J Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood

Had an office Xmas luncheon here in December ’15 and I enjoyed the food and the ambience. I ordered the 6oz filet mignon with the roasted brussel sprouts, a very tasty combo. Next time I’ll order dessert to go. I recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Great service. Loveee the sliders and the soups they have. They also have valet since they are always packed for lunch. No parking available especially during the week for lunch time. overall, I like the service.

Just had dinner here, the steaks are the best in McLean. Will be booking my next party here !

Let me start by saying this review will not give this place its justice. The food here was awesome. I had the ribs and they were in the top 5 I have ever had in my life! I know good BBQ! I also had a Scotch Flight which was really fun! Great place with great service and very friendly!

I decided to try J. Gilbert’s out during Restaurant Week thinking I wouldn’t lose much if I was disappointed and WOW, I was satisfied from the time I entered, (host)’ to the time I left and everything and everyone in between. The service was competent and friendly with suggestions, the food was awesome, oh my, I’m getting hungry thinking about it. I will return again and again.

Very good steak restaurant. I’ve been here probably a dozen times with my in-​laws who live in McLean. The food is delicious, whether you’re getting steak or seafood. I always end up getting the petite filet and crab cake for dinner, because both are perfectly cooked and are so delightful. The lobster Mac and cheese is decadent but worth it. For lunch I’ve had the salmon panzanella and it was perfect. I dream about it sometimes (don’t know if it’s still on their lunch menu).
The atmosphere is what I call dressy casual. It’s upscale but relaxed and intimate. Jeans fit in here, but nice jeans and a nice shirt. The service is usually very good. Some parts of the restaurant can be noisy, so ask for a quieter table if you’re hard of hearing.

This is one of the absolute ONLY places I visit that consistently serves good portion sized cocktails every time at a competitive price — in contrast to the inconsistent and often watered down cocktails served by trendy DC establishments that cost $ 15+. I’ll caveat that I’ve only been for J Gilbert’s Happy Hour specials but have been impressed each time with the drink pours, quality of the liquor, the pricing and the portion sizes and quality of the food covered under the Happy Hour. You can easily order a meal and two drinks for under $ 20. I’ve also always been able to find a table or bar stools for a small to medium sized group in the bar area.
I usually order a heavy pour beverage (manhattan or bourbon-​based drink). They use bourbon or brandy marinated cherries and often pour/​strain the Manhattan at your table. The sliders are basically an entire burger divided into two. Your wait-​staff usually gives you the choice to get one of each of the slider options (au poivre and regular). The sweet potato fries are stacked into funnel or parchment paper cup and always crispy and hot when I’ve ordered.
Some other food favorites include the pretzel crusted onion rings (with three dipping sauces), burrata, smoked salmon rillette, and charcuterie plate. You can’t beat the happy hour prices for these dishes.
Would recommending going with the cocktails WITHOUT crushed ice; the crushed ice drinks (moscow mule or bourbon smash) typically taste watered down and give you less cocktail overall. You might can ask for «light-​ice» to compensate.
If you have any room left (or need to sober up) the desserts are amazing and the coffee is savory and flavorful… provided by La Colombe (Philly-​based establishment with a shop located near Chinatown/​Logan Circle). Grab a designated driver (or take an Über) and make a trip to J. Gilbert’s for Happy Hour!

The service is great, and the food is good. I’ve been a number of times and haven’t had a bad meal thus far.
While the menu items are a bit pricey, relatively speaking, it’s pretty par for the course in terms of steakhouses, so no complaints there from me.

We had a very enjoyable birthday lunch at J. Gilberts. Service was prompt and the waiter accepted the birthday coupon without any issues. The caesar salad was very tasty. The steak and frites were perfectly cooked — steak was medium rare. The potato soup was very filling. The choice of dessert was great as we were full from the lunch already, and the waiter was happy to serve us the ice cream there and boxed the cake to go!
We look forward to going back.

Good is great but every so often the kitchen must be overwhelmed and it shows in the food!

Just wow!
Service was excellent. Not intrusive but attentive. Food delivered quickly and efficiently.
And the food. It was to die for!

If you’re in the mood to splurge a little, this is the place to do it. The lunch menu is has a solid variety & I can guarantee that anything off the menu will be amazing. I’ve had lunch here a couple times in the past, but recently stopped by for a birthday lunch with a co-​worker.
I’m glad to say that the J. Gilbert’s has yet to disappoint.
I wasn’t able to get an appetizer because honestly I only get one hour for lunch, so I only had time for an entrée. I ordered the Steak & Frites and my co-​worker ordered the Wagya Beef Burger. We actually ended up splitting our entrees with each other, so I was able to try the burger as well.
Steak & Frites: I asked mine to be good medium, & it was absolutely perfect. Many times I get medium well or well done at other restaurants but they always seem to get it right. The steak was seasoned well & the ancho butter is to die for. I’ve ordered this dish before and they have yet to disappoint me. I love their sweet potato fries! They’re crispy, but not oily. And extremely addicting.
Wagya Beef Burger: My co-​worker ordered it medium, and this too was cooked perfectly. The shallot jam, mayo, watercress and cheese all went so well together. I wish I could put the jam on every burger I eat from now on. The pretzel bun held everything together well and didn’t get mushy.
I would recommend this place to anyone that wants some good food. I’ve tried a few of their other menu items like their Lobster Mac & Cheese and I can testify that the quality of their food is definitely worth the price. The customer service is always exceptional. They great you with smiles. The ambiance is very warm and intimate. I love the vibe.
I will definitely head back there again as soon as I can.

One of the best steakhouses in the area for sure — excellent excellent service, great food and atmosphere, and at the top of my list for places I bring my guests from out-​of-​town to. Use your Unilocal check in for the free house-​made chips, they’re great. I’ve tried everything from their bougy Sunday brunch to pepper-​crusted steak (YUM) to lunch burgers and have nothing but good things to say — my mom never eats meat and even she craves J Gilbert’s burgers sometimes. You might have to park at McD’s sometimes because it’s almost always crowded here and you’ll be fighting for a parking space.

J. Gilbert’s does it again. Service is excellent… food is excellent.
KC Strip this time and it was amazing. Absolutely the best steak you can get in the DC area. Awesome.

So disappointed. I ordered a four oz filet with scallops. The scallops were tiny (less than 1 inch), overcooked and dry. The steak itself was OK but again, overcooked. I ordered a medium, and it came out medium well. Overall, the service was great and attentive. Our server was personable and even cracked a few jokes.
Bottom line: meal was sad, I will not be coming back.

Walking through Tyson’s Galleria, I had passed this restaurant by many times. We decided to try it for a friend’s birthday lunch. I had read the reviews and decided to try the chopped salad. It had grilled chicken, mixed greens, crunchy pita crackers, bacon, tomatoes, and I ordered ranch dressing. It was huge and I ended up taking half of it home with me. I was glad that I made the choice to order that menu item. It was fresh and full of chicken and fresh veggies. My friend got the hamburger and fries. It was cooked perfectly and had a freshly grilled succulent taste. The French fries were crispy and hot. The meal was served with complimentary cornbread. The cornbread was okay, but nothing to rave about. I did really appreciate the complimentary chocolate cake and ice cream we received for my friends birthday. I also ordered the cappuccino. It was light and tasty. Our server, Louis was great and made sure we were well taken care of. Lunch is costly, but quite good. A good place to rest and eat in between shopping for Coach and Prada handbags. :)

Nice steakhouse and great service! We have been there several times and each time we had good experience in here.
Love their signature bread and cheese&ham plate!

Fantastic!
I was not excited before visiting them because I thought the restaurant is just average. It is not! My husband and I ordered 2 restaurant week menus. $ 35 each.
Complimentary Starter:
Cheese bread with whipped cream and maple syrup is AWESOME! I know it has high calories but I ate a lot.
Appetizers:
1.Crab soup is really rich and comes with a little bit crab meat. I prefer the one with more sherry.
2.Caesar salad is average with a tasty crispy cheese.
Entrée:
1. Smoked rib is scrumptious. Super tender and juicy. One of the best in my life. I did not use Kentucky style BBQ sauce at all. Grilled asparagus is perfect. Mash potato with skin is tasty too.
2.Top sirloin 10oz is very very delicious too. I recommend medium rare. Mushroom risotto is mouthwatering. Green beans and walnuts is overlooked and small.
Dessert:
1. Berries with cream sauce and chocolate almond snack is refreshing. Simply good.
2.Chocolate cake and ice cream with strawberries are good too. The cake is really creamy and moist but not heavy.
We could not eat even half of them. Massive and rich.
Taste: Great mostly.
Quantity: Awesome. Rib is massive!
Customer service: Pretty good. Our waiter forgot things a few times but he is elegant and nice.
Atmosphere: Good for a wonderful date night. Great music. Romantic brick dark room with many cool pictures and small spot lights. No kids.
Price: Good. Restaurant week menu is a great deal!
Parking lot: Free.
Tip: Sign up on their web site and get $ 25 coupon for your birthday! They send you many good deals.
We are so happy and truly satisfied. What a fantastic Mon dinner! We are looking forward to joining their brunch buffet next time!
Thank you so much;))

SPECTACULAR! This restaurant is one of my absolute favorites in Northern Virginia. My fiancé and I visited for DC’s Restaurant Week last week and had a wonderful experience. From beginning to end, the service was impeccable. The greeters/​servers at the front were very nice, as was our waiter. Our waiter was very helpful and attentive and the food came out very efficiently. We were seated right next to the fireplace and we loved the classy, yet rustic, feel to the place. I felt like we were in a very elegant lodge up in the mountains.
The meal was DELICIOUS! I absolutely recommend going with the filet or lobster (as my fiancé and I did). For restaurant week, we ordered the following:
–Appetizers: I ordered the Crab Bisque for my appetizer. It was very delicious and a very generous portion. I am a lover of bisques generally and this certainly did not disappoint! My fiancé ordered the wedge salad (maytag blue cheese, spiced pecans, applewood smoked
bacon, tomato, red onion, and buttermilk blue cheese dressing) and also loved his appetizer.
–Entrees: I ordered the 8 oz filet, which was accompanied by delicious garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus! There was a $ 10 upcharge for this particular entrée, but it was worth it. My fiancé ordered the lobster, which came with asparagus, and also loved his entrée and felt it was worth the upcharge.
–Dessert: I ordered the mixed berries, simply because I hate chocolate and this was the best option. But honestly, I probably would have ordered the mixed berries regardless. They were very fresh and delicious! I had to take some of this to-​go because I was so full, and these were still fresh hours later. My fiancé ordered the cookie box, a very sweet little box full of delicious cookies.
This place is seriously THE BEST. We also ordered drinks (a merlot for me and a cocktail for my fiancé) and loved them.
This restaurant is highly recommended and we will absolutely visit again in the future for a nice meal!
Oh, and those complimentary biscuits are absolutely ambrosial!

This review is for the ‘Sunday Brunch’. I was searching for a nice brunch to celebrate my hubbie’s birthday. There are many out there but I needed to hold it somewhere in the NOVA area because we had family coming in from Purcellville. This area is central to DC and the outskirts of Loudoun Cty. Making a reservation was easy but I couldn’t use Open Table to our 12 person guest list.
When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised that we were seated in their Wine Room, complete with nice big windows and a roomy area. The area was not completely enclosed but it did offer a nice buffer from the ‘constant movement of the brunch crowd’.
I really commend J. Gilbert’s preparation of our arrival: nicely set table, water glasses filled, and roomy seating arrangement.
The one thing that did not make this a perfect experience was that the two servers that were assigned did not go over the details of their brunch and all the inclusives that came with the one price of $ 29. Lucky for my keen eye, I managed to snag a manager and ask about the ‘fresh made donuts and caramel apple sauce’ served table side and the fact that coffee and sodas were also included in the price. SO, for those coming for the first time, please ask for the donuts if they are not brought to you, because they are AH-​MAZING, and indulge in soda and coffee because you have paid for it.
I can’t go into each and every detail of the food but I can tell you this: everything was freshly prepared, hot, and definitely tasty. There was a prime beef rib carving station, omelet bar, fresh sushi, an oyster and peel/​eat shrimp bar complete with tiny Tabasco bottles. There was a salad area, nice selection of cheese, and plenty of thick sliced bacon and sausages. ALSO, be sure to ask for the fresh made waffles with maple syrup, they are served to you table side. Those were the best waffles I have ever tasted! They have a large selection of lunch items including baked salmon, quiche, biscuits and the most amazing gravy. There is plenty of green stuff (green beans and other green things that I didn’t get to try). Their dessert area was wonderful… chocolate covered strawberries, cookies, tiny panna cotta cups.
The alcohol is not included but they have a nice price for mimosas, bloody mary drinks, and sparkling wine ($ 5-​$ 7).
Services was good, except for the minor omission on the donuts and beverages. They don’t automatically add gratuity which is rare for large parties. Our overall experience definitely deserves 5 full stars!
Also (if you join their e-​club, they email you a $ 25 coupon, that you can use on the brunch. You’ll also get subsequent coupons throughout the year.