Five 12 Restaurant Concepts Founder and Owner Aaron Lyons, along with Owner Trent Patterson and Culinary Director Brandi Key, have opened the doors of their ambitious new concept, Daily Gather, on Jan. 11. We were lucky enough to be a part of the pre-opening, friends & family scene and got a head start on many of the items on their very tasty and specialized menu and already have some favorites. My only regret was that it was only two of us, so tasting and trying was more limited than if we had a larger party…..after all, that is what it is designed to be…..a place where you will gather with friends and casually dine on many of the shareable dishes that Chef Brandi Key, who we are fans of since her days at Clark Cooper’s Coppa Osteria in Rice Village.
Located in CITYCENTRE in a beautifully renovated space, Daily Gather welcomes guests for full-service lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Fans of sister restaurant Dish Society will recognize an emphasis on easy-going hospitality and approachable, locally sourced fare, albeit with a stylish, more polished veneer by Gin Design Group and a splashier culinary program by Key. With communal gathering at the heart of the restaurant, the vibrant menu is stacked with shareable dishes inspired by nostalgic American classics with fun updates and influences from global cuisines represented in Houston.
“What I’m most excited about is seeing people in the space and seeing it come to life,” says Lyons, a resident of the Memorial area who has long had his eye on the space at CITYCENTRE and looks forward to finally debuting the brand he’s conceptualized for the past five years.
While Lyons had a distinct vision for Daily Gather’s menu, it was Key who brought it to life, drawing on her extensive background leading kitchens and launching new restaurants with Clark Cooper Concepts and most recently alongside Claire Smith at Alice Blue, as well as her skill in creating balanced, ingredient-forward menus and focused presentations.
Shared plates are the star of the show, accounting for more than half the menu and making it easy for a crowd to enjoy a variety of dishes. Standouts include cornbread elote that sings of chili and lime, a tuna aquachile fragrant with coconut milk and lemongrass, vadouvan-spiced whole roasted cauliflower, cacio e pepe frites, chilled and grilled oysters, roast bone marrow with a Vietnamese treatment, charred poblano guacamole, seasonal flatbreads and a host of beautiful salads and vegetable-focused plates that showcase local harvests.
Devilled Eggs photo by Deborah Smail
Among the tight list of entrees are braised short rib with Parisian gnocchi (our favorite), sumac-marinated rotisserie chicken with pistachio-sage gremolata, steak frites, a classic smash burger, smoked brisket French dip, a four-cheese sourdough grilled cheese and market fish specials. Key’s pasta prowess will also be on display with fresh, seasonal pastas.
Brunch, which we are looking forward to trying, sounds divine! It will be big at Daily Gather and features several smorgasbord options designed to serve a crowd, including a smoked salmon board, a pastry board with a mix of seasonal pop tarts, muffins and other baked goodies, and the Ultimate Brunch Board: scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, French toast bites, fried chicken, breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit and accompaniments. Additional offerings include a triple pancake stack, smoked brisket and egg tostadas, a garden omelet, brioche French toast, cheesy bacon Benedict, biscuits and sausage gravy and short rib debris with grits.
The day-to-night drinks program runs the gamut from fresh-pressed juices and locally roasted Greenway coffee to approachable wines, Texas craft beers and inspired house cocktails (mocktails, too!). A martini-and-oyster happy hour is on the horizon, along with other attractive specials.
“We don’t ever really start out where we think we’re going to be, but after working through all the pieces, the concept evolves and suddenly, we know, okay, this is Daily Gather,” says Key. “It makes sense, especially now. We’re bringing back the art of hospitality, bringing back people around a dining table. People are craving it. They want that time out. Having fun things to share like this is perfect for the time, the season and the clientele that’s coming in.”
Daily Gather is full-service and serves lunch and dinner daily, plus weekend brunch. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.com. Self-parking is available at CITYCENTRE on streets and in garages; valet is available at CITYCENTRE valet stations.
For more information visit dailygather.com and follow @dailygather on Facebook and Instagram.
photos by Deborah Smail and Sabrina Miskelly