Fine dining has never felt more welcoming and close to home than when you first walk through the front doors of Harvest, 21 N. Pinckney St. A warm, friendly environment is exactly what the restaurant owner, Tami Lax, had in mind.

’Once you work in the restaurant industry, there’s nothing really like it. It kind of gets under your skin and I really enjoy the pace of it,’ Lax said. ’It’s sort of like throwing a dinner party every night, and guests are coming over, so I get to entertain my friends every night of the week.’

As a Green Bay native, Lax attributes her grandparents as major influences on her culinary career. Through the combination of Lax’s family traditions and her experience as chef de cuisine at L’Etoile, Harvest was born.

The restaurant first opened in 2000 and has served the Madison community with a blend of modern American and French cuisine. The restaurant is also known for using ingredients grown both locally and organically.

Another unique aspect of Harvest is its seasonally-driven menu. In addition to the regular menu, Harvest offers a nightly tasting menu along with a wine pairing. The nightly menu changes every day in order to highlight the ’freshest, most in-season ingredients.’

However, the best thing Harvest has to offer is an inviting environment in which one can sit back, relax and be themselves while still enjoying fine food.

’A lot of times a fine dining restaurant is perceived as being something that is too fancy and too expensive to go to,’ Lax said. ’At Harvest, we like to pride ourselves in being a restaurant that serves fine food, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.’

Harvest does not have a dress code and welcomes people from all walks of life and for any dining experience.

’We encourage people to come in, even if it’s just for late-night dessert or coming in early evening for appetizers, it doesn’t have to be a full dinner,’ Lax said.

No matter the reason a customer enters, Harvest welcomes all who step inside.