The Gibson Room — Restaurant in Miami

In Miami, a proper tavern is hard to find. There are bars – of the sports, dive and craft varieties – and restaurants with great bar programs, but the cornerstone of American gathering places feels, well, foreign to us. That is, until The Gibson Room opened its doors this summer, bringing classic cocktails, lively music and Michelin-Starred Chef Michael Beltran’s flavorful touch to Shenandoah.

To be clear, this is not your tavern of Colonial lore, though it is a perfect neighborhood spot. It’s the kind of place where you meet a close friend to chismear over a Gibson cocktails and Chargrilled Garlic Butter and Parmesan Oysters, enjoy a “big ass” Caesar Salad, Short Rib and wine with a small group for dinner, or simply stumble into after hours for a nightcap, burger and jazzy lullabies. (Trust us, we’ve tried all three.) Aesthetically, we were in the northeast, corralled by slate blue walls and a familiar oak bar. Gastronomically and convivially, we were right at home.

At 5pm on a Friday, the happy hour crowd rolled in for cocktails, wine and a snack menu heavy on Spanish influence, featuring items like Boquerones with salsa verde and Chicken Truffle Croquetas served in a charming poultry serving dish. Award-winning Ariete Hospitality Group Beverage Director Tom Lasher-Walker pulled inspiration from North American classics, which is only fitting for The Gibson Room’s warm, understated atmosphere.

If you’re a martini lover, order the House Gibson. It’s bright with the right hint of brine, and at $12, it’ll bring you back over and over again. If you love Manhattans, try the Forefather. Flavors of amaro and mint really come through, while apple brandy rounds it out with some sweetness. The Kentucky River is like an effervescent old fashioned, though it’s actually based on a Prohibition cocktail called the Fox River. And if lighter, more refreshing cocktails are your style, try the Ivy Rickey, which is like a vodka mojito, or the Philadelphia Deluxe, based on a pre-prohibition era cocktail called The Clover Club.

Here, Beltran does what he does best: celebrating Miami’s Cuban flavor by pushing its boundaries. Together with Executive Chef Kris Huseby, whom Beltran met and worked with in their early years at Michael’s Genuine, the duo demonstrates that Cuban comfort dishes aren’t insular; their textures, seasonings and techniques can play well with others.

This is apparent in mains like the Rainbow Trout, which rests upon a bed of belly-warming seafood lentejas and appetizers like Tamal en Cazuela, wherein the flavors of succulent foie gras both sweeten and savor up the corn mash, drizzled with a cabernet vinaigrette that’s so good, you could drink it on its own. Another not to miss dish is the Trout Tartar, Beltran’s take on an ensalada rusa wherein the trout adopts the role of creamy potato, adding loads more flavor to its performance.

And what’s a proper tavern without a Schnitzel? The Gibson Room’s is the juiciest piece of thinly breaded chicken we’ve ever had and is so large, it can feed a small family. We exaggerate (not really), but try to include an heirloom tomato and a bit of salsa verde in every bite. To keep things light, pair it with the Peach Salad, a sweet and refreshing display of Florida’s bountiful harvest. Do leave room for dessert (or just cut to the chase and start with it). If you grew up on flan and panetela, then you’ll absolutely love how Beltran’s poshed them up. The Flan is solid and creamy, made more elegant with foie and rum drunken figs, while the Panetela is drenched in enough lemon leche condensada that it’s more sweet than tart, more tout and moist than fluffy.

As we sat at the window, sipping House Gibsons and Kentucky Rivers, we ran into friend after friend by pure chance, which is a testament to how much of a true neighborhood gem this joint is going to be. Beltran really brought it home with this one (both figuratively and literally, as he grew up a few blocks away), and you’ll be catching us back there time...

I was so excited to finally check this place out and more so because my friend Aura was performing but they dropped the ball big time. I had no intention of having dinner but just drinks and perhaps that's why my experience wasn't the best. I can't critique the joint on food even though I did try the croquettes and they were so bland but that's just one small appetizer. I also can't say much about the service for the tables but what I will say is that the bar area is the worst.

These bartenders could care less about customer service. They were rude and seemed annoyed to interact with patrons. Even my friend Aura who was the performer for the evening had a hard time to order a drink and stood there for 10 minutes because these bartenders kept on walking by and ignoring her and all the other patrons sitting at the bar. Two couples next time also complained about the same thing and we were all just in awe. In all honesty, the cocktails were really good but the time it took for them to listen to your order even though it wasn't so packed is not worth the visit. I went mostly to see my friend perform and because I'm always looking for live music joints but this place will NEVER see my face again.

If you know me you'd know that even if food or drinks are not all there but service is excellent I tend to give the restaurant a break but not the other way around. There are many live music venues all over with way better service so I hope they get it together. Again this is based on my experience at the bar. Who knows, maybe sitting at a table having dinner would've been different. I guess I'll never know.

UPDATE 8/6/2023: when back tonight and service was a little better and enjoyed a few cocktails. I went to support my friend Aura who’s a musician performing tonight for second time I believe and the ambiance was a whole lot better than previous visit. I’d like to come back for the brunch and they’re also now one of the participating Miami Spice restaurants so a better rating is in...

Leaving a review for management since I want to see The Gibson Room succeed.

First, I've been coming to this location and sat at the bar since the Mighty opened. It's my neighborhood spot. From sausages, to casual laid back bar, to the elevated dining experience at the Gibson. Also, I've been to some of the best restaurants in the world. From Central and Maido in Lima to Steirereck in Vienna, to lesser known Michelin rated across the globe. Don't get me wrong - obsessed with low key excellent dining too.

My feedback. Besides the pretentious snack menu, average desert menu, male geared cocktail menu, the food is great. I keep coming back for the food - the richer dishes like the tamale with foie gras is a standout. But, it's incredible how arrogant the vibe now is. It's a shock to my core. I've gone along for the ride as it has evolved the past decade. I wasn't thrilled when prices doubled recently, happy hour pretty much ended and TVs taken away, but I told myself the neighborhood deserved something nice. What I never could have imagined Is the entire vibe to be so uptight. It's intimidating to sit at the bar, especially Thursday to Saturday. The bar staff are wonderful. But to me they seem terrified - with the beverage manager breathing down their neck. I feel terrified. It's strange cause I've been to Ariete and Chugs many times and they don't feel like this. I've also been to Surf Club, Cote, Stubburn Sead, etc. And never once did I feel this way. Those were elevated, casual dinning experiences which I very much enjoyed mostly because of the service and people.

I beg you to course correct. It's no longer welcoming. You will lose your locals, who ultimately are your bread and butter. This change is simply too severe and doesn't make me feel good about visiting.

Also, please install bar foot rests. As a woman, I don't want to spend $150 on drinks and dinner and rest my feet on a stool while wearing heals...