The Gage
24 S. Michigan Ave.

The Basics
Where you’ll find it: 24 S. Michigan Avenue, across from Millenium Park. (312) 372-4243. www.thegagechicago.com

When it’s open: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m.-3 a.m. on Saturdays; 10 a.m.-midnight on Sundays.

Reservations: Recommended during dinner hours. Available at www.opentable.com

What you’ve heard: Great bar food in an upscale environment. ... Offers late-night hours for a downtown place. ... Very lively. ... Same owners as The Grafton in Lincoln Square and The Irish Oak in Wrigleyville, with the former chef of Meritage and the Blue Water Grill.

Visual Aids
First impressions: Very positive. Lively and loud vibe in a half bar, half restaurant. ... There is a long bar with dark oak and ornate ceilings. ... The Gage is situated in a group of three buildings (18, 24 and 30 S. Michigan), collectively known as the Gage Group. They were built in 1889-1890 by Holabird & Roche for the millinery firms of Gage Bros. & Co., Theodore Ascher & Co. and Edson Keith & Co.

The atmosphere: Easy-listening house music that was a bit too loud and made the crowd talk even louder. ... Positive vibe. Very trendy and cozy. ... Traditional Irish setting with a modern, eclectic twist. ... Mostly an after-work crowd. The bar was packed full with families, 30-somethings, tourists and businessmen.

The Experience
At your service: Service was hit and miss. Owner Billy Lawless Jr. had to set a few tables, as he had some employees who bailed at the last minute. Billy was a good sport. ... It took awhile for the hostess to find our reservation, but after a few minutes, she finally did. We had to keep flagging down the server to get drinks. The food came very quickly, but drinks took awhile, and one special-order drink was prepared wrong. … Water servers were amazingly on top of it. Soft sweet bread was quickly replenished.

Get your drink on: We ordered a Captain Morgan and Diet Coke, iced tea, a Blue Moon, a full-bodied Tempranillo red wine (a good recommendation from the server) and a pinot grigio/7 Up mix. The wines were served in mini carafes, which added a nice touch. ... They have a large drink menu, including 11 champagnes, red and white wines by the glass from $12-$16 and bottles from $32-$105. Reserve wines range from $65 to $305 per bottle. ... They also boast a large selection of whiskey, bourbon, scotch, cognac and some nice dessert wines.

Menu variety and prices: Appetizers range from $4-$15. Soups and salads from $7-$15. Entrées fall anywhere from the $10 burger to the $36 bone-in ribeye steak. Sides cost between $4-$6. ... The menu is heavy with meat and fish (it’s Irish, what can you say?) and offers many sides and two entrées for vegetarians.

Description of what you did decide on: We had the pot of risotto appetizer. It was very creamy risotto with a heavy emphasis on the goat cheese. The basil-encrusted escargot inside the risotto was a bit too heavy on the crusty herb. The texture of the crusted basil seemed a little off, as if it had been baked too long. Risotto was tasty, but very heavy. ... The mussels were delicious in a vindaloo spicy sauce (touch of spice, very nice). Everyone enjoyed this! They were accompanied by two-foot-long pieces of one-inch toast. … I had the tuna tartare, which had a great presentation. This had a surprising hint of iced granita and was surrounded by caviar. ... I enjoyed a bowl of chicken noodle soup, which was very good. The noodles were giant. Hand-cut vegetables made the dish more homestyle. Large ribbon noodles were a great visual. ... A side of crusted brie potatoes looked more like tater tots, but they were the best-tasting dish on the table. It was $6 for about eight tots — pretty pricey. But this was high-class pub grub. ... The lamb salad consisted of mostly tender, delicious lamb accompanied by a radicchio salad that was untouched. I was busy diving into the large portion of spicy curried lamb. The peas mixed in the lamb made this more of a meal than a salad. A definite winner. ... Fish and chips — a great Irish tradition. Brought to Chris’ mind the best fish and chips he’s had since Galway, Ireland. The Guinness batter was light and flaky with a hint of spice. The whitefish was strong but fell apart. Just right. Presentation was whimsical, and the three portions were just right. ... The salmon with a side of potato cake and a cream cheese francaise with ground mustard and capers was very delicious. ... I chose the seared semolina dumplings. You get three large dumplings topped with tomato ragout, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and greens. Very nice presentation and fresh tasting. Very hearty and filling. ... Sad to say that after this Irish meal, there was no room for dessert.

Something that caught your eye: The Lawless family was present and full of energy as usual. ... The nice touches in the dining area, like the small candles (hard to read the menus without them), kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper in small square wooden pots at each table.

What you’ll tell your friends: Cozy restaurant, but a little too loud to carry a conversation with more than two people at a table. ... Good food but a little on the heavier side (meats). Keep to the lighter portions if you want dessert. ... I would definitely come back again for drinks and food. ... A little pricey for a gastro pub, but then again, it is on Michigan Avenue. ... Nice, friendly atmosphere.

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