This is the first time that I write a review on a restaurant. Yes it was that bad! Sure the decor is nice and the food looks good. But isn't taste the most important? The food was mediocre, the desert (apple tart) was really bad (how can you miss an apple tart really? out of the freezer for too long probably!), the service was slow and the bill was high. The only positive moment was when the waiter took the dessert out of our bill because we didn't eat it... read more

My husband and I were walk-ins as reservations were full, yet the host pleasantly found us two seats at the counter in this very casual establishment. I ordered the mussels incorrectly thinking it would be a bowl of mussels. The presentation was pure art and it tasted wonderful with fish roe and roasted kale leaves, but for $15, there were only four tiny mussels in the dish. My husband's hamburger, also $15, was perfect. Good quality beef served with mixed greens, French fries, and homemade tomato relish. Wine was expensive, beer was the bargain from $5-6:50. Pizzas average $18.00 and looked simple. Place is casual, service is friendly and fast. Menu is a bit too limited for our tastes. Best part of the experience was the artistry of the dishes leaving the kitchen-beautiful. read more

Excellent service, meaningful mission, delicious food! We love coming to Gather for date nights, celebrations and just for lunch.

Went in the summer for a team brunch. They let us have the entire side patio which was lovely for a beautiful day. All the food was good and service was spot on. Close parking lot which made parking easy and hourly rate was extremely reasonable read more

As a vegetarian I thought the food was going to be excellent after reading the reviews. However, I was extremely disapointed. I had the deep fried squash blossoms, which were terrible and the squash blossom pizza which was burned. I think they burn the pizzas on purpose but I thought it tasted horrible. They give you a 1/2 glass of wine for 10 bucks and the glass is not even big. Total rip and I'm never going back. read more

I take all out of town visitors to Gather. It is always a happy experience, with good food, ambiance and service. My family has always had one restaurant where we feel happy and our spirits can be lifted just by going there to celebrate, get over a disappointment, or just feel like a familiar space. Gather is one of those restaurants for us. I appreciate that they have decorated with re-purposed materials and that the food sources are so transparent. I used to take guests to Chez P, but now I skip that and go straight to Gather. Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner - all have been terrific! read more

Delicious brunch! Nice location, pretty quiet in the morning, coffee is just okay. The homemade sauce is a big highlight.

We've been coming to Gather for years and it's become a Berkeley staple. We always send local and out of town friends alike. They do a remarkable able job being experimental and consistent in the same stroke, able to please vegans and carnivores alike. Highly recommended! read more

I love the creative menu and farm to table concept. The commitment to sustainability is a big plus. Sometimes it can be a bit loud, but it's a festive atmosphere! Especially appreciate two very friendly managers: Jodi and Jacob! read more

The concept of this restaurant is intriguing and timely. It purports to bring sustainable, affordable and delicious food to Berkeley which, according to its web site, is missing in the city. That statement is questionable. We had the goat soup (a first for me), the kale salad, the sardines and a mushroom cioppino. Cioppino here is totally vegetarian with the appropriate cioppino spices and lentils. Unfortunately the mushrooms were not presented at their best. The mushrooms were watery and relatively tasteless. They should have been cooked down, reducing their natural water content and intensifying their individual woodsy flavours before being incorporated in the stew. They played second fiddle to the lentils. The kale salad was good not great. The sardines were tastey along with their side salad of sliced radishes which I wish were a larger portion. The goat soup was lacking subtlety because the gamey taste of the goat meatballs was overpowering in the spicy, thick broth. I won't be revisiting goat in any preparation anytime soon. That's not the fault of the restaurant, however, just me. The restaurant was filling up fast at 5:30 on a Friday evening. We arrived without a reservation and had to convince the hostess that we would be out by 6:45. I thought that would be no problem until we were sitting waiting for our appetizers and entrees for longer than we are used to. The service was attentive and efficient, but the kitchen was slow. That's not a problem unless diners are attending a performance at a nearby venue and have to be out by a specific time. I may return to sample more items on the menu when they open for lunch. Lastly, our parking karma was in full bloom; we found an on-street spot directly across the street. read more

The Gather, appeared to be not the place to gather after leaving a Zellerbach performance on a Sunday night. While we were seated promptly the service went downhill from there-not the servers; they were practically running while nothing appeared to be happening in the kitchen. The food was decent but nothing exceptional, overly salted medium burger was palatable, the chick pea fritters were sent back to the kitchen...and taken off the check the second time we asked. Beer was excellent but even that took awhile. Waitresses were very apologetic-dessert was comped as well as a vegan pizza that replaced the chick pea nuggets-but management needs to sort out the menu and kitchen crew. Food that is slow and ultimately unremarkable is a waste of money. read more

Uh!!! Where do I even begin?! AMAZING. Great atmosphere, vegan and gluten free options/availability listed right on the menu items. The drinks feel like they are healing elixirs. Super unique dishes (I couldn't tell you the names of the entrees, but my mouth waters to think about them again.) Take your date here, they will want to go home with you. read more

I ordered a burger, medium well and it came out really undercooked, basically on the rare side. I sent it back and received a burger that was cooked correctly the second time but was disgustingly salty. I'm not sure if this was my punishment for sending food back? Also, the burger was steamy so looks like put it in the microwave. The service was good and our waiter was apologetic about the burger. Decor is nice as well. I won't be going back though...I can still taste salt in my mouth hours later. read more

Came here for dinner during the week. The food was good, service was great but overall a little overpriced for what you get.

Seriously? People give this place 4 stars? Maybe I'm just not cool enough or Berkeley enough to appreciate it. I went there for lunch, I thought the place was a little...prairie/church like, hard wood chairs and tables, a little sparse. The service was unimpressive, the recommendation for the more "interesting" of the 2 salads I was choosing between was still only lettuce, add chicken and an ice tea - $20. I am not a big person and I don't eat a ton but the portions were seriously small and the chicken looked rather unappetizing. Luckily I read another review that said to ask for the bread, otherwise I would have had to go get lunch somewhere else as well that day. Also, in addition to hardwood tables and chairs, trendy concrete floor. Of course this translates to no sound absorption - very loud. However, the flavor was good. Bottom line, oh so many better dining choices. read more

First of all, don't argue with your customer about petty stupid things like how soon I would be back after re-parking my car. Can't you just be grateful that I'm there dining at your restaurant? The waitress had better sense than the hostess when she sensed my annoyance. Ordered the pizza, forget which one but it was overly salty. Just wasn't good at all. There was a weird sauce that just wasn't right on a pizza. Also had the muscles and it came out very cold. Overall, not very impressive. Came out of the restaurant very unsatisfied and annoyed. read more

I am so excited for this place to open! Berkeley needs a vegetarian friendly, local, organic, comfortable place to eat. I can't wait!!!

As many others mentioned, the service here is lacking. At lunch today we were one of two other parties on the patio. We ordered soup and sandwiches and then watched the patio fill up with other diners. All the orders for other diners who arrived well after us were coming out so finally I asked where our food was and the server seemed perplexed by this. No apologies were offered. How hard is it to bring out soup? The bill was $20 per person with tip. I'm all for quality ingredients and willing to pay extra for seasonal, organic food but the overall experience and taste has got to be worth it. I'm surprised that the management hasn't addressed the poor service with all the reviews mentioning this issue. read more

Service was terrible and condescendingly rude. Waited for a table for 2 while several larger walk-in parties were seated ahead of us. Afterwards, read some of the 2 star reviews on Yelp and recognized similarities in experience. Don't waste your time or money. read more

This is a very classy place right across from the UC Campus. It's quiet small bit with good seating. It reminds me of a cute little classy restaurant. Yummy organic foods. It's a little high on price but completely worth it. Parking can sometimes be a hassle but there are parking lots around. This place brings back good memories. read more

As far as food goes, I was a bit unimpressed. The ingredients seemed fresh, but not put together in a flavorful or exciting way. We sat outside, which was beautiful, and the service was fine. I might go again, but not until I have tried some other places first. read more

Ever since Downtown closed, it has been tough finding a decent place to eat before Berkeley Rep, or PFA, or Zellerbach, or a movie on Shattuck: ta daaa, enters Gather! For my money, Gather is fine: it has counters where you can sit alone or talk close to your best friend, and tables if you prefer a noisier setting. On Superbowl day, I was with my pal Barb, and we picked the counter after our movie to catch up. Good choice: the bartender was super friendly, efficient and perfectly sophisticated. I LOVE that he immediately offered us tap water and gave it to us without ice WITHOUT my having to ask the "without ice please" !!! Bonus point for them already on that point! Otherwise, the food was fine: Barb liked her potatoe pizza, and I liked the goat soup enough (I am not an expert on goat soup). I liked my small plate of tender cinnamon lamb with sweet yogurt a lot; tasty and the right size. We did not have time for dessert, so... I will have to go back! Ambiance wise, it looks less chic or fun than FIVE in the Shattuck Hotel, and more Berkeley/Birkenstock/MichaelPollanesque trendy -shall we say-. But we got great service: every one eager to help and polite, and we even even got greeted and thanked as we left the restaurant after our meal...which is so darn rare anywhere around this Bay! read more

After our recent visit for brunch I have a one-word impression of the food and service at this restaurant: pretentious. It's ambiance is pleasant enough but the food was bland and overpriced for the (lack of) quality preparation, distinctive seasoning and portions. My request for tomato ketchup was unfulfilled because (I was informed by the server): "The chef doesn't think ketchup is 'classy enough' ". Same response for any kind of tangy hot sauce. Really?! Coffee refills required actively attracting our server's attention rather than her being attentive to us after our food arrived. Overall, not a bad experience but our first choice was Venus Restaurant. It was booked solid for the next month. Problem is with these establishments being essentially controlled by the clickable reservation service Open Table it's actually too easy to book-up popular times to dine. Studies have repeatedly shown that many reservations are 'no shows' because many people don't bother to cancel their reservation when plans change. No penalty fo being a 'no-show'...except the inconvenience it causes other potential patrons. Am I alone in this opinion of the coerced reliance customers endure from clickable Open Table's gate to getting a table? read more

Lovely patio, nice drinks, friendly responsive staff. I had the Berkeley Breakfast and asked my my scrambled eggs "soft". The food arrived, and the eggs were not soft-they were on the dry overcooked side. If you like your eggs dry, or cooked very well, you would have loved them. So, I sent them back. A few minutes later the plate arrived, and they were RUNNY. Runny enough so I wonder was this a grumpy chef taking revenge on me for daring to send back my eggs in the first place (I've worked in plenty of restaurants and I have met several grumpy vengeful chefs). Damn! I guess if you want something right you do it yourself? Ok rant over now. Aside from the egg tragedy, the toast was pretty good-something like a sourdough, well toasted. The bacon was crispy and delicious. The salad with green godess dressing was underwhelming. read more

What a treat to come to a place that's happy to serve the needs of omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and those with food allergies. It was such a pleasure being served by a true gentleman named Karma. Ordered the house cured olives with herbs and orange zest, yum! Shared the little gem salad with my hubby, perfection. Main course was a vegetarian dish with trumpet mushrooms, rice cakes, and a poached egg. My eyes admired the thoughtful presentation on my plate and my palate danced wildly with each unusual and flavorful bite. The owner/chef/manager(?) who delivered my dish suggested that I lightly dip into the sauce a little bit at a time, so it wouldn't be over powering. Hey, I appreciated that! Hubby kept it simple and ordered a classic cheese pizza, he was more than satisfied. For dessert, scoops of vegan cashew ice cream with vanilla and rose water flavor, topped with cherries, a foam of some sort, and crushed bisquits(?). The dessert was the only miss here, it was just waaay to sweet, and the rosewater gave it an antiseptic taste. Coconut cream would've been a better choice for the ice cream I think. After trying it and telling the server we didn't care for it, he kindly took it away and off our bill. Thank you. We will definitely be back. And I must say that if we weren't in a rush to get to a concert nearby, I would've sampled another dish. read more

Gather - Trumpet mushrooms and rice cakes - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I'd give it 3.5 stars. Pros: good atmosphere, good location, quality ingredients. Cons: overpriced -- menu isn't innovative enough to justify the prices. read more

My first time here, a bit disappointed . Their current highest priced dinners are salmon and chicken. The salmon didn't smell as fresh as expected for farm to table restaurant. Fresh fish shouldn't smell fishy. The chicken, served on a bed of lentils and carrots, was just ok. I may return but when they change their top dinner items. read more

Birthday dinner here. My friends introduced me to this place. Cocktails are well crafted by mixologists. Food's perfect! I had some type of vegan tasting sampler that was incredible! And I am not Vegan. Wish I took foodporn photos, it was beautifully presented. Love the earthy modern vibe. read more

We've been here a handful of times for dinner over the years and always appreciated the quality and creativity of the dishes. Tonight was unfortunately a disappointment with both the odd pork belly dish (two pork dishes in one) and the little gem salad being excessively salty, the spicy tomato pizza lacking flavor (and spice!) and the burger being somewhat bland. Our waiter, though, was patient and helpful. read more

My husband and I stopped in on the way to Oakland. We had the mussels, tomato pizza and pork meatballs. All were excellent. The staff is well versed in food preparation and very attentive. My bourbon cocktail was delicious. Choice of sparkling, plain (or both) water tableside. Finely light and nice decor. Love the bench coverings fashioned out of a collection of old belts. We will be back soon. read more

Efficient service delivers an excellent presentation of colorful local and sustainable food. The place is often busy (reserve your seat) and it's not the easiest place to park near, but it's worth the time. One thing they have always gotten right is an attention to food allergies. Although I've not had a drink there, their specialty cocktail and wine list looked interesting. read more

Had brunch here with the girls a few months ago. Food was ok. Service was ok. I think we were expecting more vegan options. It's a pretty space. It's one of those places I wouldn't suggest, but I may tag along if someone else has a hankering for it. Especially if they pay. read more

Rating strictly based on service, so I called in 2-3 hrs early to make a reservation and the person answering the phones said, "there is no reservation needed - there will be room for two people." So we get there and the hostess blatantly ignores us for 2 minutes as she chats away... so when she finally give us attention, we find the wait is 35 mins for two (didn't they say no reservation needed?!?)... no thanks! read more

get a pizza, maybe even the sausage pizza. It will blow your mind. I love that Gather is not a pizzeria yet it makes one of the best pizzas in the bay. And the blue lake beans were so good, and the salad special with the figs, perfect. Can't wait to go back and try more. read more

We ate here at dinner time so this may not apply to their brunch hours. The spicy tomato pizza was great. The service was bad. Pricey for what you get. Not sure if come back. read more

it's gonna be cool! looks most beautiful, all glowing with lights. should be open by 12/15....organic, bar, patio, pizza, local food update: two visits, "chef at work" producing excellent results. we tried a lot of the dishes, and really enjoyed the food--from the soup, to the pizza, to the braised lamb, brick chicken, polenta with pork cheeks... the space is gorgeous. service still brand new but very kind. good wine, have not tried a cocktail yet. great overall place that I will return to. read more

First impression: the bar was too busy to take our order before our table was available. Lasting impression: the ragout was fantastic and I left too full. read more

i dove into what must be the best sandwich on earth....the braised mushrooms were so juicy i thought i was eating meat - the ciabatta came to my rescue, saving me from the embarrassment of dripping sauce down my face at 1pm...how ladylike :) my inspiration level managed me room to include dessert - a few sweet strawberries with my creamy semifreddo - hm, how could i say no? icing on their chocolate layer cake? core values being respect, honesty, transparency, comfort, and "always possible" next trip: breakfast...with friends. read more

I had lunch with a friend recently and was disappointed. The food wasn't bad, it just didn't live up to the hype. We shared the kale salad and it was WAY oversalted, which I mentioned to our server. The one I make at home is better. (And the Kale Salad at Yoshi's/Jack London Square is excellent!!) The carrot soup was good-but nothing special. We shared the stinging nettle pizza, and it was very good. The service was fine but the table arrangement at Gather is awkward. We sat at a table near the "inner circle" and the server had to reach over the railing, quite awkwardly, to give us our plates. Difficult for him and awkward, and not a very well thought out arrangement. The tables were too close together for him to easily reach us from the other side. Gather is out of the way for me, I wouldn't go back. read more

Came back with my parents this time. We ordered the charcuterie plate, and the Spicey Tomato Pizza. The former was creative and pretty good, although smaller than I remember. A little pricey considering the small sizing. But the Pizza was pretty big from what I last remembered, and the crust was oh-so-good. Soooooo good. And the sauces drizzled on top were amazing, along with the caper/olive tapenade. Very flavor intensive, while still remaining light. Finally, we had the brown butter ice cream. Only $3 for a 3 scoopys! Surprised the deal! And it was veeeeery good. Not overly sweet, and the richness was tempered by something I can't quite tell...Very good. Also, the ginger beer is good too! Didn't try any of the alcohol...(drank last nite, and its fucking finals week...) though. Good when the parents come, since I don't have to foot the bill... read more