Dining @ G A R D N E R

A Veggie Adventure at G A R D N E R

G A R D N E R

Austin, TX

For me, dining at Gardner was a very new experience. I love trying all different types of foods, but I don't think I've ever been to a place where vegetables are such a big focus - maybe even the primary focus of what is served. A good friend of mine who is a vegetable lover suggested we try it. It's from the same owners who started Contigo, which is part of what sold me. Contigo is one of my fave places for a casual, delicious and enjoyable meal. When you first walk into Gardener, the design is very minimalistic and modern. It's very pleasing to the eye. Then you begin and the menu is fairly unique. You have the options for bites, a first course, a second course, cheese and dessert. My friend Erica and I each got the Crudite for our "bites." Then we shared the Cabbage with Monkfish, Jalapeno and Marjoram and a special using Cobia (a gamey fish). Then we each had our own main course. I dined on the celery root, which was really like a risotto with black truffle and other spices. Erica enjoyed the Brassicas with grains, preserved lemon and chili broth. Finally, we ended the meal sharing a cheese option, which was covered in all sorts of herbs and spices. My favorite bite came from the Cabbage, which was the first course. It packed a lot of flavor and worked nicely with the jalapeno and fish. But the special was a bit of a disappointment. The Cobia was cooked nicely, but it was covered in popcorn. That really wasn't needed and took away from the overall meal. I also truly enjoyed the Celery Root dish. The rice packed a lot of punch and really highlighted the truffle that was used. My only complaint was that it was quite a small portion for an entree. Erica's entree was also excellent, but very simple. Too simple for me. It was the best grouping of vegetables you could taste, but it was still just vegetables. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the cheese dish - although Erica really enjoyed it. I'd definitely like to return to Gardner, but I also realize you need to order carefully. And I definitely don't think I'll be able to convince my husband to come... He's more of a meat and potatoes guy.