Harvest Cafe and Bakery

Always a great breakfast and the service is always amazing. Come early or the lone is out the door.

* Good At Harvesting Your Money *
I’ve eaten at Harvest 3 times over the past 3 yeas. It wasn’t good the first time… was bad the 2^nd time… was sickening the 3^rd (and definitely my last) time.
The most recent experience started with a rude waitress asking, «Coffee?» When we said no thanks (their coffee is bad), she walked away immediately before we could order anything else. So we had two waters.
Now, the water at Harvest always comes with lemon slices in it. That seems like a little added class, but actually there’s something wrong with the water here. Without the taste-​masking lemons (or taste-​masking cola syrup), the water tastes like mold. All their cold drinks are served in plastic glasses that seem to be older than the Town Of Simsbury itself. Can you even adequately wash/​disinfect old, chipped, nasty plastic glasses?
Next, they brought us the wrong food. They then wisked it off to someone else’s table. Good thing I didn’t sneeze on it — not that I’d expect Harvest to care enough to re-​make it for the actual order-​ers of those dishes.
My over-​easy eggs were so under-​cooked, the whites of the eggs ran into a mess on my plate. Pretty sickening — but the sickening part gets worse:
My home fries tasted like some sort of automotive lubricant was used in the cooking process. Now, this would be a good set-​up if they were just servicing cars, and if cars ate home fries. Anyway, they left a horrible aftertaste, and half an hour later my dining partner and I both felt queasy. Does the Board of Health EVER inspect this place?
The main reason this place still has business is because it’s homey. It’s a room with huge windows looking out onto one of the prettiest parts of Simsbury: the old tobacco barns on Route 10. Also because it’s a bakery, with many kinds of breads and pastries in glass cases in the front room.
Of the 3 times I’ve dined here in recent years, only once was the bill the amount it should have been. Things don’t add up at Harvest, and it’s always in their favor by $ 5 – 10. Expect to pay $ 40. for a modest lunch for two at Harvest.
All this is overseen by the owner, partner or manager (I’m not sure what he is). He obviously stopped caring about their food, drink or service a long time ago.
* Phil

Food is always good. Menu is big so everyone will find a favorite! Service is good but expect a wait on the weekend it’s worth it though

Chocolate chip pancakes are my go-​to, but everything here is good — there’s a reason it’s always jammed every time we go in. My favorite side is a blueberry muffin (which can be grilled upon request, making it even better) but you really can’t go wrong at Harvest. A Simsbury favorite!

We stopped by Harvest Café for yet another quick bite to eat on our way to go Christmas shopping.
My wife got a buttermilk pancake which filled the plate and I got a scrambled egg wrap with a side of hash browned potatoes.
Tomorrow I may stop by for a bigger meal and bring my laptop. Use their WiFi for a bit of online Christmas shopping for the misses.
Food came out hot and was tasty. I got an Earl Grey tea to drink and my wife drank their french press coffee.
Staff was friendly and attentive dressed up for the holidays.

I used to be such a fan of this place when I lived in CT. I was back in town for Thanksgiving and my boyfriend and I went to Harvest for breakfast on Friday. It was very disappointing. I had an omelette with asparagus, mushrooms, and spinach… there were hardly any vegetables in it. Also, my toast was stale. My boyfriend got the croissant french toast and that was flavorless and uninspired. The service is always good so that’s a plus but the food has definitely gone downhill over the years.

Every single item we ordered was delicious, from the breakfast sandwiches to the chocolate chip pancakes to the omelette to the pumpkin waffle. The staff remember us even though we’re only in town once a year! Our go-​to brunch place when we’re in Connecticut (and a great stop on the way home from BDL to the Farmington Valley)!

Matthew and I took a nice country drive to have our monthly date here. A cute, friendly breakfast and lunch joint, we stopped in around 930am and had no problem getting a table (albeit, one that hadn’t been cleaned yet but that was quickly taken care of). There were lots of choices on the regular and specials menu but the disappointment for us was there wasn’t any option that had eggs and pancakes together. Matthew went with the banana bread french toast – good portion, artfully plated. I had the pumpkin pancakes and added pecans to it, plus a side of sausage patty. Both of our dishes were great, no complaints about the food! Service was attentive and friendly.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe we’d return here – the prices are very high comparatively to portion size and ingredients. There was no mention that pumpkin pancakes were more expensive than regular and $ 2.75 for one small sausage patty was way too much to charge. The clientele in this area is, for the most part, very well off, but for us, we can get great quality and a better value elsewhere.

I ABSOLUTELY love this place! The food is excellent and they’re nice enough to put out coffee and treats that make the waiting for a table a bit less painful.
My favorite thing was how special they helped make the morning after my wedding. We called in a party of 16 people for Sunday morning and ended up adding 2 more. They accommodated us– which many other breakfast placed were not willing to do. The service was great, all the food came out at once and I was so happy to share such a perfect experience with my fave people in the world.
They do a great job!

We came here for breakfast and was told that the wait «wasn’t too bad» and «pretty good for two people». I asked for the hostess to elaborate on what «pretty good» meant and she said «few minutes» and walked away. It was over 45 minutes before we were finally pointed in the direction of our table because no one walked us there.
In our «few minutes» of a wait we were able to gander over a menu and knew what we wanted to order. We ordered our food along with our drinks the moment our waitress came to the table; which fortunately was very quickly. We had to wait another 50 minutes for our food to arrive. Room temperature sweet tea and day old muffins were provided in the waiting area… had I had known the wait would have been that much longer I would have ate some.
My boyfriend ordered scrambled eggs with sausages and home fries which was too simple of a dish to mess up. He also ordered a grilled and buttered blueberry scone which was neither grilled nor buttered.
I ordered an eggs Benedict with a poached egg and avocado and tomatoes with hollandaise sauce on top. My eggs were not poached but soft boiled and both of our dishes were lukewarm.
The only thing that was quick about this ordeal was our check which came minutes after our food did. We get it… we’re leaving and we won’t be back!

I really love the food here. Some of my favorites are the Farmers Benedict (poached eggs over potatoes with cheddar hollandaise), Corned Beef Hash, Quiche, Cranberry Walnut bread, their Reuben and a sweet potato salad they had once.
It is a small place and wait times can be excruciating on the weekends. I get my breakfast to go if I am in a rush.

Excellent breakfast. Big menu with lots of choices. Even the gluten free folks in your party can enjoy eggs Benedict since they have gluten free english muffins
The service was great… the coffee just keeps coming around. Try the quiche!

Excellent food, cooked to order — and the service is friendly and courteous. The food is a solid four stars, and I was considering deducting one star for the excruciatingly long wait which can be over an hour during peak hours on weekends.
However, I didn’t deduct the star because there is a reason for Harvest’s long lines and the wait. They deserve the success — but these days if the wait is more than 45 minutes we will go somewhere else that equally deserves our custom. It’s a small restaurant but not so small that we should consistently wait about an hour for an experience that generally lasts less than the wait.
Oddly, there is usually plenty of parking, so that’s no issue. There is also a bench not too far from the entrance where folks can gather and wait. We won’t even attempt to wait inside, since the waiting area is small, cramped and just bustling with people standing, waiting, chatting, and so forth. Last time we were there for brunch, a charming gentleman who appeared to be in his 70’s announced that he was a teenager when he arrived that morning. It was a very funny — and very apt — joke.

Recent Experience:
Basically — I felt like they were rushing me out of the restaurant as soon as the food was delivered. I had gone a week ago with my wife and son. We lucked out, there was no line for a table but we did have to wait (we started the line). After waiting 30 mins for a table, we finally sat down, ordered 2 pancakes and an omelet. We got some coffee but didn’t get any creamer for 15 mins so the coffee was cold by that time. The food finally came out another 40 mins later with the check: «whenever you’re ready». I don’t know about other people, but I’m not trying to make going out to breakfast last all morning. We got there at 9:30 a.m. and finally left at 11:10 a.m. My son is a slower eater and believe me, I let him finish his food despite the dirty looks I was receiving for not vacating the table ASAP.
Review:
My rating is for the business/​experience as a whole. If you wanted me to rate the food itself, I’d give it 3 – 4 stars. The food is very good but be ready to wait for it for anywhere from 15 – 30 minutes to come out (and I don’t personally think its that good and worth the wait).
The other time you’ll be waiting is to actually get a table. The wait for table can also range on average (if you are going during prime breakfast time) from 20 – 40 minutes. There is typically a line out the door of people and families waiting for tables.
The positives are they do provide coffee and some banana bread type food to munch on while you are waiting for a table. While you wait for your food to eventually come out, they will refresh your coffee again (most of the time). However, once your food comes out, don’t expect to see the coffee come around again and they will typically provide you with the bill immediately after the food is delivered (which makes me feel like they are already trying to kick you out).
I’m also not the biggest fan of having to bring your bill up to a register to finish the transaction — but that’s just a personal qualm (it also just further indicates how done the wait staff is with you once your food is delivered). If they are busy with a wait, they will also pull that «are you finished with that» move when you are clearly still trying to eat and finish your meal.
Conclusion:
We’ve been to this restaurant a couple of times now and have had the same experience every time. I’m not going back.

I’ve got this place on my rotation so often when I stay at my boyfriend’s it’s almost embarassing. I’m guilty of leaving a few times when the wait has been almost insane (this café is tiny and wait times sometimes exceed an hour) but today Harvest called my name and I stuck out the 15 minute wait time on a Sunday (the stars aligned) and for that I am exceedingly grateful, as is my belly.
We were seated by the counter area and our drink orders were immediately taken. As a sidenote, the coffee is my favorite here. The mugs only add to how good it tastes.
My toddler got a Teddy pancake with some bacon. I ordered the Farmer’s Benny and my boyfriend got the Mushroom and Swiss omelet. The omelets are always fresh and delicious. They have a ton of options but you can customize. Their Benny’s though are really where it’s at. The Farmer’s Benny is my absolute favorite. Shredded potatoes, bacon, scallions and cheesy hollaindaise with some poached eggs and a side of their homemade sourdough. SO delicious.
I have commented on their breads before but I can’t get over how thick and scrumptious the wheat bread is. You just can’t go wrong with any of the breads.
Pancakes are fluffy. I am always torn between a carb load up or their Bennys. Obviously, we know what takes the proverbial cake each time.
What really gives this place a 5 star rating in my Unilocaler book is the service. Scott, the ruler of all at Harvest, is personable and has every single server busy and happy. The majority of the servers here are all young but SHOCKER — they are some of the friendliest and most professional staff I have encountered at any restaurant.
I desperately want Harvest to move to a larger locations, perhaps in a building that parking becomes less of a hassle and wait times are cut because they have room but ultimately, I think Harvest’s charm is because of where it is and how tiny it becomes when they pack people in.
You can’t ever go wrong here. Seriously. Harvest is the best and I will always come back.

Very good food, lots of unique options. Somewhat crowded but not terrible never had to wait for a seat. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a tasty breakfast especially one that isn’t super heavy. Corned beef hash was fantastic.

What a cute, local restaurant. There were lots of types of people here for a weekday lunch, and the people who work here are super nice.
I got lunch to go. I got a breakfast burrito — breakfast is available all day! — which was satisfying but not very big for the price ($ 9.99). The coffee was great, diner quality.
I can’t wait to try many of the other delicious-​looking breakfast and lunch items. I love the local vibe.

Harvest is more than just eggs and pancakes, they are a gourmet breakfast experience. The breads and baked goods are creative and amazing, I usually end up with something to go no matter how full I am when I am leaving. The Benedict selection is awesome and has something for everyone. Pancakes, their pancakes are so delicious and offer some great flavor and sweetness to my meal.
Try the corn bread instead of toast.
Try the corned beef hash, and the veggie hash too.
Try the lunch menu, breakfast food can be eaten all day for me but once in a while I venture to the lunch section and I am always glad I did. Some great sandwich options including my favorite where they pile Thanksgiving dinner onto some bread and call it a sandwich.
If you haven’t been to Harvest you need to give it a shot and let’s be honest Simsbury doesn’t have that many breakfast spots so you really have no excuses.

Outstanding. Delicious. Superb. Tasty. Harvest Café & Bakery is the best breakfast place around! There’s a reason it’s been mentioned in numerous Connecticut publications as the best breakfast establishment!
Harvest offers a wide variety of delicious choices for both breakfast and lunch. They have a good selection on their regular menu and also offer daily specials, which you can check out on their Facebook page each morning (which I do, as I often crave their food and plan when I visit!!) The quality of the food is very, very high. It is all fresh, with fresh and good ingredients. They even make waffles shaped like dogs and bears, with berries and fruit for the eyes and noses, for kids – or adults, if they’d like!
A must try – the multigrain waffle. I love it plain, lightly dusted with powdered/​confectioners sugar, with extra powdered/​confectioners sugar on the side so I can add more depending on my taste. It is supreme! It is hands down the best waffle I have ever had. It smells outstanding the moment it reaches your table, with hints of cinnamon in the batter. The smell doesn’t last long, though, because I devour this waffle! I once would order the buttermilk waffle here, and it was very delicious as well, but tried the multigrain on a whim; now, I will not look [or order] back! The entire taste of the multigrain waffle holds its own and needs no additions. Plus, it’s filling and leaves my belly happy and full the rest of the day.
The staff at Harvest is friendly and efficient. You constantly see the kitchen workers passing through the café area to the bakery carrying trays of baked goods, sandwiches, and other delectable food. They are very hardworking and do their best to keep this fantastic place going.
Scott, the manager, is one of the nicest, funniest, and most efficient workers. He literally runs from table to table, joking with patrons, serving up food and coffee, being attentive to patrons’ needs. He answers the phone, checks the tables needing to place an order, manages the other servers – all from the counter when he isn’t among the sea of tables filled with hungry people. He almost single-​handedly runs Harvest, and does so smoothly. Without a doubt, Scott is an asset to Harvest.
A word of caution: it can get supremely busy on Fridays, the weekends, and holidays. It’s very kid-​friendly, so it can get busy during the summers, too. However, if you time it right, and are willing to wait when a few minutes if you don’t, Harvest is the best breakfast you will have!
Harvest is fantastic – a small diamond in the middle of a strip mall in Simsbury. You have to know it’s there in order to know delicious food and great service is there. If you frequent it regularly and often, as I do with family and friends, the staff gets to know you and remembers you the next time you visit. [I’ve come so much, Scott and several of the servers know my order! When I visited this morning, one server asked if I had my waffle, to which I declared I did and it was the best one yet!!]
For the best breakfast and great service, visit Harvest Café & Bakery. You won’t be disappointed!

If you don’t mind the occasional wait, this place is a gem.
Breakfast can get crowded here with a big line, so we opted for a lunch visit today around 12:30 and had no wait as long as were OK sitting at the counter, which we were.
The food here has always been terrific, and we’ve long enjoyed the attentive service and cheerful banter of the employees. Today was more of the same.
We ordered one of the omelette specials of the day– a really nice creation with dill Havarti cheese, smoked salmon, and tomatoes, and a menu choice named the Vermonter. It was a big salad of mixed greens, turkey, cheddar, dried cranberries, dried cinnamon apples, toasted pumpkin seeds and carrot shreds. It was a great choice for just $ 9.99. Plenty of turkey and cheese, and very tasty crunchy pumpkin seeds and yummy apple slices.
We enjoyed chatting with Scott –the guy who seems to run the floor, We noticed an army of energetic workers running around doing all of the work to clear the tables, serve the food, seat the new customers, and offer smiles and pleasantries in every corner of the dining room.
We placed a catering order for some of their mini cupcakes (they have an awesome bakery too) before we left. We dealt with Casey who was super pleasant and helpful. We had originally tried the same order at the Cake Gypsy in Canton, but Harvest beats them badly on price and a dozen/​type vs. two dozen/​type ordering minimums,
Harvest is a real institution in town. Always busy. Always high quality. They were just voted the #1 breakfast place in Hartford Magazine’s annual Best Of issue.
Go visit and you’ll see why.