The Harvest Vine

Good happy hour for Tapas and Wine. They have a good selection of meat and vegetarian dishes and all taste very flavorful and good. Prices are high and portions a bit on the small side, hence the 4 star. more

Finally went here after all the recommendations. I have to say I really like this place. The food is excelled and very good. The atmosphere is cozy and the wait staff is very friendly. We had everything from lamp, to squid and everything was very good. more

Wow. People are very touchy with regard to this restaurant. The food is decent but I would not say that it is authentic (I have been to the Basque region of Spain a handful of times and I can tell you that Harvest Vine is not particularly authentic -- come on, they have venison on their menu). That being said, the food is okay. We ordered the olives (very good), the cured meats (pretty good), 2 cheeses (lots of goat cheese), the mushrooms (not bad), the pork (not so good) and 2 glasses of wine. Our bill came to over $100 (a bit steep considering the small portion sizes -- even for tapas). The atmosphere was okay -- it kind of seemed like a place that people go to feel important. Our server was so-so. She delivered all of our plates at once, and considering we were sitting at the counter this just didn't work as there wasn't enough room for them all. Sitting at the counter was nice as you get to see all the food prepared, but it feels like everyone is watching you eat which I don't like. I don't think I would go back. more

ok folks....yes....i'm on a roll....(and it's sat night....allllllllrighty then) so we went to Harvest Vine the other week to check out the buzz. we (2) got seated right away up at the bar around 7pm and we got in just before the rush which was perfecto. It's a very cool/small space and you can see most of the dishes being cooked up right in front of you. The dishes are smaller tapas style as you'd imagine. we started with the meat plate (some from salumi) and olives which were great. we ordered 2 other dishes (pork and mushrooms) and had 2-3 glasses of vino. overall the tapas were more northwestern influenced as opposed to traditional spanish tapas. We got out of there for $100 which surprised me as we really didn't drink very much and had 4 dishes....(note: they don't even have sangria) So for that i'd have to rank this below Tangos on the "value" ratio. we haven't found too many tapas places in seattle, so we're still looking for a 'go to'. if you're in SF and love tapas, be sure to hit "Zarzuela" on Russian Hill as this is (so far for me) "The Standard" in what traditional tapas should be mixed with the right vibe and good sangria. And it's hard to get out of there for more than $25/person and you'll be full and buzzed:) but if you're in that neighborhood, have 2-4 folks and a little extra $ to burn it's a cool little spot to hit. adiós! more

My wife and I love the ambience and food here. One of our favorite date night choices... more

I've only been twice, but it was excellent both times. The service was very friendly and the atmosphere casual. I recommend sitting at the counter and watching a few things get prepared. It makes the ordering decision easier. The only drawback was the wait, which was about a 30 minutes both times. But the food has always been worth it. more

This is one of our favorite date restaurants. Also great for parties - we booked the large table downstairs for dinner with a large group of friends and had the best night. HIGHLY recommend. more

Harvest Vine is undoubtedly one of Seattle's finest restaurants. Featuring brilliantly prepared tapas style dishes from the Basque region of Spain, the multitude of flavors will please even the most discriminating of pallets. A nice wine list to compliment the offerings, but be sure to brush up on your Spanish wines before ordering - the staff will provide sound and appropriate recommendations if need be. A cozy atmosphere where the experience is definitely enhanced by finding space at the counter where one can enjoy viewing the maticulous preparation of all the fare. They do not take reservations for small parties, but it should not be a deterrant, because the possibility of a wait to be seated is well worth it. A great night out for either a date or social enagagement. Enjoy! more

We have eaten at Harvest Vine many times over the years, and in all honesty, it is going downhill in service, food, and atmosphere. Our last meal was such a disappointment that we'll never go back. I don't know what was more disappointing---the rude service or the mediocre food. Maybe if you go on a quiet night you might get better food or attentiveness, but on a busy weekend night, neither the chefs nor the staff seem able to produce an experience that merits the high price. If I want diner level quality, I'll go to a diner, but I expect more from the Harvest Vine. more

Crowded and noisy is the first thing to notice about Harvest Vine. A sign of popularity, and thus also an indication that it is good. Expect a wait, and to be seated on a stool and eat at a counter if you do not arrive early or set up a reservation in advance. Counter eating has its advantages mind you, you get to watch the cheifs prepare the food and get it handed straight to you. Harvest Vine delivers on top quality food and probably pleasant atmosphere if you get lucky enough to be seated at a real table. Prices are steep, and portions are small but the bread they offer helps fill the gab. Style is what they are selling, so if you are more interested in filling an empty belly than having an experience, Harvest Vine is not the place for you. more

The bad stuff first: It took 45 minutes for us to be seated, and we were seated at the counter - spreading out our party of 4 and making conversation difficult. The whole meal was also pricey - most couples I know couldn't afford to do this on a regular basis. We certainly couldn't - but I'm glad we were able to go this time as a treat from my fiance's parents. And what a treat!

The tapas at Harvest Vine are *amazing*. Amazing enough that I still rate this place a 5, even for value. The flavors are superb, and I couldn't seem to eat slow enough to savor the taste long enough. The food is good enough to more than make up for the wait. The octupus was tender (!), the chirizo sausage was excellent, and the presentation of the food was beautiful.

Unless you order enough tapas and snack on the free (and wonderful!) bread they bring, you may find the food to be unfilling, due to the (intentionally) small servings. If you aren't familiar with tapas, they are small servings of a variety of foods, which you order several of for your meal. If you try this restaurant, expect more exotic food, and don't eat too fast. This is one meal you'll want to linger over. more

As a Seattle native, I want to belive that my city is full of great, innovative restaurants. But when my wife and I try to come up with a place to go for dinner, we always wind up reciting the same tired list of "perfectly good" downtown expense-account places like Wild Ginger and the various Tom Douglas food factories. Even the "authentic" spots like Matt's in the Market or Le Pichet somehow miss the mark when we're looking for someplace that's offers both great food and a festive, lively atmosphere. The one happy exception to this lament is Harvest Vine, a tiny Spanish/Basque tapas restaurant in the Madison Valley. Truly excellent, innovative and handcrafted dishes; a lively, inviting space; warm-yet-professional service; sidewalk dining (in warm weather), and a kitchen that's open past 9pm - a true rarity in this sleepy town - all combine to create the most completely satisfying casual dining experience in town. (And I didn't even mention the excellent and fairly-priced wine list). Admittedly, Harvest Vine's menu is not for everyone. With a focus on traditional Spanish tapas - cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and out-of-the ordinary sea-life (tiny fresh sardines, baby squid, octopus, etc.) - you wouldn't want to bring your suburban meat-and-potatos friends here. But if superb cooking and convivial atmosphere are your goals, Harvest Vine should be on your shorlist. more

I'm sure that much of it has to do with the fact that my first visit there was the final destination of a very happy, magical tromp in the snow, but Harvest Vine has a special place in my heart. I ate at Harvest Vine for the first time on my twenty-fifth birthday and have not passed over any opportunity to eat there since. The chefs stick to the promises made on the menu. If an item is described as being "infused" with something, you can bet it will actually taste like an infusion instead of a drowning or drenching or stewing, or worst, a case of missing flavor. I am still amazed at the complexity of flavors in the food. You might easily get a piece of fish that tastes, at first, smoky, then like vanilla bean, and finally, like fresh herbs. In my opinion, this multi-tiered experience of flavors is a hallmark of Harvest Vine. Harvest Vine is on the expensive side, but as you savor the food, you realize it's worth it. Perhaps to balance things out, the wine is relatively inexpensive. Or so it must be, since I've easily had much more to eat and drink there than at other similar establishments and somehow managed to spend just a touch more, even when four bottles of wine (including dessert wine) are on the bill. The atmosphere is very low-key and friendly. Dining there, you feel like you are at the home of a friend who is a very, very good cook. It's nice to sit at the counter to watch the food being cooked, but I prefer sitting in the basement where the feeling is very cozy and rustic. more

This place is a find. The first time we went to this tiny but fun spot in the Madison Valley we looked at each other and said - this food is incredible (the space is also cool with an open kitchen and plenty of cooks with sass). Turns out Zagats gives it a 28 for food. So that means serious food. It isn't the cheesy kind of unauthentic tapas with the watered down sangria and too much garlic. The tapas include lots of seafood (if you like octopus - you'll love theirs) and are from northern spain (not the better known food from analucia). long story short - it's great. go. more