Restaurant
Gilbees
229 Johnston St, Abbotsford VIC 3067, Australia
Find Gilbees
229 Johnston St, Abbotsford VIC 3067, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout Gilbees
Abbotsford regulars head to Gilbees for pristine Australian seafood and thoughtful wine pairings without the white-tablecloth tax. Behind the unassuming Johnston Street front sits a moody dining room and a dog-friendly backyard wine garden with its own bar. The kitchen keeps the focus tight on local catch—half-shell scallops, octopus carpaccio, and blue swimmer crab pasta tossed with chili. Thursdays draw a loyal neighbourhood crowd for the multi-course set menu, where carafes of orange wine land alongside hot plates of crispy potatoes with confit garlic.
- All-Australian Seafood: Local catch drives the kitchen, serving half-shell scallops, Sydney rock oysters, tender octopus carpaccio, and blue swimmer crab pasta.
- Thursday Locals Night: A multi-course chef's set menu every Thursday evening offers high-value dining for neighbourhood regulars.
- Secluded Courtyard Bar: Tucked behind the venue, a leafy, dog-friendly courtyard garden features its own bar away from street noise.
What's On at Gilbees
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Choose Gilbees
Why guests choose this Abbotsford seafood wine bar for weeknight dining, courtyard drinks, and special occasions.
100% Australian Seafood Menu
Gilbees focuses on entirely Australian seafood, featuring plates like half shell scallops, octopus carpaccio, and blue swimmer crab pasta paired with thoughtfully curated wines.
Gilbees— wine bar perfect for seafood lovers!
Hungry Accessible High-End Tasting Menus
Guests can opt for the kitchen's tasting and chef's menus, which deliver balanced, high-end dishes and exceptional value without fine-dining markups.
Nowhere near as expensive as a lot of similar offerings.
David Separovic Weekly Thursday Locals Night
Thursday Locals Night offers an approachable multi-course set dinner, creating a popular mid-week ritual for Abbotsford neighbours.
The locals night offer is a steal and their menu is always changing.
Bethan Kelsall Versatile Dining for Groups and Dates
Whether visiting for dates, casual mid-week catchups, or family dinners, the space and attentive team adapt comfortably to every occasion.
Great place overall, for a large or small group, or even for a date night!
Ricko Suryadinata Tucked-Away Garden Wine Bar
A lush, secluded open-air garden terrace situated behind the venue features its own dedicated bar, shielded from street traffic.
The garden is stunning and has its own little bar, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of busy Johnson street - a true wine oasis.
OBB UK Calm, Moody Atmosphere and Warm Welcome
Guests enjoy an intimate, unhurried atmosphere paired with warm hospitality that makes them feel instantly at home.
It's so wonderful to walk into a place be seated and just feel peace.
GlennSux
Most popular items
Fresh Australian seafood dishes central to the dining experience
Scallops
They serve the best scallops I have ever had in my life!
Bethan Kelsall Octopus carpaccio
Standouts were the scallop, octopus carpaccio, mushrooms and the freshly baked focaccia with whipped butter - all absolutely delicious!!!
Kylie Ollington Blue swimmer crab pasta
blue swimmer crab pasta was also amazing
Edward Risbey Sydney rock oysters
Sydney rock oysters, half shell scallops is a must, octopus carpaccio was solid too.
BGC Go
Other favorites
Sides, vegetable plates, and daytime cafe classics
Crispy potatoes
surprisingly my favourite dishes were the Red-Kuri pumpkin with cauliflower, tzatziki, pear ($26) and Crispy potatoes, confit garlic, herbs ($16)!
Hungry Freshly baked focaccia with whipped butter
freshly baked focaccia with whipped butter - all absolutely delicious!!!
Kylie Ollington Red-Kuri pumpkin
favourite dishes were the Red-Kuri pumpkin with cauliflower, tzatziki, pear ($26) and Crispy potatoes, confit garlic, herbs ($16)!
Hungry Reuben sandwich
I had the Reuben sandwich & it was delicious.
Ashley Wildman
Beyond the menu
Thoughtful hospitality and dining details experienced by guests at Gilbees
Accommodating Dining for Hard-of-Hearing Guests
Staff proactively tailor dining seating and service to accommodate guests who are hard of hearing.
Pram-Friendly Hospitality
The team ensures guests with prams feel welcomed and comfortably situated regardless of challenging winter weather conditions.
Dog-Friendly Wine Garden Setup
The secluded outdoor wine garden is purposefully set up to welcome dogs alongside dining patrons.
Personalized Pairing Guidance
Servers provide personalized wine and food pairings, actively guiding guests through selections suited to their dishes.
Before you head over
Practical tips on timing, courtyard seating, and dietary choices for your visit to Gilbees.
Book Ahead for Thursday Locals Night
Book on a Thursday evening to experience the weekly locals night set menu, which features multiple courses of locally sourced seafood at accessible pricing.
Relax in the Dog-Friendly Courtyard Garden
Head out to the secluded courtyard wine garden tucked behind the building, featuring its own dedicated bar and a dog-friendly setting.
Pescatarian and Dietary Considerations
If you follow a pescatarian or gluten-free diet, the kitchen offers 100% Australian seafood along with gluten-free options and creative vegetable dishes.
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