Jessie’s Harvest House, a farmhouse-chic lodge tucked in the shadows of Hunter Mountain in Tannersville, brings farm-fresh rustic American comfort food that isn’t just burgers and barbeque. Formerly the beloved Swiss Chalet, the newly restored restaurant and lodge continues the legacy of the quaint, old inn, welcoming locals and visitors into what feels like a big, cozy house to experience mountaintop hospitality.
While many eateries now boast farm-to-table menus, head chef and owner Phil DiFalco trained at the renowned restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns and brings a refined culinary aesthetic to his creations. The “elevated comfort food” at Jessie’s Harvest House is a spin on DiFalco’s traditional family dishes, those warm permeating aromas and melt-on-your-tongue tastes of childhood that he knows so well. In fact, a popular dish on the year-round menu is his Grandma Jessie’s Meatballs ($12), who is the namesake for the Harvest House. “Every single time we cook that dish, it is very dear to our heart,” DiFalco says. They also offer weekly specials Tuesday through Thursday, like Wednesday’s beer-battered East Coast cod and chips ($18).
DiFalco values the intimate exchange he can have with local farmers, saying, “Growing up right outside of the city, I couldn’t have that relationship.” DiFalco’s providers are not stoney faceless delivery trucks, but rather nearby operations like Fromer Farms, which is located just a few minutes down the road and provides produce for the organic salad mix ($12). For certain products, DiFalco’s high standards mean he must source from a little farther out, like the one-pound rib eye ($46) and special burger blend ($18), which are come from famed NYC meat purveyor Pat LaFrieda, and the pan-seared duck breast ($32) from Crescent Farms in Long Island.
DiFalco and his wife Sarah Slutzky, whose family founded Hunter Mountain ski resort, welcome others to have a quintessential Catskills experience in their quaint lodge. Delighted visitors walk away praising not just the food, but also the cozy atmosphere of the wood-paneled lodge. While you wait to be seated or if you’re eating alone, you can sit at the bar on a wooden stool and drink beer from local breweries, like Catskill’s Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company. The restaurant boasts a fireplace lounge, three dining rooms with large wooden tables, and a patio to eat alfresco among the mountains. Lodging comes complete with Wi-Fi, smart TV, and Netflix. Whether you’re going for fresh food or staying the night in the cozy lodge, Jessie’s Harvest House provides an immersive Catskill experience.
