The Gage: Not Quite Up to the Hype (Chicago-Area Restaurant Review 10)

We went to The Gage Restaurant and Tavern in downtown Chicago for lunch with a group for administrative professionals' day. This is a new restaurant that has gotten a lot of favorable buzz, including in places like Chicago Magazine and Time Out. The place had also been highly recommended by one of our colleagues. The concept here is upscale pub food. But we were disappointed in the overall experience.

Our table ordered two appetizers, a pickle and olive plate and chips (really fries) with curry sauce. The sauce didn't have a strong curry flavor, but we still didn't particularly care for it. Steve really liked the fries, though, and had more with his meal. Lisa thought the pickles were good, Steve thought they were merely acceptable. We didn't try the olives.

Especially disappointing were the Gage Prime burgers. With a name like that, one would think they would be really good. And, in fact, our colleague told us he had just had one for dinner the prior week and thought it was great. We don't know what he tasted, but we found the burgers pedestrian, without much flavor, and the carmelized onions on top were soft, mushy and too sweet. For dessert, our table shared dark chocolate torte and cinnamon straws. The dark chocolate torte was excellent, but came with a creamy Guiness sauce that really tasted like, well, Guiness. Since Lisa doesn't like beer, and it was hard to get a bite of the torte without getting at least some sauce on it, the dessert was spoiled for her. Our advice is, if you don't like beer, or don't think you'd like it with chocolate, order the sauce on the side or skip it. The cinnamon straws were served with apple ice cream and tasted wonderful (but cinnamon straws don't make a meal).

Lisa ordered ginger orange tea, which came in a small glass pot, and which she liked, even though Steve contended it looked like a vat of blood. (It really didn't.)

The restaurant's decor was interesting, with dark green booths and black and white tile, though we're not quite sure what it was supposed to depict, since it didn't really look like a pub. The room is very loud when crowded. The service was friendly and efficient. Also, the owner or manager stopped by each table personally to ask how the meal was.

Both Steve and Lisa thought the bathrooms were pretty good, while not spectacular.

Lunch for two at The Gage would have been approximately $40 (without any alcohol).

Our rating for The Gage Restaurant and Tavern, 24 South Michigan, Chicago, Illinois:

5 out of 10 Steak Knives and 2 of 3 Bathroom Brushes