Gardner

A lovely clean feeling space — Scandinavian /​urban lines, refreshing in the face of so many over decorated Texas interiors around.
Service was truly perfect. Our waitress was polite and efficient and helpful without ever making us feel rushed or intruding on our long –over due catch up (I love a chatty server but it’s so SO nice when someone is good at reading the situation and leaves talking space.) — j wish I could remember her name.
Wine was delicious, particularly the Basque white — clean without being overly sharp. I’ve never met a basque wine I didn’t like.
The food was mostly wonderful. We order one of everything on the ‘snack’ list — and it was all excellent, particular props to the crunchy sweet potatoes, the mushroom ciabatta dish (top of them all) and the house made burrata.
Despite bit**ing endlessly about small plates (This, along with ‘no reservations’ policies –must die!) we ended up ordering lots to share instead of entrees. The confit duck was magic, the miso Brussels sprouts were delicious, the tagliatelle was a revelation. In contrast I found the shrimp pretty uninspiring, and the California gold rice was delicious for two mouthfuls and then waaayyy to salty for my taste.
All rounded off with a beautifully executed, sweet but not too rich sticky toffee pudding — definitely leave space for that!
We emerged two and a half ours later swearing that we’d never eat again… But they have a semi private dining room which looks great for birthday dinners and a delicious sounding Sunday supper menu so I am sure we’ll be back at some point.
Not quite a full five stars. But very close!

I sampled from the appetizer menu. I ordered 4 items and while each was good, nothing struck me as great and some of the items, (the beef tar tar and sweet potatoes), were lackluster. The Brussel sprouts that everyone raves about were good, but I mean… everyone has good Brussel sprouts and these were by no means exceptional. Moreover, the food is quite expensive and the quality does not match the price. Needless to say, I don’t think I’ll be headed back for dinner anytime in the near future.
Still, I give the restaurant four stars! First, the space is beautiful. Really, it’s one of the best spaces I’ve been to in Austin. Second, the bartender was fabulous. Not only were her drinks delicious and inventive, but she was an engaging conversationalist and had the disparate parties at the bar chatting with one another. I’d definitely go back for the drinks.

Gardner is a favorite spot for my husband and I to stop in for an HH drink and burger or for a delicious dinner. We love the brussel sprouts, can’t leave without them. And the trout entrée was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. All of the delicious food is matched by the perfectly serene environment. Can’t get enough of Gardner.

We went to Gardner the other day to check it out and have some Happy Hour snacks.
The layout is beautiful and modern, but definitely confusing for the first time guest. Unfortunately we left before we were even poured water.
When we arrived we waited at the host stand for a little bit but no one greeted us. So we peered into the dining room and then walked towards the bar area. When we asked where we could sit, the waitress just pointed to open tables and acted like we should have known to just sit there. We sat and looked over the menu and waited for a minute, but no one came to pour water or explain the menu or Happy Hour, so we decided to leave. When we left there was still no host. It definitely showed that they were a bit understaffed at the moment. Hopefully that’s not the case when we visit next time. I think it’s wise to have a reservation, so that you’re actually guided through the restaurant when you arrive.
I’ve heard amazing things about Gardner and hope to return for an actual meal. If it’s true that they are associated with Contigo then I hope they can get on that game soon!

So, the brunch I had at Gardner before was better than the dinner I had last night. I want to like this place more, given it’s related to a neighborhood fave of mine, Contigo.
Hubs and I are going dry January, so we asked for any non-​alcoholic drinks they had, which was only one: an elder flower pear cocktail. It was watery, unflavorful and bland. Can we get a shrub drink up in here?! So we stuck with sparkling water.
The portions are very small. ALL of the snacks and small plates needed salt (thankfully our mains did not) and were fairly underwhelming, though we did enjoy the carrot dish and the sunchoke gratin a bit. They serve their shared dishes on medium sized plates with no serving ware. Granted, we had silverware but they were tiny forks and knives not up to the task of dishing out leafy brussels sprouts or ¼ heads of cabbage that needed quite a bit of cutting.
My trout with sweet potatoes was actually pretty darn good, as was my husband’s prime rib. It just felt like they were trying to hard, and sadly, I felt like I was in a Portlandia episode eating tiny food, served by khaki and neutral-​tone clad waitstaff with harsh page boy cuts, with tiny silverware in a modern space too loud to enjoy.
I want to like Gardner, and I do… a bit. But not enough to shell out $ 150 for a sub-​par dinner again. Maybe we’ll be back for brunch?

After trying the sampler during the summer Tuesday happy hour thing I’d been excited to go back and try the full menu. We ordered a bunch of small plates and shared and entrée then got all three desserts to try. For small plates, the only ones I liked were the seafood and beef tartares. The beet salad lacked flavor. The trout was good and the sweet potatoes delicious. But I’d love to go back and try a different menu, brunch looks delicious. Dessert wise, two of them were great. The chocolate ice cream one and the sticky pudding.

Enjoyed a great meal with friends at Gardner tonight. Cool décor, yummy food, good service.
The cocktails were underwhelming and lacked flavor, and apparently some people in our party had some issues hearing each other, even though we were only a party of 4, so the acoustics need some work.
The brownie dessert was good but the brownie should have been warm. If you’re going to get it, definitely get it with a coffee. The mango/​ice dessert was meh.
When the dishes came out, the waiters didn’t do a great job of announcing each plate. One waiter would announce his 2 plates, while the other person with the other 2 plates stayed quiet, and I had to ask what they were. We did, however, like how our plates disappeared without us noticing and pretty much never had to interrupt our conversation given we ordered a prix fixe in advance. Our waitress could have been a bit more of a conversationalist, but she was nice nonetheless. There was a broccoli entrée that just tasted like a bowl of raw broccoli, so that was a bit odd, but our group liked broccoli so it was enjoyed regardless. The fish dishes were stunning, and it seems the red meat dishes were good but far from stunning. (I don’t eat red meat so I can’t speak to those.) The carrot starter was amazing.
Perhaps this is weird to mention, but we all appreciated how nice the bathrooms were, and that they were individual rooms (not stalls).
My boyfriend gives Gardner 3 stars and I’m giving it a 3.75/ 4. Worth trying at least once; my boyfriend says only once. But I imagine we’ll be back to try brunch.

Loved the modern architecture, friendly professional service of the excellent wait staff, and the best part about weekends– brunch. Good coffee and even better fresh grapefruit mimosas. So fresh I could see the grapefruit pulp!
As for food, delicious flavors in the redfish bialy dish. Kind of like lox, the different toppings that came with the platter were excellent. I tried my friend’s sausage dish, and we both agreed that it was one of the best brunch dishes we’ve tasted. The sausage was so tasty with such a melt in your mouth texture.
Overall we had a great experience here. Gardner has just started their Sunday brunch, and I highly recommend it! They’ve mastered it!

HAPPY HOUR REVIEW:
I have had this place on my bookmarks for a while and when I received an email from them about their happy hour and ½ priced burger until the end of November, I had to make it a point to come in. There is plenty of parking and if you are looking for seamless service this may be your new favorite spot. We sat on their patio which is small but, can fit quite a few people. I loved the comfy bench style seating with pillows; a nice way to add ambiance to a concrete patio.
Their happy hour starts at 5:30 and they have select small bites at a discounted price, ½ price select bottles of wine and of course the new item, the burger, for $ 6.00 until the end of November. They also had a specialty cocktail and sweet potato fries combo for $ 10.00.
The Specialty Cocktail & Sweet Potato Fries: The cocktail was a cider based cocktail and was good but, it’s not something that I would order if it wasn’t the special. The sweet potato fries were 5 stars all the way and the sauce that came with them was divine. The salt on the outside of the fries was a perfect touch for someone like me who isn’t fond of sweet potatoes and it worked well with the dipping sauce.
Whipped Chicken Fat: I had to ask what this was so don’t feel silly if you don’t know. Basically it’s heaven in a bowl served with smashed fried potatoes. The chicken fat is whipped into the cream dip that comes on the side and they serve it with a small bottle of hot sauce. I recommend using the hot sauce because it gives it that extra elevated oomf.
Burger: This is the perfect all American burger that isn’t always easy to pull off. Everything from the bun to the meat was flavored spot on and this made me remember what a classic burger tastes like. It came with crispy fries and the sauce on the side for the burger should also be used to dip the fries.
I am interested to come and try this place for dinner and it was worth the price for happy hour so, I am sure it is worth the price for dinner too.

Okay, first things first: This is a brunch review.
I came here with a group of friends for Sunday brunch — first thing I noticed was the modern décor and very friendly staff. This was going to be good.
I ordered the Sticky Bun — caramelized white chocolate, pistachio on a cinnamon bun — and it was sinfully delicious. Great start thus far!
Then I ordered their omelette for my main meal. For me, omelettes are make or break — they are easy to make but so many chefs mess them up. And this is where Gardner miserably failed, mainly in managing expectations.
Gardner’s omelette is a two egg omelette with oyster mushrooms and summer squash. I love oyster mushrooms! However, their example of this was disappointingly bland. It was small, not filled very well, and lacked flavor. Other than a little garnish on the top, it sat upon my plate lonely and sad looking. It tasted like — egg. It’s as if they failed to add any other flavor. A sauce. A spice. A cheese. Olive oil. Cream. Anything to give it some bulk, texture and flavor. But nada.
The worst part? It cost a whopping $ 14!
Gardner has potential. I’m willing to give dinner a chance. I can imagine it being a nice place to take a romantic date. However, they’ve got to work on their basics. Thumbs down till I see otherwise.
All that said — the staff was amazing and the cinnamon bun delicious. Feel free to give it chance — just don’t order the omelette.

1^st time. cabbage n ciabatta pretty good. Sucked red fish n duck confit were undercooked n ran out of sticky toffee pudding :(They were very sweet and acknowledged the mistake n took them off the bill! Great service with nice ambience. Very flavorful, great presentation n portion sized. 2 people.1 snack, 2 small plate & 1 entrée with 1 dessert. perfect! Will try again

High concept food. Slick interior. Good service.
Not a place to go if you’re hungry, but can’t go wrong on a date.

Gardner is the most Scandinavian place I’ve ever been, and this includes Scandinavia. Stark concrete walls. Light wood furniture. Framed bits of branches and moss. Even the waiters were wearing asymmetrical knits like they just stepped out of a bog. I loved it.
Gardner’s vegetable-​focused approach really appeals to me. It’s not vegetarian — my friend straight up ordered a steak — but rather plates where the vegetables often take center stage. Because of this, Gardner can’t just rely on a protein to do all the work. The sauces, for instance, were all incredibly rich and flavorful. And the presentation was often gorgeous, enough so that I asked about the ceramics they used. (Some local, some Heath). A different and unique take on dinner that I really enjoyed.
Also, order some cocktails. They were delicious, enough that my friends actually want to return primarily for the bar.

While Gardner isn’t a cheap date location, I think it provides one of the best values in Austin. The special ladyfriend and I went here a few weeks ago to celebrate the end of my semester and were thoroughly impressed. Every detail from the service, presentation, taste and portion size was thoughtfully designed.
The food was excellent — it combined a lot of exotic flavors, textures and ingredients (one dish had dried flowers and another had Gjetost in it for example). We did the four course, prix-​fixe menu, which had at least one vegetarian option per course. The plates are small, but you’ll be full by the time you leave.
The drinks are also excellent, I really enjoyed the scotch — great if you like peat. The gf tried the tequila, which was also great. The bourbon was interesting because they infuse it with hops. Good wine and beer selection as well for those who can’t hang with the cocktails.
Can’t wait to come back to try brunch here.

The atmosphere is very Zen-​like, all neutral colors and very sparse and understated — but that got boring pretty quickly — a splash of color in their decorating wouldn’t hurt. the staff were the same way, very quiet, only spoke when spoken to — I’d like to be a fly on the wall during the interview — I’m sure the extrovert with an abundance of converstion gets the secret trap door!
So, the food — well it was OK but for the price and the portions — just being OK doesn’t cut it. We had the omelet for $ 14 each with mushrooms, squash and cheese — smallest damn omelet I’ve ever seen and no seasoning that I could tell — plus no salt and pepper on the table — nor any other condiment offered — I think they have a separate part of the menu for ordering a condiment and you pay extra for some flavor! Then we had the pancake with some peaches and walnuts on it — they overcooked it and put the very brown side down but you could still taste the near-​burntness of it — I think that was $ 10 — and I agree with another reviewer — you will leave still hungry — not an extra breadcrumb or sesame seed comes with anything you order.
I guess I’m just tired of being served something under the pretense that it is going to be so much better than your average bear — only to wish they were anywhere near as good as Kerby Lane where I would have gotten an omelet and pancake that was delicious, fairly priced, and filled my gut.

This review is regarding brunch. The price-​to-​portion issue remains. The sweet potato funnel cake is a creative and tasty play on funnel cake. The beet hash made for a very artful presentation, and was comprised of top quality ingredients, including gorgeous beets and excellent corned beef. The fried chicken comes very pink on the inside and our server explained that is how it is optimally prepared and assured us it is cooked at a very high temperature (an FYI if you are considering this dish). I would not recommend the bourbon horchata, as the horchata mix was too watery (and why water down perfectly good bourbon?!). The service is quite possibly the best in town.

Voted in the top 10 for Bön Apetit’s Best New American Restaurants. At first you had my curiosity But now you have my attention!
Top tip: Mid-​week is the time to go. $ 28 per person for a 4 course dinner service. A great deal for some top notch food.
This place is enchanting, modern, and very welcoming. It’s like stepping into an ikea catalog in the best way possible. The bar is small, concise, and well appointed. An educated barkeep can pour you a proper cocktail and add some friendly conversation while you wait for your table. The signature drinks are also delicious and very complex (we tried them all).
This was a unique dining experience with a menu that was comprised of a lot of delicious and forward thinking dishes. As a group of four, we were able to each pick a different option for each course and try just about everything.
With each dish we tried, it was very apparent that the chef wanted to make the main ingredient the focal point. To put it in the spotlight and have everything support, balance and add depth to the flavor. Food that makes you think about what you’re tasting and appreciate the vibrancy and freshness of food. This was sourced, foraged, a new experience for me. I was really impressed. The standouts for me: Beef Tartare, Tomato Pasta, and the Ribeye.
The service was all around was great. Our server was friendly, very attentive, and accommodating. With food like this, it can sometimes feel a bit intimidating to ask questions but our server was well educated and took the time to explain everything we ordered.
I’d definitely recommend checking out this new shining example of the culinary heights you can find here in Austin. Don’t forget to tip your servers!

*Disclaimer: This review is based on 2 cocktails only and not a full dining experience.
I suggested this place for a friend and me to try out about a month or so ago. Knowing that my friend is a pescatarian, I thought this would be a good choice after hearing that their concentration is veggie forward. I also like Contigo and was interested in trying their owner’s newest restaurant.
The space is really nice and clean. We sat outside which has a lay back lounge type feel to it. I liked their water pitcher too which our server said was made for them by a local artist. That is about the height of where it got for me. We ordered a couple of cocktails that neither of us liked. They fell flat and had little to no flavor. We each had different ones, but felt the same. I remember liking the drinks at Contigo, but I also understand this is not Contigo and they have their own cocktail program going on here.
We tried looking over the menu to see if anything drew us in and it just didn’t. I can’t think of another time when a menu seemed so uninspiring. Plus, it was not vegetable forward at all. Yes, they had some vegetable dishes, but no more than many other places in town would have. In fact, I can think of a few restaurants in town that have a longer list of vegetable dishes than they do here and they aren’t vegetarian restaurants either. We left after the cocktails and had a great meal somewhere else. I might come back at some point in the future, but it’s not on the top of my list. It would most likely be the result of a friend recommending I give them another shot after they had a much better experience.

Elegant. Modern. Vegetable Forward.
The first thing I noticed upon entering Gardner was the aesthetic of the dining room. Clean modern lines, smooth concrete floor, light colored wood tables, white glazed water pitchers, heavy weight flatware, and a calm atmosphere prevailing over it all.
I love the vegetable forward concept of Gardner. While there is plenty on the menu that would work for a vegan or vegetarian, some dishes are meat based, and others have meat products as a component or garnish. I love this concept, and wish I could find more of it. However, if you are vegan or vegetarian, be sure to ask your waiter exactly what is in any dish that you are interested in ordering, since menu descriptions are minimalist.
Everything that we ordered was wonderful.
Brussels Sprouts — 3 or 4 brussels sprouts gilled and served with green garlic and almonds and a miso broth. Great flavor and texture combination.
Cauliflower — a purée on the bottom of the dish holds artfully arrayed slices of cauliflower flavored with golden raisins and basil. Delicious.
Carrot — the carrots were slightly cooked, and garnished with carrot tops, halved grapes and a dusting of shaved dried beef heart. The dish was good, but I personally might not order again, because I had carrots almost every day as a kid and unless the carrots have a lot of additional flavors, I’m bored with them. This preparation let the carrots shine as what they are, and that just isn’t for me.
Beets — the picture makes it hard to see that there are beets. They are there, under a nice roof of pine nut bark garnished with mint.
Brassicas — every item they had from the Brassicaceae family they had that day: cauliflower, brussels sprouts, rapini, and baby cabbage leaves. This was topped with toasted grains that added crunch, and a broth was poured over the veggies at the table as the dish was served. This dish gave depth to the flavor of all the veggies, and felt healthy and pure, and the veggies remained crisp but without sogginess, since the broth was added just prior to consuming.
Striped bass — As the dish was placed on the table the server poured rouille over the fish. This dish was light and flavorful, and quite decorative with fish skin artfully placed on the fish.
Japanese Pumpkin — flavored with kumquat, birch beer and blood orange, this dish has none of the flavor profile that most pumpkin desserts have. There was no cinnamon/​ginger/​nutmeg/​allspice flavor as is typical for anything pumpkin. This dessert was light and refreshing with creamy and crispy textures.
Milk chocolate — was actually all about the beets. Somehow the chefs at Gardner have managed to create a cake crumble texture out of just beets. On top of the «cake» crumble, sorbet, and chocolate pieces was a fruit leather. It was apparently so delicious that my husband had both pieces of the fruit leather without letting me taste it.
I’m not sure how Gardner will fare in this steak-​loving town, but it fit my tastes perfectly, and I can’t wait to go back.

Sadly, like most new restaurants these days, prices are SKY HIGH ($ 100 per couple with ONE drink each!?), sound levels are deafening, portions are COMICALLY small and food is, mostly, nothing to write home about. (Cauliflower app & Gnuddi «second» we’re only 2 dishes that stood out, but so small you couldn’t give tastes or you had nothing left!)
And, after spending that much, we were still hungry. We went elsewhere for dessert. They only had a couple choices & none sounded good.
The only good thing they have going for them, in my opinion, is the staff — who were, I have to say, amazing. Friendly, helpful & prompt without being smothering.
Interior was beautiful, but I didn’t like the fact that there’s a wall blocking the natural (GORGEOUS) evening light?! It’s dark in there when it’s still daylight outside — hard to read menu (look how dark pics are!)
I saw many tables resorting to using cell phones for light. :(Great if you’re a vampire; not my cup of tea.