This place gets a 2.5. Jose is a harsh critic. I wanted to give it a 3 but when you think that we went to Va Da Vi and spent about the same and portions were similar...well, Va Da Vi was a 5. Anyway, Gather's decor is warm. The staff is unpolished to say the least. Our server was friendly but unattentive and slow. The food...I appreciate their dedication to local, gluten-free, vegan. We started with the vegan charcuterie- there were some great tastes. It made veggies interesting, especially for those who weren't interested before. Braised pork cheeks were a disappointment. I couldn't even tell that it was pork. The preparation and seasoning did nothing to bring out the pork flavor. The polenta was really creamy and I liked that as opposed to the usual dry stuff. Cinnamon braised lamb was also unremarkable. I love lamb and they did not know how to bring out its unique flavor. The best dish of the night was the tequila lime sorbet. It was good. If you are looking for veggies with an edge, give Gather a try. Don't eat any meat here as it doesn't seem to be something they're skilled in preparing. The table next to us was also unimpressed with the quinoa risotto. read more

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Gather? More like Rather.... Came here on my birthday and had very high hopes for this place. I heard it was highly vegetarian but looking at the menus, most of the appetizers were vegetarian/vegan but only 3 of the main entrees were vegetarian/vegan and they didn't sound that good. One was a heirloom ragout and the other was a cauliflower something, which sounded more like a side dish than an entree. There was 2 vegetarian pizzas, but I didn't come to Gather just to get pizza. We started off with the Crispy Cardoons ($9) which apparently is like celery but (according to the waitress) tasted like artichoke hearts. When they came out, they looked like deep fried zucchini which was presented over an "almond pepper sauce" but really looked like Trader Joes "Tomato Basil Hummus." You really couldn't taste the "artichoke heart" flavor and mostly got the taste of the "hummus" I had the mushroom "cioppino" ($16) When it came out, it had a very good presentation (see attached photo) but the taste wasn't that good. The cioppino was sort of bland and didnt have much flavor. The piece of bread that came with the entree tasted better than the cioppino. The meat options sounded more tasty and eye catching than the veggie options. My friend got the duck leg which sounded pretty good. I have to give some extra stars for vegan/gluten free options with an emphasis on local/organic cooking, but I can't say that I was impressed. Especially for a "green" place I was surprised that all the lighting was all incandescents and not LED or CFLs. The food was okay but I think the thing that bothered me the most was the slow service. After the bus boy brought us our water and we waited at least 10-15 minutes just to take our order. Not to mention waiting for the check. The layout for this place I think needs to be rethought, there is a LOT of seating for big parties but because there is so much seating, the bus boys and the waiters have a hard time walking around to other tables which I noticed slowed the service. The walkways in between tables is only big enough for one person, so the flow of Gather is slightly slow. Maybe we just came on an off night, but I'd like to give Gather still another chance in the future. Highly suggest making reservations since this place gets really busy. read more

Gather - Mushroom "cioppino" from Gather - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Just incredible service, great environment, and delicious food! Really a must if you are in town. The bamboo garden was beautiful.

I love Gather. As a gluten free dairy free foodie in SF, I will make the trip to Berkeley just to come and have one of Gather's seasonal soups. This last time I had the lentils with polenta and a soft boiled egg that was just heart warming. Consistantly delicious food. read more

Gather - Lentils with polenta and soft boiled egg. - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been here twice for lunch. The pizza is usually the only thing I get since most of the menu is vegetarian. I guess for vegetarians this place is great, but for those of us that need some meat, not the best choice. I came here with coworkers for a work lunch so no complaints since the meal was free, but normally I probably wouldn't come on my own dime. With thay said, the reviews are great so please don't let my review discourage you from trying this place. I'm sure if you enjoy vegetarian cuisine, its delicious. The dinner menu is different as well. read more

Gather - Prosciutto pizza with an egg - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Was driving through Berkeley with my husband and three friends and decided to stop here for dinner. The interior was calming, thoughtful, and chic. I liked that much of the decor around the restaurant is just big jars of their different pickles - aesthetically pleasing AND resourceful. We were seated right away without a reservation, but it was late on a Sunday evening so kinda slow anyways. Server was friendly and knowledgeable about their food - not only did he answer our questions about what was what, he made everything sound so delicious we felt we had to have it! They serve complimentary sparkling water (or still, if you prefer) which I love and wish was an option in more restaurants. Other waitstaff were watchful and prompt about refilling the bottles of still and sparkling on our table throughout the meal. My husband and I shared the Snap Peas app to start and the Fontinella pizza for our entree. In fact, everyone at our table had the Snap Peas because it was described so delectably to us. And it was delicious, so many textures and flavors on one plate! As a vegetarian, I appreciated that they replaced pork rind with the smoked yuba on this dish so that it's accessible to all. The Fontinella was a no-fuss dish: simple and delicious - just tomato sauce, mozzarella, and flaky sea salt. But each product was top quality, especially the cheese. While the prices were steeper than we anticipated, I'm glad we stopped here for dinner and the portions were just big enough to share. read more

Gather - Snap Peas appetizer - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here for lunch a couple of weeks ago with a few girl friends to celebrate the ending of school & to catch up on life. When I arrived, the hostess was very nice in telling me that she could not seat me until my party was all there. The restaurant was pretty busy @ the time but there were plenty of tables available so I didn't understand the point of making me wait in a chair. Once we got seated, the service was good but slow; from sitting down to receiving food, it took about 35 minutes. The 3 of us shared a Spicy Tomato Pizza, a Local Lettuces, & a Grilled Squid. The pizza had a very thing crust which was nice but it had pockets of dough that were burnt which was bad. The olives and capers were fine even though I am not a fan of them in general. What I really disliked was how spicy the pizza was. I can eat pretty spicy (think 2 rounds of Sriracha in a bowl of pho) but this was bordering on unpalatable. The Local Lettuces was light & bright but the grapefruit peel made it a tad bit bitter. The Grilled Squid was not really a salad @ all. It was 3 pieces of lettuce, 4 small pieces of quid, a handful of beans, & a handful of peas. The lemon ash on the plate looked & tasted like...well, ash. My overall experience was made good by the company I was with. If I did not have that...given the quality of the food, the prices, & the level of service, it was not worth it. read more

Gather - Grilled Squid - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Was finally able to make another visit to Gather in Berkeley, and once again the food was great but this time the service was much improved. We got in early on a Saturday, sat at the bar immediately, and had some great cocktails and great food. Generally we find it more beneficial to order a larger numbers of smaller plates in this style of restaurant but we have had a mix of everything. The latest visit included some of the following highlights: The sardines with grilled calamari over avocado and pickled vegetables was out of this world, the highlight of our 3 restaurant tour that night. The ink and chili oil really made it too. Pizza was quite filling, surprisingly so. It was the special of the night with pancetta, fresh greens, and figs and could have used a bit of oil or something, but was still well accepted. Pork kidneys with lentils (another special) were ok at first, but as the dish got smaller and smaller, we liked it more and more until we basically licked the plate clean. The only complaint we have about Gather is that it is relatively expensive and there are other similar options in Berkeley and Oakland that come in a little cheaper for what we consider just as good. However, since our favorite restaurant Cellar Door in Santa Cruz changed chefs, Gather is the closest food we can find to what that used to be. Farm to table, excellent presentation, very fresh tastes. Definitely a restaurant I recommend for a Berkeley eating experience, but Oakland offers more/cheaper/better. read more

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Went to dinner with my sister last week. Very impressed with the food, drinks, and atmosphere. Highly recommend the house punch and sausage pizza. Will definitely return. read more

Had a 17 person surprise birthday dinner party for my wife at Gather. Couldn't have been any better - super good food and engaging, attentive and friendly management and staff! For a larger group, the prix fixe menu would be hard to beat - everything was absolutely delicious, including unique and tasty pizzas, scrumptious roast chicken and great green offerings! Will be back (and so will my foodie friends who were at the dinner). read more

Came here for brunch with a couple of friends and really enjoyed it. The vibe indoors seemed great, but we did have to sit outdoors because there was not enough space indoors. Even though it was cold, the restaurant does have a lot of heaters outside so it is pretty enjoyable - honestly would prefer it over eating indoors. The menu is very well marked for gluten-free and vegan items and is friendly for people who have those kinds of dietary restrictions. I ordered the Market Omelet, which came with a medium sized omelet, potatoes, and bread. You have to ask for butter and ketchup, but they do have it - also make sure to ask for the hot sauce too if you like spicy because it is really good with the omelet and potatoes. Also, they have carbonated water at no extra charge, which is always a win. The omelet is nothing special - a good mix of cheese and mushrooms that doesn't feel too rich but is still very tasty, especially with ketchup. The bread is a little tough to eat but is good with butter. The best part of the meal was definitely the potatoes. They give you a lot of them and they are extremely crispy and just the right size, unlike potatoes at other places that tend to be pretty soggy and large. Overall, a fantastic place to go to for brunch (they also have several good lunch options as well) - will definitely be coming back! read more

Wow, so much better than I expected. For some reason I thought this place was vegan only and was going with friends on a lark. Turned out that they have a wide range of options, including fish and meat. Many items are marked as either gluten free or vegan which I thought helpful--no need to wonder about some of the more complex dishes. The dining room, open kitchen, and patio are all very beautiful. Great staff and service. We loved all of the food, this was absolutely my best restaurant meal in months. The cost was a little higher than I expected, but not out of line with the quality of the food and overall experience. The oft mentioned vegan platter was great, I recommend it as an app for sharing. I wish I'd saved room for a salad, they had many interesting options. Main courses samples: black cod, cheese burger, several pizzas. All were really excellent, expecially the pizza. They do something special with the edge of all their pizzas, making a nice ring of blisters (more delish than this sounds I promise). read more

LOVED IT. I was a little hesitant with all the fancy smancy going on and opted for the french toast. I'd had some rabbit the other week on a whim and didn't want to risk something too crazy. I must say, that was an awesome life choice. The french toast was amazing. Covered with the right amount of syrup already and strawberries, I couldn't have been a happier camper. Service was friendly and attentive. I'll need to return when it seems like a feasible hour to try a pizza. I just couldn't do it at 10am. Cheers! read more

Gather - French toast - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was really excited about this place. The outdoor space is absolutely lovely. The music is great. But the food and drinks didn't live up to the hype for me. For the price everything is just so-so. It just wasn't our spot. read more

This is a fairly new restaurant, it seems. The thing that pulled me in was the decor of the inside - very farm like, yet modern. Glass lamps hanging from the ceiling glisten in the dark night as you drive past. But enough of that... The menu sure matched the restaurant's character, offering artisanal sounding dishes like heirloom eggplants, and extremely crust-y pizzas with many other things heirloomed on top of it. Everything tasted very fresh, and I left feeling content. read more

Gather - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Everything is very tasty and different in a good way from mainstream dishes. Oddly the deviled eggs were our least favorite but were not huge deviled eggs fans. They were fluffier than most. The Summer Sqaush pizza was excellent. Little Gem salad was very good. Red Quinoa and Corn Cakes were excellent at first and have a nice kick but it gets tiresome as an entree - best to share. The Potato Gnocchi was beautiful. It's pricey. Excellent ambience. read more

Really cute place. Came here with party of 4 for a birthday celebration. They let us bring our own cake (charges a few bucks for cutting/storage) and helped us bring it out. Food menu sounds delicious (but the food is really nouveau so if you're into trying new taste combinations)! Really recommend for a cute night :) read more

Gather - Mushroom sampler dish? - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Well. Gather was one of local favorites 5 ton8 years ago. It's lousy now. MANY better places to eat ...

Amazing delicious falafel egg dish. Good coffee drink. Good to know. These folks are very committed to sustainability.

I met N here for an early dinner before a night at Berkeley Rep. The restaurant filled almost as soon as the doors opened. While perusing the menu I enjoyed one of their signature organic cocktails. I chose a tangy tart blend of Cucumber Vodka, Agave and lemon juices with egg whites and hibiscus powder of the top We decided to share two small plates and one large plate. Fresh anchovies (2) with aioli and topped with a crispy fried Brussels sprout; it was so good we decided if we not really full we would have another order at the end of our meal. Alas we were full and did not place a second order. Next up was the fried mushrooms and pickled sun chokes with a citrus aioli; this dish was another winner. We finished the up with a burger with Sierra Nevada cheese red onion and aioli. This was served with a thin crispy fries and a caramelized shallot-tomato sauce. This was also good. It would have been better with more of the sauce. The three dishes were enough for us this time. The small plates are just that and the large one was not that large I suspect that for many people the servings are really too small. This is an ideal location for vegans and carnivores to both enjoy a dinner together. Parking is very difficult! read more

I can empathize with other reviewers' comparisons of Gather to Chez Panisse Cafe. However the service is rough around the edges, and will need time to iron out. I don't want to spend too much time waxing the many little ways service was off, so let's talk about the food. Gather isn't scared of vinegar in their dressings, and neither should you. The salads are amazing - wild arugula with strawberries and pecorino, and the most curious (and delicious) endive salad with crispy seaweed I've ever had. "Vegan charcuterie" shouldn't be something you ever order at a restaurant. However, Gather simply takes vegetables and makes them d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s by adding a magical combination of flavors, puts them in five small bunches on a board, and calls it "vegan charcuterie" on the menu. Don't worry, it's not vegetables trying to be meat substitutes -- it's just really good vegetables with gourmet flavors that make you savor the small bites, like good charcuterie. I can't wait to come back here. Hopefully, the service will be better. I can list half a dozen awkward mistakes and flaws with service tonight, but I'd rather not. If the service at Gather can match the caliber of the food here, I hope Michael Bauer adds Gather to his list of the top 100 restaurants in the Bay Area. read more

Went here for Sunday lunch - table of 6 people. At first, I was extremely impressed with the service. We wanted to sit outside, but the only available table was in the full sun. We thought we'd give it a shot but realized pretty quickly it would be too hot. The hostess noticed right away and figured out how to configure some tables to get us in the shade. At that point the service had 5 stars. So we sat with our menus and discussed the options and talked and talked and talked and....talked...and...umm, is there anyone here to check whether we're ready to order....and talked, and finally our waiter came. Probably 20 minutes in all with no one since the hostess coming by. Since it was Sunday there were brunch-y options so our orders ranged from the french toast to a hamburger to the vegetarian market vegetable polenta/spicy lentil dish with the poached egg on top to pizzas. The drink order and the food order were taken at the same time....the drinks seemed to take forever, while the food seemed to be appropriately timed. However, after the food came, that was the end of our server sightings....again....for what seemed forever. When he did come back, he brought the check. Weird. Because we wanted dessert. Although at this point I was truly hoping no one would order any because I just couldn't stand to think about the wait again. But fortunately the desserts came out in a timely manner, along with round 2 of the check. Our server was completely friendly....that wasn't the issue. And when I left I looked around inside and outside and it sort of looked like although it wasn't terribly busy, he may have been the only full-fledged waiter! There were buspeople and hostesses but I truly didn't notice anyone else taking orders. I could be wrong though. The food was fine. Nothing earth-shattering. The atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. But the additional 30-40 minutes we spent there unnecessarily prevents me from putting this at the top of my list to go back. Darn. read more

Gather truly lives up to its name. On Oxford Street in downtown Berkeley right across the street from the UC Berkeley campus Gather was packed on the Wednesday evening my friends and I went. The food was solid, good portions, presented beautifully. We had started with the Fontinella Pizza and the Vegan Charcuterie, get the pizza skip the vegan dish. Then for the main course we had the burger and the roasted chicken. Get the chicken it was a good healthy portion, the burger wasn't very unique and left us wanting more. The dessert menu I also felt was lacking uniqueness and made us wanting more as well. The service was good, and ambiance as loud as it was from being so crowded was acceptable. All in all a solid if not remarkable meal. read more

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I was so ready to write a less-than-perfect review for gather after seeing the menu. To be honest, the descriptions of the dishes didn't sound appealing, and being a gluten free vegan, I could only have one of the 5 or 6 entrees. I ordered the yuba papperdelle.....and it was so, so good. I was shocked. The description on the menu made the dish sound like a thanksgiving gone wrong, BUT jeez am I glad to say I was wrong! YUM! the flavors worked so well together and the presentation of the dish was elegant. I felt so cultured. Overall, the vegan and gluten free entree was delectable, but pricey. Also the waitress took a while getting our order. I would come again for a special occasion! read more

Mmmm.... OBSESSED with their ginger soda. It's freshly made. I have come here multiple times. Just expect that the portions are somewhat small -- their charcuterie plate ($18) features a board of various forms of fruit and veggies mixed together in interesting ways. The portion could probably feed a mouse at most -- it's a fun appetizer, but not a meal. The pizzas are a decent price for the size, they're about 12" wide and cut to just the right size. I hate salads, but the salads here always surprise me (I'm forced to get it when I share the meal with others). The food is sourced locally and fresh. This place has such a great vibe. My FAVORITE part about this place is being able to sit at the bar/kitchen and watch the chefs make the dishes. It's definitely a show you should watch; it's an art. The charcuterie plates are the most interesting to watch the chefs put together. Be sure to make reservations! This place opened a while ago, but the hype is still there. read more

I will come back and try the pizza and dinner but I wasn't blown away by my lunch. I had the open faced egg sandwich with bacon and mushrooms and for $20 I expected more. The flavors just sort of blended in a way that didn't really let the ingredients shine. For a place that prides themselves on ingredients, this is a problem. And not to nitpick but they need sharper knives. I could barely cut the sandwich. read more

Came here for brunch on a Saturday! Their Egg pizza and the kale salad was so good! Their menu seems to be constantly changing so it can be a surprise everytime you come. Their service was okay but I would totally come back for the atmosphere and the pizza! read more

Gather - Egg pizza, so good! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I'd give this place 5 stars but the night I decided to try this place it was a train wreck. Ambience is nice and they also have seating out on the patio. They asked if we were in town for a concert at the Greek Theatre and we were. They promised to have us out of there in 2.5 hours. That should've been a red flag! Anyhow, staff was polite & friendly. Place meticulously clean and food very good. But how does it take 2 hours to get a pizza? We had salads which were out of this world! But we had ordered a pizza with an egg on it so apparently the chicken in the kitchen wasn't cooperating too well... Definitely try their roasted almonds, pick a salad and try a wood burning pizza. Go when you have a few hours too.... read more

Definitely one of the pricier places in Berkeley, but you kind of expect that going in. Ambiance: My friend made a reservation so we were seated right away. Not sure how it would have been if we didn't since we went during dinner and it was pretty packed. We were seated outside and I was worried at first since it was cold, but they had enough heat lamps outside to where it wasn't an issue. Dish: We both got the 38 North Half chicken. We were both happy with our orders. It did take a bit longer to come out but we ended up chatting away so we didn't really notice. The chicken was moist and very flavorful in my opinion. For dessert we both got the strawberry - rhubarb galette. SO GOOD! Overall, we had a great experience and would come back. read more

Came here for a birthday dinner with friends on a Wednesday night, and it was still busy. It's good to make reservations. Atmosphere: Pretty! Wooden chairs, tables, and a nice open area. Food: Ordered the barbecued young chicken. The meat was flavorful and fell off the bone and the portion size was satisfying. My friends had the pizzas and burgers, and they all looked pretty damn good (and according to them, they were). Drinks: Vodka Smash - yummmmmmmy. I love the zest of cucumber, and it wasn't too strong, but you could taste the alcohol Dessert: Hazelnut Chocolate Cake, great balance of flavor between Hazelnut and Chocolate, and the ice cream made it even more delicious. I also got a free dessert for my birthday, which was niiiiiice. Overall: Fresh food, good service, and worth a try. read more

Gather - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Tasty seasonal menu, good service, beautiful decor, and good company made my first visit to Gather a memorable one. It was a little mini-reunion of sorts with my favorite gal pals in the bay, and this was our choice for dinner, as they were able to seat us without a reservation on a Saturday night within 30 minutes. We first sat at the bar in the back of the restaurant, and had a nice little chit chat with the bartendress who went over the wine list with us. I opted for the Donkey & Goat Four Thirteen red wine, which went well with the Prather Ranch Burger that I ended up choosing as my entree, once seated. My burger was in one three-letter word - YUM. My friend Anne, who also chose the burger, proclaimed it as the best burger she's ever had. I wouldn't go that far, but I will say it was damned tasty. Cooked to perfection -- Medium Rare -- and with really yummy ingredients, I practically licked my plate clean. When it came to dessert, my group opted for a Blueberry Custard with pepper ice cream... who'd have thunk that pepper ice cream would be so damned good? It was the perfect combo for the custard. My cappuccino I ordered was also really lovely. Service was friendly, casual, and attentive. Our server, Chris, was very accommodating with my friend who was doing a gluten-free, vegan diet, offering up suggestions of what she could have, and how they could modify some menu items for her. Will definitely be coming back for more the next time I'm in NorCal. read more

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Really, really, really, really great sausage pizza. The pizza crust is light and thin with a wonderful flavor. The breakfast pizza was just OK and the escarole salad was fine. This was a pretty expensive brunch say the least. I would still come back for another sausage pizza though. read more

I am a big fan of Gather's Food. I have been here many times before. Unfortunately, last time I came here, the service was very disappointing. It was surprising to me since I always had good service prior. It took approximately half an hour for our waiter to give us the dessert menu and the check even though he was going to tables near the area where we were seated. He was doing so well up until then. I am giving Gather 4 stars because they have the best Vegan / Vegetarian food around where I reside. They have something for everyone (Gluten Free / Vegan / Vegetarian / Carnivore). Their menu changes regularly and I love that because I get bored with things very easily. Dinner - Must Try: Vegan "Charcuterie" (the selection changes frequently): - Carrots Cooked in Hay, Sage Cream, Smoked Parsnip Lardo, & Currant Vinaigrette - Winter Citrus Carpaccio, Shaved Beets, Olives, & Dill - Braised Endive, Avocado, Yuba, Smoked Aioli, & Toasted Bread - Roasted Squash, Sunchoke Cashew, Bay Leaf Sauce, & Smoked Maple .... - Salt Roasted Beets, Kombu-Braised Pistachios, Cashew Goat Cheese, & Saba - Grilled Hen of the Woods, Spring Onion Soubise, Baby Onion Marmalata, Wild Oregano, & Onion Seed - Smoked Olives, Kumquats, Avocado, Baby Fennel, & Pepper Vinaigrette - Shiitakes, Pignolia, Asparagus, & Green Garlic .... - Pulled Mushroom, Pistachio, Seaweeds, Olive, Charred Peanuts, Chili, & Cilantro - Beet Blood Custard & Stems - Mushroom, Potato, Porcini Butter, Cauliflower, Asparagus, & Dehydrated Onion - Sprouted lentils, Vadouvan, & Curry Leaf Compressed Strawberries - Pickled Green Strawberries, Goat Milk Yogurt, Sheep's sorrel, Dill-Pistachio Pesto, & Saba Young Carrots - Black Trumpet Mushrooms, Hay-Carrot Top Pesto, Fava Beans, Dehydrated Kale, Charred Peel, & Espelette Strawberry & Kumquat Salad - Arugula, Almonds, White Balsamic, & Vanilla Salt Lamb Sausage Pizza - Spring Onion-Arbol Chile Salsa, Mint, & Pea Leaves Duck Sausage Pizza Pork Belly & Citrus Herb Salad Sea Urchin Desserts - Must Try: Mocha Flan - Whiskey Currant Sauce & an Amaretti Cookie Spiced Carrot Cake - Cashew Sour Cream Icing, Molasses Blood Orange Sauce, & Walnut Nougatine Roasted White Chocolate Semifreddo - Strawberry Sauce & Cocoa Nib Caramel Corn Pippin Apple Crisp, Cinnamon "Ice Cream", Earl Grey-Soaked Currants, Kamut, & Almond Streusel The food does not disappoint. read more

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Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-intolerant friendly! Relatively nice dinner date place in Berkeley, which also means relatively expensive for the college budget. Friendly waiter staff who gave us one free mini scoop of ice cream after overhearing us debate about getting it :P Despite the price I find myself bringing people here because the food almost never disappoints. Fried egg sandwich and all their artisan pizzas are highlights for me :) Only thing I wouldn't recommend is their wheat toast French toast thing. Tasted dry and awful. :( read more

Gather - Egg sandwich. Please let me eat you again. - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We arrived without a reservation with 9 people and, very luckily, we're seated within 10 minutes (Sunday brunch time so the short wait time was a rarity) I ordered the French Toast and it was absolutely delicious. Not too sweet, yet still a bit savory. Incredibly flavorful for a simple french toast (highly recommend). The pork belly was soft and succulent. The nettle scramble was good (I'm generally not a fan of eggs, but even this was delicious). Asparagus pizza was divine. A little smaller than what I'm used to, but the flavor was unbeatable. Not greasy or dry, fresh on flatbread dough. The added sea salt gave such a wonderful flavor. This place is my new favorite restaurant in Berkeley. The food is some of the most flavorful I've tasted and the prices are affordable. A+ read more

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I had the classic Berkeley Breakfast. The eggs and bacon were perfectly done. The BF had the biscuits and pork gravy, and could not stop raving about it. Definitely try to go before the get busy on Sundays at 11 (or make a reservation). All together, this is a great brunch spot. read more

Gather - Classic Berkeley Breakfast - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

This review is only for Gather's brunch service. A group of friends and I had the opportunity to eat here for a club appreciation event. Wait time for our group of seven people was around 40 minutes, but the staff was nice enough to let us wait in the restaurant's outside seating area. Gather takes a lot of pride in its use of local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. I ordered the winter squash pancakes topped with huckleberries and ricotta cheese. The aroma from these pancakes was heavenly. The first bite was rich and the squash (much to my surprise) added a savory depth to an otherwise sweet breakfast food. Sadly after finishing about half of my pancake I hit the wall. The pancakes, while initially tasty, became increasingly heavy with each bite. Not to say that they weren't tasty, but I think I'll stick to regular flapjacks. The service is very friendly, our waitress was knowledgeable and happily answered our many questions about strange sounding ingredients. Gather's interior, with exposed pipes, hanging ivy, and wood furniture invokes a homey feeling. The sun basking through windows makes this restaurant a very attractive place to bring a date or enjoy a meal with friends. My experience at Gather wasn't as great as I hoped, but that's not to say this is a bad restaurant, because it isn't at all. You can see the passion they put into their creations. I just think I'm not cut out for the level of sophistication they bring to their brunch menu. This point proven by the fact that I spent a great deal of time searching the menu for something that didn't have vegetables. I do hope to return to Gather to try their lunch or dinner menu, as I enjoy a level of fanciness when it comes to those meals, just not brunch. 3 stars for now. read more

Gather - winter squash pancakes with huckleberries - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Unfortunately my expectations weren't met...parking can be tough so you may just want to opt for a structure or pay lot. The staff was friendly and attentive. The decor is cute and casual. I like the open kitchen. I didn't realize it was only the brunch menu when we went in on Sunday. By the time we were ready to order they were out of a few fan favs. I got an egg omelet with lettuce (salad). It was basic. read more

Gather - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The entire dining experience was a delight. Our server, Ryan, was attentive, knowledgeable, and personable. Everything we ordered came quickly and was exquisitely prepared. But perhaps, my favorite part is that they donate proceeds from their cocktails to local non-profits! There's never been a better reason to drink! read more

Great for groups, very accommodating. Bright, open, airy. Delicious specials - yellowfin tuna, pork belly. Also nice salads and appetizers. Interesting olive oil cake - a little spicy. Homemade farmers cheese was tasty. Cons: pretty limited menu. My med-rare burger was completely gray inside. And the served it with a steak knife so maybe they are used to TOUGH overcooked meats. Nice place but a bit overpriced for poorly cooked burgers . read more