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When it comes to our classics, Chicago is a proud city. This applies to old-timey gangsters, the ’85 Bears, and things like deep dish pizza and Italian beef. It also applies to steakhouses. And as far as classic Chicago steakhouses go, Gibsons is the one by which all others are judged.
This place hasn’t changed much since it opened in 1989, so it feels both dated and charming at the same time. You’ll find patterned carpeting, a foyer with so many photos it’s basically a Law & Order headshot collection, and servers wearing white jackets and black ties. It’s the kind of restaurant where you still get a basket of free bread at the start of your meal, and a choice of soup or salad with your entree. Plus, before dinner begins, your server will present you with a tray of various cuts of raw meat, along with a detailed spiel about the different types of steak available - the wet-aging process, USDA prime certification, and whether or not the steaks enjoy taking long walks along the lake.
photo credit: Gibson's
Those steaks, of course, are the main reason you’re here. Whatever you get, from the Chicago Cut (a 22oz bone-in ribeye) to the filet, will be delicious - cooked to the exact temperature you want, and perfectly seared. But you should order some non-steak things, too. The giant double-baked potato, stuffed high with mashed potatoes and draped with a thick slice of cheddar, is the best of the potato options (there are six). You also want the spicy lobster cocktail appetizer, which comes in a steamed artichoke. Then there are the absurdly large cakes and pies for dessert - they weigh six pounds a slice, and are legitimately fantastic, even though you’ll possibly feel like someone’s f*cking with you when an enormous piece of cake is brought to your table and a server starts to carve it like a Thanksgiving turkey.
On any given night, Gibsons is packed with corporate types, couples celebrating their anniversaries, and groups of tourists. You’ll see a table full of women in actual evening gowns next to a table full of people in sweatshirts, plus a lot of kids, too. And every 10 minutes or so, you’ll hear the staff loudly chanting birthday wishes to someone. In other words, don’t come here expecting a quiet fine dining experience. Do come here on any occasion that calls for an excellent steak in a classic spot where everyone can feel welcome.
Gibsons has everything this city is proud to be known for - lots of delicious meat, enormous portion sizes, and friendly Midwestern service. It’s also the kind of famous place you’ll see advertised in an in-flight magazine, or the back of a taxi. Unlike most other places that fall into that category, though, it’s not just a tourist trap - it still fully deserves its reputation.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Spicy Lobster Cocktail
photo credit: Sandy Noto
W.R. Chicago Cut
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Filet
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Salmon
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Double Baked Potato
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Baked Sweet Potato
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Spicy Charred Broccolini
photo credit: Sandy Noto