"Let your foodie adventure begin here at Gourmet Co must try! So I’m headed to Johnson City for work and my partner finds this article about 10 best restaurants to try in what was named “little Chicago” (some Capone history here). First on the list is Gourmet Co. Open Table had no available spots for my one free night of dinner, but the restaurant website said to call them if you run into that problem. I called. Dinner for 1? Anytime? No problem!!! 7pm bar seating and away we go! My bartender/server is excellent— busy as hell, but helpful, attentive and a delicious drink slinger. I start w a dirty martini with goat cheese stuffed olives. Wow! Who knew? And he made it just how I like it. The menu had such delicious soy ding options, but I’m dining alone and only have one stomach. If my chosen specials were indicative of the quality of all the dishes, a chef tasting menu here would be phenomenal to experience. But alas, I chose with me ‘literal’ gut— what sounded good to my belly — go local it said! So we start with the locally sourced mushroom cream vegetarian soup 6+ types of mushrooms with lots of mushroom bits to much on while you enjoy. Then, another special grouper, crispy skinned, on a bed of local veggies more local mushrooms, pea shoots, garlic, radish, fennel, and swipe of herbaceous sauce painted on the bowl. Fresh, bright, delish! And can we squeeze in a bit of sweet at the end? Why, yes!!! — Local strawberry hand pie… Local strawberries, goat cheese filling, creme anglaise, and charred lemon sorbet. The crust was light and fresh, with more creamier forward (less than strawberry forward) filling and the lemon sorbet show stopper. Wonderful! I have eaten at gourmet restaurants all around the world and this restaurant stands up!!! Of course I needed to order the oatmeal cookie martini to sip on as I wrote this review for you. And it is a mind twistingly accurate oatmeal cookie flavor! Wow! Again, cannot say enough good things about the talent of my drink slinging mixologist with a heart who apparently has worked here 16 years — speaks volumes!"
