Gather 2012 [Berkeley]

[Robert Lauriston]

The topics on this place all seem kind of old so starting a new one.

Went for a late lunch yesterday and had (from the brunch menu) one of the best things I've had there: a bowl of Red Flint polenta, topped with Beluga lentils with rapini and fried eggplant, seasoned with Aleppo oil and lovage ($10). In the wrong hands this kind of global fusion vegan cooking can be a nightmare but this was fantastic. Didn't even occur to me it was vegan until I was writing this.

Also split a cheese burger ($15, small salad and fries included), very good, great fries, and a pizza with Hen of the Woods mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, potatoes, and nettle ($20 with optional egg), very good, best pizza I've had there, tasty crust.

That was really too much food for two.

Wine list has improved.

http://www.gatherrestaurant.com/index...

[Robert Lauriston]

I had a fantastic vegetarian (vegan?) entree last week. It was called "brassicas" and included big chunks of roasted broccoli, some sort of housemade kimchi, fresh peas, fresh pea puree, cauliflower puree, and I'm not sure what all else. The combinations of flavors and textures were great, and varied from one bite to the next in really interesting ways.

I'm really impressed with their creativity and ability to pull off combinations that seem unlikely and overly complex.

[majordanby]

i am assuming they serve this only for dinner?

[Robert Lauriston]

I guess. It was a special entree, and there are no entrees on the lunch menu.

[VaPaula]

Thanks for posting this, Robert. It's on a short list for Sunday lunch in a couple weeks, en route from the Oakland Airport to Napa. I typically shy away from places with just a brunch menu (often too many breakfast items, not enough lunch), but I just checked it out. Wow! I'm drooling.

[master_culinarian]

Interesting. Where do they source the beef in said burger? 15 bucks for a burger seems steep. Not sure what your financial situation is like but I prefer a burger more in the 10 dollar range.

[Robert Lauriston]

Prather Ranch beef, Sierra Nevada cheddar, they have a book you can ask for that details all their sourcing. My other favorite burgers (Mua and Cafe Rouge) are a buck or two cheaper but don't come with salad.