If you got dough to throw, then come here. Give them 40 bucks and they'll give you half a calf, well at least the under-belly. But it's a good-honest steak. Side it with a baked potato.
(5)
Adam A.
Love this place! Looking for great steaks without having to go down town? Jack Gibbons is the place. Great food, quality and ambiance. I almost forgot, you can dance to music here ;)
(4)
Karen L.
Love this place..remember going here long ago with my parents so it brings back good memories...I get nostalgic everytime we go..the food is excellent and the service is great!!! The meat is worth the price..their prime rib is awesome
(5)
Ed B.
We have been here several times since my last review. I order mostly the lamb chops, porterhouse or prime rib. All of them continue to be as good as ever. I have tried a few new steak places since my last review and this place still stands as the best one for food. Keep up the good work!
(5)
Ken M.
I still can't identify the smell that was in the place. I was looking for Mike Brady when I was eating there. It was a bad 70's flashback. Very dim lighting which I'm kinda of glad now that it was. Don't know what would of appeared.
(1)
Brigitte R.
I took my mother here for her birthday and we definitely enjoyed it. The food was good a little pricey but well worth it. The t bone steak was seasoned well and very tender ( didn't even need steak sauce). The ribs were also good. But the best part was the dessert. Brownie sundae was AMAZING! Service was also amazing, our waitress was very pleasant and made the experience.
(4)
Elizabeth H.
Listen, if you like steak... this is the place to go. You can get the best steak in the area, for a very reasonable price. I got the wee one filet which is 8 ounces. I believe it's $28 and comes with a side, I got hashbrowns. Everything on my plate was soooo good. This place isn't anywhere near where we live, but it's still a place we will continue to go to for a long time. The service was good, I didn't have an issue with our watiress at all, but that said, I've only been once time. Perhaps the more often we go (which WILL be often), I won't feel so wonderfully about this place... but I doubt it. The food was that good.
(5)
Nick O.
I went here because I had a groupon and I wasn't disappointed. It's was surprisingly open for a Friday night which is not compliant from me. They seated us right away and then brought a wonderful basket of bread along with some pretty good cole slaw and bean salad. As for the main course the gf had the filet and garlic mashed potatoes and I had the delmonico which was without a doubt one of the most amazing steaks I have ever had. So juicy an tender and unbelievable flavor. I can't wait to go back again. If your looking for a great steak at a reasonable price then this is a place to check out
(4)
Margarita And Edward M.
Here is our experience at this place. This place was recommended to us, and it looked like it got some good reviews, so we tried them. When we first got there we waited to even be acknowledged for seating. We had a reservation but didn't feel very welcomed to be there. Next, once we were seated, our bread plates were dirty with crumbs and guck on them, gross! We sat for almost 15 to 20 mins before we waved down a bus person for new plates. She brought new plates and some soggy bean salad and cole slaw that looked and tasted awful. Mind you we still hadn't seen a server yet. So finally after being there for around 30 mins, a server came to take our drink order. We ordered drinks and app. once the drinks were delivered, my wine glass was dirty. Someone else's lipstick etc.. around the rim. The server was nowhere to be found so we had to wave down the bus person again to get a new glass of wine for us. Finally, a new drink and our apps were servered and we were ready to order dinner, but the server took off again. So we ate the app (oyster Rock...) which was ok in taste, but pretty gritty. 20 mins later the server came back and got our plates and asked if we would like more drinks. We said that we would would like to order dinner and she looked as if 'Oh, I didn't take your order yet????. We got steaks, and after another 30 mins or so, when they came they were huge! and a beautiful pieces of meat, they looked great! But once we tasted them, they were hardly seasoned, we kept adding salt to try to get some flavor in them, but all we could think was wow, what a waste of a beautiful piece of meat. The place is very dark, my husband and I were starting to think perhaps that was on purpose because perhaps they needed to hide the dirt etc... in the place. Even the lamp that hung over our table was dirty and had bugs in it. The table next to us got blan steaks also, and one ordered the crab legs. She said they were dried up and too salty. Eventhough this place has be around forever, I'm not sure why or why it gets such great reivews, but JG's, it was old, dirty, dank, had slow/poor service and the food wasn't that great. This was the first and last time we'll be going to this place. Yuck!
(2)
Wade L.
I really like the food there, the steaks are generous in size and everything is cooked to perfection. The only draw back is the wait staff at times are rude especially the older waitresses. They were featured on check please and the wait staff got the same unsatisfactory review. Go the for a teriffic steak and if your waitress is rude leave a lousy tip. The staff is the reason for 3 stars.
(3)
John K.
Going to Jack Gibbons is like walking into a time machine! The valet outside is a little sketchy, but everything else is wonderful. Despite everyone else's reviews, the hash browns aren't that great. Can't go wrong with the steaks. And if you're gonna come here, finish your meal with a grasshopper.
(5)
Margaret A.
I WILL NEVER GIVE THIS PLACE ANOTHER DIME. THEY THREW AWAY MY LEFTOVER LOBSTER INSTEAD OF WRAPPING IT WITH THE REST OF MY FOOD. Jack Gibbons has one of the greatest reputations in the Chicagoland area for steak. The food is excellent, THE SERVICE WAS AWFUL! To me it's not worth spending the money to eat at a place like this if there's gonna be snot nosed little bus boys running around ripping food out of my hands. This post already makes me sound like the wicked witch of the east, but I swear I'm not. I've worked in the service industry and I try to be very understanding about people making mistakes. The first thing that went wrong was they took away my soup before I was finished with it. I'm not sure, but I think you should probably ask before you take away someone's plate. Whatever. That's understandable. My utensil was in the bowl and my hands were below the table, which is the universal signal for clear my plate. So that's okay, he thought I was done, and I'm sure there's quite a bit of pressure to clear plates quickly at an upscale place like this. I'm not upset about that. Second, my mom's medium rare steak was well past well done. The waitress asked if she wanted it taken back, but we're not those kind of people. So she just tried to enjoy a thirty dollar steak that might as well have been burnt to a crisp. No pink left, whatsoever, not even in the very middle of the fillet. I had the surf and turf which includes a 12 oz thirty dollar steak, and two MARKET PRICE lobster tails. We don't need to talk about how much those actually cost, but understand they're the most expensive thing on the menu. I had a little lobster left, that I put between my leftover steak and potato to ensure whoever wrapped it knew it belonged in my box. When the other bus boy asked if I wanted it boxed, I said yes and gestured to the center of the plate and said please make sure you wrap all this for me, and motioned with my fingers in a circle around what belonged in my box. When I got my box back I discovered that he had neglected to put my lobster in with the rest of my leftovers. Which means he pretty much just decided to ignore what I said and throw away at least ten dollars worth of lobster. Don't waste your money here. How do you throw away someone's leftover lobster? Absolutely ridiculous. I might as well have thrown a hundred dollar bill in the garbage. And I will before I ever give these people money again. Boycotting until they hire competent staff.
(1)
Aimee M.
Decor: Early season Mad Men meets Wisconsin Supper Club Atmosphere: Quiet (but this was a Wednesday night) Service: Excellent Drinks: a Cosmo and a Dirty Martini--STRONG! Dinner: Steaks, cooked almost to perfection, just a little too charred on the outside. Dined here with my husband. His choice. He loves visiting old school steak houses and this was on his list for a long time. This place seemed kind of tucked away, but we're not from the area so maybe it's just because the drive was kind of long. Worth the drive though if you like to visit restaurants that have been around for a while (the 1920's to be exact). There were two dining areas, one side had the bar and the red leather booths (we're totally dining in that section next time). The other side had all tables. Attracts all ages, elderly couples, families, couples on dates, etc.
(4)
Sandy E.
Ok our meals were amazing as always. Butter soft steaks -great wine selection -spinach au gratin to die for. - everyone should come here at least every few months. Makes you remember how good the 50's were-
(5)
Meghan S.
We were just here for Mother's Day and it was just an all around bad experience. I understand that this is a busy day, but we made our reservation 6 weeks ago and were still somehow seated 45 minutes late. While we were waiting we heard two separate parties be told that they couldn't find their reservation. I am not sure if the people in charge of confirming reservations were new at the job, but either way it was poorly conducted. When our party of 6 was told a table was ready, the hostess said sorry but quickly rushed away before we could tell her there were only 5 chairs at the table. A chair arrived and we met our waitress, who was great and attentive. She was the best part about our dining experience! Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of her control, our food arrived an hour and fifteen minutes after ordering it. By this time the restaurant had cleared out a bit, so I was unsure as to what the delay was about. It took two hours from the time of our reservation to begin to eat dinner. Overall, I think what bothered me most was that no gesture was made to us by management as a courtesy for our patience. I would not expect some exuberant freebie, but even a complimentary glass of wine for my mother would have been appreciated. However, nothing was done. Unfortunately, it was my family's first and last time dining here.
(1)
Kate K.
I love Jack Gibbons! Me and my mom have been going there a lot lately.Love the stuffed mushroom caps and u have to try their Italian dressing on Ur salad.We also love the bartenders Joe and Greg. Thankyou for our fun nights with you.My dad usta go with us there but now has Advanced Alzheimer's. Thanks Joe for constantly making him laugh before he got sick. It meant alot to us .........thus is another reason we will go there forever.
(5)
J K.
First time here - loved it!!! Felt very nostalgic. Food portions honestly that can be shared by two.
(4)
Hawk T.
The other sub 3-star reviews are accurate. I'll be brief: 1) Shock #1: The baked potato is served in its aluminum foil. Yes, for a $40+ meal the customer is expected to mash and dress it - c'mon. 2) The fillet mignon actually had 4 zones within it: Well done, overdone, medium well, and well. I had asked for medium rare. Bravo. 3) Not sure where the desserts are from, but my guess is out of a box or a grocery-store ice cream container. When I am served a steak at a "steakhouse" that me or any of my non-chef friends can cook, you're going to get a bad review, period. Next time I'll make the trip to downtown Chicago for a real dining experience. Sad - the place was packed with people clearly being fleeced. The owners must be laughing all the way to the bank.
(1)
Natalie R.
We are on a never-ending quest to find the best old-school steakhouses around and this one has definitely made the list. Only wish we'd had time for a drink in the lounge. Chicken saltimbocca for me, the queen filet mignon for my mother, and the delmonico for Stephen. Mom's filet came out more well done than medium, but once we informed the staff, they were quick (and I mean quick) to replace it with one cooked to a juicy red-pink perfection. According to the website they have bottles of Ruffino Chianti, but I am unable to confirm the price, as we chose the Estancia. All in all, a great meal. The place was PACKED, and now we know why.
(4)
Sharon N.
We've been coming here for our anniversary since 1970, and always order the same thing: T-bone steaks, au gratin potatoes & salad. We live downtown now and can afford Chicago Chop House, Gibsons, etc. but still take the trek down south. Why? Well, tradition of course. But the steaks are top-notch, about half the price of the Chop House, and potatoes and salads are not priced extra! I guess it helps not to pay downtown rents and to have a business that's been established for almost 100 years, but you can't maintain any business just on strength of age. Oh--lest I forget, the cocktails were much larger than average. As I said, the steaks were comparable to anything we've had downtown--but this time we took our family too. Our son ordered the ribs, which were absolutely fall-off-the bone tender and had a very tasty sauce. Our D.I.L ordered crab legs, which she's still talking about (they live in the Bay Area and eat at some of SanFrancisco's finest restaurants on a regular basis.) Daughter ordered a grilled chicken breast which was a bit boring--but most grilled chicken breasts are pretty boring. We asked for the kids food first as they were very hungry, and we got their plates fast. Excellent service! The decor hasn't changed since we started our yearly visit, and that's just fine. It's now gone from dated to retro! I really, really hope they stay just the same--in everything! Iove the place, and intend to go back soon!
(5)
Norm E.
Whew...just came home from here. The food was great! Our server Marge was AWESOME!!!
(4)
Grace C.
I love this place ssssoooo much!their steak is to die 4!!!!!!¡¡It's in a cool area. It's soo old but that's why I love it. It's really classy and it's a really cool place. Their garlic and baked potatoes r really good! When u go there u have 2 get a turtle brownie sundae!!!!!!
(5)
Renata T.
We came for dinner on a busy Saturday night. Two people ordered filets and were quite pleased. Just be careful with the add-ons (potato upgrades, blue cheese sauce, mushrooms) as they can quickly jack up your bill. The salmon and grilled chicken entrees were also good. The crowd is an odd mix of people and the decor is reminiscent of an old school supper club. Despite our slow and forgetful server, the four of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals.
(4)
Diane K.
Went here for a special occasion and left considering calling the cops since we felt robbed. Beware of the upcharges which would have been nice of the server to mention. Five bucks extra for garlic mashed potatoes which were average at best; served blandly with no garnish. Four bucks extra for blue cheese dressing. Tried adding some of the $4 blue cheese and my husband's prime rib au jus to my filet for some flavor since it was served in a pool of clear greasy broth. Restaurants as old and dark as this make me wonder how scary it would be if they turned up the lights.
(3)
Sue D.
After walking out of Coopers Hawk in Orland Park because my husband & I refuse to wait 1 1/2 hrs for a seat. We went to Jack Gibbons. We were seated immediately . Had great service. Excellent wine selection. The steaks were delicous ! My husband had a 28 oz. T-Bone. I had 32oz. Delmonico steak. I could not finish it! Price included salad, potato. Appetizer we had sausage stuffed mushrooms...very good! Excellent wait staff! I will go back!
(4)
Nichole C.
This place has apparently been open since 1922. The man's Gram says it was hopping during prohibition (not because it was a speakeasy though...don't get excited) and that kind of history alone is awesome. Obviously the family has been coming here for FOREVER so my review reflects some biased nostalgia but it is also a great joint. Good food (expensive but they give you a portion that is big enough for two. Not that I share.), good service, and an old school steakhouse decor that takes you back in time. *You do have to valet park so don't forget to bring some singles.* As soon as you are seated, you get the obligatory water and bread, but they also throw down a mean coleslaw and three bean salad that are both delicious. There is a full bar (not very many decent beers, but I'll live) and a quality menu. Lots of steaks, plenty of seafood and chicken options, and even some random goodies too (I got roasted duck with stuffing tonight. HELL YES.). The steaks are charred (not a fan of this, but most people are) and come out on a metal plate to keep them hot and every meal comes with a soup or salad and a side. Overall, they serve you A LOT of food. Go hungry.
(4)
David S.
I'm about to eat at Jack Gibbons for the 8th time since I first discovered it, thanks to some good friends in Oak Forest, in 2007. Are there better steakhouses in Chicagoland? Certainly. Are there steakhouses that represent their communities as well as Jack Gibbons or surround you with the feeling that characters from Good Fellas are dining with you? Absolutely not! That, my friends, is why this place rates high on my meter and the food is good, just on the old school side (I love the bean relish and other complimentary appetizers). The serving sizes are AMERICAN at its finest with prices that are stalled in the 1980s (without an adjustment for inflation). As a northsider, this is one of my favorite treks to the southside. Honestly, while not a smoker, its a place where cigarettes should be de rigueur. The bar is great and almost divey, but in a way that is perfectly consistent with the rest of the restaurant and the bartender, Jim, is very skilled and a super nice guy. Finally, my experience with the wait staff has been always good. The staff is friendly, professional, and veteran, having worked at Jack Gibbons for years. Go here. The atmosphere alone will make it memorable.
(4)
Trudi G.
This restaurant has gone way downhill from what it once was. The prices get higher and the food gets worse. Enormous steaks that are never the right temp and almost always raw in the middle. Baked potato in tin foil, also raw. Caesar salad is their reg salad with bottled Caesar dressing, up charge for the Caesar salad. What a joke. Relish items are pure junk and out of a can. I suspect the has browns are frozen out of a bag. Not worth spending the $$$$$ for the poor quality.
(1)
Doug H.
Time capsule for brown liquor, red meat, and blue cheese. The Waitresses are busy. There's a wait. There's a bass piano and drum trio doing old standards. Have a manhattan.
(5)
Jamie P.
Porterhouse for a king. Best flavor and portions. You could feed a small country with this steak. A little out of the way, But well worth the drive. My wife loves the prime rib and my brother in law always gets the filet mignon. We eat steak and this has to be the best in Chicago. Could use a remodel but I'm not going there for the view.
(5)
Elizabeth F.
It is easy to slip backwards in time a decade or two (or three!) inside Jack Gibbons. Established in 1922, this excellent restaurant boasts high-backed, private booths, dark interiors & traditional decor. I visited on a whim with a friend & I will certainly return to give Jack Gibbons a real go. I only ordered a Guinness; but their menu looked fantastic (especially for the carnivore!) When seated in their dining room, you are served a spread of bean salad, cole slaw plus warm bread & butter prior to your dinner. I was curious to know the nature of these items & our pleasant waitress was happy to share that they have been serving these amuse-bouches for many, many years. I look forward to a return visit & a full meal at Jack Gibbons!
(4)
Carol W.
My parents and I have been patronizing this restaurant for 20+ years and we love the food and the service. Unfortunately, the business has declined in food and service. Its time to close your doors JG.
(1)
Katy H.
My ex and his family dine here at least 2 or 3 times a month. They are regulars. The staff and owners know them as they've been coming for over 30 years. As a result, I had the pleasure of dining here on a dozen or so occasions and I have to say, Gibbons is what I'm going to miss most about that relationship! Typically we'd spend about an hour in the bar before eating. The bartender is old school. He knows his drinks and he pours generously! Their tvs are terrible, but I wouldn't expect flat screens at this place. They have delicious relish plates that come out before the meal (three bean salad, coleslaw, bread basket- with pretzel bread) and you can add extras like cottage cheese or tomatoes with onions. The steaks- wow, just wow! Almost perfect every time. I always ordered the queen filet, medium and it was always delicious! They come with soup or salad and a choice of potato. The dessert- I've had the cheesecake and the hot brownie sundae, both were great! This place is old school and I love it! I'd go back, but I don't want to run into any regulars. But you should go. Trust me, it's worth it. Go!
(5)
Marge P.
Had our small wedding reception here! Fantastic evening. Waitresses were the best! That was over 13 yeras ago and we go back all the time. Over 25 years of our business and never had a bad experience. Always good -always a special occasion to be had here. Steaks are superb! Crab legs fantastic!! Casual atmosphere. Good service. Friendly. Never had a bad meal here. Desserts are sooo good!!
(5)
Jim D.
Went to Jack Gibbons recently and had had a very enjoyable experience. The filet was cooked perfectly and the double-baked potatoe was to die for. Looking forward to returning in the near future.
(4)
Nicholas C.
My Family has been going to Jack Gibbons Gardens for over 20+ years, we enjoy the cozy atmosphere and the Great service. Many good memories, always a good meal.
(5)
Riley S.
I've known of this place for years and we finally decided to give it a try instead of going to the western suburbs for a great steak and nice Cabernet. The filet was good but the lack of service just has to be noted here. It's obvious many "regulars" frequent this place. We noticed people who knew the servers seemed to be more attended to. Locals tend to be loud and over-served. It used to be the same way in the House if Hughes which is now closed. When I inquired about a wine I was told the red I was served was the best they had. I'm convinced it came out of a box. Raise the level of service, hire a wine expert and each couple will be dropping $150-$200 per table easy. Servers lacked friendliness to new diners, didn't try to up sell food or drinks. No specials .
(2)
Lisa T.
This place is great. Old school. Out dated. Terrific though. . Surf and turf and a martini and your done. I never have room for desert. Casual. This is not a hip place by any means, but outstanding food and drinks.
(4)
Mary Ellen S.
Our service was excellent. But tried Delmonico which was tough and overdone. Waitress said we should have sent it back.
(3)
Henry N.
The sad fact about this "review" is that it won't dissuade anyone from coming here and having their pockets picked. People, the elderly, the seemingly well-to-do and the posers will keep coming here because tradition and some feeling of comfort mean more than the meal they're eating. I honestly can't comment on the steaks, I haven't had more than a nibble on the two occasions I've been here. I guess a steak house or supper club is supposed to resemble what Gibbons Gardens looks like, but they should at least be kept updated. Jack or his heirs should take some of the money they're making and invest some back into the decor. I sat, once again, in the small room overlooking 147th Street. I'm comfortable there, not crammed and cramped into the main room, but it seems like I'm in the cheap addition tacked onto a '50's tract home. That paneling has to go. But that's the very least of my concerrns. In the dark it seems clean and the fresh linens help with that. I was with a group of eight who professed to be bowled over by their meal. I wasn't having any of it. My chopped sirloin was quite unpleasant. There was no substance or flavor to it. It tasted as though it had been overworked to death, and wasn't seasoned in the least. Generally, I feel a person should season their own meal to taste but there should be a basis to start with. All that was there was the grease on the bottom of the plate. At $17.00 you'd think there'd be some mushrooms or grilled onions, but no. Oh, they're available at about $4.50 an item. That's $4.50 each for mushroom caps, grilled onions and crumbled blue cheese. The hash browns was a criminal act on a plate. Soft, mushy, luke warm in spots and cold in others. I didn't complain, I didn't eat them. As a matter of fact, I only ate about a third of my chopped sirloin. I enjoyed the bread, which they replenished without grief, though on the second serving they cut the amount in half. And three squirts of soft butter for two people? Are you serious? More butter, please. I don't drink scotch on the rocks or martinis. Regular Coke, please. An eight ounce glass filled with ice, giving me maybe four to five ounces? Give me a break. Are soft drinks being rationed? But here's the one that grabbed me. Under appetizers a corned beef and swiss cheese sandwich is offered at $12.95. Hey, this isn't Katz's Deli in New York and I'm betting the sandwich doesn't resemple their's, either. That's not the worst part. If you decide you want the sandwhich as an entree, you'll pony up an additional $5.00. Some people here speak of relish trays, there are no relish trays. You get a dish of three bean salad and a dish of cole slaw, both of which are very good. Again, if you request more the amount is cut back at least 50% if not more. Now, you can easily say "Don't go back". I don't intend to. I was invited as part of a group so I went. It doesn't change the fact that Jack Gibbons Gardens is not all it pretends to be or should be. If someone thinks twice about going there then I've done my job.
(2)
Adam J.
I just came back from dinner here again and it continues to solidify itself as my favorite steakhouse in the world. It just never disappoints me. I challenge anyone to find a better steak anywhere, especially for the price
(5)
Kurt S.
My girlfriend and I wanted to try this place for quite some time and finally got our opportunity last month. We met up with some friends of ours and went on a Saturday night. The place was fairly busy, but we were seated quickly. Our server was very friendly, funny and had a great personality. They serve up a nice relish tray right away and it was all cold and fresh. We all had steaks and a couple of us had crab legs on the side. All of the food was great and the steaks are served up on an old fashioned metal plate. The crab legs were almost over cooked, but were still very good. The service is great, the food is very good and the desserts,( we shared, they're huge) - were also very good. The portion sizes are huge and we all felt that the meal was worthy of the bill. I've seen a lot of negative comments about the decor and condition of the restaurant and many of them are valid. The place is old (1922) and could use some remodeling. To their credit, It looked as if the bathrooms had been recently renovated. While I did think the place was a little "dated", it took nothing away from the dining experience because the food and staff more than made up for it. If you're looking for a modern styled and well appointed restaurant, this is not your place. If you're looking for a local restaurant that serves up a kick ass steak, makes you feel comfortable and has staff members who make you feel like you're a life long customer, this is it. I suspect these are some of the reasons why Jack Gibbons Gardens has been around for 90 years. Everyone in my party said that they enjoyed the food and would definitely go back.
(4)
Quinton J.
Very pleased with this south suburban steak house hideaway. No longer a need to make the trek downtown, Jack Gibson's fulfilled my need for a high quality ribeye cooked to perfection. My party of 4 arrived at 8 on a Saturday night and the place was packed, good thing we called ahead and the were happy to reserve a table on such short notice. The service matched the food so it made for a very enjoyable evening. Expect to pay prices comparable to downtown but without the traffic, parking and travel time. Enjoy!
(5)
Rich R.
This place reminds me of The Flame off Joliet Rd. in that, even though I'm 58 years old, I feel like a youngster when I am there. In accordance with this comparison, please forgive me, they both have the faint but unmistakeable odor of old lady pee. It hit me as soon as I walked in and, not surprisingly, the woman's restroom is right at the entry. That aside, I went there after a positive "Check, Please!" review and it did not disappoint. The quality of the meats, which is the reason to go there, was excellent. The prime rib, usually 1/4 inedible fat at most places, was wonderful. On a repeat visit, the steaks are delicious and apportioned such that Fred Flintstone would be satisfied. The baked potatoes are large. The rest of the side dishes provided enough window dressing to make a diner feel that he/she is not solely a Neanderthalic carnivore. Prices are great for what you get. You'd spend a whole lot more for the same meal downtown. The decor is that of early '70s -without the macrame. Just pinch your nose when you walk in.....
(5)
Joni F.
Went recently not happy the food was ok. Also they have raised all their prices. They also charge extra for blue cheese dressing and also charge extra for other things as well. Not happy at all. They are too expensive now!
(2)
Steven M.
The food is good, but I'm over eating at the old folk's home. As we sat in the bar area waiting for our drinks. We got to watch the making of Jurassic Park XIV. Atmosphere is helpful when you have to wait for the server to figure out that you are still young enough to keep track of time! I asked for my drink in a tall glass and she brings it in a wine glass? I wanted a double to save her the trouble of walking and me from waiting for another! When we got the condiments I felt like I was in Gulliver's Travels. Everything from the water glasses to the slaw and bean trays shrank. The bread basket no longer has pretzel bread. So when the salad came out, yes. It annoyed me as well because the iceberg was browning on the edges and the green part was wilted. The croutons looked like Lego bricks they were so big. I got my T-bone and it was good. No gravy on the platter, just grease. This place has been around since 1922. In 90 years being in business they should have figured out that people keep coming back because they like everything to stay the same. Like the paneling! This place is lost in time as far as I am concerned. I'll be back in 25 years.
(2)
Ahmad N.
I've eaten here a few times and thought the food was pretty good, but my last experience was not good. I ordered the delmonico and it didn't have much flavor and was 90% fat. I'll chalk it up to a bad experience and will still come back when I feel like a steak and don't feel like going down to the city.
(3)
Diane C.
The valet was so ignorant I considered not even going in. Once I got in the service was wonderful but the food was grossly overpriced for the quality and location. I work on the Gold Coast at eat at Hugo's, Morton and the capital grille often so I know quality vs price and this place does NOT have it. Based on my experience with the valet alone I would NOT return.
(2)
Michael W.
Other than Jay D's review trashing the restaurant because elderly people go there, the reviews are reasonably accurate. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable and the waitstaff is professional and friendly. The beef isn't prime (including the prime rib), but is choice-- what most people buy for their summer grilling--and properly cooked to order. You can go downtown and pay twice the price for a higher quality dinner, but Gibbons presents good food at a fair price. Also, the drinks are fairly priced. Let's tell Jay D that most of those "old people" he derides can probably buy and sell him and can afford Gibson's anytime they wish, but probably also enjoy the nostalgic value of Gibbons as well as the food. Let's hope Jay never gets old so he doesn't embarrass his descendants by showing up in a restaurant frequented by hipsters like him.
(4)
George M.
Been coming here for years, and it has really gone downhill. It had been a while, and my husband wanted a good steak. We were welcomed with a big neon gaudy sign, they never had before. Parking lot was empty for a Saturday night -unheard of in its heyday. Walked in, didn't have to wait for a table as we usually had to before. I started out with a martini and asked for blue cheese olives.The waitress said they didn't have them, even though on the menu there is blue cheese chunks for your salad. How hard could it be for the un-busy bartender to stuff them? Well, I was going to order their Tenderloin Jack steak, which was covered in blue cheese, and stuff my own. The waitress even commented that it drove her nuts that they wouldn't do that small little thing. Anyway, after placing our order, received the dull, lifeless relish tray. Then the salad. They used to have a good salad, where it was ice cold and they really mixed the dressing into the salad. Now it was just lettuce with dressing plopped on top of it. The breads were the best thing about the meal. Now, you used to get your steak on a sizzling platter, with hot buttery sauce that you could dip your steak into. Our steaks came on those platters - but no sizzle at all, and no buttery sauce either. Disappointing. My husband ordered the porterhouse, which he said was very fatty and lacked flavor. I got that Tenderloin Jack steak - and the funny thing is, it tasted like fish. I think they used the same flat top that they use to cook fish on. It was just so wrong on so many levels a steak should not taste like fish. And my husband and I both ordered the hash brown potatoes. They just put one order in the middle of the table for both of us to share. It was incredibly bad - very lukewarm, not hot, and watery - like it was frozen and just heated in the microwave. Blech. Give this place a year, tops.
(1)
Tiffany B.
This place was probably poppin' back in the 80's but in 2011 it's WHACK! My husband and I had dinner here with a few of his colleagues from work (they picked it!) and the steak was inedible! The dining area reeked of dirty mop water. I recommend tearing the whole place down and putting up a HAROLD'S CHICKEN SHACK!
(1)
Victor N.
Been going to Gibbons for years.always great beef. The prime rib is as good as it gets. The regular cut is huge, it is always done to perfection. I tell them it cant be too rare for me...my wife gets the Wee filet medium rare with the twice baked potato, she dearly loves the twice baked. Maybe some day I might get a steak, the prime rib is soooo great! It's a dated place with exceptional beef. Never had room for dessert.
(5)
Eric D.
Exposition This is a place where dreams come true, if your dreams consist of deliciously prepared steaks served in a cozy restaurant that time forgot. This is a place that you want to be on a snowy winter night with friends and family sharing sides of potatoes au gratin and asparagus as large cuts of beef are paraded around your table, delighting everyone before the hush of mealtime temporarily halts conversation. First Impression Jack Gibbons is dimly lit, with accent lighting provided by yellowed Christmas lights that were likely hung just after the last remodeling of this 80+ year old restaurant sometime in the 1950's. Stop and see the bartender before being seated on a crowded Saturday night to enjoy an old fashioned, Tom Collins, sidecar, or maybe just a glass of wine. Food and Drink This is the type of place to enjoy a Grasshopper or Golden Cadillac. If you've never heard of these concoctions, than this might not be the place for you. The wine selection is thin, but there is a range of decent bottles to choose from - besides, its the meat you came for in the first place! I've had several of their steaks, but my favorite is the porterhouse. It stands alone on it's plate as a monolithic beacon of freedom - not for everybody, but for those so inclined, a momentus and life changing experience. It may not be Wagyu, and it's not the most marbled piece of meat in the world, but it is very well cooked, and hugenormous. Final Shake Jack Gibbon's Gardens is a singular entity in the world. A place where your meat dreams are realized amidst an atmosphere unchanged since the time of Nellie Fox and the Chevy Bel-Air. A place where wood paneling actually 'works'. A place you should visit with your grandpa before its too late.
(4)
Don M.
We meet up with some friends that live close by and walk over. The place has been around forever and the interior is the same as when they opened. The drinks are great and when the bartender remembers you is even better. The entire staff is good, very accommodating and friendly. As for the food. Steak is it. I prefer the king fillet but also have had the porterhouse (huge). We also have had the lobster and the non steak eater has his chicken kiev. No complaints. When you first sit they serve up some trays of coleslaw, cottage cheese, kidney bean salad, and tomatoes in onion. We tear this up. This is one of our must stops.
(4)
Victoria O.
Well, damn, it's been several years. I do recall, however, a great steak, excellent potatoes, retro apps (the kind in a lazy susan style server) and good cocktails. In addition, the ambience was pleasant and laid back. This place is located in the woods, and it was a pleasure to eat here from start to finish. This review is based on memory, so, if things have changed, it's a shame.I want to go back, and if so, will post a new review.
(4)
Dandy K.
Poor Food Quality and below average service for such an established restaurant. Bone In Chicago Strip steak was TOUGH and an unusual excessive amount of fat. Table of 6, all steaks had to as waitress 3 times for a Steak Knife. Attention to detail is lacking. More like dining at a restaurant on its first training day. Will not return for a long time. A real disappointment for such an long tradition irish restaurant.
(1)
Terry P.
My wife was the first bus girl at Gibbons back in the early 70's and waited on his Honor, the Richard Daley. Some of the waitresses have been there that long. They are all good and know their jobs. We eat here 1-2 times a month. I have eaten at other places and have paid more than at Gibbons and left feeling ripped off. I don't come here for the steaks as I rarely eat them. But they have great fish and seafood. If you come here, get the Au Gratin potatoes. They are a few bucks more but worth it. I had Tilapia and paid extra for fresh asparagus. My wife had the breaded shrimp. We both had the Au Gratin potatoes and we both had a Drambouie and I had a red wine. The price....$62. Try and do that downtown. As an add on, they stopped serving the Jumbo Fried Shrimp. No one knows why. BRING IT BACK! I know this is a steak place, put I don't like eating red meat all that much. I prefer roast turkey, fish, seafood or pasta.
(5)
Brian L.
MK and I met up with my Mom and Dad for dinner at Jack Gibbons (09/19/08). Since we've been here before, we had no problem finding it but if you've not been here, make sure you're checking your maps twice before heading out the door. This is your old tyme supper club from way back. Since January 1st when all restaurants had to go smoke free, this place is even BETTER! Prior to January, if you wanted non-smoking you had to be dragged through the smoking to the tiny back porch that was non. Now, I'm sitting in places of this restaurant I've never seen. We usually don't get appy's because the portions are so large that we never have room, but I've had an occaisional soup and they've been pretty good. I ordered the King Filet, as did MK. Mom & Dad do their usual chopped sirloin. With dinner you get a small side salad and choice of potato. If you don't want a salad, they can bring you some apple sauce. For the potato choice, I highly recommend the Hash Browns which are phenominal. To say all 4 pieces of meat that came to the table were large would STILL be an understatement. That chopped sirloin is about 24 ounces and the King Filets were well over 16 oz. Let's not kid around, you pay a good penny for this meal but it's absolutely worth it. All steaks are made to order perfectly and you just need to strap on the feedbag. I've also had the porterhouse and it's rediculously hanging off the plate. Good food and experienced waitstaff. Bus kids also stay on top of it and are very attentive as well.
(4)
Tom F.
My wife's family introduced me to this steakhouse 10+ years ago, and it's our favorite place for a great steak served on a sizzling dish with lemon butter. Delicious! All potatoes, from twice baked to hash browns, are tasty, and the relish tray and bread baskets are as well. We do enjoy sharing a lobster tail every so often as they broil a good one. Nice to have a throwback steakhouse to enjoy in Chicagoland.
(4)
Leslie C.
Try the steak, chicken and shrimp appetizer... Amazing!!! I would even order that for a meal. Steak quality is pretty good. Ambiance is old and blah. Wait staff is also old and stale. Staff seems to be very set in their ways. The food is great!
(3)
John D.
Soup was good. Salmon was AWFUL... really, really bad. Overcooked and drizzled with..something. yuck. Pork chops were fantastic! Really good! Unfortunately, due to my wife's exclamation "worst salmon I have ever had", we won't be going back.
(1)
Dave S.
I have been going here for years. This place is probably as old as the forests that it is surrounded by. If you do not know exactly where this place is at, you will never find it. If you decide to make a trek out here be sure to take someone who has been there before (as in Dave S and he will show you exactly where this place is at for a steak dinner) or Map Quest it. The place is old and I don't think it has had a remodeling yet since it was built in 1922, but don't let the looks fool you as they serve up a good hunk of meat. The prices are not cheap by any means. I always get a porterhouse and I have not been disappointed yet. The Irish Cream Cheesecake is also one of my favorites. The service here is always very good. It seems as if the turnover here is very little as I think a couple of the waitresses opened the place, they all know their stuff, and very friendly. The service here is not the quickest though but this is how they intend it. You are invited to take your time and enjoy each course.
(4)
Rachael K.
Again, I have to stroll down memory lane... Up until about a year ago, I lived about 5 minutes away from Gibbons and counted it as one of my favorite places. First of all - it's been around forever, so don't expect any hip, trendy interior. This place looks like it probably did the day it opened. The waitstaff is almost all veteran too. So the place definitely has an "older" feel to it, right down to most of it's clientele. The food is amazing tho. I would say it's right up there with Mortons steaks, and for us south siders, it's a lot closer to home. I love their prime rib and their potatoes au gratin. Their crab legs are always great too. My parents remember going to Gibbons before I was born, and I can see why it's stood the test of time.
(5)
Michelle H.
Located a little of the beaten path, on a dead end street, this is a good place to come for steak (They also specialize in chops, fish and chicken). My personal favorite is the New York Strip with a double baked potato. The restaurant 's dark and quiet atmosphere is a great place to take someone on a date or for an anniversary. There is also quite a large lounge here as well, mainly frequented by the schools of golfers coming from the many golf courses in the area. The service is fairly decent, the food is great, but the only thing wrong is the astronomical prices. (Not only are the steaks expensive, so are all the sides and drinks).
(4)
Jay D.
You've got to be kidding me! When I see practically every review starting with, "I've been coming here forever", that says it all. Jack Gibbons clearly has time on it's side, not the decor, service or pricing. The food was mediocre at best. Lousy relish appetizers that could have (and probably did) come from a can, boring salads loaded with bland iceberg lettuce, and bread we practically had to beg for. By the way, an over-sized piece of red meat is no big deal to season and cook, which is what everybody raves about here. It just goes to show that to the people that love this place tradition and nostalgia are far more important than quality and value. If you haven't been "coming here forever", don't even bother eating here if you're a newbie, because you'll fail to see what all the fuss is about, and for good reason. In my opinion, fifty dollars (or more) is way too much money to spend to dine with people sporting T-shirts, mullets and baseball caps. My experience has been that if a restaurant caters mostly to the senior crowd, it's on the decline.
(1)
Norman K.
Been there 100 times and will go another 100 times. Why? Because of the people who work there. Oh, and the awesome food (steak). It is zzz best, bar none (actually there is a bar). Forget Krapil's (last visit was last visit), Bogart's (Even if Humphrey was there I would not go back), Louie T's (T stands for turnaround and go home), Mr. Benny's (sorry Jack), or Steak and Shake. Loved the steak at Nine, and had some good times at the Chop House, Ruth's Chris, GibSON's, and many others. If you want pomp and circumstance (or is it pompous?) go to Gibson's in the triangle of debauchery. If you want the best: bartenders in the Chicago area (Jimmy, Tommy, Jerry, Petey, Keith), servers (Little Linda and Amy), Hosts (Nancy, Theresa, Tim), Chef ( A++, Oscar) owner's son Dave, car dudes, and the band. All make you feel like you are at home (especially if you have fabulous burgundy drapes). Set your GPS, as its closest neighbors are deer. 5/22/2007 Revisit, #101. Same as usual: awesome meal. Or just go there to meet Jimmy the chipper bartender. This visit everyone had a filet (King and Queen) and they were all cooked to Medium Rare perfection (Chef Oscar). Note: I cringe when anyone orders a Prime steak Medium or Well. Cooked well is like cooking it with a hair dryer; it dehydrates the beautiful piece of meat and removes the flavorful juices, but to each his own. Anyway, the servers (Connie today) get those steaks from kitchen to table so fast my baked potato was whipped. Actually the baked potato was just right, good size, more white than yellow, flaky-ish and not what a good steak should be: overly moist. Their mainstay is the hash browns. Bread was nothing to cheer about. It is usually warmed and fresh. Today, neither. Bus guy was attentive, friendly, and social. He has a career in politics. The Band with their leader Mel was off and I missed them. They are professional, relaxing, and not obtrusive. Oh, and the gratis coleslaw, cottage cheese, kidney bean salad, and tomatoes and onion are a real nice touch. Good, too. Served in little stainless stel trays. Speaking of good to great, Gibbon's lobster is one of the best you'll find. Fresh as a daisy or, well, a fresh lobster. Bigger, better, and cheaper than Gibson's.. Enjoy. Bread misstep was a rarity.
(5)
Lexi S.
since grew up in midlothian my parents did not want to cook for thanksgiving 2008 we went here. i had about 2 drinks and they were very good!! The food was also amazing. we had more time talking and hanging out than we would with mom cooking and cleaning thinking about going there soon for drinks and dinner. it is a nice place for that
(4)
Barbara S.
I used to go here all the time when I lived in the area, then I moved away for 8 years. I returned and last week went to Jack's and while it was still good, it was not as great as I remembered it. The bread was awful - cold and hard. The salad was OK but used to be better. And the steak was fair, as was the service. Decor was virtually unchanged from my last visit. Still a good restaurant, just not what it used to be.
(3)
Josh K.
Amazing. In ChiTown on business and decided to treat myself to a steak dinner on my last night. Looked up Yelp reviews and had two people recommend Jack's. The reviews are correct. MASSIVE pours on drinks, tons of extras at no charge and the steak was freakin insane! Great service, LOVE the ambiance. Don't change a thing!
(5)
Michele M.
My husband and I have been here at least 4 times within the last year. The food is very good, steaks are big and flavorful. We've been hooked on the filet & lobster tail. The portions are amazing with 2 very nice size tails. Most places you order surf & turf will give you either a decent size steak & one very small tail or a nice size tail and a steak the size of a marble. The only thing I didn't care for is the old & dark atmosphere. Of course that is personal preference...my husband likes it. Make sure you call for reservations especially on the weekend because it's always crowded.
(4)
Ada R.
My husband is from the south side and had fond memories of eating at Gibbons as a child. He introduced me twelve years ago and we frequent the place and have introduced our friends to this marvelous restaurant. The drinks are generously made and the steaks are a work of art. Save your appetites because the steaks are huge and delicious! Looking forward to our next visit. Thanks for making my birthday a memorable one!
(5)
SmartShopper R.
Most overpriced and rude mgmt staff ev-ah. They MAKE you use their courtesy park...and then jack up your car. We waited for an HOUR for our steaks! Wait staff kept apologizing. Too bad. Never going back.
(1)
Nicki M.
First visit was yesterday for Mother's Day so the crowding of the table and the noise level I can over look. I found the food to be wonderful and plentiful. The prices I feel are good based in the portion sizes you are given. Staff was attentive for how busy they were. Bring s sweater and a flashlight if you visit as the air was cranking and the dining room was dark. A place to visit again for sure.
(4)
Margarita And Edward M.
Here is our experience at this place. This place was recommended to us, and it looked like it got some good reviews, so we tried them. When we first got there we waited to even be acknowledged for seating. We had a reservation but didn't feel very welcomed to be there. Next, once we were seated, our bread plates were dirty with crumbs and guck on them, gross! We sat for almost 15 to 20 mins before we waved down a bus person for new plates. She brought new plates and some soggy bean salad and cole slaw that looked and tasted awful. Mind you we still hadn't seen a server yet. So finally after being there for around 30 mins, a server came to take our drink order. We ordered drinks and app. once the drinks were delivered, my wine glass was dirty. Someone else's lipstick etc.. around the rim. The server was nowhere to be found so we had to wave down the bus person again to get a new glass of wine for us. Finally, a new drink and our apps were servered and we were ready to order dinner, but the server took off again. So we ate the app (oyster Rock...) which was ok in taste, but pretty gritty. 20 mins later the server came back and got our plates and asked if we would like more drinks. We said that we would would like to order dinner and she looked as if 'Oh, I didn't take your order yet????. We got steaks, and after another 30 mins or so, when they came they were huge! and a beautiful pieces of meat, they looked great! But once we tasted them, they were hardly seasoned, we kept adding salt to try to get some flavor in them, but all we could think was wow, what a waste of a beautiful piece of meat. The place is very dark, my husband and I were starting to think perhaps that was on purpose because perhaps they needed to hide the dirt etc... in the place. Even the lamp that hung over our table was dirty and had bugs in it. The table next to us got blan steaks also, and one ordered the crab legs. She said they were dried up and too salty. Eventhough this place has be around forever, I'm not sure why or why it gets such great reivews, but JG's, it was old, dirty, dank, had slow/poor service and the food wasn't that great. This was the first and last time we'll be going to this place. Yuck!
(2)
Wade L.
I really like the food there, the steaks are generous in size and everything is cooked to perfection. The only draw back is the wait staff at times are rude especially the older waitresses. They were featured on check please and the wait staff got the same unsatisfactory review. Go the for a teriffic steak and if your waitress is rude leave a lousy tip. The staff is the reason for 3 stars.
(3)
John K.
Going to Jack Gibbons is like walking into a time machine! The valet outside is a little sketchy, but everything else is wonderful. Despite everyone else's reviews, the hash browns aren't that great. Can't go wrong with the steaks. And if you're gonna come here, finish your meal with a grasshopper.
(5)
Margaret A.
I WILL NEVER GIVE THIS PLACE ANOTHER DIME. THEY THREW AWAY MY LEFTOVER LOBSTER INSTEAD OF WRAPPING IT WITH THE REST OF MY FOOD. Jack Gibbons has one of the greatest reputations in the Chicagoland area for steak. The food is excellent, THE SERVICE WAS AWFUL! To me it's not worth spending the money to eat at a place like this if there's gonna be snot nosed little bus boys running around ripping food out of my hands. This post already makes me sound like the wicked witch of the east, but I swear I'm not. I've worked in the service industry and I try to be very understanding about people making mistakes. The first thing that went wrong was they took away my soup before I was finished with it. I'm not sure, but I think you should probably ask before you take away someone's plate. Whatever. That's understandable. My utensil was in the bowl and my hands were below the table, which is the universal signal for clear my plate. So that's okay, he thought I was done, and I'm sure there's quite a bit of pressure to clear plates quickly at an upscale place like this. I'm not upset about that. Second, my mom's medium rare steak was well past well done. The waitress asked if she wanted it taken back, but we're not those kind of people. So she just tried to enjoy a thirty dollar steak that might as well have been burnt to a crisp. No pink left, whatsoever, not even in the very middle of the fillet. I had the surf and turf which includes a 12 oz thirty dollar steak, and two MARKET PRICE lobster tails. We don't need to talk about how much those actually cost, but understand they're the most expensive thing on the menu. I had a little lobster left, that I put between my leftover steak and potato to ensure whoever wrapped it knew it belonged in my box. When the other bus boy asked if I wanted it boxed, I said yes and gestured to the center of the plate and said please make sure you wrap all this for me, and motioned with my fingers in a circle around what belonged in my box. When I got my box back I discovered that he had neglected to put my lobster in with the rest of my leftovers. Which means he pretty much just decided to ignore what I said and throw away at least ten dollars worth of lobster. Don't waste your money here. How do you throw away someone's leftover lobster? Absolutely ridiculous. I might as well have thrown a hundred dollar bill in the garbage. And I will before I ever give these people money again. Boycotting until they hire competent staff.
(1)
Aimee M.
Decor: Early season Mad Men meets Wisconsin Supper Club Atmosphere: Quiet (but this was a Wednesday night) Service: Excellent Drinks: a Cosmo and a Dirty Martini--STRONG! Dinner: Steaks, cooked almost to perfection, just a little too charred on the outside. Dined here with my husband. His choice. He loves visiting old school steak houses and this was on his list for a long time. This place seemed kind of tucked away, but we're not from the area so maybe it's just because the drive was kind of long. Worth the drive though if you like to visit restaurants that have been around for a while (the 1920's to be exact). There were two dining areas, one side had the bar and the red leather booths (we're totally dining in that section next time). The other side had all tables. Attracts all ages, elderly couples, families, couples on dates, etc.
(4)
Sandy E.
Ok our meals were amazing as always. Butter soft steaks -great wine selection -spinach au gratin to die for. - everyone should come here at least every few months. Makes you remember how good the 50's were-
(5)
Meghan S.
We were just here for Mother's Day and it was just an all around bad experience. I understand that this is a busy day, but we made our reservation 6 weeks ago and were still somehow seated 45 minutes late. While we were waiting we heard two separate parties be told that they couldn't find their reservation. I am not sure if the people in charge of confirming reservations were new at the job, but either way it was poorly conducted. When our party of 6 was told a table was ready, the hostess said sorry but quickly rushed away before we could tell her there were only 5 chairs at the table. A chair arrived and we met our waitress, who was great and attentive. She was the best part about our dining experience! Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of her control, our food arrived an hour and fifteen minutes after ordering it. By this time the restaurant had cleared out a bit, so I was unsure as to what the delay was about. It took two hours from the time of our reservation to begin to eat dinner. Overall, I think what bothered me most was that no gesture was made to us by management as a courtesy for our patience. I would not expect some exuberant freebie, but even a complimentary glass of wine for my mother would have been appreciated. However, nothing was done. Unfortunately, it was my family's first and last time dining here.
(1)
Kate K.
I love Jack Gibbons! Me and my mom have been going there a lot lately.Love the stuffed mushroom caps and u have to try their Italian dressing on Ur salad.We also love the bartenders Joe and Greg. Thankyou for our fun nights with you.My dad usta go with us there but now has Advanced Alzheimer's. Thanks Joe for constantly making him laugh before he got sick. It meant alot to us .........thus is another reason we will go there forever.
(5)
J K.
First time here - loved it!!! Felt very nostalgic. Food portions honestly that can be shared by two.
(4)
Hawk T.
The other sub 3-star reviews are accurate. I'll be brief: 1) Shock #1: The baked potato is served in its aluminum foil. Yes, for a $40+ meal the customer is expected to mash and dress it - c'mon. 2) The fillet mignon actually had 4 zones within it: Well done, overdone, medium well, and well. I had asked for medium rare. Bravo. 3) Not sure where the desserts are from, but my guess is out of a box or a grocery-store ice cream container. When I am served a steak at a "steakhouse" that me or any of my non-chef friends can cook, you're going to get a bad review, period. Next time I'll make the trip to downtown Chicago for a real dining experience. Sad - the place was packed with people clearly being fleeced. The owners must be laughing all the way to the bank.
(1)
Natalie R.
We are on a never-ending quest to find the best old-school steakhouses around and this one has definitely made the list. Only wish we'd had time for a drink in the lounge. Chicken saltimbocca for me, the queen filet mignon for my mother, and the delmonico for Stephen. Mom's filet came out more well done than medium, but once we informed the staff, they were quick (and I mean quick) to replace it with one cooked to a juicy red-pink perfection. According to the website they have bottles of Ruffino Chianti, but I am unable to confirm the price, as we chose the Estancia. All in all, a great meal. The place was PACKED, and now we know why.
(4)
Sharon N.
We've been coming here for our anniversary since 1970, and always order the same thing: T-bone steaks, au gratin potatoes & salad. We live downtown now and can afford Chicago Chop House, Gibsons, etc. but still take the trek down south. Why? Well, tradition of course. But the steaks are top-notch, about half the price of the Chop House, and potatoes and salads are not priced extra! I guess it helps not to pay downtown rents and to have a business that's been established for almost 100 years, but you can't maintain any business just on strength of age. Oh--lest I forget, the cocktails were much larger than average. As I said, the steaks were comparable to anything we've had downtown--but this time we took our family too. Our son ordered the ribs, which were absolutely fall-off-the bone tender and had a very tasty sauce. Our D.I.L ordered crab legs, which she's still talking about (they live in the Bay Area and eat at some of SanFrancisco's finest restaurants on a regular basis.) Daughter ordered a grilled chicken breast which was a bit boring--but most grilled chicken breasts are pretty boring. We asked for the kids food first as they were very hungry, and we got their plates fast. Excellent service! The decor hasn't changed since we started our yearly visit, and that's just fine. It's now gone from dated to retro! I really, really hope they stay just the same--in everything! Iove the place, and intend to go back soon!
(5)
Norm E.
Whew...just came home from here. The food was great! Our server Marge was AWESOME!!!
(4)
Grace C.
I love this place ssssoooo much!their steak is to die 4!!!!!!¡¡It's in a cool area. It's soo old but that's why I love it. It's really classy and it's a really cool place. Their garlic and baked potatoes r really good! When u go there u have 2 get a turtle brownie sundae!!!!!!
(5)
Renata T.
We came for dinner on a busy Saturday night. Two people ordered filets and were quite pleased. Just be careful with the add-ons (potato upgrades, blue cheese sauce, mushrooms) as they can quickly jack up your bill. The salmon and grilled chicken entrees were also good. The crowd is an odd mix of people and the decor is reminiscent of an old school supper club. Despite our slow and forgetful server, the four of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals.
(4)
Doug H.
Time capsule for brown liquor, red meat, and blue cheese. The Waitresses are busy. There's a wait. There's a bass piano and drum trio doing old standards. Have a manhattan.
(5)
Jamie P.
Porterhouse for a king. Best flavor and portions. You could feed a small country with this steak. A little out of the way, But well worth the drive. My wife loves the prime rib and my brother in law always gets the filet mignon. We eat steak and this has to be the best in Chicago. Could use a remodel but I'm not going there for the view.
(5)
Nichole C.
This place has apparently been open since 1922. The man's Gram says it was hopping during prohibition (not because it was a speakeasy though...don't get excited) and that kind of history alone is awesome. Obviously the family has been coming here for FOREVER so my review reflects some biased nostalgia but it is also a great joint. Good food (expensive but they give you a portion that is big enough for two. Not that I share.), good service, and an old school steakhouse decor that takes you back in time. *You do have to valet park so don't forget to bring some singles.* As soon as you are seated, you get the obligatory water and bread, but they also throw down a mean coleslaw and three bean salad that are both delicious. There is a full bar (not very many decent beers, but I'll live) and a quality menu. Lots of steaks, plenty of seafood and chicken options, and even some random goodies too (I got roasted duck with stuffing tonight. HELL YES.). The steaks are charred (not a fan of this, but most people are) and come out on a metal plate to keep them hot and every meal comes with a soup or salad and a side. Overall, they serve you A LOT of food. Go hungry.
(4)
David S.
I'm about to eat at Jack Gibbons for the 8th time since I first discovered it, thanks to some good friends in Oak Forest, in 2007. Are there better steakhouses in Chicagoland? Certainly. Are there steakhouses that represent their communities as well as Jack Gibbons or surround you with the feeling that characters from Good Fellas are dining with you? Absolutely not! That, my friends, is why this place rates high on my meter and the food is good, just on the old school side (I love the bean relish and other complimentary appetizers). The serving sizes are AMERICAN at its finest with prices that are stalled in the 1980s (without an adjustment for inflation). As a northsider, this is one of my favorite treks to the southside. Honestly, while not a smoker, its a place where cigarettes should be de rigueur. The bar is great and almost divey, but in a way that is perfectly consistent with the rest of the restaurant and the bartender, Jim, is very skilled and a super nice guy. Finally, my experience with the wait staff has been always good. The staff is friendly, professional, and veteran, having worked at Jack Gibbons for years. Go here. The atmosphere alone will make it memorable.
(4)
Trudi G.
This restaurant has gone way downhill from what it once was. The prices get higher and the food gets worse. Enormous steaks that are never the right temp and almost always raw in the middle. Baked potato in tin foil, also raw. Caesar salad is their reg salad with bottled Caesar dressing, up charge for the Caesar salad. What a joke. Relish items are pure junk and out of a can. I suspect the has browns are frozen out of a bag. Not worth spending the $$$$$ for the poor quality.
(1)
Elizabeth F.
It is easy to slip backwards in time a decade or two (or three!) inside Jack Gibbons. Established in 1922, this excellent restaurant boasts high-backed, private booths, dark interiors & traditional decor. I visited on a whim with a friend & I will certainly return to give Jack Gibbons a real go. I only ordered a Guinness; but their menu looked fantastic (especially for the carnivore!) When seated in their dining room, you are served a spread of bean salad, cole slaw plus warm bread & butter prior to your dinner. I was curious to know the nature of these items & our pleasant waitress was happy to share that they have been serving these amuse-bouches for many, many years. I look forward to a return visit & a full meal at Jack Gibbons!
(4)
Carol W.
My parents and I have been patronizing this restaurant for 20+ years and we love the food and the service. Unfortunately, the business has declined in food and service. Its time to close your doors JG.
(1)
Katy H.
My ex and his family dine here at least 2 or 3 times a month. They are regulars. The staff and owners know them as they've been coming for over 30 years. As a result, I had the pleasure of dining here on a dozen or so occasions and I have to say, Gibbons is what I'm going to miss most about that relationship! Typically we'd spend about an hour in the bar before eating. The bartender is old school. He knows his drinks and he pours generously! Their tvs are terrible, but I wouldn't expect flat screens at this place. They have delicious relish plates that come out before the meal (three bean salad, coleslaw, bread basket- with pretzel bread) and you can add extras like cottage cheese or tomatoes with onions. The steaks- wow, just wow! Almost perfect every time. I always ordered the queen filet, medium and it was always delicious! They come with soup or salad and a choice of potato. The dessert- I've had the cheesecake and the hot brownie sundae, both were great! This place is old school and I love it! I'd go back, but I don't want to run into any regulars. But you should go. Trust me, it's worth it. Go!
(5)
Marge P.
Had our small wedding reception here! Fantastic evening. Waitresses were the best! That was over 13 yeras ago and we go back all the time. Over 25 years of our business and never had a bad experience. Always good -always a special occasion to be had here. Steaks are superb! Crab legs fantastic!! Casual atmosphere. Good service. Friendly. Never had a bad meal here. Desserts are sooo good!!
(5)
Jim D.
Went to Jack Gibbons recently and had had a very enjoyable experience. The filet was cooked perfectly and the double-baked potatoe was to die for. Looking forward to returning in the near future.
(4)
Nicholas C.
My Family has been going to Jack Gibbons Gardens for over 20+ years, we enjoy the cozy atmosphere and the Great service. Many good memories, always a good meal.
(5)
Josh K.
Amazing. In ChiTown on business and decided to treat myself to a steak dinner on my last night. Looked up Yelp reviews and had two people recommend Jack's. The reviews are correct. MASSIVE pours on drinks, tons of extras at no charge and the steak was freakin insane! Great service, LOVE the ambiance. Don't change a thing!
(5)
Michele M.
My husband and I have been here at least 4 times within the last year. The food is very good, steaks are big and flavorful. We've been hooked on the filet & lobster tail. The portions are amazing with 2 very nice size tails. Most places you order surf & turf will give you either a decent size steak & one very small tail or a nice size tail and a steak the size of a marble. The only thing I didn't care for is the old & dark atmosphere. Of course that is personal preference...my husband likes it. Make sure you call for reservations especially on the weekend because it's always crowded.
(4)
Henry N.
The sad fact about this "review" is that it won't dissuade anyone from coming here and having their pockets picked. People, the elderly, the seemingly well-to-do and the posers will keep coming here because tradition and some feeling of comfort mean more than the meal they're eating. I honestly can't comment on the steaks, I haven't had more than a nibble on the two occasions I've been here. I guess a steak house or supper club is supposed to resemble what Gibbons Gardens looks like, but they should at least be kept updated. Jack or his heirs should take some of the money they're making and invest some back into the decor. I sat, once again, in the small room overlooking 147th Street. I'm comfortable there, not crammed and cramped into the main room, but it seems like I'm in the cheap addition tacked onto a '50's tract home. That paneling has to go. But that's the very least of my concerrns. In the dark it seems clean and the fresh linens help with that. I was with a group of eight who professed to be bowled over by their meal. I wasn't having any of it. My chopped sirloin was quite unpleasant. There was no substance or flavor to it. It tasted as though it had been overworked to death, and wasn't seasoned in the least. Generally, I feel a person should season their own meal to taste but there should be a basis to start with. All that was there was the grease on the bottom of the plate. At $17.00 you'd think there'd be some mushrooms or grilled onions, but no. Oh, they're available at about $4.50 an item. That's $4.50 each for mushroom caps, grilled onions and crumbled blue cheese. The hash browns was a criminal act on a plate. Soft, mushy, luke warm in spots and cold in others. I didn't complain, I didn't eat them. As a matter of fact, I only ate about a third of my chopped sirloin. I enjoyed the bread, which they replenished without grief, though on the second serving they cut the amount in half. And three squirts of soft butter for two people? Are you serious? More butter, please. I don't drink scotch on the rocks or martinis. Regular Coke, please. An eight ounce glass filled with ice, giving me maybe four to five ounces? Give me a break. Are soft drinks being rationed? But here's the one that grabbed me. Under appetizers a corned beef and swiss cheese sandwich is offered at $12.95. Hey, this isn't Katz's Deli in New York and I'm betting the sandwich doesn't resemple their's, either. That's not the worst part. If you decide you want the sandwhich as an entree, you'll pony up an additional $5.00. Some people here speak of relish trays, there are no relish trays. You get a dish of three bean salad and a dish of cole slaw, both of which are very good. Again, if you request more the amount is cut back at least 50% if not more. Now, you can easily say "Don't go back". I don't intend to. I was invited as part of a group so I went. It doesn't change the fact that Jack Gibbons Gardens is not all it pretends to be or should be. If someone thinks twice about going there then I've done my job.
(2)
Adam J.
I just came back from dinner here again and it continues to solidify itself as my favorite steakhouse in the world. It just never disappoints me. I challenge anyone to find a better steak anywhere, especially for the price
(5)
Riley S.
I've known of this place for years and we finally decided to give it a try instead of going to the western suburbs for a great steak and nice Cabernet. The filet was good but the lack of service just has to be noted here. It's obvious many "regulars" frequent this place. We noticed people who knew the servers seemed to be more attended to. Locals tend to be loud and over-served. It used to be the same way in the House if Hughes which is now closed. When I inquired about a wine I was told the red I was served was the best they had. I'm convinced it came out of a box. Raise the level of service, hire a wine expert and each couple will be dropping $150-$200 per table easy. Servers lacked friendliness to new diners, didn't try to up sell food or drinks. No specials .
(2)
Lisa T.
This place is great. Old school. Out dated. Terrific though. . Surf and turf and a martini and your done. I never have room for desert. Casual. This is not a hip place by any means, but outstanding food and drinks.
(4)
Mary Ellen S.
Our service was excellent. But tried Delmonico which was tough and overdone. Waitress said we should have sent it back.
(3)
Kurt S.
My girlfriend and I wanted to try this place for quite some time and finally got our opportunity last month. We met up with some friends of ours and went on a Saturday night. The place was fairly busy, but we were seated quickly. Our server was very friendly, funny and had a great personality. They serve up a nice relish tray right away and it was all cold and fresh. We all had steaks and a couple of us had crab legs on the side. All of the food was great and the steaks are served up on an old fashioned metal plate. The crab legs were almost over cooked, but were still very good. The service is great, the food is very good and the desserts,( we shared, they're huge) - were also very good. The portion sizes are huge and we all felt that the meal was worthy of the bill. I've seen a lot of negative comments about the decor and condition of the restaurant and many of them are valid. The place is old (1922) and could use some remodeling. To their credit, It looked as if the bathrooms had been recently renovated. While I did think the place was a little "dated", it took nothing away from the dining experience because the food and staff more than made up for it. If you're looking for a modern styled and well appointed restaurant, this is not your place. If you're looking for a local restaurant that serves up a kick ass steak, makes you feel comfortable and has staff members who make you feel like you're a life long customer, this is it. I suspect these are some of the reasons why Jack Gibbons Gardens has been around for 90 years. Everyone in my party said that they enjoyed the food and would definitely go back.
(4)
Rich R.
This place reminds me of The Flame off Joliet Rd. in that, even though I'm 58 years old, I feel like a youngster when I am there. In accordance with this comparison, please forgive me, they both have the faint but unmistakeable odor of old lady pee. It hit me as soon as I walked in and, not surprisingly, the woman's restroom is right at the entry. That aside, I went there after a positive "Check, Please!" review and it did not disappoint. The quality of the meats, which is the reason to go there, was excellent. The prime rib, usually 1/4 inedible fat at most places, was wonderful. On a repeat visit, the steaks are delicious and apportioned such that Fred Flintstone would be satisfied. The baked potatoes are large. The rest of the side dishes provided enough window dressing to make a diner feel that he/she is not solely a Neanderthalic carnivore. Prices are great for what you get. You'd spend a whole lot more for the same meal downtown. The decor is that of early '70s -without the macrame. Just pinch your nose when you walk in.....
(5)
Joni F.
Went recently not happy the food was ok. Also they have raised all their prices. They also charge extra for blue cheese dressing and also charge extra for other things as well. Not happy at all. They are too expensive now!
(2)
Steven M.
The food is good, but I'm over eating at the old folk's home. As we sat in the bar area waiting for our drinks. We got to watch the making of Jurassic Park XIV. Atmosphere is helpful when you have to wait for the server to figure out that you are still young enough to keep track of time! I asked for my drink in a tall glass and she brings it in a wine glass? I wanted a double to save her the trouble of walking and me from waiting for another! When we got the condiments I felt like I was in Gulliver's Travels. Everything from the water glasses to the slaw and bean trays shrank. The bread basket no longer has pretzel bread. So when the salad came out, yes. It annoyed me as well because the iceberg was browning on the edges and the green part was wilted. The croutons looked like Lego bricks they were so big. I got my T-bone and it was good. No gravy on the platter, just grease. This place has been around since 1922. In 90 years being in business they should have figured out that people keep coming back because they like everything to stay the same. Like the paneling! This place is lost in time as far as I am concerned. I'll be back in 25 years.
(2)
Ahmad N.
I've eaten here a few times and thought the food was pretty good, but my last experience was not good. I ordered the delmonico and it didn't have much flavor and was 90% fat. I'll chalk it up to a bad experience and will still come back when I feel like a steak and don't feel like going down to the city.
(3)
Diane C.
The valet was so ignorant I considered not even going in. Once I got in the service was wonderful but the food was grossly overpriced for the quality and location. I work on the Gold Coast at eat at Hugo's, Morton and the capital grille often so I know quality vs price and this place does NOT have it. Based on my experience with the valet alone I would NOT return.
(2)
Diane K.
Went here for a special occasion and left considering calling the cops since we felt robbed. Beware of the upcharges which would have been nice of the server to mention. Five bucks extra for garlic mashed potatoes which were average at best; served blandly with no garnish. Four bucks extra for blue cheese dressing. Tried adding some of the $4 blue cheese and my husband's prime rib au jus to my filet for some flavor since it was served in a pool of clear greasy broth. Restaurants as old and dark as this make me wonder how scary it would be if they turned up the lights.
(3)
Sue D.
After walking out of Coopers Hawk in Orland Park because my husband & I refuse to wait 1 1/2 hrs for a seat. We went to Jack Gibbons. We were seated immediately . Had great service. Excellent wine selection. The steaks were delicous ! My husband had a 28 oz. T-Bone. I had 32oz. Delmonico steak. I could not finish it! Price included salad, potato. Appetizer we had sausage stuffed mushrooms...very good! Excellent wait staff! I will go back!
(4)
Michael W.
Other than Jay D's review trashing the restaurant because elderly people go there, the reviews are reasonably accurate. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable and the waitstaff is professional and friendly. The beef isn't prime (including the prime rib), but is choice-- what most people buy for their summer grilling--and properly cooked to order. You can go downtown and pay twice the price for a higher quality dinner, but Gibbons presents good food at a fair price. Also, the drinks are fairly priced. Let's tell Jay D that most of those "old people" he derides can probably buy and sell him and can afford Gibson's anytime they wish, but probably also enjoy the nostalgic value of Gibbons as well as the food. Let's hope Jay never gets old so he doesn't embarrass his descendants by showing up in a restaurant frequented by hipsters like him.
(4)
John D.
Soup was good. Salmon was AWFUL... really, really bad. Overcooked and drizzled with..something. yuck. Pork chops were fantastic! Really good! Unfortunately, due to my wife's exclamation "worst salmon I have ever had", we won't be going back.
(1)
Dave S.
I have been going here for years. This place is probably as old as the forests that it is surrounded by. If you do not know exactly where this place is at, you will never find it. If you decide to make a trek out here be sure to take someone who has been there before (as in Dave S and he will show you exactly where this place is at for a steak dinner) or Map Quest it. The place is old and I don't think it has had a remodeling yet since it was built in 1922, but don't let the looks fool you as they serve up a good hunk of meat. The prices are not cheap by any means. I always get a porterhouse and I have not been disappointed yet. The Irish Cream Cheesecake is also one of my favorites. The service here is always very good. It seems as if the turnover here is very little as I think a couple of the waitresses opened the place, they all know their stuff, and very friendly. The service here is not the quickest though but this is how they intend it. You are invited to take your time and enjoy each course.
(4)
George M.
Been coming here for years, and it has really gone downhill. It had been a while, and my husband wanted a good steak. We were welcomed with a big neon gaudy sign, they never had before. Parking lot was empty for a Saturday night -unheard of in its heyday. Walked in, didn't have to wait for a table as we usually had to before. I started out with a martini and asked for blue cheese olives.The waitress said they didn't have them, even though on the menu there is blue cheese chunks for your salad. How hard could it be for the un-busy bartender to stuff them? Well, I was going to order their Tenderloin Jack steak, which was covered in blue cheese, and stuff my own. The waitress even commented that it drove her nuts that they wouldn't do that small little thing. Anyway, after placing our order, received the dull, lifeless relish tray. Then the salad. They used to have a good salad, where it was ice cold and they really mixed the dressing into the salad. Now it was just lettuce with dressing plopped on top of it. The breads were the best thing about the meal. Now, you used to get your steak on a sizzling platter, with hot buttery sauce that you could dip your steak into. Our steaks came on those platters - but no sizzle at all, and no buttery sauce either. Disappointing. My husband ordered the porterhouse, which he said was very fatty and lacked flavor. I got that Tenderloin Jack steak - and the funny thing is, it tasted like fish. I think they used the same flat top that they use to cook fish on. It was just so wrong on so many levels a steak should not taste like fish. And my husband and I both ordered the hash brown potatoes. They just put one order in the middle of the table for both of us to share. It was incredibly bad - very lukewarm, not hot, and watery - like it was frozen and just heated in the microwave. Blech. Give this place a year, tops.
(1)
Tiffany B.
This place was probably poppin' back in the 80's but in 2011 it's WHACK! My husband and I had dinner here with a few of his colleagues from work (they picked it!) and the steak was inedible! The dining area reeked of dirty mop water. I recommend tearing the whole place down and putting up a HAROLD'S CHICKEN SHACK!
(1)
Victor N.
Been going to Gibbons for years.always great beef. The prime rib is as good as it gets. The regular cut is huge, it is always done to perfection. I tell them it cant be too rare for me...my wife gets the Wee filet medium rare with the twice baked potato, she dearly loves the twice baked. Maybe some day I might get a steak, the prime rib is soooo great! It's a dated place with exceptional beef. Never had room for dessert.
(5)
Eric D.
Exposition This is a place where dreams come true, if your dreams consist of deliciously prepared steaks served in a cozy restaurant that time forgot. This is a place that you want to be on a snowy winter night with friends and family sharing sides of potatoes au gratin and asparagus as large cuts of beef are paraded around your table, delighting everyone before the hush of mealtime temporarily halts conversation. First Impression Jack Gibbons is dimly lit, with accent lighting provided by yellowed Christmas lights that were likely hung just after the last remodeling of this 80+ year old restaurant sometime in the 1950's. Stop and see the bartender before being seated on a crowded Saturday night to enjoy an old fashioned, Tom Collins, sidecar, or maybe just a glass of wine. Food and Drink This is the type of place to enjoy a Grasshopper or Golden Cadillac. If you've never heard of these concoctions, than this might not be the place for you. The wine selection is thin, but there is a range of decent bottles to choose from - besides, its the meat you came for in the first place! I've had several of their steaks, but my favorite is the porterhouse. It stands alone on it's plate as a monolithic beacon of freedom - not for everybody, but for those so inclined, a momentus and life changing experience. It may not be Wagyu, and it's not the most marbled piece of meat in the world, but it is very well cooked, and hugenormous. Final Shake Jack Gibbon's Gardens is a singular entity in the world. A place where your meat dreams are realized amidst an atmosphere unchanged since the time of Nellie Fox and the Chevy Bel-Air. A place where wood paneling actually 'works'. A place you should visit with your grandpa before its too late.
(4)
Don M.
We meet up with some friends that live close by and walk over. The place has been around forever and the interior is the same as when they opened. The drinks are great and when the bartender remembers you is even better. The entire staff is good, very accommodating and friendly. As for the food. Steak is it. I prefer the king fillet but also have had the porterhouse (huge). We also have had the lobster and the non steak eater has his chicken kiev. No complaints. When you first sit they serve up some trays of coleslaw, cottage cheese, kidney bean salad, and tomatoes in onion. We tear this up. This is one of our must stops.
(4)
Victoria O.
Well, damn, it's been several years. I do recall, however, a great steak, excellent potatoes, retro apps (the kind in a lazy susan style server) and good cocktails. In addition, the ambience was pleasant and laid back. This place is located in the woods, and it was a pleasure to eat here from start to finish. This review is based on memory, so, if things have changed, it's a shame.I want to go back, and if so, will post a new review.
(4)
Terry P.
My wife was the first bus girl at Gibbons back in the early 70's and waited on his Honor, the Richard Daley. Some of the waitresses have been there that long. They are all good and know their jobs. We eat here 1-2 times a month. I have eaten at other places and have paid more than at Gibbons and left feeling ripped off. I don't come here for the steaks as I rarely eat them. But they have great fish and seafood. If you come here, get the Au Gratin potatoes. They are a few bucks more but worth it. I had Tilapia and paid extra for fresh asparagus. My wife had the breaded shrimp. We both had the Au Gratin potatoes and we both had a Drambouie and I had a red wine. The price....$62. Try and do that downtown. As an add on, they stopped serving the Jumbo Fried Shrimp. No one knows why. BRING IT BACK! I know this is a steak place, put I don't like eating red meat all that much. I prefer roast turkey, fish, seafood or pasta.
(5)
Brian L.
MK and I met up with my Mom and Dad for dinner at Jack Gibbons (09/19/08). Since we've been here before, we had no problem finding it but if you've not been here, make sure you're checking your maps twice before heading out the door. This is your old tyme supper club from way back. Since January 1st when all restaurants had to go smoke free, this place is even BETTER! Prior to January, if you wanted non-smoking you had to be dragged through the smoking to the tiny back porch that was non. Now, I'm sitting in places of this restaurant I've never seen. We usually don't get appy's because the portions are so large that we never have room, but I've had an occaisional soup and they've been pretty good. I ordered the King Filet, as did MK. Mom & Dad do their usual chopped sirloin. With dinner you get a small side salad and choice of potato. If you don't want a salad, they can bring you some apple sauce. For the potato choice, I highly recommend the Hash Browns which are phenominal. To say all 4 pieces of meat that came to the table were large would STILL be an understatement. That chopped sirloin is about 24 ounces and the King Filets were well over 16 oz. Let's not kid around, you pay a good penny for this meal but it's absolutely worth it. All steaks are made to order perfectly and you just need to strap on the feedbag. I've also had the porterhouse and it's rediculously hanging off the plate. Good food and experienced waitstaff. Bus kids also stay on top of it and are very attentive as well.
(4)
Tom F.
My wife's family introduced me to this steakhouse 10+ years ago, and it's our favorite place for a great steak served on a sizzling dish with lemon butter. Delicious! All potatoes, from twice baked to hash browns, are tasty, and the relish tray and bread baskets are as well. We do enjoy sharing a lobster tail every so often as they broil a good one. Nice to have a throwback steakhouse to enjoy in Chicagoland.
(4)
Leslie C.
Try the steak, chicken and shrimp appetizer... Amazing!!! I would even order that for a meal. Steak quality is pretty good. Ambiance is old and blah. Wait staff is also old and stale. Staff seems to be very set in their ways. The food is great!
(3)
Rachael K.
Again, I have to stroll down memory lane... Up until about a year ago, I lived about 5 minutes away from Gibbons and counted it as one of my favorite places. First of all - it's been around forever, so don't expect any hip, trendy interior. This place looks like it probably did the day it opened. The waitstaff is almost all veteran too. So the place definitely has an "older" feel to it, right down to most of it's clientele. The food is amazing tho. I would say it's right up there with Mortons steaks, and for us south siders, it's a lot closer to home. I love their prime rib and their potatoes au gratin. Their crab legs are always great too. My parents remember going to Gibbons before I was born, and I can see why it's stood the test of time.
(5)
Michelle H.
Located a little of the beaten path, on a dead end street, this is a good place to come for steak (They also specialize in chops, fish and chicken). My personal favorite is the New York Strip with a double baked potato. The restaurant 's dark and quiet atmosphere is a great place to take someone on a date or for an anniversary. There is also quite a large lounge here as well, mainly frequented by the schools of golfers coming from the many golf courses in the area. The service is fairly decent, the food is great, but the only thing wrong is the astronomical prices. (Not only are the steaks expensive, so are all the sides and drinks).
(4)
Jay D.
You've got to be kidding me! When I see practically every review starting with, "I've been coming here forever", that says it all. Jack Gibbons clearly has time on it's side, not the decor, service or pricing. The food was mediocre at best. Lousy relish appetizers that could have (and probably did) come from a can, boring salads loaded with bland iceberg lettuce, and bread we practically had to beg for. By the way, an over-sized piece of red meat is no big deal to season and cook, which is what everybody raves about here. It just goes to show that to the people that love this place tradition and nostalgia are far more important than quality and value. If you haven't been "coming here forever", don't even bother eating here if you're a newbie, because you'll fail to see what all the fuss is about, and for good reason. In my opinion, fifty dollars (or more) is way too much money to spend to dine with people sporting T-shirts, mullets and baseball caps. My experience has been that if a restaurant caters mostly to the senior crowd, it's on the decline.
(1)
Dandy K.
Poor Food Quality and below average service for such an established restaurant. Bone In Chicago Strip steak was TOUGH and an unusual excessive amount of fat. Table of 6, all steaks had to as waitress 3 times for a Steak Knife. Attention to detail is lacking. More like dining at a restaurant on its first training day. Will not return for a long time. A real disappointment for such an long tradition irish restaurant.
(1)
Norman K.
Been there 100 times and will go another 100 times. Why? Because of the people who work there. Oh, and the awesome food (steak). It is zzz best, bar none (actually there is a bar). Forget Krapil's (last visit was last visit), Bogart's (Even if Humphrey was there I would not go back), Louie T's (T stands for turnaround and go home), Mr. Benny's (sorry Jack), or Steak and Shake. Loved the steak at Nine, and had some good times at the Chop House, Ruth's Chris, GibSON's, and many others. If you want pomp and circumstance (or is it pompous?) go to Gibson's in the triangle of debauchery. If you want the best: bartenders in the Chicago area (Jimmy, Tommy, Jerry, Petey, Keith), servers (Little Linda and Amy), Hosts (Nancy, Theresa, Tim), Chef ( A++, Oscar) owner's son Dave, car dudes, and the band. All make you feel like you are at home (especially if you have fabulous burgundy drapes). Set your GPS, as its closest neighbors are deer. 5/22/2007 Revisit, #101. Same as usual: awesome meal. Or just go there to meet Jimmy the chipper bartender. This visit everyone had a filet (King and Queen) and they were all cooked to Medium Rare perfection (Chef Oscar). Note: I cringe when anyone orders a Prime steak Medium or Well. Cooked well is like cooking it with a hair dryer; it dehydrates the beautiful piece of meat and removes the flavorful juices, but to each his own. Anyway, the servers (Connie today) get those steaks from kitchen to table so fast my baked potato was whipped. Actually the baked potato was just right, good size, more white than yellow, flaky-ish and not what a good steak should be: overly moist. Their mainstay is the hash browns. Bread was nothing to cheer about. It is usually warmed and fresh. Today, neither. Bus guy was attentive, friendly, and social. He has a career in politics. The Band with their leader Mel was off and I missed them. They are professional, relaxing, and not obtrusive. Oh, and the gratis coleslaw, cottage cheese, kidney bean salad, and tomatoes and onion are a real nice touch. Good, too. Served in little stainless stel trays. Speaking of good to great, Gibbon's lobster is one of the best you'll find. Fresh as a daisy or, well, a fresh lobster. Bigger, better, and cheaper than Gibson's.. Enjoy. Bread misstep was a rarity.
(5)
Lexi S.
since grew up in midlothian my parents did not want to cook for thanksgiving 2008 we went here. i had about 2 drinks and they were very good!! The food was also amazing. we had more time talking and hanging out than we would with mom cooking and cleaning thinking about going there soon for drinks and dinner. it is a nice place for that
(4)
Barbara S.
I used to go here all the time when I lived in the area, then I moved away for 8 years. I returned and last week went to Jack's and while it was still good, it was not as great as I remembered it. The bread was awful - cold and hard. The salad was OK but used to be better. And the steak was fair, as was the service. Decor was virtually unchanged from my last visit. Still a good restaurant, just not what it used to be.
(3)
Ada R.
My husband is from the south side and had fond memories of eating at Gibbons as a child. He introduced me twelve years ago and we frequent the place and have introduced our friends to this marvelous restaurant. The drinks are generously made and the steaks are a work of art. Save your appetites because the steaks are huge and delicious! Looking forward to our next visit. Thanks for making my birthday a memorable one!
(5)
SmartShopper R.
Most overpriced and rude mgmt staff ev-ah. They MAKE you use their courtesy park...and then jack up your car. We waited for an HOUR for our steaks! Wait staff kept apologizing. Too bad. Never going back.
(1)
Nicki M.
First visit was yesterday for Mother's Day so the crowding of the table and the noise level I can over look. I found the food to be wonderful and plentiful. The prices I feel are good based in the portion sizes you are given. Staff was attentive for how busy they were. Bring s sweater and a flashlight if you visit as the air was cranking and the dining room was dark. A place to visit again for sure.
(4)
Bill R.
If you got dough to throw, then come here. Give them 40 bucks and they'll give you half a calf, well at least the under-belly. But it's a good-honest steak. Side it with a baked potato.
(5)
Adam A.
Love this place! Looking for great steaks without having to go down town? Jack Gibbons is the place. Great food, quality and ambiance. I almost forgot, you can dance to music here ;)
(4)
Karen L.
Love this place..remember going here long ago with my parents so it brings back good memories...I get nostalgic everytime we go..the food is excellent and the service is great!!! The meat is worth the price..their prime rib is awesome
(5)
Ed B.
We have been here several times since my last review. I order mostly the lamb chops, porterhouse or prime rib. All of them continue to be as good as ever. I have tried a few new steak places since my last review and this place still stands as the best one for food. Keep up the good work!
(5)
Ken M.
I still can't identify the smell that was in the place. I was looking for Mike Brady when I was eating there. It was a bad 70's flashback. Very dim lighting which I'm kinda of glad now that it was. Don't know what would of appeared.
(1)
Brigitte R.
I took my mother here for her birthday and we definitely enjoyed it. The food was good a little pricey but well worth it. The t bone steak was seasoned well and very tender ( didn't even need steak sauce). The ribs were also good. But the best part was the dessert. Brownie sundae was AMAZING! Service was also amazing, our waitress was very pleasant and made the experience.
(4)
Elizabeth H.
Listen, if you like steak... this is the place to go. You can get the best steak in the area, for a very reasonable price. I got the wee one filet which is 8 ounces. I believe it's $28 and comes with a side, I got hashbrowns. Everything on my plate was soooo good. This place isn't anywhere near where we live, but it's still a place we will continue to go to for a long time. The service was good, I didn't have an issue with our watiress at all, but that said, I've only been once time. Perhaps the more often we go (which WILL be often), I won't feel so wonderfully about this place... but I doubt it. The food was that good.
(5)
Nick O.
I went here because I had a groupon and I wasn't disappointed. It's was surprisingly open for a Friday night which is not compliant from me. They seated us right away and then brought a wonderful basket of bread along with some pretty good cole slaw and bean salad. As for the main course the gf had the filet and garlic mashed potatoes and I had the delmonico which was without a doubt one of the most amazing steaks I have ever had. So juicy an tender and unbelievable flavor. I can't wait to go back again. If your looking for a great steak at a reasonable price then this is a place to check out
(4)
Quinton J.
Very pleased with this south suburban steak house hideaway. No longer a need to make the trek downtown, Jack Gibson's fulfilled my need for a high quality ribeye cooked to perfection. My party of 4 arrived at 8 on a Saturday night and the place was packed, good thing we called ahead and the were happy to reserve a table on such short notice. The service matched the food so it made for a very enjoyable evening. Expect to pay prices comparable to downtown but without the traffic, parking and travel time. Enjoy!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Bill R.
If you got dough to throw, then come here. Give them 40 bucks and they'll give you half a calf, well at least the under-belly. But it's a good-honest steak. Side it with a baked potato.
(5)Adam A.
Love this place! Looking for great steaks without having to go down town? Jack Gibbons is the place. Great food, quality and ambiance. I almost forgot, you can dance to music here ;)
(4)Karen L.
Love this place..remember going here long ago with my parents so it brings back good memories...I get nostalgic everytime we go..the food is excellent and the service is great!!! The meat is worth the price..their prime rib is awesome
(5)Ed B.
We have been here several times since my last review. I order mostly the lamb chops, porterhouse or prime rib. All of them continue to be as good as ever. I have tried a few new steak places since my last review and this place still stands as the best one for food. Keep up the good work!
(5)Ken M.
I still can't identify the smell that was in the place. I was looking for Mike Brady when I was eating there. It was a bad 70's flashback. Very dim lighting which I'm kinda of glad now that it was. Don't know what would of appeared.
(1)Brigitte R.
I took my mother here for her birthday and we definitely enjoyed it. The food was good a little pricey but well worth it. The t bone steak was seasoned well and very tender ( didn't even need steak sauce). The ribs were also good. But the best part was the dessert. Brownie sundae was AMAZING! Service was also amazing, our waitress was very pleasant and made the experience.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Listen, if you like steak... this is the place to go. You can get the best steak in the area, for a very reasonable price. I got the wee one filet which is 8 ounces. I believe it's $28 and comes with a side, I got hashbrowns. Everything on my plate was soooo good. This place isn't anywhere near where we live, but it's still a place we will continue to go to for a long time. The service was good, I didn't have an issue with our watiress at all, but that said, I've only been once time. Perhaps the more often we go (which WILL be often), I won't feel so wonderfully about this place... but I doubt it. The food was that good.
(5)Nick O.
I went here because I had a groupon and I wasn't disappointed. It's was surprisingly open for a Friday night which is not compliant from me. They seated us right away and then brought a wonderful basket of bread along with some pretty good cole slaw and bean salad. As for the main course the gf had the filet and garlic mashed potatoes and I had the delmonico which was without a doubt one of the most amazing steaks I have ever had. So juicy an tender and unbelievable flavor. I can't wait to go back again. If your looking for a great steak at a reasonable price then this is a place to check out
(4)Margarita And Edward M.
Here is our experience at this place. This place was recommended to us, and it looked like it got some good reviews, so we tried them. When we first got there we waited to even be acknowledged for seating. We had a reservation but didn't feel very welcomed to be there. Next, once we were seated, our bread plates were dirty with crumbs and guck on them, gross! We sat for almost 15 to 20 mins before we waved down a bus person for new plates. She brought new plates and some soggy bean salad and cole slaw that looked and tasted awful. Mind you we still hadn't seen a server yet. So finally after being there for around 30 mins, a server came to take our drink order. We ordered drinks and app. once the drinks were delivered, my wine glass was dirty. Someone else's lipstick etc.. around the rim. The server was nowhere to be found so we had to wave down the bus person again to get a new glass of wine for us. Finally, a new drink and our apps were servered and we were ready to order dinner, but the server took off again. So we ate the app (oyster Rock...) which was ok in taste, but pretty gritty. 20 mins later the server came back and got our plates and asked if we would like more drinks. We said that we would would like to order dinner and she looked as if 'Oh, I didn't take your order yet????. We got steaks, and after another 30 mins or so, when they came they were huge! and a beautiful pieces of meat, they looked great! But once we tasted them, they were hardly seasoned, we kept adding salt to try to get some flavor in them, but all we could think was wow, what a waste of a beautiful piece of meat. The place is very dark, my husband and I were starting to think perhaps that was on purpose because perhaps they needed to hide the dirt etc... in the place. Even the lamp that hung over our table was dirty and had bugs in it. The table next to us got blan steaks also, and one ordered the crab legs. She said they were dried up and too salty. Eventhough this place has be around forever, I'm not sure why or why it gets such great reivews, but JG's, it was old, dirty, dank, had slow/poor service and the food wasn't that great. This was the first and last time we'll be going to this place. Yuck!
(2)Wade L.
I really like the food there, the steaks are generous in size and everything is cooked to perfection. The only draw back is the wait staff at times are rude especially the older waitresses. They were featured on check please and the wait staff got the same unsatisfactory review. Go the for a teriffic steak and if your waitress is rude leave a lousy tip. The staff is the reason for 3 stars.
(3)John K.
Going to Jack Gibbons is like walking into a time machine! The valet outside is a little sketchy, but everything else is wonderful. Despite everyone else's reviews, the hash browns aren't that great. Can't go wrong with the steaks. And if you're gonna come here, finish your meal with a grasshopper.
(5)Margaret A.
I WILL NEVER GIVE THIS PLACE ANOTHER DIME. THEY THREW AWAY MY LEFTOVER LOBSTER INSTEAD OF WRAPPING IT WITH THE REST OF MY FOOD. Jack Gibbons has one of the greatest reputations in the Chicagoland area for steak. The food is excellent, THE SERVICE WAS AWFUL! To me it's not worth spending the money to eat at a place like this if there's gonna be snot nosed little bus boys running around ripping food out of my hands. This post already makes me sound like the wicked witch of the east, but I swear I'm not. I've worked in the service industry and I try to be very understanding about people making mistakes. The first thing that went wrong was they took away my soup before I was finished with it. I'm not sure, but I think you should probably ask before you take away someone's plate. Whatever. That's understandable. My utensil was in the bowl and my hands were below the table, which is the universal signal for clear my plate. So that's okay, he thought I was done, and I'm sure there's quite a bit of pressure to clear plates quickly at an upscale place like this. I'm not upset about that. Second, my mom's medium rare steak was well past well done. The waitress asked if she wanted it taken back, but we're not those kind of people. So she just tried to enjoy a thirty dollar steak that might as well have been burnt to a crisp. No pink left, whatsoever, not even in the very middle of the fillet. I had the surf and turf which includes a 12 oz thirty dollar steak, and two MARKET PRICE lobster tails. We don't need to talk about how much those actually cost, but understand they're the most expensive thing on the menu. I had a little lobster left, that I put between my leftover steak and potato to ensure whoever wrapped it knew it belonged in my box. When the other bus boy asked if I wanted it boxed, I said yes and gestured to the center of the plate and said please make sure you wrap all this for me, and motioned with my fingers in a circle around what belonged in my box. When I got my box back I discovered that he had neglected to put my lobster in with the rest of my leftovers. Which means he pretty much just decided to ignore what I said and throw away at least ten dollars worth of lobster. Don't waste your money here. How do you throw away someone's leftover lobster? Absolutely ridiculous. I might as well have thrown a hundred dollar bill in the garbage. And I will before I ever give these people money again. Boycotting until they hire competent staff.
(1)Aimee M.
Decor: Early season Mad Men meets Wisconsin Supper Club Atmosphere: Quiet (but this was a Wednesday night) Service: Excellent Drinks: a Cosmo and a Dirty Martini--STRONG! Dinner: Steaks, cooked almost to perfection, just a little too charred on the outside. Dined here with my husband. His choice. He loves visiting old school steak houses and this was on his list for a long time. This place seemed kind of tucked away, but we're not from the area so maybe it's just because the drive was kind of long. Worth the drive though if you like to visit restaurants that have been around for a while (the 1920's to be exact). There were two dining areas, one side had the bar and the red leather booths (we're totally dining in that section next time). The other side had all tables. Attracts all ages, elderly couples, families, couples on dates, etc.
(4)Sandy E.
Ok our meals were amazing as always. Butter soft steaks -great wine selection -spinach au gratin to die for. - everyone should come here at least every few months. Makes you remember how good the 50's were-
(5)Meghan S.
We were just here for Mother's Day and it was just an all around bad experience. I understand that this is a busy day, but we made our reservation 6 weeks ago and were still somehow seated 45 minutes late. While we were waiting we heard two separate parties be told that they couldn't find their reservation. I am not sure if the people in charge of confirming reservations were new at the job, but either way it was poorly conducted. When our party of 6 was told a table was ready, the hostess said sorry but quickly rushed away before we could tell her there were only 5 chairs at the table. A chair arrived and we met our waitress, who was great and attentive. She was the best part about our dining experience! Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of her control, our food arrived an hour and fifteen minutes after ordering it. By this time the restaurant had cleared out a bit, so I was unsure as to what the delay was about. It took two hours from the time of our reservation to begin to eat dinner. Overall, I think what bothered me most was that no gesture was made to us by management as a courtesy for our patience. I would not expect some exuberant freebie, but even a complimentary glass of wine for my mother would have been appreciated. However, nothing was done. Unfortunately, it was my family's first and last time dining here.
(1)Kate K.
I love Jack Gibbons! Me and my mom have been going there a lot lately.Love the stuffed mushroom caps and u have to try their Italian dressing on Ur salad.We also love the bartenders Joe and Greg. Thankyou for our fun nights with you.My dad usta go with us there but now has Advanced Alzheimer's. Thanks Joe for constantly making him laugh before he got sick. It meant alot to us .........thus is another reason we will go there forever.
(5)J K.
First time here - loved it!!! Felt very nostalgic. Food portions honestly that can be shared by two.
(4)Hawk T.
The other sub 3-star reviews are accurate. I'll be brief: 1) Shock #1: The baked potato is served in its aluminum foil. Yes, for a $40+ meal the customer is expected to mash and dress it - c'mon. 2) The fillet mignon actually had 4 zones within it: Well done, overdone, medium well, and well. I had asked for medium rare. Bravo. 3) Not sure where the desserts are from, but my guess is out of a box or a grocery-store ice cream container. When I am served a steak at a "steakhouse" that me or any of my non-chef friends can cook, you're going to get a bad review, period. Next time I'll make the trip to downtown Chicago for a real dining experience. Sad - the place was packed with people clearly being fleeced. The owners must be laughing all the way to the bank.
(1)Natalie R.
We are on a never-ending quest to find the best old-school steakhouses around and this one has definitely made the list. Only wish we'd had time for a drink in the lounge. Chicken saltimbocca for me, the queen filet mignon for my mother, and the delmonico for Stephen. Mom's filet came out more well done than medium, but once we informed the staff, they were quick (and I mean quick) to replace it with one cooked to a juicy red-pink perfection. According to the website they have bottles of Ruffino Chianti, but I am unable to confirm the price, as we chose the Estancia. All in all, a great meal. The place was PACKED, and now we know why.
(4)Sharon N.
We've been coming here for our anniversary since 1970, and always order the same thing: T-bone steaks, au gratin potatoes & salad. We live downtown now and can afford Chicago Chop House, Gibsons, etc. but still take the trek down south. Why? Well, tradition of course. But the steaks are top-notch, about half the price of the Chop House, and potatoes and salads are not priced extra! I guess it helps not to pay downtown rents and to have a business that's been established for almost 100 years, but you can't maintain any business just on strength of age. Oh--lest I forget, the cocktails were much larger than average. As I said, the steaks were comparable to anything we've had downtown--but this time we took our family too. Our son ordered the ribs, which were absolutely fall-off-the bone tender and had a very tasty sauce. Our D.I.L ordered crab legs, which she's still talking about (they live in the Bay Area and eat at some of SanFrancisco's finest restaurants on a regular basis.) Daughter ordered a grilled chicken breast which was a bit boring--but most grilled chicken breasts are pretty boring. We asked for the kids food first as they were very hungry, and we got their plates fast. Excellent service! The decor hasn't changed since we started our yearly visit, and that's just fine. It's now gone from dated to retro! I really, really hope they stay just the same--in everything! Iove the place, and intend to go back soon!
(5)Norm E.
Whew...just came home from here. The food was great! Our server Marge was AWESOME!!!
(4)Grace C.
I love this place ssssoooo much!their steak is to die 4!!!!!!¡¡It's in a cool area. It's soo old but that's why I love it. It's really classy and it's a really cool place. Their garlic and baked potatoes r really good! When u go there u have 2 get a turtle brownie sundae!!!!!!
(5)Renata T.
We came for dinner on a busy Saturday night. Two people ordered filets and were quite pleased. Just be careful with the add-ons (potato upgrades, blue cheese sauce, mushrooms) as they can quickly jack up your bill. The salmon and grilled chicken entrees were also good. The crowd is an odd mix of people and the decor is reminiscent of an old school supper club. Despite our slow and forgetful server, the four of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals.
(4)Diane K.
Went here for a special occasion and left considering calling the cops since we felt robbed. Beware of the upcharges which would have been nice of the server to mention. Five bucks extra for garlic mashed potatoes which were average at best; served blandly with no garnish. Four bucks extra for blue cheese dressing. Tried adding some of the $4 blue cheese and my husband's prime rib au jus to my filet for some flavor since it was served in a pool of clear greasy broth. Restaurants as old and dark as this make me wonder how scary it would be if they turned up the lights.
(3)Sue D.
After walking out of Coopers Hawk in Orland Park because my husband & I refuse to wait 1 1/2 hrs for a seat. We went to Jack Gibbons. We were seated immediately . Had great service. Excellent wine selection. The steaks were delicous ! My husband had a 28 oz. T-Bone. I had 32oz. Delmonico steak. I could not finish it! Price included salad, potato. Appetizer we had sausage stuffed mushrooms...very good! Excellent wait staff! I will go back!
(4)Nichole C.
This place has apparently been open since 1922. The man's Gram says it was hopping during prohibition (not because it was a speakeasy though...don't get excited) and that kind of history alone is awesome. Obviously the family has been coming here for FOREVER so my review reflects some biased nostalgia but it is also a great joint. Good food (expensive but they give you a portion that is big enough for two. Not that I share.), good service, and an old school steakhouse decor that takes you back in time. *You do have to valet park so don't forget to bring some singles.* As soon as you are seated, you get the obligatory water and bread, but they also throw down a mean coleslaw and three bean salad that are both delicious. There is a full bar (not very many decent beers, but I'll live) and a quality menu. Lots of steaks, plenty of seafood and chicken options, and even some random goodies too (I got roasted duck with stuffing tonight. HELL YES.). The steaks are charred (not a fan of this, but most people are) and come out on a metal plate to keep them hot and every meal comes with a soup or salad and a side. Overall, they serve you A LOT of food. Go hungry.
(4)David S.
I'm about to eat at Jack Gibbons for the 8th time since I first discovered it, thanks to some good friends in Oak Forest, in 2007. Are there better steakhouses in Chicagoland? Certainly. Are there steakhouses that represent their communities as well as Jack Gibbons or surround you with the feeling that characters from Good Fellas are dining with you? Absolutely not! That, my friends, is why this place rates high on my meter and the food is good, just on the old school side (I love the bean relish and other complimentary appetizers). The serving sizes are AMERICAN at its finest with prices that are stalled in the 1980s (without an adjustment for inflation). As a northsider, this is one of my favorite treks to the southside. Honestly, while not a smoker, its a place where cigarettes should be de rigueur. The bar is great and almost divey, but in a way that is perfectly consistent with the rest of the restaurant and the bartender, Jim, is very skilled and a super nice guy. Finally, my experience with the wait staff has been always good. The staff is friendly, professional, and veteran, having worked at Jack Gibbons for years. Go here. The atmosphere alone will make it memorable.
(4)Trudi G.
This restaurant has gone way downhill from what it once was. The prices get higher and the food gets worse. Enormous steaks that are never the right temp and almost always raw in the middle. Baked potato in tin foil, also raw. Caesar salad is their reg salad with bottled Caesar dressing, up charge for the Caesar salad. What a joke. Relish items are pure junk and out of a can. I suspect the has browns are frozen out of a bag. Not worth spending the $$$$$ for the poor quality.
(1)Doug H.
Time capsule for brown liquor, red meat, and blue cheese. The Waitresses are busy. There's a wait. There's a bass piano and drum trio doing old standards. Have a manhattan.
(5)Jamie P.
Porterhouse for a king. Best flavor and portions. You could feed a small country with this steak. A little out of the way, But well worth the drive. My wife loves the prime rib and my brother in law always gets the filet mignon. We eat steak and this has to be the best in Chicago. Could use a remodel but I'm not going there for the view.
(5)Elizabeth F.
It is easy to slip backwards in time a decade or two (or three!) inside Jack Gibbons. Established in 1922, this excellent restaurant boasts high-backed, private booths, dark interiors & traditional decor. I visited on a whim with a friend & I will certainly return to give Jack Gibbons a real go. I only ordered a Guinness; but their menu looked fantastic (especially for the carnivore!) When seated in their dining room, you are served a spread of bean salad, cole slaw plus warm bread & butter prior to your dinner. I was curious to know the nature of these items & our pleasant waitress was happy to share that they have been serving these amuse-bouches for many, many years. I look forward to a return visit & a full meal at Jack Gibbons!
(4)Carol W.
My parents and I have been patronizing this restaurant for 20+ years and we love the food and the service. Unfortunately, the business has declined in food and service. Its time to close your doors JG.
(1)Katy H.
My ex and his family dine here at least 2 or 3 times a month. They are regulars. The staff and owners know them as they've been coming for over 30 years. As a result, I had the pleasure of dining here on a dozen or so occasions and I have to say, Gibbons is what I'm going to miss most about that relationship! Typically we'd spend about an hour in the bar before eating. The bartender is old school. He knows his drinks and he pours generously! Their tvs are terrible, but I wouldn't expect flat screens at this place. They have delicious relish plates that come out before the meal (three bean salad, coleslaw, bread basket- with pretzel bread) and you can add extras like cottage cheese or tomatoes with onions. The steaks- wow, just wow! Almost perfect every time. I always ordered the queen filet, medium and it was always delicious! They come with soup or salad and a choice of potato. The dessert- I've had the cheesecake and the hot brownie sundae, both were great! This place is old school and I love it! I'd go back, but I don't want to run into any regulars. But you should go. Trust me, it's worth it. Go!
(5)Marge P.
Had our small wedding reception here! Fantastic evening. Waitresses were the best! That was over 13 yeras ago and we go back all the time. Over 25 years of our business and never had a bad experience. Always good -always a special occasion to be had here. Steaks are superb! Crab legs fantastic!! Casual atmosphere. Good service. Friendly. Never had a bad meal here. Desserts are sooo good!!
(5)Jim D.
Went to Jack Gibbons recently and had had a very enjoyable experience. The filet was cooked perfectly and the double-baked potatoe was to die for. Looking forward to returning in the near future.
(4)Nicholas C.
My Family has been going to Jack Gibbons Gardens for over 20+ years, we enjoy the cozy atmosphere and the Great service. Many good memories, always a good meal.
(5)Riley S.
I've known of this place for years and we finally decided to give it a try instead of going to the western suburbs for a great steak and nice Cabernet. The filet was good but the lack of service just has to be noted here. It's obvious many "regulars" frequent this place. We noticed people who knew the servers seemed to be more attended to. Locals tend to be loud and over-served. It used to be the same way in the House if Hughes which is now closed. When I inquired about a wine I was told the red I was served was the best they had. I'm convinced it came out of a box. Raise the level of service, hire a wine expert and each couple will be dropping $150-$200 per table easy. Servers lacked friendliness to new diners, didn't try to up sell food or drinks. No specials .
(2)Lisa T.
This place is great. Old school. Out dated. Terrific though. . Surf and turf and a martini and your done. I never have room for desert. Casual. This is not a hip place by any means, but outstanding food and drinks.
(4)Mary Ellen S.
Our service was excellent. But tried Delmonico which was tough and overdone. Waitress said we should have sent it back.
(3)Henry N.
The sad fact about this "review" is that it won't dissuade anyone from coming here and having their pockets picked. People, the elderly, the seemingly well-to-do and the posers will keep coming here because tradition and some feeling of comfort mean more than the meal they're eating. I honestly can't comment on the steaks, I haven't had more than a nibble on the two occasions I've been here. I guess a steak house or supper club is supposed to resemble what Gibbons Gardens looks like, but they should at least be kept updated. Jack or his heirs should take some of the money they're making and invest some back into the decor. I sat, once again, in the small room overlooking 147th Street. I'm comfortable there, not crammed and cramped into the main room, but it seems like I'm in the cheap addition tacked onto a '50's tract home. That paneling has to go. But that's the very least of my concerrns. In the dark it seems clean and the fresh linens help with that. I was with a group of eight who professed to be bowled over by their meal. I wasn't having any of it. My chopped sirloin was quite unpleasant. There was no substance or flavor to it. It tasted as though it had been overworked to death, and wasn't seasoned in the least. Generally, I feel a person should season their own meal to taste but there should be a basis to start with. All that was there was the grease on the bottom of the plate. At $17.00 you'd think there'd be some mushrooms or grilled onions, but no. Oh, they're available at about $4.50 an item. That's $4.50 each for mushroom caps, grilled onions and crumbled blue cheese. The hash browns was a criminal act on a plate. Soft, mushy, luke warm in spots and cold in others. I didn't complain, I didn't eat them. As a matter of fact, I only ate about a third of my chopped sirloin. I enjoyed the bread, which they replenished without grief, though on the second serving they cut the amount in half. And three squirts of soft butter for two people? Are you serious? More butter, please. I don't drink scotch on the rocks or martinis. Regular Coke, please. An eight ounce glass filled with ice, giving me maybe four to five ounces? Give me a break. Are soft drinks being rationed? But here's the one that grabbed me. Under appetizers a corned beef and swiss cheese sandwich is offered at $12.95. Hey, this isn't Katz's Deli in New York and I'm betting the sandwich doesn't resemple their's, either. That's not the worst part. If you decide you want the sandwhich as an entree, you'll pony up an additional $5.00. Some people here speak of relish trays, there are no relish trays. You get a dish of three bean salad and a dish of cole slaw, both of which are very good. Again, if you request more the amount is cut back at least 50% if not more. Now, you can easily say "Don't go back". I don't intend to. I was invited as part of a group so I went. It doesn't change the fact that Jack Gibbons Gardens is not all it pretends to be or should be. If someone thinks twice about going there then I've done my job.
(2)Adam J.
I just came back from dinner here again and it continues to solidify itself as my favorite steakhouse in the world. It just never disappoints me. I challenge anyone to find a better steak anywhere, especially for the price
(5)Kurt S.
My girlfriend and I wanted to try this place for quite some time and finally got our opportunity last month. We met up with some friends of ours and went on a Saturday night. The place was fairly busy, but we were seated quickly. Our server was very friendly, funny and had a great personality. They serve up a nice relish tray right away and it was all cold and fresh. We all had steaks and a couple of us had crab legs on the side. All of the food was great and the steaks are served up on an old fashioned metal plate. The crab legs were almost over cooked, but were still very good. The service is great, the food is very good and the desserts,( we shared, they're huge) - were also very good. The portion sizes are huge and we all felt that the meal was worthy of the bill. I've seen a lot of negative comments about the decor and condition of the restaurant and many of them are valid. The place is old (1922) and could use some remodeling. To their credit, It looked as if the bathrooms had been recently renovated. While I did think the place was a little "dated", it took nothing away from the dining experience because the food and staff more than made up for it. If you're looking for a modern styled and well appointed restaurant, this is not your place. If you're looking for a local restaurant that serves up a kick ass steak, makes you feel comfortable and has staff members who make you feel like you're a life long customer, this is it. I suspect these are some of the reasons why Jack Gibbons Gardens has been around for 90 years. Everyone in my party said that they enjoyed the food and would definitely go back.
(4)Quinton J.
Very pleased with this south suburban steak house hideaway. No longer a need to make the trek downtown, Jack Gibson's fulfilled my need for a high quality ribeye cooked to perfection. My party of 4 arrived at 8 on a Saturday night and the place was packed, good thing we called ahead and the were happy to reserve a table on such short notice. The service matched the food so it made for a very enjoyable evening. Expect to pay prices comparable to downtown but without the traffic, parking and travel time. Enjoy!
(5)Rich R.
This place reminds me of The Flame off Joliet Rd. in that, even though I'm 58 years old, I feel like a youngster when I am there. In accordance with this comparison, please forgive me, they both have the faint but unmistakeable odor of old lady pee. It hit me as soon as I walked in and, not surprisingly, the woman's restroom is right at the entry. That aside, I went there after a positive "Check, Please!" review and it did not disappoint. The quality of the meats, which is the reason to go there, was excellent. The prime rib, usually 1/4 inedible fat at most places, was wonderful. On a repeat visit, the steaks are delicious and apportioned such that Fred Flintstone would be satisfied. The baked potatoes are large. The rest of the side dishes provided enough window dressing to make a diner feel that he/she is not solely a Neanderthalic carnivore. Prices are great for what you get. You'd spend a whole lot more for the same meal downtown. The decor is that of early '70s -without the macrame. Just pinch your nose when you walk in.....
(5)Joni F.
Went recently not happy the food was ok. Also they have raised all their prices. They also charge extra for blue cheese dressing and also charge extra for other things as well. Not happy at all. They are too expensive now!
(2)Steven M.
The food is good, but I'm over eating at the old folk's home. As we sat in the bar area waiting for our drinks. We got to watch the making of Jurassic Park XIV. Atmosphere is helpful when you have to wait for the server to figure out that you are still young enough to keep track of time! I asked for my drink in a tall glass and she brings it in a wine glass? I wanted a double to save her the trouble of walking and me from waiting for another! When we got the condiments I felt like I was in Gulliver's Travels. Everything from the water glasses to the slaw and bean trays shrank. The bread basket no longer has pretzel bread. So when the salad came out, yes. It annoyed me as well because the iceberg was browning on the edges and the green part was wilted. The croutons looked like Lego bricks they were so big. I got my T-bone and it was good. No gravy on the platter, just grease. This place has been around since 1922. In 90 years being in business they should have figured out that people keep coming back because they like everything to stay the same. Like the paneling! This place is lost in time as far as I am concerned. I'll be back in 25 years.
(2)Ahmad N.
I've eaten here a few times and thought the food was pretty good, but my last experience was not good. I ordered the delmonico and it didn't have much flavor and was 90% fat. I'll chalk it up to a bad experience and will still come back when I feel like a steak and don't feel like going down to the city.
(3)Diane C.
The valet was so ignorant I considered not even going in. Once I got in the service was wonderful but the food was grossly overpriced for the quality and location. I work on the Gold Coast at eat at Hugo's, Morton and the capital grille often so I know quality vs price and this place does NOT have it. Based on my experience with the valet alone I would NOT return.
(2)Michael W.
Other than Jay D's review trashing the restaurant because elderly people go there, the reviews are reasonably accurate. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable and the waitstaff is professional and friendly. The beef isn't prime (including the prime rib), but is choice-- what most people buy for their summer grilling--and properly cooked to order. You can go downtown and pay twice the price for a higher quality dinner, but Gibbons presents good food at a fair price. Also, the drinks are fairly priced. Let's tell Jay D that most of those "old people" he derides can probably buy and sell him and can afford Gibson's anytime they wish, but probably also enjoy the nostalgic value of Gibbons as well as the food. Let's hope Jay never gets old so he doesn't embarrass his descendants by showing up in a restaurant frequented by hipsters like him.
(4)George M.
Been coming here for years, and it has really gone downhill. It had been a while, and my husband wanted a good steak. We were welcomed with a big neon gaudy sign, they never had before. Parking lot was empty for a Saturday night -unheard of in its heyday. Walked in, didn't have to wait for a table as we usually had to before. I started out with a martini and asked for blue cheese olives.The waitress said they didn't have them, even though on the menu there is blue cheese chunks for your salad. How hard could it be for the un-busy bartender to stuff them? Well, I was going to order their Tenderloin Jack steak, which was covered in blue cheese, and stuff my own. The waitress even commented that it drove her nuts that they wouldn't do that small little thing. Anyway, after placing our order, received the dull, lifeless relish tray. Then the salad. They used to have a good salad, where it was ice cold and they really mixed the dressing into the salad. Now it was just lettuce with dressing plopped on top of it. The breads were the best thing about the meal. Now, you used to get your steak on a sizzling platter, with hot buttery sauce that you could dip your steak into. Our steaks came on those platters - but no sizzle at all, and no buttery sauce either. Disappointing. My husband ordered the porterhouse, which he said was very fatty and lacked flavor. I got that Tenderloin Jack steak - and the funny thing is, it tasted like fish. I think they used the same flat top that they use to cook fish on. It was just so wrong on so many levels a steak should not taste like fish. And my husband and I both ordered the hash brown potatoes. They just put one order in the middle of the table for both of us to share. It was incredibly bad - very lukewarm, not hot, and watery - like it was frozen and just heated in the microwave. Blech. Give this place a year, tops.
(1)Tiffany B.
This place was probably poppin' back in the 80's but in 2011 it's WHACK! My husband and I had dinner here with a few of his colleagues from work (they picked it!) and the steak was inedible! The dining area reeked of dirty mop water. I recommend tearing the whole place down and putting up a HAROLD'S CHICKEN SHACK!
(1)Victor N.
Been going to Gibbons for years.always great beef. The prime rib is as good as it gets. The regular cut is huge, it is always done to perfection. I tell them it cant be too rare for me...my wife gets the Wee filet medium rare with the twice baked potato, she dearly loves the twice baked. Maybe some day I might get a steak, the prime rib is soooo great! It's a dated place with exceptional beef. Never had room for dessert.
(5)Eric D.
Exposition This is a place where dreams come true, if your dreams consist of deliciously prepared steaks served in a cozy restaurant that time forgot. This is a place that you want to be on a snowy winter night with friends and family sharing sides of potatoes au gratin and asparagus as large cuts of beef are paraded around your table, delighting everyone before the hush of mealtime temporarily halts conversation. First Impression Jack Gibbons is dimly lit, with accent lighting provided by yellowed Christmas lights that were likely hung just after the last remodeling of this 80+ year old restaurant sometime in the 1950's. Stop and see the bartender before being seated on a crowded Saturday night to enjoy an old fashioned, Tom Collins, sidecar, or maybe just a glass of wine. Food and Drink This is the type of place to enjoy a Grasshopper or Golden Cadillac. If you've never heard of these concoctions, than this might not be the place for you. The wine selection is thin, but there is a range of decent bottles to choose from - besides, its the meat you came for in the first place! I've had several of their steaks, but my favorite is the porterhouse. It stands alone on it's plate as a monolithic beacon of freedom - not for everybody, but for those so inclined, a momentus and life changing experience. It may not be Wagyu, and it's not the most marbled piece of meat in the world, but it is very well cooked, and hugenormous. Final Shake Jack Gibbon's Gardens is a singular entity in the world. A place where your meat dreams are realized amidst an atmosphere unchanged since the time of Nellie Fox and the Chevy Bel-Air. A place where wood paneling actually 'works'. A place you should visit with your grandpa before its too late.
(4)Don M.
We meet up with some friends that live close by and walk over. The place has been around forever and the interior is the same as when they opened. The drinks are great and when the bartender remembers you is even better. The entire staff is good, very accommodating and friendly. As for the food. Steak is it. I prefer the king fillet but also have had the porterhouse (huge). We also have had the lobster and the non steak eater has his chicken kiev. No complaints. When you first sit they serve up some trays of coleslaw, cottage cheese, kidney bean salad, and tomatoes in onion. We tear this up. This is one of our must stops.
(4)Victoria O.
Well, damn, it's been several years. I do recall, however, a great steak, excellent potatoes, retro apps (the kind in a lazy susan style server) and good cocktails. In addition, the ambience was pleasant and laid back. This place is located in the woods, and it was a pleasure to eat here from start to finish. This review is based on memory, so, if things have changed, it's a shame.I want to go back, and if so, will post a new review.
(4)Dandy K.
Poor Food Quality and below average service for such an established restaurant. Bone In Chicago Strip steak was TOUGH and an unusual excessive amount of fat. Table of 6, all steaks had to as waitress 3 times for a Steak Knife. Attention to detail is lacking. More like dining at a restaurant on its first training day. Will not return for a long time. A real disappointment for such an long tradition irish restaurant.
(1)Terry P.
My wife was the first bus girl at Gibbons back in the early 70's and waited on his Honor, the Richard Daley. Some of the waitresses have been there that long. They are all good and know their jobs. We eat here 1-2 times a month. I have eaten at other places and have paid more than at Gibbons and left feeling ripped off. I don't come here for the steaks as I rarely eat them. But they have great fish and seafood. If you come here, get the Au Gratin potatoes. They are a few bucks more but worth it. I had Tilapia and paid extra for fresh asparagus. My wife had the breaded shrimp. We both had the Au Gratin potatoes and we both had a Drambouie and I had a red wine. The price....$62. Try and do that downtown. As an add on, they stopped serving the Jumbo Fried Shrimp. No one knows why. BRING IT BACK! I know this is a steak place, put I don't like eating red meat all that much. I prefer roast turkey, fish, seafood or pasta.
(5)Brian L.
MK and I met up with my Mom and Dad for dinner at Jack Gibbons (09/19/08). Since we've been here before, we had no problem finding it but if you've not been here, make sure you're checking your maps twice before heading out the door. This is your old tyme supper club from way back. Since January 1st when all restaurants had to go smoke free, this place is even BETTER! Prior to January, if you wanted non-smoking you had to be dragged through the smoking to the tiny back porch that was non. Now, I'm sitting in places of this restaurant I've never seen. We usually don't get appy's because the portions are so large that we never have room, but I've had an occaisional soup and they've been pretty good. I ordered the King Filet, as did MK. Mom & Dad do their usual chopped sirloin. With dinner you get a small side salad and choice of potato. If you don't want a salad, they can bring you some apple sauce. For the potato choice, I highly recommend the Hash Browns which are phenominal. To say all 4 pieces of meat that came to the table were large would STILL be an understatement. That chopped sirloin is about 24 ounces and the King Filets were well over 16 oz. Let's not kid around, you pay a good penny for this meal but it's absolutely worth it. All steaks are made to order perfectly and you just need to strap on the feedbag. I've also had the porterhouse and it's rediculously hanging off the plate. Good food and experienced waitstaff. Bus kids also stay on top of it and are very attentive as well.
(4)Tom F.
My wife's family introduced me to this steakhouse 10+ years ago, and it's our favorite place for a great steak served on a sizzling dish with lemon butter. Delicious! All potatoes, from twice baked to hash browns, are tasty, and the relish tray and bread baskets are as well. We do enjoy sharing a lobster tail every so often as they broil a good one. Nice to have a throwback steakhouse to enjoy in Chicagoland.
(4)Leslie C.
Try the steak, chicken and shrimp appetizer... Amazing!!! I would even order that for a meal. Steak quality is pretty good. Ambiance is old and blah. Wait staff is also old and stale. Staff seems to be very set in their ways. The food is great!
(3)John D.
Soup was good. Salmon was AWFUL... really, really bad. Overcooked and drizzled with..something. yuck. Pork chops were fantastic! Really good! Unfortunately, due to my wife's exclamation "worst salmon I have ever had", we won't be going back.
(1)Dave S.
I have been going here for years. This place is probably as old as the forests that it is surrounded by. If you do not know exactly where this place is at, you will never find it. If you decide to make a trek out here be sure to take someone who has been there before (as in Dave S and he will show you exactly where this place is at for a steak dinner) or Map Quest it. The place is old and I don't think it has had a remodeling yet since it was built in 1922, but don't let the looks fool you as they serve up a good hunk of meat. The prices are not cheap by any means. I always get a porterhouse and I have not been disappointed yet. The Irish Cream Cheesecake is also one of my favorites. The service here is always very good. It seems as if the turnover here is very little as I think a couple of the waitresses opened the place, they all know their stuff, and very friendly. The service here is not the quickest though but this is how they intend it. You are invited to take your time and enjoy each course.
(4)Rachael K.
Again, I have to stroll down memory lane... Up until about a year ago, I lived about 5 minutes away from Gibbons and counted it as one of my favorite places. First of all - it's been around forever, so don't expect any hip, trendy interior. This place looks like it probably did the day it opened. The waitstaff is almost all veteran too. So the place definitely has an "older" feel to it, right down to most of it's clientele. The food is amazing tho. I would say it's right up there with Mortons steaks, and for us south siders, it's a lot closer to home. I love their prime rib and their potatoes au gratin. Their crab legs are always great too. My parents remember going to Gibbons before I was born, and I can see why it's stood the test of time.
(5)Michelle H.
Located a little of the beaten path, on a dead end street, this is a good place to come for steak (They also specialize in chops, fish and chicken). My personal favorite is the New York Strip with a double baked potato. The restaurant 's dark and quiet atmosphere is a great place to take someone on a date or for an anniversary. There is also quite a large lounge here as well, mainly frequented by the schools of golfers coming from the many golf courses in the area. The service is fairly decent, the food is great, but the only thing wrong is the astronomical prices. (Not only are the steaks expensive, so are all the sides and drinks).
(4)Jay D.
You've got to be kidding me! When I see practically every review starting with, "I've been coming here forever", that says it all. Jack Gibbons clearly has time on it's side, not the decor, service or pricing. The food was mediocre at best. Lousy relish appetizers that could have (and probably did) come from a can, boring salads loaded with bland iceberg lettuce, and bread we practically had to beg for. By the way, an over-sized piece of red meat is no big deal to season and cook, which is what everybody raves about here. It just goes to show that to the people that love this place tradition and nostalgia are far more important than quality and value. If you haven't been "coming here forever", don't even bother eating here if you're a newbie, because you'll fail to see what all the fuss is about, and for good reason. In my opinion, fifty dollars (or more) is way too much money to spend to dine with people sporting T-shirts, mullets and baseball caps. My experience has been that if a restaurant caters mostly to the senior crowd, it's on the decline.
(1)Norman K.
Been there 100 times and will go another 100 times. Why? Because of the people who work there. Oh, and the awesome food (steak). It is zzz best, bar none (actually there is a bar). Forget Krapil's (last visit was last visit), Bogart's (Even if Humphrey was there I would not go back), Louie T's (T stands for turnaround and go home), Mr. Benny's (sorry Jack), or Steak and Shake. Loved the steak at Nine, and had some good times at the Chop House, Ruth's Chris, GibSON's, and many others. If you want pomp and circumstance (or is it pompous?) go to Gibson's in the triangle of debauchery. If you want the best: bartenders in the Chicago area (Jimmy, Tommy, Jerry, Petey, Keith), servers (Little Linda and Amy), Hosts (Nancy, Theresa, Tim), Chef ( A++, Oscar) owner's son Dave, car dudes, and the band. All make you feel like you are at home (especially if you have fabulous burgundy drapes). Set your GPS, as its closest neighbors are deer. 5/22/2007 Revisit, #101. Same as usual: awesome meal. Or just go there to meet Jimmy the chipper bartender. This visit everyone had a filet (King and Queen) and they were all cooked to Medium Rare perfection (Chef Oscar). Note: I cringe when anyone orders a Prime steak Medium or Well. Cooked well is like cooking it with a hair dryer; it dehydrates the beautiful piece of meat and removes the flavorful juices, but to each his own. Anyway, the servers (Connie today) get those steaks from kitchen to table so fast my baked potato was whipped. Actually the baked potato was just right, good size, more white than yellow, flaky-ish and not what a good steak should be: overly moist. Their mainstay is the hash browns. Bread was nothing to cheer about. It is usually warmed and fresh. Today, neither. Bus guy was attentive, friendly, and social. He has a career in politics. The Band with their leader Mel was off and I missed them. They are professional, relaxing, and not obtrusive. Oh, and the gratis coleslaw, cottage cheese, kidney bean salad, and tomatoes and onion are a real nice touch. Good, too. Served in little stainless stel trays. Speaking of good to great, Gibbon's lobster is one of the best you'll find. Fresh as a daisy or, well, a fresh lobster. Bigger, better, and cheaper than Gibson's.. Enjoy. Bread misstep was a rarity.
(5)Lexi S.
since grew up in midlothian my parents did not want to cook for thanksgiving 2008 we went here. i had about 2 drinks and they were very good!! The food was also amazing. we had more time talking and hanging out than we would with mom cooking and cleaning thinking about going there soon for drinks and dinner. it is a nice place for that
(4)Barbara S.
I used to go here all the time when I lived in the area, then I moved away for 8 years. I returned and last week went to Jack's and while it was still good, it was not as great as I remembered it. The bread was awful - cold and hard. The salad was OK but used to be better. And the steak was fair, as was the service. Decor was virtually unchanged from my last visit. Still a good restaurant, just not what it used to be.
(3)Josh K.
Amazing. In ChiTown on business and decided to treat myself to a steak dinner on my last night. Looked up Yelp reviews and had two people recommend Jack's. The reviews are correct. MASSIVE pours on drinks, tons of extras at no charge and the steak was freakin insane! Great service, LOVE the ambiance. Don't change a thing!
(5)Michele M.
My husband and I have been here at least 4 times within the last year. The food is very good, steaks are big and flavorful. We've been hooked on the filet & lobster tail. The portions are amazing with 2 very nice size tails. Most places you order surf & turf will give you either a decent size steak & one very small tail or a nice size tail and a steak the size of a marble. The only thing I didn't care for is the old & dark atmosphere. Of course that is personal preference...my husband likes it. Make sure you call for reservations especially on the weekend because it's always crowded.
(4)Ada R.
My husband is from the south side and had fond memories of eating at Gibbons as a child. He introduced me twelve years ago and we frequent the place and have introduced our friends to this marvelous restaurant. The drinks are generously made and the steaks are a work of art. Save your appetites because the steaks are huge and delicious! Looking forward to our next visit. Thanks for making my birthday a memorable one!
(5)SmartShopper R.
Most overpriced and rude mgmt staff ev-ah. They MAKE you use their courtesy park...and then jack up your car. We waited for an HOUR for our steaks! Wait staff kept apologizing. Too bad. Never going back.
(1)Nicki M.
First visit was yesterday for Mother's Day so the crowding of the table and the noise level I can over look. I found the food to be wonderful and plentiful. The prices I feel are good based in the portion sizes you are given. Staff was attentive for how busy they were. Bring s sweater and a flashlight if you visit as the air was cranking and the dining room was dark. A place to visit again for sure.
(4)Margarita And Edward M.
Here is our experience at this place. This place was recommended to us, and it looked like it got some good reviews, so we tried them. When we first got there we waited to even be acknowledged for seating. We had a reservation but didn't feel very welcomed to be there. Next, once we were seated, our bread plates were dirty with crumbs and guck on them, gross! We sat for almost 15 to 20 mins before we waved down a bus person for new plates. She brought new plates and some soggy bean salad and cole slaw that looked and tasted awful. Mind you we still hadn't seen a server yet. So finally after being there for around 30 mins, a server came to take our drink order. We ordered drinks and app. once the drinks were delivered, my wine glass was dirty. Someone else's lipstick etc.. around the rim. The server was nowhere to be found so we had to wave down the bus person again to get a new glass of wine for us. Finally, a new drink and our apps were servered and we were ready to order dinner, but the server took off again. So we ate the app (oyster Rock...) which was ok in taste, but pretty gritty. 20 mins later the server came back and got our plates and asked if we would like more drinks. We said that we would would like to order dinner and she looked as if 'Oh, I didn't take your order yet????. We got steaks, and after another 30 mins or so, when they came they were huge! and a beautiful pieces of meat, they looked great! But once we tasted them, they were hardly seasoned, we kept adding salt to try to get some flavor in them, but all we could think was wow, what a waste of a beautiful piece of meat. The place is very dark, my husband and I were starting to think perhaps that was on purpose because perhaps they needed to hide the dirt etc... in the place. Even the lamp that hung over our table was dirty and had bugs in it. The table next to us got blan steaks also, and one ordered the crab legs. She said they were dried up and too salty. Eventhough this place has be around forever, I'm not sure why or why it gets such great reivews, but JG's, it was old, dirty, dank, had slow/poor service and the food wasn't that great. This was the first and last time we'll be going to this place. Yuck!
(2)Wade L.
I really like the food there, the steaks are generous in size and everything is cooked to perfection. The only draw back is the wait staff at times are rude especially the older waitresses. They were featured on check please and the wait staff got the same unsatisfactory review. Go the for a teriffic steak and if your waitress is rude leave a lousy tip. The staff is the reason for 3 stars.
(3)John K.
Going to Jack Gibbons is like walking into a time machine! The valet outside is a little sketchy, but everything else is wonderful. Despite everyone else's reviews, the hash browns aren't that great. Can't go wrong with the steaks. And if you're gonna come here, finish your meal with a grasshopper.
(5)Margaret A.
I WILL NEVER GIVE THIS PLACE ANOTHER DIME. THEY THREW AWAY MY LEFTOVER LOBSTER INSTEAD OF WRAPPING IT WITH THE REST OF MY FOOD. Jack Gibbons has one of the greatest reputations in the Chicagoland area for steak. The food is excellent, THE SERVICE WAS AWFUL! To me it's not worth spending the money to eat at a place like this if there's gonna be snot nosed little bus boys running around ripping food out of my hands. This post already makes me sound like the wicked witch of the east, but I swear I'm not. I've worked in the service industry and I try to be very understanding about people making mistakes. The first thing that went wrong was they took away my soup before I was finished with it. I'm not sure, but I think you should probably ask before you take away someone's plate. Whatever. That's understandable. My utensil was in the bowl and my hands were below the table, which is the universal signal for clear my plate. So that's okay, he thought I was done, and I'm sure there's quite a bit of pressure to clear plates quickly at an upscale place like this. I'm not upset about that. Second, my mom's medium rare steak was well past well done. The waitress asked if she wanted it taken back, but we're not those kind of people. So she just tried to enjoy a thirty dollar steak that might as well have been burnt to a crisp. No pink left, whatsoever, not even in the very middle of the fillet. I had the surf and turf which includes a 12 oz thirty dollar steak, and two MARKET PRICE lobster tails. We don't need to talk about how much those actually cost, but understand they're the most expensive thing on the menu. I had a little lobster left, that I put between my leftover steak and potato to ensure whoever wrapped it knew it belonged in my box. When the other bus boy asked if I wanted it boxed, I said yes and gestured to the center of the plate and said please make sure you wrap all this for me, and motioned with my fingers in a circle around what belonged in my box. When I got my box back I discovered that he had neglected to put my lobster in with the rest of my leftovers. Which means he pretty much just decided to ignore what I said and throw away at least ten dollars worth of lobster. Don't waste your money here. How do you throw away someone's leftover lobster? Absolutely ridiculous. I might as well have thrown a hundred dollar bill in the garbage. And I will before I ever give these people money again. Boycotting until they hire competent staff.
(1)Aimee M.
Decor: Early season Mad Men meets Wisconsin Supper Club Atmosphere: Quiet (but this was a Wednesday night) Service: Excellent Drinks: a Cosmo and a Dirty Martini--STRONG! Dinner: Steaks, cooked almost to perfection, just a little too charred on the outside. Dined here with my husband. His choice. He loves visiting old school steak houses and this was on his list for a long time. This place seemed kind of tucked away, but we're not from the area so maybe it's just because the drive was kind of long. Worth the drive though if you like to visit restaurants that have been around for a while (the 1920's to be exact). There were two dining areas, one side had the bar and the red leather booths (we're totally dining in that section next time). The other side had all tables. Attracts all ages, elderly couples, families, couples on dates, etc.
(4)Sandy E.
Ok our meals were amazing as always. Butter soft steaks -great wine selection -spinach au gratin to die for. - everyone should come here at least every few months. Makes you remember how good the 50's were-
(5)Meghan S.
We were just here for Mother's Day and it was just an all around bad experience. I understand that this is a busy day, but we made our reservation 6 weeks ago and were still somehow seated 45 minutes late. While we were waiting we heard two separate parties be told that they couldn't find their reservation. I am not sure if the people in charge of confirming reservations were new at the job, but either way it was poorly conducted. When our party of 6 was told a table was ready, the hostess said sorry but quickly rushed away before we could tell her there were only 5 chairs at the table. A chair arrived and we met our waitress, who was great and attentive. She was the best part about our dining experience! Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of her control, our food arrived an hour and fifteen minutes after ordering it. By this time the restaurant had cleared out a bit, so I was unsure as to what the delay was about. It took two hours from the time of our reservation to begin to eat dinner. Overall, I think what bothered me most was that no gesture was made to us by management as a courtesy for our patience. I would not expect some exuberant freebie, but even a complimentary glass of wine for my mother would have been appreciated. However, nothing was done. Unfortunately, it was my family's first and last time dining here.
(1)Kate K.
I love Jack Gibbons! Me and my mom have been going there a lot lately.Love the stuffed mushroom caps and u have to try their Italian dressing on Ur salad.We also love the bartenders Joe and Greg. Thankyou for our fun nights with you.My dad usta go with us there but now has Advanced Alzheimer's. Thanks Joe for constantly making him laugh before he got sick. It meant alot to us .........thus is another reason we will go there forever.
(5)J K.
First time here - loved it!!! Felt very nostalgic. Food portions honestly that can be shared by two.
(4)Hawk T.
The other sub 3-star reviews are accurate. I'll be brief: 1) Shock #1: The baked potato is served in its aluminum foil. Yes, for a $40+ meal the customer is expected to mash and dress it - c'mon. 2) The fillet mignon actually had 4 zones within it: Well done, overdone, medium well, and well. I had asked for medium rare. Bravo. 3) Not sure where the desserts are from, but my guess is out of a box or a grocery-store ice cream container. When I am served a steak at a "steakhouse" that me or any of my non-chef friends can cook, you're going to get a bad review, period. Next time I'll make the trip to downtown Chicago for a real dining experience. Sad - the place was packed with people clearly being fleeced. The owners must be laughing all the way to the bank.
(1)Natalie R.
We are on a never-ending quest to find the best old-school steakhouses around and this one has definitely made the list. Only wish we'd had time for a drink in the lounge. Chicken saltimbocca for me, the queen filet mignon for my mother, and the delmonico for Stephen. Mom's filet came out more well done than medium, but once we informed the staff, they were quick (and I mean quick) to replace it with one cooked to a juicy red-pink perfection. According to the website they have bottles of Ruffino Chianti, but I am unable to confirm the price, as we chose the Estancia. All in all, a great meal. The place was PACKED, and now we know why.
(4)Sharon N.
We've been coming here for our anniversary since 1970, and always order the same thing: T-bone steaks, au gratin potatoes & salad. We live downtown now and can afford Chicago Chop House, Gibsons, etc. but still take the trek down south. Why? Well, tradition of course. But the steaks are top-notch, about half the price of the Chop House, and potatoes and salads are not priced extra! I guess it helps not to pay downtown rents and to have a business that's been established for almost 100 years, but you can't maintain any business just on strength of age. Oh--lest I forget, the cocktails were much larger than average. As I said, the steaks were comparable to anything we've had downtown--but this time we took our family too. Our son ordered the ribs, which were absolutely fall-off-the bone tender and had a very tasty sauce. Our D.I.L ordered crab legs, which she's still talking about (they live in the Bay Area and eat at some of SanFrancisco's finest restaurants on a regular basis.) Daughter ordered a grilled chicken breast which was a bit boring--but most grilled chicken breasts are pretty boring. We asked for the kids food first as they were very hungry, and we got their plates fast. Excellent service! The decor hasn't changed since we started our yearly visit, and that's just fine. It's now gone from dated to retro! I really, really hope they stay just the same--in everything! Iove the place, and intend to go back soon!
(5)Norm E.
Whew...just came home from here. The food was great! Our server Marge was AWESOME!!!
(4)Grace C.
I love this place ssssoooo much!their steak is to die 4!!!!!!¡¡It's in a cool area. It's soo old but that's why I love it. It's really classy and it's a really cool place. Their garlic and baked potatoes r really good! When u go there u have 2 get a turtle brownie sundae!!!!!!
(5)Renata T.
We came for dinner on a busy Saturday night. Two people ordered filets and were quite pleased. Just be careful with the add-ons (potato upgrades, blue cheese sauce, mushrooms) as they can quickly jack up your bill. The salmon and grilled chicken entrees were also good. The crowd is an odd mix of people and the decor is reminiscent of an old school supper club. Despite our slow and forgetful server, the four of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals.
(4)Doug H.
Time capsule for brown liquor, red meat, and blue cheese. The Waitresses are busy. There's a wait. There's a bass piano and drum trio doing old standards. Have a manhattan.
(5)Jamie P.
Porterhouse for a king. Best flavor and portions. You could feed a small country with this steak. A little out of the way, But well worth the drive. My wife loves the prime rib and my brother in law always gets the filet mignon. We eat steak and this has to be the best in Chicago. Could use a remodel but I'm not going there for the view.
(5)Nichole C.
This place has apparently been open since 1922. The man's Gram says it was hopping during prohibition (not because it was a speakeasy though...don't get excited) and that kind of history alone is awesome. Obviously the family has been coming here for FOREVER so my review reflects some biased nostalgia but it is also a great joint. Good food (expensive but they give you a portion that is big enough for two. Not that I share.), good service, and an old school steakhouse decor that takes you back in time. *You do have to valet park so don't forget to bring some singles.* As soon as you are seated, you get the obligatory water and bread, but they also throw down a mean coleslaw and three bean salad that are both delicious. There is a full bar (not very many decent beers, but I'll live) and a quality menu. Lots of steaks, plenty of seafood and chicken options, and even some random goodies too (I got roasted duck with stuffing tonight. HELL YES.). The steaks are charred (not a fan of this, but most people are) and come out on a metal plate to keep them hot and every meal comes with a soup or salad and a side. Overall, they serve you A LOT of food. Go hungry.
(4)David S.
I'm about to eat at Jack Gibbons for the 8th time since I first discovered it, thanks to some good friends in Oak Forest, in 2007. Are there better steakhouses in Chicagoland? Certainly. Are there steakhouses that represent their communities as well as Jack Gibbons or surround you with the feeling that characters from Good Fellas are dining with you? Absolutely not! That, my friends, is why this place rates high on my meter and the food is good, just on the old school side (I love the bean relish and other complimentary appetizers). The serving sizes are AMERICAN at its finest with prices that are stalled in the 1980s (without an adjustment for inflation). As a northsider, this is one of my favorite treks to the southside. Honestly, while not a smoker, its a place where cigarettes should be de rigueur. The bar is great and almost divey, but in a way that is perfectly consistent with the rest of the restaurant and the bartender, Jim, is very skilled and a super nice guy. Finally, my experience with the wait staff has been always good. The staff is friendly, professional, and veteran, having worked at Jack Gibbons for years. Go here. The atmosphere alone will make it memorable.
(4)Trudi G.
This restaurant has gone way downhill from what it once was. The prices get higher and the food gets worse. Enormous steaks that are never the right temp and almost always raw in the middle. Baked potato in tin foil, also raw. Caesar salad is their reg salad with bottled Caesar dressing, up charge for the Caesar salad. What a joke. Relish items are pure junk and out of a can. I suspect the has browns are frozen out of a bag. Not worth spending the $$$$$ for the poor quality.
(1)Elizabeth F.
It is easy to slip backwards in time a decade or two (or three!) inside Jack Gibbons. Established in 1922, this excellent restaurant boasts high-backed, private booths, dark interiors & traditional decor. I visited on a whim with a friend & I will certainly return to give Jack Gibbons a real go. I only ordered a Guinness; but their menu looked fantastic (especially for the carnivore!) When seated in their dining room, you are served a spread of bean salad, cole slaw plus warm bread & butter prior to your dinner. I was curious to know the nature of these items & our pleasant waitress was happy to share that they have been serving these amuse-bouches for many, many years. I look forward to a return visit & a full meal at Jack Gibbons!
(4)Carol W.
My parents and I have been patronizing this restaurant for 20+ years and we love the food and the service. Unfortunately, the business has declined in food and service. Its time to close your doors JG.
(1)Katy H.
My ex and his family dine here at least 2 or 3 times a month. They are regulars. The staff and owners know them as they've been coming for over 30 years. As a result, I had the pleasure of dining here on a dozen or so occasions and I have to say, Gibbons is what I'm going to miss most about that relationship! Typically we'd spend about an hour in the bar before eating. The bartender is old school. He knows his drinks and he pours generously! Their tvs are terrible, but I wouldn't expect flat screens at this place. They have delicious relish plates that come out before the meal (three bean salad, coleslaw, bread basket- with pretzel bread) and you can add extras like cottage cheese or tomatoes with onions. The steaks- wow, just wow! Almost perfect every time. I always ordered the queen filet, medium and it was always delicious! They come with soup or salad and a choice of potato. The dessert- I've had the cheesecake and the hot brownie sundae, both were great! This place is old school and I love it! I'd go back, but I don't want to run into any regulars. But you should go. Trust me, it's worth it. Go!
(5)Marge P.
Had our small wedding reception here! Fantastic evening. Waitresses were the best! That was over 13 yeras ago and we go back all the time. Over 25 years of our business and never had a bad experience. Always good -always a special occasion to be had here. Steaks are superb! Crab legs fantastic!! Casual atmosphere. Good service. Friendly. Never had a bad meal here. Desserts are sooo good!!
(5)Jim D.
Went to Jack Gibbons recently and had had a very enjoyable experience. The filet was cooked perfectly and the double-baked potatoe was to die for. Looking forward to returning in the near future.
(4)Nicholas C.
My Family has been going to Jack Gibbons Gardens for over 20+ years, we enjoy the cozy atmosphere and the Great service. Many good memories, always a good meal.
(5)Josh K.
Amazing. In ChiTown on business and decided to treat myself to a steak dinner on my last night. Looked up Yelp reviews and had two people recommend Jack's. The reviews are correct. MASSIVE pours on drinks, tons of extras at no charge and the steak was freakin insane! Great service, LOVE the ambiance. Don't change a thing!
(5)Michele M.
My husband and I have been here at least 4 times within the last year. The food is very good, steaks are big and flavorful. We've been hooked on the filet & lobster tail. The portions are amazing with 2 very nice size tails. Most places you order surf & turf will give you either a decent size steak & one very small tail or a nice size tail and a steak the size of a marble. The only thing I didn't care for is the old & dark atmosphere. Of course that is personal preference...my husband likes it. Make sure you call for reservations especially on the weekend because it's always crowded.
(4)Henry N.
The sad fact about this "review" is that it won't dissuade anyone from coming here and having their pockets picked. People, the elderly, the seemingly well-to-do and the posers will keep coming here because tradition and some feeling of comfort mean more than the meal they're eating. I honestly can't comment on the steaks, I haven't had more than a nibble on the two occasions I've been here. I guess a steak house or supper club is supposed to resemble what Gibbons Gardens looks like, but they should at least be kept updated. Jack or his heirs should take some of the money they're making and invest some back into the decor. I sat, once again, in the small room overlooking 147th Street. I'm comfortable there, not crammed and cramped into the main room, but it seems like I'm in the cheap addition tacked onto a '50's tract home. That paneling has to go. But that's the very least of my concerrns. In the dark it seems clean and the fresh linens help with that. I was with a group of eight who professed to be bowled over by their meal. I wasn't having any of it. My chopped sirloin was quite unpleasant. There was no substance or flavor to it. It tasted as though it had been overworked to death, and wasn't seasoned in the least. Generally, I feel a person should season their own meal to taste but there should be a basis to start with. All that was there was the grease on the bottom of the plate. At $17.00 you'd think there'd be some mushrooms or grilled onions, but no. Oh, they're available at about $4.50 an item. That's $4.50 each for mushroom caps, grilled onions and crumbled blue cheese. The hash browns was a criminal act on a plate. Soft, mushy, luke warm in spots and cold in others. I didn't complain, I didn't eat them. As a matter of fact, I only ate about a third of my chopped sirloin. I enjoyed the bread, which they replenished without grief, though on the second serving they cut the amount in half. And three squirts of soft butter for two people? Are you serious? More butter, please. I don't drink scotch on the rocks or martinis. Regular Coke, please. An eight ounce glass filled with ice, giving me maybe four to five ounces? Give me a break. Are soft drinks being rationed? But here's the one that grabbed me. Under appetizers a corned beef and swiss cheese sandwich is offered at $12.95. Hey, this isn't Katz's Deli in New York and I'm betting the sandwich doesn't resemple their's, either. That's not the worst part. If you decide you want the sandwhich as an entree, you'll pony up an additional $5.00. Some people here speak of relish trays, there are no relish trays. You get a dish of three bean salad and a dish of cole slaw, both of which are very good. Again, if you request more the amount is cut back at least 50% if not more. Now, you can easily say "Don't go back". I don't intend to. I was invited as part of a group so I went. It doesn't change the fact that Jack Gibbons Gardens is not all it pretends to be or should be. If someone thinks twice about going there then I've done my job.
(2)Adam J.
I just came back from dinner here again and it continues to solidify itself as my favorite steakhouse in the world. It just never disappoints me. I challenge anyone to find a better steak anywhere, especially for the price
(5)Riley S.
I've known of this place for years and we finally decided to give it a try instead of going to the western suburbs for a great steak and nice Cabernet. The filet was good but the lack of service just has to be noted here. It's obvious many "regulars" frequent this place. We noticed people who knew the servers seemed to be more attended to. Locals tend to be loud and over-served. It used to be the same way in the House if Hughes which is now closed. When I inquired about a wine I was told the red I was served was the best they had. I'm convinced it came out of a box. Raise the level of service, hire a wine expert and each couple will be dropping $150-$200 per table easy. Servers lacked friendliness to new diners, didn't try to up sell food or drinks. No specials .
(2)Lisa T.
This place is great. Old school. Out dated. Terrific though. . Surf and turf and a martini and your done. I never have room for desert. Casual. This is not a hip place by any means, but outstanding food and drinks.
(4)Mary Ellen S.
Our service was excellent. But tried Delmonico which was tough and overdone. Waitress said we should have sent it back.
(3)Kurt S.
My girlfriend and I wanted to try this place for quite some time and finally got our opportunity last month. We met up with some friends of ours and went on a Saturday night. The place was fairly busy, but we were seated quickly. Our server was very friendly, funny and had a great personality. They serve up a nice relish tray right away and it was all cold and fresh. We all had steaks and a couple of us had crab legs on the side. All of the food was great and the steaks are served up on an old fashioned metal plate. The crab legs were almost over cooked, but were still very good. The service is great, the food is very good and the desserts,( we shared, they're huge) - were also very good. The portion sizes are huge and we all felt that the meal was worthy of the bill. I've seen a lot of negative comments about the decor and condition of the restaurant and many of them are valid. The place is old (1922) and could use some remodeling. To their credit, It looked as if the bathrooms had been recently renovated. While I did think the place was a little "dated", it took nothing away from the dining experience because the food and staff more than made up for it. If you're looking for a modern styled and well appointed restaurant, this is not your place. If you're looking for a local restaurant that serves up a kick ass steak, makes you feel comfortable and has staff members who make you feel like you're a life long customer, this is it. I suspect these are some of the reasons why Jack Gibbons Gardens has been around for 90 years. Everyone in my party said that they enjoyed the food and would definitely go back.
(4)Rich R.
This place reminds me of The Flame off Joliet Rd. in that, even though I'm 58 years old, I feel like a youngster when I am there. In accordance with this comparison, please forgive me, they both have the faint but unmistakeable odor of old lady pee. It hit me as soon as I walked in and, not surprisingly, the woman's restroom is right at the entry. That aside, I went there after a positive "Check, Please!" review and it did not disappoint. The quality of the meats, which is the reason to go there, was excellent. The prime rib, usually 1/4 inedible fat at most places, was wonderful. On a repeat visit, the steaks are delicious and apportioned such that Fred Flintstone would be satisfied. The baked potatoes are large. The rest of the side dishes provided enough window dressing to make a diner feel that he/she is not solely a Neanderthalic carnivore. Prices are great for what you get. You'd spend a whole lot more for the same meal downtown. The decor is that of early '70s -without the macrame. Just pinch your nose when you walk in.....
(5)Joni F.
Went recently not happy the food was ok. Also they have raised all their prices. They also charge extra for blue cheese dressing and also charge extra for other things as well. Not happy at all. They are too expensive now!
(2)Steven M.
The food is good, but I'm over eating at the old folk's home. As we sat in the bar area waiting for our drinks. We got to watch the making of Jurassic Park XIV. Atmosphere is helpful when you have to wait for the server to figure out that you are still young enough to keep track of time! I asked for my drink in a tall glass and she brings it in a wine glass? I wanted a double to save her the trouble of walking and me from waiting for another! When we got the condiments I felt like I was in Gulliver's Travels. Everything from the water glasses to the slaw and bean trays shrank. The bread basket no longer has pretzel bread. So when the salad came out, yes. It annoyed me as well because the iceberg was browning on the edges and the green part was wilted. The croutons looked like Lego bricks they were so big. I got my T-bone and it was good. No gravy on the platter, just grease. This place has been around since 1922. In 90 years being in business they should have figured out that people keep coming back because they like everything to stay the same. Like the paneling! This place is lost in time as far as I am concerned. I'll be back in 25 years.
(2)Ahmad N.
I've eaten here a few times and thought the food was pretty good, but my last experience was not good. I ordered the delmonico and it didn't have much flavor and was 90% fat. I'll chalk it up to a bad experience and will still come back when I feel like a steak and don't feel like going down to the city.
(3)Diane C.
The valet was so ignorant I considered not even going in. Once I got in the service was wonderful but the food was grossly overpriced for the quality and location. I work on the Gold Coast at eat at Hugo's, Morton and the capital grille often so I know quality vs price and this place does NOT have it. Based on my experience with the valet alone I would NOT return.
(2)Diane K.
Went here for a special occasion and left considering calling the cops since we felt robbed. Beware of the upcharges which would have been nice of the server to mention. Five bucks extra for garlic mashed potatoes which were average at best; served blandly with no garnish. Four bucks extra for blue cheese dressing. Tried adding some of the $4 blue cheese and my husband's prime rib au jus to my filet for some flavor since it was served in a pool of clear greasy broth. Restaurants as old and dark as this make me wonder how scary it would be if they turned up the lights.
(3)Sue D.
After walking out of Coopers Hawk in Orland Park because my husband & I refuse to wait 1 1/2 hrs for a seat. We went to Jack Gibbons. We were seated immediately . Had great service. Excellent wine selection. The steaks were delicous ! My husband had a 28 oz. T-Bone. I had 32oz. Delmonico steak. I could not finish it! Price included salad, potato. Appetizer we had sausage stuffed mushrooms...very good! Excellent wait staff! I will go back!
(4)Michael W.
Other than Jay D's review trashing the restaurant because elderly people go there, the reviews are reasonably accurate. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable and the waitstaff is professional and friendly. The beef isn't prime (including the prime rib), but is choice-- what most people buy for their summer grilling--and properly cooked to order. You can go downtown and pay twice the price for a higher quality dinner, but Gibbons presents good food at a fair price. Also, the drinks are fairly priced. Let's tell Jay D that most of those "old people" he derides can probably buy and sell him and can afford Gibson's anytime they wish, but probably also enjoy the nostalgic value of Gibbons as well as the food. Let's hope Jay never gets old so he doesn't embarrass his descendants by showing up in a restaurant frequented by hipsters like him.
(4)John D.
Soup was good. Salmon was AWFUL... really, really bad. Overcooked and drizzled with..something. yuck. Pork chops were fantastic! Really good! Unfortunately, due to my wife's exclamation "worst salmon I have ever had", we won't be going back.
(1)Dave S.
I have been going here for years. This place is probably as old as the forests that it is surrounded by. If you do not know exactly where this place is at, you will never find it. If you decide to make a trek out here be sure to take someone who has been there before (as in Dave S and he will show you exactly where this place is at for a steak dinner) or Map Quest it. The place is old and I don't think it has had a remodeling yet since it was built in 1922, but don't let the looks fool you as they serve up a good hunk of meat. The prices are not cheap by any means. I always get a porterhouse and I have not been disappointed yet. The Irish Cream Cheesecake is also one of my favorites. The service here is always very good. It seems as if the turnover here is very little as I think a couple of the waitresses opened the place, they all know their stuff, and very friendly. The service here is not the quickest though but this is how they intend it. You are invited to take your time and enjoy each course.
(4)George M.
Been coming here for years, and it has really gone downhill. It had been a while, and my husband wanted a good steak. We were welcomed with a big neon gaudy sign, they never had before. Parking lot was empty for a Saturday night -unheard of in its heyday. Walked in, didn't have to wait for a table as we usually had to before. I started out with a martini and asked for blue cheese olives.The waitress said they didn't have them, even though on the menu there is blue cheese chunks for your salad. How hard could it be for the un-busy bartender to stuff them? Well, I was going to order their Tenderloin Jack steak, which was covered in blue cheese, and stuff my own. The waitress even commented that it drove her nuts that they wouldn't do that small little thing. Anyway, after placing our order, received the dull, lifeless relish tray. Then the salad. They used to have a good salad, where it was ice cold and they really mixed the dressing into the salad. Now it was just lettuce with dressing plopped on top of it. The breads were the best thing about the meal. Now, you used to get your steak on a sizzling platter, with hot buttery sauce that you could dip your steak into. Our steaks came on those platters - but no sizzle at all, and no buttery sauce either. Disappointing. My husband ordered the porterhouse, which he said was very fatty and lacked flavor. I got that Tenderloin Jack steak - and the funny thing is, it tasted like fish. I think they used the same flat top that they use to cook fish on. It was just so wrong on so many levels a steak should not taste like fish. And my husband and I both ordered the hash brown potatoes. They just put one order in the middle of the table for both of us to share. It was incredibly bad - very lukewarm, not hot, and watery - like it was frozen and just heated in the microwave. Blech. Give this place a year, tops.
(1)Tiffany B.
This place was probably poppin' back in the 80's but in 2011 it's WHACK! My husband and I had dinner here with a few of his colleagues from work (they picked it!) and the steak was inedible! The dining area reeked of dirty mop water. I recommend tearing the whole place down and putting up a HAROLD'S CHICKEN SHACK!
(1)Victor N.
Been going to Gibbons for years.always great beef. The prime rib is as good as it gets. The regular cut is huge, it is always done to perfection. I tell them it cant be too rare for me...my wife gets the Wee filet medium rare with the twice baked potato, she dearly loves the twice baked. Maybe some day I might get a steak, the prime rib is soooo great! It's a dated place with exceptional beef. Never had room for dessert.
(5)Eric D.
Exposition This is a place where dreams come true, if your dreams consist of deliciously prepared steaks served in a cozy restaurant that time forgot. This is a place that you want to be on a snowy winter night with friends and family sharing sides of potatoes au gratin and asparagus as large cuts of beef are paraded around your table, delighting everyone before the hush of mealtime temporarily halts conversation. First Impression Jack Gibbons is dimly lit, with accent lighting provided by yellowed Christmas lights that were likely hung just after the last remodeling of this 80+ year old restaurant sometime in the 1950's. Stop and see the bartender before being seated on a crowded Saturday night to enjoy an old fashioned, Tom Collins, sidecar, or maybe just a glass of wine. Food and Drink This is the type of place to enjoy a Grasshopper or Golden Cadillac. If you've never heard of these concoctions, than this might not be the place for you. The wine selection is thin, but there is a range of decent bottles to choose from - besides, its the meat you came for in the first place! I've had several of their steaks, but my favorite is the porterhouse. It stands alone on it's plate as a monolithic beacon of freedom - not for everybody, but for those so inclined, a momentus and life changing experience. It may not be Wagyu, and it's not the most marbled piece of meat in the world, but it is very well cooked, and hugenormous. Final Shake Jack Gibbon's Gardens is a singular entity in the world. A place where your meat dreams are realized amidst an atmosphere unchanged since the time of Nellie Fox and the Chevy Bel-Air. A place where wood paneling actually 'works'. A place you should visit with your grandpa before its too late.
(4)Don M.
We meet up with some friends that live close by and walk over. The place has been around forever and the interior is the same as when they opened. The drinks are great and when the bartender remembers you is even better. The entire staff is good, very accommodating and friendly. As for the food. Steak is it. I prefer the king fillet but also have had the porterhouse (huge). We also have had the lobster and the non steak eater has his chicken kiev. No complaints. When you first sit they serve up some trays of coleslaw, cottage cheese, kidney bean salad, and tomatoes in onion. We tear this up. This is one of our must stops.
(4)Victoria O.
Well, damn, it's been several years. I do recall, however, a great steak, excellent potatoes, retro apps (the kind in a lazy susan style server) and good cocktails. In addition, the ambience was pleasant and laid back. This place is located in the woods, and it was a pleasure to eat here from start to finish. This review is based on memory, so, if things have changed, it's a shame.I want to go back, and if so, will post a new review.
(4)Terry P.
My wife was the first bus girl at Gibbons back in the early 70's and waited on his Honor, the Richard Daley. Some of the waitresses have been there that long. They are all good and know their jobs. We eat here 1-2 times a month. I have eaten at other places and have paid more than at Gibbons and left feeling ripped off. I don't come here for the steaks as I rarely eat them. But they have great fish and seafood. If you come here, get the Au Gratin potatoes. They are a few bucks more but worth it. I had Tilapia and paid extra for fresh asparagus. My wife had the breaded shrimp. We both had the Au Gratin potatoes and we both had a Drambouie and I had a red wine. The price....$62. Try and do that downtown. As an add on, they stopped serving the Jumbo Fried Shrimp. No one knows why. BRING IT BACK! I know this is a steak place, put I don't like eating red meat all that much. I prefer roast turkey, fish, seafood or pasta.
(5)Brian L.
MK and I met up with my Mom and Dad for dinner at Jack Gibbons (09/19/08). Since we've been here before, we had no problem finding it but if you've not been here, make sure you're checking your maps twice before heading out the door. This is your old tyme supper club from way back. Since January 1st when all restaurants had to go smoke free, this place is even BETTER! Prior to January, if you wanted non-smoking you had to be dragged through the smoking to the tiny back porch that was non. Now, I'm sitting in places of this restaurant I've never seen. We usually don't get appy's because the portions are so large that we never have room, but I've had an occaisional soup and they've been pretty good. I ordered the King Filet, as did MK. Mom & Dad do their usual chopped sirloin. With dinner you get a small side salad and choice of potato. If you don't want a salad, they can bring you some apple sauce. For the potato choice, I highly recommend the Hash Browns which are phenominal. To say all 4 pieces of meat that came to the table were large would STILL be an understatement. That chopped sirloin is about 24 ounces and the King Filets were well over 16 oz. Let's not kid around, you pay a good penny for this meal but it's absolutely worth it. All steaks are made to order perfectly and you just need to strap on the feedbag. I've also had the porterhouse and it's rediculously hanging off the plate. Good food and experienced waitstaff. Bus kids also stay on top of it and are very attentive as well.
(4)Tom F.
My wife's family introduced me to this steakhouse 10+ years ago, and it's our favorite place for a great steak served on a sizzling dish with lemon butter. Delicious! All potatoes, from twice baked to hash browns, are tasty, and the relish tray and bread baskets are as well. We do enjoy sharing a lobster tail every so often as they broil a good one. Nice to have a throwback steakhouse to enjoy in Chicagoland.
(4)Leslie C.
Try the steak, chicken and shrimp appetizer... Amazing!!! I would even order that for a meal. Steak quality is pretty good. Ambiance is old and blah. Wait staff is also old and stale. Staff seems to be very set in their ways. The food is great!
(3)Rachael K.
Again, I have to stroll down memory lane... Up until about a year ago, I lived about 5 minutes away from Gibbons and counted it as one of my favorite places. First of all - it's been around forever, so don't expect any hip, trendy interior. This place looks like it probably did the day it opened. The waitstaff is almost all veteran too. So the place definitely has an "older" feel to it, right down to most of it's clientele. The food is amazing tho. I would say it's right up there with Mortons steaks, and for us south siders, it's a lot closer to home. I love their prime rib and their potatoes au gratin. Their crab legs are always great too. My parents remember going to Gibbons before I was born, and I can see why it's stood the test of time.
(5)Michelle H.
Located a little of the beaten path, on a dead end street, this is a good place to come for steak (They also specialize in chops, fish and chicken). My personal favorite is the New York Strip with a double baked potato. The restaurant 's dark and quiet atmosphere is a great place to take someone on a date or for an anniversary. There is also quite a large lounge here as well, mainly frequented by the schools of golfers coming from the many golf courses in the area. The service is fairly decent, the food is great, but the only thing wrong is the astronomical prices. (Not only are the steaks expensive, so are all the sides and drinks).
(4)Jay D.
You've got to be kidding me! When I see practically every review starting with, "I've been coming here forever", that says it all. Jack Gibbons clearly has time on it's side, not the decor, service or pricing. The food was mediocre at best. Lousy relish appetizers that could have (and probably did) come from a can, boring salads loaded with bland iceberg lettuce, and bread we practically had to beg for. By the way, an over-sized piece of red meat is no big deal to season and cook, which is what everybody raves about here. It just goes to show that to the people that love this place tradition and nostalgia are far more important than quality and value. If you haven't been "coming here forever", don't even bother eating here if you're a newbie, because you'll fail to see what all the fuss is about, and for good reason. In my opinion, fifty dollars (or more) is way too much money to spend to dine with people sporting T-shirts, mullets and baseball caps. My experience has been that if a restaurant caters mostly to the senior crowd, it's on the decline.
(1)Dandy K.
Poor Food Quality and below average service for such an established restaurant. Bone In Chicago Strip steak was TOUGH and an unusual excessive amount of fat. Table of 6, all steaks had to as waitress 3 times for a Steak Knife. Attention to detail is lacking. More like dining at a restaurant on its first training day. Will not return for a long time. A real disappointment for such an long tradition irish restaurant.
(1)Norman K.
Been there 100 times and will go another 100 times. Why? Because of the people who work there. Oh, and the awesome food (steak). It is zzz best, bar none (actually there is a bar). Forget Krapil's (last visit was last visit), Bogart's (Even if Humphrey was there I would not go back), Louie T's (T stands for turnaround and go home), Mr. Benny's (sorry Jack), or Steak and Shake. Loved the steak at Nine, and had some good times at the Chop House, Ruth's Chris, GibSON's, and many others. If you want pomp and circumstance (or is it pompous?) go to Gibson's in the triangle of debauchery. If you want the best: bartenders in the Chicago area (Jimmy, Tommy, Jerry, Petey, Keith), servers (Little Linda and Amy), Hosts (Nancy, Theresa, Tim), Chef ( A++, Oscar) owner's son Dave, car dudes, and the band. All make you feel like you are at home (especially if you have fabulous burgundy drapes). Set your GPS, as its closest neighbors are deer. 5/22/2007 Revisit, #101. Same as usual: awesome meal. Or just go there to meet Jimmy the chipper bartender. This visit everyone had a filet (King and Queen) and they were all cooked to Medium Rare perfection (Chef Oscar). Note: I cringe when anyone orders a Prime steak Medium or Well. Cooked well is like cooking it with a hair dryer; it dehydrates the beautiful piece of meat and removes the flavorful juices, but to each his own. Anyway, the servers (Connie today) get those steaks from kitchen to table so fast my baked potato was whipped. Actually the baked potato was just right, good size, more white than yellow, flaky-ish and not what a good steak should be: overly moist. Their mainstay is the hash browns. Bread was nothing to cheer about. It is usually warmed and fresh. Today, neither. Bus guy was attentive, friendly, and social. He has a career in politics. The Band with their leader Mel was off and I missed them. They are professional, relaxing, and not obtrusive. Oh, and the gratis coleslaw, cottage cheese, kidney bean salad, and tomatoes and onion are a real nice touch. Good, too. Served in little stainless stel trays. Speaking of good to great, Gibbon's lobster is one of the best you'll find. Fresh as a daisy or, well, a fresh lobster. Bigger, better, and cheaper than Gibson's.. Enjoy. Bread misstep was a rarity.
(5)Lexi S.
since grew up in midlothian my parents did not want to cook for thanksgiving 2008 we went here. i had about 2 drinks and they were very good!! The food was also amazing. we had more time talking and hanging out than we would with mom cooking and cleaning thinking about going there soon for drinks and dinner. it is a nice place for that
(4)Barbara S.
I used to go here all the time when I lived in the area, then I moved away for 8 years. I returned and last week went to Jack's and while it was still good, it was not as great as I remembered it. The bread was awful - cold and hard. The salad was OK but used to be better. And the steak was fair, as was the service. Decor was virtually unchanged from my last visit. Still a good restaurant, just not what it used to be.
(3)Ada R.
My husband is from the south side and had fond memories of eating at Gibbons as a child. He introduced me twelve years ago and we frequent the place and have introduced our friends to this marvelous restaurant. The drinks are generously made and the steaks are a work of art. Save your appetites because the steaks are huge and delicious! Looking forward to our next visit. Thanks for making my birthday a memorable one!
(5)SmartShopper R.
Most overpriced and rude mgmt staff ev-ah. They MAKE you use their courtesy park...and then jack up your car. We waited for an HOUR for our steaks! Wait staff kept apologizing. Too bad. Never going back.
(1)Nicki M.
First visit was yesterday for Mother's Day so the crowding of the table and the noise level I can over look. I found the food to be wonderful and plentiful. The prices I feel are good based in the portion sizes you are given. Staff was attentive for how busy they were. Bring s sweater and a flashlight if you visit as the air was cranking and the dining room was dark. A place to visit again for sure.
(4)Bill R.
If you got dough to throw, then come here. Give them 40 bucks and they'll give you half a calf, well at least the under-belly. But it's a good-honest steak. Side it with a baked potato.
(5)Adam A.
Love this place! Looking for great steaks without having to go down town? Jack Gibbons is the place. Great food, quality and ambiance. I almost forgot, you can dance to music here ;)
(4)Karen L.
Love this place..remember going here long ago with my parents so it brings back good memories...I get nostalgic everytime we go..the food is excellent and the service is great!!! The meat is worth the price..their prime rib is awesome
(5)Ed B.
We have been here several times since my last review. I order mostly the lamb chops, porterhouse or prime rib. All of them continue to be as good as ever. I have tried a few new steak places since my last review and this place still stands as the best one for food. Keep up the good work!
(5)Ken M.
I still can't identify the smell that was in the place. I was looking for Mike Brady when I was eating there. It was a bad 70's flashback. Very dim lighting which I'm kinda of glad now that it was. Don't know what would of appeared.
(1)Brigitte R.
I took my mother here for her birthday and we definitely enjoyed it. The food was good a little pricey but well worth it. The t bone steak was seasoned well and very tender ( didn't even need steak sauce). The ribs were also good. But the best part was the dessert. Brownie sundae was AMAZING! Service was also amazing, our waitress was very pleasant and made the experience.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Listen, if you like steak... this is the place to go. You can get the best steak in the area, for a very reasonable price. I got the wee one filet which is 8 ounces. I believe it's $28 and comes with a side, I got hashbrowns. Everything on my plate was soooo good. This place isn't anywhere near where we live, but it's still a place we will continue to go to for a long time. The service was good, I didn't have an issue with our watiress at all, but that said, I've only been once time. Perhaps the more often we go (which WILL be often), I won't feel so wonderfully about this place... but I doubt it. The food was that good.
(5)Nick O.
I went here because I had a groupon and I wasn't disappointed. It's was surprisingly open for a Friday night which is not compliant from me. They seated us right away and then brought a wonderful basket of bread along with some pretty good cole slaw and bean salad. As for the main course the gf had the filet and garlic mashed potatoes and I had the delmonico which was without a doubt one of the most amazing steaks I have ever had. So juicy an tender and unbelievable flavor. I can't wait to go back again. If your looking for a great steak at a reasonable price then this is a place to check out
(4)Quinton J.
Very pleased with this south suburban steak house hideaway. No longer a need to make the trek downtown, Jack Gibson's fulfilled my need for a high quality ribeye cooked to perfection. My party of 4 arrived at 8 on a Saturday night and the place was packed, good thing we called ahead and the were happy to reserve a table on such short notice. The service matched the food so it made for a very enjoyable evening. Expect to pay prices comparable to downtown but without the traffic, parking and travel time. Enjoy!
(5)