It has been just over two years now since the Grandio Group purchased the iconic Gibbys Restaurant in Old Montreal as well as the St. Sauveur location. While the latter was closed permanently last spring, the Place d’Youville is thriving and introducing some positive changes.
Nestled in a magnificent over 200-year-old building, this restaurant is brimming with charm. From historic stone walls to original ceilings adorned with exposed beams, to warm fireplaces and romantic lighting, Gibbys undeniably offers a memorable experience, along with complimentary valet service.
The entrance archway to Gibbys stands on what was once the south bank of the “Saint Pierre River,” near the original Huron settlement of Hochelaga.
Prior to the pandemic, the Grandio Group had acquired Moishes Steakhouse. It has since been relocated near Place Victoria. They also own La Brasserie Cage Sportive, Chez Lionel and a host of others.
I have been fortunate in recent weeks to experience both the new three-course lunch menu and the beautiful terrasse.
Guillaume Briere, Grandio Group’s executive vice-president of independent brands, has worked tirelessly from the moment Gibbys was acquired to make the terrasse a reality in the picturesque Courtyard area. Over time, there have been makeshift tables and chairs placed there during the summer months for people waiting to be seated and to order drinks. But now there is a dedicated covered patio, with freshly paved flooring, which can accommodate up to 50 diners. Briere notes that there was a lot of back and forth required with the city of Montreal for permits and the submission of plans. “For me, this was a main goal when we took over,” Briere told me. “Sitting here, you feel like you are in Europe.”
See my interview on Instagram:
The founders, brothers Gibby and Allan Rosenberg, were true foodies who traveled the world discovering world-class restaurants. Carefully curating the ideas from their finds, they opened their first restaurant in Saint-Sauveur in 1969. Their initial success boosted their confidence and prompted them to open their second location in Old Montreal in 1972. They even had a South Florida location for a time. For over 50 years, Gibbys has gained notice for offering the finest seafood, including fresh, succulent oysters, a wide array of fresh fish, and its expertly aged and carefully grilled steaks. Generations of diners have enjoyed sumptuous meals.
There is some nice greenery decorating the edges of the patio. On the night we went, a young man was proposing to his girlfriend and a family had the peace of mind to let their young children play in the courtyard rather than going stir crazy in their seats. I must say, on a gorgeous evening like the one in which we chose to dine, you won’t find a more relaxing ambiance.
Gibbys is indeed now open for lunch from Wednesday to Saturday, beginning at 11:30 am. I was invited there for a kickoff in June, where I had the pleasure of sitting at the same table as longtime general manager Sylvain Gaucher and his wife, Elizabeth. Also on hand was Jean Bédard, CEO and President of the Grandio Group and his leadership team. This also coincided with the launch of the terrasse. Sylvain recently retired after 28 years on the job.
We chose a quiet Tuesday evening for dinner. While I said “quiet,” the main dining room was as usual packed. After dropping off our car with the valet service, we were shown to our table.
Our server, Fred, was superb, going into great detail when describing the drinks and culinary menus. For drinks, we ordered a fraise limoncello cocktail and a chardonnay. As a warm basket of homemade bread, with butter and some pickles, was brought to the table, we reviewed the selections and decided to start off with the seafood tower, something the new ownership introduced when they took over. What a treat this is. It contains eight shrimp cocktails, two lobster tails, 12 oysters and an out-of-this-world octopus salad.
Fred brought us our first serving of lemon sorbet, served as a palate cleanser. There would be one more special addition a little later, with some apple brandy poured on top.
The famous Gibbys salad came next, coming with their incredible homemade salad dressing, crunchy croutons and bacon bits.
For the main course, we shared the 18-ounce bone-in filet mignon, which came with both a regular potato and the Monte Carlo, along with fresh asparagus.
We did save room for dessert, thoroughly appreciating the three-layer chocolate mousse.
There is seating here for 325 people spread over two levels. Portions are very large and they do not charge extra for sharing, nor for side orders. For birthdays and special occasions, they will provide a cake and a photo free of charge.
You can order each menu item à la carte or pay for a group menu in which a set price will land a several-course meal. Main courses also include a 36-ounce double-cut rib steak called the Cowboy, a sirloin, filet mignon, roasted Cornish hen, eggplant parmesan, grilled salmon, baked halibut, Arctic char, wild shrimp, and broiled Canadian lobster tails. There is also a host of other appetizers, from clam chowder to crab cakes. Gibbys boasts a vast wine collection and dessert selection.
Gibbys is located at 298 Place d’Youville in Old Montreal. For reservations, call 514-282-1837. In St. Sauveur, you can find the restaurant at 414 Principale St. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 5:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 5 pm and lunch begins at 11:30 am from Wednesday to Saturday. Log on to www.gibbys.com for more information.