Weekends in Chicago mean taking advantage of the cities’ rich history and voluminous local attractions.  It is also a tremendous opportunity to escape the kitchen and let someone else do the cooking.  While on the hunt for a new handbag, I decided to stop in for lunch at      The Gage restaurant.  The eatery is happily situated at 24 S. Michigan Avenue, steps away from Grant Park.

My reservation was for 12:30pm and I was promptly seated.  A simple decor with legions of browns and other neutral tones graced the room.  The restaurant is owned by the Lawless Family of Galway, Ireland.  Their hospitality background includes various restaurants, hotels, and bars operated in Ireland before moving to the United States.  I tested my luck with a house crafted soda of blueberry and lemonade to kickoff my dining experience. My list of treats to make at home just grew by one more, I see this drink making an appearance at a backyard barbeque or cookout.  Maybe I will add a bit of rum for a little kick.

The dining crowd was a mixture of seasoned souls, thirty-something couples, and families.  Wait staff, bus boys, and hostesses moved about the room in a precipitous fashion.  Dressed in all black, everyone was attentive and knowledgeable.  Empty plates were cleared from tables with the utmost haste.  I saw a plethora of fish and chips being ordered, I picked the New England lobster roll.  Lobster meat soaked in in butter and a light mayonnaise served with house kettle chips and crispy fried onions on top.  My roll was stuffed full of lobster meat and very filling.

I had saved just enough room for dessert.  The woman next to me had the Scotch egg and pub burger.  She said it reminded her of her time in London and was very accurate in flavor.  Rick James, Michael Jackson, and other eighties music stars played in the background as I noticed what seemed to be a stream of regulars floating through the room.  Additional request and questions were met with smiles by knowledgeable wait staff.

 

The main event finally happened.  The caramelized lemon pound cake had made its way to my table.  Vanilla-almond yogurt sauce, seasonal berries, roasted almonds, and Moscato D’Asti seemed like a winning combination.  The pound cake was not overly sweetened, which works great for me when combining it with all the extra accessories.  My only fault would be the searing of the pound cake.  A completely unnecessary step that robbed the dessert of moisture.  The vanilla-almond yogurt sauce was perfection that helped to elevate the confection. I deeply enjoyed the vibe and the food.  Definitely looking forward to another visit so I can try the fish and chips!