Terrific little cafe and gift shop in a quaint building within this old New England town square. Best shirt for sale in here shows the town's clever sense of humor: "What happens in Harvard, stays in Harvard...But, nothing really ever happens here." Kudos. This is one of many charming areas on the scenic drives abounding in this region for farms, colonial homes, and village squares. Get yourself a coffee and a pastry here at the HGS before heading on down the road. These are the independent shops that make up the hidden gems of New England backroads. read more

I love this spot and have visited many times over the years. They have really risen to the occasion during COVID. We got some wonderful bean burgers and ate them out at the picnic tables. Sure, it's winter, but we enjoyed ourselves just the same. Friendly, very COVID-conscious staff too! read more

Saw good reviews online and thought we'd try someplace new for breakfast. We both ordered the breakfast sandwich, which you go up when your order is ready at the pick up window which is around the corner from where you order. I was initially very confused where to pick our stuff up but staff there nicely pointed me in the right direction. The sandwiches came in little cardboard dishes, no frills, plain and simple which is cool. Good breakfast sandwiches, hit the spot, not too little not too filling. The coffee was excellent also. Ok ambiance, customers exuded a bit of the uppity intellectual vibe, but that is fine, could be worse. I also got the feeling they were all locals of Harvard Massachusetts and knew one another. Cute little store to peek around inside. They have some nice stuff such as tee shirts, soaps, other little country artifacts, though the prices are marked up a few more dollars than what you usually pay at farm stores. They also have wine and alcohol selection upstairs which we did not check out. I would definitely come back for breakfast, maybe read the paper at the window in the sun. read more

We finally got around to trying this place out and it was great!! We had the brownies, chocolate chip cookies, a scone, and a blondie. They were all delicious! I thought the scone was terrific because it wasn't too dry and was very flavorful! It was a great surprise! Can't wait to try more of their food!! read more

Not your typical general store. It's a great stopping place for townies and bicycle enthusiasts to hang out and grab excellent food. The store owner and staff are all super friendly and great people. Order online and pickup only during the pandemic. read more

If you look at all the reviews here on yelp they're pretty consistent with what I would think they would be. If you're from Harvard, they're very cordial to you, but if you're from out of town they look at you like you're some sort of a Martian. Harvard is like most small town New England. They pride themselves in saying that their liberal Democrats but in reality they're very socially conservative read more

Fabulous dinner on the patio - skewered shrimp with pineapple and veggies over couscous was prepared perfectly! Fresh and flavorful. My husband's bean burger was equally delicious! We will be frequent patrons of dinner on the patio - besides the food, the servers are delightful! read more

This place is a FIND! Was recently visiting friends in Harvard (they felt sorry for me because I hadn't been out of the city for months!). When they asked "do you want to go to the General Store?" I thought yeah, sure, sounds like a scream. Expecting Wonder bread and bags of feed, I was knocked out! Beautiful space artfully decorated with an outstanding selection of gourmet munchables, first-rate pantry staples (like the best olive oil in the universe), breads and pastriesand cheeses to die for, arrestingly good coffee and WINE and ART on the second floor for cryin' out loud. But in addition to the goods, the place was a great spot to people-watch. It felt like the General was the center of a really happening community. It was busy and lively and neighborly. And that view of the Town Common from the second floor . . . very Norman Rockwell! Every town should have a place like this. read more

Hmmmmmm... 3 dollars for a small coffee, fine. But don't think it goes unnoticed. It is cute enough inside, with some wines and beers available as well as some novelty items. I assume its in business because it is the local coffee shop, but your better off at the country cupboard in Bolton or somewhere else. I will say it is clearly a better option than burnt coffee at DD. I will give them another shot, because it is what I do, perhaps the will earn some stars. read more

We stopped off here on our Yelp Motorbike Ride. They were closing up and gave free cookies to the guys. Isn't that sweet? On a side note: where do they get the help? These fellows looked like Abercrombie and Fitch models, fer crissakes... read more

The location of this general store just can't be beat...it's a great place to stop and get a bagel or breakfast sandwich and hang out. The breakfast food is simple but delicious...it just needed some salt and pepper. The coffee is also excellent, and I like the wine and beer selection, which seems like someone put a lot of thought into it. The store part has me a bit confused, however. Some of their pantry choices are really low end, like you'd find at a 7-11, and some are a little more boutiquey and pricey. It seems like a real miss-mosh. I would not stop in to pick up a gallon of milk or loaf of bread, and I wonder if the locals do. It just seems like a waste of space to offer a few products, but not enough to really bring people in. Weird. I did have breakfast here 3 mornings in a row while visiting, though, so I do like it for that. read more

This is Boston meets suburbia. Very expensive, big city items, yet has a slight small town feel. Almost feels like a store you would see in Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. The store is out of its element in Harvard. It was better as a general store and not a purveyor of high priced coffee, chocolates, and other goods. read more

HGS Pizza is the BEST in Harvard and surrounding towns. The sauce is so flavorful, the crust is both crispy and fluffy, and their pepperoni is something else. Love HGS & will never get pizza anywhere else! read more

While living nearby and traveling through Harvard on a regular basis you think I would have noticed this place sooner, but it took a facebook posting from Pretty Things announcing a beer tasting to get my attention. The store is broken into 2 distinct areas which seem to almost operate like separate stores. In the downstairs there is a market which seems to focus on organic & specialty selections. Amongst the items available were cheeses, teas, bread, produce, eggs, etc. Then upstairs is the wine & beer selections as well as a small section that was devoted to displaying art projects. So I stopped in on my way home from work to check out the beer and wine selection which the website highly touted. I was not disappointed in the wine selection, but the beer selection was clearly an after thought. The wine was laid out very nicely and organized well and the woman working the area had a very impressive knowledge. Their selections were not the run of the mill ones and prices were pretty fair. I was able to pick up a bottle of Nebbiolo for $20 which I felt was a pretty good deal. They also do regular wine & beer tastings so I'll probably be back for those at some point. The beer selections were on a table that was sort of shoved off to the side and had no order that I could discern. They had a some good craft selections, but the I got the sense the woman working really knew nothing about them. read more

It's nice, but come on-- "general store"? It's a knick-knack shop for a town that's afraid of any genuine local business. The sort of things would might expect in a general store, like a reasonably-priced gallon of milk, toilet paper, or, yes, even some "stale PB crackers" are absent, while if you're looking for a variety of olive oils, dried Maine blueberries, "modern elegant" teapots, or paintings from local artists, you're all set. It's not a bad place by any means, but the name is kinda funny. read more

The Local Place to go when in Harvard. Looking to meet someone have a coffee breakfast or lunch wrap, Need a pint of cream, bottle of vino, craft beer, or a souvenir? This is literally the Only place in town to get those things so stop on on and buy something or it might not be around next time you drive through. read more

I'll have to say this place gets 5 stars for its Royal burger! It's one of the best burgers I've ever had! I personally like to add a little ketchup to it but besides that it's good as is. The pastries are great as well. People are nice. It's an all around nice spot! read more

The wine upstairs must be checked out. I now go nowhere else to buy wine. When I go to most wine stores looking to make a purchase and I ask for recommendations, I never know if the wine I'm being directed to will be good or not. Not at the General Store. I have never purchased a bad wine there. I have never gotten a poor or off target recommendation. The wine selection is fantastic. The price range varies, with many offerings in an inexpensive price range. The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. There are regular and free wine tastings. A great find. read more

I came here on a weekday afternoon for the first time to get some homework done. I had a little trouble finding parking but I ended up parking on the street and it turned out OK. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and an oat milk latte. In, my opinion both were nothing to write home about but I would maybe order it again. I wanted to try their breakfast sandwich the Cali Sunrise because it sounds sooo good but I came in at about noon and they could only do a Build Your Own breakfast sandwich. I did really love getting some work done here though and the staff was really nice. Poking around and seeing all the stuff they have to sell was really fun too! read more

I had the privilege to visit Harvard, MA for a week earlier this summer for a music festival. We ate several meals at HGS (cafe as well as the restaurant) and everything was delicious! The owner Scott and the staff are super friendly, and the atmosphere is positively delightful. Many friends and colleagues that I dined with are still actively reminiscent (months later!!!) of the phenomenal burgers from the restaurant. No words can accurately describe these burgers- you'll have to experience them yourself! I didn't get the chance to try the beet burger, but those who did also couldn't stop raving about them. Hope to try a beet burger next time, once I am able to return! Looking forward to visiting Harvard again, and going to see our friends at HGS :) read more

Loving the pizza at the general store! Some of the best I've eaten in this area. Crust has great flavor with a brush of olive oil and some herbs/spices. Topping are fresh and generous as well. read more

I can see why locals may not be huge fans, but for an out-of-towner like myself, this store represents all that we idealize about small-town New England. The food is definitely expensive, but the key is to get the sandwiches made in-house, as well as some of the desserts. I also liked the pre-packaged salads and the small liquor store upstairs. I was happy to pick up a nice bottle of Belgian raspberry framboise and Smith's Cherry Beer. Overall, a nice store that I look forward to returning to in the future. I have heard that the owners organize literary events upstairs and I would love to be in town for one of those in the future. read more

The General Store seemed to have a pretty good selection of, well, general items. We stopped here for a quick pit stop on our Yelp Motorcycle (sorry, motorbike) Ride. The guys there were friendly and the prices were pretty normal. They would have gotten 3 stars, but since we were hanging out in the parking lot and since they were closing, they gave us their left over cookies, which was nice of them. They also offered to brew us some coffee, although none of us ended up wanting any. It's all in the little gestures though. read more

Horrid service, rude staff, over priced and slow service. The place is a total rip off in my opinion

The staff need to work on their customer service skills. I stood by the counter with cash in my hand ready to make a purchase, but there was an issue with credit card machine. Instead of acknowledging that I'm ready to increase sales by purchasing an item, the staff behind counter ignored me by fiddlng with the credit card machine. I left and no one asked "Can I help you" or "We'll be right with you". I got my croissant from Dunkin Donuts up the street. Sure, it's a chain, but at least the staff acknowledged me as a paying customer. read more

I don't go there anymore. I used to be a regular but they have gotten so "fancy" the food is not good. I couldn't get mayonnaise unless it had chipolte in it, no decent choices that weren't full of in vogue herbs & spices. I like to order what I like, this shop only provides what they like. Plus, quiche was soupy mush. read more

Great, quaint country general store. They serve great sandwiches, it is a nice place to sit for a casual lunch.

I love Harvard General! Everyone was so nice and professional. Coffee, food and wine selection is great! I would recommend anyone traveling through Harvard to stop in. My only criticism is the kids who come in after school could use a little discipline; I doubt they would behave this way if their parents were around. Staff and customers should not have to endure the blatant disrespect some of these kids, not all, have distributed. Otherwise great experience! read more

I absolutely love this store. It has everything you need plus the food is delicious! A great place to bring my two young kids. The staff is friendly and kind! read more

What a hidden treat! I drive past the store on my way to work in Bolton. I stopped in one morning for coffee and an egg sandwich on a bagel. I'll stop in whenever I can. read more

My rating is for the wine. The HGS team does a good job at getting reasonably priced, high quality wines into the store. The wine tasting events are fantastic too. read more

This is a very New England looking little General Store in the middle of the sweet little town of Harvard, MA. They serve the nicest Salads, Soups, Sandwiches, Desserts and yummy coffees. And the best reason I enjoy going there is because they serve Gluten Free food! Yippee and it's DELICIOUS! The staff are so sweet and so helpful, thank you everyone for always being so professional and kind! Thank you to the kitchen help for making amazing food! read more

This is definitely not a general store anymore. I'm old enough to remember when it was, and they had a little bit of everything and even developed film for my mom who was a photographer. It's now just a cafe and wine Place, prices are a little bit high but not out of line for what you expect in this area. Nice selection of baked items beverages and friendly staff. Went to meet a friend there and I go back again. read more

Where do I start? I think the Harvard General Store is trying to do too many things. They offer some pretty great coffee, but why do they not open until 9am? With a town that offers no other coffee shop, with many working individuals and exhausted moms out there who would happily spend $5 on a latte and $8 on a rather tiny breakfast sandwich while out on a morning errand, it seems they would greatly benefit if they were open between 7-9am. It'd also be nice to buy more local breads and bagels, but they always have a very limited selection when I go in (or none at all) that I usually leave with nothing. Additionally, I don't think you can even call this place a convenience store, because they seem to prefer stocking half the store with Harvard apparel, books, pillows, and other little trinkets that I've never seen anyone actually purchase, scattered amongst empty shelf space. It's great that they decided to expand with their outdoor seating and serve lunch and dinner, but I'd rather go somewhere else for an $18 burger, maybe a place where there's no 21 year old in a crop top seating me. Bottom line is, I think the General Store needs to concentrate on a few things instead of trying to be a little shop of everything. What a shame; it could be so wonderful. read more

What a great place and local resource!!! The team at HGS has put together a fantastic resource for our town, local community, and those lucky enough to visit. Either a quick stop for coffee or to peruse local offerings, The General anchors our town center. After some wine? Upstairs has an amazing selection of hand selected varieties for every palate and budget. Local craft beer is also available. Stop in and say hi to Amy and her team, you will be glad you did! read more

The coffee here is very good. They have a nice seating area to drink coffee and eat breakfast or lunch. I have only ever had coffee and a chocolate croissant which are great. They have a nice selection of artisanal or local foods and gifts too. It's a nice spot in Harvard to stop and get something small to eat or drink. The breakfast menu is impressive, but I have yet to try anything. I recommend the coffee. read more

Two of us had lunch; split an avocado, turkey, bacon, tomato, and dressing sandwich on French bread; and it was great.

If your looking for over priced items and a lousy staff, this is the place for you. They have a record of screening the internet and attempting to change or strong arm people for negative reviews about there store. The best part about the store is the owner, who believes nothing can be wrong especially when complaints are made to her about her employees. If you can stay away. There are so many better stores located in Harvard that will provide the same items, better service, and a friendlier environment. read more

We recently had our reception dinner held at the Harvard General Store. It is a great, unique space and a great place for any event. Scott Hayward was extremely helpful throughout the process, recommending great vendors and details to make our event as enjoyable as it was. I wouldn't hesitate to go back if we decide to host another event in the area. read more

I have a ritual. I have a job that require me to go all over the state working at home shows and festivals. When I arrive at a new place, I get there nice and early, then go on the hunt for a local donut shop. This just happened to be across the street from where the festival I was working at was. So my coworker and I popped in. Now, I love these little general stores. So I am always game to go to one. Upon entering though, we were instantly confused. Do we sit and someone comes up to us? Where were the menus? This took us the better part of fifteen minutes to figure all of this out, and as my coworker said "maybe you have to be a local to know how this place works?". We finally figured it out, paid slightly too much for our breakfast sandwiches, and left about a half an hour later. Later in the day, I went back to purchase a six pack of beer. If I remember correctly, the only price they had on ALL of the six packs was $12.49. Wha wha whaaaaa? To be fair, they were all microbrews except for Sam adams and Blue Moon. But um, no. They also disappointed in the selection of the little knick knacks that stores like this usually provide. But I wasn't here to buy knick knacks so no harm no foul. Worth stopping in if in the area and you want some coffee, but not worth going out of your way to. read more

Harvard General Store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Harvard, Massachusetts

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