Step into Gage & Tollner, a revitalized historic Brooklyn steakhouse where classic dishes meet fresh twists, all within a charming Victorian-inspired setting.
"Gage & Tollner is more than 100 years old, but somehow manages to feel exactly like a Brooklyn restaurant of today should: inviting, thoughtful, and bustling—with a dose of history mixed in for good measure. It’s the type of restaurant that reminds guests why New York is a great city to dine in. The landmarked interior at Gage & Tollner is lined with mirrors and cherry wood arches and lit by brass chandeliers. It’s precisely the type of place to order a classic cocktail, like one of the seven martinis on offer or a Manhattan. The menu leans into steakhouse classics like New York strip steak and shrimp cocktail, but there are more modern touches here too like clams kimsino, made with bacon-kimchi butter, and crispy hen of the woods mushrooms with black garlic aioli and house Sriracha. No matter your dinner order, make sure you save room for the baked Alaska created by former pastry chef Caroline Schiff, who was named a Best New Chef by Food & Wine in 2022. Under a large singed meringue coat sits layers of fresh mint, dark chocolate, and amarena cherry ice cream and chocolate cookie crunch. —Devra Ferst, contributor"
"A revitalized New York classic chophouse with old-world charm, featuring a landmarked interior with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and an amber glow from cherry wood arches lit by brass chandeliers."
"Gage & Tollner opened on the ground floor of a commercial building in 1879, and its landmarked interior has been preserved, despite a rocky history that has seen it closed for years before recently reopening. It was once home to the legendary late Black chef Edna Lewis. Her fried chicken is one of the menu’s offerings, buttermilk marinated and served with hush puppies and kimchi slaw, the latter a touch of modernity in a historic plate of food." - Robert Sietsema
"If Gage & Tollner in Downtown Brooklyn feels like a relic of old New York, that’s because it is. The restaurant opened in 1892, became a TGI Friday's in 2004, then reopened in 2020. The atmosphere is what makes the place—the dining room is full of floor-to-ceiling mirrors, there’s a revolving door from the original construction, and the bar up front is the perfect place to have a solo martini and some snacks. Unless you have some wealthy relatives in town, Gage & Tollner is a place where you should stick with cocktails and snacks. The larger entrees, like a steak that would benefit from some finishing salt and a pot pie whose pastry can’t hold up to the soupy filling, tend to lack finesse. But a round of clams casino with kimchi butter or a plate of devils on horseback will enhance any high-end date night or outing with a friend." - Carlo Mantuano
"How Far In Advance Should You Book? Four weeks, or four hours if you don’t mind eating at 10pm. Congrats to Gage & Tollner. Since the historic Downtown Brooklyn steakhouse reopened under new management in 2021, tables have been in high demand. The good news for people who possess the strength to plan ahead: Reservations are now plentiful a full month in advance. Come here if you’re looking for a fun, classic steakhouse with a few twists, like kimchi cornbread." - bryan kim
