Gather Cafe Bistro Bar — Restaurant in Talent

I tried and wanted so badly to love this place. My husband + child and I went early afternoon, walking in with only l two tabled in the front (main) area used (by three people).

We were pigeonholed into the back quarter (behind a wall next to the back bathroom) where a group of 14 elderly sat (respectively) as a group mid-way through their hangout/mealtime.

The food was averagely good, I ordered the chicken curry dish which was tasty, yet the chicken had four pieces within which were rubbery on the inside, dry on the edges and seemingly old(?!). The flavors were great, yet ya know the chicken quality (lack thereof) weirded me out.

My husband’s dish was too dry so we ordered more sauce he asked for 4 extra cups of sauce (tiny 2 tablespoon size portions) costing $4 more.

I also want to note that when I asked if a dish was “a rice dish” meaning just rice and veggies or chicken they would fancify themselves by saying “it’s a rice-forward” dish. Strange as a simple “yes,” this is just rice and chicken or just rice and veggies dish. It gave me the same vibe that Starbucks sends when asked for a large and they say “oh, you mean ‘venti’ size?” As to frost over made-up food-name-branding to charge-up.

I would have easily rated this place as a 4, yet since the chicken got me a little gagged, and the lacking service… I would be amiss to not rate accordingly.

I had to waive the server down more than three times, for which it seemed to bug / bother her as she was “in the middle of something,” ironically the group was so so so low key, slow as syrup and completely content with their own company.

At one point I went to the front of the restaurant hiking my infant in hand to get the attention of the server just to ask for more sauce. Even that seemed to be too much for the server to handle as one ignored me, which another finally asked how she could help.

Too bad for all this as I genuinely lived the hand painted wall art and overall “homely” feeling of a local restaurant with flavors of wooden beads, tassels and some tiny Indian flavor inspired dishes.

Just felt off to sit for so long without much assistance, and having to ask for water, for water refills, for napkins (getting only three extra when we requested them-and yes we had naan bread so using our hands to eat therefor needing napkins), and also having to request utensils...

Gather Cafe Bistro Bar is a delightful discovery for anyone who appreciates great food, whether it's for a cozy dinner out or a convenient takeout. Every time we've opted for takeout, the experience has been nothing short of impressive, with each dish bursting with flavor. And let's talk about their fries – they are irresistibly good!

One of the standout features of Gather Cafe is their selection of bowls. Not only are they incredibly filling, but they also offer a full flavor experience with a variety of ingredients that dance together perfectly in every bite. It's a culinary journey that leaves you satisfied and eager for your next visit.

For vegans, this place is a dream come true. Unlike many other restaurants where vegan options are limited, Gather Cafe offers a plethora of choices. It's almost overwhelming, in the best way possible, to decide among the array of delicious vegan dishes they have on the menu.

The staff at Gather Cafe adds to the overall exceptional experience. They are always friendly and contribute to the welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant. It's refreshing to see such a fantastic restaurant with a diverse menu make its way to Talent. Gather Cafe Bistro Bar isn't just a restaurant; it's a testament to the joy of good eating, the pleasure of variety, and the importance of catering to different dietary needs with enthusiasm and creativity.

I wholeheartedly recommend Gather Cafe Bistro Bar to anyone looking for a culinary adventure, especially to those who cherish vegan options. It's a must-visit in Talent, a true culinary jewel that caters to all palates with...

Updated review after our third visit.

Our first visit was great: sitdown service, great presentation, great flavor.

Our second visit was a takeout. We found the curry dishes had way too much rice, just some curry. The biryani chicken was really dry, barely any chicken, we thought they forgot to add ingredients into the rice at first.

We decided to get a sit down service again for a better experience. It was strange that the food was served in togo containers. Once again the curry dishes had way too much rice. The vindaloo was so blend we though that was the butter chicken dish. We ordered the butter chicken as well, which was even more blend: just taste like milk, the color was almost white. We ordered this dish in our first visit. It was way better! The naan was old, i think they reheated an old one.

I hate to write poor reviews for local businesses but I don’t want to mislead the patrons who work hard to make a living as well.

I sincerely hope the quality won’t keep slipping. Increase the prices if needed. Serving poor quality food is the worst. People won’t come for bad food how we people will pay for delicious and good quality food!

Sincerely!

First visit review: Love this cute cafe! The dishes are cooked with real good quality ingredients, not too heavy. I love Indian food but it’s normally soooo heavy. This place is packed with fresh ingredients!!! Need to come back to try every single item...