It was my first time there. The Rockefeller Oysters were big and tasty. The bartender makes great cocktails! I really loved the atmosphere!

I wanted to go to a nice steakhouse for my birthday. I made a reservation, but as I made it in my own name I didn't mention it at the time of the reservation, but my dining partner did mention it when we arrived. The outside is lovely, the entrance is warm and inviting, but the booth we were seated (facing the restrooms and with the noise of the kitchen) in was worn out with cracked seats and the table had a lot of paint worn off - it needs to be refurbished. The service was horrible. She mumbled her name and tried to rush us into ordering. She got the order wrong and I didn't get part of my entrée till I was nearly done eating. My dining partner's steak was underdone - I requested rare, and she requested medium rare, both were rare and not even warm. The only time she asked us how we were enjoying the meal was was to get us to try and order more booze. Another busperson tried to take my plate away while it still had half a steak on it. Um, hello, I'm taking a break and my dining partner isn't done yet anyway... The server never acknowledged my birthday and only refilled our water after they took the plates away and likely heard us complain to one another. The prix fixe menu did come with dessert, but the Crème Brûlée was a disappointment too after it was basically thrown on the table while the expeditor didn't even look at us. The server also never asked if we wanted coffee with the dessert. Well, the price for that value was just terrible. We won't go back there or likely any of their other locations after that experience. We didn't even bother with the manager because we could see him interact with other staff and his body language was awful too. Looks like bad morale there, even though it was a busy night with patrons waiting in the entrance when we left. The only cheerful staff were the valets out front. read more

J Gilbert's - Cracked seat and worn paint on table. - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

This used to be our go-to place in McLean, but last Sunday will have been my final visit. The server immediately asked if we wouldn't prefer to see his face rather than his mask and pulled it off. We were so astonished that we didn't respond for a few seconds which he took for agreement, adding that he was more comfortable without it. Well we were not comfortable at all for the rest of the meal, several of us are older people and a few have health vulnerabilities and to have a stranger who spends his days interacting apparently maskless with other strangers, leaning over us to deliver food and take plates away, was highly unpleasant. We could have made an issue of it but who wants conflict over brunch? We just wanted to be together and relax - and this was far from relaxing. Just hoping we don't have any very unpleasant after-effects of this visit. read more

Recently visited in August for a birthday celebration and the service was lacking. I had read reviews about the service but still decided to go. The waiter must have forgot about us because he barely came to our table. We needed water refills and we had to ask another server for it. We asked to see the wine list to get another glass of wine and they never brought it. The food is good/okay. They let dirty dishes pile up and the waiters don't help one another out like they do at the great American restaurants. The servers just walk past your table leaving the dirty dishes and drinks empty. They even brought our meal and didn't clear the appetizer plates! They just pushed them over to the side. You'd be better off going somewhere else. I really wanted to like this place as it was my second time there but it was worse than the first visit. I don't think I will be returning. read more

Great local steakhouse and seafood place! Food and service are on par with much higher priced establishments. Mikail, our server tonight was terrific- personable, attentive, and friendly! Monday nights bring half price wine bottles (under $100; 25% off if over $100) - unexpected surprise tonight! Can't wait to go back. read more

I went here with my boyfriend for his birthday, the atmosphere was very nice and our server Michael (I think was his name) was super nice and was very sweet about me changing my order after a few minutes- I decided to get the scallops and lobster risotto which was the best meal of my life it was crazy good like a party in my mouth lolol my mans got the lamb with mushroom risotto and spinach and that was also delicious. the oyster rockefeller was so so good too we got that as an appetizer hot damn. definitely recommend! read more

J Gilbert's - Lamb Rack with spinach and mushroom risotto- across the table is the scallop and lobster risotto special - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

Disappointing Thanksgiving meal ... J. Gilberts is good most times, but Thanksgiving was most disappointing. They took way too many reservations so there was a huge wait to be seated and another huge wait for our food to come (hours). Where we were seated, there were way too many tables in a small space and it seemed that they were only trying to get as many people in as they could. The Thanksgiving dinner looked good, but was way too salty ... even the sweet potatoes were salty! I'm not a super picky eater, but I could hardly eat most of what was on my plate due to the amount of salt. The stuffing was very sweet and did not taste like anything I have tasted before. The waiter was wonderful and we all felt sorry for him having to deal with a lot of people who were unhappy after having to wait so long. The long wait allowed time to visit with family, so the wait could have been overlooked if the meal had been worth the wait. Next time, be more realistic when booking the reservations and maybe hire a new chef! read more

Such a nice dinner tonight with clean and friendly service. Restaurant week menu has great options and my steak was done to perfection! I have never had a bad meal or service here. The manager stopped by to check on us as well which is a nice touch. In terms of covid procedures, they were cleaning all around us and tables are spaced out well, there was no one near us so it all felt very safe. This is my second time going with the extra cleaning measures and they've done an excellent job. read more

Update on Sept 2: I went in on Weds afternoon to speak with a manager regarding the problems below. Manager Dorna listened and was very professional and very sincere about handling what happened. Original post from Aug29; 1 out of 5 stars: Huge disappointment during DC Restaurant Week. The servers couldn't use a credit card reader multiple times resulting in declined transactions; I contacted my credit card company, the transaction never hit my credit card account and there no fraud alerts on my account. Then once their credit card reader finally worked, they weren't sure if that was my to-go offer or not, once the host looked at it, said yes, I picked-up the bag, she grabbed it out of my hands and said it wasn't mine... a total b!tch move, the other host looked at the order and said yes. By the time all this was done, my order was cold. Huge failure on part of the servers, hosts, and employees there. read more

Order a take out order for 5:30 pick up time and I am sitting in the dining room for 15 min and no one checked with me. The steak shown in picture is medium. Also the restaurant did not give me spinach in the order sheet. Only received risotto. Sourdough bread and risotto was the only highlight of the meal. Do not support this business. Not sure how it's still in business. read more

J Gilbert's - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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Great steak! Skip the chain restaurants please and just get yourself a nice steak. And of course if you want good steak you'll have to pay good money but I promise you this place makes it worth it! The porterhouse is great but the Ribeye is my favorite cut and it was fantastic! Lobster Mac & cheese was alright but the best side would be the friesssssss! This was my first time here and the server was super nice and explained the menu and answered our questions. He was helpful and wanted to really make sure we got the right dish! This place is definitely a "treat yourself" restaurant and I can't wait to go back! GREAT JOB COOKS! read more

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We went here twice for lunch and had a very good experience both times. We ordered crab bisque and steak & frites from the special, and thought it was super good deal. The bisque is very creamy and tasty. It goes well with the complimentary bread as well. We ordered our steaks medium rare and medium, and both were grilled perfectly. Somewhat we like the sauce to be put on the side. It could easily over power the steak. They also put a very generous fries which I thought they could put about a third less. Their wine selection is also reasonably priced. For $9-12 you would get a decent glass of red wine. What we thought uniquely good about their steak is their smokiness of their steak. Since most steakhouses in the area don't use a wood grill, Gilbert's becomes a unique place. The place is also quite comfy and romantic old steakhouse especially if you sit by the fireplace. read more

Food was amazing. Ask for Dan as your server, he'll treat you well. My friend doesn't know how to chew and choked on his lobster Mac and cheese, Dan came in, performed the Heimlich, and saved my friends life -- I'll always be thankful for Dan for saving my friend Imren (it was his birthday), 10/10 experience read more

I went to J Gilberts with a few work colleagues on a Monday evening. Despite being an off night the restaurant was still quite crowded; however we had a reservation and were seated quite quickly. Ambiance was what I would expect from a steakhouse with dark woods and what appeared to be a very large bar. Service was ok and drinks came out quickly. However, during the middle of our meal it slumped off as we were in a small side room. We would like to have ordered another bottle of wine but didn't see the waiter until our food arrived. All of us ordered the wedge which was of good size and well prepared. Unfortunately, my steak came out like shoe leather despite asking for it medium rare. Also the quality of the meat did not appear to be prime and was almost tasteless. I regret not sending it back but it was late and people wanted to eat and get home. The meal would have been a 4 or 4 star experience if not for the steak. When you have plenty of other steakhouses to choose from in the area and are charging similar prices you have to execute. There are plenty of other excellent choices in McLean where the execution and service are consistently on point. read more

What a pleasant experience we had thanks to the wonderful customer service provided by Hugo. Food was insanely delicious! We will be back and hopes to have Hugo serves again. Thank you Hugo! read more

J Gilbert's - Wagu burger - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

I always get the Maryland Crab Bisque regardless of anything else. I'll also order the carpaccio, but I think they only serve that at dinner. I've been able to order that for lunch, but only if the kitchen has the right staff. If you crave carpaccio at lunch, it doesn't hurt to ask. I usually order their ribeye, but I had a special Cowboy Ribeye recently. It was on the bone, which was a large rib bone, and the meat was enough for two people. It was grilled perfectly medium-rare and so good without any sauces. They bagged the bone for me to take home for my fur-baby. He devoured the remaining meat in seconds, then started gnawing on the bone & marrow. It didn't take him long to gnaw it down to half it's size. He was one happy pup! read more

I came here at a friends recommendation I had made a reservation for 8:00pm and upon arrival the hostess told me that they were getting our table ready and it would be a few minutes wait. *narrator* it was not a few minutes. We ended up having to wait another 45mins to an hour to be seated which completely defeats the purpose of making a reservation in my eyes. But it wasn't even the wait time that really rattled me, it was that the hostess kept lying about it. I wish she had just told me how long it would actually be instead of embellishing (how do you go from a few minutes getting the table "ready" to an hour?) also she kept looking over at me and then glancing away to then avoiding eye contact completely. Overall, the experience was mediocre at best as nothing truly stood out to me as special. Drinks & food were the definition of basic. I don't have pictures of my dish & bland margarita I got because it was too dark in the corner we were in (I had to shine my flashlight to see what was even on my plate) and my portion of fries were so small. 3/5 stars since I didn't expect a grade A steak house going into this, I wasn't extremely disappointed. read more

I've come here countless times over the years and it never disappoints!! My absolute favorite thing to eat is the lobster mac & cheese!! I have frequently eaten in their private dining areas; great for larger sized gatherings with family and friends. I've come here with friends for the happy hour too. They have a great menu! I love the hamburgers and fries! The only problem can sometimes be finding somewhere to sit for happy hour! I wish they could offer a few more tables. The bartenders are really good at making mixed drinks, something I don't always find at local restaurants! I don't think I've ever eaten anything here that I disliked! Just a really solid place to go for a nice meal! read more

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Solid 4 star restaurant. Felt our waiter was well informed and I was pleased with the food. We came during restaurant week without realizing it was restaurant week so I'm not sure if that's the reason it was extra busy on a Sunday around 6pm. I was impressed with the crab bisque, lobster tail, mushroom risotto and filet. I would pass on the mac and cheese and mashed potatoes as the flavors weren't quite right. The warm bread was delicious and we enjoyed dipping it into the soup. The dessert selection looked good on paper but the creme brulee was fairly unimpressive and we thought the chocolate cake was lacking flavor. Our biggest gripe was with the dress code or lack thereof. Again, hard to know if this was because of restaurant week or a normal occurrence but basketball shorts with a t-shirt and slides with socks isn't appropriate for a steak restaurant. I'm not saying a suit is required but basketball shorts seems a bit too relaxed. read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE. Unmonitored buffet at brunch - kids licking stuff and putting it back. Disgusting. Complete lack of response by management and Landry. read more

This place has really gone down. The drink glasses are all dirty -mine had multiple lipstick stains on them and water marks all over the wine glasses. The bar area is trashed with food on the chairs/booths and even between the cracks of the cushions-just disgusting. The food also has gone down. For the HH menu most of the stuff is just deep fried. For an upscale restaurant in McLean, this is very disappointing. Don't waste your money! read more

Food was such a delight! Although it was exactly what I expected .... not a pound of everything on your plate. Our initial reservations were for brunch @11:00 somehow we got bumped to 4p. We were told that the regulars have first priority. I gave it a hmmm at first but once's we arrived I was more than glad to have been dismissed by the brunch buffet. The buffet was fresh, not at all turned over. I didn't quite find the variety appealing. All in all the price fixed menu was more than enough that I ate each course empty w/o feeling stuffed. Big ups to Darren our server!!!! you were fantastic! read more

J Gilbert's - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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Where have you been all my life? The food here is delicious! I ordered a bone in ribeye (medium well) it was grilled to perfection! A must is some steak sauce on the side (in house) and top the steak off w/truffle butter. I also enjoyed the delicious coconut cake with pineapple ice cream. Their desserts are made on the premise and it was damn good. Just go... there is ample parking too! No excuses, go now! read more

My wife and I have been coming here for years our first date 5 years ago was here we got engaged here had our first married date night here and many more moments at this place we love it. We had a reservation at 7 but didn't get sat till 740 because they were double booked reservations. The last two times have been not so great, server was good personable and professional, we didn't get the bread even though the server said they'd be right back with it. We ordered a filet medium and a rib eye med rare filet was perfect great flavor cooked on point the rib eye was med-med well I sent it back by the time my rib eye came back my wife was finished with her filet and my rib eye was borderline blue which is fine but not what I ordered took the steak home no true follow up or apology from management, no desert or anything as an apology. Might not be back for awhile read more

I would absolutely recommend this restaurant. The potato soup was the best I have ever had I could have eaten 3 plates The steak was cooked just perfectly and the sides were also delicious! (I wish they had creamy spinach) And to top it all off our server Darren J. was just brilliant. We'll be back! (Ps: Please put the potato soup on the menu!) read more

J Gilbert's - 10 oz sirloin with mashed potatoes and asparagus - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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Amazing steaks! This place was fantastic! Would recommend reservations because they were quite crowded. I had the best scallops ever! Cooked to perfection with a filet and mushrooms in truffle sauce! Oh my what an amazing meal! My husband had his first ever Manhattan and said it was life changing! This place is a must try!! read more

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We visited J. Gilberts in McLean, VA for the second time last night, and they did not disappoint. The food, drinks, and service were exceptional, as always. Our waitress, Joan, was so much fun, personable and timely. She even sang a song with us, that we loved. We also were able to meet the chef, whose name I can't remember, but he was also so much fun. We even left with a complimentary slice of chocolate cake. Yummm. Thanks for the extraordinary service Joan and J. Gilberts. We'll definitely be back for more. read more

Mothers Day dinner was a total disaster. We got home (live 35 min away) at 902 from a 545 reservation. It was over 45 min past our reservation before we were seated. The restaurant was absolutely filthy (and the bathroom disgusting). It took forever to get food once it was ordered and the food was lukewarm at best once it came out. I understand that it's a holiday but they took way more reservations than what the staff could handle. When we brought the food issue to the waiters attention they did little to remedy the situation (though I don't blame him as he was clearly overwhelmed). We will not be back. It has gone down hill since we were last there- the food was okay at best, and even though it was a busy holiday the cleanliness was absolutely unacceptable read more

Reviewing the brunch only. Husband surprised me for Mother's Day with a brunch here. I was pretty excited at first because I had this spot bookmarked for a long time. Being that it was Mother's Day, it was very, very packed. Reservations are definitely recommended for holidays and Sunday brunches. We were seated in the back, near the restrooms and it was fairly quiet, even with how crowded it was. The pathways are narrow and servers are constantly darting out from other hallways that intersect with main pathways. Corners are sharp and you can't see people coming until it's too late. I was constantly afraid that someone would run into me if they weren't paying attention. Can you imagine all of this while holding a plate full of food? The floors were slippery, high heels definitely not recommended here. I saw an old lady almost eat it and she was wearing low wedges. With regard to the food itself, everything was ok. The spread was boring and left a lot to be desired. For $38 a person, I had a WAY better time at Founding Farmer's brunch. The oysters were good but weren't shucked well. The prime rib came and went fast. They bring the waffles to the table, you just have to ask for them. The dessert options were limited and the best thing there was probably the chocolate chip cookies. We joked that the cookies looked like they were from Costco. Overall, I'm glad I tried it but there are other brunches with better options. This spot reminded me of a slightly better Golden Corral. I had a great time with my family but the food just didn't do it for me. read more

J Gilbert's - My Mother's Day brunch plate. Everything just ok. - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

Executive chef here is one of the most vindictive, spiteful, and unprofessional people I've ever come across. Maybe this place is for you, but those are not characteristics I'm looking for in those who are preparing my food. read more

Tonight was the second time that hubby and I had dinner at J. Gilbert's. Let's start off with the best part--the food!! Fresh, warm bread was brought out soon after we sat down. The first time there I had a filet and tonight I had the filet/crab cake combo. Hubby had the filet/crab cake combo the first time and the fish of the day tonight. All of the food was cooked perfectly and so incredibly delicious. The sides are also amazing! We've had the mashed potatoes, green beans, au gratin potatoes, and the risotto. My favorite side out of all of them is probably the green beans with pecans. Who knew a vegetable could taste SO good!!! I would be giving J Gilbert's a 5 if everything was as wonderful as their food!! As for service, it's a 3 at best. Even though we had a reservation tonight, the hostess was incredibly disorganized. Even the host taking us to our table was confused by the disorganization. Both times, our servers seemed incredibly rushed. It's almost like the service you'd get at a busy diner. It makes us think that the waiters have too many tables OR attention to diners is just not a priority. For example, our waiter tonight told us that the fish of the day, which my husband ordered, was rockfish. Turned out that it was bass and it was a different price than we were originally told. We didn't catch it until the runner bringing the food said "here's your bass." At that point, we didn't want to send it back. The ambiance is also a 3. Overall, there's a lot of hustle and bustle. It's not a quiet restaurant. The first time there we sat near the foyer, which was busy. It was awkward eating dinner with folks staring at us, who were standing near the hostess stand. Tonight we sat in the back next to a loud table filled with drunk patrons. At one point a woman started screaming political slurs and comments such as "down with white people" (the irony is that she was white). Luckily, we were paying our check as quickly as possible to get out of there!! All in all, I give J. Gilbert's a 3 1/2 (too bad Yelp doesn't do halves). If their service and ambiance were as good as their food, I would rate this restaurant a 5. read more

My family, friends and I came for restaurant week and even though it was quite busy, we were seated promptly with our reservations. Our server gave us the complimentary bread to begin with which was okay. Nothing special. We started out with the potato blue cheese appetizers ( forgot the actual name) and the calamari off the regular menu. They were both okay but nothing to die for. Then we got the crab bisque and potato soup which was a little salty but really good! The NY strip was amazing as were the ribs. The steaks were cooked to perfection the BBQ ribs were fall off the bone good. The side of mushroom risotto and the crab cakes was AMAZINGLY to die for as well. The risotto was so creamy and perfect and the crab cakes were literally just lumps of crab meat. Barely any breading/fillers. We were all stuffed by the time our entrees came out and we couldn't finish our meals. For dessert we got the chocolate mousse and carrot cake. They were out of the chocolate velvet and cheesecake unfortunately. But the carrot cake is on point! Can't go wrong with at all. Our server tonight's name was Henry. He was AMAZINGLY AMAZEBALLZ! He was attentive and funny and and he continued to give us great service from being to end. He was very apologetic about the desserts being out and gave us any dessert of our choice from the regular menu free of charge as well. If I could give him another 5 stars by himself, I would. Highly recommend Henry for all those who dine here. read more

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I am extremely disappointed. Let me start by saying that this has been my favorite place for special occasions for the last few years. It is rather expensive so I have always visited this restaurant as a special treat which makes this horrible experience that much worse. Below are the reasons that I have no desire to come back here again: 1. They used to have delicious, custom, homemade bread as an appetizer. This has been replaced by regular boring bread. You can still acquire the good bread but only during brunch. That took away the delicious beginning that I have always looked forward to. 2. The bread on the appetizer we ordered was straight up burnt and the portions of the little meat and cheese were minuscule. 3. The scallop risotto was extremely greasy. I could taste the grease as I ate it. (This used to be my favorite fish) 4. The service was poor and he wasn't able to get to our needs in time as he was overwhelmed with other tables. The only upside to the establishment was the steak we ordered, however considering the bill I would hope everything else would be good as well. Highly and genuinely disappointed. read more

J Gilbert's - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

We have been going to J. Gilbert's for 15 years. We went tonight to celebrate my son's birthday and the service and atmosphere were not at the same level we were used to. We had to ask for things 3 times before they brought them. Our drinks were served incorrectly. The women's bathroom was a mess. Service was slow. Meals were had been ordering for 15 years were served differently. It took over 2 hours to get to the dessert course. When a party of 6 arrives (2 of whom were children who had school the next day) at 6 pm we don't plan to be there until close to 9pm. read more

The food here is great and the staff are very welcoming and good at what they do. Could not recommend this restaurant enough.

Had high hope for its steak but turned out to be a bust. Heard many good things about it and it is in my neck of woods. Had a delivery order once with grilled seafood for my wife and she loved it. This time, went with a carry out order for surf n turf and top sirloin. Asked to cook medium, but the top sirloin was almost welldone and chewy. Portion of the surf and turf was a little too miserable, five pieces of scallop and a 4oz steak with two sides, barely cover the bottom of a take out box. I've had better steaks at this price point. read more

Came here for my birthday which is also New Year's Eve. Upon arrival the hostess wasn't paying attention and very informal. No biggie. But our server was a bit off. Maybe just his personality, but he spoke very quietly and not chipper at all. Didn't mention any specials or New Year's Eve menu. Our wine glasses were dirty, some of the silverware and the table looked like they were very old and extremely worn down. Based on the prices, I was expecting a bit more. The cocktail shrimp was large and taste good. The filet was good, although not medium temp. Sea scallops were pretty good. The green beans were basic but the pecans added a nice touch. The poblano au gratin potatoes were good with a nice kick. The creme brûlée was not very good, with a very thick layer on top. Overall the food was okay, but for the price and service we have no interest in returning. read more

Just had a fantastic meal with my extended family (11 people). The atmosphere, food and service were spot on. Joan and Carenna were attentive, friendly, and informative. The wine and drinks were kept full, the food was brought promptly and with a friendly smile. Thank you for making our family outing special. read more

J Gilbert's is one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in the tysons/mclean area. Everything I have tried on their menu is pure quality. Have to always get crab bisque for starters. The best soup I've had. The Rueben is phenomenal! You can also get half a Rueben with crab bisque soup as a power lunch, which turns out to be an amazing deal. The NY cheesecake with cake on the bottom instead of the graham cracker crust is my favorite cheesecake in the area also. read more

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Dining at J. Gilbert's was phenomenal despite one misstep. I wore a Bordeaux colored double breasted suit and I felt amazing. I enjoyed the rustic ambiance which added to a special Mother's Day for Mom. We ordered from the Prix-Fixe menu. I ordered the Kansas City Steak (medium) w/ grilled asparagus, Yukon gold potatoes, and carrot cake. Mom ordered the Surf and Turf with the same sides, and coconut cake. Complimentary bread was given and the Caesar salad was top notch. Mom sent her filet mignon back to the kitchen due to the steak being burnt and charred on the outside. The steak was over cooked on the inside. Customer service was more than accommodating and admitted the mistake. Mom was given another steak cooked to her liking. My steak came out perfect. No steak butter was needed but I had all three specialty butters. The truffle and blue cheese butters were memorable. The sides and desserts were delicious. The house Cab excelled where other wines for that price point would have faltered. Our waiter from Morocco was attentive and courteous. Tip: According to a woman my mom spoke to in the bathroom, "outside dining in the tent is cold at night." read more

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