Bad service. Rude greeting. We didn't get our table I booked a week in advance for 8 people, we had to go and eat at the restaurant next door.

I booked in a week in advance for 8 friends including my dog for an outside table under the shade. On arrival, 5mins early. I mention my booking. The response was, 'you'll find it hard to get a table outside'. I responded I booked a table for 8 outside a week ago using open table and noted that we would need an outside table in the shade as I will have my dog with me. The man, who I'm assuming was the manager. Said, 'well there is nothing outside now'. He then turn around and said 'you can tie your dog up over there and sit inside until something becomes available'. This was a pole in the sun and my dog doesn't like being just tied up and left. I responded, she would bark the whole time. He then reach over pushed me on my arm to the side and said 'would you let this lady through'. I turned around and said she's with us. (How rude.)

We walked off not wanting to eat there anymore and sat at the restaurant next door. Around half an hour later he came over to our table and asks if there was anyway to win us back he has a table out the front now. I asked if it was in the shade. He said no. I said I put in the notes on open table that I would have my dog and that we couldn't sit directly in the sun. My friends didn't want to sit directly in the sun either, it was a very hot day. He the said I didn't check the notes. My apologise.

I still felt that the way I was treated when I arrived was really rude it instantly brought the mood of my group of friends down. We are here to spend money on their food, which then goes to pay their wages. Not reading note's on bookings, rude greeting and putting your hands on customers pushing them aside, were has the customer service gone.

I've eaten at a lot of great restaurants around Melbourne with top service and great food. This type of service is unacceptable. We didn't end up eating at the other restaurant until past three o'clock as it was so busy and we didn't have a booking there. My original booking was 1:45pm. Everyone was on a downer and starving by then.

We won't be going back to Gilson, I wouldn't be recommending it to any of my friends. On top of my bad experience. I've now read on other reviews and heard from a few friends that the foods not that great either.