Harvester Falcon Eltham

Delicious Food, Friendly Faces, Welcoming Atmosphere

My recent visit to the newly refurbished Harvester revealed a delightful mix of congenial service and surprisingly good grub, albeit with some hiccups that would make Basil Fawlty wince. Stepping in, I was warmly greeted by a host of exuberant staff who managed to balance efficiency with genuine friendliness—a nod, surely, to the well-oiled customer service machine they run. Heaven only knows what mastery of scheduling keeps this place ticking, but between the welcoming Tanya charming our table and Jackie’s cheerful navigation of a busy night, we felt entirely at home. The interior, revitalized with modern touches, manages to feel both fresh and comfortably familiar, harking back to the warm days of family eateries without necessitating a quip about sticky carpets.

Yet, like an episode of your favorite sitcom culminating in an unexpected twist, our experience wasn't entirely without its comedic pitfalls. The food, when it arrived without the side of drama, was notably appetizing—ribs tender enough to inspire songs of praise and BBQ wings crisped to near perfection by a back-of-house team that clearly knows its char from its caramelization. Alas, the same cannot be said for the occasional lost-in-translation moment some patrons seemed to face; eggs mysteriously disappearing from orders and tales of less-than-friendly exchanges on the phone. Still, if you cling to the constancy of their service team and are prepared to navigate the odd organisational ‘whoopsie-daisy’, Harvester remains a spot where good mood and good meals can collide splendidly, more often than not. With such energetic and engaging staff, there seems always to be a reason to return—just maybe factor in some contingency time for rogue salad bar excursions! — Milo Tastemaker