Introducing: Harvest Kitchen, a veggie-friendly comfort food restaurant in the old Tati Bistro space
Name: Harvest Kitchen
Neighbourhood: University
Contact Info: 124 Harbord St., 416-901-5901, harvestkitchen.ca, @harvestkitchen
Owners: Chef Owen Steinberg and restaurant consultant Jill Mcabe, both co-owners of now-defunct JOV Bistro on Bayview Avenue, and Pino Prieano
Chef: Owen Steinberg, formerly an instructor at George Brown and chef at JOV Bistro
The Food: The goal of the restaurant was to highlight multiple international cuisines under a single roof, including lots of vegan and vegetarian options. The menu is literally all over the map: it includes Thai curries, Middle Eastern plates, Chinese shu mai dumplings and a Mexican-inspired taco salad. American comfort staples round things out, like a meatless “meatball” sub made with barley, lentils and sautéed mushrooms.
The Drinks: Wines from 13th Street Winery in St. Catherines are available on tap for just 99 cents an ounce.
The Place: The revamped bistro is brighter and trendier than its predecessor with 1950s diner tables and a refurbished marble bar. Customers waiting for seats can peruse the small but valuable collection of Canadian art in the adjoining gallery room. Renovations on the second floor will result in an additional dining room and patio.
The Numbers: • 99 cents per ounce of 13th Street wine, which is available on tap • $60 in loose change collected over the course of renovations • 2 sous chefs with advanced fighting credentials—one is a former Korean army trainer and the other a former MMA champion • 2 original lithographs by Canadian artist Dennis Geden on display • 1 miniature art gallery curated by fine art dealer Pascal Bonniere-Gabor • 1 gluten-free beer from Belgium
