The Gate has good and bad points, but every experience I've had here has been positive. I gotta urge ya to sit at the bar; it's often a rewarding experience, had a great conversation every time. The music is often excellent, and it's really the reason you go, though the placement of the stage doesn't work well - it's too close to the bar, so it's hard to walk between the bar and the larger tables in the back. Frankly it gets inordinately loud, so beware.
Beer prices are excellent (usually $2 below the Local across the street) and they know how to mix drinks - most of the time. The food is nothing to write home about, but I'm there for music, company, and drinks, so I don't mind.