"A Chicago Classic"
October 8, 2012
- steakhouse
- outdoor dining
- bar
- Food: classic steakhouse fare, seafood, with family style side dishes and desserts
- Decor: classic steakhouse decor - a large space with big booths along the walls, free standing tables in the middle
- Service: very knowledgeable and friendly
- Cost: $$$
- Wine / Cocktails: extensive
Overview:
On the show The League, the guys hang out at Gibsons. Well, to be more accurate, The League uses stock footage of Gibsons exterior as the location of the guy's favorite hangout. Do not expect the actual Gibsons to be anything like the Gibsons portrayed on television. As much as I love The League, it isn't doing the restaurant justice.
Gibsons is a classy steakhouse. The bar does have a few tv's but it isn't really a hangout and drink beers type of place. You go to Gibsons to eat because the food is fantastic. It would be a shame to go to Gibsons and not eat.
Going to Gibsons is an bit of a special occasion since I eat far more than I usually do when I go there. I need to try as much food as possible since it is delicious. You definitely need to bring your appetite with you. The steaks come with a generously sized soup or salad. The smallest steak is a 10 ounce filet, and the side dishes are huge. So no matter what you will eat a good amount. I am not embarassed to admit that I ate EVERY bite of the salad, filet mignon, double baked potato (it was split 4 ways), mushrooms (also shared), and spinach (also shared) on my plate. We then moved onto the Meaning of Life Cake which was generously sent over by the manager who I have become Twitter friends with.
The steak at Gibsons is the best in the city in my opinion. It is all dry aged, and develops the most delicious crust when cooked. It is full of flavor. They get the best cuts of steak and cook them to perfection. Every time I have dined at Gibsons the temperature of my steak as been exactly as requested.
The side dishes are equally delicious. My friend who doesn't even like potatoes loved the double baked potato. The sauteed spinach had just enough garlic, olive oil, and salt. The portion was huge - we were joking about how many pounds of spinach they must have cooked.
Our meal ended with the Meaning of Life Cake. We were all quite full, and the portion was gigantic. I actually bought the leftovers to my friends house the next day to share. The cake is chocolate with chocolate mouse, banana, and a vanilla frosting with almonds. It is not as heavy and dense as it may sound, the chocolate cake itself is very light. It is a great combination of flavors. It isn't too sweet or too rich.
The waitstaff was great. Our waiter was attentive and knew the menu like the back of his hand. Gibsons is the perfect place if you want to go to a true Chicago steakhouse.
Recommended Dishes:
Filet Mignon, The Meaning Of Life Cake (available only on Saturdays)
