Went for restaurant week, and like some others, was somewhat dissappointed. Very courteous and attentive service, but the food was not the quality meal I was expecting for the prices they normally charge. I wasn't impressed at all with the decor either- looks like a cheapish hotel lobby, complete with fake flowers collecting dust on on the walls and in the dining rooms. wha?? read more

This restaurant is almost there. Some dishes are really good but then there are some mess-ups. Really good: soup, mac n cheese, and rabbit gnocchi. Wierd: Wine comes in bad glasses with thick rims; and one dessert was totally inedible/able to survive a nuclear winter. Service was spacey. Best part: was at the end of the meal when a homeless burnout just outside the restaurant patio screamed: "I just sh*t my pants! I need a wet nap! The devil is in my a$$!" Hilarious end to a slightly dull meal. read more

Interesting reviews on here - my experience was pretty fantastic at harvest. We had a reservation and they seated us right away at a fantastic table on the patio. The server came right over with water and menus. We ordered wine so I can't comment on the quality of the cocktails. But the menu looked pretty good. Ordered the ahi tuna appetizer - it was pretty tasty, a little bit over cooked but for me, that's ok. Not a huge raw fish fan anyways. I ordered the halibut and my date had the lamb - we were both very pleased. The portions were a good size as well which is always nice. Not too huge and not too little. Needless to say I did my best to finish but that wasn't happening. Also we sat for awhile chatting and at most places you feel pressured to leave once you're done eating - not here, they were fine as we sat and chatted and finished our wine. It was a great experience for me. I'm looking forward to returning. thanks! read more

FABULOUS Prix Fixe Brunch. period. Visiting Harvest for other meals is hardly justified by the standard nouveau american menu (although executed by a clearly talented kitchen staff)withthe whopping price tag unless you are on an expense account or a Harvard professor I love coming here for brunch! It is a standard for us on Mother's Day. There is a great al fresco dining room, yet unfortunately every time we come here it is raining or damp outside and we must feast in the dining room surrounded by wall to wall glass looking onto the patio area going under-used! Oh well. The dining room is warm and muted, yet not boring in atmosphere. The setting is serene, perfect for taking ones time and lingering over the three course breakfast you're about to enjoy. The natural lighting is never too severe due to the almost cavelike location down an alley off Brattle Street. Very easy on the eyes - a nice escape from any harsh morning sunlight. The food is a signifiant step up from standard brunch fare. There is a regular menu of favorites (The Harvest Eggs Benedict is superb) that is complemented by a rotating cast of (mostly seasonal) specials from duck proscuitto with melon and balsamic reduction to drunken pineapple with ginger. The three course prix fixe is sumptuous and the masterfully baked bread and pastry basket that accompanies your brunch is a fourth course in and of itself. One can barely make it to dessert, which is a good thing, because they aren't all that inspired. Sorebts are usually quite good and inspired by what's in season. I once had a strawberry shortcake served on a freshly baked biscuit with lemon curd and a delightful sugary glaze. This was definitely the high point of my Harvest Brunch-going experience. Another standard on the menu is a Panna Cotta. It is very rich, so if you chose some of the lighter selections for your meal, the panna cotta won't overwhelm you come time for dessert. I am a fan of luxurious and indulgent Sundays, and Harvest is the best place I've found to start one off. read more

I am incredibly disappointed with the service. First off, I heard about this place from the "Boston Top 50 Restaurants" and was super excited when we decided to go here for brunch! Maybe the food makes it in the top 50, but the service I experienced just put a bad taste in my mouth. If I didn't make myself clear: SERVICE WAS HORRIBLE. The food was good, but the service just turned everything to a negative. We were not greeted for at least 7 minutes. Upon being greeted, we were abruptly told to look at our menus, where our server pointed to items on the list to explain it.... Yet, she was just reading off of it, so I don't even know what the purpose of that was. And apparently I had a wrong menu, and she took it away and came back to bring me an updated one. Then she left.... So, when she finally comes back (this whole time not smiling or looking us directly in the eye) she not only takes our drink orders but our food orders. Now, I had read in a previous yelp review that they were able to do 2 appetizers instead of a dessert, so I had asked if I could have that option. An immediate no. What ever happend to the language of love? How about saying: "I am not sure, I will find out for you." It's that easy. Then, come back, and if it's still a no, simply apologize for the inconvenience. How could I be upset about that? Thank you for hospitality! As each meal came, items were just plopped on the table. I believe there was one "check-in" to see how we were doing. After dessert was cleared, our server was not to be found. We wanted coffee.... I fully believe service is half the experience. I know for a fact that if I had even passable service my star rating would be a tad higher. IN TERMS OF FOOD: Please don't mistake this as a food review. The food was good. It was fun for a brunch to have a prix fix. Made me feel nice and classy! I'm a big fan of brunch bread baskets with delicious baked treats. It had a mix of savory and sweet which was nice. The appetizers were all well sized as were all the meals to be quite honest. Bloody Marys - can't go wrong there! Please throw a smile on your face if you work there. It makes a difference!! I want to feel loved and welcomed! read more

I was so surprised to see how many people had such a horrible experience here. It wasn't my favorite restaurant but it wasn't bad and they have POUTINE on the menu- YUM!!! Anyway a group of us went for appetizers and drinks and the food and service was good. The servers were polite and fast and were accommodating. We ordered a carafe of white sangria which was yummy and we had heirloom tomato salad, poutine!, a side of string beans, crab salad and we shared it all. We also split dessert which was a peach shortcake- also very good. We didn't order anything from the restaurant week menu. The only complaint we had was the atmosphere was a little bit uptight and the air conditioner was dripping on my friend. Otherwise- it was pretty good. read more

For restaurant week, I got the soup, the cod and the peach raspberry shortcake with the half-glass wine pairing. The wine was excellent -- I'd say the soup was the best part of our meal. I think the chef put some surprise crab bits in there which was delicious! A bit pricey, but worth the freshness of the food. Corn from Verrill Farm? YES! read more

Two solid dinners here in two weeks. Great pre-fixe menu and fresh local ingredients. Service was good - our waitress was not as warm as I like but pleasant and the food and ambiance looking into snowy courtyard with fireplace was lovely. One night I went with my parents and four year old daughter and although the restaurant is not a "kid friendly" rated place they were lovely to her and with her. The next week I went with 6 colleagues and it was delicious, fun and festive. I will definitely go back. read more

The best way I can describe Harvest is: "The atmosphere and the prices are too fancy for the food served." What do I mean by that? Well, Harvest serves... food. Not "fantastic food" or "delicious food", but just plain old food. It masquerades as a top-notch meal by surrounding itself with dressy patrons who pay a premium price for something they could get at just about any eatery. I always thought of Harvest as one of those elite restaurants in Harvard Square, so when I saw the Restaurant Week menu, I thought it would be a good time to give it a try. At least I didn't pay full price to find out how wrong I was. For some reason, they completely changed their Restaurant Week menu from the one that was posted online, so instead of braised short ribs, I ended up with a slab of pork. To be honest, it was very well cooked, but it was just pork. No real flavor, no spice, just well cooked pork. The first course for me was a salad with leafy greens, peaches and some prosciutto, which turned out to be the best thing I ate during the entire meal (now that's just sad). Our waiter was also mediocre at best, not really caring how our meal was or returning often enough to refill our wine glasses. He even carded us when we ordered said wine, as if two teenagers were going to show up at a place like this to have a $130 meal. Seriously? I didn't realize there were 19-year-olds running around getting drunk on $48 bottles of wine. The whole experience was extremely unimpressive. For what this place costs, I expected a whole lot more. read more

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. read more

This is what Cambridge needs: a little bit of Europe. True, I have only been there twice, both times to the re-incarnated Harvest of late. Neither time did I have dinner, which may disqualify me. The first time I went was around 3 in the afternoon. I just left work (then substitute teaching) and had had a rough day. I was on my way to a lecture at Harvard and knew, since I had had no time for lunch or dinner, that I couldn't wait very long for food. Besides, subbing is "mind-numblingly boring" and I was afraid of falling asleep. I thought of all the places I might grab something simple. Was not in the mood for Indian. Hate Chinese. A sandwich was too much. Then, I thought of Harvest. I had walked past and read the menu a few times. Sophisticated was the word that lingered in my mind. I bet they served something at this time of day. They did. They do. At the bar, a selection of small plates. Very European. Very chic. Very good. I had something akin to what in the 70s was called a ploughman's lunch: pate, cheese, cornichons, bread. Very fine ingredients. A woman from Napa Valley was next to me, having something similiar. She had just returned from France, where her sister lives. She was meeting her college roommate before returning home. This is a trip she makes every spring. We both were lavish in our praise for Harvest. BTW, I also had a glass of wine. Harvard was never this much fun. Recently, I attended an early music concert in the Square. Because I am a good cook, most of the men in my life expected to return to my house after an event and to eat something I cooked. I always felt ripped off, probably because we ushered in order to attend the concert in the first place. Geez! Saving money on the tickets is one thing but why make it a cheesey evening? Anyway, after the divine music, I wanted a little something and some wine or armangnac. I did not want any heavy food. Why not Harvest? I skipped the food and opted for a Pear Martini: pear-infused vodka, a splash of Poire William and some pear nectare with a slice of fresh fruit on the rim of the glass. Heaven! Class! read more

My trip to Harvest on a warm summer evening last week was fantastic. My Mother, Sister and myself were heading for a night out in the Square when my Mom suggested Harvest. What a great place! The decor was pure comfort. We sat outside on the patio at dusk. The light was warm through the lush greenery that canopied the courtyard. The tables and chairs were of some dark wood under maroon umbrellas. All the trees had accent lighting to add to the atmosphere. Inside the restaurant, it was very modern but not over done. The decor seemed almost Asian inspired because of their minimalist approach, but it wasn't intimidating or yuppie-ish. All very lovely. The food was fantastic. Everything a put in my mouth there was wonderful. I had a peach blossom martini which was adorable, complete with a Pansy flower as a garnish. A little over board with the cilantro in the peekytoe crab appetizer but that was the only (very minor) dislike I had. It was still pretty good with all the cilantro actually! I would recommend this place for a night out. Don't go there if you are watching your pennies, main dishes are in the high 20s, cocktails are over 10, appetizers are 12-15 a dish. But do make an effort to visit, I do think it is worth the splurge! read more

Went to a business dinner with a large group. They had a 3 course menu where we can choose our own starter, entree, and dessert. Hors d'oeuvres were tasty and fresh, clam chowder was too runny for my taste, and the steak was alright. Service was not bad but the entrees took way too long to be served. Not sure if it was because we were a big group though. Would love to try other dishes next time... read more

I've been here a few times and it was memorable each time. The place has good vibes, but most importantly the cuisine is innovative. They have dishes with such ingredients as nettle (which is a medicinal herb in my culture), salad with watermelon and a variety of heirloom tomatoes which is unique. I really like the healthy amazingly delicious options. read more

This was a quite memorable dining experience and we will definitely return. From the unique salads (crispy kale & sweet potato; fabulous beets) to delectable steak and halibut to the scrumptious desserts.. Plus wine...(impressive selection)...and one can spend amazing amounts of money on such things...but modest options are plentiful. Great service. Nice atmosphere. A splurge for a special occasion. ~$200 for two, incl drinks and dessert. Loved it. read more

My second time here (last night) confirmed what I thought after my first time, a few years ago. This is a special dining experience. Both times I had the tasting menu and wine pairing, which I'd probably choose time and time again since it changes every six or so weeks. Everything is just beautifully prepared, tastes clean and fresh, and leaves nothing to be desired. Gorgeous flavors without being too fussy or over-done. Simple, fresh, and artful. Yes, I said fresh twice. Service was fine. Neither wowed nor annoyed me. Atmosphere is pretty and comfortable. We were casually dressed and did not feel out of place. My dining companion was equally enthusiastic, which speaks volumes. He's difficult to please and nearly impossible to impress. He loved everything and rated this restaurant a 4.5. We can't wait to go back. read more

Place was bomb. Had the Oysters, Beet/Burrata and Venison, unreal. Cocktails were also top notch. I have zero clue why this place isn't 4 stars plus, must be a lot of snobby Harvard haters out there. Highly recommend. Oh, and the service was on point. Again, 5 stars. read more

Tried it out as a nice double date affair. Verdict? Fairly good stuff though a bit pricey. We had oysters as an appetizer and they were very fresh and delicious. Wow. Like really good. Worth the price. But I suppose it's hard to really mess something up you don't cook... For entrees my friends had salmon, I had lamb, and my boyfriend had pork. All in all the dishes came out looking nice and the portions were decent. The food wasn't spectacular but fairly good. I doubt I'll come back here though since as far as I am concerned, if a restaurant is "fancy" (thought the decor was majorly blah and hotel-like) and the dishes cost a lot then they should deliver something amazing. I would not say Harvest delivered. read more

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. read more

Great dinner at Harvest last week as we dinned on their covered terrace - it was one of the few times we've dinned at a restaurant since the pandemic. (note we are big takeout diners so we continually supported our favorite restaurants). Everything we ordered was delicious. A great and safe dinning experience. read more

For brunch only: The bad: Unlike most on yelp, the service was a little off, but it was later rectified. We sat with menus for a good 15 minutes before we asked the manager who our waiter was. There was misunderstanding whose tables were whose, but still, this communication error should have been dealt with first thing in the morning. However, this delayed my friend from getting her mimosa -- which is CRITICAL to a proper Sunday brunch. The portions for brunch were ENORMOUS and the moment we were done with 1st course, we had 2nd... not good. We needed some breather time. The service botch was rectified by giving us free mimosas on our bill. The good The food for the most part was spot on. The goat cheese tart was fabulous, but the beet salad was missing... goat cheese! The French toast was for the win, as was the chocolate creme brulee -- the chevre cheesecake was a little stale and not what you may be expecting. To the owners: Cut down the portions for brunch! They are crazy big! Instead, make a mimosa a part of the brunch prix fixe while cutting back the size of the meal. Trust me, us girls can eat, but not that much! In price: $33 for a three course prix fixe brunch $8 per mimosa read more

I went for Sunday brunch, and got the following: Smoked Salmon (served with greens and apple slices and bits of toast) - Most excellent, although I was a little disappointed it wasn't a bit more unique, I could have easily made something like that at home Farm Fresh Eggs (basically a fancy version of eggs Benedict served with fried potatoes) - The eggs themselves were great, but the ham and sauce overdid it on the salt (and I love salty food). The potatoes, on the other hand, were awful: Mushy texture, bland taste, very greasy. This dish was definitely not worth the subsequent indigestion. Pumpkin Creme Burlee - Absolutely delicious, pumpkin taste clear but not overwhelming, very soft texture, caramel done perfectly. So maybe I just got unlucky with the entree, and I don't regret going, but I'm not in any hurry to go back. read more

I came here on a Sunday with a friend for brunch. I enjoyed watching Mary Dumont's Iron Chef performance, even though I don't even like that show, so I figured I'd come check out her work since we're so close to Cambridge. Surprisingly, street parking wasn't bad at all, even though it was the first 80+ degree weekend in April! The restaurant is a bit hidden in the back of the complex that houses an art gallery close to LA Burdicks on Brattle Street. The pre fixe brunch is available in the dining room and on the patio for $35, but we weren't that hungry, so we sat in the bar/lounge area, where you can order a la carte. The appetizers are $11, the mains are $16, and desserts are $10, so you don't actually save all that much by ordering the pre fixe. I personally didn't feel like I needed dessert in the middle of the day, especially when it feels like summer outside. The bar/lounge area is, in a word, handsome. It doesn't feel old or anything, and it's rather charming. Unlike most bar areas that are darker, there are still nice, large windows to watch people walking by. They started us with a bread basket with a croissant, a current bread, and a moist and sweet apricot cranberry bread. I loved the apricot cranberry bread, as it's the perfect starter for brunch. It was moist, and the fruit in it tasted fresh. I decided to go with two appetizers. I started with an arugula salad with fresh orange and grapefruit segments, manchego cheese, little olives, and a drizzle of salt and pepper oil. The arugula was a little bitter, as it should be, and the bright green leaves were the perfect color and flavor contrast to the juicy citrus, which wasn't sour at all. The manchego cheese was a nice and salty but not overpowering cheese that stood up well to the fruit but didn't mask it the way something else more pungent would have. My second course was the smoked salmon, which was very flavorful, smoky, and not overly salted. The large caper berries were a nice touch, and the herbed cream cheese was a more unique twist on the dish. The toast points weren't too buttery, and it was just the right amount to go with the salmon. My friend got the burger, which was really large. It was a bit pink for medium rare, but she seemed to enjoy it. The fries were cute and served in a little metal bowl, but the texture was disappointing. It was too solid and not crispy enough, though the potatoes definitely tasted fresh and not like frozen ones. The food was pretty good, but the dishes were simple, and I felt as if I could construct them myself at home for much less money. Also, being banished to the bar/lounge area for not ordering a 3 course brunch was a bit of a turn off, especially when the dining room and patio were half empty. There's no question about quality, but I just don't feel the prices justify the ingredients and preparation of the brunch dishes. Service is very polite and not condescending, despite the upscale feel of the place. Water is refilled very quickly by anyone who walks by, including the hostess, which I thought was a nice touch. The lounge area was quiet and great to linger at with a friend, and another diner had been there for a while reading and reviewing his work. I was hoping to sit on the patio on such a nice day, but maybe next time when I'm a bit hungrier. I wish they had the a la carte option on the patio, but I guess they really want each person to spend at least $35 if you're in the main room or on the patio. read more

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. read more

Had a delicious dinner here- highly recommended. For Appetizers- I had the black truffle tortellini. So amazing and a perfect portion size. My wife had oysters and charcuterie which she said was really good. For Dinner- I had scallops and my wife had lobster- very fresh and tasty. For Dessert- We had the Taza Chocolate Cremeux- great way to end the meal. In addition to great food, the service was awesome. I am pregnant and our waiter was very helpful in making sure my scallops were cooked (more then normal). He was very attentive and added to the dining experience. The atmosphere is very calm and romantic. read more

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. read more

Update: as you can see from the reply, the manager did rectify the situation in a satisfactory way. I'll be giving them a second chance soon. Terrible takeout experience. I rarely write reviews, but this one deserves it. I ordered Gazpacho along with other items. The Gazpacho seems to have not been properly sealed, and seemed to have been emptied inside the paper bag, which led the bag to breaking and all the items falling out of the bag when I was taking the stairs. All my food went straight into the trash. I called the restaurant and reported the issue, they said it was packed properly and that they refuse to take responsibility for their to-go orders and any orders that are not eaten at the restaurant. I asked for them to provide proof that my order was properly sealed, they said they have no proof and they are going off of the word of the person that packed the order, who will most certainly lie to get out of the responsibility of having caused $130 worth of food to get ruined. They said there is nothing that they can do, and refused to offer any sort of replacement/gift card/refund. Greedy restaurant. read more

I am indeed surprised by some of the negative comments for Harvest, they sound very un-Harvest like. All my meals there have been dinner, however, so it's possible that lunch isn't the thing to do there. Regardless, here goes: My food there has been delightful, with well-balanced and prudent amounts of sauces and vegetable pairings. The restaurant strives to be fine dining, so don't expect enormous portions with a side order of cheese fries. The wine list was well composed, with a variety of regions and prices for any taste or budget (although be warned, don't go to Harvest if you're looking for a bargain). The sommelier is a pleasure to deal with and has bottles available that are not on the menu. If there, ask for the Napa Valley Cenay 2003 cabernet sauvignon. It's a treat. Some of the food seemed slightly off, including a southwest Caesar Salad. I really don't feel like this item should be on the menu in a place with such high prices, but I tried anyway and as expected was rather disappointed. However, depending on the day the filet mignon can be spectacular and the times I have been there and tried my friends' food their fish was cooked quite well. The decor is understated and it feels less stuffy than Rialto (in the Charles Hotel, and I would recommend Harvest as a better restaurant). I like the idea that although it is an expensive restaurant with fine food, it still doesn't try to go over the top, in the process making the customer uncomfortable. There is an odd setup with where the hostess stands and the coat closet, but it's certainly not something that takes away from the restaurant. All said, it has been a delicious experience helped by good service and a pleasant setting. read more

I had dinner with my mom here last night. Her only requirement for a restaurant: white tablecloths. To me it's the oddest request. I could care less if the table is wood, metal, cloth - as long as the food is tasty and the service is good. But hey that's her thing I guess..... Anyway, every year during Restaurant Week my mom and I go out to dinner. I try to find places I know have good food and I like and will have the requisite white table cloth for my mom. I've always though Harvest was a decent place tucked away from all the bustle of Harvard Sq. - slightly pricey for what it is, but overall pretty good. I love the outside seating but... no table cloths... so inside it was. I really loved the first course - the salad had ripe peaches in it and almonds - it was sooo tasty. But the main course (cod) wasn't quite as good - it wasn't bad, but I didn't love it like I did the salad. Dessert was ok - I really liked the peach one my mom got more than the chocolate torte I had gotten (too sweet, dense, and big for me). Service was very good - which bumps my opinion of the food from a 3 to a 4star review. read more

Summary Food: not bad but not spectacular Service: waiters were nice but rushed, servers were almost rude Decor: place is pretty dark but a nice romantic atmosphere. too bad that was ruined by the loud college kids Overall: just average and not worth the price unless there's a special deal going on or you try it out during restaurant week. Details I went to Harvest for dinner during restaurant week. Having heard good things about the restaurant, I wasn't too worried about not knowing the menu in advance. Since we had made reservations in advance, we were seated right away. Our waitress came quickly to get our drink order, then forgot about us for a little while, and then another person came to get our order. Overall, the whole meal felt a little rushed and tense because the wait staff just seemed like they were frantic. There was two options for each course and you had the option of getting a half-glass or full-glass wine pairing with each course. For the first course, we both had the corn soup which was perfectly flavored and probably my favorite out of all the courses. The wine paired with the corn soup was just perfect. This pair is a must if you come here. For our entrees, I orderd the cod and the bf ordered the pork. The cod was pretty plain tasting. The bf thought the pork was pretty good. I didn't really care for the white wine that came with the cod either but enjoyed the red wine that came with his pork. For dessert I ordered the peach and raspberry shortcake and the bf got strawberry sorbet. After tasting my dessert I decided that I don't like shortcake but the bf loved both. I highly recommend the freshly made sorbet, it was the perfect ending to the meal. And the muscat paired with it was just fantastic. The food here is pretty good but I just couldn't get into it with the rushing waiters and slighly stuffy servers. The tables are also pretty tightly packed and we unfortunately got placed next to two big tables full of college kids that totally ruined the mood. The restaurant is definitely catered towards the 40 and over crowd, which means I most likely won't return without someone older than 40 in my party. read more

ATMOSPHERE - It's strangely casual. My husband and I showed up in a suit and dress and most of the patrons around us were in jeans and sneakers. The restaurant felt really cramped and uninviting from the entrance to the table. Quite frankly, I think they tried to squeeze too many tables into a small space. We could hear the intimate details of every conversation around us and could not move an inch without bumping into another. I would definitely exclude this place for a special occasion meal. SERVICE - Abysmal is the only word to describe it. We sat down at 6:50PM for 7PM reservations. No one took our order until 7:20PM. After the entree, it took 20 minutes for the dessert menu to arrive and another 20 minutes for ice cream to be scooped. For an appetizer, entree, and dessert, the entire meal took 2 hours and 30 minutes and it certainly wasn't by our choice. It wasn't just excruciatingly slow service but it was disorganized and inattentive. The waiter was obviously distracted and frazzled so it just didn't make for a pleasant experience. FOOD - Overall, the food was alright. I enjoyed the varied bread basket - corn break, fruit bread, crisps, and french loaf. Hudson Valley Farm Foie Gras Torchon (Pickled Spring Plums, Vanilla Salt, Tellicherry Peppercorns & Poppy Seed Brioche) - The foie was smooth and slightly smokey. Overall, this wasn't an exciting dish but it was well put together. Hand Dug Parsnip (Dark Chocolate Caramel and White Chocolate Almond Bark) - We had to order this because the flavour profile seemed so bizarre. Overall, the flavours were harmonious. I wasn't sure where the white chocolate almond bark was so hard to comment on that aspect. My major gripe was that the soup came out luke warm - it either needs to be presented as a hot soup or cold one but luke warm means it sat out somewhere unattended for a prolonged period of time. Broken Arrow Venison (Cipollini Onions, Roasted Chestnuts and Grapes, Celery Root Gratin, and Red Wine Chocolate Jus) - This was a lovely course. The venison was rare (more so than I had asked) and slightly seared on the outside. The accompaniments weren't particularly interesting but that's more an observation rather than a complaint. Rooibos Tea Marinated Duck Breast (Brussels Sprouts, Confit Daikon, Himalayan Red Rice & Walnut~Orange Gremolata) - Way overcooked duck to the point of being tough. I would not recommend ordering this and if you do, specify that you want it medium. Blood Orange Glace (Citrus Compote & Chocolate Curls) - The citrus compote tasted like an orangesicle but the texture was awful. You know how when ice cream has melted and refrozen and afterward, it has this weird cream component separated out with ice crystals in it? That cream component was the compote. Housemade Ice Cream or Sorbet (Strawberry and Raspberry and Almond Sesame Crisp ) - Perfectly fine. The bill came out to around $60 per person for food only. I can think of places to dine in Boston with better atmosphere, food, service, and food. I won't be back. read more

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. read more

Standard American fare. I came for a dinner on Saturday early evening and they were completely booked, so we sat down at a table by the bar area and ordered from the bar menu. My friend ordered the steak frites, which came with some aioli-butter on top that made the medium-rare steak so absolutely tender and juicy. The fries that came were thick cut, not too oily, and on the soggier side (which he's a fan of), so those were finished without a second thought. His salad was a simple arugula mix tossed with some oil-based dressing. I ordered the burger, which was done to my requested medium well, and actually came out to be larger than expected! It also came with the delicious, lightly salted fries. We split a cheese platter at the end, which came with fruit, 3 cheeses, some toasts, and spiced mixed nuts. We finished up the amazing complimentary cornbread and Rosemary olive bread with the extra cheese. Our service was accommodating. Tl;dr -- good but not mind-blowing food given the price. Bar menu is satisfying enough and definitely won't break the wallet. read more

Not really sure why this restaurant is so highly thought of in Cambridge - perhaps the ambience and service? As for the food, I was really disappointed. In general, things were well cooked, however, "deliciousness" was not there. I felt like the dishes neither capitalized on the freshness of ingredients nor made use of sauces that could really highlight the dishes. The amount you get for the price is also incredibly meager. Things that are good, however, are the duck confit and the desserts. But it's also hard to go wrong with desserts. read more

It's my first time in the area, and we came across the place when we were walking around. The restaurant is a bit hidden from the street, but wasn't hard to find. Food and service were incredible, we will definitely go there again when we are in the area. read more

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This and Rialto are the best restaurants in Harvard Sq and top 10 in Boston for sure. The patio is SO nice, ahhh...lovely atmosphere with the trees and plants The staff is super friendly and professional And the food is Spectacular They have a 25 dollar lunch menu to die for Excellent And the desserts here are the BEST I've had in years The chocolate souffle is the best I've ever had and the fruit (peach and blackberry tart) is unbelievable also Amazing food and atmosphere and very reasonable price read more

After a lovely night at the theater, we luckily snagged reservations here. It was restaurant week and we were treated to a reasonably priced three-course meal. The appetizers were scrumtious, ranging from a delicious corn soup to a delicate peach salad-like thingy. Wine flowed freely and the service was top notch. There were three choices for the main course. A salmon dish, a pork dish for which the accompaniments sounded fantastic, and a vegetable tart dish. I chose the vegetable tart, although the sound of the polenta that went with the pork tempted me. The tart was actually a bunch of cooked and uncooked vegetables served in a phyllo type pastry cup with goat cheese. It was fantastic, and I could spend the rest of my life trying to duplicate it at home. The salmon dish was reportedly delicious, but I saw that the pork dish was way too undercooked for my liking and I was happy that I had stuck with veggie fare. For dessert, I had the chocolate choice, which was a teeny tiny tart-like thing garnished with gold leaf. What a great place! I'm so glad they participated in restaurant week- what a treat! read more

I went here with my date last night to celebrate a special occasion. Harvest is quite nice inside with a warm, modern Craftsman feel to the interior. We had made reservations via OpenTable and were seated in the room with the fireplace. My only minor complaint about the interior was that the chairs slope back so much that you either have to lie back or sit up hunched over the table. While we were waiting for our appetizers to arrive, we were served a bread basket with some really good cornbread and sesame crisps. My date got the potato gnocchi, which he seemed to like. I foolishly went against the other Yelp reviews posted here and got the seafood ceviche, which I regretted. It basically tasted like some fish that had been drowned in some wine and lemon juice and carelessly tossed with some greens. For entrees, my date got the shortribs and I ordered the roasted guinea hen. His shortribs were rich, tender, and moist, if a bit boring. However, the roasted guinea hen really shone: the meat was many times more flavorful than just ordinary chicken. The crispy skin complemented the moist meat, and there was some sausage wrapped on the bottom that gave the meat a deliciously smoky flavor. We then shared a apple streusel dessert which was also very nice. The crispy, smoky guinea hen was the star of the evening though. As for service, our waiter was prompt and professional, if a tad cold and impersonal. read more

This restaurant was a "quick pick" choice. I am so glad that we had dinner here. The staff were extremely attentive and very respectful and the food was fresh with incredible flavors. We will again visit as our experience was great !!! read more

Mediocre, overpriced brunch food. I tried the buttermilk biscuit with chorizo gravy. It was a very small quantity of food for 14$ (+tax+tip), so I left still quite hungry. Also, it simply didn't taste that great. There's way better options in the area, so I don't think it's worth the visit. read more