We eat at J. Gilbert's probably 3 to 6 times per year as its a great neighborhood steakhouse style restaurant. It's consistently excellent. We went on July 4th for dinner as they had e-mailed me a holiday special offer. My wife had the filet and I had the bone-in strip. We each had the lobster mac n cheese and green beans with pecans. The meats were tasty and cooked medium as requested. The lobster mac n cheese at J. Gilbert's is the best we've ever tasted. No one is close that we've tried. The green beans with pecans were outstanding. The bread was very good. The waiter was attentive and the food came out promptly. Prices on food and wine are reasonable for what you get and combined with the holiday offer its a great dining value. read more

My wife and I went to dinner recently at this terrific, local restaurant. We did not have a reservation but were seated immediately in a comfortable booth. We've been here before and it has never let us down. I had steak frites and my wife had scallops. Both dinners were excellent, as was our wine. The waitstaff were prompt and knowledgeable. The atmosphere - quiet, dim, but pleasantly lit at our table - was perfect. I have always had not just a good but a complete, 5-Star experience at this restaurant. It does not let you down. read more

I had lunch here with my colleagues this afternoon and the ambiance is cozy and romantic. I enjoyed my crab cakes, mashed potatoes and asparagus and I am looking forward to returning to try the steak and the lobster mac and cheese. Their wine menu was extensive with a plethora of options for the wine connoisseur which made me a very happy camper. read more

We come here for lunch all the time, even with our 3 young kids. They have a great kid's menu and we can enjoy a nice adult meal, as well. The lunch specials for $13.50 can't be beat- you get a huge salad/soup of your choice, plus an entree. The sourdough bread boule they bring to your table is always hot and fresh and the best! I have to resist eating the whole thing. Love J. Gilberts! read more

Maryland crab bisque is the best ever! Buffalo chichen salar with blue cheese is perfect for lunch!

Very cozy atmosphere, fairly extensive wine list and nice assortment of tasty appetizers. The steak isn't incredible, but it's one of the better one's in northern VA. I went here on a date. We started off with drinks at the bar while waiting for our table, and we munched on some very delicious Maytag Potato Chips with blue cheese sauce. The salty-dry taste went nicely with our martinis. When we were seated at a table, we both ordered the center-cut filet. I went with the small (6 oz.), he went with the 8 oz. We both ordered ours medium-rare, and they were cooked perfectly. He seemed to enjoy his lobster mac 'n cheese. It did look good. My green beans with pecans were unspectacular. All and all it was a nice night. 8/10 on the steak, 8/10 on the atmosphere. Good service. The surrounding area itself isn't too charming, but I can't fault the restaurant for that. read more

I usually love this place! Last nite was our worst J. Gilbert's experience ever. I invited my husband to meet me in Tysons for dinner after working late. My martinis were served in a small glass and not full--for the price it was quite disappointing. The recommended sirloin steak was quite chewy, although my husband liked the mesquite flavor. The sides (roasted potatoes, mushrooms, and green beans) were under who and small portions. We were comped a small filet -- it was served without sides which was disappointing since the other sides were gone or cold. After getting home my husband started feeling out of it. Thought he was just tired. This morning I woke up feeling like I had been run over -- felt like MSG poisoning. We both felt it might be a mild case of food poisoning. Still recovering. We have a commitment later today that I hope we'll be able to make. It going to be awhile before we return or recommend this place! read more

Great steaks but the restaurant is dark and often loud. Service can be good at times but is often unimpressive. One of the nicest restaurants in McLean and it saves you a drive into DC but by no means an incredible steakhouse. read more

You can skip the higher end steakhouses like Ruth Chris or Capitol Grille because J. Gilbert's is good enough. This is not to endorse J. Gilbert's as the best place for steak but instead to claim that its perceived value is sufficient for the vast majority of the public. The 3-course prefix menu ($33) is an amazing bargain for the casual diner. If you must, however, order a la carte then the tortilla soup ($5.95) is surpisingly rich with spices and sizable bites of chicken, and the mozzerella salad ($8.95) a refreshingly light starter. Normally, I prefer to grill my own filet mignon because its a vastly cheaper alternative. But if I must order steak, I would opt for J. Gilbert's. For more details to salivate over, just read Cindy Y.'S review regarding our dining experience. [Original Visit: December 2008] read more

Skip the brunch. For $29, there are a lot of better all-you-can-eat deals in the area (Requin, Founding Farmers, Tuskie's). While I appreciated the variety and seafood options, most everything was mediocre. Minimal healthy options besides fruit -- green beans are doused in butter, omelets are oily. I was hoping to make a smoked salmon bagel but the bagels were plain and hard and no option for toasting. Waffles were the only sweet breakfast dish (no pancakes or French toast), they were dry and not served with real maple syrup. There were also no cinnamon donuts even though they were advertised on the menu. The set up was awkward and it was very difficult to get an omelet/prime rib. The whole meal was a real bummer, as we were really looking forward to it! read more

J Gilbert's was a 5 star plus!!! Service was attentive! Joan our server was a rock star! Food was on point and may I say we definitely will return by far best Filet and porterhouse I have ever had! J Gilberts keep what your doing best we shall see you soon again! read more

The restaurant was super busy even on a Tuesday night. My steak was cooked perfectly. This is a great place for a special celebration.

12 may 18. Awful tonight. T salads we're wrong. Steaks wrong. Desert was not as advertised and recooked food took 30 and 2 of 3 were wrong read more

Reliable, well-prepared, tasty, but ultimately forgettable ,chow. Wait staff is always friendly and efficient. Priced reasonably enough, or at least in keeping with the customary and usual pricing in the area. Place is almost always busy, busy, busy, but I have never had to wait for a table. More comfortable and less pretentious than Morton's, the Palm and Flemmings. So, really, you can't go WRONG here, but it's not special occasion fare. It's Tuesday out to lunch fare, or Thursday regular "date night" fare. Capish? read more

This place is warm, inviting, and delish! Our server was entertaining and the food was amazing. I don't think I've ever had such fresh tasting fish tacos before. The cilantro tasted like it had just been picked from the fields. There were so many yummy looking menu items like lobster mac n cheese, steak with truffle butter, bourbon maple shrimp, and flavored mojitos. I will definitely be back soon to try something else! read more

Best crab bisque on the planet! Super busy and loud in weekend nights, Sunday brunch is a great time to go.

We been to J. Gilberts many times. We've taken both clients and employees and I have to say we've been regularly disappointed. Although the food and wine selection is decent, the service is just mediocre at best. Last year when we took our best clients there, we were embarrassed by the service we received. The waiter was awful and at one point was so frustrated she said "well it's a Saturday night and we have over 200 reservations..." or something to that affect. Our order was wrong, late and not great. When we took our employees there for an appreciation dinner, we were sat in the Wine Room and again, the service was awful. Half the table had to wait an extremely long time for their drinks (so that the other half were already finished with their first one) and we didn't feel like we had one waiter who was dedicated to our table. We'd have random waiters come in from time to time and when our water glasses weren't being filled (which happened several times), I had to track one down in another section. They were all nice enough, but just not well trained and attentive the way you'd expect at a nice steakhouse. To top it all off, during this last visit, my husband received a sub-standard steak (which is the main reason he loved this place so much). Unfortunately we won't be returning again and can only hope that the management staff takes it upon themselves to increase the level of training for their employees. read more

The quality and service of this place is usually pretty good. A little pricey but delicious. I've come here for their delicious Thanksgiving meal with a chocolate fountain and many times for their affordable and great quality Sunday Brunch. That Sunday Brunch has a lot to choose from. I would give them 5 stars but one time they did not have enough Tea Forté containers so I could not get one due to a big party used them all. read more

I've eaten here many times. It's a very large place and so has a bit of an impersonal, perhaps industrial scale, sort of feel. But I think it is succeeding in doing what it set out to do. It's a very good place for those who don't want to be adventurous with their food but want familiar dishes well prepared. Good steaks and grilled seafood. read more

Came here the past weekend with a party. I was in awe from this service. Service 1/5 food 4.5/5. It took 2 hours for the food to come. We had to go find the server to come to our table after not being greeted after we sat down, about 30 minutes later. No exaggeration. If you expect to offer these over priced entree's like Ruth's Chris, I expect the service to be included as well. If it wasn't for the delicious food, I would give this place a 1/5. Overall, I would highly recommend to have a meeting with the staff to deliver what the customers expect and that's fine elegant dining with a pretty penny. read more

Upscale place with food as good as the service. A great selection of wine and spirits, the service stands out before you ever get the food. Our server Keith did an amazing job and the food is amazing. read more

Took the dad for Father's Day brunch. There was a short (less than 10 minute) wait for our reservation. The waitress was wonderful, very attentive and helpful. An outstanding cup of coffee and fresh orange juice. The food was incredible. Ham and cheese quiche was outstanding. Prime rib was tender. Donut holes were homemade. The round chocolate things were unbelievably decadent. The waffles were made fresh and brought to our table. The only tiny issue that I has was that, in the sweet potato hash, the sweet potatoes were still crunchy. For such a busy day, our waitress was on top of her game. I have to say that the other waitstaff ignored our table, even when we had a number of empty plates to be cleared. Because of the price, I can't say that we'll be regulars from now on but J. Gilbert's will definitely go into the rotation of special occasion restaurants. read more

Great food. Will return to this place. Customer service was great and the food was fresh. One of the good steak places in the area.

I came here for the $29 brunch on a Sunday at noontime. I had a reservation but didn't need it--plenty of tables as this is a good-sized restaurant. Everybody was nice and that's as far as my amazement went. The food options were limited, and not just in vegetarian food. For vegetarians there are: desserts, omelette station, pastries, salad (like the Costco spring mix), mozzarella with cherry tomatoes, yogurt, and waffles. One penne pasta has lobster sauce and the other spicy penne pasta is made in chicken broth. The waffles have to be brought to you by your server which I think is weird because most buffet brunches I've gone to have an omelette station and a waffle station. The food I did have was pretty blah and my partner said that the seafood wasn't that great and there were only salmon and oysters. Also the Yukon gold potatoes have bacon bits in them so beware if you don't eat bacon. The bathroom stalls were also out of toilet seat liner which is kind of weird for being early on in the day. A little overpriced considering what I did get should cost maybe $15 a la cart. The mimosa wasn't worth $5 and I wish that they had bottomless drinks for a set price like most places or have it in their price like at Sequoia. read more

J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood - Mimosa with vegetarian brunch food - Steakhouses Near Me - McLean, Virginia

I went here because of the 4-5 star reviews, it is not a 4-5 star place. It's probably a 3 star place but the extremely positive reviews have got to be fakes, I want to give it 1 star. I am being completely honest here it is impossible.... IMPOSSIBLE for this place to be rated as highly as it is, unless the owner is writing ten ***** reviews for every one unfavorable review. Some other reviewers have actually said "best steak in the DC area" these people must have had a stroke that effected only the part of the brain that controls taste. I am genuinely upset it isn't possible for a person who eats steaks at steakhouses to think this is the best place in DC. I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS READING SOME OF THEM!!! or like I'm in some kind of Bizarro-World or on the internet of some parallel universe's reading their yelp. The Bar I would give 4 stars, the bartenders are attentive. Price is too high for food that is mediocre. Service is OK but not what I would expect for the price range. The funniest and most ridiculous part is we ordered the MARYLAND CRAB BISQUE ($9.50) and they made a big show of it. They bring out the almost empty bowl with less than a tea spoon of crab meat right in the middle. Each bowl is filled at the table with the bisque after by the waitstaff. Once you see there is actually crab meat in the the bowl they individually pour in the bisque on top of the light dusting of crab. At time I assumed there was more crab in the actual bisque I just watched them pour into my bowl... I wouldn't have believed there was any crab meat in the crab bisque at all unless they showed it to me first. I would say this place is like an expensive AppIebee's. read more

I can't believe I've lived in this area for this long without trying this place!! Everything was amazing! They made it easy to make a reservation online and upon arrival sat us quickly. They did a great job spreading the tables out amongst the social distance protocols. Our waitress brought us delicious warm bread and waters right away. The service was impeccable and it was our servers first night! She did so great. Continuously checked on his and filled our waters. The food was phenomenal. I got the filet combo with crab cake and it was amazing! I also got the mashed potatoes and green beans on the side which were just as delicious. Then for dessert we got the chocolate velvet cake paired with raspberry ice cream which was out of this world. I cannot wait to dine here again! read more

Each time I've been here I've left stuffed and satisfied! Plenty of pleasant servers so you never wait long for service. Food always arrives warm. Highly recommend: -Ahi Tuna Tartare -Shrimp Durango -Lobster Mac N'Cheese -Chicken Tortilla Soup -Filet Combo with the jumbo lump crab cake! -Jumbo lump crab cakes! -Canadian Lobster Tail -Chocolate Velvet Cake read more

Best Sunday brunch in the NoVa area hands down. Wonderful variety of seafood, breads, cheeses, basic comfort foods, great omelets and a fantastic dessert station. The reason for only three stars is the dimly lit dining salon and the dilapidated furniture. read more

I have been to this restaurant several times and each time I visit I know why I keep going back. The restaurant is very cozy and warm, the food outstanding and the service is always excellent. This is my families 'go to' place when extended family is in town. Hence we were here twice in the last two weeks and both visits were stellar experiences. The first visit we were seated right away and we were met by our very helpful and friendly server. I don't remember his name but he was truly wonderful. He was a little older and had a charming accent. This is probably some of the best service we have ever received and we are blessed to be able to eat out whenever and wherever we choose. I was feeling a bit indecisive and he made recommendations that were spot on. I usually get the crab cakes (top notch) or the scallops with the lobster risotto (amazing and the best anywhere) but my steak was fantastic and cooked to perfection. The asparagus potion was a little too small but they were cooked perfectly as well. On our last visit I had the wedge salad to start. It was fantastic as always but the dish has changed and no longer comes topped with pecans like it used to. My server must have noticed my disappointment because she asked if everything was to my liking. After telling her how much I missed the pecans to my delight she promptly brought some of them out to me. Apparently they are still made, just not used on the wedge anymore. I ordered the filet and it was absolutely heavenly. It was so tender and the mashed potatoes were fluffy and delicious. I don't drink enough wine to feel comfortable knowing I will always like what I have chosen and usually I ask the server to make a recommendation or selection. Our server Maria asked a few questions about my general preferences and came back with a fantastic pinot noir. I really appreciated that she described the wine that she had chosen for me and that it wasn't automatically the most expensive thing on the menu. On a side note, although we are spontaneous with our family plans and usually don't make reservations I would highly recommend making one if you plan to dine here. We did have one visit where we ended up not staying because the wait would have been too long for our plans that evening. read more

My friend and I dined outside last night. Superb! From the excellent margarita to the tasty hamburger, the chicken dish, and a small array of fresh flowers on the table and wonderful service by Joan and more. Highly recommended! A delightful respite from the terrible covid-19! read more

The Dress is Casual The atmosphere is classy the food is phenomenal Top 5 Steaks for the money in The DC area. We visit JG at least twice a year. The last time we were there we had our 2 year old with us and it was not a problem. *i don't know why this review never posted its from 2011 read more

Hands down my favorite steak in northern Virginia. The service is excellent, the maytag bleu cheese appetizer is delicious and every cut of steak is as good as the next. They also have a variety of other options and keep their ingredients fresh and local for the most part. Whenever I'm home, this is the place I go to get a steak. read more

Rave reviews about the Sunday Brunch are all valad. After a little confusion about our reservations for our reunited family, management went out of their way to apologize with super service and a credit. Everything was yummy - fresh and expertly prepared. My wife and I returned for dinner - great food, expertly prepared and served with a smile. Will return when next in the area! read more

J Gilberts is labeled as a high end steakhouse and the food is great. Unfortunately, I have to give this place only 3 stars based on the service. After we sat down, it took a long time just to get a drink order. After waiting a while for our drinks, we waited for the server to come back just to finally get menus. After reading reviews on Yelp, I was told the ribeye is the thing to eat here... Here is how my conversation went: Me: I will have the Ribeye Server: I'm sorry we are out of the Ribeye. Me: Ok, then I will have the Rack of Lamb. Server: I'm sorry we are out of the Rack of Lamb. Soooo, I ended up ordering the pork chop which was actually really good. Overall its a nice, fancy steakhouse with good food and generous drink pours. I would rather go to The Palm. read more

Today 09/20 we had the worst client service experience ever at J.Gilberts on downtown McLean. We moved to McLean 2 years ago and this restaurant has become one of our favorites to the point we like to go at least once/twice per week and since my parents (seniors in their 70's) were visiting me from out of country, I wanted to take them to nice restaurant, everything was going great and the food was excellent, but it the middle of our lunch my mom noticed her cell phone was missing, and she started looking and saw it in between the wall and booth seat, so it was very hard to get it. Then we told the waitress what happened and she told us it was ok, we would get when we finished. That it was not the first cell phone that fells on that part. When we were ready to leave the restaurant the waitress moved the upper part of the seat, but the lower part was attached to the wall, and obviously it was not going to be easy to get it, so here is how our nightmare begins, then all the other waiters started asking what it was going on, and our waitress simply responded to them: she "thinks" her cell phone fell on the floor (first red flag for it was going to happen). Then I responded to that, she does not "think" she SAW her cell phone falling on the floor. Then she asks me that I should call the cell phone "just to check" it was "really" in there, so I respond: is not going to ring because the cell phone is on airplane mode since my parents live on another country, and she responds " uhhhmmm usually when you call from one cell to another it sounds, right?". Then different waiters come and try to get it, with no success. One hour after that, one them suggest we should call the Manager, then this lady named Doreen or Doriana... and she really offended us, treating us like liars, first I asked her if she could help us doing something and she says: "you are welcome to stay as long as you need but I am not damaging my restaurant just to "look" for your cell phone" then she says "that it did not make any sense to her logic that a cell phone could fell on that part" and suddenly goes to my mom's purse (violating our personal privacy) and tells her to look with her in there!!!!! Feeling like if she was a cop, then tells my mom to go with her to my car and my mom had to open the car and she went inside of my car started searching around, that is a complete violation of our privacy and offending us by treating us like liars. She had no legal right to go and touch our personal property and violated all our privacy. Then she comes and says, if the phone is there go to find my iPhone and even if it is on airplane mode it's going to ring, then just to proof we tried to do that but obviously it did not work since the phone was offline. Then the general manager comes and start asking questions to my mom (she does not speak any English at all) "has anyone seen the phone here"? Are you 100% sure is in there? "It really does not make any sense in my logic that a phone can be there" (Again treating us like Liars). Then I suggested to bring some else who can open a little space there just to put our hands in, finally 2 hours after the incident he accepts to bring the Maintence guy, then this guy comes and in 5 minutes finds the iPhone where we have always said it fell. The general manager apologized and then we told the lady manager that she had to apologize for treating us like Liars and going thru our personal property with no legal right, she responds laughing on our face, turning back! So, I am writing this hoping the restaurant's owner reads this review and gets aware how your employees violate people's privacy, treat them like liars with no manners and education, to the point my mom felt abused and started crying. Thank you everyone for reading this and if you by any chance know the owner please tell him to read this, because it would be very helpful to his restaurant. read more

If you're looking for a great dining experience and EXCELLENT meal, this is the place to go. If you are ordering steak, it can be a little pricey, but what GOOD steakhouse isn't? Katie, our waitress, was FANTASTIC. Definitely ask for her if you can! My husband loved his chicken penne dish and I devoured my wedge salad and top sirloin! SO SO SO SO SOOO good! Wish they had one of these in Florida (where I live)! read more

McLean, and near by Tysons Corner, has more steak houses than California has lawyers scrambling for work. The competition here is stiff and J Gilbert's is one of my five favorite steak houses in this area. Service is good and their 24-ounce Black Angus porterhouse is just a shocking 28 bones! The same steak would run you closer to $60 in many California urban steak houses. Their wine list features a number of good California reds. read more

While I was on this side of town I met up with my cousin for a Sunday Brunch and she suggested this place, she called and made reservations for 12:30. Neither of us have ever been here before but after browsing a few reviews on Yelp it seemed like a perfect place. We arrived 12:15 and the parking lot was packedddd! This must be a very popular place. I couldn't find a parking spot so I parked at the McDonalds right next door, I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to do that but.. *shrugs*. After letting the host know we were here for our reservation we were seated maybe 10-15 mins afterwards, not bad at all considering how heavy the traffic flow was inside. The waitress was very nice and let us know that the buffet brunch was going on and that we could have whatever we likeeee. (That was in my T.I. voice by the way). She informed us that the waffles are made to order and if we wanted some to just let her know and she'd bring some right out. So the food... sooo much food! It wasn't even cheap lazy buffet food it was some really good tasting top notch fancy food, some which I've never had before. lobster mac and cheese, ham and cheese quiche, I can't even remember all the food that was there. I did enjoy the shrimps and the other seafood options that were there. I made about 3 trips to the buffet area because 3 in my MINUMUM amount of plates at any buffet I go to. read more

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I love this place! The strip steak was amazing, and the sides are to die for. Start out with the crab cakes, so good!

I had a bad experience there on my birthday, but they called me and apologized for the poor service and food. I will give them another chance to see if they improve in the near future. read more