Harvest Restaurant & Bar
Yesterday was the day I FINALLY experienced the new Harvest Restaurant & Bar at Brownwood Paddock Square® …and it was well worth the wait!! Can I just tell you; it is AHH-MAZING!?
My Harvest Experience
I am a firm believer that food not only nourishes our bodies, but also our souls. And I love it even more when it truly makes us happy! For me, and probably you too, dining out is more than just the food, it’s the ambiance, the staff, the friends and family you’re with, the new friends you make, the conversations, the cocktails, the creative flavors and the memories. I’m already tasting my food with my eyes and absorbing the aromas before it even enters my mouth. The presentation at Harvest hit all the high notes and I had chills immediately.
Third Time’s A Charm
This was my third attempt to snag a seat at the beautiful outside bar – because… hello single person not wanting to sit alone at a table (haha). I always love eating dinner at the bar (I’m no barfly, but it’s such a great way to meet new friends – and this will be a topic for another post). On one of my earlier trips to take outdoor photos, I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow foodie who happened to be one of the first guests to walk through their doors. It was fun listening to her story and how they were there for an anniversary dinner. We talked about her story and of course how much she and her husband loved their meals. Oooh…I couldn’t wait to get my chance!
The minute I sat down; I was in awe. Morgan and Luke were behind the bar bringing all the love to everyone. And when I saw the Prickly Pear Margarita on the Cocktail Menu, I immediately ordered it. My anticipation of ordering their Squash Blossoms was squashed though since they had just run out (this was my one and only disappointment). Everything else looked so delicious so my disappointment didn’t last long. My fellow diners had amazing small plates and meals, and did I mention gorgeous cocktails? Some highly recommended dishes were the Harvest Hummus, Butternut Squash Bisque, Tempura Vegetables, Scallop Risotto, Flounder Roulade, Fruitti De Mare, and the Cherry Glazed Pork Chop. My new friend sitting next to me had the Cherry Glazed Pork Chop and I almost took a picture of his plate, but we weren’t quite that close yet.
What Did I Have, You Ask?
As I mentioned before, that Prickly Pear Margarita was so refreshing and delicious which complimented the Angus Bowl perfectly. A perfect bowl of blackened steak cooked fork-tender and just the right amount of seasoning, sitting on top of creamy bleu risotto, spinach and tomatoes all topped with microgreens. It truly melted in my mouth. Side note: their fresh green ingredients come directly from our very own The Villages Grown®. I cannot wait to go back again!
“Chef Inspired + Wine Focused”
If you are a wine enthusiast, you will fall in love with Harvest and their menu. Each section suggests the perfect pairings and definitely matches their motto of “Chef Inspired + Wine Focused”. The décor is vibrant, rustic, modern yet classic, and refreshing. Outside dining is offered, along with an outside bar. Make sure you check out the elegant wine wall. We have been waiting for something new, and here it is!
Props to Morgan and Luke for making me feel so welcome and treating me with such finesse. I even had the privilege of meeting Fred Karimipour, owner of FMK Restaurant Group as he greeted and took time to converse with all of his guests. I love it when the owner builds relationships with their guests who become family. I left walking on Cloud 9. This one is highly recommended to all of my Village family!
Where Are They?
You can find Harvest Restaurant & Bar at 3676 Meggison Rd. on Brownwood Paddock Square. Their new hours begin on Monday, March 7th starting with lunch at 11am. Sunday-Thursday: 11am – 9pm; Friday & Saturday: 11am – 10pm. (This weekend they will be opening at 3pm.) Reservations are suggested and can be made online here for parties up to four, call the restaurant at 352-571-5514 for groups of five or more. For more info see their website: www.harvestbrownwood.com
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This was sent to me yesterday. Thank you so much for the wonderful review. You made my night. Can’t wait to see you again!
My husband and I had our first experience at the new harvest restaurant in Brownwood. All service from bartenders to servers was exceptional. Food not so much. My husband had the cherry pork chop and his comments were it’s just OK. I sampled it and he was right it was just OK. I had the flank steak and it was dry, with very little taste. We were both disappointed as we have Been so looking forward to it’s opening. Sorry harvest chefs. Keep working on it.
I’m so glad you had such great service – their staff is awesome. Thanks for sharing your experience with the food and sorry you were disappointed. Perhaps it was an off day (or moment) like everyone experiences at times, and I hope you give it another try.
Can’t wait to try!
It’s definitely worth the wait! Let me know what you think when you go!
We too had a wonderful dining experience yesterday! We popped in for lunch, and were seated outside. Our OUTSTANDING waiter, CJ, was attentive and happy to answer our questions. We both had the burger (delicious!) and was cooked perfectly. The only slight disappointment was that I couldn’t substitute the potatoes for veggies or small salad.
I will definitely be going back and requesting CJ’s table.
Thanks for sharing and giving the well-deserved shout-out to CJ! I absolutely love it when the server or bartender makes the whole experience the reason for wanting to go back. Glad to also hear that the burger was delicious…always love a good burger!