Gather & Hem: A Downtown Gem

Gather & Hem invited us in to check out their cocktails & bites, so obviously, we said YES! They’re located in what was once the Miller & Rhoads department store, in the heart of downtown Richmond. The space is gorgeous, with a nice variety of seating, from cozy couches and quaint booths to seating for a crowd.

We made an early reservation on a Friday evening and we took a cozy table in a corner booth. This restaurant is located in the Hilton hotel and it would be a great spot to grab a bite before a show. It’s just around the corner from the National and The Carpenter Theater! It’s also easy to access from the bus line. We rode the Pulse from the Museum District and it was a quick and easy ride!

Gather & Hem’s Cocktail Menu

We were excited to see a really creative cocktail menu with plenty of options to choose from. I love when I have to Google unfamiliar ingredients, because it means it’s not something I could easily make at home! Our server mentioned they’re trying to infuse their menu with local flavors and he said they’re hoping to make some paw paw cocktails once those are in season!

Here are the cocktails we ordered:

• Thyme to Fernet About It– A gin-based cocktail with thyme, lime, and bitters. I loved how it was a little savory and the taste of the thyme really came through.
• Shrub Me the Ripe Way– Another gin-based cocktail, this one was made with raspberry shrub, Cointreau, and lime. It was sweet and fruity.
• The Agave Connection– This tequila-based drink leaned on ginger and lemon for a smoky, slightly spicy flavor.
• Gather & Hemingway- This rum-based drink had a citrusy flavor that wasn’t too sweet with a really well balanced flavor.

Gather & Hem’s Food Options

The menu isn’t huge, but it’s thoughtfully curated with unique dishes from hearty main dishes to shareable appetizers. We ordered the Virginia Boiled Peanut “Hummus”, which was a unique dip (made without any chickpeas) that was really rich and creamy. We loved it with the toasted pita!

We also had the California Valley Artichokes. While I’m not normally a huge artichoke fan, these were crispy with a garlic aioli and tomato jam that balanced out the tangy flavor of the artichokes.

After dinner, we walked down Broad Street for the First Friday’s art walk. It was nice to see so much happening in Richmond! We’ll definitely make the trip downtown again soon — and Gather & Hem would be a great place for a date night or to hang with a group of friends!