I almost never leave reviews for anything, but this place is too important not to. I moved away from Saskatoon 50 years ago and this is the first time I have been back to Gibson's. Because it is such a fixture, I'm not at all sure that Saskatonians realize the importance of this iconic family restaurant. To me, it should be as hallowed a spot as the Schwartz Deli in Montreal. But I digress. What you really want to know is, why should you go and why should you care?
1. You should go because of the food. They use actual, real potatoes in their french fries, which is almost unheard of today. I honestly cannot remember when I last had any, which is rather sad really. I suspect that most people think the fries they are served in most restaurants are real, and not just reconstituted potato goop formed into fry shapes. Which is what they are. Also, the fish and seafood are perfectly done, meaning the shrimp is still juicy and the fish light and flaky. Good, simple food, done well and with care.
2. You should go because of the people. They actually look you in the eyes when they smile and greet you. Like they actually mean what they say, they care about your answer, and are not just reciting a script (I swear to gawd if one more waitress asks me how my day is going as they walk ahead of me to my table, I'm going to scream!)
3. You should go because of the mid-century ambience. Yes, the decor is dated, but that's part of its charm. The restaurant is very clean and well-maintained. Almost like they care about their history. You should too.
4. They still wrap their take-out in newspaper to keep it warm! If you don't understand why this is a big deal, I can't help you.
5, And finally, you should go because it is an important part of this city's history. And in my humble opinion, that is worth preserving and celebrating. read more