Food Finds and Other Things: Chicago

Located in Chicago's south loop, a new restaurant has emerged in this tough economy and is surviving. When I describe the excellent ding experience, you will understand why. When I walked into the Gage yesterday, I thought it was going to be the typical of many of the fusion restaurants, overpriced and underfed but I was pleasantly surprised when it was neither.
Located just one door down from the Chicago Athletic Club, it is described by one of the clubs' members as a place to go when the 3 restaurants that the Chicago club runs are closed . So at 9:30 pm there were still a number of people seated and enjoying their meals. When I sat down, I ordered for appetizer 3 of the specialties of the house: chicken livers, Scotch Eggs and French Fries.
You can and should always judge a restaurant by their French fries for two reason: first it is the quintessential western side dish and frankly, if the french fries suck, you might as well order nothing else because the rest of the meal will probably stink too.
These French fries were heavenly and had a twist that set them above many of the fries that I have the pleasure to sample, they offered a curried gravy for dipping.
Chicken livers are an acquired taste but they happen to be one of my favorite foods. These livers were excellent, they were well seasoned and served on a bed of lettuce . They were crisp and tasted the way livers should, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Next, I tried another food on my top ten food list, Scotch eggs. If you do not know what Scotch Eggs are, I will try to explain them to you. They are hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage, rolled in bread crumbs and deep fried ( as most things Scottish are) . With just the right amount sausage,bread crumbs fried to a crispy golden brown with grainy mustard on the side .
After the appetizers, I had their house burger, medium rare. As burgers go it was excellent, food of the gods and in my top 10 of great burgers.
With melted cheese, onions lettuce and tomatoes it was a basic burger, but in my humble opinion, that is what makes a burger good, when you add too much, you take away the flavor from the meat.
But that is for another discussion.
The other way to gauge (no pun intended ) a good restaurant is from the service that you receive and it was excellent . The server was not only attentive but had good knowledge and familiarity with the menu. Unlike some servers, the waiter actually likes food, wine and good service so he provides the same.
I left Gage last night with the sense that I would return soon and bring friends. I hope some of my readers will take the initiative, visit and see for themselves what a little oasis this is in the center of the south loop.