Are you looking for a special spot to take your sweetheart or a great place to make a memory with your family? Then go to Sage Restaurant for all your dining needs!
I had a chance to speak with the owners of Sage, Joseph Gaal, his wife Melissa Gaal, and Rennie Moseley, and I am pleased to report that these people are the real deal. It’s important to realize that what makes a restaurant great is more than just the food. It’s the people that create and serve the dishes, it’s the positive atmosphere and decor, and it’s the little details that get remembered that make a restaurant successful. If you go to Sage, you will experience all of that.
Sage Restaurant, located in Chesterton, Indiana, has been open for a little over a year. They recently celebrated their one year anniversary on August 27, 2012.
“We decided to open a restaurant because it’s a passion of mine that I’ve had for years,” said Joseph Gaal, also the executive chef. “I’ve worked in other kitchens, worked for other owners, and decided that it was time to do it myself.”
Mrs. Gaal is the general manager of Sage, and she is in charge of the day-to-day happenings.
“I wanted to help them make their dreams come true,” said Mrs. Gaal. “We have a nine-year-old son and he spends a lot of time at the restaurant and he loves it. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s worth it.”
Chef Gaal is a classically trained and he received his degree in culinary arts from Ivy Tech in Michigan City. The menu is a modern fusion of Italian and American cuisine. All ingredients are purchased locally and everything on the menu is made in-house from bread to pasta to sausage. They even use fresh herbs from the herb garden that is grown at the restaurant. These are the little things that make the biggest difference, folks. Want proof? Just six months after Sage opened, it was voted the number two “most romantic place to dine at” by South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority, it is the number one recommended restaurant in Chesterton, Indiana by TripAdvisor.com, voted as one of the top ten restaurants in Porter County, featured in Midwest Living Magazine, and the list goes on!
Chef Gaal and Chef Moseley, sous chef, have been best friends since childhood. They have worked at multiple restaurants together over the years and as I spent time with them, I found out why they are such an integral part of Sage. The restaurant industry can be very stressful, you see, so it’s important to be able to laugh and let things roll off your shoulders. Both men were laid-back and hilarious! They both were passionate about their jobs and it showed in their eyes, voices and gestures. There’s no question that these guys know what they’re doing.
On the menu one can find items like eggplant cannoli made with fresh mozzarella and a blended red sauce, seafood pasta in a white wine garlic sauce (oh, yum...), BLT pizza with their homemade pizza dough, and braised beef short ribs that I’m told is bigger than the plate. Menu items change as different ingredients go in and out of season so there is always something new to try.
At Sage Restaurant, it is important that every guest enjoys their experience and leaves happy, so they cater to individuals with dietary needs as well. They offer gluten free items, vegan and vegetarian fare, and they are very understanding and accommodating to those with other food allergies.
“We accommodate everybody. As long as the kitchen’s not under water, we accommodate everybody,” Chef Gaal said with a laugh.
Speaking of special offerings, here’s something neat! Sage will be having their first annual food and wine gala on November 8. It’s to kick of their wine tasting dinners that will happen afterward. The theme will be Roaring Twenties! There will be a five-course dinner that will be a replication of what was served to President Coolidge at the Waldorf-Astoria in 1924, along with a swing band, and valet parking. Appropriate attire of that era is welcome. Tickets are $60 per person and $100 per couple. Be on the lookout for more about it on Sage Restaurant’s Facebook page!!
Sage also has an Annual Autism Dinner. Fifteen guests get to have dinner and commiserate with Chef Gaal. All proceeds go to the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). What other ways does Sage give back to the community?
“We’re family oriented so we picked specific holidays that we were going to be closed like Christmas Day and Christmas Eve,” Mrs. Gaal explained. “We decided last year that we were going to hook up with an organization and provide meals on Christmas Eve for those who were less fortunate. So we joined with Merry Meals and provided free dinners to individuals on Christmas Eve.”
“We gave them invitations to have dinner on us. And since we were involved with Merry Meals, they had a Santa come in and give gifts to the kids,” Chef Moseley said with a smile.
It feels good to give back. Since we’re on the subject of give, here are some words of wisdom that the owners of Sage would like to pass on to aspiring restaurateurs:
“Be true to your concept. Just stick to it,” said Chef Gaal. “And be true to yourself and work hard."
“You have to know who you are and just stick to that,” Chef Moseley added. “Don’t cave in to others and have faith in what you do.”
Need I say more? When you arrive at Sage Restaurant and taste the delicious food and immerse yourself in the welcoming atmosphere, then you will know why it’s worth the trip.
To find out more about Sage click here!! Or call them at (219) 926-6500! To see more photos of Sage, click here!!