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.
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