Why does ANYONE eat at Gibby's?
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 1/24/10
Gibby's has a reputation as a Montreal institution one of the city's great steakhouses. Based on my horrid experience last night, and an equally bad experience 4 years ago (this second-chance visit was requested by my date), I cannot fathom why. Before going, consider...
Cost: Ridiculous relative to quality, e.g. $48 steaks (mediocre at best -- see below for worst)
Ambience: Like eating in a huge ski lodge or warehouse, albeit with old stone walls and wood beams. What's more, their operating philosophy seems to be all about turnover: "pack 'em in, rush 'em through."
Service: Nothing short of appalling -- servers all rushing, utterly impersonal, going through the motions as if they were all recruited from a cheap diner, complete with odd, ugly brown diner uniforms. (Seriously, in all ways, it was unbelievable for a restaurant with this reputation.)
Food: $48 pepper steak came wizened, not cooked as requested, and literally DROWNING in a plate of sauce that looked like cream of mushroom soup. It was nothing short of offensive to look -- especially once this obviously roux-based concoction began to congeal on the plate --and was next to inedible. I would have been embarassed to serve this slop to guests at my own house (and never would have)!
Overall experience: I left, after discussing all the above with the manager (who offered simply to take it up with HER boss), feeling disgusted -- utterly taken in and ripped off. Without question it was my all-time worst dining experience -- and worst value for dollar I have ever received.
NEVER again!