J Gilbert’s Wood Fired Steaks and Seafood

There is definitely a reason why you have to book your dinner party a week in advance. J. Gilbert’s is definitely one of my favorite restaurants. It is not only consistently excellent but seems to get better every time I go.

Went here again this past weekend to celebrate my birthday (and our 6’th anniversary) using what remained of a very generous gift certificate and J. Gilbert’s own free entrée for the «Birthday Boy»! Our experience was top notch as expected. The appetizer (onion rings) were prepared and presented perfectly. My wife’s steak was cooked well done exactly how she asked, and although she’s not a huge fan of mushrooms, there was none left from the topping on the steak! I have not been able to tear myself away from ordering the Wood Grilled Ribs yet, but as they have been the last 4 times we have visited were extremely meaty and the sauce is very sweet. I’m not sure when we will be back, but it won’t be soon enough if you ask me!

This can be a very good steakhouse, but poor management of a consistent customer experience can ruin a special night out.
My wife and I have young children and don’t get out alone very often. We recently had the opportunity to grab a 4:30 early dinner at J. Gilbert’s. Because there was no one in the dining area I decided to get a table at the bar, but the hostesses sat us in a reserved seat. This was unnecessary as most of the bar was still empty and the seat they gave us wasn’t very good. Plus, by being sat in a «reserved» seat, we were excluded from happy hour pricing, even though we were sitting in the bar. We would have been fine the bar menu, but no one explained this convoluted system to me. I’m still not sure why we couldn’t just seat ourselves in the nearly empty bar.
I ordered a Kansas City Strip, which was quite good, but my wife ordered baby greens with scallops, which consisted of a pathetic display of run-​of-​the-​mill greens with pine nuts and three tiny scallops, for $ 21! I know it’s a steak house, but all dishes served should reflect high end dining.
The worst part was the staff, who clearly had nothing to do during the down time ahead of the evening rush. We had to listen to bartenders argue about their shift schedules and deal with loitering waiters standing against the wall with their arms folded, staring at us.
J. Gilbert’s must take action to ensure that the experience needs to be consistent, no matter what time it is. We didn’t pay any less at 4:30 than someone who eats at 7:30, and our experience should have been consistent with our bill. I like having a premium steakhouse nearby, but will be unlikely to return any time soon.

Unbelievable food for those with expensive tastes! Our party of six had a Saturday, 5pm reservation, and the restaurant was already pretty full at that early hour. We were seated immediately and attended by our excellent server, Don. Ample time was given to decide on drinks and then peruse the menu. Two of our party were both gluten and dairy sensitive and a gluten-​free menu was provided to each. The waiter either knew, or went to the chef and asked, to make sure which items on the GF menu were also dairy-​free so there was no issue with these requirements.
We tried a host of appetizers: Oysters on the Half Shell (delicious and briny), Fried Calamari (totally scarfed up by the person who ordered it; I didn’t even get a taste!), Ahi Tuna Tartare (deemed perfect), Smoked Salmon Rillete (this was mine, and it was incredible! Not at all like «smoked salmon/​lox», it was tiny cubes of house-​smoked salmon in a flavorful mix with dill, onion, capers, egg, mustard, and chives. Served with crostini and cornichons. Delicious, subtle, and came packed in a lidded glass container. Nice presentation and I ate every bit.), and the Charcuterie & Cheese Board (heavy on the charcuterie with three small samples of cheese and accompaniments.) My husband also had the Maryland Crab Bisque which he said was excellent.
Main courses for all of us were either the Bone-​In Ribeye «Cowboy Style» or the Center-​cut Filet Mignon. Every steak came out perfectly as ordered from rare to medium-​well. The ribeye were as flavorful as I’ve ever had with nice, but not excessive fat-​marbling, and tender. One person also ordered the bourbon-​maple shrimp and received three nice-​sized shrimp cooked to perfection. Each entrée came with two sides and I think we collectively tried most of what was available. The Creamed Corn with Burger’s Bacon was sublime, as was the Lobster Mac N’ Cheese. Sautéed Spinach was good, but not terribly exciting and the Yukon Mashed Potatoes and Salt Baked Potato were both… potatoes. Good but what can you say about a potato? The salt baked came with all the toppings you could want: butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon, chives… or any combination. I had the Chef’s Blend Wild Mushrooms with Truffle Butter, one of the more interesting sides. The mushrooms were dark and earthy and the flavor intense. I loved them, but a little goes a long way. I also asked for the «house» steak sauce and it was a great addition to my steak.
We managed to bring home at least half our dinners so we saved room for dessert. Chocolate Velvet Cake didn’t impress it’s recipient, but perhaps being stuffed contributed to that! Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée was creamy and rich with a well-​caramelized sugar top. The sorbets that evening were Passion Fruit and Strawberry, both delicious, and the milk-​chocolate ice-​cream got high marks. Berries & Cream was nice, but not overly special.
Cocktails and wine were flowing throughout the meal. I started with J. Gilbert’s Barrel-​Aged Manhattan and I’d go back, just to have that drink again! Made with bourbon, it was a bit sweet and fruity, with a spear of Amarena cherries, almost like an old-​fashioned. Gin and tonics were spectacular, as well, made with Fever-​Tree tonic. The «X-​Rated Martini» was a pretty pink, slightly sweeter concoction.
The wine list covered a fair sampling of different wine regions, and bottles ranged from about $ 30 on up. Mark-​up on the wine was pretty steep (maybe three times store price?) and there was a good selection of wines by the glass (choice of a 6 or 9 oz pour). I topped off the evening with Fonseca 20 year tawny port and received a generous pour of excellent port.
We were told at the outset that the table had another party coming at 7:30pm, which is why we started at 5, not 5:30 as originally planned. However, we were never rushed, food arrived at a comfortable pace, and when we finally left at 8pm, I didn’t see anyone waiting to be seated. Evidently, another table freed up as we took as much time as we needed without a thought.
Typical Connecticut apparel was the dress code, it seems, meaning there were people in shorts and sneakers as well as some jackets and ties. I’d say business casual would be the best bet but dressing up wouldn’t be out of place, either. It appeared that most of the seating was in booths and ours was not overly large for a table of six. The booth behind us sat seven, with a chair stuck on the end. Noise level was average to loud and this baby-​boomer couldn’t hear what was being said at the other end of our table.
Fortunately, I wasn’t paying the bill, but my husband’s eyes got pretty wide when he saw it. No surprise, as we ate and drank without concern for price, but J. Gilbert’s is fairly expensive and a full soup-​to-​nuts dinner will cost you a pretty penny. I thought it was worth every cent, but it’s not for anyone on a budget. Save this for a special night out, as ours was. I can’t wait for an excuse to return!

By far my fiancé favorite restaurant in Ct. Whenever he’s in town, we HAVE to go to J Gilbert’s for dinner. The restaurant’s always packed on the weekends so a reservation is definitely needed unless you want to eat dinner at 8:30.
They have a great happy hour but only at the bar, the booths along side the bar don’t count. The happy hour starts at 4:00 and it fills up by 4:20, so I wouldn’t recommend it for a big group. The calamari and the burrata are my favorite apps and it’s almost half price during happy hour. The wine selection isn’t too great for HH but the cocktails are good the Sparkling Blackberry Martini is one of my favorites. The raw bar options for HH are a ripe off, if you want a better deal go to Max Fish down the street.
As for dinner we’ve probably tried everything if your on a budget get the Mishima Waygu Burger it’s delicious. If your looking for bang for your buck get the Wood-​Grilled Ribs, it’s enough for two people. Get the cream corn with burger’s bacon and the lobster Mac n cheese sides their amazing! I’m not a fan of their crab cakes but the scallops are delicious.
Overall we haven’t had a bad meal ever at J Gilbert’s, for the quality of food it’s definitely worth the price.

My wonderful wife and children took me here for my Birthday. The service was perfect! The steak was cooked to perfection! The dessert was ridiculous, wonderful and large!!!
Truth be told, we haven’t been here in years but we will be remedying that situation immediately!!!
Great Job!!!

I don’t quite know how they do it, but with each successive visit, J Gilbert’s manages to out-​do the previous one.
Tonight we celebrated my son’s birthday, and as they had done for my daughter in law’s birthday, the staff had, prior to our arrival, placed little flat Mylar birthday related confetti on the table for the birthday boy. What a nice, personal touch. MUCH better than a couple of employees coming out to sing a labored «happy birthday» to an embarrassed patron.
This visit we eschewed the usual free upon check in, Maytag blue cheese chips in favor of onion rings stacked up resembling a pagoda, served with three different sauces. Very good eating, and wonderfully presented. We also had an order of my always favorite fried calamari, with sweet potato fries and hot peppers, also served with three different sauces. Also a delightful appetizer.
My son ordered his perennial favorite, full rack of fall off the bone ribs, served with creamed corn with Burgers bacon. Savory and delicious.
My daughter in law had her favorite filet mignon prepared exactly as she asked, with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes.
I came in fully intending to also order a rib platter that I’d been dying to try, but when our server Kelly, told me about their special of halibut steak with roasted baby potatoes, I decided to wait until my next visit to sample their ribs. Man, am I glad I did!
The halibut was a huge portion, just incredible, coated in pretzel crumbs and baked to perfection.
Dessert for me was once again a dish of their made in house sorbet. Two scoops of strawberry, and one scoop of passionfruit. The diner can mix and match three scoops of any of three flavors offered.
My daughter in law had a slice of in house made rich and creamy smooth chocolate velvet cake that she said was phenomenal.
Another fantastic dinner shared with family at a wonderful restaurant.
And thank you Kelly, you were a delightful and efficient server.

Fantastic dinner! Everything from the app to dessert was awesome. Service was great. I order their single barrel bourbon cocktail that was tasty.
My app was a smoke salmon spread and my main was the special. the halibut and risotto. Dessert was a chocolate cake with raspberry ice cream.

No complaints here! Excellent service. The food was tasty. The prices weren’t crazy but it’s not a cheap meal either. We got the grilled mesquite chicken with green beans and parm potatoes ($ 25) and the filet w/​crab cake duo plus a side of shrimp AND lobster Mac and cheese ($ 61) the steak was suppose to be 6oz but looked more like a 4.5oz steak, either way the meal was still filling. Ambiance was very classy, perfect for date night.

The food is exceptional! Best restaurant I’ve been to! Every meal was amazing and cooked to perfection! Staff is very professional and knowledgeable! Can not wait for my next visit!

My friends and I go here about once a month for happy hour. The happy hour is very reasonably priced, and you won’t be disappointed. I’ve tried all the martini’s offered, and the best is the lemon drop because it comes with rock candy to swirl inside it. Order the sliders au poire, they’re amazing, and get them with the sweet potato fries. My favorite though is the smoked salmon, it comes with mini gherkins and onions on this garlic bread. The NY style cheesecake is a nice dessert option as well. Sam the bartender is the best. He remembers everyone, even what your favorite order is if you’re a regular like we are.

I know, steak big deal, but every time, our steaks are perfectly done. The scallops are just done, not even a degree over. They have a reasonable wine selection and some fun martinis. There is something to be said for consistency. A great cut of beef shouldn’t need much, but a steak done right is hard to find. The service is great as well, the manager was everywhere, talking to us, to other diners, joining in on a birthday wish, and helping runners bring out a large party’s dinner all at once.
I only have one complaint, one of the bartenders. He has a bit of an attitude with non-​regulars, and once every couple of months doesn’t a regular make. The bar should be the welcome place, they don’t have to gush, but a smile or hello would not be too much.

Love this place — the best filet I’ve ever had! I’ve been here countless times and it never disappoints.
Every course offers awesome options. My go-​tos for appetizers are the Ahi Tuna Tartare and Pretzel Crusted Onion Rings. I can’t forget the sourdough bread they bring to the table — warm and delicious. I have to get the filet each time I visit because it’s just too good — but I can always switch up the sides (great options, from veggies to starches!). For dessert the Chocolate Velvet Cake is a must (diehard chocolate fan right here) but others swear by the Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee.
The service can’t be beat — always very attentive and helpful.
If you sign up for the email list you’ll get deals for your birthday, holidays, etc. And half price bottles of wine (under $ 100) on Mondays! I highly recommend J. Gilbert’s.

J Gilbert’s is always a great choice! I’ve had nothing but great experiences here over the years and the food is wonderful. The atmosphere is lively and they are usually pretty busy, but the waitstaff is able to keep up with it all.
The Cesar salad is really excellent and they even bring you a cold fork for this course which is a nice touch. Usually when I go, I opt for one of their traditional steaks and they are always cooked perfectly. They also offer some really tasty sauces to go along with it. Their brussels sprouts and mushroom risotto are some of my favorite sides.
Last time I went, I decided to order something slightly different. I went with the rack of lamb and it was awesome. I only wish the sauce it came with was less Asian inspired. Personally for me it had a bit too much teryaki flavor when I was looking for something maybe more traditional. But it was all still delicious nonetheless.
If you’re looking for a nice place to go out, this is definitely the place. They also have a nice happy hour in the bar if you can make it!

Very nice, 4.5 in fact, little to add that hasn’t been said. Funny, The wife has never come here because she thought its was too fancy because they didn’t have windows!
well glad our (her) fear of no windows waned, i had always wanted to come in, pleased we did.
LPT! use their email sign up so you can get a free entrée on your birthday. what i will say, they never even checked my id to verify this. in fact, the waiter didnt even say happy birthday, which it was! WTB?
anyway, lets detail food! We started with pretzel coated o rings. they were large rings of soft onion, im not an onion expert, but sometimes i get heartburn from onions, not these guys, they were very benign. good i guess. the coating was fine too. sauces that came with it were fine, but the gilbert steak sauce was really good. maybe it was horseradish, not sure…
the bread was good and the pastrami seasoned butter was nice too!
I will say they were breathing down our necks with the entrees, so I am thinking they dont get that ‘dont bring me the entrée until my app is done’ methodology, but this is not grill 23.
mer got the scallops, they were fine, a little sparse. I got a 6 oz filet, med rare plus, this was pretty red/​purple, so i am glad i didnt go regular mid rare. the steak, while great, was a touch sinewy, so i did not like that aspect. also, i tried to order a fllet with a crab cake on the side, which on the menu IS a buck cheaper than the filet with a crabcake, yes, i attempted to save a buck, the bill did not reflect this, if i wanted to be a jerk (not hard) i could have said something, but didnt, well till now! the crab was fine, a little runny. i also got mash and Brussel sprouts to see what the big deal was, i liked them, but would not order them again (here or anywhere, neat to try new things though)
desert menu didnt blow me away so we left without one, but again, no bday wishes,
what i found so nice about this place was it was completely unpretentious. I mean some tables were just out for dinner. must be nice to take your kids and brood to a 30 an entrée kinda of place, i wont be bringing my kids here, even when they do make it to that golden age of no crayons on the table.
in sum, i would come back, but only for special (super special) occasions.

I love J. Gilberts, it is the best steak house in the area. Their food and service cannot be beat. I have been there numerous times over the years. I have been there for dinner with girlfriends, my practice employees, and boyfriends alike. I have never had a meal that left me disappointed.
I have ordered both steak and fish entrees. Both have been cooked perfectly each time. The sizes are always so delicious and freshly prepared. My steak is cooked to perfection each time. I do like the fact that the sides are included and are not al la cart.
I love the different dessert options they have. They employ a specific pastry chef and it shows. Their sweets selections are always freshly prepared and its very clear when you take your first bite.

I work in the area so I have been here for office functions and work dinners.
It’s a pretty nice place, though not normally open for lunch.
I was here last Thursday after work about 5:30pm and figured I wouldn’t have a problem getting a table for four. I was very wrong and was told the wait was 45 minutes to an hour. Ugh. They ended up getting us a table in bar area after maybe 40 minutes. Moral of the story: Make a reservation even if it seems like an odd time; it costs nothing and can’t hurt. The table in the bar was fine.
They call themselves a steak and seafood place but most people seem to go for the steak. Full disclosure, I don’t eat steak. But I do eat seafood.
It is in a building that looks kind of like a basic chain restaurant of some sort, but inside it’s nice.
The wine list is ok and most selections are not too expensive.
They have plenty of steaks on the menu and I’m told they are good. We started with the fried calamari and it was pretty good if not exceptional. It’s hard to screw up fried calamari unless it’s too tough and chewy, which this wasn’t.
I had the crab cakes which were good but again not outstanding or exceptional, especially given the price. But they happily substituted green beans for asparagus, which was appreciated.
The service is always professional and hasn’t ever let me down, even at functions with a lot of people.
Overall the food is probably 4 stars but given the prices I am taking one star away. It was never cheap but over the last few years it seems to have gotten quite pricy for basically the same place it’s always been. If you get on their mailing list you can get coupons that help with the cost. And when I checked in on Unilocal they offered a free app or something. J. Gilberts is good but in the same price range (or less) in Glastonbury there are other good options you should consider.

I went here with my girlfriend for a celebration and overall, it turned out well. The steaks and sides were delicious and our server was very nice and helpful. That said, I knocked a star off for the lackluster bread.
We had a reservation but when we got there, there was a line at the door. We waited for a few minutes, and were seated at our table. I mention this only because I was surprised it was so full of people given the location. Recommendation to make sure you make a reservation.
Anyway, the servers brought us to our table and we noticed that they had decorated it for our special dinner. It was a nice touch which was definitely appreciated.
Once we ordered, the waitress brought some bread to our table. The bread was sourdough accompanied with both pastrami and regular butter. My girlfriend and I generally aren’t really fans of sourdough and so this bread didn’t really rock our world. The pastrami butter, although it sounded interesting, didn’t taste as good as it sounded. So, this was one of the few times where we didn’t devour the full basket of bread before getting to the mains.
Then came our appetizer, the Maytag potato chips. While we did get them for free because of the check-​in bonus, we weren’t the biggest fans of it. The chips seemed over-​fried and the blue cheese was rather lacking in flavor. It was a big bowl of chips too, which made us feel like we were wasting it by not finishing it then.
Finally came the main event, our entrees. I got the Rib-​eye with mashed potatoes and mushroom risotto and my girlfriend got the Filet Mignon with the truffle butter mushrooms and asparagus. We also got seared scallops and maple bourbon shrimp. My Rib-​eye had the perfect char and came medium rare, just as I had asked. I could definitely taste the wood-​fire flavors in the char so I couldn’t be happier about my steak. The scallops were nothing to write home about, but the mushrooms with truffle butter and mushroom risotto were definitely my favorite sides. I’d probably choose the mushrooms with the truffle butter as a side to go with mashed potatoes next time (so as not to overload on mushrooms ;D). The shrimp had a great flavor to it, but it got a little cold as I focused on my perfect steak.
Aside from the rocky start with the bread and app, I really enjoyed this place. Steaks and sides were great and the service was fantastic. That said, I find a restaurant’s bread to be a really important part of my overall impression (since in general, the bread becomes our meal that night and our meal becomes tomorrow’s meal) so I knocked this rating down one star. That probably won’t stop me from going back though. :)

Oh man. I’ve been missing out! I came here once before a year or so ago to grab some sliders at happy hour, but it was a really quick visit and, although enjoyable, not enough to put down an accurate review… and I’m all about an accurate review!
Insert visit #2! I decided I’d give J. Gilbert’s a real go after passing it for the 1000^th time and saying to myself that I’d stop putting it off for a later time. This place is a breath of fresh air! The experience from beginning to end was just awesome. I called ahead to make sure the wait wasn’t long — I was coming during peak hours, but was assured that they had seats available and offered to book my table. Perfect! I arrived and, as promised, they got me seated right away. The bar area was pretty nice but the dining area reminded me of Olive Garden a little (just being honest :)). The waitress, Jennifer, was extremely courteous, attentive, and never lost her smile. I always worry about snouty staff when dining at a nicer establishment but there was the opposite of what I experienced here. Everyone, not just my waitress, seemed genuinely eager to please. I’ve been to places that pride themselves on having superior service. If have to say this place ranks among the best I’ve had.
On to the food… I started with the fresh sourdough I saw many raving about in the reviews. Although it was warm and the pastrami butter was a welcome change, it wasn’t particularly noteworthy. Just good. The same goes for the Maytag bleu cheese chips I chose as my appetizer. They were very good, but I’m not guaranteed to get them next time. But the entrée?! The entrée was special! I ordered the 6oz center cut filet with lobster mac and cheese and Yukon mashed potatoes and, by some miracle, it was timed so that I had it less than 5 minutes after I finished my appetizer! That never happens. And when it came it was glorious! The steak was just perfect. Nice seared crunch at the bottom but oh so tender in the middle. The flavor was there! And the housemade steak sauce, only took the experience higher). I would place it higher than Morton’s and Fleming’s; probably even with Capital Grille and Ruth’s Chris. The lobster mac was about as good as I imagined. Worth the $ 4 upcharge. The Yukon mashed potatoes were also pretty good. Lots of flavors going on with them and I’m glad I ignored the people who said their’s was bland. I decided to skip dessert because I didn’t see anything that made me want it and I was pretty darn stuffed. This place is legit. The prices (because they’re not a la carte) were unbeatable considering the quality and service. I can definitely see myself becoming a regular here. You shall see me again!

«I know you know this feeling. you know this feeling very well. i mean you got you table all set up, your fork, your knife, your A1 sauce.
All you need is the steak.» — Rounders (1998)
Yet another business trip and NO idea where to go eat. I did some research and found this place and my coworkers were game — so we drove right over. What a delightful little gem.
So we started with cocktails, and I got a delicious Manhattan that was one of the better ones I have had. Being it was a business trip, and I was driving, I was on a one-​drink limit. Damn! I’d have enjoyed another. They quickly brought us fresh sourdough bread and the Maytag blue cheese chips that were the free check in deal. We snacked while we decided on what we wanted to eat.
I decided on the Cowboy Ribeye, bourbon shrimp, grilled asparagus, mushrooms with truffle butter — they give you SO many options… it’s almost too many options. My ribeye was cooked pretty spot on medium rare. It is tough with a bone, but it made me happy. The flavor was great and I enjoyed every morsel. The shrimp were great, but on the small side. My asparagus was over cooked for my taste — I prefer a bit of a bite left to it. But the truffle butter — OMG. Loved it! Also, the Creamed Corn with Burger’s Bacon, I need this in my life daily. Sweet, caramely and salty and smokey from the bacon.
For dessert, I opted for the Chocolate Cake with cinnamon ice cream — the cake was rich and dense. I bit on the dry side for me, but the cinnamon ice cream was the perfect pairing. I would order it again.
Overall the service was great, the food delicious and the atmosphere very nice — darkly lit, and not loud. I would definitely come back again.