Harvest — Restaurant in Rotterdam

I went to eat there on the recommendation of a local and I don't even know where to begin.

The food is clearly overpriced. I ordered a French toast with pulled chicken and eggs on top for 18.50€ and have to say I was very disappointed.

After standing in line for the place as it was recommended by a local, as one of the best breakfast spots in the Netherlands that seemingly has won prices for it's quality, we were seated and got to order. The french toast on its own wasn't a big portion at all, at least not what youd expect for 18 euros, and the taste was very underwhelming. I am aware of the fact that taste is subjective, but I would go so far to say that is was objectively mediocre food, regarding it's taste. Except for the fact that I went out of that place paying 40€ on two foods I shared with girlfriend (even if I had eaten them alone it wouldnt have been filling)

I want to take a moment to analyze how a place such this can even come into existence. One of the biggest discontentments that I feel after leaving this place regards the current state of our society and how it has, to me, evidently corroded any reasonable framework of decision making. I have to admit that I don't usually frequent places like this but I figured I'd give it a shot and honestly it eludes me who these people are that are giving away stars to places like this. Every simple Turkish bakery beats it in taste and affordability which leads me to seriously question the criteria by which such rankings are established.

This place in my opinion only serves the purpose of distinguishing oneself from other classes of society and overall has a very pretentious vibe to it. It fronts as simplistic and close to nature but really is the empitome of capitalist consumerism. The fact that really sent me spiraling is that the people who eat there regularly are obviously holding a certain place in society and clearly have other framework of reasoning than I do. Choosing to eat there is a testament to disingenuity of contemporary western culture and nothing short of a very disollusioning experience. I hate the fact that the entire place is set around reinforcing an identity and not the qualities of the product itself. And I feel disappointed in myself for giving it the benefit of the doubt. The only way I can explain it prestige is through the streamlining of instagram culture to the right clientele, not ethnicity but in lifestyle. And that too explains the lack of flavour and authenticity of the place. Worst of all since there is a line outside you don't feel comfortable to stay seated.

Obviously every human perspective is different but from my point of view, as a person with minimal awareness of the system that brought this place to be, you shouldn't go to eat there. I felt alianted from society after eating there as I found myself incapable of finding a good reason to, from a regular customers point of view, except for the possiblity of having lost all connection to the value of money. To put it in perspective 100€ is a normal monthly sallary e.g. for a person living in Iran. It's...

We had high hopes coming here considering the great reviews and a super creative menu but it all went downhill very fast.

First issue was the menu on the website not matching what’s actually offered when you arrive, which was a real letdown for my vegan friend who had planned ahead.

The disappointment started straight away. There was a long queue at the front, which would’ve been less frustrating if anyone had acknowledged us or given a hint about the wait. We could clearly see free tables inside, so we went in to check whether the queue was even for a table. It was. The problem? The staff had absolutely zero sense of urgency.

We waited 10–15 minutes before the host made an appearance and when he finally did he had the energy of a Love Island cast-off who didn’t get enough screen time. No greeting, no apology, just pure attitude.

The menu is overpriced to the point of comedy. €2.50 to have your bread buttered? I mean, really? Then came the food. My poached eggs were, without exaggeration, the worst I’ve ever seen. Completely overcooked, with the sad, rubbery texture of a supermarket hard-boiled egg. The yolk was so pale I’m genuinely afraid to know where they source their eggs.

I asked for them to be redone, and they did replace them but kept the rest of my food on the side so when the eggs came back my bacon and unevenly cut and toasted sourdough were stone cold. I had to send the whole plate back again and ended up eating my meal after my friend had already finished hers. We were hoping to eat together rather than take turns.

We did get asked if we enjoyed our meal at pon paying but not sure what the point of asking is if my words ‘wasn’t great’ and my friend ‘Ehm was ok’ are met with silence?

Giving two stars solely because the coffee was decent and the menu ideas are creative but everything else was absolutely diabolical. If you value actual service, quality, or a warm plate - avoid. This place is a masterclass in style...

This weekend we celebrated our 5 year anniversary by doing what we love most: enjoying each other's company and discovering new places with great food and coffee.

We finally had the chance to visit Harvest Coffee Brewers for a nice breakfast, I mean brunch. (Let's be honest, which parent gets up early on a Sunday with the kids out of town?) This place has been on my wishlist for quite some time.

I started out having a double espresso made with coffee from Shokunin Coffee who has also been on my wishlist for quite some time. And boy it didn't disappoint! Seldom have I had an espresso with such fruityness and depth.

After studying the menu we both quickly decided to go with the savory French toast. The rest of the choices sounded just as nice to me, but when I see a dish with such contrasting flavours I just have to try it.

Ok, now the verdict... I've been thinking for over 10 minutes now what to type here. I'll just tell you what happened... I have the strong conviction eating is mainly a social event. The goal is to enjoy a dish together, talk about the food and talk about life. There's where this Savory French Toast creates a problem.

First of all, when it is served it looks absolutely beautiful. The French toast is made with real thicc sliced brioche, bacon with the perfect balance between tender and crunchy, a sweet syrup with savory crunchy parts and a perfect baked egg where sunny side up is an understatement.

Seeing this I was locked in and started to forget my surroundings. The last words I remember saying to my wife before taking the first bite were "OMG, this looks amazing!". The ten minutes after that are a blur where we both were in our own world of savory ecstasy, contrasting sweetness and all kinds of textures.

No talking, no social aspect, but no problem!

Thank you for being so passionate and creative about food and coffee and for creating a place where we can enjoy these beautiful...