Located at 5635 Riverdale Drive in Furnitureland South in Jamestown, The Gathering Table offers sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads. It is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except for Sunday. There is an outdoor dining area, and online ordering is available. Specials change weekly.
Despite the strong positive reviews The Gathering Table received, I felt a bit uncertain about stopping here for lunch. Though IKEA’s banging Swedish meatballs are an example to the contrary, one can be forgiven for thinking that dining options at a massive furniture store will get by on proximity and convenience. I was also not looking to shop for any furniture, and while The Gathering Table advertised itself as open to all, would I stick out like a sore thumb amid furniture folks?
Fortunately, these concerns were largely for nought. The Gathering Table is spacious and nicely appointed with lots of light, some foliage, and, fittingly, comfortable seating. Though there were few patrons when I stopped by, it wasn’t dead enough to raise any eyebrows.
The menu here is bistro fare with a good assortment of light and fresh options. I went for an Italian sandwich on focaccia though the steak and bleu salad and the chicken and pesto flatbread were strong contenders as well. At under $15 with chips and a drink, the sandwich represented a decent value these days.
The cashier, likely still in training, was very nervous, but thankfully, he had the support of the rest of the staff. The Gathering Table’s kitchen definitely knows what it’s doing, and it turned around orders quickly.
My Italian sandwich was shockingly good. The bread was warm and soft, and they didn’t skimp on the meats (ham/salami/pepperoni) or cheese (fresh mozzarella). The vegetables (greens and tomato) added a refreshing crispness while the oil and vinegar supplied a bit of tang. This was honestly one of the best non-Giacomo’s Italian sandwiches of recent memory.
Perhaps
because of its location, The Gathering Table tends to fly under the radar. However,
it’s a more than worthy lunch option for anyone in the Jamestown area,
furniture shopper or not.
