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Gather
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
2200 Oxford St(between Allston Way & Fulton St)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
(510) 809-0400
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
766 reviews for Gather
Review Highlights
"Vegan "Charcuterie" -- Definitely recommend this."
(in 186 reviews)
"I am ADDICTED to the Lacinato kale salad."
(in 59 reviews)
"We ordered the Delta asparagus & Spicy Tomato pizza."
(in 14 reviews)
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766 reviews in English
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Review from Jenn C.
Updated - 2/11/2012
I've been back to Gather a couple times since my last review - and was secretly hoping that they would have the fried maitake mushroom available last night when I popped in after a show at the Berkeley Rep.
Arriving just before 10, I was cheerfully greeted and directed to the bar in the back where the bartender was very friendly and helpful. He let me taste some of the ingredients I had never seen in drinks before - a rhubarb liqueur and Rhuby Cubed - that rhubarb liqueur, rum, ruby red grapefruit, hopped grapefruit bitters. It was light and refreshing, citrusy and exactly the kind of thing I would want to drink on a hot day. I ended up selecting the "Bronze Resistance" which was absolutely delicious for me as a fennel fan - my friend got Corpse Reviver #2 which was really really good - I might get that next time.
Back in the days when I was still a vegetarian who occasionally ate seafood when dining out - I first encountered "Fritto Misto" while traveling in Italy - you get a giant pile of crispy golden fried seafood - usually more than you can eat before you get your entree. I saw that there was a vegan fritto misto with oyster mushrooms - with some fond memories of both Italian fritto misto experiences and the fried oyster mushrooms at Millennium - I ordered.
While delicious, I have to say I was shocked that the price for 5 little pieces of fried mushrooom and squash was $12 - it should be more like $8. The cauliflower-horseradish aoli was creamy and rich but lacked bite. The fried bits were really crispy but the flavors didn't really come through - obviously, the onion ring was an onion - but the oyster mushrooms seemed to have lost their flavor, else I got a plate of fried squash bits only (which were like hush puppies). I expected more mushroomy and sweet squash flavors - both seemed a bit lost to the batter.
Though I was tempted to order the vegan charcuterie, it looked like they changed the formula and I wasn't as excited about it as I had been about the smoked melon and the vegan sausage on the charcuterie the last several times I had been at Gather.
Instead, I ordered the spicy tomato pizza. Talk about Pizza-Gasm! I recently experienced really awesome vegan pizza from Rotten City and then ordered one at home - which was satisfactory. This pizza cost $9 less, was about the same size and was far superior (my friend agreed - having tried the RC pizza, too).
The crust was thin without being soggy and I like how the edges balloon up a bit in the oven, though they blackened a bit - the crust was crispy without being oily. The sauce was absolutely delicious - very fresh tomato tasting, with the chile oil and chopped up capers/olives giving the whole pizza a bit of "arrabiata" taste to it - the only thing I might ask is for less cashew cream and more spice!
We also ordered the frites on the side - they were delicious with the outstanding house made catsup.
I am really happy that Gather's menu is changing and seasonal - and that they very clearly note vegan and gluten-free options. That saves so much work for the wait staff and helps out customers a lot. I hope to go back for the smoked artichoke entree before it goes off the menu!
Service was fantastic and dining in the bar area was actually quite nice and I think less noisy than the main dining room.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/11/2010
My friends and I had a delightful meal at Gather - I had been looking forward to eating there for… Read more »
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Review from Sidney P.
Fremont, CA
2/12/2012
I'm always up for an artisanal, seasonal, localized, regional food experience, and have enjoyed such at several Bay Area restaurants. Gather had great potential on first sight: beautiful building, attractive, though uncomfortable, furnishings, open kitchen, great restrooms, and highly recommended by a friend. But even though I had looked at the menu on-line, the list itself that night seemed complicated to decipher. There were ingredients that made no sense to me (and I'm not averse to magical realism). Corn smut? Stinging nettles? Hedgehog? That's all fun, but if I have to ask the server what everything is, then it becomes no fun.
My friend had told me the Sole was fantastic, but it wasn't on the menu. So she asked if they had any left and the answer came back affirmative. My dum - I didn't ask how it was served (whole, head and all), or the price ($30!). It was smothered in delicious yardwaste - fennel, and some other thinly sliced vegetable. The server INSISTED on bringing it to the table whole, rather than deboning and de-heading first, so then I requested that they take him (the fish) back to the kitchen and return with the edible parts. Whole or dissected, it was just too much mess on the plate, and the sole was bland. With hope, comes disappointment.
My cocktail, though, a Moscow Mule was dee-licious. My companions reported that the hamburger was quite good, and the half a chicken was just chicken. If I go back, I will order the hamburger or the much touted Spicy Tomato Pizza, served at the table to our right.
It was a Saturday night, so we came quite early, 5:00 and by 7:00 it was Packed! and Noisy! Not my idea of a good time. But hey, it all only came to $160 (note sarcasm) and included 3 lovely golden wheat beers. -
Review from Mona W.
I often imagine Vegan restaurants to some sort of cult followers worshiping the god of vegetables and trying to banish all meat eating evilness from the world. Excuse my silliness. In all honesty, I do enjoy good vegan food even though I can't quite agree with the ideals of vegans.
Here in Gather was where I had the first (but not the last) pure vegan dinner that rivals some hearty meaty meal. I did not feel unsatisfied in any way just because I was having pure vegetables. That alone, was amazing. Just try their Vegan Charcuterie and you will understand what I mean.
While Gather might not have converted my meat eating habits, I truly enjoyed my experience and it had introduced me to the wonderful world of vegan cooking. Working with limited ingredients was challenging but fun.Listed in: Where's my meat?
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Review from Terry K.
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yelp Challenge 365 # 112/365
Busy place but they are timely. Kudos to the management and staff. Don't go there without a reserveration unless you're prepared to dine on the bar or infront along the chef's counter. Frankly, I would enjoy either the bar or the chef's counter but my host did the right thing getting a reservation. They were crowded. Each seat was taken from the time I got there to the time we left.
The menu was short and desireable. Wild boar meatball! Fritto Misto with mushroom! Magruder Roast Pork Terrine! Cauliflower Soup! Smoked Artichoke with black rice, pumpkin and a chestnut confit!
Vegan Charcuterie- a 4 course combination: Black Trumpet with pnenuts, Carrot roasted in soil, Stinging nettles which is Martin's baby potatoes, goat cheese and leeks, Fontinella which is mozzarella and tomatoes laced with olive oil and sea salt.
I didn't have this but it looked good.
I'm a meat type person and the closest I got to was the Liberty Farms Duck prepared with hedgehog mushrooms, turnips and horseradish.
ALL local grown ingredients (not sure about the wild boar) but the vegetables were definitely just picked from the garden.
If not for the simple fact that I enjoy my meat more than veggies, I'd give this place 5 stars but .....
Service was absolutely wonderful and efficient and that in itself is a reason why I may go back again if the oppoortunity presents itself.
BTW, a block from the BART station so you could take the BART. Parking is a problem in that area as it is smack at the entrance to one of UC's finest!Listed in: Yelp 365 Challenge, On The Road Again
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Review from Quyen T.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 2/3/2012
I want to take back my negative comment about Gather. Bite my tongue!
We've since been back recently, and now that they've been around for a while, everything's changed. Gather is GREAT. We came in for brunch with our 17-month twin boys and the service was great. And they were SO sweet with our boys. Although the brunch is more than you'd pay for your usual spot, the food was super delicious and relatively affordable (for two = $35 pre tax). I truly LOVE Gather now, especially given how accommodating they were with our babies. We're always looking for family friendly places to eat brunch, and we're so pleased they didn't give us that "snooty-don't-bring-your-kids-here" look. I'm a total fan and having my breakfast brunch there this week!
I heart you, Gather!Listed in: Family friendly eats (i.e.,…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2010
I will preface my review by saying that I didn't try the food, at all. But the reason why I feel… Read more »
Comment from Gather O. of Gather 2/5/2010
We love Corso too but disagree on the rest. Customers who… More » -
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Review from K P.
Walnut Creek, CA
Updated - 2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Just went again for dinner last night and had a great time!
The reason for 4 stars and not 5 are:
First batch of pisco sours were a little too limey.
There was a really long wait (20 mins) before ordering and getting any food - considering we were a 9pm reservation and the restaurant was emptying out I wasn't expecting this.
The vegan charcuterie had a hair in it - which came out mid bite. The reason they're not losing more stars for this is because when we made out server aware she handled it EXCELLENTLY.
So, for the food, the second vegan charcuterie we got was delicious! Black trumpet was our favourite, the cauliflower one was a close second. I really enjoyed the carrots but hubby didn't - he thought it was a little too bland, I like because of its naturalness. The citrus one was yum too.
We also split the herring appetizer; really huge portion and excellently cooked.
The pancetta pizza was also delicious. I love the little dough knots in the crust. Pizza really was flavorful. I don't typically order pizza when I'm out, I feel it's a dish that's hard to be wowed by, but this one wowed me.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/30/2012
We had a really great dining experience here! The service was fast and efficient. More importantly,… Read more »
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Review from Tommy Q.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoyed my experience here.
Went with two friends on a Friday night around 6 PM. Wait was 45 min so we went elsewhere until a table was ready. Thankfully we had friends to visit in the area so it wasn't too bad.
I love the decor and the interior. We could've sat outside with no wait, but it was a little too cold out, and it didn't have the same vibe we were looking for. The inside is upscale but cozy at the same time. I thought putting the water in milk bottles was a nice touch and it's also nice that they don't charge extra for sparkling water. I ordered the kambucha and it was delicious. It's an acquired taste but I think it's great.
Everything we ate was very fresh. Both pizzas I tried were great - the one garnished with olives was delicious and the tomato sauce was acidic and just fantastic. I loved the pizza dough too. I ordered the burger and it was cooked perfectly. The aioli on the burger was SO good and the onions and lettuce too. The salad that went with the meal was good -- the dressing a little too acidic and tart, though. The fries were great - perfect amount of crisp and once again, very fresh.
We split a blood orange sorbet for desert. I loved it. The piece of blood orange served with it topped it off.
This is a great place to celebrate, definitely worth the price and the wait. I would suggest reservations on weekends, just to be safe. -
Review from Kristin P.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012
Damn, I am on a roll with the fine dining recently (sorry bank account)
Everything about Gather is great.
Its a beautiful space-- open kitchen, cool light fixtures, ivy growing everywhere-- you feel like you're in a garden, but you're not because you're in the Bay Area and it'd be f*cking freezing if you were actually eating outside at night.
The cocktails are great-- very fancy-schmancy (read: they take 15 minutes to prepare)-- I especially like the Brown Derby.
The kale salad pretty much redefined kale for me. Like, whoa, it can taste like this? I may spend the rest of my life trying to replicate that salad. Burger was cooked beautifully, fries were awesome and whatever that ketchup-carmelized onion thing comes with that dish, can you bottle that, please? I was close to dipping my elbow and eating it, it was that good. Service was fine, not overly gushy nice but sufficient.
Clearly, a great place to bring vegans/vegetarians where you can still get an amazing meat dish-- like I said, everything they do is great. -
Review from Susan C.
Only in Berkeley can you have the highest end decor, yet dine with people in sweats and flip flops.
Only in Berkeley does you server have such an intimate knowledge of every possible eating restriction that you are not quite sure what he just said.
Only in Berkley can you charge $16 for about $0.30 of veggies with some foam. Is it worth it? My tastebuds say "Yes!" my pocket book and rumblely tummy say "Not so much."
Only in Berkeley will you wait 1 hour 15 minutes to get your hands on that $0.30 of veggies.
Only In Berkley do they butcher their own black pig/wild boar cross to make a perfectly done habanero sausage.
Overall I liked this place but felt a little over charged. The only thing we ordered that could fill you up was an artisan burger and home made fries with two homemade dips: caramelized onion and vaguely flavored aoli. It was good, but nothing to write home about. -
Review from Nicole L.
1/29/2012
Gather, you schmancy huh?
Apparently this place is super hard to get a reservation on a Saturday morning? A friend and I came around 11:00AM, and it was half full. It definitely picked up though as we left!
We split the breakfast pizza (I think it was the egg) and the special of the day (sausage with fried egg). The titles are a lot more glamorous, and coming from LA, I appreciate the pizazz. Frankly, the food was delicious, and my friend enjoyed his cup of coffee. The pizza had a healthy helping of BACON! Nomage, because who doesn't love bacon?
Great service. They had still or sparkling water. QUITE fancy *pinky shoots out*
I'd come back next time I'm in the area! -
Review from Luvs K.
Berkeley, CA
1/18/2012
Yum yum yummy. This place makes healthy eating feel almost decadent.
I know some people have criticized them for the small portion sizes. I would argue that the quality of the food and the dense rich flavor is so satisfying that one does not need to eat the portion size that Americans are accustomed to.
I was also surprised to read from other reviews that people thought the food was bland and lacked presentation. This was not my experience. The presentation was beautiful and the flavor rich.
Nevertheless, I do agree that some of the portions are TOO small. I ordered the Beet Salad and when it came it was much smaller than I had expected and would do little to satisfy my hunger. I mentioned to server that I was not happy with the dish and she promptly replaced it with the heartier Kale Salad. It was wonderful! I even shared it with a friend and we were both satiated.
I think this is a place where you need to know how to order. For example the Burger is incredibly tasty and filling, where as the Beet Salad is only worth two bites.
I also enjoyed the young hip ambiance.
Depending on how you order, this place can be spendy or reasonably priced
The only reason I did not give this a full five stars is because there was one server who had a bit of an attitude that I did not care for, however everyone else was wonderful and friendly -
Review from Mary L.
San Jose, CA
2/6/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We went for brunch and mostly loved it. Creative and delicious food. Cute open interior. It would be a 5 star review if the wait staff could be bothered to be friendlier. We will give it another try for sure.
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Review from L v.
San Francisco, CA
1/14/2012
If you like spending a lot and getting small portions, this place is for you. Why oh why are places like these so in demand? All those catchy terms like local, organic, farm egg (like that makes it worth $2), vegan, blah, blah, blah. My entree was so small and since it featured artichoke, I expected an artichoke, not some emaciated thistle. and for $21?!?
However, the drinks at the bar were superb. $10, which is what a cocktail seems to go for these days because the ingredients are so special and they are mixed by specialists who will provide a history for the bitters they are using....whatever. -
Review from Waterpump H.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012
I don't know why Yelp doesn't have a 'my favorite' bottom aside the rating...but if there was one, this restaurant would be on my top list.
Let me tell you this...I am a meat eater. I don't count my veggie / fruits serving. and needless to day...organic nor omvivore ain't my motto...
But every single thing on their menu and every bite I have, COMPLETELY MELT MY HEART.
The magic come when you can literally see the heart and soul behind each dish. The beauty of authenticity.... Nothing to hide. That's what I called real food.
Thank you for bringing that to my soul. If tomorrow is my last day on earth, I would come to order your cauliflower soup. -
Review from Jen F.
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here on NYE and had the pre-fixe vegan menu... my dining companions had a mix of the meat and vegan menus.
Vegan Menu:
Beet salad
Foraged and sea vegetable melange
Smoked artichokes with black rice and cardoons
Chocolate mousse with citrus
(these titles really don't do much to describe the dishes or do them justice)
First - my meal was amazing. Every single dish was just delicious, fresh, perfectly seasoned, creative - - I loved it! The drinks were also great (one of my fave Moscow Mules I've ever had, probably due to their housemade ginger soda). Service was courteous and prompt, but a bit lackluster.... with such complex dishes (everything had a title and subtitle about a paragraph long, but still managed to not list what was actually in the dish), we just wanted a little explanation of what was going on so we could enjoy it more. Once we specifically asked for this, she readily complied.
Anyway, the only things I found off-putting were the meat main (rabbit?! I get that it's trendy now, but doesn't seem like that would resonate with a lot of people's interests...) and it was a bit pricey. But that's probably to be expected for such high quality food and on a special occasion (food+2 drinks+tax = $250 for two people).
I definitely wanna go back and try the vegan charcuterie platter on a regular night. -
Review from Caroline H.
San Ramon, CA
1/28/2012
This place was amazing! Being vegan, there aren't many places that give you the fine dinning feel and actually have such great food at a reasonable price. Not all of their food is vegan either! They have totally perfected their craft.
Vegan or not, try the spicy tomato pizza and "misto fritto"!!!!! -
Review from Mutant O.
Berkeley, CA
1/8/2012
Server: "Does your food taste ok?"
We heard variations on this, throughout our meal. Unfortunately, "ok" about sums up our lunch experience at Gather. The components were beyond reproach, especially in the pizza crust, but the final presentation was seriously lacking in flavor composition and eye appeal.
The roasted beet salad was nearly bereft of beets, and arrived mysteriously hooded by an overly large, rather bitter, pale green lettuce leaf.
The soup, while flavorful, was a monotone pastel puree; it could have used a sage leaf as a proverbial fig leaf for cover.
The tomato and cheese pizza presented another monotone pastel on a crust that was in need of more char.
So, yes, everything tasted ok, and ditto Gather.
We roamed down the street for the rest of our midday repast. -
Review from Isa M.
Berkeley, CA
2/6/2012
That place is really neat because it's different, well thought out and the menu features items you don't usually find everywhere. All sustainable from the tables to the building and the food of course. Original choice of seasonal vegetables.
Loved the pancetta and rucola pizza. The avocado and grapefruit with piment d'esplette salad. Not cheap
Do make a reservation otherwise you'll wait for your table for ever!!! -
Review from Scott H.
Oakland, CA
1/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Our appetizer, a deep-fried vegetable dish ("Fritto Misto") was tiny (it featured a roasted piece of lettuce) and definitely not worth the $12 bucks. At this point, I started to get nervous.
But was pleasantly surprised by a hardy grilled half chicken for my entree. I'm not sure what they did to the chicken, but it was very flavorful (perhaps a brine?) and the meat was moist. Well done.
Our dessert, a goatmilk semifreddo, was new to us and we both enjoyed it - the kind of dish you savor one bite at a time.
Re service, I'll just say that we waited too long for our entrees. That said, it was likely not the waiter's fault and I think the kitchen might not be as efficient as it could be.
We also waited for 15 minutes past our reservation which begs the question, why bother with reservations, especially in Berkeley. -
Review from Benjamin L.
Oakland, CA
1/11/2012
Well i had brunch here once. it seems the thing with this place is that they just used locally sourced items, is it good? It's fine nothing great. Will be back? Probably not, the food isn't worth the price tag. i'd rather eat across the street at Great China...
But the decor is very modern and has a very hip feel to it. But all in all food ok, decor nice, overall experience just a 3. -
Review from Tia M.
Oakland, CA
1/7/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We had dinner there a couple months ago and I agree with most of the yelpers... The vegan charcuterie was sooo good! Everything on that platter had a burst of so many great flavors that's pretty indescribable.. from the beef tartare to the turnips... Yum! You'll just have to try it for yourself.
We also ordered the nettle pizza.. Omg, best goat cheese pizza ever! I had never tried pizza with goat cheese prior to this visit, and now, everytime I make pizza.. I come up with my own concoction of leeks, red onions, homemade tomato sauce, pineapple sausage, and of course, goat cheese! Thank you, Gather.. for giving me a whole new perspective on pizza!
Anyhow, I knocked off 1 star because we made a reservation on open table and somehow the hostess couldn't find it. We had to wait a few minutes but they were pretty nice about it. This place is very 'green' and 'organic' which is great, but they will definitely tell you to put away your ipad if you bust it out in the restaurant!
Oh yeah, and parking's a bitch! Arrive half and hour before your reservation to find parking or just use the public parking garage. Overall, great food! I will definitely go there again! -
Review from Cheri B.
Modesto, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome Bee Sting cocktail. Yummy kale salad...Very fresh foods. Would definitely come back.
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Review from g s.
San Jose, CA
1/28/2012
Happen to be in Berkeley and saw this busy restaurant on a Thursday evening around 830pm. Drove around the block several times and finally go a parking spot. Walked in but waiting list however we were offered 2 seats at the counter and we were sat immediately.
First glance at menu is it is pricey for a mid week and quick dinner. Ended up with a Kale salad w/ toasted pine nuts and a nice vinegrette dressing-delish. The pizza was incredible! Light crust and very flavorful cheese..best pizza outside of NY. The Niman ranch burger and fries were good. Watching the sous chefs prepare fresh salads in front of us with seasonally sourced greens were cool. After the meal, we realized why the menu seemed a bit pricey but it was all worth it! We would come back again. -
Review from Amiee H.
12/20/2011
I came here for dinner because a friend recommended it to me and I think the food was pretty good but for the portion and price, I've got to dock it one star.
Food:
1) Kim Chee pizza: the best dish of the night! It was made with a fried egg on top with an oozing egg yolk and sprinkled with flavorful pork belly meat. Every bite had this spicy kick to it that was probably from the kim chi. I liked the idea of this Asian-American Fusion dish. Very inventive and tasty!
2) Marathon Broccoli pizza: A little overshadowed by the Kim Chee pizza, but this was the second best dish of the night. The broccoli was very well marinated with just the right about of cheese. It was just a little dry compared to the kim chee pizza so it just made it a little harder to swallow.
3) Winter Chicories Salad: The plate was 3 times bigger than the portion of food. The cauliflower tasted really good but the rest of the leafy greens were ok. It was definitely too expensive for the amount of food that came.
Service:
Very friendly and welcoming! Pretty good service!
Ambiance:
Very hip and happening place. Packed dining room with a very full bar too. It was a bit crowded and noisy so it was hard to have a convo going but it was a nice place to hang out and chill with some friends. The decor was very modern and hipster.
Price:
For the portion of food that you get, it's pretty expensive. Our meal came out to be $63 BEFORE tip and we only ordered three things. Be prepared to put a nice dent into your wallet if you eat here.
Overall:
I guess I'm glad I got to try it but I don't think I can afford to eat here again...maybe when I actually start making some money I can afford to blow $63 on one meal... -
Review from Arlene C.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011
You know how you get that perfect bite with perfectly proportioned combination of tastes? Well, I had that bite of Guanciale & carmelized onion pizza...and let it roll around in my mouth for awhile, savoring the marriage of the two.
The avocado salad was a nice presentation, and looked better than it tasted. Our server recommended the Chocolate Pumpkin tart w/lemon Whipped cream. It felt like too many flavors competing against each other. I will go for the citrus cake next time. Ambiance is very hip, and lots of natural light that enters through all of the windows that surround the restaurant. Service felt very spotty, where we would have to wait a long time to get our coffee. -
Review from tony l.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011
It was a third time at Gather and I'm amazed at how they manage to maintain the quality while keeping the menu constantly updated.
I like how they have options for meat eaters and delicious vegetarian options as well.
We had a table of 11 people so we could try just about everything on the menu. Everything was fantastic but here a few highlights. On the appetizers side the smoked mussels was a standout. Pizza wise, the kim chi pie was unique and to do for. I don't recall the name of the ice cream, but it was truly divine.
I can't wait to hit Gather again. -
Review from Brittany H.
San Francisco, CA
12/16/2011
Flawless food - absolutely flawless. Inventive, delicious, satisfying, and more.
Eat at the bar if you know what's good for you! -
Review from chemmy d.
Berkeley, CA
1/20/2012
WOAH! This may be the perfect restaurant. Rotating seasonal menu that always includes some version of incredible vegan charcuterie (beet tartar, carrot roasted in soil, miso-rosemary pinenuts), pizza (kimchi and prosciutto, garlic and nettle) and top-notch entrees to sate the carnivores among us (Prather Ranch burger, grilled chicken with lentils and braised greens). There will inevitably be ingredients you've never heard of, but that's part of the fun. Be sure to ask how big what you're getting is- some appetizers are frustratingly small and some entrees too big to finish.
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Review from Dominique R.
Berkeley, CA
1/20/2012
Gather has organically turned into my boyfriends and I's celebratory meal location. When we are wanting to toast our glasses we think, Pizza with egg...oh hell to the yeah! This place is a fine establishment with loads of interested dishes. In addition to their food, the decor is really beautiful and elegant in the no fuss Cali sorta way. Yes please.
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Review from Letty N.
Hayward, CA
1/29/2012
Overrated! Food was bland. Service was good but wasn't worth the $100 spent.
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Review from Gayle G.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 12/31/2011
My second visit to Gather...if only parking weren't such a pain, I'd be back there in a flash.
At last, a restaurant that knows what to do with vegetables! The vegan charcuterie was so good and so much fun.
Had the hamburger...again. Next time pizza for sure!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/11/2010
Delightful dinner for three under $100. I keep looking at the bill and thinking they made a… Read more »
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Review from Juju H.
Livermore, CA
12/7/2011
I admit that I wasn't too thrilled to dine at Gather for pretty much no reason at all. There was a person that we used to know who used to work there and she WAS pretty lame, but as my friend pointed out, " she HAS been fired from some pretty nice places." Also, don't you just hate being in Berkeley? The panhandlers are just dirty bratty kids, ORGANIC is screamed from every window, and GEEZ, the sheer amount of Yoga studios with clever names makes me feel uncreative; Yoga Room, 4th Street Yoga, Berkeley Yoga center, how do they come up with those?
We were sat right away and made what we thought was a pretty sweet joke about how, "these tables look pretty good for being used, ha ha ha ha," only to read on the way back from the bathroom about how the tables were old gym bleachers! Touche, Gather! They got us again with the water pitchers (Strauss Creamery containers) and we were sure that our server was wearing glasses that he fashioned from an antique kaleidoscope and old piano keys. I felt proud to be wearing the feather earrings that I got for my sister for Christmas, I mean, I'm ALREADY recycling them before I give them, not to mention that they fell off of a bird!
Yeah, the food was great, but what really impressed me was the menu copy. Too many restaurants these days have menus that are in everyday english and then when you want to zap someone with a zinger on Words With Friends or "Check In and Tag Friends," on facebook, you look like an asshole for whipping out your iphone! Not this place, they feature such gems as "Erba Stella," "Guanciale," and "Brassicas.! Everyone was like, "huh?" for a second and then we all grabbed our phones and checked in on facebook, so we had to find out that brassicas were just cabbage from our server, but the point is, that we didn't LOOK tacky and rude.
I can't say enough times how yummy the food was. We gobbled it up too fast!
I take one star away for not getting the comic in the bathroom about "Mary sitting down to have a little lamb for dinner," only because I usually get comics right away. Well I guess that's not fair, because I also didn't understand any of the specials that our server told us about, so I guess I just have to get used to not getting stuff at Gather. ( Yes, we probably could have asked him what the hell he just said, but we preferred to burst out laughing after he walked away. )
Don't forget to save room for dessert and stop by the bar on your way out for a rousing game of Spot What IS NOT Organic. (hint: they try to hide it!) -
Review from clay s.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011
Lira K nailed it when she said, "Damn. If all vegetarian/vegan food tasted like this, everyone would be a vegetarian."
I had their vegan pizza with chili oil, cashew "cheese", and olives, and it was probably the best pizza I've had in my life.
But I went to have it again last night, and found out that they replaced it with some BBQ squash pizza. This has to be the worst business decision by any restaurant EVER. At least offer both options, so people can have a little variety in their pizza.
I should note that I lucked out. They went ahead and made the chili oil and olive version, because they happened to have the ingredients on hand. But I literally told our waiter to tell the owner/manager that removing that pizza from the menu was just a really REALLY bad business decision. -
Review from Miriam A.
Eugene, OR
1/3/2012
Eaten here twice and left with the same feeling--okay food and not worth the high price.
The atmosphere and look of the place are spot on. Modern and inviting. Unfortunately, seems like the owners are more focused on style than substance. The menu lacks dishes that really grabbed me. Food was only fine. Got the burger the first time and kim chee pizza the second. Both were tasted good not spectacular, but way greasy.
Service was great on my first visit. On the second it seemed like we were a low priority at a table in the bar area and waitstaff were absentminded. No refill of our empty water bottle (I needed it after the jalapeños on the pizza!). Had to ask for plates for the pizza. Overall, the server was a step too slow.
With so many great places to get locally sourced seasonal food in Berkeley why spend so much on just okay food? -
Review from Joan P.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/18/2011 9 photos
2 years after opening and this place keeps getting better all the time. Had THE BEST BRUNCH yesterday . Wonderful, comforting winter food. Pork terrine with mustard sauce - beautiful presentation and light, non greasy flavors. Poached Eggs with pork belly and potatoes with a slightly spicy seasoning was better than any Eggs Benedict I've ever had.
For dessert- I know this sounds weird- we ordered Pancakes with persimmon, pomegranate and whipped ricotta cheese.It was a regular brunch item but sounded soooo good. Glad we did. Incredibly rich without a s_load of sugar. 2 of us shared
and could only eat half. Totally worth it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/20/2009
Disclaimer- my friends had been to a pre opening meet and greet as their office is in the building.… Read more »
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Review from Brittany W.
Oakland, CA
1/20/2012
If I was famous and could afford eating food like this at every meal, I would.
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Review from Jenna H.
Concord, CA
1/21/2012
I love Gather. The food is innovative and you feel great eating it because it's healthy and they try to do local produce! Sure you don't get big portions, but it's not about eating a lot, it's about the flavor and where your food comes from. I also got a cocktail while I was there, the Bee Sting, and it was one of the best I ever had. It's a casual to nice setting with a nice ambiance. The only thing I didn't like about Gather was waiting so long to get seated! But that is easily avoided with a reservation, which we didn't have. I can't wait to go back again!
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Review from Richard G.
Walnut Creek, CA
12/22/2011
You know ... I really like Gather and eat here regularly with friends. The cocktails are very creative, the salads are delightful and the whole pizza/small plates thing is pulled off in a way that doesn't feel trendy.
My advise to you CARNIVORES is DON'T PANIC. On our last visit my friend raved about the half chicken and his GF had what looked to be a perfectly prepared chop (one of that evening's specials). I had sole with lentils. Spot on.
My only complaint is the acoustics; man does it get noisy when it's crowded. -
Review from Kari C.
Walnut Creek, CA
12/2/2011
We ate here on 10/15/11, after Berkeley Lab's Open House. Surprised that there wasn't a wait for a table. Inside, it's nice and cozy with an open kitchen. Wow, I sound like I'm describing my dream home. :) We sat by the brick oven. Of course we had to order pizza!
Since I'm lactose intolerant, I decided to go with the waiter's recommendation: Vegan spicy tomato. This had nutritional yeast and olives. I know...it doesn't sound too tasty, but believe me, it was incredible. This pizza was the stuff of dreams. Only if you like your pizza bursting with flavor. The nutritional yeast gave it a nice tangy flavor and creamy texture. It did NOT taste like marmite (ugh, I hate that stuff. No offense to you marmite lovers.) It was more like tahini/sour cream. The spiciness melded with savory notes and tangy concentrated tomato. Combined with a smoky, wood-fired crispy thin crust...this made me super happy. :)
Only dinged them a star because BF's dish was so-so. He got the pork belly and beans topped with poached eggs. It was okay. The pork belly was well seasoned, but a bit too lean.
Definitely worth the trek to Berkeley! -
Review from Adrienne g.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Out of town friends staying in Emeryville was just the excuse we needed to finally get over to Gather
Started w/ a California Pisco Sour - was an interesting take on a pisco sour - the paprika on the top gave it a weird savoriness & having just come back from Peru, I guess I was extra sensitive to anomalies
Burrata w/ Pumpkin - pretty tasty but have to say this was probably something we could have all shared....wasn't good enough that I wanted to hog the whole thing for myself. The burrata wasn't very runny-creamy & there wasn't nearly enough pumpkin - added to the fact it was pretty bland, I was hoping for something really spiced well to complliment the already-bland burrata
Vegan Squash Risotto - corn & potatoes all diced up together & creamy like a risotto but w/out the rice - paired w/ chick peas, zucchini & cherry tomatoes. It was good but Sis & I weren't blown away
Buddy got the Swordfish special & liked his dish a lot. Said the fish was cooked perfectly tender & the accompanying veggies were fantastic
Dessert consisted of the Goat Milk Semi-Freddo w/ anise & poached Peach. Sis said this tasted like vanilla ice cream & was hoping for a bit more goat milky richness
So overall, this was a great introduction to Gather & we'd def consider coming back. Totally kicking myself for not ordering the Vegan Charcuterie & their pizzas looked promising as well.....next time!
