Came here after a long walk on the SM Pier. Hillstone was busy, after a 10-minute wait we were seated. Our server Victor was the best. He was attentive, and polite. What stood out was that this was a sister restaurant of Houston's restaurants. We ordered wine and a good Margarita. Our Ribs. We're tender and tasty, My cheeseburger was cooked to perfection, Salmon was so good, Chili beans are a must. We had a pleasant time here, and we will absolutely be back. Parking is street and Garage parking behind Hillstone. I would suggest making a reservation so you will not have to wait over an hour. read more

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Solid spot. I feel like Hillstone is always consistent and provides good service. The spinach dip was not very tasty-- I found it to be very mid and the chips were stale. The sushi was good, nothing crazy. The chicken sandwich was great, I will say!! We had an issue with the waitress taking our leftovers back to the kitchen but the GM came back to resolve issue and offered us a new sandwich to go which was very kind. Ambiance is cute there. read more

Hillstone - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Made a reservation , the day prior , arrived on time , hostess said she couldn't find my reservation , showed her my phone , we waited 45 minutes- Friday night , they were beyond packed said the wait time was over an hour- after an hour we had enough. I've been dining here since they opened , this was the last straw - we went next door to Wally's we were seated immediately,had an amazing diner , great service , zero attitude - , great bar scene with beautiful people everywhere !!! Guess I have a new favorite place and it isn't Hillstone ! Fuggedaaabouddit ! read more

Oh yeah this place is totally a vibe. The servers are professional yet chill and everyone just seems to be having a good time. The food is pretty good as well! Nothing was bad, maybe just a bit expensive for what it is. Overall might be worth trying!!!! read more

Hillstone - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Hillstone continues to be one of the most consistent restaurants I've ever dined at. Prices are on the higher end but the quality of the food & service more than makes up for it. Came on a Wednesday evening and as always, it was pretty busy. I would highly recommend reservations if your party is on the smaller side (we came as a party of 2). We ordered the sashimi salad & the ribs. Food is the star of the show, it came out quick and both dishes were excellent. We also had The Crush (more tart than I remember) and ordered 2 desserts: the hot fudge sundae & the key lime pie. The key lime pie was fantastic. The restaurant was lively & service was quick. This is a great spot for family dinners, special occasions and date nights. read more

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This Santa Monica institution is still popular for a reason.. with their delicious food selection, high quality execution and knowledgeable staff. It's no wonder that Hillstone in Santa Monica they still attracting loyal patrons. I've been coming here for over a decade and recently stopped in for lunch with my friends after visiting the Ilusion Museum which is right around the corner. We made a reservation and were sat promptly and ordered a bunch of seafood based dishes to share The highlights of the meal for the grilled trout, brownie dessert and sushi The price point is definitely higher than most of the surrounding fast casual eateries nearby but definitely a good spot for a date night or more upscale meal with friends read more

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The food & the service are always on point, always consistent, best service. I tried almost everything on the menu over the year & I have to say they are all delicious. The firehouse chili dish should make it to the daily menu not just weekends. It was flavorful. The menu hasn't changed but that is ok. Staying consistent & providing good quality food & service are what makes Hillstone group successful. Please expand to the valley . read more

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I've come here a lot over the years but just have never written a review. It is located around the Promenade and there is a parking structure close by so easy access. It is typically always busy on weekends unless you go there right when it opens. This most recent time I came on a Saturday afternoon. We got drinks at the bar with Nicki and she always is so great. We waited about 15 minutes before being seated. We ordered and got our appetizers quickly. We ordered the Cheese Toast. That is one of our favorite appetizers. Their artichokes are also good, but sometimes hit or miss because sometimes the artichokes are small. We got our food (Rotisserie Chicken, Filet Mignon, and Fork and Knife Ribs). The food is good and typically good portion size. I've tried lots of stuff over the years including sushi, cheeseburger, French dip, and more. Servers are always nice and attentive despite always being busy. read more

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Hillstone was so wonderful for lunch with the girls! We immediately got a table around 2pm on a Friday and all of the servers were very attentive and friendly. We all cleaned our plates as everything was so yummy! The ambiance was wonderful as well. read more

Hillstone - Rainbow Roll - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Dined at Hillstone and was not disappointed! We had a reservation for 2 and got seated in about 15 minutes. We already knew what we wanted to order and the food came out quickly. The food never disappoints and everything was delicious. We decided to order two desserts and treat ourselves to the key lime pie and the ice cream sundae which were both divine and rich in flavor. It was pretty busy for a Wednesday night and the ambiance is nice. Would be a great date spot and better for smaller parties. read more

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The place was packed at 9 PM on a Thursday night. So five of us squeezed into the bar. Not our ideal situation, but we were hungry and thirsty. The young lady that waited on us at the bar was fantastic. She went above and beyond to make our experience exceptional. We ordered martinis, and Negroni's with Apperal We ordered deviled eggs, ciabatta, bread, fried chicken sandwich, and beef dip sandwich. The food is amazing. Everything was fresh and delicious. They are at the corner of second and Arizona and there is a public parking lot at fourth and Arizona. Can't wait to go back. Really enjoyed our evening. read more

Hillstone never disappoints. I was there again, just a few days ago. Food and drinks 5 stars: The food and drinks are consistently great. Their sushi and rolls are better than most sushi restaurants! Service 5 stars: Their service should be benchmarked as the industry-standard for other fine dining establishments to try to achieve. I frequently mention in my other restaurant reviews that service is server dependent. No so at Hillstone. They seem to be putting a lot of emphasis into hiring and training. As a result, their service is consistently of the highest standards. There is no average employee at Hillstone. Venue 5 stars: The restaurant is clean, modern, classy and well kept. The Last Word 5 stars: Very highly recommended! read more

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A great restaurant for having a casual but quality food. The ambiance is beautiful and it's nicely decorated. Their food is amazing specially their Burgers, artichoke dip and their specialty the French dip sandwich. Their staff is amazing as they are very welcoming with good energy, great service. You get both good food and good vibes. Highly recommended. read more

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Always great service, as you would expect from a Hillstone group restaurant. Food is nothing ground breaking but always solid, it's okay to order the burger here. Though, I do wish you would offer a version of the ribeye that's non-marinated like Houston's does. The mid martini cold glass refresher always pleases. Nice enough for a date, but not so nice that catching up with friends and family feels stuffy. Upstairs is a little more quiet and intimate if needed. BTW what's with 86'ing cake cutting service and not letting us know when we dropped off the cake upon checking in with the hostess? You've done it in the past and it would make sense to let us know the change in policy then and not after we finished our entrees ‍ read more

Hillstone - Ribs, fries, slaw - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I've been to this place many times without a reservation, but today the hostess, Alexa, told me they don't accept walk-ins. Really? I could clearly see several people waiting in line who also didn't seem to have reservations. The situation felt inconsistent and poorly handled. Bad costumer service. read more

Idk where the negative reviews are coming from but Hillstone has never done me wrong. We've been coming here consistently for the past two years and we've always left happy. The only time we get a little "ehh" is when we get seated downstairs. It's a bit noisier so not my fave. I like the upstairs seating you get to see the sushi chefs at work. The servers are always super sweet and attentive. We try and get a little of everything so we can share. Whenever the artichokes are in season definitely order some! Also all of their sushi rolls are 10/10 the coconut shrimp roll is my go to. Love the warm towels (ask for them) so you can clean your hands. Parking is easy there's some on the street, theres valet or parking garage. We'll continue coming here and if anything changes I'll update my review (: read more

Hillstone - Some rolls - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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From the ambience; to the servers to the delicious meal, everything was phenomenal. The manager David came to our table, making sure everything was OK. He was outstanding. I will definitely be back. Pictures of my meal are below.... read more

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First time here. The 2 floor restaurant was small yet elegant. It gets jam packed in there for a late dinner. We were here with some friends and we all enjoyed our dishes would definitely recommend to come back again. Food Price Scale: $$$ Food: My wife absolutely raved about the Pan asian salad with pork. Said it was fresh, pork was cooked just right and the flavors were perfect. Ding's Crispy chicken sandwich was very delicious. Buns were soft, veggies fresh, chicken crunchy and not dry. Fries were almost reminiscent of in n out's well done fries but not greasy which was enjoyable. Friends ordered the Hawaiian rib-eye which he described as perfect and very tasty while his wife enjoyed the French dip. Would recommend and would come back to try the rest of the menu. read more

Hillstone - Hawaiian Rib-Eye - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Absolutely Incredible Dining Experience From the moment we sat down, everything about this experience felt special. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and stylish -- comfortable red booth seating, beautiful lighting, and a relaxed yet upscale vibe that makes you want to stay and enjoy every moment. The sandwich presentation alone deserves applause. The sesame bun is thick, soft, and perfectly fresh. You can see the quality immediately -- juicy, vibrant tomatoes, crisp shredded greens, and beautifully cooked chicken with a golden sear. The layers are balanced, clean, and thoughtfully assembled. Nothing sloppy, nothing rushed -- just pure attention to detail. The fries are perfectly golden and crisp, served hot and fresh. The portions are generous and satisfying without being overwhelming. Even the drinks are served chilled and complement the meal perfectly. read more

Hillstone - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Parking: Park for 90mins free in any of the public lots or there's free street parking in the neighborhoods north of Wilshire if you don't mind walking 5-10mins Experience: My friend and I went on a Saturday at 12:30pm without a reservation and were seated immediately! The service was super attentive and friendly the whole time. She got the chicken sandwich and I got the cheeseburger. Unlike at R&D Kitchen, they both come with fries which is super nice. The food was great and we will definitely be back to try the sushi! read more

Hillstone - Cheeseburger - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Last lunch with god mother before she leaves and had to try the French dip again!!! Beautiful space by the way but always busy...Rain or shine!! Delicious and the burger was so good again but I really like the Cesar and love the croutons!!! Most of all....Staff!!! Amazing!!! From front of house to managers to server ...All so friendly, prompt and sooo diligent!! Don't sleep on the desert!! read more

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Food was great, service even better. The most standout thing was that they changed out my martini glass, without any mention, since I don't drink fast. Not in 40 years had anyone find that. Do not pass up the Hawaiian Ribeye is you like sweet, tender Ribeye. I love the Braised Red Cabbage too. The cheesy garlic bread the artichoke the French dip everything was perfect highly recommend this restaurant although I may regret this since I won't be able to get in. It was very crowded at 4:30 p.m. We had a reservation and the restaurant was practically filled at 4:30pm. I ordered my steak med rare, it was perfect, sweet and carmelized. Our server,Tess, and the manager David were spectacular. Wish I didn't live so far away. read more

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The food was good depending on what you ordered. I got the veggie sandwich, and it might've been one of the worst things I've ever tried. On the other hand, my brother got the chicken sandwich and said it was the best thing he's had on their menu. It really depends on what you get -- definitely hit or miss. The staff were nice, but the prices are on the higher end. read more

Incredible service, ambiance, and consistently fantastic food. Had a girls dinner this past Memorial Day weekend (highly recommend reservations) and ordered the following: Crab cakes - limited in supply: this was actually my first time having the crab cakes which were served with a side of a honey mustard based Cole slaw. Definitely filling and enjoyable. Rating: Slaw: 10/10. Crab cakes: 9.5/10 The spinach dip - the holy grail of all cravings that usually sends one to hillstone. Paired well with the sour cream and salsa, makes for a perfect bite. Rating: 10/10 The filet - served medium with a side of broccoli and pomme pure. The steak was cooked perfectly and paired nicely with the mash. The broccoli was ok. Rating: 8.5/10 Tip: must order the hillstone crisp martini. It's divine and they alter the cup to make sure it is always crisp. Overall, excellent service and quality in food. There is a parking structure nearby, yet we were lucky enough to find metered parking. read more

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After two other attempts to walk in and get a seat at the bar, I was finally able to on a Sunday afternoon. There are two parking structures within one block of the restaurant. Even though it was a bit slower, the dining room was still full of patrons. The staff is all very friendly, they were able to see me without a reservation within a minute of walking in. Nicki at the bar is amazing. Very sweet and great energy from her. Had the kale cashew salad and French dip. It is literally the best French dip I have ever had in my life and would definitely go back for another one. read more

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I had such a great experience here I can't share enough how worth it it is. The service was incredible and the food was delicious! Artichoke dip = a must but needs more chips Sushi is honestly fine. I recommend the coconut roll. The smashed sushi honestly felt like it had been premade (which if you go upstairs you can see it is). French dip 11/10 One of the best French dips out there. Incredible meat that tastes fresh. Ribs 11/10 The ribs fall off the bone and the bbq sauce is incredible. Grilled artichokes are okay but can be passed on. Overall great vibes and amazing service and good food. Definitely worth a stop at least once for a nice dinner. read more

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The manager David is great. He needs to be the owner as he is awesome. I came in recently with my husband and was met by the most narcissistic, simple minded host on the face of the earth. Her name was Alexis. She made us wait to sit at the bar even though there were plenty of open tables. My husband was fine with waiting but I noticed she allowed a couple to get a table and I watched them slide her money. It's disgusting that people like this care more about money than the actual people. The bathroom was dirty with no toilet paper. The floors had food on them and I watched them wipe the tables with filthy towels. The bartenders and employees never wash their hands at all. I will not go back. read more

The manager and staff were so sweet!! Food was also 1000/10 as always. Definitely recommend the spinach artichoke dip :) read more

Hillstone - Spinach artichoke dip - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I really want to like it here I love the dimly lit atmosphere and the booths. And it's slightly institutional like it used to be a bank or something... which is fun. I've been to Hillstone before, South Beverly Grill and Houston's. They're all just kind of eh. I ordered the Ding's Chicken Sandwich. It's on a roll instead of a bun... similar to South Beverly Grill. As I was eating it, I just kind of thought it's like eating a chicken sandwich from an office building sandwich place like Trimana. Like, you kind of have to do like the other great chicken sandwiches in the city... otherwise what's the point? My husband liked his dish fine... whatever it was. But that's just it... it's just fine. Maybe somewhere you go with your parents. read more

Hillstone is our favorite go to spot in our neighborhood. There's nothing fancy about the menu, fairly basic dishes, but they do everything very well. Favorites are the Trout, Filet, Spinach Dip, Artichokes and Ding Chicken Sandwich. Drink wise, if you like Martinis this is the place to have one. They serve them in chilled glasses and replace them as your drink warms up. Nice touch. What makes Hillstone really good though is the service. From the managers and hosts - David, Christine and Alexis - to the excellent servers - Casey, Taylor and Michaela are favorites. read more

This is a great place to eat. Had lunch here recently on a Sunday with a couple of friends. The interior is beautiful with comfortable seating and a warm and pleasant ambiance. The menu has lots of nice options. We shared an order of the deviled eggs, which were excellent. Two of us had the Asian Noodle Salad, which was bright and flavorful and chock full of fresh ingredients beyond the noodles - like chunks of mango, slivers of carrot and cabbage, big plump cherry tomato halves and big pieces of beautiful avocado, all tossed in a tangy, spicy and slightly sweet dressing. Delicious! Another person had the kale salad and spicy tuna roll. Both of those were also very well made and tasty. Service was friendly and professional and our food was served promptly. I would put this place in the "can't miss" category. read more

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Huge shoutout to Ching and Michael for taking such great care of us. My boyfriend and I came here for a date night and we were so pleased with our dinner. We especially loved the Ribeye, it's honestly cooked to such savory perfection. We got fries, mashed potatoes, the Caesar, and deviled eggs as sides to share. We also tried a few cocktails on the menu, but I asked the bartender to make his rendition of a Paloma and it was easily the best drink we had all night. We really enjoyed the full dining experience at Hillstone and will certainly return again soon! read more

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Excellent dinner at Hillstone. Ordered the crab cakes and loved them. Great feta fruit appetizer. Beautiful location close to the beach. Attentive, courteous service. Upscale casual ambiance. Recommend. read more

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Food is incredible. I love their barbecue ribs and kale salad. They have very good service and nice ambience. read more

Hillstone - Barbecue ribs plate - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Second time here and I love this place! The ambience is so nice and the restaurant is pretty. The spinach artichoke dip is my faaaav. No other place has done it better. The Caesar was really good but I would say no corn next time I find it a bit random. We also got the deviled eggs which are a fun appetizer. The French dip was cooked perfectly and the crispy chicken sandwich had a lot of flavor. Their sushi is great too I didn't get it this time, but I had gotten it when I came the first time and it's good. We swapped the vodka in the cosmopolitan drink for gin and it was STRONG. The service is also great I love the chilled glass switch. Our waitress accidentally spilled some of my drink and she got me another one no charge; great service! Would totally come back many times. read more

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My husband and I came to Hillstone today for dinner and were met with our waitress Macie. She was warm and genuinely wanted to make sure that we were taken cared of. The manager David appeared to be going around passing around food and drinks which I felt was great leadership, leading by example with an equally warm and friendly presence. He took the time to answer my questions of what he enjoyed on the menu despite how busy it was. I ordered The Hawaiian and subbed the fries for cesar salad. My husband ordered Knife and Fork BBQ ribs. Let me tell you, the amount of food definitely meets the price. You WILL be full after eating this. Everything tasted fresh and made with love. Additionally, I would recommend the spinach and artichoke dip as an appetizer. Our waitress asked if we wanted more chips as she saw they were running out and had more dip and sauces left. Lastly, the dessert I highly would recommend is the cobbler. I mean WOW.... You can taste the apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and bits of pieces of crust broken into it. When I ran to the restroom, the manager remembered my name and asked which dish I ordered. The fact that he remembered my name and asked the follow up question of what I ordered was a personal touch I very much appreciated. I would have a picture for you all, but I completely forgot as it was just so yummy :) I will be coming back again and with more people. Thank you for making my first time here memorable. read more

i have gone to Hillstone in Santa Monica for 10 years . Always an amazing experience until last night . The hostess couldn't find the reservation which we eventually found in my phone . The waitress was so obvious about trying to turn the table . We were approached three times while eating our appetizers. Then the manager who might be 20 said that we could not order any more cocktails . I had two cocktails one person had three cocktails and my friend ordered another and was denied . We were not driving and were walking back to our hotel . read more

Hillstone has always been hyped up, so I was eager to finally try it. Had a reservation and was seated within a few minutes. The ambiance is nice and simple, but dark. I ordered Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich. I would've ordered a speciality cocktail, but there were very few choices on the menu. Food came out fast considering it was packed. I asked for spicy mayo on the side which was decent, but nothing special. The chicken sandwich was the same. It was yummy, but there was no distinguishing factor from this being at another restaurant. I wouldn't describe the chicken as crispy. Fries were undercooked and lacked any flavor. Overall, I expected more from this meal. I would come again to give it another chance. read more

Hillstone - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We love this restaurant. They have amazing martinis. unfortunately, during this visit, we arrived at a very busy time. The waitress was extremely busy and she would drop by and blurt out something and before she would wait for a response she would speed off. We waited 20 minutes just to get water and then the water glass smelled like a wet dog when we complained about it, she brought us new glasses that smelled like she wiped them out and then it still smelled like a wet dog. We did order a margarita, the glass and margarita smelled like a dirty wash clothe. They don't have many vegetarian options. We ordered the vegetable platter and it came with rice and beans. The beans tasted like Heinz baked beans out of a can with brown sugar mixed in. Everything else was really delicious though especially the roasted peppers. read more

Hillstone in Santa Monica lives up the restaurant group's reputation for consistently great food and service. We started with guac, grilled artichokes and a salad. For entrees the French dip and tuna tar tar. All were excellent. read more

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