Hillstone - San Francisco

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.

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.

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 🤣.

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.

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.