How is Gibson restaurant rated?

Gibson

3.8

312 Reviews

$31 to $50

Californian

Top Tags:

Gibson brings a new cocktail and dining experience to San Francisco. Located in the Hotel Bijou in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district—just a half-block from the Powell Street BART station—Gibson combines elegant and exceptional cocktails with a thoughtful menu subtly influenced by smoke, live fire and exotic spices. The casual yet refined bar and restaurant are designed to encourage sharing, community and conviviality.

No pretense, just a great time.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Californian, Cocktail Bar, Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed, Thu 5:00 pm–8:45 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:15 pm Happy Hour Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
Phone number
(415) 771-7709
Website
http://www.gibsonsf.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Owned/operated by
Black/African American, Middle Eastern

Location
111 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102-2713
Neighborhood
Financial District / Embarcadero
Cross street
Eddy
Parking details
Street parking as well as multiple lots within 2 blocks.
Public transit
BART: Powell St. Station<br />MUNI Lines: 8, 27, 30, 31, 45
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Cabbage Roll$6.00
piperade
Smoked Fish Salad$10.00
embered tomato, dill, caper
Milanese Brioche & House Butter$12.00
harrissa, sea salt
Chickpeas & Olives$12.00
adobo oil, fresh cheese, herbs
Young Lettuces$12.00
sesame, champagne vinegar, fresh herbs, preserved citrus
Chicken Skewer
tahini, chili, smoke
- ea$14.00
Half Dozen Steamboat Oysters$16.00
cocktail sauce, lemon
Spring Vegetables$17.00
fava, pea, burrata, vadouvan
Blinis & Roe$25.00
whipped buttermilk, green onion

House Bread Service

additional bread $3

Whipped Goat Cheese$16.00
smoked olive, cashew, basil
Grilled Avocado$15.00
lemon, chili, chive
Hummus$14.00
sesame, lemon, fermented garlic
Almond & Pepper$16.00
basil, ras el hanout, garlic

From the Hearth

Grilled Branzino$25.00
smoked malt vinegar
Smoked Trout$30.00
spring bouillon, fermented chili
60hr Slow Cooked Beef$35.00
preserved lime
Braised Lamb$45.00
peanuts, herbs

Sides

Chestnut Lima Beans$8.00
dukkah
Curry Chickpeas$8.00
pickled raisin
Broccoli Rabe$8.00
pomagranite & baharat
Chilled Peas
Bread, terragon, onion

Cocktails

Butter Me Up$15.00
Brown buttered & pinecone bourbons, mushroom sweet vermouth, rooibos infused house apertivo
Garden Gibson$14.00
Snap pea gin, green tea bimini, dry vermouth, porcini vermouth, onion brine
Sea Gibson$14.00
Oyster aged gin, sea weed sake, smoked olive sake, Vermouth, onion brine, pickled sea bean
Talk To Me Goose$14.00
Gooseberry vodka, black currant, preserved lemon, club soda
Clear Bloody Marry$16.00
Marash pepper vodka, freeze distilled early girl & green tomato, mushroom garum
Nordic Shrubbery$14.00
Aquavit, beer vinegar, fermented lemon, orange bittered honey
Mole Old Fashion$15.00
Mezcal, tequila, sweet, spicey, smokey peppers, clove, cocoa, star anise, cinnamon

Wines by the Glass

Bubbles

Maison Foucher, Cremant de Loire NV$12.00
Delta Brut Rose, Napa 2020$12.00

White

La Giustiniana, Cortese, Piemonte 2020$13.00
Iconic, Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands 2019$17.00

Rose

Underground Wine Project, Sangiovese, Columbia Valley 2021$12.00

Red

Union Sacre, Pinot Noir, Central Coast 2019$13.00
Le P'Tit Payson, Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito County 2019$13.00

Draft Beer

Saison du Japon, Hitachino$8.00
Biere de Garde, Fieldwork$7.00
Plum Sour, Almanac$7.00
Lager, Allagash$7.00

Bottle & Cans

Allagash White$7.00
River Trip Belgian Pale, Allagash Tall Boy$7.00
Almanac, Love IPA$7.00
Almanac, True Kolsch$7.00

What 312 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

3.8

3.8 based on recent ratings

3.9Food
3.8Service
3.8Ambience
3.5Value

Noise • Moderate

312 Reviews

NG
NanG
San Francisco
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 28, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience3
The food was spectacular; the bar, not so much. There were no familiar labels of spirits. I just got a glass of wine instead. We will return.
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BT
BarryT
San Francisco
16 reviews
vip
2.0
16 reviews
Dined on August 28, 2022
overall2food4service1ambience3
Had high hopes for Gibson based on what I have heard and read. The food was fine, the lamb shank braised in peanut butter with white balsamic was awesome and the executive chef shared it’s history which made it all the more enjoyable. However, the service was terrible. To get drinks from the bar we had to hunt down the bartender as she was the only server on Saturday night. Our party was not in a hurry, but the table next to us was extremely irritated as they had tickets for a show. It’s always a bad sign when you need to ask for the check as your entrees are being delivered. Would really like to give it another try, but at $500 for a party of 4, it’s doubtful. I sincerely hope they can get it together and make it work. I totally understand the challenges hospitality is facing now. But if you want to do it, you need to figure it out.
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JL
JillL
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Far exceeded expectations. Highly recommend. The tomato dish was spectacular as was the service.
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NM
NealM
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This restaurant is a true hidden gem. Yet it hides in plain sight just one short block from the Powell Street cable car terminus and the Powell Street BART and MUNI station. The chef is a local talent with roots going back to the Culinary Arts program at City College of San Francisco. But his vision and artistry show but a mere glimpse of his future potential. Yes, Chef Johnathan is one to look out for in the future. Look out for fascinating treatments of pickled elements in both mains and cocktails. All house-infused. And in this day of chincy bread services, theirs shines with house made bread and spreads that will make you want to weep. And excellent service along with one of the most beautiful dining rooms in all of San Francisco, a real homage to the best of art deco design. You will enjoy every minute of dining at Gibson.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Calgary
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
You’ve gotta eat here!!! Dining at Gibson is an amazing experience. The bartender started off the experience with a great selection of unique cocktails. He will surprise you if you let him with something that isn’t on the menu…I had a very refreshing apple infused scotch cocktail that started the evening off wonderfully. The food is also incredible…they take you in a culinary journey through each course with well thought out flavour choices and strong presentation. Even the salad is meticulously put together….apparently the dressing takes a week of preparation before it is ready to be served. I had the 60 day beef which melted in my mouth…my wife had the salmon and was bursting with flavour. You can taste the great care the kitchen team prepared each dish and if you are lucky enough to get a table near the open kitchen you can watch them at work. Even the desserts are unique with finely balanced flavours. The chef and the staff are very knowledgeable and personable. The chef presented each course and swung by a few times during the meal explains how the course was prepared and how the flavours work together. The experience was second to none…even the French press coffee at the end was served with a hot mug. With food this good I was shocked that I could even get in on a same day reservation. Gibson is truly a must try place when you are in town. I was staying at the Westin St Francis - nothing in this hotel comes close to this place. I will definitely come back - I wished I lived closer so I could experience their dinner more often!
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S
Sharon
San Francisco
55 reviews
vip
5.0
55 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Space is beautiful and the food delicious. Both our server and the Chef were very personable and spent time chatting with us. Definitely want to go back.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of our favorite spots in the city!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was amazing. Great food quality!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
If I could give this place a higher rating than the options offer, i would. This is, hands down, the best dining experience. I live in NYC and SF and have eaten at some of the best rated restaurants in the world, and this is by far the best and most underrated experience. The food, service and bar expertise are unmatched. This restaurant should have at least two Michelin stars for the incredible dining experience.
1 person found this helpful
d
dfox
San Diego
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on June 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent restaurant. The lamb was melt in your mouth tender and very tasty. The house salad dressing is probably the best I've ever tasted- perfectly balanced, rich, complex, and yet not overpowering or overly vinegar tasting. The fish was cooked perfectly, and the cocktails were delightful. Service was perfect, and since our table had a view of the open kitchen, we got to enjoy watching the chef as well. We enjoyed our dinner very much!
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YC
YselaC
San Diego
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fue una cena increíble! El lugar nos encantó
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
The chef and wait staff were more than friendly. We got to sit by the kitchen and watch the action happen which was pretty legit. Not every dish was for me but most of it was, we did the tasting menu to try and branch out. Cocktails were on point! Highly recommend!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Go. Just go. Flavor profiles I’ve never experienced before from a chef who clearly loves his craft. Attentive, generous, service where you are truly made to feel like a welcome guest. Fine cocktails and warm hospitality from the bar tender. Seated with a view of the very open, shiny clean kitchen, watching the chef do his thing…Priceless! Go! Just go!
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MS
MegS
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was a real hidden gem- everything was wonderful- and couldn’t have picked a better pre-theater dinner!
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DI
DIMo
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous food, great ambience. Would definitely return again!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and service. An hidden gem in Mid-Market!
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RC
RebeccaC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Soooooo so so so good! Literally almost cried tears of joy from that delicious beef dish!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing service and food. The lamb was perfect!
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RA
RichardA
Greater Boston
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food, great service, creative cocktails - run by a terrific couple who make you feel at home. We’ll be back!
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G
marianaG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing experience. Loved the open kitchen. The bread is great!
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E
Erin
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience4
This place is a bit overpriced. The food is good but everything is very salty, could not finish each dish. Instead, I had to drink a lot of water during dinner. Also, it seems the restaurant does not have enough staff. The waitress seems too busy to notice our demand. Had to wait for a long time for food, water refill and also the check.
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i
ingridstef
London
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience5
great service ; Smoked trout wasn’t as expected - cooked rare to medium rare ; almost no one at restaurant - strange on a Thursday night 8pm.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Seattle
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Food was delicious and the service was outstanding!
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m
massgrizzly
Greater Boston
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
The chef's tasting menu was reminiscent of Iron Chef, Battle Trout. Unfortunately, trout is one of my least favorite fish and the chef embraced trout's distinctive flavor. I'm sure that trout lovers would have been thrilled.
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A
Amaezm
Minneapolis
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
AMAZING FOOD!
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MF
MichelinFoodie
San Francisco
52 reviews
vip
5.0
52 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
A tremendously talented team and amazing service. The food was spectacular with so much attention to detail and a real sense of ensuring a sustainable food practice and culture. Would repeat and highly recommend
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B
Bobb
San Francisco
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
An elegant oasis in the Tenderloin. Great staff - awesome waitress. Everyone seemed dedicated and happy to be there. Warm and welcoming atmosphere; and GREAT food. Chose to dine here before a show at the Warfield and it was perfect!
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MF
MissionFoodie
San Francisco
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on February 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lively bistro style space with interesting cocktails and excellent food. The menu is currently a bit limited, but everything is well executed.
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b
bkheightstim
New York Area
28 reviews
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very accommodating of our dietary needs. Some of the best food I’ve had in years. I don’t eat desserts often but felt I needed to try the cobbler and I was glad I did. The staff is amazing and very knowledgeable. I will be going back for a cocktail at the bar tonight.
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e
eatntalk
San Francisco
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Beautiful setting. Delicious food.. few choices.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2022
overall1food1service5ambience1
Honestly I feel bad writing this, but the vibes were SO off with this place. Reservations at 7pm
1 person found this helpful
SS
SarahS
London
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is the perfect restaurant for a pre-dinner show if you're going to The Warfield, The Curran, or in our case the ACT. We had a 6pm dinner reservation and finished our 3 course prix fixe meal by 7:40 for a quick two block walk to The Geary Theatre. The food, ambience, experience, and service were delightful. I couldn't believe it wasn't packed (Covid ), which is why I'm writing this review. This restaurant is attached to a boutique hotel and the ceilings are high and the tables are amply spaced. I felt very Covid safe even though we weren't dining outside. This dining room is also perfect for a large party. They can accommodate large groups. I've been to Per Se, Meadwood and other fine dining restaurants. I thought this was a perfect fine, casual restaurant with great food and service. Highly recommend. The homemade bread was also incredible, and I'm not a bread person! Cocktails are also great if you just want a place for pre or post dinner drinks!
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Went the the theatre.
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J
Joseph
San Francisco
32 reviews
vip
4.0
32 reviews
Dined on January 23, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience5
Service was fantastic and attentive. Cocktails and wine also fabulous. It has a cool, old-school vibe that I loved. Only problem? The food was only ok. Except for the bread. OMG the bread. Everything else was just fine. And the apple cobbler at the end was like a weird apple nut soup. But the bread....
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SH
StevenH
San Francisco
18 reviews
vip
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on January 8, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Nice venue though very empty in our visit due to Omicron. Service was attentive and food decent. The standout item weirdly enough was the mixed leaves salad - great combination of leaves plus an super tasty dressing. Scallop crudo nice but tiny (one scallop sliced into three). Branzino was grilled with a tasty crispy skin but oddly came with a miso glaze that did not work well with our choice of side (grilled endives in a cheese sauce) — possibly would work better with the broccoli. We had some perfectly serviceable cocktails and wine by the glass — reasonable choice though the Pinot was faulty.
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EW
EatWell
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a wonderful dining experience. The ingredients that were used in each course were fresh and all made by the chef. The cooking technique was explained and very interesting.
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AG
AlishaGregJennaeMike
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 19, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent cuisine, top notch service. Would recommend to anyone.
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SS
SamreenS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 18, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
We came to Gibson to celebrate my husband's 30th birthday. Due to the holidays, the restaurant was pretty empty - more privacy for us! We ordered the half chicken, the 60 hour cooked beef, and the cauliflower bites. The chutney that came with the half-chicken.. more please!! It was the perfect mix of sweet & savory. The 60 hour cooked beef melted in our mouths, definitely loved the drizzle atop. The sauce that the cauliflower bites sat in - DIVINE!!! We most appreciated that the humble chef came to present his dishes to us personally (I'm sure that's standard practice for all tables but it certainly felt personal), it gave us the opportunity to thank him in person! Last, but not least, we didn't realize that marking the occasion of our visit in OpenTable meant the restaurant actually preparing a birthday dessert with a candle! It was the sweetest little surprise. The perfect dinner with the perfect ambiance, design, and DECOR. 10/10 would recommend!
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KK
KateK
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 12, 2021
overall4food5service5ambience5
Overall, lovely hidden gem in a sketchy part of SF but rating a 4 Star due to entrées being A la Carte and quantity of meal for the price wasn’t sufficient. Would rec ordering a side dish so you don’t leave hungry still.
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AG
AlexG
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 5, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing spot. Hard to park, but worth it
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Extra space between tables

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Gibson is rated 3.8 stars by 312 OpenTable diners.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

111 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102-2713

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Eddy
Neighborhood
Financial District / Embarcadero
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed, Thu 5:00 pm–8:45 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:15 pm Happy Hour Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
Cuisines
Californian, Cocktail Bar, Contemporary American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street parking as well as multiple lots within 2 blocks.
Public transit
BART: Powell St. StationMUNI Lines: 8, 27, 30, 31, 45
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Black/African American, Middle Eastern
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.gibsonsf.com/
Phone number
(415) 771-7709

Gibson

Permanently Closed

Dining areas

Additional information

Snacks & Starters

Cabbage Roll$6.00

Smoked Fish Salad$10.00

Milanese Brioche & House Butter$12.00

Chickpeas & Olives$12.00

Young Lettuces$12.00

Chicken Skewer

Half Dozen Steamboat Oysters$16.00

Spring Vegetables$17.00

Blinis & Roe$25.00

House Bread Service

Whipped Goat Cheese$16.00

Grilled Avocado$15.00

Hummus$14.00

Almond & Pepper$16.00

From the Hearth

Grilled Branzino$25.00

Smoked Trout$30.00

60hr Slow Cooked Beef$35.00

Braised Lamb$45.00

Sides

Chestnut Lima Beans$8.00

Curry Chickpeas$8.00

Broccoli Rabe$8.00

Chilled Peas

Cocktails

Butter Me Up$15.00

Garden Gibson$14.00

Sea Gibson$14.00

Talk To Me Goose$14.00

Clear Bloody Marry$16.00

Nordic Shrubbery$14.00

Mole Old Fashion$15.00

Wines by the Glass

Bubbles

Maison Foucher, Cremant de Loire NV$12.00

Delta Brut Rose, Napa 2020$12.00

White

La Giustiniana, Cortese, Piemonte 2020$13.00

Iconic, Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands 2019$17.00

Rose

Underground Wine Project, Sangiovese, Columbia Valley 2021$12.00

Red

Union Sacre, Pinot Noir, Central Coast 2019$13.00

Le P'Tit Payson, Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito County 2019$13.00

Draft Beer

Saison du Japon, Hitachino$8.00

Biere de Garde, Fieldwork$7.00

Plum Sour, Almanac$7.00

Lager, Allagash$7.00

Bottle & Cans

Allagash White$7.00

River Trip Belgian Pale, Allagash Tall Boy$7.00

Almanac, Love IPA$7.00

Almanac, True Kolsch$7.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

How is Gibson restaurant rated?

Permanently Closed

Dining areas

Additional information