Gibsons Italia — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

Unfortunately, despite great company, dinner here was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had with my family.

We dined with our 2 young kids and another couple with a baby at 6 PM on a Thursday night to celebrate our friend’s 40th birthday. Traveling into the city from out-of-town to meet our friends (who live in the city), we had no babysitter - and were under the mistaken impression that this restaurant was family/kid-friendly insofar as it is marketed as being so on several blogs and other websites devoted to that topic. We arrived on time for our reservation but were told that our table wasn’t ready and we’d need to wait in the bar area. 15 or 20 minutes later, we were seated. No big deal. Restaurant was busy, bustling and loud, with tables full and packed closely together. Again, no big deal; to be expected. Food was slow to arrive but tasty, and our server was courteous and did a good job managing what was clearly a busy section.

All seemed to be fine until our 18-month-old threw his pacifier on the floor and, even though I (mom) immediately picked it up and apologized to nearby diners (all of whom assured me they were not upset), an assistant manager stormed over to angrily confront us. After making several completely inappropriate and unprofessional comments under his breath about our group, he directly admonished us for being “a problem” and disturbing other diners. He went so far as to chide our friend - a 40-year-old cardiologist - for behaving inappropriately by talking in “baby talk” to our toddler. I truly thought he must be joking, then quickly realized from his wildly inappropriate tone and look of disgust that he was not. Another manager later came over to our table to apologize for the assistant’s “tone” - which we appreciated - but the assistant later doubled down and reiterated that we were a problem and that other diners had asked to move away from our table because they didn’t want to sit near “those type of people.” It was unclear to me if, by that, he meant, “people with kids” or “people of color” - but, either way, shockingly inappropriate.

To give some context here, this is the first 1-star Google review I have ever posted. My husband and I are professionals (doctor and lawyer) who have traveled all over the world with our kids, stayed in many 5-star resorts and eaten at many Michellin star and other high-end restaurants as a family - and this was the first time we have ever felt uncomfortable or unwelcome in any establishment with our kids. Bear in mind that this is NOT a Michellin star restaurant, nor was it a late night dinner service or special event (NYE, for example), nor was it a quiet/intimate atmosphere. On the night we dined. It was busy, bustling and loud enough that I could barely make out what my own tablemates were saying. To be clear, that is what I expected - and no big deal. But I share it to point out that this not the type of restaurant where one would reasonably expect a manager to angrily confront a young family over a flung pacifier and “baby talk.” I truly hope he was just having a very bad night.

If Gibson’s does not want to welcome families or young kids, it should market accordingly. As for our family, we will...

Are you considering which Michelin 2 star restaurants to patron during your next Chicago visit? I awaited until visiting three other 2 star Michelin Restaurants in Chicago, including the newly Smyth 3 Star Restaurant, prior to giving my review as a top 10% Google Restaurant Reviewer. If tasked with pleasing numerous palates including "origin" and grade of steak, fresh fish options of more than traditional Atlantic/Scottish farmed raised Salmon, even the finicky pasta diner. It's Gibsons Italia! The entrance, adorned with holiday decor, opens to a large two level dining room. Servers in White Jackets, paying homage to old Steak Houses in NYC that await your requests. The dining room is large yet feels small with individual table lighting atop the white linen clothed tables. The massive plate glass windows adorned with dangling ornaments provided expansive views of the river below. One of the largest fans you'll see is the center focus of the restaurant. Where to begin on the menu? Expecting a focus on Italian pasta dishes with their Gold extruded Pasta. Gibsons is incomparable to other Italian Restaurants in the City. Organic Stone ground Cappelli flour. The 7 year aged Acquerello Risotta is a must! Wait, though, as you decipher the options of Beef. 640 Carrara Waygu, Kobe, Prime Angus and Australian Grass-fed options tell you that Gibsons is not just an Italian pasta restaurant. It's a FAB Steakhouse also! Seafood options are plentiful. King crab, Octopus, Mulluscs, Crudos, Big eye Tuna and most appreciatively, no Farm raised Atlantic Salmon on this menu. Charred Octopus with onion aioli will leave you desiring it as an Entree. The Foccia with Whipped House made Ricotta was a surprise to hear it best tasted by flliping the bread over and cutting. Ceasear salad was plentiful, using toasted bread crumbs instead of my sorely missed House made Croutons, yet flavorful with the perfect amount of Anchovy Dressing. Beet salad was plated creatively. However, I would have suggested more roasting time to bring out their sweetness. I would have preferred a sliced mixed beet salad of Golden and Gaggia Beets, but could they smother me with that onion Aioli! Opting for Chicago Cut Prime Strip, Ravioli Carbonera w/ Black Truffles and Spicy Riggitoni. All of which explains this 2 Michelin star rated restaurant. It was once the manager heard that we hadn't opted for their signature dish of Aged Risotto that he sent over a bowl that left our table throughly in awe at this well managed restaurant. The celebratory banana gelato sealed the deal!

This restaurant is fully deserving of 2 Michelin stars. I'll forgo the previously patroned 2 Michelin Maple Maple and Ash with a returned steak anyday over Gibsons Italia on my next visit to...

I must preface this review by stating that I am from Nebraska and am familiar with the rich, wholesome taste of quality beef that is seeping in flavor naturally and isn't hard on the teeth! On special occasions and many years ago, my family and I dined at Gorat's Steakhouse in Omaha, NE. Gorat's is known not only for its quality steak, but also as billionaire, Warren Buffett's, favorite steakhouse --in the country. So, I can appreciate good tasting beef - without all the frill of various herbs, butter and garlic and such, which should only be used to elevate the steak to an even higher level of culinary dining experience.

With this said, around the holiday season of 2024, I dined at Gibson's Italia. I live in the area after recently moving to Chicago from Denver, Colorado. I ordered the ribeye medium rare. It was perfectly cooked medium rare - nailed it. What didn't impress me was what another reviewer described: that the steak was "chewy" and "tasteless". I must concur. When beef cannot simply shine on its own, it's time for the restaurant owner to have a serious conversation with its supplier. Also, when beef cannot shine on it's own, it will need a little help or perhaps much help (depending on the quality of the beef) from the chef's culinary skills to address the inferior quality of the beef by administering various herbs, butter, salt and pepper to the extent that it "covers" the inferior quality (taste) of the beef. Unfortunately, I felt that this was not done. I must state though, I appreciated that the chef didn't go by the way of over-salting "to death" the steak by trying to make up for the "tasteless-ness" of the beef. Thank you for not doing this. I've lost count of how many dining experiences in other restaurants that have done this: Salt the piece of meat to death, making it "flavorful". Win! No..lose-lose. Aside from the steak, the dining experience was good. I cannot say excellent because when it was time to order and I told the waiter that I had a serious crustacean allergy, his response was, "okay, so don't order crustaceans". A very flippant response. I only mentioned my very serious allergy (for which I carry an epi-pen) because of my concern of cross-contamination, and my party had ordered oysters as their appetizer, which I CAN eat!

Please do a better job in educating employees about food allergies, food intolerances and their differences.

May this review be taken seriously and as constructive feedback, and not to finger-point, attack or dismiss someone. Overall, this dining experience at Gibson's is very good. If the goal is to become EXCELLENT, then I believe that this can be achieved with a few minor tweaks and coordination with people who care, be it layperson or...