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Categories: Irish, Gastropubs
Neighborhood: The LoopMadison/Wabash (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
Monroe (Blue, Red)
Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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A lot more upscale than I thought. Pretty expensive. RIGHT across Millenium Park (should've brought my ice skates w/me) !! Superb service.
Got the "chips"(fries) with curry gravy. A HUGE bowl of fries(couldn't finish it, I am weaksauce) with curry gravy. It was pretty okay, just wanted to try it. My friend liked it.
The goat cheese risotto with basil puree and crisp esgarot?! Yummm.. SO rich that I almost couldn't finish. Comes in this cute little black pot. Basil puree + crisp escargot under the goat cheese risotto.
My friend got the potato and semolina dumplings. Almost gnocchi-like, but not as chewy. My friend loved it, I thought it would've tasted better if it were chewier.
I know reviewing a place with 300 reviews (now 301) is kind of pointless, but I was so pleased with my experience at The Gage that I thought I needed to give it props.
Notable dishes from our dinner there tonight included the 'fondue' starter, and the vanilla bean cheese cake. The latter dish, in particular, impressed me; I think it just might be the most tasty dessert I've had the pleasure of eating. I was also happy with their very robust beer selection - brews were thoughtfully chosen and well described.
The downside to this place, of course, is the price. This is definitely a once-a-year kind of treat for our budget, but it was well worth the experience. All of our food was prepared excellently; the staff was on the ball and extremely friendly; and the environment was just right. If you're having a 'date night' out or need to impress some important clients, I would definitely recommend going for broke here.
It just doesn't seem right foofyfying a pub. It works though. I grudgingly admit it. I left feeling like a snob - a $17 corned beef and rye sandwich? That was the best corned beef, rye and combination of corned beef and rye, I've ever had. It was really, really good. Almost great. If not for the guilt noted above, I'd say great.
Hefe Wesen was more Krystal Wesen to me - tasty. The brew and sandwich were happy together.
I'll go again on the company dime - not my own. However good/great the sandwich was, its still $17.
Wow, what a spectacular time! Its not cheap, but boy was it a blast! I'm a pretty picky eater, but enjoyed trying new things and ate Elk and Rabbit and was pleasantly surprised at how yummy it was! Food was excellent, service was great and my friends from Michigan thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Then again, we could have enjoyed our meal at a mcdonald's but that's not the point. Trying new foods at places like this with great friends is what makes these dinners special.
HIghly recommended if you're adventurous. They do offer Steak and Salads, but experiment a bit, you might like it!
The Gage was so unexpectedly elegant.
A few of my favorite things:
The warm, inviting ambiance.
Our cozy corner booth.
That absolutely fantastic Gage Cocktail.
Perfectly prepared skirt steak.
The divine beet salad my generous dining companion shared with me.
Impressive squash tart.
The hefty 8oz pours of wine.
Outstanding bread!
Crisp, white tablecloth and linens.
Excellent service.
And when I claimed my tummy was too full for dessert, I managed to devour the apple fritters. Fried apples count as a serving of fruit, right?
I highly recommend The Gage for a classy night on the town.
This is a delightful place to eat in the area with very few delightful places to eat.
First, thanks go to Caroline A. for the suggestion to avoid the noisy front. Wow, on a Friday night, the bar area was packed with the volume overflowing into the front dining area. We missed all that by taking Caroline's advice and being seated in the back. Actually it's a very ordinary space, a bit upscale for the backroom of a pub, but not by much. The table service and replacement of silverware with each course is more like a top end restaurant. And Simeon, our waiter, was world class. He makes my lifetime Top-10 Waitstaff list. Just his service made the Gage a hit.
The food was excellent. Pub grub up-scaled a couple notches. I had the Scottish egg - no value there other than saying I tried it. The Hawaiian tuna tartare with cabbage and a strong sauce was excellent. I thought I was going light ordering the mussels appetizer for my entrée. But it was a large bowl of good mussels, with a strong Indian vindaloo sauce that got tiresome by the twentieth mussel and distracting by the thirtieth. Good sauce, wrong pairing. I really enjoyed all the unusual items on the menu - a chance to experiment without going too far astray.
My wife, the coffee aficionado, really enjoyed the Julius Meini espresso. I enjoyed the seasonal beers, although I was hoping for a larger selection of imported beers in an Irish gastropub.
Wonderful classy gastropub.
Good wine and beer selection, I got a very good measure of whisky too!
Roast Chicken was excellent, mash was very buttery...
Friendly staff and reasonable $$$ make it a winner.
I'm upgrading to five stars because everything was just a little bit better than my first visit, which was pretty darn good to begin with.
It's been a week, so I don't remember most of the details. Here goes:
1. Bread service: Loved it. Still possibly the best in the city. Where do they get this stuff??
2. Squash tart: Loved it. And I HATE all squash, and I dislike most combinations of sweet and savory (in this case, caramel vs fontina cheese and sage). And by the way, this should be on the Seconds or Thirds section because it is a very generous portion.
3. Cauliflower soup with mini crab cakes: Well...really, really liked it.
4. Beet salad: Loved it. This featured an awesome cheese called Mont St Francis.
5. Hangar steak: Loved it. Cooked perfectly--truly perfectly--with a sesame puree, more beets, and some kind of cheese.
6. Scallops: Loved them. Fresh corn and crispy chicken skin. Yee-haw!
7. Potato and semolina dumplings: Loved them. By this point in the meal, they were superfluous and totally mis-sequenced (our fault, not theirs). This would be a good side to share but I'm guessing that it is in the Fourths section for the vegetarians, and portioned as such. Tomato, fennel, mushroom--yumness.
8. Fried apple dessert: Loved it. "Apple fritters," not like the doughnut but actual thick apple slices, lightly breaded and fried, served with ale ice cream. ALE ICE CREAM. Finally, an upscale restaurant that can make a decent dessert. Well beyond decent, though.
So that's an A+, a B+, and six A's. I'd say that's a damn fine meal. We got excellent service from Tristan, and our little corner was cozy, quiet, and dare I say romantic. Wonderful, memorable meal.
I came in here last Sunday with a friend for a couple of late-afternoon pints. I found the place… Read more »
We went on Fri night 10/23/09. It's the worst night to go out, but we were on vacation & near Millennium Park so ate here.
It was crazy loud at the bar and the wait was suppose to be an hr or more so we took the crappy 2-top table right by the revolving door. Blah.
The separate bathrooms are pass the bar down the flight of stairs. Evil when there's tons of ppl at the bar.
We got a bunch of stuff:
We didn't get FREE bread, I saw another table get some after we were almost done w/ our meal.
beer $6 - B. got it, he liked it.
mussels $13 - many mussels in a Thai flavored broth w/ huge crouton. Fine.
Phesant thigh $10 - dry, dry, dry w/ some lentils on the side.
Romaine salad $9 - fine enough w/ some anchovies on the top.
braised leeks $7 - tasty, small serving.
goat cheese risotto $13 - tiny serving of it. Stir it up, good stuff on the bottom waitress told us.
roasted squash $7 - just ok w/ some butter in it.
butterscotch creme brulee $9 - just ok, nothing special.
Total $74 + 8.51 tax = $82.51 Before tip.
Valet parking $20 available around corner @ university club 76 E. Monroe.
Mmmmmm.....The Gage....if you were only closer.....
Popped in with a group after the fashion show Saturday night to grab some cocktails and bites at the bar and was not disappointed! I loved our bartender.....adorable...check....Irish accent......check.....attentive....check! Seriously....I've married men for less :)
Got a nice Sauvignon Blanc.....said by the glass....def more like a glass and 1/2....and in my book.....more wine = more happy!
Veggie friends just ordered the Fries w/ Curry Gravy.....fries were good....gravy was okay....I've had the traditional version in an Irish pub before....and I wish the gravy was a tad bit thicker so it clung to the fries or that they would have served it over the fries so they would get all nice and gooj-y and eatable with a fork!
My friend and I split the burger....and am so glad I didn't endeavor to eat that monster by myself.....it was big and messy and everything a burger should be! We ordered it medium....and it was perfect! I was still thinking about it the next day....mmmmmm....love me a good burger. I got a side of mayo for my burger and ended up dipping most of my fries in that....so did my Dutch friend : )
Our other friends ordered the Fish and Chips....I tasted.....moist flaky....crunchy....flavor of the fish intact but not over powering....and not oily.....yay to the fish n' chips!!
Love this place....all dark and woody and untourist-y....with food that is actually well thought out and delicious.....I wish...I wish...I wish it was closer to my 'hood....I would be a regular!
Just steps from Millennium Park, yet unexpectedly so very untouristy, there's nary a fanny pack or I (heart) Montana t-shirt to be found in this upscale gastropub. Clearly a hit with The Loop business folks, The Gage packs a tasty wallop with the thirsty shirt and tie / pencil skirts and heels set.
Very masculine in it's space, The Gage is somewhere I could envision powerful men puffing on big cigars alongside the stockinged secretaries and sophisticated socialites that grace the arms of their pressed Armani suits. Lots of languid dark wood, polished walnut finishes, traditional nailhead furnishings and dreamy flickering candlelight that all fall within a balanced dichotomy of raucous bar scene in front of the house and sumptuous leather booth filled dining room in back. Take your pick and decide where you want the evening to go...
Service in both areas is impeccable, expect to be well taken care of... pampered. From sharp, cheeky bartenders to the knowledgeable yet easygoing waitstaff, The Gage didn't miss a step with my group in either capacity. At the ready to offer up suggestions-a-plenty on the classic gastropub fare menu, I was thankful for assistance... SO. MANY. CHOICES. We went with a smattering of apps, entrées and wines (decanted, lovely) and were pleased with almost everything. Allow me to steer you away from the Poached Swan Creek Duck Egg on Mushroom Toast - an over cooked egg combined with thick, meaty mushrooms on utterly uninspiring Texas toast - while offering up the Swan Creek Rabbit Pâté (so lavish) and Scotch Egg (a must try) as far better executed starter options for your tasting pleasure.
Fortunately, every single main dish was fawned over... it appears you can't go wrong with any selection. We know the famous Gage Burger with it's melty Camembert on a Malt Roll is ooey, gooey fabulosness, but did you know the Braised Lamb Shank with Squash, Fried Artichokes and BBQ Jus is even more delicious?! True! One of the best lamb dishes I've had in some time... Loved it!
The only real problem with dining at The Gage was by the end of this veritable feast there was positively no room left for dessert. Nope, not even in my second stomach... but if Beer Battered Apple Fritters and Caramelized Banana Gianduja Ice Cream Sandwiches aren't enough to lure me back in for a second visit, nothing is!
The Gage is exactly the place I was looking for this weekend during a night out with two of my girlfriends. A classy, upscale pub with a great selection of beer, unique menu and an atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. Plus, they have a staff with a knack for recommending tasty delights, even when seated at the bar. Bartender Sterling advised us to try the Skirt Steak, Mussels and side of squash....all were de-lish!
I'm looking forward to going back for a full dining experience.
NASTY!!!!!
All these great reviews and our experience awful. First, our server was ready to take our drink order even before we sat down, then he was gone for fifteen minutes and came back without our drinks.
We ordered our meal and got very uneven results.
We had an order of mussels that were bad. Tasted bad and came back the next day to show us both just how bad they were.
I had fish and chips that came to our table cold to the touch and swimming in oil. when I complained, the waited shrugged, took my plate and came back in five minutes with the same plate after microwaving it. Same everything. Disgusting.....
My date had a burger that was very undercooked and had to be sent back. When we complined to the manager, he gave a standard "I'm sorry" but did nothing about it. More of a cold "So what" feel to it than anything.
Was truly a horrible experience. Save your time and money and go someplace....anyplace....else.
I like this place a lot....in fact, I have to admit I'm sort of hooked on their burgers. The inside is an upscale pub environment, it's right across the street from Millennium Park so you can't miss it. The service is always good and so is the food. Typically it's packed with the after work crowd getting a drink.
I highly recommend trying this restaurant out....
Full review w/ pics in blog.
Explaining to our waiter that we'd be attending the conference and made a note telling us "no problem."
Browsing the room I have to say I quite liked the dark woods and heavy feel of the room - the back of the restaurant actually quite attractive and mostly well isolated from the deafening noise of the bar area. Service was friendly, hip, pleasant, and vastly better than any "bar" I've ever been to.
Shortly after placing our orders the server returned with a warm loaf of "Soda Bread" with salted butter on a wooden serving board - having never tasted soda bread in the past I was somewhat excited. Tearing off an end piece and topping it with butter I took a bite and was instantly impressed by the crispy crust and soft/airy insides with obvious notes of buttermilk.
Braised Rabbit Salad with Crisp Rice, Langhe Robiola and Horseradish Vinaigrette the salad arrived appearing to be a big pile of Robiola with some sesame seeds and light dressing. What the dish lacked in presentation, however, it more than recovered for in terms of taste, contrast, and variety of flavors. Large in portion the savory rabbit meat was very well prepared and not one bit gamey while the crispy rice lent a nice contrast to the soft flesh.
The Scotch Egg with spicy mustard - "bar food" at its best. Tasting the mix of crispy (not oily) breading, smooth and mild egg, and spicy savory sausage together was like the best sausage and egg biscuit you can imagine - sure it isn't healthy, but damn is it good.
Poached Swan Creek Duck Egg on Mushroom Toast with Shaved Grana Padano and it was actually better than the first egg. First of all, if you've never had a duck egg you owe it to yourself to do-so (assuming you like eggs.) Richer, creamier, and smoother than a hen egg this average sized specimen was perfectly poached with a creamy and rich yolk pouring forth when poked and lathering the combination of smooth shaved cheese and mélange of woodsy mushrooms with an intense flavor.
House Poutine with Elk Ragout, Curd Cheese, Chips. First of all, the parts I was familiar with - the fries were great - large and cooked through with a good ratio of crunchy outside to smooth potato interior while the cheddar cheese curd was obviously quite fresh with a lot of squeak and only a mild bit of brine. Anchoring the creamy cheese and crispy potatoes was a delectably rich and savory gravy of elk - a beast I'd never tasted - and hints of carrots, celery, and smoke. Salty and delicious.
I've had chicken nuggets. I've had popcorn shrimp. I've had deep fried sweetbreads. I'd never had deepfried chicken livers. Creamy, smooth, flavorful, perfectly coated and well done - but a belly bomb to say the least.
When it was all said and done our bill at The Gage was less per person than that at Blackbird and I enjoyed it nearly as much - a great surprise as I went in with skeptical expectations at best. As I've said before, I'm not a bar guy - but if bar food at home were half this good I could become one.
Went here on a date night and it was the right call...
This Irish gastro is a perfect date spot. I would go as far as to call it a "deal sealer" spot. The decor is really nice, lots of tile throughout, brass, dark woods, nice lighting, etc.
We had a short wait at the semi packed bar, they have a number of tasty sounding house drinks but I went with old faithful and had a Jameson on the rocks. The bartender was attentive and regardless of the crowd made you feel like the only guest.
The menu is expansive and typical gastro pub style with tons of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th course items. The service is outstanding, no pressure to order, very knowledgeable staff. All musts when on a date.
For a starter we ordered the Scotch egg which I've never had before...thing looks like a deep fried dinosaur egg but once you cut into its amazing. Picture a tasty breakfast rolled into one egg shaped item, egg was perfect, tasty sausage inside, crust wasn't soggy, and the side of spicy mustard simply made the dish. We also had the fries (chips) with the curry gravy, which was just awesome but the serving is so massive that its too much for two people and you feel like a fat ass eating all of that gravy.
We split 2 entrees, the peppered hanger steak that comes with a feta, watermelon, basil, mint salad which is a great cool compliment to the spicy steak. This was a hit. We also split the locally bought whitefish that comes with mushrooms in a very light broth. The fish was perfectly cooked but I just wish there was more with the plate.
Overall the place has great food, great service, and a very expansive menu.
Great for trying to impress that girl you like.
1.) You bring her to the loop so you look like a guy that branches out of your comfort zone
2.) Its a gastro pub so you look cool and like a guy who is in the know of what's hip and you can spend 20 minutes on what a cool guy you are and how your taste buds have "matured over the years"
3.) The menu has everything from elk to boring ass chicken so if she is lame and unadventurous she will still be OK.
If you are on the cusp with a lady friend then this place will get it done.
Excellent place for lunch or dinner. Great service, though a little uppity. I had the sausage plate. It was extraordinary. I will be back for sure.
Wow. Start to finish wow. The menu was creative. Its broken down into 4 sections of gastronomic girth, light fare to full dinner. This allowed us to try several items. The fondue was spectacular with bread. The fried zucchini was a nice take on veggies. The soup special-simple and elegant. It was the Pork chop that stole the show. Lightly breaded with bacon powder and beef cheeks with endives. Best pork chop I've ever had. Everything about the place had this perfect to a T finish. The waiter was very professional and walked us through the menu very ably. If you like to eat, this is a fantastic place. If you just need cheap sustenance, you might not appreciate this place.
I've been twice now and I really like the Gage. It is in Touristville, where I usually am not. We went the other night, pre-theatre (Yeah Animal Crackers!) and it was a great option. It happened to be Halloween night, and all the staff were in costume. I thought this was really charming and kind of personal in a weird way. Our server was a zombie, and very nice.
I feel like I need to base my review on the location, because while some of the menu items and drinks have a higher price tag than I would normally pay, I think the Gage could actually get away with charging more based on location.
Because we were going to the show, we didn't want to stuff ourselves, and we certainly weren't toting leftovers. Between myself, my hubby and my folks, we had two martinis and eight beers. (Ok that's kind of a lot.) My Hendricks martini was ginormous and deeeelish. Totally worth the 13 bucks. They have a thoughtful and decently priced beer list. I didn't check out the wine too much. We had the brie fondue, the mussels in vindaloo and the fried chicken livers to start. All VERY good. I could eat three baskets of those chicken livers. So yum. We split two entrees, the roasted chicken and the special, striped bass. Both were very good, juicy, not too salty, lovely sides, and a very pretty presentation considering they took it upon themselves to actually split the plates, which we did not request but really appreciated. Oh and I almost forgot! A side of roasted squash and bacon. Awesome!
The noise level is high, and the tables are a little close where we sat, but again, it is touristville. If I'm in the neighborhood and need a go-to place, this is it.
I really liked the dinner I had at The Gage recently. Very clean and smart looking bar/restaurant with very friendly and efficient staff.
I had the Haddock and crab cake which was very good while my gf had their special autumn butternut squash soup with duck sausage. The soup was tasty but the duck sausage really helped it have a better flavour.
The fish and chips taste great and I would say are the best in Chicago that I have eaten. The locally crafted sausages were also very good and it shows that the head chef here does put time and effort into what items go onto his menu.
The server (I think his name was Jason) was exceptional. A really smart professional that always had refills of drinks before you had to ask, great wine suggestions, and was attentive at all times even though the restaurant was full and he was clearly busy. He was a person who takes pride in his work and after my experiences in Market and District bars it was a welcome change.
I can't help but feel that having items on your menu like "saddle of Elk" and "Bison tartare" are there more to show that the Gage is not like eveyone else as opposed to them being great menu items. However, this is a small criticism on a very good evening with good food and great service.
Lunch at The Gage? How fancy!!
The Irish flexing their culinary skills in a 3 million dollar gastropub = great success.
For those of you not in-the-know, a gastropub is basically food that you would find in some divey murky pub in the backroads of Ireland, but classier ingredients are used and the food is presented as upscale. [It's where rich people go to eat expensive comfort food, basically]
You don't need to be dressed up to be a patron of this fine establishment, but you'll feel more awesome, so throw on a suit or some heels. Most of the people in here during the lunch hours are business men drinking martinis and beer - or the real housewife variety... or college kids like myself, being taken on a hot lunch "date" by their rich uncle.
HANDS DOWN the best fish & chips you will ever eat out of a roll of newsprint this side of the Atlantic. Fantastic burgers and interesting takes on classic sandwiches [I had the olive oil poached hawaiian tuna sandwich... I was thinking tuna-steak, not tuna salad... but it was lovely. yes, lovely].
++'s = they have scotch eggs. SCOTCH EGGS. I dare you to find a fancy restaurant with a Scotch Egg. If you're reading this review and you often visit fancy restaurants, you probably don't know what that even is!
They have curry chips [fries]... traditional Irish street food.
--'s = For my sandwich being 16 dollars, I wish they had done something a little more interesting. High quality ingredients, yes, but not huge on flavor.
fun facts : the bar was built in Ireland and shipped overseas by the owner, who's son now runs the bar. Billy Jr will be the one walking around asking about the food... he likes to make the rounds and make sure that everything is quality.
So overall, it's a fun place to spend some money on food so delicious you'd have to travel to Ireland to get it. Full Bar, cute Irish waiters and relaxed atmosphere.
Location, atmosphere, food, and beer selection at a steep price.
Nice little place with some character, tucked away in the midst of the tourist hell that is Michigan Ave. Here are some points of interest.
* old world art deco ambiance, without being old world falling apart
* accommodating server had the kitchen prepare an heirloom tomato salad for wife just because she likes heirloom tomatoes (item was not on menu)
* split the fish and chips, and the large portion came out on two perfectly sized plates without asking
* potato soup was a bit salty (too much bacon), but flavorful
* refills were a plenty and we never had to ask
* a little spendy for lunch fare (though exotic), but typical of the area
Came here last Thursday for a business lunch. I had been here before for a drink after work and was thoroughly impressed. Let me first review my first occasion at The Gage. A group of us stopped in here after work for a few birthday drinks. The manager was walking around to the tables and seeing how everyone was doing. When he approached our table he asked what brought us in that day and we mentioned a birthday. No sooner could we sneeze and the manager brought out 2 appetizers and 5 glasses of champagne. We were confused at first but he told us that he was thankful we made The Gage our choice that day and that this was on the house. This was the greatest show of hospitality I have ever received. We ended up still only staying for a few drinks but made certain to compensate the establishment well for their hospitality. My second occasion at The Gage was last Thursday as I already stated. Came in for a lunch and I was blown away AGAIN!! My coworker and I sat down an immediately offered bread and water. A couple minutes later our waiter came by and explained the specials of the day and let us think about our choices. I had no choice to make, the soup special of red pepper & butternut squash was right up my alley as was the sandwich special of the day...a slow cooked pork shoulder topped with tomato, onion and coleslaw on a Cuban roll. My coworker ordered the same and both of us were licking our hands and plates at the end. The sandwich was so tasty, tender and juicy, I wanted more!! The sandwich was accompanied by french fried and a half of a pickle. This sandwich BY FAR is the best pork sandwich I have ever had. The staff was extremely friendly and the interior made me feel like I was at some high-powered luncheon.
My two experiences here definitely warrant my 5-star rating.
Cocktails are great! Food is so so! Atmosphere is the Winner!
Spent the night out with the family, 11 of us and my 10 month old niece, we enjoyed a trip round the river looking at the great Chicago architecture. Then off to the Gage where after being seated and ordering drinks, a makers mark Manhattan for me which was perfect. We perused the menu which can be a little confusing, it's laid out in courses though the first course is a "snacks" course meant to be ordered with drinks, the second course is the appetizer course and the third course is a salad course; with the fourth as the entree course.
My family is quite traditional when it comes to their tastes, so to no surprise the table was littered with Burgers and Fish and chips. I tried everything and thought the burgers were flavorless, as if they took the ground beef, pan fried it and served as is. The fish and chips were nice and flaky and the fires were perfect.
We also tried the brie fondue which was forgettable and the mussels weren't anything special. Hits of the evening include the Caramelized Lobster which tasted absolutely decadent, Sweet and savory in a Lemon Quinoa. So yummy I could eat three orders and be happy! Also the Braised Rabbit Salad with crisp rice, spicy robiola lettuce and a very light Horseradish vinaigrette. The rabbit was cooked perfectly and the flavors were exceptional. This was a waitress recommended dish and she also recommended the Elk which I regretfully didn't get.
Also tried the Duo of Sausages, the lamb and garlic was quite yummy, Baked Door County Whitefish, Roasted Amish Chicken which was very similar to other peasant style chicken dishes I've had, Duck Rillettes and Smoked Haddock Cake and all were tasty.
The restaurant is gorgeous! The green brick length tiled and black trimmed walls are stunning as well as the restroom and the downstairs cocktail room would be perfect for any party. Although our server was very good a server from a neighboring table insisted on talking to my sister while my niece slept on her shoulder. This conversation about his own child ended up waking up my niece which was inevitable since he was talking right into my nieces face. RUDE! But all in all the place is worth checking out,
What kind of name is this? I had no interest in coming here, until we saw the classy interier, and amazing menu for lunch/brunch options. My sushi craving was put aside for an irish breakfast. The place is next to milenium park, with patio and inside seating. The rooms are compartmentalized, so it feels cozy inside.
The food was excellent. I got eggs benedict with the sauce on the side. Yummy! The potatos were crispy (which I love), but i'm not a brie/potato fan. I wish we could come back for dinner. Next time!
We had a terrific experience at Gage last night primarily because of fantastic service.
We made a reservation at around 8pm for an 8:45 table. We arrived, the table was still occupied and was told it would be a few minutes. After a few minutes pass, the manager comes over, apologizes profusely, and asks if he can get us a round of drinks on the house while we wait. Um, sure! The wait had hardly been an issue, but his immediate offer to get us drinks was both unexpected and appreciated. As we're drinking our gratis cocktails, we look around, recognize that most people are in suits, tuxedos or nice dresses. We are dressy, but definitely in jeans - and about 20 years younger than the average midori sour sipping clientele. This again is where the service at Gage stands out - many other places would have snubbed their nose at a group of younger, underdressed clients. As we finish our drinks, the manager escorts us to the table, letting us know that he's already ordered appetizers for us, which should be arriving shortly. Again - more stars in my book for making us feel appreciated.
The food throughout was really terrific. The mushroom toast with a poached egg was out of this world. My quinoa lobster dish was some of the best quinoa I've ever had. Fiance was singing praises about the homemade sausages. Our wines were terrific and interesting. All in all, a really enjoyable meal, and a great spot to return to in Millennium Park.
I was meeting a friend and Chicago native for lunch, and he picked The Gage. Serves me right for not specifying a cheap greasy spot where I could get a famed hot dog or slice of deep dish.
Instead, I was met with a lot of suits. Navy pinstripe ones. These people are serious, and at lunchtime there was a lot of power being thrown around up in here. Well there was that, and then there were the tourists. An interesting mix, but after spending several years in DC it didn't surprise me.
We were seated in the very very back next to the kitchen. Whatever, I know 3 25 year olds aren't the prime clientele. I wasn't all that hungry so I ordered a caesar salad, which I fully realize is not the proper way to gauge (har) a place like this, but hey, it's what I wanted and was pretty much the only thing in my limited price range.
The salad was fine, nothing incredible. One of my dining companions ordered a burger cooked medium and it arrived bloody and RED. Now, I'm not one of those paranoid folks who freaks out over how my meat is cook-- I prefer it medium rare, and I'm alright if it's a little bloody. But even I don't think I would have eaten this. So she sent it back and about 10 minutes later was met with an equally bloody burger. At this point she had to get back to work, so she scrapped the whole thing. While they didn't charge us for the burger, they certainly weren't all that apologetic. And since we were practically sitting *in* the kitchen we got to hear the manager yell at the cook for it. Quelle ambiance!
So yes, it appears that my one experience here was very much out of the norm, but with all of the fantastic restaurants in Chicago and the high prices I can't see ever returning.
Probably the best fish and chips I've had to date. Started off with an heirloom tomato tart that was one tomato core away from perfection, easily over looked by a pie-crust enthusiast like myself. My grandmother has made pies for a living for a good portion of her life and still cannot do a pie crust this good - nice work. Also noteworthy was the scotch egg - the first I've had that actually desirable to eat, let alone delicious. Dessert was an apple fritter with cider reduction and ale ice cream; a perfect way to spend a fall evening on Michigan Avenue.
I visited The Gage for the first time last night, and I was pleasantly impressed. I was meeting some friends for drinks and my only complaint would be the lack of space. It definitely gets pretty crowded, and it was a Wednesday night. Seating is limited. A few of us decided to stay for dinner, and the wait can be pretty long if you don't have a reservation. The food was worth the wait though. The bison tartare is absolutely amazing. I would go back just for that alone. I got the whitfish and the other two people I was with both got a steak dish with a watermelon salad. Everyone liked their food but the bison was the best thing about this place! The ambiance was great. I will definitely go back.
Brunch at the Gage was pretty darn close to perfect. I expected this to become a tourist trap, since it had such fab views of the park. Instead I felt like it was almost cozy.
Great service and very good food. I don't know if I would make this a destination, per se, but I would definitely suggest it if I am in the area or have some out of town guests.
Solid four stars. I will be back!
Pricey!
Not a bad upscale gastropub with an enormous array of choices and exceptional service-- but unfortunately, the quality seemed to vary as much as the selection.
Great location across from Millenium Park, and although you can't tell from first impressions by the relatively small outside seating and bar area, the restaurant stretches waaaay inside and fits the middle ground where you could be comfortable either in casual or more dressy digs.
I sampled the Smoked Haddock Cake and Peekytoe Crab, which was seriously good and had me excited for my next dish. Unfortunately, the Fish & Chips majorly disappointed, being more batter and grease than actual fish. Clearly not worth the $17 they're asking for it.
I like the fact that you have the choice to eat on the reasonable side here, with options in the $10-20 range, but it seems like most of the good stuff is in the $30-40 end, so consider this fair warning. Be ready to spend over $50-70 per person with drink and maybe dessert. Worth it? Not quite, in my opinion.
I had dinner here with an old friend of mine recently, and still love this restaurant.
I definitely recommend sitting in the back of the restaurant as the front bar area gets VERY loud. Seriously, we wanted to throw tranquilizer darts at the bone heads at the bar.
So the food... we had the tuna tartare appetizer, and it was amazing! It was topped with their onion rings and a sprinkling of toasted walnuts... I enjoyed it very much.
My friend and I both had the Gage Burger. Yes, I ate a burger. It was topped with melted Camembert and a melted onion marmalade. I thought the beef was slightly overcooked for my taste, but it was still delicious. I did not eat the top bun, which made it an ideal portion size. The fries... are thicker cut, seasoned and absolutely delicious.
Great cocktail menu and excellent service as usual. :)
I love this place. No really, I do.
I had dinner here with one of my bff's, and we had a fantastic…
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Ok, so I am learning what this term Gastropub means and I get it. So, let's compare The Gage with State and Lake. They are both called gastro pubs and both seem to cater to the after work or downtown tourist crowds. They both are a bit cramped and can get a bit loud. And you'll likely pay about the same.
HOWEVER - where State and Lake is dark and poorly organized, The Gage allows some semblance of privacy in the multiple compartments and semi-segregated rooms. The Gage is bright and airy with natural light coming in from the Michigan Avenue windows. The Gage has friendly staff, one particularly HOT bartender, a fun and fairly diverse clientele, and fantastic service from host station to meal to exit.
If you're looking for a romantic night out or a quiet dinner with a good friend, stop, turn around and go West away from Michigan Ave toward Blackbird or another West Loop spot. If you're debating where to go after the Art Museum or a Chicago Symphony performance and you like the idea of a Gastropub, say "NO WAY" to State and Lake and go to The Gage, about 3 blocks away.
For lunch, order the Prime Rib sandwich - IT IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! They even changed it recently to give me a bit of variety even though I always order the same thing!
My fiance and I went to this restaurant since it had been recommended by a friend. We were very let down- the quality of the food just wasn't what the pricing would suggest. First, we ordered the roasted autumn squash tart- which was decent but nothing to rave about. We also had the potato/semolina dumplings, which were terrible. The tomato sauce tasted like it came straight out of a jar of Ragu. It definitely was not worth paying $20 for. We also ordered the caramelized lobster and were again let down. We paid way too much for just a mediocre meal- there are so many other restaurants to eat at that I wouldn't recommend this one. The presentation of the food was nice, but not very high quality.
My cousin owns a firm right next to this place and has a tab there, so while I was in town I got treated so I can't comment on the price here.
We had some lunch and I enjoyed the vibe. I also met the owner who was a super Irish fella.
All I know is, they have a good selection of beers and literally the best Fish & Chips I've ever had in my life.
My cousin told me to put curry on the fish & chips and before I could respond (cuz apparently I gave him a crazy look) he said "trust me". I did, wow.
A friend recommended this place and I have to say, I'm incredibly impressed. Be careful, though, the portions are decently-sized. We had thought that the starters would be pretty small - nope!
Anyway, the poutine was ok but nothing out of the ordinary, as was the whitefish. The clams with masala sauce were very good, especially if you got a lot of sauce on them. The standouts to me were the sweet potato soup and duck. The duck was among the best dishes I've ever had - amazing!
The Gage is awesome!
Nice, clean and trendy! Love it, love it, love it!
Went there for lunch the other day and in spite of having a small menu for lunch they accommodated a couple of option for vegetarians. I had a mushroom sandwich that was to die for!
the service was good and the owner came by to see how we were doing. The guy is nice but don't expect him to pickup the bill for you! :-)
Looking forward to go back for dinner and drinks!
My boyfriend and I stopped in for a late dinner on the 4th of July. Even though the kitchen was only open for 20 more minutes (darn holiday hours, didn't even occur to us!), the staff was incredibly friendly and told us to take our time.
The food was delicious, as usual. The antelope tartar was the winner of the night. Tasty and creative, presentation wise. My favorite part was the tiny quail egg that rested on top of the antelope.
We also had a Scotch egg (always a must at the Gage), the fried smelts and the fish and chips. For dessert we tried the deconstructed root beer float. Amazing. Vanilla cake, root beer semifreddo, vanilla "air," root beer gelee and Pop Rocks. Tasted just like a real root beer float.
The Gage delivered great food and amazing service, as always. 5 stars.
My boyfriend and I headed to the Gage for a late dinner after a Sox game. I was afraid that I would… Read more »
Met a friend for lunch at 11am. Place was nearly empty, but by the time we left around 1:15 it was completely packed. So, make reservations!
LOVED the brie-based fondue. It was very good, and a must-order if you go. We also split the turkey sandwich which really didn't do it for me. Like others have mentioned about the burgers, the sandwich was very messy, and the bread was extremely dry.
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: Restaurants
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