I haven’t been to Gather Restaurant for a few years, so I was excited when I was invited in to experience the new chef’s menu: “Chef Charis Wahl joined the Gather team in 2009 and was most recently the restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine. Prior to that she spent time at Rivoli Restaurant in Berkeley and Ozumo in Oakland. She will maintain the signature Gather approach to seasonal, local, and organic ingredients while also introducing her own selection of new offerings.”
As a woman, I love that she’s the new chef because we are often underrepresented in professional kitchens. And based on my recent visit, the restaurant is in good hands.
photo: Christina Mitchell
The House Made Pickles ($10) looked kind of like the Vegan Charcuterie Plate the restaurant was known for when it first opened. It wasn’t as complex, but it was still nice to snack on crispy pickled things while looking at the menu.
photo: Christina Mitchell
I ordered the Wild Mushroom (sweet potato, celery root, Treviso, crispy quinoa, $16), which was texturally fascinating because every bite was different. My friend decided on the Little Gem (creamy herb dressing, avocado, confit potatoes, sprouts & seeds, $14).
photo: Christina Mitchell
The Albacore Crudo (avocado, winter citrus, Manzanillo olive oil, tarragon, $16) was probably our favorite dish of the night, and that’s saying a lot because there were a lot of really good dishes. The flavors were so bright and balanced, but there was restraint too.
photo: Christina Mitchell
The Chickpea Panisse (Pardina lentil mushroom ragout, confit leek currant salsa, pine nuts, $24) was also balanced in flavor and texture. It showed some finesse, but it was also comforting as all get out.
photo: Christina Mitchell
The table next to us ordered an Asparagus Pizza (feta leaves, peas, chevre, green garlic, mint, $20) and added sausage for $4, so that’s what we did too. Lemon was the prominent flavor and while the crust wasn’t exactly memorable, the ooey, gooey toppings stole the show.
photo: Christina Mitchell
The Granny Smith Apple Streusel (Amber wheat graham, parsnip ice cream, $9) was somehow creative and comforting at the same time. We were kind of confused at first. I mean…Parsnip Ice Cream??? But it really worked. It felt like the chef was blowing my mind and giving me a hug at the same time.
Gather is a special restaurant. They manage to be rustic and elegant, simple and complex and casual and fancy all at the same time. This makes it a really good place to celebrate a special occasion. Or just dinner on a Tuesday.
2200 Oxford Street, Berkeley
510-809-0400
Christina Mitchell
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I love Gather so much and both the chickpea panisse and mushroom dish haunts my dreams! That apple steusel experience sounds amazing – we’ll have to try that on our next visit. We’ve seen it on the menu before and that parsnip ice cream, as you similarly pointed on, sounded a bit strange to us. I just can’t get enough of this place.
Yeah, the dessert sounded so weird but it really worked!
one of the noisiest restaurants in the Bay Area.
I’ve always wanted to go to Gather. It looks great! Simple, yet complex. I like that oxymoronic description 🙂 The prices also seem reasonable for such a nice restaurant.
LOL – really?
just put your head in the door . . .