Gibby's serves as a destination for prime cuts of beef and fresh seafood within a historic stone building defined by wood-burning fireplaces and dark wood accents. The menu focuses on dry-aged steaks that are trimmed on-site, alongside Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, and oysters harvested from cold waters. Traditional sides such as baked potatoes, pickles, and sourdough bread accompany the primary meat and fish courses. Patrons encounter a multi-room layout that maintains an atmosphere of seclusion and warmth through its thick stone walls and low ceilings. The culinary preparation emphasizes classic grilling techniques over open flames to achieve specific textures and flavor profiles. Every selection of seafood undergoes rigorous sourcing standards to ensure consistency across the entire menu. This establishment functions as a dedicated center for meat and aquatic offerings in a centralized urban environment.
Gibby's is widely celebrated as a quintessential Montreal steakhouse, cherished for its historic atmosphere, elegant decor, and traditional charm housed within a beautifully preserved centuries-old building. Many patrons praise the restaurant for its exceptional service, noting that staff often go above and beyond to create memorable experiences for birthdays and anniversaries. The menu is frequently lauded for its generous portions, high-quality steaks, signature Beef Wellington, and unique touches like fresh bread, pickles, and palate-cleansing sorbet. While some guests have noted inconsistencies in food preparation or service quality during busier times, the overall consensus among regular visitors and first-time guests alike highlights the establishment as a reliable and iconic destination for a classic fine dining experience in Old Montreal.
Went with a group of 10 on Saturday evening. Don't waste your money here. This place is not what it was 15 years ago. First time in my life I've not eaten more than two bites of a piece of meat given to me. Steak en croute was not edible, overcooked & far from tender, with a very strange texture. Left the entire lump of meat there except for the two pieces, & not once asked if everything was ok (due to the fact that there's a second service, everything is rushed). Rice undercooked as well. Salad was passable, but barely. Everything is so timed that three other groups had their birthdays sang right at same time/one after another, candles burned out before could blow them out. & they offer to take a group picture but don't take the time to tell you that two people aren't in the frame.
There are sooooo many places in Montreal where you can get a better meal with better service.
Nous étions 12, 7 avaient commandés des steaks, 5 les ont retournés à cause d'une mauvaise cuisson, sur les 5 retours, 4 n'étaient toujours pas bon.......mauvaise soirée.
Nous avons apris qu'il y avait eu 3 tables avec des retours.....
Soirée gâchée....
En plus, les prix sont tellement cher...plus jamais....
place tres romantique, avec un service de valent, on peu donc souper & avoir le stationnement pour se promener au vieux-port par la suite. nourriture excellent mais un peu dispendieuse, on paye pour l'ambiance chic, pas un resto de fins de semaine, mais plutot pour une belle occassion. tres bon plat de homard & leur pomme de terre monté carlos yum! ils nous ont prépraré un gateau spécial pour notre occassion & ont pris une photo qu'ils nous ont remis en cadeau.
Having heard many positives about Gibby's I finally had a chance to visit. Very rustic & charming inside. The female attire should be updated though. I'm sure they would be much happier.
I ordered the Gibby's cut ribeye with a side of lobster tail. My friend ordered the same but with the scampi side. She shared with her daughter.
Dinner started with free pickles & a great loaf of bread followed by a very a tasty salad. Other option were a also available (see web menu). After our salad, a small portion of sorbet was served to cleanse the pallet. A nice touch.
The steaks were served & they were done exactly as order. My friend loved her steak while I & her daughter found the steak just average. It tasted a little bland. It was not a melt in you mouth rich steak that I'm accustomed to from a well marbled rib eye.
While I'm glad to have the Gibby's experience (great service), Gibby's will not be the my first choice when I get a craving for a good ribeye.
Completing my touring of Montreal finest steakhouses. This time, dinner at Gibby's, an institution that I have not visited since 2009. In 2009, when I first visited Gibby's, I had not much experience with steakhouses & I was very impressed at that time. Years later, I have tried many steakhouses not only in Canada, but also in the US & in other countries where beef is as revered as in the US. The reason I am writing this is because I do not think that Gibby's is bad. They are doing things the same way they used to, but I believe that I am not impressed by it anymore only because my taste has evolved. So Yes, my rib eye was cooked to requested doneness, but no it's no more one that seduces me because nowadays my ideal rib eye steak is the like of a corn-finished 40 days dry aged Black Angus, A 40 days wet aged USDA prime, bone-in, etc.. which are clearly not what was offered on this dinner (this boneless rib eye steak was firmer, had less fat distribution, less expressive meat flavor ...but again, compared ..to what i idealize as great today ). So less impressed,indeed, but only because my taste has switched to something else, NOT because it is bad! & yes, if you start comparing to some other hot steakhouses, well no it is not playing in the same league as it is not its purpose neither. Still, it's a generous steakhouse: nice warm bread, palate cleanser, pickles of great quality, plenty of salad did accompany my rib eye. The only thing that i can't put on the back of the evolution of my palate is this : the wine service...leaving a glass of Pinot noir on my table without showing the bottle to me, without pre-tasting NO & NO! You serve me my glass of Pinot Noir while I haven't finished my other glass of sparkling wine, again..NO! & what about the year of that PN? Its description (region, etc) There's no excuse for that.
The ambiance is old & dark & the waitresses are still wearing the old maid outfits... The portions are huge & not alot of flavor. I havent been in years & i just think it needs a make over & it could be something like it used to be.
Not many options for kids either as the portions are large.
