An unforgettable dining experience. 31 courses over 7 hours. Delightful bites of magnificently executed marvels, paired with a selection of saps and juices. Damon is friendly and enthralling, as he enthusiastically describes each dish. His passion is evident in the creativity and flavors, making this well worth the visit. Only a set tasting menu is offered, with a price on par with top NYC offerings, but with an experience eclipsing most.
Pj Vitali
Ive never been there but i think the guy deserves a higher rating
Aqilan Aqilan
Im so disappointed that I can’t even the only thing I love ( the food ) ?
m Sami
Im so disappointed that I can’t even the only thing I love ( the food ) ?
Tony N.
Just go. It's Amazing. Ask him to give you anything extra he has, do the wine paring, do the juice paring. Do everything! I'm going back ASAP.
Tony Miraldo
Indescribable. All I can say is best meal ever.
emanuela bellani
Very nice experience, too bad I will never be able again to come here!!
Tom Miller
Profound, Delicious, Perplexing, Mind Boggling, Life-Altering, Magical, and FUN!
Michael Nicholls
Really nice
Randall K.
One of the top 2 or 3 dining experiences of my life. 6 hours and 31 courses (tho went by fast and were bit size, to perfect portion). It was dinner, theater, natural history, story telling, art and mind-blowingly good food. The vast majority of Damon's supplies come from his 12 acre "farm". Cooking with cedar, acorn, hickory, sumac, goldenrod, roots and more. Drinking various sap. Heating on stones. What do you call it when someone is using native and naturally occurring ingredients to prepare refined food? Locavore doesn't do it justice. Highly recommend if you can get in.
It took years to get a reservation and it didn’t disappoint. The man is a master and genius. The time, effort, and love he puts into each and every dish this man makes is astounding. I honestly don’t remember how long we were there, somewhere between 6-7 hours and 30+ course. I wish I could describe exactly how neat and exciting the experience and stories of how he creates his ingredients are.
Chris R.
This dining experience was everything we hoped it was going to be and so much more. Chef Damon truly made the Native Harvest experience an over the top experience we will never forget. He is one of the kindest, humblest, and most gracious people I have ever met, not to mention one of the most talented chefs I've ever encountered. I can't imagine anyone being able to pull off a feat in which diners are kept fully engaged, captivated, and fed constantly for more than 5 hours straight successfully, yet that is exactly what we experienced. It was truly incredible. I learned so much about the abundance of nature's bounty and how nature can inspire the meal that ends up on your plate from even the tiniest detail; full disclosure: I now definitely want to learn about what is available from nature around me and start incorporating it into our meals on a more regular basis. Haha. For instance, on our table was a pitcher filled with sycamore sap instead of a pitcher filled with water (sap is like 98% water when it comes out of the tree); it was possibly one of the most eye opening and mind blowing aspects of our entire meal when viewed from the perspective of the entire experience Chef Damon created. I would give this 10 stars if I could. The man is truly a culinary genius.
Steve Shoyer
The food was creative and very tasty, and it was a lot of fun listening to Damon describe the various dishes and processes he uses to prepare them. We were there for about seven hours, but the pacing was good - we were never waiting around or feeling rushed, and I couldn't believe that so much time had passed when we reached the end of the meal.
Ryan Murphy
I am a very exclusive client and have not been able to reach them. I will look elsewhere for world class, personalized, multiple course dining.
millerworks
Went to Damon Baehrel with friends for my birthday on October 5 of 2019. We had the privilege of just the four of us and Chef Baehrel for a 27-course 7.5 hour experience with fabulous wines and special non-alcoholic juice and sap blends. Damon did it all, and it boggles the mind just what we saw in the service. Our drinks never ran empty, one dish after another came out with such distinct and original flavors, such sublime tastes and smells, seven hours felt like an hour went by. Just one of the courses was a beautifully plated charcuterie dish featuring craft meats and cheeses prepared from scratch by Chef Baehrel. We found Chef to be warm, witty, funny, articulate, intelligent, charming, just one of the greatest hosts imaginable. I've been to a number of three-star Michelin experiences including Noma in Copenhagen and Noma's pop-up in Mexico which Time Magazine referred to as the "...meal of the century." Damon provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was equivalent in some ways, but almost on another planet when it comes to his Native Harvest cuisine. It was like watching a magical alchemist, some have said like a visit with Yoda or Willy Wonka. He's been at this for 35 years, and as we were also in the company of a friend and Owner/Chef at our best Italian restaurant in Gainesville, we all marveled from course to course at the experience in this beautiful home. Naysayers be damned, this man and this restaurant and this warm and wonderful presentation would have been worth it for twice the price. It was one of the very few top birthdays of my life. Just what was set up in advance for our engagement boggles the mind - absolutely spotless glasses lined up at the ready, table settings in the front room where we sampled many bite-courses and delicious palate-cleaning little iced slush balls of vegetable, fruit, and sweetness (no sugar, no cream) the endless beautiful presentation plates and unique utensils, the impossibly clean clever details, even the ice came prepared in a variety of ways and in a variety of concoctions - sap, fruits, syrups - just so impressive. The courses range from seafood to meats, cheeses, little bites of heaven on crackers made of pine, a profundity of techniques and methods, sauces so delicious we went in with fingers, and only one person to look to in the end - Chef Damon Baehrel. We felt we left meeting two new friends: The Chef of course, and when we got home, our own back yards that we hadn't given proper consideration to. What wonders there are to be found in nature. I dare say dinner with Damon is in some ways a life-changing event. If you can go, go! We continue to live the experience in our minds, this special time still resonating, and if food is magic, wonder, nature, and heart, this is the man and the place.
An unforgettable dining experience. 31 courses over 7 hours. Delightful bites of magnificently executed marvels, paired with a selection of saps and juices. Damon is friendly and enthralling, as he enthusiastically describes each dish. His passion is evident in the creativity and flavors, making this well worth the visit. Only a set tasting menu is offered, with a price on par with top NYC offerings, but with an experience eclipsing most.
Ive never been there but i think the guy deserves a higher rating
Im so disappointed that I can’t even the only thing I love ( the food ) ?
Im so disappointed that I can’t even the only thing I love ( the food ) ?
Just go. It's Amazing. Ask him to give you anything extra he has, do the wine paring, do the juice paring. Do everything! I'm going back ASAP.
Indescribable. All I can say is best meal ever.
Very nice experience, too bad I will never be able again to come here!!
Profound, Delicious, Perplexing, Mind Boggling, Life-Altering, Magical, and FUN!
Really nice
One of the top 2 or 3 dining experiences of my life. 6 hours and 31 courses (tho went by fast and were bit size, to perfect portion). It was dinner, theater, natural history, story telling, art and mind-blowingly good food. The vast majority of Damon's supplies come from his 12 acre "farm". Cooking with cedar, acorn, hickory, sumac, goldenrod, roots and more. Drinking various sap. Heating on stones. What do you call it when someone is using native and naturally occurring ingredients to prepare refined food? Locavore doesn't do it justice. Highly recommend if you can get in.
Restaurantji Recommends
It took years to get a reservation and it didn’t disappoint. The man is a master and genius. The time, effort, and love he puts into each and every dish this man makes is astounding. I honestly don’t remember how long we were there, somewhere between 6-7 hours and 30+ course. I wish I could describe exactly how neat and exciting the experience and stories of how he creates his ingredients are.
This dining experience was everything we hoped it was going to be and so much more. Chef Damon truly made the Native Harvest experience an over the top experience we will never forget. He is one of the kindest, humblest, and most gracious people I have ever met, not to mention one of the most talented chefs I've ever encountered. I can't imagine anyone being able to pull off a feat in which diners are kept fully engaged, captivated, and fed constantly for more than 5 hours straight successfully, yet that is exactly what we experienced. It was truly incredible. I learned so much about the abundance of nature's bounty and how nature can inspire the meal that ends up on your plate from even the tiniest detail; full disclosure: I now definitely want to learn about what is available from nature around me and start incorporating it into our meals on a more regular basis. Haha. For instance, on our table was a pitcher filled with sycamore sap instead of a pitcher filled with water (sap is like 98% water when it comes out of the tree); it was possibly one of the most eye opening and mind blowing aspects of our entire meal when viewed from the perspective of the entire experience Chef Damon created. I would give this 10 stars if I could. The man is truly a culinary genius.
The food was creative and very tasty, and it was a lot of fun listening to Damon describe the various dishes and processes he uses to prepare them. We were there for about seven hours, but the pacing was good - we were never waiting around or feeling rushed, and I couldn't believe that so much time had passed when we reached the end of the meal.
I am a very exclusive client and have not been able to reach them. I will look elsewhere for world class, personalized, multiple course dining.
Went to Damon Baehrel with friends for my birthday on October 5 of 2019. We had the privilege of just the four of us and Chef Baehrel for a 27-course 7.5 hour experience with fabulous wines and special non-alcoholic juice and sap blends. Damon did it all, and it boggles the mind just what we saw in the service. Our drinks never ran empty, one dish after another came out with such distinct and original flavors, such sublime tastes and smells, seven hours felt like an hour went by. Just one of the courses was a beautifully plated charcuterie dish featuring craft meats and cheeses prepared from scratch by Chef Baehrel. We found Chef to be warm, witty, funny, articulate, intelligent, charming, just one of the greatest hosts imaginable. I've been to a number of three-star Michelin experiences including Noma in Copenhagen and Noma's pop-up in Mexico which Time Magazine referred to as the "...meal of the century." Damon provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was equivalent in some ways, but almost on another planet when it comes to his Native Harvest cuisine. It was like watching a magical alchemist, some have said like a visit with Yoda or Willy Wonka. He's been at this for 35 years, and as we were also in the company of a friend and Owner/Chef at our best Italian restaurant in Gainesville, we all marveled from course to course at the experience in this beautiful home. Naysayers be damned, this man and this restaurant and this warm and wonderful presentation would have been worth it for twice the price. It was one of the very few top birthdays of my life. Just what was set up in advance for our engagement boggles the mind - absolutely spotless glasses lined up at the ready, table settings in the front room where we sampled many bite-courses and delicious palate-cleaning little iced slush balls of vegetable, fruit, and sweetness (no sugar, no cream) the endless beautiful presentation plates and unique utensils, the impossibly clean clever details, even the ice came prepared in a variety of ways and in a variety of concoctions - sap, fruits, syrups - just so impressive. The courses range from seafood to meats, cheeses, little bites of heaven on crackers made of pine, a profundity of techniques and methods, sauces so delicious we went in with fingers, and only one person to look to in the end - Chef Damon Baehrel. We felt we left meeting two new friends: The Chef of course, and when we got home, our own back yards that we hadn't given proper consideration to. What wonders there are to be found in nature. I dare say dinner with Damon is in some ways a life-changing event. If you can go, go! We continue to live the experience in our minds, this special time still resonating, and if food is magic, wonder, nature, and heart, this is the man and the place.