Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar
549 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
(610) 358-1005
http://harvestseasonalgrill.com/glen-mills/
Tucked away in the Glen Eagle Square Shopping Center, Harvest also has outposts in Philadelphia, North Wales, Harrisburg, and Moorestown, New Jersey (with plans in the works for several more). And Harvest proprietor Dave Magrogan also owns a slew of additional eateries in his ever-expanding restaurant empire.
A mini chain restaurant Harvest may be… but it certainly doesn’t feel like a chain. Mr. Magrogan definitely has the right idea here; he works with 75 local farmers to source the freshest and highest quality products available. Guests enjoy seasonally inspired steak, poultry, seafood, and vegetarian dishes prepared with local & organic foods in a casual but upscale environment. Harvest offers, in most cases, a less than 500 calorie menu, seasonally changing, local farm to table menu, 50 plus wines by the glass, seasonal cocktails and local beers.
And the organic and healthy ingredients don’t stop with the menu. From the organic cleaning products, to the recycled glass bar tops, to recycled paper products, to the ink on the menus, Harvest is truly a green concept.
The menu is an amalgam of flatbreads, interesting appetizers, excellent salads, and sandwiches that include a grass-fed beef burger, local bison burger, a Portobello “cheese steak” and fish tacos. The entrées proper range from organic lemon thyme chicken to local Heritage Berkshire pork chop to cedar roasted salmon to pan-seared Arctic char. Desserts, served in tiny ramekins – Key lime pie, peanut butter cup, lemon meringue, etc. – are a mere $3.00 per serving.
If this all sounds vaguely familiar, you’re not imagining things. The entire concept is very similar to that of Seasons 52… Although, for my money, Harvest does an infinitely better job. The food just seems to be fresher, better prepared & presented, and more consistent.
So let me mention just a few of the snack-y type items sampled during several recent visits. Flatbreads, all the rage of late, are the perfect companions to a little midafternoon vino. And Harvest’s Pesto Caprese fills the bill nicely. Tomato, of course, along with house-made mozzarella, and an excellent basil pesto make for a winning combo. But even better, in my opinion, is the braised local short rib (pictured). Shredded beef, roasted tomatoes and Goot Essa Farms smoked cheddar cheese are splashed with chimichurri sauce. This is a green sauce, originally from Argentina, that is generally used with grilled meats. Made of finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, and white vinegar, it adds a distinctively pungent dimension to anything it touches.
For something a bit lighter, you might also consider sharing a Greek salad. All the usual suspects – tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives and feta cheese – are present, accounted for, and obviously pristine and freshly tossed. In this instance, however, the kitchen incorporates Boston or Bibb lettuce, which adds a marvelously creamy flavor and a crisp, pleasantly crunchy texture. The key, though, is the dressing. And a fabulous red wine vinaigrette pulls all the elements together into an extraordinary gestalt… yet still manages to steal the show.
The organic hummus trio is another must try. Served up with thick cucumber & carrot slices and pita triangles, each constituent adds its own unique flavor contribution: The roasted garlic is delightfully racy; the bruschetta rife with tomato and basil; and the chipotle heated enough to keep your taste buds standing at attention. The perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
Just one closing note… Although it is not on the Glen Mills menu, if you happen to stop in at the Harvest in North Wales or Philly, be sure to try the Vietnamese chicken tacos. The shredded chicken is embellished with a ginger-soy glaze and spruced up with sweet & sour carrots, cucumber, jalapeño, Napa cabbage, and a fantastically addictive sweet chili-lime mayo. Trust me, these tacos are worth a journey. Delish!
Bon Appétit!
TAD
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