The previous post about my stay at The Mountain View Grand Resort in NH’s White Mountains focused on taking time to help your mental well-being by relaxing your body and unplugging from life’s hectic pace. Food, on the other hand, primarily has physical benefits but can contribute to good mental health. I was reminded of this because the food at Mountain View Grand was one of the most enjoyable parts of my stay. My sister and I are still talking about how good our meals were! There is a reason eating out at restaurants is such a popular activity among friends, couples and families. It’s satisfying and fulfilling to share a tasty meal with others. In addition to fueling our bodies, we’re sharing and creating memories.
In my experience, the food at most hotels is good but typically overpriced. Since there are precious few restaurants in Whitefield, there is little competition so I wasn’t expecting such great food. The Harvest Tavern Restaurant and Bar serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is what makes the Mountain View Grand Resort a true destination resort. I also love that Harvest Tavern strives to be a farm to table restaurant by partnering with 15+ farmers and distributors from northern NH, Vermont and Maine.
Table of Contents
Dining at The Bar
The night we arrived, my sister and I had dinner in the bar which, at one time, was the resort’s reception desk area. The back wall of the bar was once an outside wall, so the shelves that now hold the liquor bottles were once windows overlooking the back of the property.
At the bar we enjoyed a glass of Erath Pinot Noir (love Oregon Pinot!) and “snacks” of Crispy Kale and Fried Brussels Sprouts that were well worth the fried food indulgence. For our entree we split the Smokey Pepperoni Flatbread. Normally, a pepperoni flatbread isn’t very exciting but the smoky flavor of the North Country pepperoni and the Jasper Hill cheese provide a natural, unique flavor you won’t find with ordinary mozzarella and highly processed pepperoni.
Harvest Tavern Restaurant
We made reservations for dinner in the restaurant the next night and I was totally blown away by my meal! It was one of the best I’ve ever had. I can’t say it was the healthiest meal ever but it was my birthday weekend and I wasn’t going to worry about calories. I had the 48 Hour Beef Rib served with a side of mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes, which I substituted with creamy cheddar grits. The angus beef rib was perfectly cooked and instead of traditional BBQ sauce it was topped with jalapeño marmalade for just the right amount of kick and sweetness. If you’ve ever had beef ribs you know the portion is HUGE. I didn’t finish the full portion so brought it home with me to enjoy with a couple more meals.
My sister ordered the Lobster Cavatelli & Cheese which was also delicious. The handmade pasta was paired with a super creamy cheese sauce and loaded with chunks of fresh, New England lobster. Somehow we found room to order dessert and the pastry chef and waiter were kind enough to add a Happy Birthday message for us with the chocolate mousse. The presentation was super cute but not cute enough to keep from eating the creamy mousse coated with a thin layer of crisp chocolate and chocolate ganache. A chocolate lover’s dream!
Breakfast Buffet
Breakfast at the Mountain View Grand is served in the Harvest Restaurant and you have the option of the buffet or ordering from the menu. The buffet is the way to go here because the price is comparable to the individual menu items. Just about all the menu items are available in the buffet so it’s a better value. Plus, with the buffet you can eat a hearty breakfast that will satisfy you until late afternoon or early evening.
As with most buffets, there is an array of healthy and not so healthy items, so be mindful of what you choose. There’s nothing worse than starting your day with a food coma. Steer towards the items that will provide you healthy fats like scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. A side of plain yogurt topped with fresh fruit provides anti-oxidants and a gut-healthy probiotic. A variety of fresh, locally made cheeses is also in the buffet and I highly recommend a slice or two of the cheddar. Finish out breakfast with a small side of oatmeal and you’ll be fueled for the day.
Wrap Up
If you’re a foodie and hesitant to stay at the Mountain View Grand because there aren’t a lot of restaurants in the area, you can rest assured there is no need to leave the resort for a delicious and fairly priced meal. In fact, since everything I ate was so delicious, the menu is a good excuse for booking extra nights to allow time for exploring the menu.
Bonus Tips and Fun Facts
- For a romantic, fine-dining experience make a dinner reservation for the resort’s 1865 Wine Cellar. This quiet, intimate venue is tucked away in the wine cellar (of course!) and only accessible via a hotel escort for those with reservations or through the daily wine cellar tour.
- The restaurant area of the Harvest Tavern was once the bar/lounge and the main dining room was the Crystal Ballroom, which is now reserved for weddings and functions. As its name implies, the room’s highlight is a magnificent crystal chandelier suspended from a hand-painted ceiling.
- Prior to the opening of the Harvest Tavern, all meals were served in the ballroom and there was dancing every night with dinner. A much different experience than modern day dining!
- Also different was the Friday night dances held in the lounge. This was a way to welcome back the men who spent their weeks working in the nearby cities and who joined their families on the weekends. Because of its remote location and the poor conditions of the roads, as compared to today, traveling to the resort used to take much longer. Because of this, it was typical for families to spend a month or more.
