The Gage

Run don't walk to Chicago's new and finest gastropub across from Millennium Park. Seriously. Finally, my beloved Chicago has caught on to the gastropub trend (Spotted Pig anyone?) Happy days are here again.

I have some friends in town from NYC and anytime an old NYC friend comes I feel serious restaurant pressure. After all, New Yorkers love to eat and they love restaurants. I had heard some buzz about The Gage from some friends and co-workers and decided to give it shot. Talk about being fat and happy.

Don't go here if you're on a diet. Everything is too good and too tempting. They have an extensive booze list specializing in whiskey, wine and beers. After all, it's run by an Irish father-son team. The menu is split in to 4 sections: snacks, first, second and third. I'm always down for a scotch egg but it's the mussels that everyone talks about here. And for good reason, too. We also tried the daily risotto special with broccoli rabe and roasted cauliflower, the tenderloin and a fondue starter. Everything had tremendous flavor and was cooked perfectly. The (cute) chef made rounds around the restaurant and we gave him huge praises while we rubbed our growing bellies.

Did I mention that the space was fantastic?

The Gage