The GageLunch in the heart of ChicagoMet some friends who were in from out of town and staying downtown. The Gage is a perfect location across from Millennium Park and near the Art Institute. I made a reservation the day before but since it was such a nice day, asked upon arriving to sit outside. We were accommodated within 5 minutes. Our server, Les, was attentive and helpful. I had the seared scallop salad, a perfect light lunch. My friends has the special soup,delicious, and brussel sprouts, and the other had the steak ceasar salad. This was a perfect experience, showing off what the best of Chicago has to offer.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat pre-theatre spotWe had reservations prior to seeing Book of Morman and had a terrific meal. My wife had the scallops and I had the sausage plate. Both were quite tasty. Our waiter was very attentive without being obnoxious. It's much better than the just OK review in Chicago Magazine. An outstanding place for a early dinner!5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMA+ ExperieneHaving been a fan of their lunch time service, was able to finally experience dinner and it was worth the wait. Good options, good food and good service. We were early for our reservations but they went out of their way to welcome us anyway and sat us right away. Food choices were strong and recommendations hit the spot.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful ExperienceThe Gage is our go to spot for excellent food and service. We have never had a bad experience and plan to visit many more times in the near future. Thanks to all the wonderful staff for making each visit extra special.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAn enjoyable experience. ItAn enjoyable experience. It seems you can dictate the pace of your meal. My wife and I had a relaxed dinner. We got the Mussels Vindaloo which were a sizeable portion for two. The mussels were plump and the sauce was spicy and garlicky. My wife had the fish and chips which were light and crispy. I had the venison burger. It was nicely cooked (I ordered it medium). The burger was very tender and not gamey; the toppings were spicy. It was a very nice meal and a great evening.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSeatingI had made a mom's day reservation weeks in advance and the table was terrible. We were dining with an elderly woman and she kept getting bumped. The made the occassion just uncomfortable. The food was great.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWhen you need something different.My wife and I stopped in for lunch before heading to a play. Our waiter was fun and had some great recommendations on food and beer. The atmoshpere is very nice. Great decor. If you want something different for lunch or dinner please don't hesistate to go.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Restaurant for Business LunchThe Gage is my favorite restaurant in the loop for business lunch meetings.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food; very noisyThe food is worth going for, and the small plates provide a chance to sample widely. The mussels in a mild curry sauce were outstanding. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. The main drawback is the noise level; so loud that it is difficult to carry on a conversation.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMSit towards the back if youSit towards the back if you can't tolerate noise and ask for Steve the waiter for superior service and menu recommendations. Food is excellent - Scottish eggs are particularly terrific - and the chef takes great care with his daily specials. Expect to pay for the pleasure.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Gage is great for a specialThe Gage is great for a special occasion. The food is very good but expensive. For me the noise level was too high.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe GageFantastic Chicago Treasure! Beautiful interior, great ambience - I always take clients that I want to impress to The Gage. Family owned and operated - only the best in cuisine, beer, spirits and wine. AMAZING culinary experience. A true Chicago gem - not to be missed. The view across the street could not be better - Millenium Park and the "Bean"5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Spot for a special occasionWe were in Chicago celebrating our 30th wedding anniversay and found The Gage listed on Open Table. It was close to our hotel and the weather was perfect so we walked over to have dinner.
The food was excellent. The Lamb Meatballs as an appetizer were a favorite. My wife selected the homemade sausage plate which was outstanding. I picked the coffee encrusted pork which was also superb.
A nice selection of beers complimented our dinner.
Service was excellent and we couldnt have been more pleased5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGauge the GageFirst time dining in the restaurant. Service was spectacular, friendly, knowledgeabe, there when we need; in the background when wanted some privacy.
Menu very eclectic--choices for everyone and enjoyed the food!
Also, very convenient for shows at the Bank of America Theater.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service and very good foodWe loved our lunch at The Gage and will most certainly return. Our waiter was fantastic and such a gentleman! Great recommendations given and wonderful presentation. We will be back again and again.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMCome AgainWe found this place very compatible. The service was very good and the food was just fine. It is also convenient to the University Club on Monroe, where we stay. On the downside it was a bit noisy for our taste.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and serviceWent here for our anniversary. We put a note in the reservation and this is the first restaurant that actually looked at the note. Gave us a nicer table and then complimentary dessert. Food was great and great beer list. We will go back!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat after-matinee diningFour of us dined at The Gage after the matinee performance of "The Book of Mormon". Ambience is warm, inviting with a happy vibe, hostess was friendly and the waitress was knowledgeable, attentive and fun. We had the scotch egg, mussels vindaloo and brie cheese spinach fondue for appetizers, all tasty and good size portions. Menu has some uinique choices and it was hard to decide. Dining early, so we chose less complicated dishes: venison burger, chicken with tomatoes and kale, asparagus and leek ravioli and fish and chips with curry gravy. All excellent, great fish and chips. Extensive beer list, good wine selection. We were also celebrating our engagement and were treated with a glass of Prosecco. Overall, enjoyable visit.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing service. Waiter wasAmazing service. Waiter was very knowledgeable and efficient. Food was amazing. A little noisy, did not bother me personally but I know some older people who not be impressed with the noise level. Busy bar area, make sure you have a reservation or you are unlikely to get in timely.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding as alwaysThe Gage never disappoints. Others should take a page from their book regarding service and quality of food. I5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding!The food and service were incredible! The only drawback is that it is very loud and not conducive to conversations. Our waiter was one of the best servers we have had in any restaurant in the US.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMI've been to the Gage manyI've been to the Gage many times and really enjoy it.....this last visit was OK and I got the sense that they try too hard to be culinary hip. Words like "infused" and "confit" seem out of place at The Gage (maybe ok at Alinea--never been there). I think of the Carl Sandburg poem "Chicago"...hog butcher to the world and all that. That is the Gage! Anyway, it's a great restaurant with great people and I will keep going back.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMHave been here for brunch,Have been here for brunch, lunch and dinner - outstanding restaurant. Try the Mussels!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat food in a great location!Came with my husband and 5 year old son. We all loved the food, waitstaff, and ambience so much that we came back two days in a row! Kids menu available - got excellent chicken tenders, fries, and pickles for $6. I loved my son's dish as much as he did. Their pickles are amazing! Over two days, we tried the venison burger, sausages, halibut, pork tenderloin, beet salad, and butter cake. All were excellent, though we liked the burger and sausages the best. I would've preferred a leads crusty tenderloin (though the sides were great!). I would suggest pairing the sausages with greens or something pickled, like sauerkraut, rather than the potatoes. Well-selected wines by the glass and the good handcrafted beers.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service wereThe food and service were great. There were so many appetizing menu options I had trouble picking what I wanted for dinner. We sat in the dining room and the only drawback was that the tables for 2 were situated very close to each other. I could hear all the conversations going around me.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful surpriseA wonderful surprise across from Millenium Park. Very attentive and knowledgeable server. Inventive cocktails and delicious and creative twists on food. For example: pulled pork sandwich had myriad flavors with jalapeños, crispy kale in aoili and hot/sweet mustard and chili sauce with fried onion. Party in my mouth. In addition, the location and view of Cloudgate (the Bean) is wonderful.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe really enjoyed dinner.We really enjoyed dinner. There was a good amount of people in there,m but the noise was manageable.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMOnce again we were not disappointedOnce again we were not disappointed. It was a fabulous dinner and our waitress was extremely accommodating. The food is always exquisitely prepared and an extravaganza for your taste buds.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMI've been to The Gage numerousI've been to The Gage numerous times for lunch. It's a nice, but slightly pricey, option.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is our second visit toThis is our second visit to The Gage. The atmosphere is fun and upbeat and the service was attentive and friendly. Bartender made us feel like regulars. Appetizers were unique and we especially loved the fondue with the brie.....sooo yummy. Fabulous asparagus and leek ravioli...never saw this on other menus.....light and delicious lunch item. Disappointing was the buffalo chicken thigh. It looked unappetizing and just tasted like sauce slopped onto a piece of chicken. Seasoning didn't get into the meat. We will come again, but be judicious about ordering the entrée. We want to try it for after a symphony concert since it's open late.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was really niceEverything was really nice except for it is too noisy at the busy lunch hour. Really difficult to have a good coversation.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and excellent service.Great food and excellent service. The waiter took the time to explain everything to us.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWhile the food and serviceWhile the food and service were excellent, the noise level was too high for conversation, except for the room off to the left in the back of the restaurant. The Gage strikes me as one step above a sports bar. Let me repeat that both the service (especially the service) was excellent, and the food was excellent, as well!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and great environmenExcellent food and great environment. Nice energy with lots of professionals after work and pre-show.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely a hot lunch spot.Definitely a hot lunch spot. Great service -- although we were kept waiting 10 or so minutes beyond our reservation time. Nice to have a restaurant like this along this stretch of Michigan Avenue. Nice option when going to the Art Institute, symphony, etc.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe come to Chicago about fourWe come to Chicago about four times a year and now consider The Gage our favorite Chicago restaurant. We have dined alone and found it romantic yet friendly. We have dined with other and were proud to introduce them to The Gage. Long may you reign.
A New Yorker and A San Franciscan./4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMMussels and oysters were excellent.Mussels and oysters were excellent. Halibut was good, but a tad bland.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat location for a pre-symphonyGreat location for a pre-symphony dinner. The food is consistently very good with unusual menu items. A favorite on Michigan Avenue.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, very goodWonderful food, very good service, beautiful interior design.
Only issue was the noise level--had requested a quieter spot, but we were seated near the bar and it was a bit hard to discuss business. However, all enjoyed lunch at The Gage!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe three had been to The GageWe three had been to The Gage for lunch and dinner before, but brunch was a new treat. Two of us had breakfast and one lunch. The birthday dessert was a delicious large cookie with ice cream. Mmmmm. A great place, walking distance to the Art Institute and theatres.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMLOVE, LOVE The Gage...I bringLOVE, LOVE The Gage...I bring all my visitors to this restaurant. Always top notch, consistent and exceptional service and food. I lived in Galway for 4 years and just returned to Chicago and it's nice to showcase a Galway family owned restaurant to our visitors. Thanks a million!!4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat find in Chicago. InventiveGreat find in Chicago. Inventive and delicious menu. Great service. Will definitely be back!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMbeers on tap were a bit ofbeers on tap were a bit of a disappointment because of the two my husband ordered, neither was available. but other than that, the staff was accommodating and the service was great! liked the food too.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was just my second visitThis was just my second visit to The Gage. Everything was wonderful. I tried an intriguing trio of sausages accompanied by roasted red potatoes with brie. Wow! They were really delicious. My companion had lobster with cheese grits -- also awesome. Our server was perfect. I will go back soon.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat spot for lunch for peopleGreat spot for lunch for people going to the Art Institite or Symphony Hall. Service was very good, and the food arrived quickly. The one improvement suggested is less soggy French fries. Dare we say more like McDonald's?4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWe arrived in Chicago fromWe arrived in Chicago from Dublin for a quick weekend city break and booked this restaurant on the recommendation of a journal report. We didn't really know what to expect. It was great. A real buzzy gastropub and the food was delicious especially the scallops. We ordered plates to share and it was a great way of testing the chef. Everything we tried was wonderful.
The proprietor checked on all the tables, but was particularly helpful to us as he too was a native of Ireland. He gave us a list of other suitable restaurants to eat at over the weekend and these also were gems.
We loved this restaurant and would tell any of our friends to book here.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat pre-theater dinnerPre-theater dinner. The bar and restaurant were packed and buzzing. Food was great with the exception of mussels that seemed a bit raw. Sauce was good though. Scallops, beef and venison burgers, braised rabbit salad, all delicious and butter cake as well. Nice wine selection by the glass. Service was great. A definite place to visit again.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGREAT SERVICE FROM A WELLGREAT SERVICE FROM A WELL TRAINED STAFF.THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Poutine ever.....evenBest Poutine ever.....even better than what I've had in Canada!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMSet in the theater districtSet in the theater district in Chicago, The Gage is very courteous to those that need some great food before or after the show. The service was great and the food was delicious. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AM