When it comes to travel, one of my favorite food experiences is eating tapas in Spain. Small plates, tasty food, sangria and wine, and incredible energy — how can it get any better? Luckily, you don’t have to fly thousands of miles to enjoy that. There’s an awesome place for tapas in Seattle: The Harvest Vine.
Located in Madison Valley (map), The Harvest Vine is a small, neighborhood restaurant with great food and a great atmosphere. There’s a lively buzz just like you find at a tapas joint in Spain. The slogan on The Harvest Vine website even boasts “Tapas in Seattle: A Basque kitchen where collaboration meets craft and strangers become friends.” We definitely suggest sitting at the bar (it’s first come first serve) and watching the chefs make their masterpieces behind the counter. You can ask them questions about what they’re making, how they’re preparing it, etc.
The Harvest Vine serves decent sized portions for a small plate, tapas restaurant. One of the cooks told us they typically recommend two or three plates per person at The Harvest Vine. We ordered Remolachas (red & golden beet salad with sherry vinegar, olive oil and garlic), Ensalada de Boquerones (vinegar cured anchovies with piquillo peppers, boiled egg and anchovy stuffed olives), Jamon Iberico de Bellota (hand sliced ham from acorn fed pigs aged for 48 months), Esparragos (asparagus wrapped in ham with Idiazabal sheep cheese butter), and special duck breast and rabbit leg dishes. The menu evolves with the seasons and changes frequently.
As you would imagine, The Harvest Vine (the “vine” kind of gives it away) has an extensive wine list. They also serve up tasty desserts. Tove and I enjoyed a rhubarb olive oil cake and homemade ice cream sandwiches when we recently visited. We loved everything we ate and drank, and we definitely plan on going back again and again in the future.
If you’re looking for tapas in Seattle, The Harvest Vine is our spot. It provides a lively atmosphere, great food, and wonderful wine — just like you find in Spain.
Have you eaten at The Harvest Vine? How was your experience? We’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Don’t forget to also check out Seattle Bloggers for more great places to visit around the Emerald City!