There are a couple of words that pop into my head when I see Harlan + Holden stores: minimalist, premium... but I've now come to associate the brand with delicious food. Ladies and gentlemen, Harlan + Holden pulled a Sunnies Cafe on us and let me tell you that the result makes my tummy exceedingly happy.
I've been meaning to go to Harlan + Holden Glasshouse in Rockwell for quite some time. Seeing glimpses of the restaurant on social media was, as Loren Allred would happily belt out, never enough. I had to visit the restaurant for myself and dragged my best friend with me (thanks, Elisha)!
As the pictures above depict, the exterior of the restaurant is masterfully inviting. The lush greenery that surrounds the edifice provides a stark but necessary contrast to the modern structure. Truly, the restaurant lives up to its name of being a glasshouse. Through the glass walls, we were able to see the freshly-prepared food being brought to tables, customers enjoying their meals... it would have been a challenge to ignore it. Once inside, I couldn't help but think of a greenhouse as the restaurant is dotted with plant decor (or maybe some of them are real, I'm not sure). All in all, I believe that Harlan + Holden was able to effectively communicate their sleek minimalistic brand look through this restaurant. Just, wow.
However, the aesthetics only take a restaurant so far. The real question lies in the taste of the meals. Yet, Harlan + Holden Glasshouse manages to provide a wide selection of tastebud-tickling treats that I couldn't help but drool over.
Among appetisers, pastas, salads, bowls, and main dishes, I decided to go for a sandwich because I was craving for carbs that day. Then again, when am I not? I ordered a grilled 3-cheese sandwich filled with gruyere, cheddar, and brie. The salty cheesy flavour was accompanied by a sweet and tangy taste, which I later found out were orange-dipped apples and fig jam. With a side of kamote chips, I was fully satisfied. Although there weren't a lot of vegetarian options available, I was very glad to have this sumptuous sandwich available for me. I did my very best not to devour the meal in seconds.
Deciding what to have for dessert was tough business. We consulted Zomato for popular dishes and finally decided to order a New York Cheesecake and two lattes (soy for me and regular for Elisha). I normally have my coffee with cookies but the cheesecake was a welcome change of dessert. I could not stop taking pictures of them. I swear. See for yourselves.
All in all, I believe that Harlan + Holden Glasshouse is the place to go for a multitude of occasions ranging from solo coffee time to luncheons with your family or barkada to dinner dates with your partner. My only suggestion is to book a table ahead of time because the restaurant gets very packed in the afternoon! This is merely a testament to Harlan + Holden Glasshouse's popularity and high demand. I will definitely be making reservations and lunching out here again very soon.
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