Gilson South Yarra — Restaurant in Melbourne

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...

Gilson South Yarra is a cafe and restaurant that serves modern Italian-inspired dishes. I have been there twice in the last 12 months, and I can say that they are consistent with their food quality and taste. The service is also friendly and attentive, and the location is convenient, just opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Both times I went there, my friend and I ordered the same dishes: Wood Fired Flatbread, White Anchovies, Burrata, Chicken Salad w. Wombok, Avocado, Cucumber and Buckwheat and Pepperoni, Chilli Honey Pizza. The portions were generous, the ingredients were fresh, and the flavours were well-balanced. I have not had better wood-fired flatbread or burrata from any other Italian restaurant in Sydney or Melbourne, so that is saying something. The flatbread was crispy and chewy, the white anchovies were salty and tangy, and the burrata was creamy and smooth topped with an aromatic olive oil. The chicken salad was light and refreshing, with a crunchy texture from the wombok and buckwheat. The pepperoni pizza was spicy and sweet, with a thin and crispy crust, and plenty of cheese and meat.

On my last visit, I also ordered the Pear and Cucumber Gimlet, it was light, slightly sweet, and refreshing, and it went well with the food. Some people have said that the food at Gilson is too salty, but I would disagree. I think that the food is well-seasoned, but not overly so. Of course, it depends on your personal preference and tolerance, but I did not find the food too salty for my taste.

The atmosphere at Gilson is always on trend, with a modern and stylish decor, and a lively and vibrant vibe. The cafe and restaurant is popular with locals, and it can get quite busy and noisy at peak times. There are a lot of stereotypical “insta models” galavanting around, taking photos of themselves and their food, as if their lives depend on it. I think that for some people, this could ruin the overall atmosphere, as it can be distracting and annoying. However, I guess it comes part and parcel with a pretty decor and pretty food, and it does not bother me too much. I think that Gilson is a great place to enjoy a delicious meal and a refreshing drink, and to soak up the energy and buzz of South Yarra.

Excited to return some time in...

📍GILSON, SOUTH YARRA

I’ve been meaning to come back to Gilson for a while as I went a few years ago and really enjoyed it! We celebrated my friends birthday here with an amazing dinner with good food and good vibes 🤭

ANTIPASTI 🦪 Oysters $7 each 🫓 Wood-fired bread $14 🍆 Marinated Eggplant $9 🧀 Buratta $18 🥓 Truffle & Squid Ink Wagyu Salami $12 🐠 Kingfish, beetroot, cucumber $24 🍉 Tuna, Watermelon, Campari, goats curd $26

PASTA & MAINS & SIDES 🍝 Linguine Vongole $40 🥩 Rib-Eye Steak (500g) $125 🥗 Gilson Chopped Salad $26 🍟 French Fries $12

DESSERT 🍮 Pannacotta w/ peach 🍑 $16 🍫 Chocolate Mousse $16

Out of Antipasti dishes my favourite were the wood fried bread, salami and King fish, that was super fresh and tasty! Unfortunately, I felt the burrata was a bit pricey at $18 since it was just served on its own… also I personally thought the tuna dish had a bit a weird texture and flavour pairing, but my friends liked the dish!

The Linguine Vongole 🍝 was surprisingly one of my fave dishes, it was such a simple pasta and the sauce consisted of just garlic, parsley and butter but probably the definition of “less is more”. The dish was very generous with the clams too. I requested the Rib-Eye Steak 🥩 to me cooked medium-rare but I feel like it was a bit more on the medium side so it was a bit over-cooked. Overall it was nice but nothing special, I’ve had better steaks at other restaurants. The Gilson Chopped Salad 🥗 was surprisingly really good too haha we don’t usually rave about salads but this salad has inspired us to eat and make more salads this year 😂

Dessert was okay but nothing special. The chocolate mousse was nice and rich and my favourite out of the two we ordered. The pannacotta was paired with a very sweet syrup which I felt too overpowering and had a floral taste too it which I didn’t like.

Even though some things were a bit hit or miss, overall I still enjoyed most of the dishes we ordered, and I will definitely be back. The restaurant was so busy for a Tuesday night and all the outdoor seating is perfect for a summer night!

@gilson_southyarra ⭐️ 8/10 💰...