I'm Only Here for the Food!

Gibson’s Grill
708 E Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219

As mentioned in yesterday’s post on Richmond, VA, I visited two local restaurants. Today’s post is the second restaurant: Gibson’s Grill. The reason I ended up here was that it was the only other restaurant that enticed me in the nearby area (there was one other but I did not find it until the morning of my departure). I was hoping I was not going to mess up the same way as Capital Ale House… (Please keep in mind that, being a short trip, I was not even trying to adjust time zones).

Heck, not even a real sign!

Judging from the picture above, you might think it looks like a diner. Well, I thought that as well until I was a couple of metres away from the door! So, let’s try again, check the picture below of part of the dining room.

Well, that’s not all. There is a stairs to a lower level, which serves also as a club. I guess appearances are deceiving…

Now, to the food… Before I went there, I asked myself, is there anything “local” to Richmond, VA? Probably, Soul Food? Southern Food? Well, if that is what it is supposed to be, I couldn’t find such restaurant so that left “American” (whatever that is supposed to mean…). Anyway, with my order, I also got a salad. Déjà vu, anybody?

There is not much to talk about here, it was about the same, except it did not have the grilled peppers. However, there was one “plus”: it had an olive. Well, that was a single olive but, hey, the fact it had it is what counts.

And the main… I think I went for broke and ordered steak (12 ounces) and oysters, which came also with some side fries. The steak itself was, well, disappointing. Sure, it was cooked to order (medium rare); however, the cut was a bit tough for a ribeye, not to mention I did not feel it juicy enough. As a result, I was wondering if the cut was indeed ribeye but something else. The fries felt they were an afterthought. However, what saved the dish was the oysters. They were plump and, when bitten, juices started flowing. The only thing missing was a lemon wedge.

Overall, it was quite a good meal for a business traveller. For a local, well, I guess there is a reason why people like to go to Cactus Club/Earl’s/Moxie’s and similar places.