Gather

"If you don’t get out to Lincoln Square much, you’re missing out on Gather. This place has great food as well as a fantastic covered back patio. Come here on an early-in-the-game date (or even if you haven’t met this person yet). The seasonal menu of new American food will please just about everyone, and even the boring-sounding dishes (like the broccoli) end up being interesting. Which is good, since there’s a chance your date won’t." - adrian kane

"Gather is our favorite restaurant in Lincoln Square. If you’re a foodie, you’ll love it. If you’re not a foodie, you’ll love it. Great food, great cocktails, huge wine list, great atmosphere and excellent service. Dine inside or outside on their terrace. The food can be a family-style experience where you order small plates and share. But if you don’t want to share, you can go solo and get a larger plate. We’ve never had a bad dish here, so anything is up for grabs. If you listen to mom and eat your leafy greens, we highly recommend the crispy brussel sprouts as a side to any dish. The tagliatelle and grilled sirloin are both really great. They also have a great brunch on Sundays and are known for their sticky buns. Tip: Make sure you have a reservation before you go. They're booked 1-2 weeks in advance at normal dinner times. Also, their dishes are pretty, but they taste their best when you stir everything together on the plate. Enjoy—we know you will!" - Knoed Creative

"​​If Gather were in Lincoln Park instead of Lincoln Square, it would probably be much better known. Its seasonal menu of new American food will please just about everyone. Even the boring-sounding dishes (like crispy brussels sprouts) end up being interesting (in the brussels sprouts’ case, thanks to toasted pistachios and a white miso glaze). The space is low-key but nice enough for a celebration or date night, and there’s also a back patio that’s fantastic for large groups." - josh barnett, sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor

"A chic, cozy space lets guests get up close and personal at gather. Diners seeking dinner and a show take front row seats at barstools lining the open kitchen’s polished granite counter, while tall communal tables fill with patrons enjoying bites from the menu’s “gather and share” section. A rear dining room offers more solitude and romance.Family-style Sunday dinners are a local draw, but the à la carte menu showcases flavorful options nightly. Slice into a single large uovo raviolo to mingle poached egg and ricotta with white truffle butter, jalapeño slivers and chopped chives, or share a crock of Pernod-splashed mussels. Fragrant and garlicky, they’re served with sourdough toast points for soaking up every last drop of the white wine-cream sauce." - Michelin Inspector

"You’d like to impress your boyfriend’s parents by having them over for dinner, but your oven is used mostly for storage—in fact, you never turned the gas on after you moved. Going to Gather in Lincoln Square can be the next best thing. A meal at this spot feels like eating what you imagine someone cooks after a trip to the farmer’s market—honey ricotta, charcuterie, glazed baby carrots. Get some pastries to-go (this place mills its own flour) and hope you have some clean plates back at your house." - adrian kane