Family Dinners Premiere at Gather on Sunday

Gather, Lincoln Square’s newest restaurant, is taking on a new challenge less than two weeks after opening.

The restaurant specializes in cocktails and wine with sharable plates, but is taking a different approach on Sundays with a family-style dinner.

Owner David Breo, a Lincoln Square resident since 2009, said he was partly inspired by his 2-year-old daughter. 

“Our hope is to reach into that memory of the Sunday dinner,” he said. “I think of the big tables with all kinds of food passed around and shared — and the nice part here is that no one has to clean up after that.” 

Breo said the concept expands beyond families with small children; older kids and their parents are also welcome.

“The food is going to be delicious but it’s going to lend itself to sharing at the table and big presentations,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be for little kids, but all of the items will be kid-friendly.” 

Classic roasted chicken, salad, bread and pasta with Sunday gravy join potatoes and sticky buns.

Each table will receive servings of carrots, potatoes and sticky buns, and families can choose three of seven larger dishes to share with the family. 

The larger dishes will change with the season, Breo said, but one of his favorites is the breaking bread, a large loaf with knots for the family to tear off and eat with dips and spreads. 

Breo said he tried to keep “weird things” off the menu. Prices are fixed per adult at $26, and children under 10 eat free (limit one child per adult). 

The owner thought of the family dinners when first planning Gather, but wanted to be open a full week before starting something different.

The restaurant’s regular menu will still be available on Sundays.

Now open for almost two weeks, Breo said Gather has been at capacity most nights. 

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the support of the neighborhood and the response from the neighborhood,” he said. “It’s really kind of blowing me away, it’s very humbling how positive everything has been.”