Square Area, Restaurant Week Boston
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Review from Richard C.
Boston, MA
3/8/2011
Either places are starting to take notice and improve their burgers, or it's just one big coincidence, but like 51 Lincoln and Lineage before it, the burger at Harvest is quite delicious. Brioche is generally a pet peeve of mine, simply because far too often it's too airy and outnumbers the amount of beef. But, when used properly, and the patty is both substantial enough in size and juicy enough to break the barriers of said airiness, then it works. Basically the same black pepper brioche from Iggy's that's being used at the Common Ground and Coda, to name a couple, it does its best to withstand the onslaught that is one ridiculously juicy burger. Juicy and salty, that's the name of the game, but good salty, as in perfectly seasoned, most other burgers should be envious of the generous touch used here.
It's burger greatness in the most primitive way, large enough to satisfy any hungry burger boy or girl, impossibly juicy and flavorful as can be. The cheese, Vermont Cheddar, adds the flavor it needs to, but could be more melted, although that's a recurring problem with most burgers and the cheese that sits atop them in this city. The fries are delicious as well, golden, crispy and beautifully salty, what more do you want? The house-made red onion and zucchini pickles are not my favorite addition to the plate, fairly unbalanced and assertive in flavor, it's a mild turn-off but thus does not ruin the meal. Same goes for a lemony sauce of sorts, much too thin, much too sour, and much too mediocre in its sad little ramekin, it's a wannabe aioli, but a poor attempt at that.
All in all, the $13 burger at Harvest is excellent, beyond juicy, beyond flavorful, and with wonderful fries to boot. The brioche works due to the liquid attack of the well proportioned burger, and mediocre pickles and sauces are merely a minor distraction but don't bring this burger down. Hell, even the tomato is good. -
Review from Caroline C.
Boston, MA
5/23/2011
Harvest has some amazing staff. I ate here recently with a party of a few, well, let's say 'high maintenance' individuals and our host and server didn't issue even an ounce of annoyance, condescension or impatience. Kudos to them.
I had read several Yelp reviews before coming, and I now feel that many of them are incorrect . . . First, the portions aren't teeny tiny (I was worried about this, as I'm a big eater) - they are respectfully sized - and portioned with the intention that the diner will order an appetizer and an entree. (Of course, I may have filled up a bit on the bread, which is unusually delicious [especially the cornbread]). The food is also pretty well prepared and not extraordinarily expensive for the meal. I didn't think it was "strangely casual" either - everyone was dressed up (an older crowd, aside for a few apparent graduation dinners.)
It IS however, hard to find - it is located right behind the Ann Taylor. Face Ann Taylor - on your right is an alley, that will lead you to Harvest.
I think they accommodate for patrons getting lost/trying to find parking in Harvard Square (although they do have valet) - they seem not to over-reserve and seat parties even when the majority are a half an hour late. Which is awesome. -
Review from Karyn V.
3/18/2011
I had been really looking forward to Harvest, but I ended up being very disappointed.
First the good things: I absolutely loved the interior of the restaurant from its warm woods and browns to the handsome, clandestine bar. I also loved how the menu was dotted with local products and classic New England touches.
Now the bad: Compared to other restaurants I have been to in the area that offer local, modern American fare at the same prices, I was expecting the food to taste amazing. Rather, I came away thinking that the food was good but uninspired and not very memorable. I also found the service lacking. The timing of the restaurant seemed off. For example, when my boyfriend and I ordered our beverages, my boyfriend quickly got what he ordered but it took our waiter about thirty minutes to bring me my first beverage. We also ordered the prefix wine menu and the waiter actually forgot to bring us the wine for our dessert course. Maybe our waiter was just having a bad day, but he was very rude.
All in all, it was a very disappointing experience. I really wanted to love Harvest, but the food and service just fell short. -
Review from Elizabeth P.
Medford, MA
10/28/2011
I had the chance to return to Harvest for my dad's birthday dinner this past weekend, and overall, I really enjoyed the experience. The food was very good to excellent, our waitress had a great personality, and the ambiance was pleasant, if a bit noisy (it was a weekend, after all). Overall, this is definitely a good spot to celebrate special occasions!
Service: Because of how booked up everything was (we'd tried to get into several other places before turning to Harvest), we had a late-ish reservation (8:30 pm). Unfortunately, when we arrived, our table wasn't ready--we had to wait about 10 minutes for it, and it seemed like pretty much everyone else with later reservations were in a similar situation (it is understandable, considering that we were the third seating of the night). That being said, the hostess apologized for our wait and our experience with the servers, particularly our waitress, was great. Everyone came across as professional, knowledgeable, and personable.
Ambiance: The ambiance at Harvest is upscale, but not pretentious. Through the first half of our meal, it was a bit noisier than we would have liked, but that's only to be expected on a Saturday night. The tables are a bit closer together than ideal and the layout of the restaurant is a bit strange, however, I really liked the semi-open kitchen. We were seated nearby it, and it was fun to be able to look in and watch the chefs at work.
Menu: The menu is "New American" in style (I know that's vague, but I'm not sure how else to characterize it), and is creative, without being too weird or venturing into molecular gastronomy-territory (nothing wrong with that, per se, it's just not something I want every time I go out for an upscale dinner). My dad, a definite wine connoisseur, liked the wine list, and there were also some tempting-sounding cocktails.
Food: For an appetizer I went with the matsutake mushroom and sunchoke salad, which I absolutely loved. The flavors were great, the plate was quite attractive, and the mushrooms, sunchokes, sunny-side-up quail's egg, and pomegranate seeds all worked wonderfully together. It was a rather inspired salad all-in-all which I would be highly tempted to order again, despite all the other tempting options. Others at my table tried the roasted beet salad. While not as unique as my salad, it was deemed tasty--the only complaint was that more goat cheese would have been appreciated. My bf adored the tenderloin tartare: he had it for his entree, and loved it (although he could have used some more toast with it). The potato and sage gnocchi were also quite good.
My entree was the cocoa-crusted venison--I absolutely love venison and was so excited to have the chance to order it. My request of "medium, but more toward medium-rare" was perfectly fulfilled and I loved the accompanying parsnip puree. My only complaint about the dish was the temperature of the plate: I would have enjoyed everything a bit more if it was warmer.
The desserts were mostly hits. As the chocoholic of the group, I ordered the Taza Chocolate Flourless (there's also a chocolate souffle, but I'm not really into those). Accompanied by peanut butter mousse, salted peanut brittle, caramel, and marshmallows, the chocolate flourless was a whimsical treat. I particularly loved the way in which the saltiness of the peanuts balanced off the intensity of the chocolate and appreciated that the cake wasn't too sweet. My dad and sister split the Autumn Squash Indian Pudding, which they both enjoyed: it was quite the creative rendition with its candied fennel and pumpkin seeds and buttermilk ice cream. Unfortunately, my boyfriend's apple and cheese crumb tart was less well-received. The dish was much more decadent than the name suggested: it was really more of a cheesecake topped with some caramelized apples. Also, the brown sugar crumbs were much too numerous and sweet. A bite of the dessert was tasty, but a whole plate of it was much too much.Listed in: Two Years of Dining Around…
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Review from Andrea M.
Boston, MA
8/19/2011
Last night, I tried Harvest for the first time, and ordered off the restaurant week menu. I had high expectations because it focuses so much on fresh and local ingredients, but I was a little disappointed.
Nothing was bad, but nothing was amazing, either. I ordered the curry corn soup, and I expected it to have a spicy kick, but it just tasted like pureed corn. I was most excited for the pappardelle with roasted almond pesto, but I didn't taste either almonds or pesto. It was supposed to have zucchini, squash and onions, and there were: four tiny cubes of what I think were vegetables, but might have passed as tofu. The dish tasted like pasta with olive oil, and the pasta itself was a little rubbery. The cherry almond tart was sweet and chewy, but nothing to write home about. My boyfriend got the tuna crudo (which he liked) and the pork (which he said tasted like ham, and overpowered everything else.)
The atmosphere is just eh. The contrast of super dark wood and bright spotlights gives it a kind of clashing vibe, but the outdoor patio (where I sat) was beautiful, and private. The service was pretty good. The hostess was sweet and went out of her way to find us a seat on the patio, and our server was polite (although a little absent at times).
Overall, I appreciate Harvest's concept, and I'm sure there are better items on the menu. It's a nice place to go for a quiet dinner, but nothing stood out to me here. -
Review from Olga V.
Cambridge, MA
3/10/2011
This place is a hidden gem if not only for the fact that it is impossible to find it! Go down Brattle street, after Ann Taylor and take left into a weird dark corner!! :) and here it will be hidden...
I was sick & tired of all the Harvard Square places and never heard of this restaurant before. Friends made reservations there for dinner, so I was feeling "discover" mode. I think it is definitely above average, good, but not amazing.
I LOVED my beet salad there. It was delicious, although very small portion and left me wanting more! Salmon wasn't that impressive, but it was part of the Restaurant Week menu, so that might have been why. The best part of all the dishes we got was their toasted almonds - to die for - hence I stole it from everyone's plate!
Atmosphere is fun, so try it out! -
Review from Sasha B.
5/9/2011
Harvest is fine, definitely not worth the money considering all of the better dining options in Cambridge.
I started off with the asparagus soup, it was good, but nothing amazing. I thought it would be more unique. Then I had the duck breast- it wasn't tender like duck normally is, although the seasoning was delicious. Maybe if they gave me a better knife, the dish would be ok. Jacob got the lamb, ordered medium rare, and it came very well done. For high end dining, I don't think that's acceptable. I'm sure they would have been happy to take it back, but we were with a big group so he just kept the plate. Both entrees do not come with many veggies- the duck was supposed to have fava beans, and there were maybe 4 on my plate. So get a separate veggie side.
The desserts were redeeming, and are what give Harvest their 2 stars. The ice cream is unreal- I had the sorbet and it was fabulous! -
Review from Mac H.
Cambridge, MA
10/30/2011
The wife and I went here for dinner last night and had a great experience. Had reservations for 8:30pm and had planned on getting there early to see if we could sit down a little earlier. Of course, we didn't plan on a snow storm and waiting 50 minutes for our cab. We ended up getting there right before our reservation and it was hopping in there. We ended up finding 2 seats at the bar and decided to just eat there - you can get the whole menu sitting at the bar. Bartenders were great, even though a number of patrons sitting around us were not. I guess it was Harvard alumni weekend or something, and that made for an interesting crowd.
We started with the seafood ceviche which was really tasty and had a decent amount of fish. I had the halibut and the wife had the scallops. Both were quite tasty. The only complaint is one that I have with a number of "fancy" places - when you say it comes with fingerling potatoes as your side, it doesn't count if you take one tiny fingerling, but it into 4 pieces and spread it around. I mean seriously, one little tiny potato? I think you can get a whole bag of fingerlings at Whole Foods for like $3. That being said, both entrees were great - we really enjoyed them.
Both bartenders were very attentive and quite friendly.
Great dinners. Great service. Cool atmosphere. Definitely coming back and having dinner at the bar again. -
Review from Kristen R.
East Watertown, MA
3/27/2011
I went to Harvest on Friday night to have dinner with my finacé, his mom, and her cousins. We had been meaning to try this place for a while now, but we've always erred on the side of "familiar" and gone to Casablanca instead.
The atmosphere is nice, although the woven chairs are a bit weird -- the back is deep-set and it's awkward to lean back. The disappointment came when the food arrived. Remember that commercial that described fine dining portions as "elf food"? Exactly. I ordered the "Egg Yolk & Wild Foraged Mushroom Ravioli" ($26) and was served a plate with THREE anemically-stuffed ravioli. For $26. My fMIL's cousin ordered the "Maine Dayboat Scallops" ($29), which is a portion of three scallops topped with some strings of watercress. My sidekick described his salmon as "dry" and "bland."
When the waiter served my future mother-in-law's asparagus soup, I almost burst out laughing because she was served an empty, shallow bowl with a crouton in the middle. He poured about a half-cup of soup out of a pitcher into the bowl, neatly surrounding the crouton. It was a little ridiculous.
At least we had plenty of room for dessert! I ordered the Earl Grey Crème Brulée with tea scented shortbread. It was both delicious and bigger than my entrée.
Overall, I found Harvest to be a disappointment. Ridiculous portions for ridiculous prices, and without the flavor to back it up.
