Okay, let’s be honest there are several excellent restaurants to rave about in Ashland, Oregon. And trust me, I plan on raving about them all in due time. But today, I have to give a huge shout-out to one of our family’s absolute favorites — Harvey’s Place!
I remember being a kid and hearing the theme music to ‘Cheers’ come on the television. It was such a cool song that perfectly summarized the show — “a place where everyone knows your name.” Those who know the song and the show will recall any time that a “regular” walked through the doors, everyone would say hi, call out their name, or acknowledge them in some grand fashion. Plus, the two regulars Cliff and Norm, would always sit at the end of the bar to visit and chat with the owner Sam. I am not trying to have you relive the show here, but I need to point out these attributes because they play into how I feel about Harvey’s Place.
First, anytime my husband, kids, or I walk into Harvey’s, we are immediately recognized and acknowledged by name. It is similar to walking into a good friend or family member’s home. It doesn’t hurt that our youngest son is now the host there, but this treatment was happening long before his time and says a ton about the staff that Harvey’s keeps.
Next, during a non-pandemic year, you can often find my husband and one of his greatest friends sitting at the end of the bar chatting it up, enjoying a beer, and eager to talk with their third bestie, the owner. Sound familiar? You can start calling them Norm and Cliff if you want to; I do!
Okay, if you are thinking, “Carrie, you love it at Harvey’s Place because you are invested in the people.” Well, you wouldn’t be wrong. But there are so many other reasons!
Have I mentioned the food is outstanding? You can choose from some great Pacific Northwest fare like salmon or some great classic comfort meals. Personally, I love the fish and chips or macaroni and cheese; they are both delicious!
Another stand out thing about Harvey’s Place: when Covid-19 hit, they quickly figured out how to do take out and keep all of us who love a meal out fed with our favorites. Plus, during the warmer months, an outdoor seating area was quickly erected to accommodate more diners. Sitting under the stars in the well-lit outdoor space soon became one of our favorite dinner dates.
As you can see, there are many reasons to love Harvey’s Place, and if you haven’t been in before, make sure you go soon. And just because we are in a pandemic and restaurants aren’t currently allowing guests inside doesn’t mean you shouldn’t order take-out once in a while, and when you do — try Harvey’s Place! I know you will love it just as much as I do.
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