Harvester Kitchen by Bryan

BY MARY MICHAELS | PHOTOS BY JULIE PRAIRIE PHOTOGRAPHY

HOURS Wednesday-Sunday: 5:00-9:30 p.m. | Monday-Tuesday: Closed 196 East 6th Street | 605-271-2015 Info@HarvesterKitchenSF.com @harvesterkitchensf

It’s no secret that Sioux Falls residents (and visitors) love to eat out. Some of the most attention-grabbing headlines are those that announce the opening of a new restaurant. One of the newest spots in the downtown scene is the Harvester Kitchen by Bryan.

Chef Bryan Moscatello came to Sioux Falls by way of Napa Valley, Aspen, Chicago and, most recently, Washington, DC. His career spans three decades, with culinary experiences ranging from Colorado ski resorts to a notable restaurant with a view of The White House.

So how did he end up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota? Family.

Moscatello’s wife, Jaime, is from here, along with several other family members.

“We had talked about a move in the past, and there were just so many things happening in DC, as well as around the country,” Moscatello says. “I’ve moved a lot over the years, and it seemed like coming to Sioux Falls could be ‘it’ - no more moving.”

The stars seemed to align, as it was during this time when they were talking about moving that they got a call about a potential space. The historic Harvester Building near 6th Street and Phillips Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls had an opening when The Market restaurant decided to close. Moscatello says it just felt like it was the right place at the right time. Starting a restaurant is no small undertaking, especially when you’re doing that in the midst of a pandemic. While he wanted to put his own twist on the space, Moscatello felt it was important to preserve the history of the century-old building with its hardwood floors, exposed brick and wood beams.

He knew what he would need to invest on the food side with staffing and sourcing ingredients. So, to save a little money elsewhere, they called on the family for an “all hands on deck” renovation effort. The team kept

the community engaged by posting pictures of their progress on Facebook. Moscatello is obviously a lead-by-example person, as several pictures featured him hard at work, even down on the ground helping to lay the tile floor for the kitchen.

It’s interesting that he ended up here, in a historic building that used to be a farm implement dealership opening a restaurant, when what he really wanted to do as a young man was ski.

Moscatello grew up in an Italian family in New Jersey. While his first jobs were cooking and washing dishes, he decided he wanted to ski, so he moved to Aspen, Colorado. He found his way back into the kitchen, however, and his career took off from there.

Colorado was good for Moscatello, where he ran the Adega Restaurant + Wine Bar in Denver and the accolades began. Esquire magazine named Adega among the Best New Restaurants in the country in 2002. Moscatello was on Food & Wine magazine’s 2003 list of Best New Chefs in America, and he was named 2003 Chef of the Year by the 5280 magazine in Denver.

He has brought all his past experiences to this new space for the Harvester Kitchen. Moscatello wanted everything to feel comfortable, like you are coming to a dinner party.

For example, there is a comfortable living room, which is the perfect space for drinks or snacks with friends, and a den for an after dinner “kitchen cocktail” or dessert. A variety of dining options is available, like a cozy table for two or a family dining table that can accommodate groups of six or eight. Moscatello says that table in particular is like coming over for a special day at his house, as guests are

treated to his Grandmother’s china and her silver-plated silverware. If you like the idea of a special Sunday family dinner, the Harvester Kitchen is open Sundays from 5 until 9:30 p.m.

The glass-enclosed wine cellar is stunning with its beautiful wood racks and the extensive, hand-picked selection of wines. Moscatello also added a large chef’s island in the kitchen where guests can “stop by and visit.” The entire design was intended for people to come back again and again and have a different dining experience each time.

Although Moscatello has a wide array of influences in his kitchen and in the restaurant design, he also wanted to give a nod to his new home here in the 605. So, he brought in wellknown local artist Chuck Bennis to tag the brick wall in the entryway with a little “DTSF” graffiti.

When you look at the menu, you realize that you will need to make multiple visits to the Harvester Kitchen just to sample everything coming out of the kitchen.

Perhaps one day you start with drinks and “snacks” like Lamb Meatballs or Jumbo Lump Crab Rolls. Or, you plan an entire evening out where you can begin your dinner with one of the “Starters” like Spice Roasted Beets, Sunchoke Tortelloni or Sherry Glazed Scallops….then move into the “Mains” that feature chicken, lamb, beef and a variety of fresh seafood. All of these delicious meals are served with a choice of potato. Not just any potato, either. This is a specialty area for the restaurant, preparing potato dishes as they are traditionally made in France.

Check out the full menu on the restaurant’s website – and then make a reservation while you’re there!