Article
Gott's was fast casual before 'fast casual' was a thing
Although the term "fast casual" hadn't been coined when Gott's Roadside opened in 1999, in St. Helena, Northern California, the seven-unit chain was operating like one without realizing it.
November 20, 2019 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Although the term "fast casual" hadn't been coined when Gott's Roadside opened in 1999, in St. Helena, Northern California, the seven-unit chain was operating like one without realizing it. It's always used seasonal ingredients, for example, sourced local and served wine and beer via counter service in a comfortable atmosphere. And it continues to see year-over-year growth as other Bay Area restaurants struggle with declines in sales, staff turnover and high operating costs, President Clay Walker said during an interview with FastCasual.
"We do not have direct competition," he said. "We are often compared to Shake Shack in the better burger sector and to sweetgreen in the salad sector; however, our breadth of menu and food quality put us in a league of our own."
The menu, which has featured the Impossible Burger since 2017, features a modern approach to American roadside classics including the California Burger, Ahi Poke Crispy Tacos with sushi grade Ahi tuna, a B.L.T. with charred jalapeño mayo, Chicken Kale Caesar salad and hand-spun organic shakes. The chain's commitment to local sourcing also extends to the glass with a California-centric list of wines and beer selected by Founder Joel Gott.
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| Gott's Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich is a menu favorite. Provided |
Although it doesn't franchise, the chain is growing, expanding from its original location to include restaurants at San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace, Napa's Oxbow Public Market, Palo Alto's Town & Country Village, Broadway Plaza Shopping Center in Walnut Creek, Bon Air in Marin and a licensed location at San Francisco International Airport.
It's opening next year at Chase Center's Thrive City in San Francisco, and Walker said he's always scanning the market for iconic real estate opportunities that will live up to the original location.
"Gott's origin is the Napa Valley, a destination where people gather to enjoy good food and wine with family and friends," he said. "Our upscale picnic atmosphere embodies that wine country feeling. The indoor/outdoor vibe at Gott’s is quintessential NorCal living."
The chain also continues to invest in people, menu development and technology, according to Walker, who said he's recently deployed a POS platform from Toast to increase speed of service and has partnered with DoorDash to establish an off-premise presence.
"We continue to evolve our kitchen and dining room design, utilizing the latest and greatest equipment," he said.
About Cherryh Cansler
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