Steve Lombardo III and the Lombardo Legacy
Podcasts > Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates
Monday, April 27, 2026
Some restaurant families build businesses. The Lombardos built a city’s identity. This week on Culinary Confidential, Steven Lombardo III of Gibsons Restaurant Group joins the show!
It all started in 1989, when Steve Lombardo Jr. and Hugo Ralli opened Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse on Rush Street. What looked like a bold gamble turned into one of the highest grossing independent restaurants in America, and the spark that redefined what a modern steakhouse could be.
From there, the Lombardos didn’t expand - they built an empire. One rooted in consistency, premium product, and hospitality that feels both polished and personal. Today, their dozen-plus concepts share the same DNA: energy, trust, occasion, and the sense that every guest is part of the family.
This episode dives into how Gibsons became more than a dining room, a cultural institution where deals close, milestones are celebrated, and the rhythm of Chicago is felt in every booth. Now, Steve Lombardo III is carrying that legacy forward, shaping what the next era of American dining looks like.
Some legacies aren’t just preserved, they’re lived.
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