We chose this for our anniversary dinner when we visited from out-of-town. Went on a weeknight in summer. Hostess allowed us to choose where we wanted to sit. We chose the cute patio since the weather was beautiful. It was very relaxing, with a quiet fountain and views of nature. I had grilled salmon which was excellent and my husband had NY strip. Plates looked beautiful and food was delicious. Pretty good wine selection. Server took care of our needs without being overly intrusive. After dinner we walked off the patio onto a trail to the Wabash River and watched the sun set. Nice spot for date night! read more

The Red Geranium Restaurant - Patio in summer - American Near Me - New Harmony, Indiana

See all

The Red Geranium has been well-respected for a long time. I have only eaten there a few times in the past but my recent experience underscored that the Red Geranium is a classy, outstanding restaurant in an area that is full of fast food choices. The service was only outclassed by the exceptional food. We had a large party and ordered from the menu. The steaks were outstanding as would be expected from this part of the country but what I was so surprised by was the quality of the seafood... simply phenomenal. The only drawback is that it is quite a haul from Evansville and I get concerned that this wonderful restaurant in the country will have the business to sustain it. In the meantime, I am looking forward to my next visit to Evansville and a trip out to the Red Geranium. read more

Been here a few times. Never disappointed. The most memorable was when my parents came down during Thanksgiving and we had our dinner out. The butternut squash and turkey bisque was ridiculously tasty, thick and rich, and flavor packed. I still dream of it. If you are in the area, drive over and take the tour. Follow that up with a delightful meal here. read more

I will precursor my review by saying this is very tough. I wanted to LOVE this place but I just ended up liking it. Given all the 4 and 5 star reviews I feel bad but that is what review sites like this one are for. I will start by saying it's beautiful. We were seated toward the end of the maze in a lovely room with a fireplace which was perfect for me and my BF celebrating our anniversary. I will also say that my star count went up to a 5 when I realized they had my all-time favorite/hard-to-get in Indiana beer, Dogfish Namaste on their beer list!!!! WHOA! Their wine list is extensive which is also nice. I would also like to compliment our server who was very attentive and lovely. But that's where my 5 stars stop. I was so completely disappointed with my meal. I ordered the tri-color tortellini pasta and hate to say it, but I could have purchased frozen at Costco and done better. My pasta was overcooked and stuck together in one lump in my bowl and the sauce that accompanied it tasted like seasoned tomato paste with similar consistency. I think I took about 4 bites and that was it. It was really tough to choke out $19 for that dish. I would like to think that maybe we came a bit late and the food was sitting for a while prior to plating but honestly there's no excuse to serving a meal that expensive like that. It was just downright disappointing. I would certainly give it another try but my first go was a tough one. Please don't let this review stop you from trying RG. According to their reviews many others have had a wonderful experience. read more

As beautiful as this place was, our breakfast was terrible. The waffle tasted as though it had been made with sour mix and the eggs were burnt, but served cold. The is probably because we were the only people to order while we were there and it still took 30 minutes to get our eggs served. Our coffee was served with apologies for it being cold, but no offer to get it warmed up. After paying the bill, we left to find breakfast. read more

In planning our trip last weekend down to New Harmony, the Red Geranium appeared to be the only place in town for a serious sit-down evening meal. Therein may lie the problem. We had made our (required) reservation a few days in advance and arrived at the RG at the designated 7 p.m. hour on Saturday night. The facility was lovely and the staff very gracious. We selected a bottle of wine and ordered an appetizer of fried green tomatoes. All of that was fine. It was with the entrées that the wheels fell off. I ordered the large prime rib (a special) with baked potato and asparagus. L ordered the salmon. The server came back out almost immediately to tell us they were out of the salmon. L then ordered the small prime rib. When the server brought out the food she explained that they were also out of baked potatoes. Instead they had substituted roasted baby potatoes. 'Not a bad choice, but not what was promised. For all that, the prime rib was gristly, the asparagus was under-cooked, and they had omitted the au jus on L's prime rib. L was quick to attribute their poor offering to the fact that they are the only game in town and hence have no real competition; but we both also considered the numerous meals we've had at the Story Inn in Story, Indiana, which is the only place to eat in that town and yet the food and service there are invariably absolutely wonderful. If you're going to be in New Harmony you are probably going to have at least one meal at the Red Geranium. So be it. Just know what to expect. Especially for what they're charging, they should be providing a better dining experience. read more

Fabulous food. Visited tonight and will be back tomorrow with my Inlaws. Everything was fabulous. The weather is perfect and I felt as though I was eating dinner in Sonoma or Napa. Thank you Daye for excellent service. read more

The Red Geranium Restaurant - So good we stole our daughters food :/ - American Near Me - New Harmony, Indiana

See all

Really had high hopes going in for Saturday brunch. The service was slow, inattentive, and forgetful. 40 minutes had passed by the time my Harmonist omelet arrived, somewhat warm and missing the scallions. Omelet was bland, potatoes appeared to be of the frozen prepared variety. Server, in 40 minutes, never once stopped by our table, let alone offer a warm up on my coffee. Same story after the food arrived, never did our server stop by the table on his own volition. Cheese was missing from the pasta, as was the warmth and inviting atmosphere you expect in New Harmony. Pass. read more

We've been to this restaurant twice in the last 3-4 months for family reunions, even being seated at the same table because we're always the largest group there. Our experience was splendid on both occasions. First of all, Red Geranium is situated in the historic little town of New Harmony, IN; the drive from Louisville takes you through Hoosier National Forest and there are lovely little side trips you can take along the way. If you're interested in the history of the town, I'd recommend taking a tour of the historic sites. There are also parks, gardens and labyrinths within a short distance from the restaurant. And if you plan to spend a weekend there and explore surrounding areas, the New Harmony Inn (which houses the Red Geranium restaurant) is a great choice. I ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca (Sauteed chicken breast with prosciutto ham, spinach and provolone cheese, covered in a creamy mushroom sauce) the first time, and loved it. When we were there last Sunday, my wife ordered the Malted Waffle with warm maple syrup, butter and a side of bacon while I ordered the Harmonist Omelette (omelette stuffed with goat cheese, mushrooms and chives, and served with fried breakfast potatoes and choice of toast) off the brunch menu and added a side of sausage links. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals. For dessert, I had the Chocolate Decadence Torte, which was very good. She had the Butterscotch Bread Pudding with Bourbon Glaze, which was okay. The service on both occasions was superb. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect of this place because of the differing yelp reviews. As of three days ago, this place is solid. No over cooked vegetables. Nice space. Good service (it wasn't busy). Overall nice meal. Good deal because they're the only nice sit down restaurant in New Harmony. read more

We had a reservation for 6pm on Sunday in April 2019. The restaurant was very quiet with customers at only one other table in the main dining room, although there were a few tables enjoying drinks in the bar area. Our server was very attentive since she had nobody else to take care of. The decor was charming and rustic although the artwork was a little confusing - it didn't all seem to "fit" whatever theme they were striving for. The main dining room was very clean and overlooked a lovely outdoor area. Our party of four ordered drinks, pecan crusted chicken (x2), chicken Parmesan, and the classic burger. It did not take long for our food to be served. Everything looked good and tasted good. No complaints. The food was good but nothing extraordinary. 4 stars because while the service was attentive and prompt and the facility was very clean and charming, the food is overpriced for what you get. It's good food but $17 for a burger that is nothing special is a little outrageous. Still, we enjoyed our experience and visiting New Harmony. read more

New Harmony, Indiana is best known as the site of two failed early-nineteenth century socialist experiments. The town now offers a more subtle but no less penetrating critique of late capitalism in the form of the restaurant The Red Geranium. The establishment has a monopoly on "fine dining" in the community, with fine dining defined narrowly as the presence of two forks at each table setting. Our group of seven was mercifully seated indoors, so the off-pitch bleating of the singing guitarist stationed on the patio only offended upon our arriving and departing. Aside from persistent questioning as to the whereabouts of our missing companion (there was no missing companion) the service was unobjectionable. The appetizers were an exercise in contempt. The shrimp cocktail was a morbid example of the genre; rather than dangle enticingly from anything resembling a drinking glass, the sad specimens lay prostrate across a small plate bathed in their vivisection fluids. The beef satay clung stubbornly to its skewers, neither tooth nor utensil could induce the tough, mealy meat to separate. The gelatinous "peanut butter sauce" - as the server described it - could not alter the brute fact that this dish had no greater desire to be eaten than I had to eat it. The main courses further revealed the exploitative strategies of a monopolist. Under-cooked, under-seasoned scallops sat atop a vast pile of flavorless grits with the texture of a 1950s" C-" home ec student's first attempt at cream of wheat. The dry, scorched chicken parmigiana evoked the microwaved leftovers from a church picnic. The diner unfortunate enough to have ordered the chicken with mushroom risotto declared he would have been happier with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The gloom-laden silence at the table was in due course interrupted by the appearance of the chef, who rather than inquire as to whether we were enjoying our meal, announced with considerable satisfaction that "a quiet table is always a good sign!". It was not a good sign. It is perhaps worth noting on this score just how densely packed with churches New Harmony is for a town of its size. Alas any hope for an enjoyable experience at The Red Geranium remains, for the time being, a purely faith-based position. read more

Excellent service and the food was fantastic! Kudos to chef Janice Sandoval!!! Would recommend a visit to New Harmony Inn and the Red Geranium. read more

This was such a strange experience. First off I must compliment the hostess who is exceptionally gracious and kind. Unfortunately I can not say the same for our waitress Jackie. I arrived with my mother in law at 8am for brunch. When we were seated there were only two other tables seated and they already had drinks and were placing their orders. Jackie brought us waters and proceeded to ignore us for 30 minutes. I tried to get her attention and she seemed to be avoiding making eye contact which was bizarre. The restaurant was filling up and we watched other people receive attentive service. When I finally stood up to leave at 8:31am, the other server (who was not our server) rushed over and asked to take our order. I said no thank you and he threw his hands up in frustration?! I got the impression it was "a well I tried and these customers are unreasonable" gesture. In hind sight I can not decide if it was Jackie or the male waiter who was more rude and unwelcoming. The third waitress and hostess were very apologetic as we left. But why on earth would anyone stay to eat food and spend money where they clearly are considered a burden? The rest of our stay in New Harmony was ok, not great. My family and I got the vibe that although New Harmony is a town that sees a lot of tourists, they do not actually like and are put out by said tourists. read more

I really wanted my review to be good for this restaurant, but after TWO meals, I just can't give it 4 much less 5 stars. The service was soooooo slow! For dinner on a Saturday night it took an hour from order to meal. On a Sunday morning (the first ones there) it took 40 minutes from order to meal. To get the tab/check was PAINFULLY even longer! And for both experiences, the capacity of the restaurant was not even close to fully occupied. For dinner, occupancy was 65% and for breakfast it was 30%. The food was great, the staff was very polite, but timeliness is not on their menu. read more

Overpriced. Service was very slow, even though it wasn't busy. Portions were small and food was not flavorful. I had the shrimp lunch dish and the rice was very dry, no sauce and very little flavor. The shrimp were ok, just little. Linguini was also ordered at our table and had no flavor. Caprese salad was good, but not a meal - would be fine as a side or appetizer. read more

Came with my husband as he raved about how good the food and the view was. We were up early and was looking forward to a wonderful meal. To our surprise they don't offer breakfast anymore. Only sweet rolls. Being I am on a low carb diet this was not going to work. Disappointed. read more

Website said they did offered brunch on the weekends and we could make reservations starting at 10am. We booked brunch at 10:30 am, went there and were told they don't open until 11. Even their paper sign of their offerings and times said brunch starting at 10am. Dinner: Hostess wanted to seat us right by the kitchen doors and seemed shocked when we asked not to be by the bathrooms or kitchen (we made reservations and plenty of tables were available in better areas). We waited 15-20 minutes before someone came by with waters...and I think that only happened because a table got sat next to us. Salads were good, ordered rack of lamb and it definitely wasn't dusted, it was cooked to our liking but the "dusted" espresso and cocoa made each bite taste like I was eating charcoal, was not worth the $33 for the entree. A table next to us who also ordered the rack of lamb sent it back (guess they weren't fans either) and got chicken instead. Tiramisu was good but then we got to the center and it was still partially frozen. Not worth the $$$ we dropped for the food. read more

Had reservations for a large special event. First course took over 30 mins. Waitress finally told us chef had been fired 3 days ago for failing drug test. Why didn't the management call to let us know there was no chef beforehand. Our dinner arrived an hour and forty-five minutes after being seated. Food had poor presentation, a few steaks tough, seafood cold. For $30-$35 a plate it was a very depressing meal. The general manager Pete would not even speak with us to apologize; he did not bother to come down from the convention center. No chef and the GM isn't even in the building?? It is only a matter of weeks before this beautiful places closes down. read more

The Red G has a new menu and new executive chief. The menu is fit for any foodie. So excited to enjoy excellent food and as always superior service. The sea bass with bamboo rice was delicious! Good wines too. Check the back for discontinued wines at a discount. read more

This is going to be a tough review. Let's say the food was 4 stars, but the service was only 2. And I feel a little bad saying that because it was really just our server. I'll get the bad out of the way...we were seated for over 30 minutes before our drink order was taken, and then it was the hostess who had to take care of us. Our server would come and apologize but it never sounded really sincere or heartfelt. A couple who was seated well after us got their food before us. But they had a different server. That being said all the other staff I saw was working their butts off. Big props to the bus boy who kept our water filled and made sure our table was clean. He obviously took pride in his work and my wife actually took him aside and tipped him. The hostess was doing her best too. She actually stood in as server for another table and took our drink orders. Now for the good. The menu is terrifically prepared and the prices reasonable for what you're getting. My wife had a prime rib which was absolutely perfect and I had a rack of lamb that melted in my mouth. The décor is quaint and fits in with the whole New Harmony vibe. It's a testament to how good the food was that the service didn't totally ruin the evening. read more

We had a very fun and pleasant dinner here on the first night of our stay. (It was actually pretty much the only option in town on a Sunday night.) When we arrived, they warned us that they were understaffed and busy. We could see that they had a table of 13 in the middle of the restaurant. There was one other table with two people having dinner. They sat us as far away as they could in the main dining room and really took good care of us. They were hospitable and had that delightful, small town chatty graciousness. It did take a while for our salads to arrive, but they kept checking in and giving us savory bread and butter. The wedge salad was classically solid, and our main course came in good time. (It seemed to be prepared along with the large table in the center.) Our fillets were perfectly cooked, the sides were wonderful. We had an amazing ice cream cocktail for dessert and called it a night. I get the sense that they were neither at their best nor their worst that night, but they worked very hard to give us a good experience and the succeeded. read more

Great food in a wonderful historic town. Patio seating in the summer months with live music make this restaurant a must for a weekend get away. The employees at the Red Geranium and the New Harmony Inn are very professional and accommodating. read more

The place looks charming and nice until you sit down. I went there for breakfast. The coffee jug was so dirty you would say it hasn't been washed in days. The waitresses were like stick in the mud and not friendly. Nothing in the menu sounded good so I thought I should stick to the very basics. I ordered cinnamon oatmeal. What came to table was a blub of brown mush in a plate that looked like someone's vomit. Extremely unappetizing. It was cold and bitter from the excessive amount of cinnamon. The waitress saw I didn't touch it but didn't bother to ask how was it. We had to go back there for dinner because thete is no ther place to eat here, period. Different staff and different attitude. Now they are too accommodating. Right off the bat the waitress asked what cocktail we like to try. Like they are trying to give it away. Then when getting our order she asked my 7 year old what does she want. Naturally my daughter ordered from kids menu. Now she is asking her what salad and appetizer she wants. We thought it's comes with kids order. The salad was huge and from adult menu. The place is very pricy and we knew what we are getting into. But the fact that the waitress is trying to stick it to you to run your bill higher by cocktails and 5 course kids meal that she knew no child can finish. So if you stay at New Harmony you are stuck with this place and high bills and mediocre food. read more

A few days ago I took my daughter here for lunch and was hoping it would be the RG of the past, but sadly it wasn't. My first disappointment was there was a desk over the beautiful piece of art as you enter the restaurant. The art is far too beautiful to cover! The second issue I had was the wait for a table. Empty tables were highly noticeable, but we still had to wait 30 min or so. The host was also the waiter in the beginning lol. The food was decent, but the atmosphere was no longer there. The choices on the menu also need to be improved. I'm not in a hurry to return read more

Probably one of the best dining experiences you'll ever have for the price. The food is exceptional, the service is prompt, and professional, and the ambiance is an artistic display of local talent. read more

I was visiting my sister's family in mt. carmel, IL and went to new harmony to visit and had lunch at this place. she had her wedding reception here like gzillion years ago. but the food was really good. I had Tillapia with rice and veggies. their mimosa had too much pulp, but overall experience was good. very humid weather. so, not sure I'll be returning to new harmony anytime soon. ha ha read more

This is my third or fourth time here, the town is cute, numerous little shops to see. The decor as you enter leaves a bit to be desired but once inside it is nice quiant little restaurant. Our waiter was Casey and he was excellent. We were there for lunch, had the curried chicken salad and it was very good. Prices are reasonable. If you are in the area the town is worth seeing and this place serves up some good food, service has alway been excellent. read more

This is a Fantastic place to get away from the daily hustle of the city, we enjoy the laid back atmosphere and quiet time. We usually get a Lakeside Fireplace room, and Dinner at the Red Geranium is awesome. Real deal at this Hotel and Dining room. In the summer we really enjoy the patio, and Friday night patio jams are fun and enjoyable. Always a treat to visit New Harmony Inn and the Red Geranium. read more

My friend and I visited New Harmony for their Christmas Festival. After the mid-morning parade we went to the Red Geranium for lunch. This is the highest rated restaurant in New Harmony, but that's not a very high bar. For a tourist destination hoping to attract a holiday crowd, they are notably lacking in places to eat. I ordered a cup of black bean soup,which was okay, not much flavor, and a Cobb salad with grilled chicken. My friend had a special--a pecan coated chicken breast. As we sat there, and sat there, and sat there, it became apparent that the kitchen was very behind. Okay. Any kitchen can get behind at times, and we weren't in a great hurry. But we could tell that tables around us that had been there before us were impatiently awaiting their lunches. I mean, this was the first day of the Christmas Festival, just after the parade. If you are the best known restaurant in town, you have to know this will likely be your busiest day. Did they not have their A-team in the kitchen? And if so, why not? After the soup, we waited a good half-hour for our lunch. My Cobb salad arrived, bedecked with grilled salmon. That's right. I got salmon instead of chicken. I don't much like salmon but I ate it, because I figured changing at this point would entail another long wait. The salad was good, that's about it, nothing special in flavor or presentation. My friend's chicken breast was good, juicy and hot. When you are the only game in town, I suppose it's easy to garner a great reputation for excellence; The Red Geranium would not likely last long against any significant competition. read more

Service was extremely poor and slow. Ran out of many dishes before 7pm on Saturday night. Food ok. For the price the sides were small and bland. Not very crowded and waitress was very expressive about how overloaded she was with two tables. Not worth the gas money if you are not local. read more

I had red a couple of reviews before going to the Red Geranium and by doing so I was a little nervous to what some people have posted about within the last year. I am glad I did not get scared off by other people's reviews because The Red Geranium made my Valentine's weekend with my girlfriend very special. We had breakfast each morning, and even though we had to wait a few minutes for a table it was well worth the wait both mornings for breakfast. Everything was cooked to perfection. The day before Valentine's Day we ate dinner as well. The Crème brûlée was amazing. And the filet mignon was cooked right where we had requested for it. The filet mignon aged perfectly and cut like butter. It is a must stop location if you are ever in the area. read more

The Red Geranium Restaurant - American Near Me - New Harmony, Indiana

See all

This place had really went down hill for me. The food used to be exquisite, and the dining experience remarkable. We used to go to New Harmony for a nice little get away loved the Red Geranium. My experience this time while celebrating our anniversary, was not a good one. The only reason I gave two stars and not one is because my wife did enjoy her Chicken Cordon Blu. I had the Sirloin strip with onions and brussell Sprouts. The steak was so tough I felt like I was eating jerky, it was very fatty and just not a good meal. We drank a bottle of wine and reminisced about being there before, the company was good, the service was good, but the steak was awful. I think this cow must have died of old age. I remember when they used to Chateaubriand and it was so delicious. Of course this is no longer on the menu. So we had a $100 meal and I for one was so disappointed. I wasn't going to ruin our anniversary by griping to the manager, but seriously folks, the food was less than desirable. Extremely overpriced ! read more

A charming restaurant in a quaint, historic setting with a new chef who is adding her creations to the long time favorites. Feel free to drop in for a casual meal or join many others who come to celebrate special occasions. The food is very good, the service friendly and the prices are reasonable, especially compared to comparable big city dining establishments. Weather and timing permitting there is a fire in the fireplace or live jazz in the bar or you can choose a patio with amazing views. The community was founded in 1812 as a utopian community and the restaurant is surrounded by many charming architectural elements in addition to many fountains, works of art and swans swimming on the lake. The adjacent NewHarmony Inn and Conference Center is Shaker in design and furnishing and is a delightful, relaxing destination and the business center of town, which still has just one blinking stop light, features charming local shops. I have returned year after year and so hope you take the time to discover and enjoy and help preserve this most special, wonderful place. read more

I've eaten here many, many times over 30 years of going to New Harmony. Something has happened, maybe new management, but the service was absolutely is horrifying! Not necessarily the waitress, but the management. My wife and her retreat planning partner came in with only 11 women total and waited a full hour for drinks, another hour after that for food, saw the manager twice and were dismissed roundly as being impatient because "we're very busy right now". He was actually argumentative . . . . twice, an hour wait for drinks, and hour more for food, they ended up being in the restaurant almost 3 hours and the restaurant was not crowded. 7 tables with 2 people each. He was rude and made bad excuses twice. Again, I've been there over the years and find it charming and lovely and worth the drive . . . but the Manager (or assistant) from April 16th - evening should be fired. He's clueless as is the hostess who did the same thing. No apology, nt sense of customer service, untrained and unaware of what makes a good restaurant experience. This after we talked up the restaurant to the retreat participants. read more

With a choice of three dining rooms, my favorite is the old original one beautifully decorated with original art, tables covered with white table clothes and real flowers. It also has a cozy pub. And when the weather is good you can get outdoor seating. Wine and spirit selection is very good with a lot of choice. I always seem to leave with a new favorite wine. Food is well prepared and nicely presented with large portions. Large selection of original and beautiful deserts. I have been coming here for special meals for years and am never disappointed. read more

My wife & I got a package from the Inn that included dinner at the Red Geranium. She wasn't feeling well, so I called to ask if I could get it to go. They were happy to accommodate. We were so grateful. The bean soup & French onion were very good for a cold night. read more

Ate here with friends yesterday, hadn't been here in years. Wow, it is still as good as ever. We had small salads and the lettuce/greens were SO nice and fresh (I grow my own and I know good lettuce when I see it!) House dressing was excellent as well. We all had various sandwiches and they were ALL excellent. I had the portobello mushroom and it was one of the best I've ever had. Service was excellent as well, even though they were fairly busy. We all kept remarking to each other how good everything was. I can see I have been missing some good meals, we'll be back!!! read more

I really wanted to like this place ... the first time I tried to eat there I was with a bunch of people and we had a dog with us. Well, they wouldn't seat us on the patio with the dog. That's fine, if that's restaurant policy, but they acted strangely snobby about it. The second time I went was for dinner. Sadly, the inattentive service ruined it. There was barely anyone in the restaurant ... so I am not sure why it took so long for the food to come out and then why a half hour went by between taking the credit card and brining the receipt to sign. The food was just "okay," nothing wrong but just not anything special. I really don't know that I would be willing to give it a third try. read more

Our waiter did a fantastic job of meeting our needs and coming up with solutions to some of our unique requests. I believe his name is David. Food was also great! read more