The Gage is another local favorite of mine. You will find me dining there at least once a week for a weekend lunch or early dinner. Located right across Millennium Park, you will once again find The Gage filled with tourists, families, and locals. It’s truly fantastic to see the place like the old days again with a buzzing and happy vibe.
I almost always sit at their long dark wood, welcoming bar, or a high top. I love my conversations with their staff, whom I have got to know over the last 3 years. They have great booth dining for bigger groups and a private room downstairs should you wish for a more intimate gathering. The restaurant reminds me of home and dining out in a gastropub in England – casual, friendly, and with a great menu. Food is always outstanding, with my favorites being their excellent chicken and orzo soup, which is a weekend indulgence for me. The PEI Mussels are sublime with a saffron broth and lots of crusty bread for dipping. The smoked salmon BLT is so good and perfect for sharing.
Now, let’s talk about the Scotch Egg. The very fancy Fortnum and Mason department store in London claims to have invented the scotch egg in 1738, but who knows if that’s true. Let’s just say the recipe has been around for a long time. I love the combination of a boiled egg, wrapped in sausage, breaded and fried. Seriously, how good does that sound? The Gage’s Scotch Egg is up there as one of the best I have ever tasted, and being British, I have had my fair share of them. They sometimes mix up the sausage recipe, and I remember them making it with spicy chorizo, which was awesome. Right now, the egg is wrapped in a delicious fennel sausage. The heat of the grain mustard complements this hearty snack fantastically well.
Absolutely worthy of Fab Dish Friday!
