In the autumn of 1946, Keith and Dorothy Gardner opened a restaurant in a quaint log cabin on Clinton Road north of Jackson. They called the Restaurant “Gardner’s Steak House.” In 1947, the Gardners added what would become the first of many additions to the original log cabin. Each night after locking up, the Gardners would climb up a set of folding stairs leading to the cabin’s loft where they made their home untill 1951.
The loft was later removed to enhance the open beamed ceiling of the log cabin.

In 1956, the restaurant was sold to John O. Gilbert Chocolate Company and became “Gilbert’s Steak House.”
The Gilbert Chocolate Company was the premier chocolatier in the area and also owned a tea shop and candy factory in downtown Jackson.

In 1962, Bill Cones and Art Poole, purchased and expanded the restaurant, keeping the name “Gilbert’s Steak House.” Under Bill’s ownership, the restaurant became a showplace for Bill’s considerable collection of antiques and Tiffany era stained glass lamps. 

Another expansion in 1976 brought the seating capacity to 318 people. The lovely old Brunswick Company bar that today still graces the Parlour Room is said to have come from the Morrison Hotel in Chicago. The restaurant was sold in September 1980 to Vince Veltman, Roy Brown and Tim Brown. During the 1980’s and 1990’s, largely due to the antiquing talents of former owner Bill Cones, Gilbert’s antique lamp collection doubled to over eighty lamps, many of which remain today.

In 2003, after fifty seven years of operation, the ravages of time caught up with Gilbert’s, forcing its closure. In 2004, Jackson native and entrepreneur Marc DeForest and real estate executive Scott Griffin boldly completed an extensive renovation of the formerly grand restaurant. Retaining the original log cabin, the “Brunswick bar” and much of the stained glass lamp collection Marc and Scott brought the Jackson landmark back to life.

Now known simply as “Gilbert’s” the restaurant reopened December 2004 with a fresh new look, state of the industry catering and banquet facilities, and a team of food professionals assembled from throughout the country. Whether this is your first or fiftieth visit, we hope you’ll enjoy Gilbert’s fabulous steaks, fresh seafood, and other fine dishes with your friends and family.