Eat it, Chicago!

Gibsons is an iconic Chicago steakhouse in the Viagra Triangle. I occasionally bike through the triangle on the way home from work, and am always impressed with how charming Gibsons looks, with its hedge of perennials and green canvas awnings. I had it in mind to have lunch there on a day when the weather was perfect, and sit under that awning, behind the flowers. I did that today.

Don’t expect to get a table without a reservation, and even so, they don’t reserve the outdoor tables. We lucked out and got one immediately, nonetheless. The diners are tightly packed in, which is the norm in Chicago. I think it’s trendy, actually. The service was very good. We had tons of attention without being bothered. The waiter was personable without seeming disingenuously familiar. I actually liked him, and I’m not someone who just goes around liking people willy-nilly.

Avocado

What I had was all, in a word, perfect:

Blackberry Collins: Hendricks Gin, Blackberry Liqueur, Fresh Lime. Delicious and refreshing. Made of nothing but alcohol, but tastes like a cooler. I had two in rather quick succession. It was after that second one that I noticed how charming the waiter was. Hmm. That’s an interesting coincidence. $14.00

Crabmeat Avocado: wow! It’s topped with a creamy, tangy, herb-and-caper vinaigrette. Part composed salad, part antipasto, wholly fantastic. I’ve never had anything like it. The avocado’s lusciousness is balanced by the snappy dressing. Crab gives it substance – and succulence. A tapestry of flavors and textures. $17.25

Bone-In Sirloin (16 oz.): Expensive. Perfect. Charred, beautifully seasoned, and tender like buttah. Everything you want in a steak. It was all I could do not to chew the bone. Served plain on a plate with no sides – well, not a side-less plate … I mean no side dishes (unless of course you order some). $48.75

Gibsons Open-Face Steak Sandwich: USDA Gibsons Prime Angus Rib Eye, Grilled Tomato, Baby Arugula, Horseradish Cream. Delicious steak, understated horseradish. No, of course I didn’t have this sandwich after eating a 16-oz. steak. My partner had it and I sampled it. $21.25

Steak

Sandwich

The Verdict

Fantastic food, great service, comfortably posh atmosphere. The day was exactly the way I’d seen it in my mind’s eye, except it cost money. The money wandered into the WTF territory, but the experience was remarkable. It was truly gorgeous: upper 70’s, puffy clouds, low humidity. Delightful cocktails, a sense of contentedness, great conversation. I’ve never had a better steak. For a few hours, the world seemed to be nothing but a happy, wonderful, luxurious place.  (4.8 / 5)

Atmosphere

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

Credit for images on this page: Make It Like a Man! Clicking on images will enlarge them. This post was not solicited or written in exchange for anything. Thanks to the many Yelp reviewers who sent their steaks back twice before Gibsons “got it right.” Due almost certainly to your expertise and diligence, they seem to have it down now. Many, many thanks to the vegan who one-starred Gibsons – Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse – for its lack of vegan options. That’s exactly what I do when I visit vegan restaurants and find their menus appallingly lacking in meat dishes.

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