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The Gage
Categories: Restaurants Gastropubs Restaurants Canadian (New) Gastropubs, Canadian (New) [Edit]
24 S Michigan Ave(between Madison St & Monroe St)
Chicago, IL 60603
Neighbourhood: The Loop
(312) 372-4243
- Nearest Transit:
-
Madison/wabash (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Adams/wabash (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Monroe-red (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 10 pm
Thu-Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 10 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Valet
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
811 reviews for The Gage
Review Highlights
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"Fish & Chips - Both super crunchy." In 144 reviews -
"This was our lunch stop prior to visiting the Art Institute." In 33 reviews -
"If you enjoy mussels you must try the mussels vindaloo." In 22 reviews
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811 reviews in English
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Review from H M.
Los Angeles, CA
5/23/2012
Came here for Saturday brunch. Making reservations for 10am was pointless... it was empty. That's when they open and if you get there a few minutes before 10, you'll have to wait while the kitchen's being set up.
I ordered the Smoked Salmon Scramble and it was great. A slice of watermelon and a side of Brie Potatoes accompanies the meal.
My friend ordered the Baked Dutch Baby Pancake... and let me tell you... ain't nothing baby about that thing! It's huge and uber sweet. Waaay too sweet, at least for me. My friend seemed to enjoy it... finished every last bite while I wondered how long before his physician puts him on Metformin. Hello Type 2 diabetes!
Service was excellent. We were well attended to. Come here, you'll like it. :) -
Review from David C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/17/2012
Great food is a given at a restaurant of this caliber. The duck breast was perfectly cooked and o-so-juicy, and the scallops so sweet, and everything seasoned so perfectly, not too overpowering, but just enough to complement each ingredient.
But no...as delightful as each dish was, the food wasn't the highlight of the night...it was the attentive service and the desire to please perfectly, that added that sixth flavor to each dish.
Each dish was served in an orchestrated manner reminescent of a michelin rated establishment....but one dish was missing...the server offered to remove the delicious duck breast from the bill. The manager, Tim, stopped by to apologize personally and offered a variety of desserts, on the house. It's easy to do this as a formality, but I felt genuinely cared for.
I don't live in Chicago, but I'd wholeheartedly recommend the Gage to anyone who visits. If this were the only restaurant I visited while in Chicago, I would have been more than satisfied. -
Review from Tina P.
5/9/2012
Craving the best burger in Chicago, my friend and I hoofed it over to the Gage for dinner. The vibe here is trendy cool with dim lighting and comfy seats. It looks like a pretty popular place to get a drink after work, but I could not be deterred. I was here for a burger!
Since my friend is Canadian, we split the poutine fries. They were so delicious, we scraped the bottom of the plate for more of the vegetable stew gravy and wild boar. We both ordered the Gage burger which may have been the best burger I've ever eaten. It was cooked and seasoned perfectly! Try it. You won't be disappointed! -
Review from J Z.
Chicago, IL
5/23/2012
Good location to go to an event at the Harris Theater or the symphony.
It's loud but if you can tolerate a consistently high noise level, the lively atmosphere is fun.
We each ordered a burger. The gage upgrade hamburger was good, if just a touch over done for medium. The venison burger was terrific. Ordering the two and sharing highlighted that the kaiser roll for the hamburger was just a waste of space while the pretzel roll for the venison burger was tasty and the perfect texture. Flavor on the venison burger was great but it's a huge burger with all the toppings. Plenty of good fries on the side and nice pickles as a garnish.
Scallop appetizer was pretty tasty. Bread served to the table had good flavor but dry and crunchy.
Good service every time. -
Review from Amanda Z.
5/1/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Pre-anniversary drink? You've got it. Nothing like a dark, sexy, warm and wooded bar to ply you with some cocktails before you celebrate 365 of (usually) wedded bliss.
And, I'm just gonna declare this: The Gage makes the best Moscow Mule in the city. FACT. The key components: copper mug (check), crushed ice (check), bitingly crisp ginger beer (check), a healthy squeeze of lime (check). My grandma and grandpa would approve, and face it, that's how I know what a real Moscow Mule should be. OBVIOUSLY, there was vodka in there too, but really...a Moscow Mule in a non-copper mug just isn't.
My husband enjoyed the old fashioned. (I might've enjoyed a taste or two as well.) YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOUR SPOUSE. (And this is considered marital wisdom because I am officially not a newlywed. You should listen to me.)
Service was stellar. The bartenders were very sweet and hasty on the drinks. It was my favorite combination. (I can't hate on two separate gals that paid me separate compliments either. I was feeling the love.)
We decided we will have to return for a real meal. But for cocktails to kick off our fantastic anniversary celebration? It was perfect. -
Review from John I.
5/6/2012
The Gage is a "go to" place when seeking out a dinner location following a day at the Chicago Art Institute. A hip, somewhat loud venue, The Gage offers unique cuisine within the small plates genre. Service was solid yet somewhat aloof. Here was the evening:
Starter
Basil Escargot Goat Cheese Fonduta, Hazelnut Crunch. A fairly uneventful dish, but not terrible. The hazelnut crunch was mild and I didn't taste the basil. The escargot was cooked perfectly.
Main
Maple Leaf Farms Duck Roasted Breast and Confit Black Pudding Hash, Black Pepper Reduction
A boring dish with the duck being slightly on the tougher side. Nothing offensive, but a bit lackluster. Flavors were mild.
Side
Cauliflower Gratinee
Not sure I needed this side, but the server did say the plates were somewhat "small". The dish contained a few different types of cauliflower, which made it interesting. A basic dish.
With prices being reasonable, service being decent and flavors being average this is a restaurant that is A-OK in my books. Something worth trying!
Good luck. -
Review from Alia T.
Dallas, TX
5/2/2012
A friend told me I HAD to come here upon my arrival in Chicago. So, I went for dinner on Monday and it was delightful. So, I went back for lunch on Tuesday. Oh, yeah, it's that good. And somehow, even though it's kind of swanky, I find it charming, affordable and delicious.
TIPS:
Ask for their soup of the day! I've had it three times now, and each time it's innovative and delicious (i.e. venison chili,pureed cauliflower with crab, etc.) Also, be sure to inquire about their sandwich of the day at lunch time---I once heard of a porkbelly with soft shell crab....yep, that's real.
If you're into mushrooms, try the wild mushroom sandwich...soo good.
For Dessert, try a sampler of their sorbet--recently, they had whiskey sorbet and it rocked my world.
The only thing here that I warn everyone against are the chicken livers. They just need to take it off the menu. Really.
Overall, The Gage is why I look for any reason to visit Chicago (it's not really hard); the service is excellent, the food delicious and intriguing, and the soap in the bathroom (I'm not kidding) is wonderful. I regularly use the restroom multiple times just so I can use it. -
Review from Cameron H.
Chicago, IL
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
In looking for a place that was centrally located, then this is your place!! Initially, I was looking for a place to have a belated bday party al fresco. From a website, this seemed to be a good place for it. However, after calling to inquire about their outdoor seating, it would not work for my group as the area is far too small.
However, the coordinator suggested a private room downstairs that would accommodate my 20 people. In the event of bad weather, too much noise (from my group), distractions on the street and space this worked out better.
The room fit all of my guests perfectly. When people arrived, they were directed downstairs where their coats were taken and they could begin enjoying their afternoon beverage. After about 30 min of drinking and all of my guests arrived and settled down, we were seated for lunch.
From everyone's reaction, the food was delicious. The menu contained a lot options. It was just your typical Irish fare which is one of the reasons why I chose this place along with location.
The staff were amazing. Location you cannot beat. Food was delicious. Most importantly, my company made it a day that will never be forgotten.
I would recommend this place for groups, for sure. I will have to go back on a non special occasion to get what the restaurant is like upstairs (main floor). -
Review from Lourdes A.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2012
Hands down one of my favorite places in Chicago!
Their restaurant week 2012 offerings were memorable and I'm so glad my first taste of duck was here. Their lunch prix fixe that week had a lovely BBQ duck sandwich as the star. Delicious!
I've been here several times before and since for both lunch and dinner and always try to grab a cocktail table by the bar. I love the atmosphere and it's loud enough that despite that the tables are close together you can't hear the conversation at the table next to you.
I've been here twice with vegetarians, which is ironic since this place caters to carnivores but they are wonderfully accommodating of herbivores.
Their presentation is interesting without being ridiculous. Don't let the portions fool you. They seem small but you'll get stuffed quick! -
Review from K L.
Denver, CO
5/17/2012
Delicious business dinner here this week but soooo loud. We were at an awkward five-top and couldn't talk to each other. Had to go to another location after dinner to actually talk business. Food-wise it was great and the waiter was helpful making sure my meal was wheat-free.
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Review from Mary Ann C.
Oak Park, IL
4/21/2012
I love, love, love the Gage. Nice atmosphere, good drink options, great location, and fabulous food.
Loved the shrimp sandwich, burger, and scotch egg. We even decided to splurge and share an amazing chocolate ganache cake....yumm.
The Gage is fabulous and worth a visit!!! -
Review from Mark M.
Chicago, IL
This place is great for work or social lunches but the dinner here is great as well.
Nice bar that's upscale while being casual and has a wide range of customers. Burgers are really good and the fish and chips are highly recommended. -
Review from Bill L.
Chicago, IL
5/1/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I hope to get back sometime soon. We arrived 10 mins after our reservation time, and had to wait less than 5 mins to be seated. It was much busier than I expected at 6, so glad we made reservation. All the staff we had contact with were quite nice, and efficient. We didn't have entrees, only apps and salad because we were headed to Symphony Center and didn't want to be stuffed. Cheese tray w/pairings was very nice. Seared scallops were boarderline undercooked, but tasty. Salad good, not memorable (but few are). Noise level not ideal, but it is a bustling place for a good meal and drinks, so pretty much what you'd expect.
I'll be back, and entrees will be ordered. More to follow after next trip............ -
Review from Nicole L.
Chino Hills, CA
5/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
our team dine here two years in the row for each time we have trade show in Chicago, food is good, wait staff all are very professional, knows what they are talking about and they took good care of us too....we will definitely return for next year.
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Review from Dutch B.
Chicago, IL
3/25/2012
We recently went there for some apps and cocktails to njoy the nice weather. We order the 2 smallest and most expensive app ever.. nasty too... of course the beer and drinks are overpriced, why would they not right? please- rip off-
I will say, i went there before and ordered a tuna melt, that was good.. service was OK.
don't think i'd go back, it's prob better for meat lovers- not my game.. oh, and way $$$ for their food... -
Review from Jenny H.
'Tis the season of Chicago Chef's Week as a friend and I booked an early weekday dinner. Upon entering, we were led past the after-hours drink crowd towards quieter, intimate seating in the back.
SALAD
Hard to mess-up, but I enjoyed the sharp smoky chunks of cheddar cheese, crunchy cashews, and bites of tart yet sweet apple
TROUT
It was either this or the lamb. The robustness of the southwestern-esque base with greens reminded me of Sepia's mahi mahi. It was decent. What really brought out the dish was our server's impassioned white wine recommendations. Since I was a lightweight, I was unsure about having a glass. He offered a half pour and we obliged. I was glad we did because it was perfect!
BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE
Arrived hot with great crunches of oat and cool scoop of ice cream. It was a little too sweet, but a good ending to the meal.
Service was super attentive, bordering obsessive. My water never dropped below 3/4th of the way. Throughout the course of our dinner it seemed as if three different fellows in suits from the restaurant approached us to chat and inquired about our meal. I'm sure they were just prepping for the heavy dinner crowd and were trying to make themselves present.
Overall, a great dinner. I definitely plan on returning for the full gastropub experience. -
Review from Jill C.
Cincinnati, OH
4/18/2012
Awesome Venison Burger.
Awesome Waitstaff.
CRISPY fries.
We were visiting from out of town and happened upon this place after an event, and were seated at a table in the back right away. We were not expecting such great food from a place that, upon first impression, was 'just an average bar.' Others enjoyed the fish and chips and salads. The venison was not over cooked which was great, but the toppings and the special ketchup are what really made the sandwich awesome. -
Review from Sarah S.
Gage earns another star from me thanks to my trip there yesterday!
The Gage was insanely busy, as was every place around Millennium Park. They weren't even allowing people into the restaurant and we had to wait about 10 minutes to enter with a couple of big bouncer types outside. Luckily, smart psycho planner Sarah had made a reservation for our party of 4 at 130. When we checked in at 110, they were able to seat us instantly on the patio. I was so happy because I feared a longggg wait even with a reservation.
Our waiter was very nice, nothing extraordinarily nice but not bad in any size, shape or form. This really doesn't deserve a mention but my biggest Yelp fan commented I also write about service. =P Although, he asked us if we wanted a different side instead of fries because one guy had already ordered fries. Three of us decided we'd prefer greens to the fries, which was then brought out in addition to our meals & fries, running us $7 a pop additional each! Eek!
I got a special fizzy, whiskey St. Patrick's Day liquor beverage. It was delicious! For lunch I had the woodland mushrooms on ciabatta bread sandwich for $12. They put a ton of delciousness in that sandwich which made it amazing. It came with a large portion of fries and a huge salad of greens on the side. I really enjoyed the food on this visit, much better than my first couple of times around.
The Gage can never seem to get it all right on one visit for me, which is disappointing...but for the way they handled traffic & the tasty eats yesterday, they've earned the extra star from me.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/27/2011
I went to The Gage this past Saturday for lunch, it was my second time there. It's a classy little… Read more »
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Review from Elizabeth C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/8/2012
So, everything in Downtown Chicago closes really early? My husband and I were visiting Chicago from LA and did not realize that if we waited to eat dinner until 9:30 pm, we'd be in major trouble.
THE GAGE TO THE RESCUE. Stumbled upon it because it seemed to be the only thing still open, have never been happier with an accidental discovery. The food was amazing, the vibe is great - but I'm writing this review because we had, hands down, the best waiter I have ever had in my life. This guy was the pro to end all pros.
Dear waiter who served me & my husband two venison burgers at 10 pm a week ago, please never leave your job. You made our experience fantastic. You are a diamond in an industry of coal. -
Review from Bonnie W.
St Paul, MN
5/8/2012
Recommended to us by the staff at a local gallery, we enjoyed lunch here in April 2012. We thought the food was fairly priced for The Loop location, and all three of us enjoyed our sandwiches and soup -- on that day the special soup was lobster bisque. Not as creamy as some we've had, but very flavorful. We were warmly greeted by all the staff we encountered, including the owner. We arrived for lunch after the rush, which I recommend for less noise.
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Review from Shelby B.
Chicago, IL
4/1/2012
For a spot in the loop, it's surprisingly good. They have an above average drink selection and the food is above average as well. It's conveniently located on Mich Ave, and is a great starting point for a night out, especially if you are entertaining guests from out of town etc. Get the Mussels, a scotch, a bourbon, a beer and enjoy. They have a great private event space downstairs if you're into that.
Cheers! -
Review from Aubrey G.
Chicago, IL
3/20/2012
Wish I could give this place 2.5 stars. 2.5 sounds better than 2. My fiance and I wanted to try something new and we stumbled upon this place. Looking at the menu, nothing really jumped out at me. To start we ordered and split a salad with lettuce, pears, cherries and cheddar cheese. Was okay, needed more dressing. Wasn't bad, but with no meat in it, wasn't really worth $10.
I played it safe and ordered the pork chop, medium. My fiance ordered the same but medium rare. Was OKAY. For $33 for a porkchop, I'd expect it to be great. Porkchop came with a couple little slices of potatoes, some salad with tangerines and some bacon powder. Both our porkchops weren't tender and hard to cut.
Server was great. Really friendly and knew the stuff on the menu. Menu was limited. Food was okay, won't be back. I could find a lot more other restaurants to spend $100. $100 for 2 porkchops, 2 salads and 2 beers, tip not included. Not sure why this place has such high reviews. -
Review from Marco H.
Chester, VA
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Gage is a very loud place with very good food. Surprisingly, the servers were friendly and very attentive, despite having a pretty packed restaurant. I opted for the Chef menu which included a fennel soup, lake superior trout and a some sort of baked blueberry/raspberry dessert with nuts and ice cream. The trout was phenomenal and was set on top of grits, crayfish with kale. The waiter commented on how fast I wolfed it down.
I'm definitely returning to sample more from the menu. -
Review from Stacy F.
Chicago, IL
5/3/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Awesome loop lunch! Pricey but so worth it! Definitely need to come back to try all of the brews!
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Review from Heather M.
Chicago, IL
4/20/2012
Just stopped in for a quick meal, but this place was super awesome and delicious. The burger is no joke, it's delicious! Great fries too. I had the scallops, they came with some perfect broccoli rabe and FRIED CHICKEN SKIN. Are you kidding me?? Amazing. Great beer selection, can't wait to come back for a full meal!!
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Review from Lia V.
3/9/2012
Escargot.
Get it.
One of the most delicious dishes I've had in a while.
The atmosphere is really nice and the staff is friendly as well. Try to not sit in the back by the kitchen because it gets REALLY hot.
I also dined on the curried lobster which was good... but nothing compared to the escargot.
The chef special salmon was delicious as was the soup of the day (can't remember what it was).
The place is pricey, but overall I'd say it's worth it. Nice night for a fancy girls night or a date.
DON'T BRING YOUR KIDS! It is inconsiderate to others that are paying 50 bucks for a bottle of wine. -
Review from Pete V.
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was my third visit to the Gage, my most recent for Chicago Restaurant Week 2012. I was absolutely blown away by their 3-course Restaurant Week menu. Where many restaurants simply take the event for granted and some actually seem to increase their prices to take advantage of unsuspecting diners, The Gage has simply done the opposite.
The $22 lunch menu was superb. I started with a celery root puree served with a light, bite sized biscuit, horseradish gougere, and garnished with pork confit. First off, the serving was surprisingly large. I expected a cup of soup, they served me a large bowl. Often restaurants will prepare this type of soup too densely and attempt to thicken the base with cream, not so here it was a beautifully light with a texture that reminded you of the fresh coarseness of celery. A superb start to our meal.
I ordered the whitefish for my entree. The whitefish was pan fried with the skin left on and lightly seasoned with sea salt. The fish was served with rye gnocchi, on a bed of whole leave spinach and topped with seaweed with smoked onion cream sauce and garnished with pousse-pied (sea green bean seaweed). I don't think anyone is capable of doing whitefish better, the fish was incredibly fresh and cooked perfectly; tender, but retaining the firmness of the filet. The gnocchi was homemade with a soft texture and added a welcome contrast to the dish. The pousse-pied on top was just a spectacular and creative touch that added a salty, crunchy dimension that, combined with the oils in the crispy fish skin, created a beautiful juxtaposition reminiscent of fine dining, not a urban gastropub. And did I mention this meal was only $22?
We finished the meal off with panettone crips with anise caramel sauce and what tasted like cream cheese ice cream. The dessert was simply delicous the panettone crips were displayed a nutty and moderately dense texture and were complimented well with the more caramel than anise sauce. The ice cream was dense with a smooth, richness that lingered after each panettone bite. For lack of a better term, this dessert was like eating cake and ice cream on steroids!
On top of that the service was flawless, and we were in and out in a perfect amount of time for a work lunch.
Overall, I thought there wasn't a single thing that they could have done better. A fabulous lunch, that combined quality ingredients with creative details that exemplify what a good gastropub should strive to be. I'm sold and can't wait for my next visit to The Gage! -
Review from Claire I.
Chicago, IL
3/29/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I found the place too loud to really enjoy the company of my friend. However, our server was wonderful and very attentive. We found the menu somewhat limiting especially for vegetarian options, however they were willing to make adjustments to please my friend.
Although the food was good, it was over priced and not worth the wait. I would suggest going for brunch, if you decide to go. -
Review from Christopher G.
Chicago, IL
3/19/2012
We made a reservation for this place over the weekend and showed up on a very busy time. They gave a great table right away which was surprising given how busy they were. We have been several times and you have to understand that The Gage will always be a louder boisterous kind of place so be prepared for that. However the food and service are great.
Our waiters have consistently been great making excellent recommendations and providing quick service. The Gage has great food like the Mussels and the Fish and Chips. We are fast becoming regulars here. -
Review from Christina G.
Chicago, IL
3/16/2012
I headed here as part of a friend's alumni event for their college. We were in the rented out space on the lower level. We had a great time.
We were drawn there by the alumni association's whiskey tasting. They set up 4 stations around the room and the bartenders were very knowledgeable about the drinks they poured. During the tasting, appetizers were served. The food was really tasty. I think there were fish and chips, a mushroom souffle, some sort of goat cheese puff, and mini sliders. Our tasting fee paid for the tasting, the food, and a drink ticket. I used my ticket on a classic rum and diet. My friend got a whiskey and diet. Both were generously poured by a friendly bartender.
The atmosphere itself is nice. The place was pretty busy, but I never felt too crowded.
Overall, a great place to catch up with friends. -
Review from Ines V.
The Loop, Chicago, IL
4/30/2012
Delicious
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Review from Daniel A.
So good! The hotel I was staying out recommended The Gage, so I had to try it. I definitely wasn't disappointed.
The vibe was great, the place was busy and everyone was enGAGEd in conversation.
We were lucky enough to get a table without a wait and began the experience...I started with a fantastic Belgian beer - Tripel Karmeliet, which came with its own specially designed logo glass (you can see my picture). If you haven't had this beer, you need to try it.
There were so many choices for lunch, and reading the descriptions made my mouth water. We settled on Fish and Chips (served in an old school style newspaper cone - see my picture), and a monstrous burger. Both were amazing.
I spend my time devouring the Fish and Chips and crispy fries. The beer was a perfect pairing.
If you are in Chicago, near Millennium Park, you have to try The Gage...Oh so good. -
Review from Xinyuan W.
Bronx, NY
5/21/2012
love the atmosphere and service here. really cozy seating and dim lights, very romantic, cocktails were great. their burger is awesome!
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Review from Yvonne B.
M has been hankering to try The Gage since she saw it on Check Please, so when the opportunity arose for us to have a late lunch (more like dinner) outing on Saturday we went. The Gage doesn't look very large from the foyer; however, the journey to our table revealed a few connected rooms, all crammed to the max with tables and chairs. The decor is rich, dark, and manly - a space you'd expect to see classy 1920 mobster kings smoking cigars.
Our experience at The Gage was all about indulgence. We were greeted first by the chef, who discussed their Check Please appearance and also made recommendations of his favorite dishes. We took him very seriously and ordered them all. That made the job of Augustus (our server) pretty simple; however, he still shone with poise and kind attention to our every chance eye-contact. In fact, when we asked for more dipping bread for our mussels, we were presented with four more large pieces - far more than we wanted. Augustus accidentally treated us to an extra cocktail for "the table" and did not charge us. See? Indulgence.
In all, we ordered the following:
Basil Escargot - Not your typical escargot. The Gage took those little snails out of their buttery homes and sandwiched them between hazelnut cookies with goat cheese for a dish that completely reconstructed my understanding of escargot. It was a little difficult to share (see my picture) as cutting the presentation in two caused an unsightly mess on the plate.
Mussels - M loved them. She said that she caught hints of salty sea water in the savory little bits. I liked the soft texture of the meats and the broth. For the price and quality, we got a HUGE portion. The two of us could not finish all of them.
Crisp Rabbit Salad - This was our mutual favorite dish of the evening. It was simple arugula with a light mustard dressing over a bed of shredded rabbit. The greens were topped with crisp, pure white, puffed rice pearls that added a perfect amount of delicate crunch to the salad. We had the chef divide the salad onto two plates for us, which ended up being perfect portions.
Maple Leaf Farms Duck Roasted Breast and Confit - This was a surprising comfort-food dish. The clove flavor shone through the pudding and lent a nice spiciness to the richness of the duck. There were actually two types of duck meat: breast and leg. The breast was served in seven thick slices on top and the leg was shredded underneath. M thought that the shredded meat was rabbit at first (after enjoying the Crisp Rabbit Salad), but Augustus kindly explained that it was all duck. I must say that we were both distended by the time we got to this final dish and did not have the hunger to properly enjoy it.
We also had wine, the Old Fashioned no. 24, and Irish Coffee. The Old Fashioned no. 24 tasted watery from the generous pour of ginger ale but was still good. I liked the dried cherries at the bottom. The Irish Coffee wasn't sweet enough for me, but I enjoyed the presentation of a thick layer of cream on top of dark coffee. When drinking it, the cream bumped my lip and mixed with the hot coffee on it's path to my mouth.
Our entire bill came to about $130 (if I remember correctly). M commented that it wasn't nearly as expensive as she expected it to be, especially considering all of our alcohol. We think our sharing all of our dishes had a lot to do with the final price.
The single most reason why neither Melinda nor I would give a full five stars to The Gage is because it was so incredibly crowded. We were there at 5:00 PM and the place became completely full soon afterward. Other tables were very close to us and the physical space was difficult to navigate when entering or exiting or table (when using the loo for example). Even Augustus admitted that weekends get "crazy."
Now "Cheers!" Both the owner and several servers would say that when leaving a table. So I say "Cheers" to The Gage. Thanks for a nice, indulgent evening!Listed in: Dates
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Review from Howard C.
Parker, CO
5/6/2012
Not impressive. Front and waiter were great, manager and kitchen not so much. I'd put it in with other ok convention traps, to use a western expression "all hat and no cattle". I wont be back, too many other excellent choices nearby.
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Review from Ramya P.
2/27/2012
5 stars for the food...
Please remember that the Gage is not a fine dining place. Its a noisy gastropub that serves yum food. Prompt and quick service. Loved every single item on the restaurant week menu. The bitter lettuce frisee salad, the risotto and the best part of the meal, the pecan fritters with vanilla ice cream on charred sugar, all tasted exquisite. The cocktails were refreshing and delicious. Definitely a place worth coming back to... -
Review from Jeffrey Z.
Chicago, IL
5/13/2012
First off, some of the food was good, some was mediocre. Our server was very pushy and sarcastic. I generally appreciate advice when it comes to what to order, but this server pretty much had his mind made up for us. He told us what we had to get, and he even told us what was terrible on the menu (the fondue appetizer apparently). The dish that he thought was best was the Bison tartare. My fiance thought it was delicious, and I was not a huge fan. The presentation was nice, but it didn't come together very well flavor-wise. Don't waste your time on the pickles "snack." The burger was definitely the best thing we tasted. The rib eye was not anywhere near worth the money and was very lacking in flavor, ditto the fries. The brie potatoes were so-so. Overall, the food was decent, the service was annoying, and the atmosphere was very loud. I'll probably go back and have a burger at a time when I expect it to be slow there, but we won't be back for another dinner date.
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Review from Natalie L.
Chicago, IL
2/25/2012
Great Friday night at the Gage!! I had been here before for lunch and for drinks but it had been quite a while. A girlfriend and I planned to meet for drinks and ended up staying for over two hours and having a really good meal. It was really crowded when we got there sans reservation hoping to snag a spot in the bar. I was immediately worried that we'd have to wonder for a new drink destination. After about 10 minutes hovering around the bar area, a server approached us and offered to bring us drinks. She also said that she had reserved us a table where she had just dropped a check. As if we weren't already impressed, she gave us periodic updates as the people paid and were getting ready to leave.
We settled into our much sought after table and spent the next 30-45 min just catching up. Our server was so patient with us. We didn't feel rushed to make decisions but our glasses were never empty. We ordered some light bites: chickpea fritters, rabbit salad with arugula and curried lobster with quinoa. Everything was great, especially the lobster. For dessert, we shared a heavenly chocolate pudding/mousse with caramel and cinnamon ice cream. Total bill with two glasses of pinot noir and two beers: $98. Not bad. -
Review from Cristina T.
Riverside, IL
2/25/2012
We made a reservation for 6 on a Friday night and as soon as we got to this crowded hotspot we were seated. Service was a little slow at the beginning while we waited on drinks, but after that things were great. A group of friends and I split the poutine, the cheese board and the fried zucchini and olives. The poutine was delicious though I think we could have passed by the average cheese plate and fried veggies.
For my entree I ordered the fish and chips. Cleverly served in newspaper, these were very good. The portion was, large and the fries were very crisp and salty. They were served with tartar sauce, ketchup and malt vinegar. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere at the Gage and thought the prices were pretty reasonable seeing as its in a pretty touristy area. I would love to try some more unique items on the menu! -
Review from Derek M.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2012
This place is one block from my house so I go here quite a bit.
The menu is constantly updated and the servers are all really attentive.
Great food, great prices, great atmosphere.
