The paddock to plate, garden to plate philosophy of Harvest, saw it booked out for Oprah and her entourage in 2010 when she visited.
Since then, this once bakery, cafe has become a destination.
Now days the main highway bypasses the town and it’s probably best to put the address into your maps and understand you’ll be weaving a little bit through the country side before arriving.
You won’t be disappointed.
The township of Nearby is quiticential of most Australian towns in the northern rivers of New South Wales; a pub, a garage and a milk bar. Harvest has certainly put the town on the map and now the town boasts an art and homeware collective, an antique shop and a few other places to drift in and out of.
We didn’t make a booking (I strongly recommend you do) so we sat on the balcony. It was a rainy cold winter’s day but fortunately the heater on the deck and the food distracted from the cool.
We weren’t necessarily after a big long lunch, so settled on the carrots (grown on site) roasted in the oven with …
Totally delicious.
For main, I chose a burger which was OK. The produce was locally sourced but not abundant. I get it, it’s a fine dining restaruant.
My partner had the eye fillet which was also wonderful but served as it. You really need to order sides.
I was a little bit disappointed with the menu on this day but apparently it changes regularly depending on the seasonal foods and produce available.
To be fair we didn’t have a booking, the place was pumping with people streaming in regularly and was clearly very popular.
The gardens are uplifting and worth strolling through, as much of the product served inside is from their own garden. A fully functioning bakery is out the back and you can see the guys in action as well as having their own bee hives.
The importance of bees and pollination of crops a very topical conversation piece in the Northern Rivers. On this ocassion food was 4/5, service 5/5. WE will be back to see if we can give them the 10/10.
