oChef » Hillstone – San Francisco » Hillstone – San Francisco – Reviews

Hillstone - Reviews

1800 Montgomery St, 94113 San Francisco
All reviews at a glance
755

Reviews

69.3%

Satisfaction

195

negative

37

neutral

523

positive

What people say about Hillstone

Visit Type
  • Tourist Experience
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Christian H.
Review date: 11/01/2025
2
Horrible Service, Saved by the Bartender
My experience at this restaurant was marred by horrible service from the moment we arrived. We weren't greeted at the front, and after being told we could sit at a table, we were ignored by every server who walked by. We eventually had to ask for service, only to be told we were at a table that doesn't normally get serviced. This was baffling, especially after being directed there. The hostess then questioned if we only wanted appetizers or full meals, which seemed irrelevant as we just wanted dinner. From that point on, we received dirty looks and were treated as if we were a burden. This occurred on November 1st, 2025, around 5 PM, with the patio server giving us the dirtiest looks and rolling their eyes, despite us being from out of town. The only person who was respectful and treated us like a human being was the bartender, a younger guy with slicked black hair. Thank you to him; without him, we would have left. We will never be coming back.
  • bartender10
  • Food6
  • service1
  • ask for service1
  • dirty looks1
Price per Person
  • $91–$100
Visit Type
  • Casual Outing
Group Type
  • Friends
Group Size
  • Large Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Long (31+ min.)
Noise Level
  • Moderate
Valentin S.
Review date: 10/27/2025
6
Mixed Experience at Hillstone: Great Ambiance, Disappointing Food & Service
I love Hillstone; it’s one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The ambiance, the crowd, and the attention to detail are usually second to none. Last Friday, I spent about three hours there between having drinks at the bar and dinner with friends. First off, I want to acknowledge the hosts, who were absolutely outstanding. They were amazingly patient and flexible as our party grew from a few people to a table of eight. They went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable, and I’m genuinely grateful for that. That said, I was very disappointed with the food. I ordered the Flank Steak, which arrived topped with what seemed to be a green paste, something like a chimi churri, that completely overpowered the flavor of the meat. Worse, it didn’t even taste like chimi churri; it had a strong, cheesy flavor that clashed with the dish. The steak itself was oddly chewy and lacked the quality I’ve come to expect from Hillstone. It was also served with bell peppers on the side that were clearly undercooked, still crunchy and raw in the middle, and topped with what feta cheese. For an American grill, this combination felt misplaced and confusing. The fries were another disappointment: soggy, oily, and lacking salt or crispness. They honestly resembled something you’d get at a baseball stadium, not at Hillstone. Finally, I also sadly had an unpleasant interaction with the bar service. I spent about an hour and a half at the bar before being seated, and despite the bar being busy but not packed, it was nearly impossible to get a drink. There were three bartenders, but it took thirty minutes to get two Negronis. Worse, after being told multiple times that I’d be served soon, I was skipped over for another guest who had just arrived. When I politely pointed this out, the bartender completely dismissed my complaint. As I said, I love Hillstone, but some of the items from my experience this time were not the level of professionalism I expect from it.
  • ambiance9
  • attention to detail9
  • hosts10
  • food2
  • Flank Steak2
  • steak3
Price per Person
  • $71–$80
Visit Type
  • Casual Outing
Group Type
  • Friends
Group Size
  • Small Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Raphael L.
Review date: 10/26/2025
6
Great Service, Disappointing Food
Our group of three ordered the ribs and two Hawaiian ribeye steaks. Unfortunately, the ribs were burnt and tasted like charcoal, leading us to send them back. We also requested medium-rare steaks, but they arrived more like medium-well, resulting in a dry texture. The starters were just okay, with the artichoke dip being the only dish that stood out. Honestly, the food wasn't great. However, the service was awesome! It was super fast and cheerful, which truly compensated for the food's shortcomings. We appreciated our waiter's efforts, even though we forgot his name. We didn't take many pictures, mainly of the burnt ribs and dry steak, though the photos didn't fully capture the taste experience. Oh, and a minor note: they have no toothpicks 🤣.
  • starters5
  • artichoke dip8
  • service10
  • ribs2
  • Hawaiian ribeye steaks3
  • food2
Price per Person
  • $51–$60
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Lunch
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Ігор К.
Review date: 10/25/2025
10
Outstanding Service and Delicious Food!
My experience at this restaurant was absolutely wonderful. The service was outstanding, with excellent waiters. The food was delicious, and I had one of the best steaks I’ve ever eaten. The atmosphere is also wonderful! I loved absolutely everything and definitely recommend it.
  • service10
  • waiters10
  • food10
Visit Type
  • Regular Visit
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Phillip A.
Review date: 10/22/2025
10
Consistently Excellent Food and Service
I’ve had the pleasure of dining here multiple times a month over many years. I typically sit at the bar where I’m always well taken care of, especially by Joe and Paige. The food is consistently excellent, and the service never disappoints. I’m always torn between ordering the BBQ ribs or the Hawaiian ribeye—both are so good.
  • food10
  • service10
  • BBQ ribs9
Price per Person
  • $31–$40
Visit Type
  • Regular Visit
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Lunch
Noise Level
  • Moderate
Curtis C.
Review date: 10/12/2025
9
Consistently Great Food and Atmosphere
My experience at Hillstone was consistently great, offering excellent food, drinks, and atmosphere. The prime rib french dip was a standout, hitting the spot perfectly, and everything else I tried was equally impressive.
  • prime rib french dip9
  • food9
  • drinks8
Price per Person
  • $31–$40
Visit Type
  • Quick Meal
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Lunch
Noise Level
  • Quiet
Secret S.
Review date: 09/30/2025
7
Lovely Service, Mixed Food Experience
My experience at the restaurant was a mix of highs and lows. The service was lovely, and a special shoutout to Nils for being an amazing waiter! For food, the chicken sandwich had a nice addition of tomato and cheese, but the greens were honestly disgusting. On a positive note, the key lime pie was delicious.
  • service9
  • chicken sandwich5
  • key lime pie9
  • greens2
Price per Person
  • $41–$50
Visit Type
  • Casual Outing
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Sona T.
Review date: 09/28/2025
8
Enjoyable Dinner with Great Service
We shared a Caesar salad as an entree, along with a flat iron steak and a cheeseburger. The food was good overall. The steak was soft but not outstanding, while the cheeseburger was tasty and came in a big portion. The outside seating was very nice and we really enjoyed it. Service was very good.
  • Caesar salad6
  • flat iron steak6
  • cheeseburger8
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Ro R.
Review date: 09/27/2025
1
Worst Manager and Service Ever
My experience at this restaurant was extremely negative. I encountered the worst manager I have ever seen, coupled with the worst service. I will never come back here anymore.
  • manager1
  • service1
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Emanwel O.
Review date: 09/27/2025
1
Horrible Experience at Hillstone
My experience at Hillstone was extremely negative. I would highly not recommend coming here. The manager, David, was so disrespectful and had a big attitude. The staff were also rude. This place is horrible and overpriced. Please do not go to this restaurant.
  • manager1
  • staff1
  • place1

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