Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar
51 Town Center Drive
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
(484) 854-6365
https://harvestseasonal.com/collegeville-restaurant/
The Collegeville location of Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar is the eighth – and the most recent – entry in the mini-chain’s stable of farm-to-table 
restaurants. Like its elder siblings, it offers a seasonally-changing, locally-sourced menu that utilizes only healthy, sustainable, and organic ingredients. Additionally, characteristic of establishments of similar ilk – Seasons 52 comes immediately to mind – said menu provides the conscientious diner with a host of other useful information; i.e., most items under 500 calories, non-GMO, extensive Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, and Vegan items. But Harvest also goes the competition one better, noting organic cleaning products, recycled glass counter tops, and consumer fiber menus.
All this, of course, is quite commendable – provided the cuisine lives up to the organic hype… And, for the most 
part, that appears to be the case. Even when the joint is jumping, the kitchen carries on with an enviable degree of equanimity.
The starters, for instance, present a host of interesting possibilities… The Pork Potstickers, spruced up with shishito pepper, smoked chili-lime aioli, crushed cashews, and cilantro, are quite good… and the Kung Pao Cauliflower “Wings” garnished with ginger soy, crushed sriracha-salted peanuts, toasted sesame, scallion, and lime are even better… ditto the Pan-Fried Zucchini Fritters dressed in a zesty romesco sauce.
All that being said, however, my nod would undoubtedly go to a recently shared appetizer of Pear & Blue Cheese 
Flatbread (pictured). Yes, I know… flatbreads have become all the rage of late, popping up on menus – ad infinitum, ad nauseum – from Madagascar to Mumbai. But, trust me, a pear and blue cheese combo is one of those culinary marriages made in heaven… and an absolutely fabulous prelude to any meal.
Moving on… The sandwiches here are another high point. My only gripe is that the dinner menu offers so few from which to choose (four, to be precise). The Grass-Fed Beef Burger leads off, companioned by mild cheddar, 
bibb lettuce, caramelized onion, and tomato on a poppy seed onion roll garnished with a segment of dill pickle. Then we have two Rock Shrimp Tacos (you can add another taco for $7.00) presented with pineapple-cucumber mojito salsa, spicy mayo, pickled red cabbage, tajin (a Mexican chili-lime seasoning blend), guacamole, and baby arugula. The Salmon BLT is another cosmopolitan menu item of late. Finally, the ubiquitous Grilled Chicken Club (pictured with a side of mac & cheese). This version of the old favorite features smoked bacon, baby arugula, tomato, and herbed mayonnaise on naan flatbread.
There is, of course, a very good reason why so few sandwiches are offered at dinner… Harvest obviously wants you 
to go for their entrées, which are significantly more expensive. Not outrageously so… but still pretty hefty. The NY Strip Steak, for example, will put a $47.00 dent in your wallet; Pan-Seared Pacific Halibut, $38.00; Seared U-10 Sea Scallops (pictured), $37.00; even the humble Sesame Chicken will set you back $28.00. Oh, by the way, there are a limited number of entrées offered at lunch… and they are exactly the same price as those that are available at dinner, which, to my way of thinking, is a bit over the top.
Harvest, in my opinion, is a great place for a couple to enjoy a casual luncheon sandwich; or, perhaps, a glass of wine & shared flatbread following a flick at the Movie Tavern. On the other hand, full-fledged dinner is quite another matter. By the time you add appetizers, several glasses of wine, tax & tip to the already pricey entrées, you’ll end up spending infinitely more than your original “let’s stop for a quick bite” scenario could possibly have envisioned.
Harvest is an excellent restaurant. However, given its laidback atmosphere and service, if I am going to be parting with a significant amount of long green for a relatively expensive evening at table, I would prefer to do so in a sedate, upscale environment with more professional service, and (and this is no knock) a less casual approach to the cuisine.
But let’s conclude on a positive note… No matter when you may decide to pay a call at Harvest, be sure to try one of their mini desserts. There are times when you just want a touch of sweetness to end a most enjoyable meal, and these diminutive denouements (pictured) – from Key Lime Pie to Carrot Cake to Salted Caramel Chocolate to Peanut Butter Mousse – are simply not to be missed.
Bon Appétit & Cheers!
TAD
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