Joseph was absolutely amazing tonight! He took great care of both me and my sister, and his service truly stood out. He was very attentive, honest about the food, and gave excellent recommendations--not just for dishes, but for drinks as well. Everything he suggested was spot on, and we both really enjoyed our experience. He made us feel comfortable and taken care of the entire time. I wouldn't mind having him as our server every visit to Sista OK! If you're planning to dine there, I highly recommend requesting Joseph--you won't be disappointed. read more

Service was EXCELLENT Thank you Cindy G and all her associates The whole place was clean, refreshing and quiet. Food was perfect in every way. read more

See all

Hillstone is hands down my husband's and my favorite American restaurant. Every time we visit the food is consistently delicious and we always leave happy with whatever we order. Our favorite appetizer is the grilled artichoke. It's seasonal which is a little sad when it's not available, but it's absolutely worth the wait when it comes back on the menu. We love the char flavor . The service here is consistently excellent. The restaurant is also very clean and has a great atmosphere, making it a really nice place to relax and enjoy a meal. Overall, Hillstone never disappoints. It's one of those places we can always count on for great food, great service, and a great dining experience. read more

See all

this place has my all time favorite french dip to ever exist. it's so yummy and the meat literally melts into your mouth. my husband and i ALWAYS have to share the french dip, so we also decided to split the hawaiian steak. it was cooked perfectly medium rare and had the best flavor. spinach artichoke dip is also usually a go-to for when we come to this restaurant. can't wait to come back for another sandwich LOL read more

See all

Our foursome came by for a work lunch. Made an easy reservation. Received a friendly greeting at the hostess stand and we were seated immediately. Our host took our drink order and our server arrived shortly after. Can't recall his name... Niall? He was friendly and enthusiastic. We ordered deviled eggs, chicken meatballs, and spinach artichoke dip as starters. Heard that the Prime Rib sandwich was the best ever, so 3 of us ordered that. Our outlier got the fried chicken sandwich. Appetizers were tasty. My prime rib sandwich was everything my coworkers said it was! The meat was medium rare and sitting on a toasted roll with a slather of creamy horseradish. The meat was tender and flavorful. Our drinks were refilled quickly and service was excellent. It's on the pricey side but it's a good place for lunch or dinner. You get what you pay for. read more

See all

I was able to grab a table for 2 as a walk in with only a 20 min wait at 6pm on a Saturday. I was excited to check this spot out as I'd heard good things. The inside was reminiscent of old-school classic restaurants with big leather booths, an open kitchen, and dark lighting. They have a bar as well which you can sit at in the front. We got the spinach and artichoke dip which also came with sour cream and salsa and tortilla chips. The salsa was nothing to write home about but the spinach and artichoke dip was delish and super cheesy! For entrees we got the French dip sandwich and Ding's crispy chicken sandwich. I'm not sure who Ding is but it was a dang good sandwich! It came as three cut up sandwich pieces which amounted to more than a regular sandwich size on a fresh brioche bun. There was a kale slaw, cheese, and I think a honey mustard type dressing. Chicken was super thin and crispy and had a flavorful breading. I got the fries as a side which came with ketchup and an aioli. The aioli just tasted like straight up sesame oil though which was odd and off putting (and I am a HUGE sesame oil fan). The nice thing is you can choose any side you want! French dip was sooo good. It's actually thinly sliced prime rib and it doesn't look like a big portion but my partner said it was quite filling. It comes with au jus and an incredible horseradish dip which I dipped my fries in! He got the kale salad as a side and that had some interesting peanuts and peanut vinaigrette. Service is beyond friendly and our waitress was super nice. You can even request hot towels at the end! Also, halfway through our dirty martinis they switched the glasses out for a new ice cold glass which I had never seen done before. Pro tip- get the goat cheese stuffed olives for your martini! Looking forward to coming back! read more

I went last night for my birthday. I hadn't been for many years and was looking forward to returning. The food was great. The food runners and other staff were fine. My issue was the attitude I picked up on from our waiter. It was made clear when we were seated that it was my birthday. I don't like a lot of attention, but what I didn't like was the pretentious attitude I was noting. When it came time for dessert, I asked if they had berries. I need to be careful with my blood sugars, so a traditional dessert wasn't an option for me. I asked for strawberries, blueberries or any other kind. The waiter claimed they had nothing and just shrugged us off with an "oh well". It would have been nice if he checked with the kitchen. I left very disappointed. I took notice how our waiter interacted with other tables. Very different. I wouldn't go back if he was my waiter again. I drove an hour to get there. read more

Food: when it's artichoke season, make an entire meal of one, no regrets, paired with a dirty martini and French fries and call it a day. So satisfying. For those desiring meat, the French Dip sandwich is consistently satisfying. Service: waitlist moved quickly, attentive service. Ambiance: comfortably clubby without being stuffy indoors, the horseshoe bar is where we will try to sit next time, there is also a small outdoor patio which diners were enjoying during a recent warm weekend. read more

Hillstone - French Dip with Au jus. Perennial favorite. - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Service was excellent so I am giving it a 1star. Food quality was the worst ever... Worst $200 spent in life for food. Houston's became my favorite restaurant when I was in college (1990's) long before it became Hillstone. Over the last 20 years I raved to anyone who would listen about how good the crab cakes, spinach/artichoke dip, and Hawaiian Ribeye were...until yesterday. The last three visits to Hillstone (in SF) have been increasingly disappointing with the (final) worst being yesterday. The crab cakes were filled with almost as many shells as crab meat and were very bland w/nothing to "dip" it in. I ordered the steak and dip to go because I didn't know when I would get back to the city again to have them... the steak was tough and overcooked although I asked for it medium rare it was closer to a medium well. The absolute worst was the spinach/artichoke dip that tasted like something from the frozen foods section of a grocery store-generic brand, at that. After 30+ years, I have to find another favorite restaurant and forget this disappointing experience ever happened. read more

This is a hard review to put stars on. The food is pretty good, most being 4+ stars. The value/price point is dragging the rating down. 1.5 deviled eggs for $8 (3 halfs) - those were ok - don't feel bad on skipping these 3 pieces focassia bread with some olives, butter etc for $9 - it's good but, it's just 3 small pieces of bread French dip for $32 - actually really delicious and highly recommended for those that love french dip. melt in your mouth and delicious. for a french dip it's 5/5 Ding's chicken sandwich for $27 - kind of like the Burger King chicken sandwich but, better. Not $20 better though Portion of fries that come with the order are on the smaller side. Cole slaw was unique and not traditional - personally I liked it. Service fluctuated but, was overall good. The prices seem a tad bit high but the food is good. read more

See all

Came here with three friends and honestly Hillstone SF was giving mid. We had a Hillstone burger with fries, two crispy chicken sandwiches, and a flat iron steak with drinks. Food was fine. Service was just okay. Nothing to rave about. Then came the bill, 143 total. Easy split, right? Wrong. They charged 151 on one card and 145 on the other. First of all, math? Second, their excuse was "it's a system glitch." Yeah, sure. If it was a glitch, the charges would at least be consistent. This was just sloppy or shady, take your pick. The only reason we even caught it was because one of us noticed the charge was too high. Makes me think they bank on corporate folks or tipsy diners who don't double check. Moral of the story: if you go, watch your bill like a hawk. Food is not worth the headache anyway. read more

Hillstone - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Hillstone is the perfect mix of casual and elevated for any occasion. There are plenty of tables of booths inside - remember to make a reservation ahead of time! The noise level is average as there are a lot of people that come by for dinner. I tried the crispy chicken sandwich and it was great! It's a big portion and the bread is soft. One thing I would comment on is the chicken itself - while it does have a nice crispy texture and isn't soggy, I think it needed just a pinch of salt. Also, the sandwich is pretty messy to eat as the ingredients tend to fall apart with each bite. I wish the cheese was melted as well. The sautéed broccolini was also cooked perfectly. Similar to the chicken though, this also just needed a pinch of salt. However, if you don't mind that, I still recommend trying it! Overall, I recommend bringing friends, family or coworkers here if you want a place with lots of options that can accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences. read more

Hillstone - Crispy Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Enjoyed a lovely lunch at the bar. Service is always kind and attentive. We enjoyed martinis, salads and the chicken sandwich. The Hillstone restaurant group really has it all figured out-the setting, service and menu. Sadly, this was likely the last lunch for awhile as I'm moving out of state soon. Hillstone, thank you for all the memories! read more

See all

Yall I don't play about Hillstone. The classic. Salad. With. Buttermilk. Ranch. Dressing. TIL I CROAK!!!!! Also their extra dirty martinis are so absolutely freezing chilled cold they have ICE CHIPS in them. Gimme 10!!!!! Love read more

Our meal last week was so good, we came back for brunch. The food and service remain excellent. We had foccacia $9, roasted artichoke $25, salmon $39, traditional salad $12, Hawaiian rib-eye steak $62, lamb sandwich $27 key lime pie $14. The more we come here, the more we appreciate Hillstone's food. We noticed they bake their bread here. From the foccacia to the burger buns, it is all made in house. It was the little things like cheese filled tomatoes that come with the foccacia dish with the olives. They open at 11:30am and all the seats quickly filled up. Good times. read more

We are on vacation and this is day 3. Yea, it is all about location, location, location. That's about it here. Well, the inside looks nice and dark. We sat outside. Took a while to get our orders. Then the waitstaff wrote down the wrong information so 2 of our orders were wrong. We just lived with it for the most part. It took a while to get the waitstaff's attention when we needed to leave for the Alcatraz tour. Prices are high (even compared to there places at the warf) and the menu is small. I guess you can do that when you are in prime location. read more

See all

The is was my first visit to Hillstone in San Francisco and I was wowed! We had to change our reservation a few times and host Rohini was very friendly and accommodating, starting our experience off right! Once seated we were greeted by the manager, Henry, who offered suggestions from the wine list and allowed us several small tastes before we went with his recommendation on an absolutely delicious bottle of wine. Our server, Monique, was friendly, attentive, and professional. Service was efficient and aesthetically pleasing. I have to say that I had the French dip sandwich I ordered was the best I have ever had and I am already planning my next visit to have another one! Monique's recommendations for side dishes and accompaniments was also spot on. The ambience and wallhangings included Navajo blankets and nautical flags and it was fun to see the food prep area and active kitchen. I can't say enough about this location and will definitely be back. It is one of my new favorites in San Francisco! read more

A superb dining experience from start to finish. Steaming hot towel for my hands? Yes please. Low, ambient lighting and real candles on the table? Absolutely. Changing my martini into a freshly chilled glass mid meal? You bet. The food is lovingly prepared & delicious and the service is unmatched. In a world where everyone seems to price gouge and under deliver Hillstone (Houston's) goes above and beyond to make you feel like the most important person in the room. In a word, they are "The Best of the Best." Thank you to everyone at this glorious restaurant for an amazing experience. read more

After walking by this place so many time, decided to give it a try, so thought I'd share an honest opinion of this place. Candidly, it's old timey and overpriced for what you get. Ambiance was dark, service was good, but Food was subpar and simple. Basics with extra fried foods and three basic flavors, salt, sugar, fats. Seems popular with out-of-towners (got some odd looks for some reason) who want a night out in the city. I'm sure there are people who enjoy this type of place, but as someone who enjoys good food and likes to dine out, there are much better places even walking distance. Hillstone is not for me. read more

We decided to share a Caesar salad to start and then tried the flat iron steak and the cheeseburger. Everything was good overall. The steak was tender, though not particularly exceptional, while the cheeseburger was flavorful and very generous in size. What stood out most was the outdoor seating area which was comfortable and enjoyable. It made the whole experience pleasant and worth the visit. Service was very good. read more

See all

Hillstone San Francisco is exactly why I'll always ride for Hillstone as one of the most consistently excellent restaurant groups in the country. You walk in knowing you're going to get a great meal, and this location delivered in a big way. The chicken sandwich and the french dip were out of this world, like "why am I not ordering this every week?" level. The spinach artichoke dip was ridiculously good, and the burger was perfect too, cooked right, super flavorful, just classic done the right way. Service was fantastic from start to finish, attentive without hovering and everything came out exactly how it should. If you want a guaranteed win in San Francisco, this is it. read more

There's truly nothing I love more in this world than a sexy, dimly-lit restaurant with frosted dirty martinis (bonus points if they have blue cheese olives!). Hillstone has both and one of my favorite appetizers ever - artichoke dip, hello!! Hillstone has become one of my go-to spots to bring any old person who visits me - parents, grandparents, etc. It's just perfect for everyone. I love myself the French dip (with grilled onions on the side), the shrimp cocktail to share, and many-a extra dirty martoons! It's the best place to go, especially when someone else is treating you aka your honey! read more

See all

We dined at Hillstone for dinner. I've been here MANY times and to the sister restaurants as well. I love the feel and ambiance of this place. It's all dark wood and plush. It's got an open kitchen and a wood fired grill. It smells good and feels somehow chic to me. We brought our own wine (corkage $25) and they were happy to serve it to us. Our server told us about the specials and we ordered two of them; crab cakes and grilled artichokes. The crab cakes were outstanding. Both hubs and daughter thought they are among the best crab cakes they have ever eaten. Highlight of the evening. Ironically, the crab was not local. The grilled artichoke was also really a nice change of pace. It was wood grilled, so it had a smoky, wood flavor. Delicious. The mains were good as well, although not as good as the starters. Daughter's kale salad was good, but had no sweet element, and she felt it was acidic, acidic, acidic. Apples, pears, or dried cranberries would have been appreciated. I ordered a Santa Fe Burger and forgot to photograph it. I really don't have anything good to say about this item. I wouldn't recommend ordering it. Maybe it was a bad night, but the burger came with two cheeses on it, and neither of them melted because the burger wasn't warm enough to melt them. And if the pattie was supposed to be served almost cold, it was a bad decision. Hubs ordered the knife and fork ribs and said they were baby back ribs without a lot of meat on them. Consequently, the sauce ratio was off. Sadly, he commented that those ribs were no better than Chili's. Ouch. Service was good throughout the evening. Attentive, well paced, thoughtful. I hate to give Hillstone a 3 star review. I love this place, but this was not an experience I would hurry to repeat. read more

See all

What an awesome experience. The food was great. The service was great. Just a gold standard of what all restaurants should be. Highly recommended. read more

I REALLY wanted their fried chicken sandwich (like so badly). I came from across the city on a warm and sunny day wearing a smart looking sleeveless sweater. I asked the hostess if it was possible to sit outside and was informed there was a waitlist (expected) but I wouldn't be able to sit because of the sleeveless sweater. Still wanting the fried chicken sandwich, I ran down the street to a gift shop at Pier 39 to swap my designer sweater for a $20 tee shirt - I chose an Alcatraz prisoner style. Here I am finally enjoying my fried chicken sandwich only to see the same hostess seating two sleeveless women, one of which was in a midriff (scandalous!). Second star is because the sandwich was good, as expected. read more

I'm guessing the manager who approached us was David. At the time, I was on a video call with my nephew. I was only sitting with my wife--there was no one else with us. This was around 4:19 PM. He came over and told us that we couldn't have the call on speaker because there were customers around, even though the place was empty. I also don't see anything on the menu or posted rules that says customers are not allowed to talk or use speaker. Even in more upscale restaurants, this has never been an issue. If I'm having a normal conversation or even laughing with someone, should I expect to be told to be quiet as well? I come here often, and this has never happened before. As im a also a manager, I would never approach my guests in that way. Make them feel uncomfortable. read more

Came in with a friend who recommended the spot on a late afternoon for some bar bites on the outdoor patio. It was a very sunny weekend in SF (70 degrees out). Seated, ordered, and was served our food. 5 mins later the manager came over and asked us to leave because I was in a sleeveless t shirt that violated the restaurant's dress code. I looked over and the group of women seated next to us were in ribbed tank tops with no problem. Never could I imagine this would happen in SF and was so caught off guard / embarrassed and didn't want to make a fuss so left. Didn't even finish the food and still had to pay. Very poor experience that could have been handled better. will not be coming back. read more

Went there on one of the warm days in San Francisco and sat at the bar for lunch. It took about 15 minutes to get noticed and get a menu. Bar wasn't that packed as there were about 6 other seats available. Food was good. I don't think I would return. read more

Absolutely love this place. Hillstone Restaurants never disappoint. I stopped in for a late lunch on Tuesday, December 30th, before catching the train back to San Ramon, and it was the perfect way to wrap up the day. I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered the French Dip with a draft Kölsch. The French Dip was outstanding. It was tender, flavorful, and exactly what you want from a classic. Paired with the crisp Kölsch, it made for a seriously satisfying meal. The service at the bar was top-notch. I didn't catch anyone's name, but the team was attentive, friendly, and perfectly paced, never hovering, never absent. It's rare to feel that well taken care of during a quick solo meal, but they nailed it. Consistently great food, polished service, and a comfortable atmosphere. Hillstone is always a win, and I'll definitely be back. read more

5 solid stars for today's lunch with the grilled artichoke which is a popular item as well as the Kale salad with chicken. Both were solid choices as well as the Talbot Chardonnay which I had. it been years since my last review where I only gave an average rating while dining at the Bar which had limited choices at that time. Will definitely be back when in the area. Hostess and our Server along with the Bartender who waited on me were great and exuded high service standards during my visit at 12:30 pm on Wednesday. read more

See all

Had the fried chicken sandwich which was pretty good. The coleslaw it came with had a tasty mustard sauce. Unfortunately my friend who ordered the burger got food poisoning. They were fine until a couple hours after our meal. I was totally unaffected so I'm not sure what caused. It. I wouldn't go back for this reason but maybe if we're feeling brave and was starving. I have a strong stomach. read more

Lovely restaurant with an upscale vibe and menu, perfect for the area. With so many touristy restaurants it was so nice to find something a level above. In my humble opinion, any restaurant that has a dedicated expeditor is a cut above the rest! The wait was about 45 minutes for a table so we scooted into a couple bar seats and enjoyed the show! It's quite the diversified crowd, at let it was the night we were there! Service was a bit discombobulated but I suppose that added a little bit of flavor to the experience! Every single staff member we encountered was genuine, friendly and welcoming. We had the artichoke dip for appetizer and it came out quickly, piping hot with fresh tortilla chips and a wonderful addition of salsa and sour cream! Weird but welcomed! Hubby had the flat iron steak, medium temperature and substituted mashed potatoes. He said it was amazing and it must have been, it was gone in a flash! I had the ribs with substituted mashed potatoes and boy oh boy, those ribs were worth their weight in gold! Fall off the bone tender, not too much sauce, a nice seasoning and lots of them! We had a great experience and will definitely return! read more

See all

We came for a light bite so I can only speak to the appetizers & service, but Hillstone is overall a solid, reliable, and upscale but not pretentious spot to catch up with friends, bring parents, etc etc. Nothing too standout from the apps we ordered but I'd definitely come back to try the actual entrees next time. Spinach & artichoke dip - 10/10 - rich & creamy and paired well with the chips. The server also offered to refill our chips which was nice Focaccia bread - 7.5/10 - not super springy focaccia and more crispy in texture which wasn't my preference, but the sauce that it came with was delish Chicken meatballs - 8/10 - same as the focaccia bread where the meatballs themselves were fine but the standout was the sauce Fries - 5/10 - had better Service was friendly, efficient, and just the right amount. Their back patio is really enjoyable when it's a nice day out, but keep in mind the umbrellas don't do a great job providing shade for the whole table so some of my friends were literally sweating & had to move lol - nothing to dock off points for, just worth noting. Would come again :) read more

See all

We've eaten here many times and it has generally been good. But recently, service has declined. We went today to eat lunch, put our name in and was told 20 mins, which was great. We check after 20 mins, and the hostess with a condescending smirk says 10-15 mins. We didn't trust her time estimates, so left. read more

Fantastic restaurant across the street from Pier 34. We stopped in for lunch and sat outside under the umbrellas. We started with the grilled artichoke, which was perfectly seasoned and grilled. I have the margarita to drink, and it was perfectly poured. I have the crabcakes in my partner, chose the salmon salad. Her salmon came out, cooked, perfectly, medium, and loved her dish. Now for the crabcakes. I would have to say these are the best crabcakes. I've eaten very little binding, perfectly formed, succulent, buttery crab meat some of the best I've ever consumed. I know the city has a lot of options, but after visiting Alcatraz, this was perfectly located for relaxing dinner with superior service and food ! read more

Came here for the first time for brunch/lunch. I split a Caesar salad and the chicken sandwich with a friend and I gotta admit I loved the chicken sandwich. The chicken was perfectly crunchy and there was a honey mustard sauce on the sandwich that put it over the top for me. We also got the spinach artichoke dip for the table, it was pretty good but not something I would go back for. Lastly, I wish the servers were more attentive and on it because our drinks took way too long each time we ordered another round. I would definitely give this place a second chance, maybe for dinner as the menu looked really good. read more

Loved the prime rib dip and spinach artichoke dip here! My boyfriend got the steak, greens, and potatoes and we really liked that one too! read more

See all

My review is based only off the cheeseburger, spinach & artichoke dip and the kale salad with chicken. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: More on the upscale side Value: 3.5/5 All the items tasted very good. The spinach and artichoke dip tasted great, the burger was flavorful and cooked well. I tend to like a lot of toppings on my burger, but for a simple lettuce and tomato I thought it hit the mark. I had the seasonal squash cheesecake and as a cheesecake fan, it was really good. The cheese is on the softer side and you could really taste the "fall flavor". Service was attentive and great where waitstaff regularly checked on us. My only heartache is the value. It's good food, but quite pricey for the offering (non-steak offerings). I would come back again! read more

See all

A chain that gets rave reviews is not very common. So had to check it out for the prime dip sandwich. I'm not a huge prime rib person but this sandwich is what dreams are made of. Tried to share one but ended up getting a whole one. It's that good ! The horseradish and sauce put it over the top. Cole slaw on the side and salmon salad was fire. Went with a Negroni which ....was huge and couldn't finish. Heavy pours..love!! The waitstaff the fellow patrons...it's def a vibe for out of towners and locals. Def coming back!! read more

See all

Weekday lunchtime was welcomingly quiet. Service was very attentive. Cheeseburger was well composed and generous. The traditional salad was wonderful - fresh and with varied, complementary ingredients. Not at all traditional! read more