Locals and first-time restaurateurs Amber and Mike Kovarik hit it out of the park when opening Chandler-based George & Gather in March. The all-day dining destination is an expansive space that not only offers scratch-made eats, but also a market for cool finds, a pair of private meeting spaces, and a family-friendly patio, complete with games and an open-air bar.

In mid-March, George & Gather opened its doors near Downtown Chandler. The city’s own Amber and Mike Kovarik had a simple but important vision in mind when building their first-ever restaurant: to fuel both the body and soul with clean, organic ingredients in an welcoming, uplifting environment.

The design of the space drops jaws before a plate can even touch the table. The Art Deco-inspired interior is decked in sumptuous leather booths, sleek mirror-accented walls, and edgy light fixtures. On one end, expansive glass doors open to reveal a streetside patio; on the other, an indoor-outdoor bar eases guests into a larger patio with fireplaces and lawn games (perfect for families awaiting a table). A hallway–with walls lined with cute gifty and gourmet goods on shelves–takes guests to the on-site market, where they can nab gelato, fresh pastries, a variety of coffee drinks, and more.

But before dashing off to the market to buy a bottle of local wine or a bag of coffee beans, guests can dig into a menu of scratch-made dishes and inventive sips. Chef Fiona’s Whipped Goat Cheese Spread is a starter that is not to be missed. Tempting to both the eyes and taste buds, light-as-air goat cheese is paired with local raw honey, raspberries, pecans, and balsamic-date puree. Lightly toasted local sourdough accompanies the spread for dunking and slathering. Paired with a gin-based Babe cocktail, crowned with a dollop of pink beet foam, the meal is off to a sweet start.

The pizza might just be the star of the show at George & Gather, featuring house-made artisanal sourdough pizza made with a 130-plus-year-old sourdough starter. Options range from traditional pepperoni and margherita to the unique, veggie-packed Mercato with basil-pesto marinara, mozzarella, zucchini, charred broccolini, piquillo peppers, and chile oil. The restaurant’s take on a meat-lover’s special, the Carne is a hearty and delicious combo of spicy tomato sauce, Calabrese salami, Cup & Char pepperoni, Italian sausage, mozzarella, ricotta, and a drizzle of local raw honey.

Entrees range from pasta plates to the G&G Double Burger to a fresh and flavorful pan-seared Faroe Island salmon. The addition of horseradish cream adds an appealing zing to the helping of crispy fingerling potatos, roasted beets, arugula, and citrus vinaigrette that accompany the salmon. A variety of sides are available to pair with the entrees. The Brussels sprouts are a table favorite with honey-balsamic glaze, lemonette, and caramelized onion.

George & Gather also serves up a quick-serve, counter-order breakfast starting at 7 a.m. daily (expect everything from breakfast burritos to carrot-cake pancakes), and, come 11 a.m., a lunch menu of salads, handhelds, and hearty entrees.

George & Gather is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday and Monday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Weekend brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.georgeandgather.com.

336 S. Washington St.
Chandler, AZ 85225