- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Hillstone Restaurant
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
202 Wilshire BlvdSanta Monica, CA 90401
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
(310) 576-7558
Houston's changes name to Hillstone
We are pleased to announce our new name, Hillstone. To learn more about this exciting change please click on the "About This Business" tab!
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
271 reviews for Hillstone Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"I stumbled upon Houston's today for lunch." In 87 reviews -
"Their French Dip is popular for both lunch and dinner." In 33 reviews -
"The Hawaiian Rib Eye is ah-mazing." In 9 reviews
Loading...
271 reviews in English
-
Review from David L.
Glendale, Los Angeles, CA
5/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
BBQ Ribs are very delicious, melts off the bone. Practically falls off the bone.
Very trendy vibe overall. Had to call in a reservation, this place gets packed. Great food but really pricey.
If you like sushi it's great here. very classy place. The food and service is great.
I couldn't believe how fast our food came even though the place was packed.
Really good place to eat if you can afford it. Definitely a great place to take a date. They even bring out the hot towels at the end of the meal. Awesome. -
Review from Sparkle K.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 5/3/2012 5 photos
After being here now a handful of times; I love it. I have gotten used to the prices and the shuffling wait staff. The food has been very consistent which is why I don't mind coming here and forking over a nice chunk of change. I realized the ribs the first time I came here were a little off because I have had them several times and the sauce has been great. I went here last night and had the gumbo with cheese toast to start. The cheese toast was gooey and toasted. I really was expecting some a fancier version of Sizzler's cheese toast; don't ask me why. This version was good. If it had pepperoni on it, it would of make a great french bread pizza. The gumbo was a little spicy and had a great beef taste, but the rice was a tad crunchy. Still a delicious bowl of soup.
For the entree I ordered the crab cakes. Bad move. There wasn't really a binding aid there, so the weren't firm, they fell apart and were insanely soft/moist. My friend told me "you shouldn't really order something that the place is not "famous" for; stick with the steaks next time." He was right. So I put those to the side and ordered the ribs; heaven! Let me tell you...I picked up some of the ribs to put on my friends plate and had to catch the meat because it was falling off the bone. Kid you not. He ordered the roasted prime rib and it was beyond tasty. Hillstone will always rock in my book.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/20/2011
**singing in tune to the Theme of Arthur**
When you're caught between a 3 and 3 and a half stars, the… Read more »
-
-
Review from Scott K.
Brentwood, CA
5/1/2012
Great place with great food, but a tiny bit pricey!
Went there the other day for my wife's birthday dinner and I want to mention that she stated that the swordfish special she ordered was "The best meal she has eaten in a long time", so if they have the swordfish, GO FOR IT.
I had a burger and it was solid, as always. This place is just reliably good. However, be prepared for a bit of sticker shock when the bill comes. We ordered the "special appetizer" and my wife ordered the "special", so we didn't know the prices. Total bill with tip for two was $110 (1 glass of wine, 1 appetizer, 2 entres, 1 desert).
The place is quite nice, feels small and intimate, while still accommodating a large number of people. They don't stack you on top of each other, which is nice.
The price is the ONLY thing keeping it from being 5 stars. -
Review from Gwen H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/24/2012
The food is decent, but I found the menu to be limiting. Plus Im not a big fan of the layout or the service. It is very conducive though for families with kids. Its not too loud but loud enough and my kids really do enjoy going here.
-
Review from Jeff S.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/20/2012
A very open and modern restaurant so if you want intimate, you're in the wrong place. The restaurant was packed but we had reservations and were seated immediately. Service was excellent and our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly -- everything you'd expect. That's the good news.
Unfortunately, this is still a chain restaurant and the food reflected that. My friend and I each had a California Burger which was so-so at best, and there's no way they can justify the $17 price for what you get; an OK hamburger and a few tablespoons of coleslaw.
Our wives had the Hand Filleted Salmon and Jumbo Crab Cakes.
What exactly does hand filleted mean? Is most other salmon filleted by machine? Does it add to the taste? C'mon. It was a bare piece of dry salmon with some broccoli on the side for $28. Both the presentation and taste were mediocre.
Though hardly "jumbo," the crab cakes contained large pieces of crab and were quite tasty. The side again was a small scoop of coleslaw. Not bad, but a total ripoff at $34.
For desert we shared the chocolate brownie and hot fudge Sundae. These were easily the best part of the meal, close to worth the price, but hardly worth going for.
In sum, a mediocre chain dining experience. With the dozens of restaurants one block away on the 3rd street promenade, you can do a lot better than the Hillstone Restaurant. -
Review from Robert T.
Los Angeles, CA
4/26/2012
A couple friends took me to lunch yesterday so I can't speak as to price, but everyone enjoyed their food a lot, and the service was wonderful. We ordered a California roll, the veggie burger, the grilled chicken salad, and the special-of-the-day trout--and there wasn't a complaint to be found. We sat upstairs, it was quiet, we could hear each other, and our server was friendly, attentive, helpful and fun. [Plus she had great eyes, which, of course, is always good :) ]
I've been to the apparently-defunct Houston's in Century City a couple times and it was okay, but this was my first visit to the Santa Monica location and I definitely liked it a lot. -
Review from Joshua L.
Santa Monica, CA
4/19/2012
I was quite disappointed with my lunch entree yesterday. I ordered the French Dip, and the sandwich came out lukewarm and cool. And I couldn't complain because I was on a business meeting.
I thought Houston's was supposed to provide a higher level of service and quality especially if you're paying $20 for a French Dip sandwich!! -
Review from H M.
Los Angeles, CA
4/27/2012
3.5
My absolute favorite Houston's was the one located at the Century City Mall - but unfortunately, they closed. My next closest option is Hillstone in Santa Monica.
Folks, this is a quality restaurant. I've brought several out-of-towners to this place over the last decade. It's a really great spot to bring guests after an afternoon stroll through 3rd Street Promenade.
Parking is a bit of a hassle at this location. I'm cheap and I don't like to pay for valet. My friends and I will often park at a "two hour free" lot or a meter (after hours) and walk. This actually works out well, because we've usually gorged ourselves with food by the time the check arrives.
Wait time is often ridiculous here. Don't be surprised if you end up waiting anywhere between 45-60 minutes for a table. I find that Sundays before 3pm (for late lunch) is usually best.
The food is superior in quality and taste. I always order the Fresh Fish Sandwich with fries and Buttermilk Garlic. It's a damn good sandwich. Fish is always fresh (as the name implies) and cooked to absolute perfection. The Buttermilk Garlic sauce is the perfect pairing for their hand-cut fries. I could make a meal out of the garlic sauce and fries alone. Actually, I could make a meal out of the sauce by itself. It's THAT good. My one gripe about my favorite meal here is that they have skimped on the amount of fries they serve. Don't get me wrong, the portions are very large, but there used to be so many fries that I could share with a friend or two. Nowadays, it's just enough for moi. :-\
The Spinach and Artichoke dip is phenomenal. It accompanies tortilla chips (white corn), salsa and sour cream. Great to share.
Service is not as good as it was at the Century City location. At the previous location, our glasses were filled without ever realizing that our soda was at the half-way mark. Our servers would also come check in often. Here, not so much. They're still attentive, but not in the way that the Hillstone brand prides itself on.
Ok, so now for the ugly. Everytime I pass through the back via the kitchen area to go to the restroom, I feel like I'm going to puke. It smells so AWFUL. That disgusting smell of iron (read: blood) and animal carcass. It's absolutely nauseating. Sometimes, it gets so bad that I have to plug my nose as I pass through to access the stairs to get to the restroom. My friends have suggested I take the stairs behind the bar, but often it's very crowded and I don't feel like walking passed a hundred tables. Plus, I'm hopeful that one day they'll get the smell under control. I've tried to convince myself that the smell is a sign of how "fresh" their food is. For all I know, they could be slaughtering baby calves back there!
On a different note, bathrooms are spotless. :) -
Review from Colleen L.
West Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 3/11/2012 5 photos
Had an occasion to dine here last week. What whets my appetite is the anticipation of inhaling the campfire type aroma from the 2nd street side near the valet parking. I just wish I could pull up a chair, as I like to watch them cook from the window there. What a well run restaurant. At least it looks to me like the staff there work like the inside of a clock.
We arrived about 6 pm which seemed to be the trick. Easy to find a table, had a server that was in good spirits and the food arrived without a hitch.
My friend ordered a hamburger, no bun. She liked it so much I hardly saw her eat it. Maybe I was too busy talking?
I ordered a Thai steak & noodle salad with a veggie burger patty on the side (no steak). I cut that up into pieces and placed it on top my Thai Salad (with the dressing on the side). Awesome dressing by the way, perfectly spicy, the best. Not too sour, not too sweet, just right. They are generous with the dressing which arrived in a gravy boat type dish server that worked out extremely well for just a little or a lot more. No mess or fuss, hooray, no drips either.
Here's my beef. I do not understand why they insist on charging extra for the veggie patty, when it seems logical to me that the steak patty would cost more & is included in this Thai salad. I suppose making the veggie patty is labor intensive. It was $6.oo more this particular evening.
The char broiled scented and grill marked veggie patty was a winner. My friend remarked "next time I'm ordering that same dish."2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
7/3/2009
A couple weeks ago I sat at the bar with a friend. I liked the option of being able to watch the… Read more »
-
-
Review from Lin G.
3/9/2012
We already know that pantie lines showing through a cotton dress is a no no (see example http://thirtysomething...). But it was one of those days, and I was shamefully caught off guard without the proper undergarments, especially since I changed at work beforehand. This particular night, I was just going to go commando in the car first before sashaying to the restaurant (better than pantie lines right?), but looking for parking was so stressful (fuck valet!) that I forgot to take off my panties first. Oops. So I was guilty of pantie lines when I arrived at the restaurant and that was all that was on my mind.
Granted, I was about 15 to 30 minutes late for our reservation, but man was the wait long. We waited downstairs at the bar, awkwardly trying to stay out of the way of about 60 different people and their elbows, and of course, the bathrooms are upstairs. That makes zero sense. I awkwardly limped up there with my pantie lines in full display and limped back down with the offensive garment stuffed into my tiny clutch and feeling secretly naughty.
30 minutes after my breathless arrival, we were finally seated upstairs. The downstairs section was very crowded and loud, while upstairs was much more intimate. They had perfect seats for 2 people, at 45 degree angled booths. I've never seen anything like it and loved it. Studies have shown that people seated at 45 degrees to each other have the best interactions (versus opposite, adding to competition, and facing the same side, more difficult to communicate, http://www.hodu.com/si...)
The spinach dip, yum yum yum. Pork ribs was a full rack of 12 ribs with fries and cole slaw. It was good too. The French martini that I got was somewhat underwhelming, which is kind of good as I was in no position to get shitfaced that night. After a dinner where I ate a whole rack of ribs and the dip, what do i do next? Say yes to dessert of course! The apple thing with ice cream was really good. I love glazed pecans. That made the dish. We were there forever and they were good about filling the water and service was very friendly. I can see why this place is so popular.Listed in: Ball So Hard
-
Review from Josh J.
Santa Monica, Los Angeles, CA
4/15/2012
Hillstone (used to be Houston's) has beautiful waiters and waitresses (mostly waitresses) and a simple menu of sandwiches, fish (and I guess a couple other meat options?), sushi, and salads.
It gets pretty crowded right around 6pm every night, but if you show up at 5:59, they can always seat you right away. For some reason a lot of people bring their kids there, so I guess it's kid-friendly. It's kind of expensive, but hey, beautiful people aren't cheap. And there's CPK next door if average-looking servers is more your budget. -
Review from Kristina H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/5/2012
Great food and ambiance, the staff was friendly. Salmon was crisp and pink. The baked potatoes are to die for
-
Review from Tracey M.
3/18/2012
We were actually walking to a different restaurant today but due to the LA Marathon and a damn wind storm we jumped into the first place we could find and ate there. Welcome to Hillstone.
The menu is limited but what they do, they do pretty well but I still think its too expensive.
I had the ribs and the portion was huge but my husband and I had --
1 order of ribs
1 turkey burger
1 soup appetizer
2 glasses of water
Nothing else
And it was $68. I think $68 is a lot (including tax and tip) for what we got.
But this is LA.....so i suppose I should be used to this. -
Review from Dolores G.
Irvine, CA
3/26/2012
Note: The poor rating is for the quality of service, not the food.
I frequent many Hillstone restaurants in SoCal. I've been to Gulfstream, Bandera, Houston's, Rutherford Ranch... Too many times to count.
Eating at this restaurant was hands down the worst dining experience at any Hillstone restaurant. I'm not sure if it is just the zip code of the location, but the servers are lazy, unaccomodating and act as if they are doing you a favor bringing you your food. They are really just lazy wannabe actors/actresses and could care less about the restaurant patrons.
I hate to give it such a low rating because the food was really delicious, but a dining experience is only as good as the service. And ALL of the wait staff at this location suck. They really left a bad taste in my mouth. Hillstone needs to hire more experienced and professional staff for this location. -
Review from Kasey K.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2012
I took some friends from out of town to Hillstone for lunch. We had sushi and salads. The sushi was amazing, fresh and had great flavor! I would highly recommend. The service was great and attentive. I must say for four people for lunch it was a little pricey (we had drinks). Overall the place had good food and service but is not a cheap spot.
-
Review from Kim K.
3/1/2012
Facing a 30 minute wait after walking in at 8pm on a Wednesday night, we had plenty of time to observe the surroundings and awkwardly try to avoid eye contact with the 30 other people crammed in to the nonexistent waiting area.
The first thing I thought was hey this looks a lot like Houston's in NY. All I knew was the same group that owned Houston's owned HiIlstone. Then here I read on Yelp this actually used to be a Houston's. Does that actually matter to your dining experience? Not really, unless you were expecting the same menu. No BBQ veggie burger here.
Instead, they have a brown rice/oats homemade veggie burger which is as big and messy to eat, just less saucy. Nothing to go out of your way for. Tip: cut in half before attempting to consume. Especially if on a date. Messy eating is not sexy. Unless you're into that sort of thing. I don't judge. There's also a seasonal vegetables entree and several veggie sides for vegetarians.
We wound up sitting at the bar, which is a free for all area, to have dinner. After waiting 25 minutes I didn't care if we were in a booth or not. If you do, try to sit away from the door, which is where all the patrons waiting are crowded. You may get bumped, over hear very negative comments from the mixed tourist/locals/young/old hangry people, look up to find hostile eyes staring at you and/or your food, or have people ask you "hey can you ask them why the don't have the Lakers game on?"
The service at the bar is also a hit or miss. I had to ask for water despite the bartenders looking my way. I think they're just in the alcohol mode and not looking to be a watering hose. Dirty martinis are pretty good.
Restroom is upstairs around the "sushi" bar. Use of "" because it's fusion sushi, not real sushi. No raw pieces of fish sitting in the counter.
Pretty casual crowd, several tables with kids. Make reservations if you can to bypass the awkward waiting situation. -
Review from Rebecca M.
Santa Monica, CA
1/26/2012
Yum yum yum yum. I can't remember the last time I was so satisfied by a dinner.
We started with a grilled artichoke, which was amazingly delicious. I could have eaten it all. night. long.
The waiter was very knowledgeable about the wine list, and the glass of Sequoia Grove wine he suggested was perfect. Especially when it was paired with my perfectly done medium rare center cut filet. Holy. Crap. I was in meat heaven.
I would most definitely come back here. Well, that is, if someone else is offering to pay. Because damn that was an expensive dinner. -
Review from J S.
Los Angeles, CA
4/4/2012
GREAT service, GREAT food....obsessed with the veggie burger! SO good. This place is the bomb!
-
Review from Brian P.
Los Angeles, CA
2/22/2012
One of my favorite spots. Can't stop thinking about the Hawaiian Ribeye and always cross my fingers when going in hope it will be on the menu. Team service is top notch and I don't think an empty glass or dish stays on the table for more than 30 seconds. Food is so consistent it's scary. Definitely try the Baby back Ribs if you haven't.
On a sad note the Century City location closed which was a bit larger and had a much more manageable bar area. No matter, we can go to SM on off nights when it isn't too crowded and hit Bandera, South Beverly or R+D other nights. -
Review from Mike C.
Sausalito, CA
1/10/2012
I've been to this place more than a few times now that I was down in the LA area. It is a nice restaurant. Not really something that would blow my mind by any imaginations. The crowd looks like a mix of tourists blend in with local LA crowd. They have valet parking up front, or if you're lucky you can find a parking spot circling around.
Upon entering you will see a fireplace to your left and a whole bunch of people waiting in line for a table. They have two floors with the bathrooms being upstairs. If you come around rush hour be prepared to wait.. We lucked out and got a table, maybe because of the economy. In any case the we ordered some sushi apetizers and I had a filet for my main course. After dinner I didn't really had the feeling of wow I cannot wait to come back. More like, hmm this is place is in the area... why not stop by there. I remember the food being better last time. Maybe they've changed chefs?
Pros:
-Attentive staff, good customer service
-Nice subdued dining atmosphere, for dates?
-Other people seem to like it?
-You can see your food being prepared by walking up to the restroom
Cons
-Long wait if you don't have a reservation, or happen to drop in during busy times
-Food is not to die for, just doesnt jump out at me. The presentation is meh, and taste about the same...
-Wine list was so so -
Review from Scott E.
Los Angeles, CA
12/11/2011
First, I have been a repeat diner for many years, and this restaurant (as well as the others in the chain) will always be Houston's. Hillstone sounds like the name of a street in a master planned community, or a mortuary.
Friends and I most often choose the Santa Monica location because we believe the bartenders make the best Long Island iced tea to be found in greater LA. Like many others who have posted here, we frequently order the prime rib sandwich or the awesome barbecued ribs.
Unlike restaurants that will not allow even a minor substitution (e.g., Gjelina), the wait staff at Houston's has always accommodated my requests. Try this. Order the Caesar salad, but substitute the house buttermilk-garlic dressing, ask to have a handful of applewood-smoked bacon bits tossed in, then have the salad chopped. It is a perfect accompaniment to a slab of ribs. (Scrap the slaw for a double order of shoestring fries, and ask for a side of the b-g dressing for dipping.)
The first time I had the tortilla soup was at the now-closed Century City location, and I became hopelessly addicted -- but only because I lucked into a day when the chef had not destroyed the batch by adding chopped cilantro. (One of the waiters let me call early on tortilla soup day to ask that a portion be set aside. Inexplicably, I could not convince the manager that cilantro should be served as a garnishment on the side, for diners to add. He was not even persuaded when I cited a Bon Appetit magazine reader poll from a few years back, in which over 80% of respondents said they hated cilantro.)
When I ordered tortilla soup at the Santa Monica location, following the name change, it was ornamented with shredded cabbage and sliced radishes, in place of a nest of tortilla strips. The waiter informed me that the tortilla strips must now be requested. What's up with that?! I was thrilled, however, to find cilantro presented as an add-on, so apparently my suggestion did not fall on deaf ears.
The wait for a table or booth can be long, but the food has always more than compensated for the inconvenience. Although the ambience is pleasant, the acoustics are dreadful. The noise level was rated as "average", and I can only assume that a cheering crowd at a sold-out Lakers game was used as a point of reference to reach that conclusion. (Note to management: Lose the jazz when the restaurant is full. Better yet, lose it altogether.)
Finally, I must tip my hat to Michael, the Long Island transplant, who just might be the best waiter anywhere. -
Review from Alan S.
Venice, CA
3/29/2012
I use to go here once a week with friends. EEK. They changed the one thing we always ordered- California Sushi Salad. It was great but we were told that " the chefs could not make it fast and fresh enough so that is why we took it off the menu". Then I saw you could buy it as an appetizer for a more expensive price. Also on the Vegetarian plate they use to give you 4 pieces of vegetarian sushi with the rather small plate of cooked veggies. Now they no longer give you the sushi with the Veggie platter. We told the manager that we loved the staff but with the menu changes we would not be eating there anymore.
Are they nickle and diming their customers? Appears to be that way. The place does a hell of a business so it aint like they are loosing money. That's corporate America for you I guess. Anyway I have never found a more professional staff then at this joint I give the entire staff 5 stars for friendliness and food knowledge. I was told the menu changes came from "corporate' - so for them I say - feed the people what they want! -
Review from Sam R.
San Francisco, CA
3/24/2012
The ambiance here is great. It's warm and comfortable, but also lively. Seems like a great place to celebrate with friends, or a pretty good place for a date.
I had a good burger here, but it didn't blow my mind. I don't see any reason for it being so much more expensive than father's office, the counter, umami etc. except of course for all of the atmosphere.
I had some kind of ice cream Sunday desert that was ridiculously good. -
Review from Michael T.
Manhattan, NY
11/27/2011
Even though it's a different name these days, the food is still wonderful at Hillstone, (AKA Houston's)
-The food really was delightful. I truly love the atmosphere of this restaurant. It is fancy but super chill all at the same time. Myself and my two buddies were cruising through SM last week and we were like let's hit up Houston's we knew only the name had changed, not the food or atmosphere. We were all in our running gear because we were planning on heading out for a run but got sidetracked and ended up here, I was stoked!
-I know that this place is consistent and always well worth the price. Some say it's pricey, I say it's tasty as F***. I thought we were underdressed but being that this spot can suit anybody from lawyers in suits, to the causal Jeans an T Shirt, to us clowns in our running gear, and still feel comfortable and classy at the same time, unique for sure.
-The Food is here is Bomb. We started with the spinach dip that comes with seriously tasty and seriously fresh Tortilla Chips. I have never been a fan of Spinach Dip, but this stuff was good and if you like Spinach Dip, than you are going to love this stuff. The tortilla chips are toasty, warm and so frikinnn good!
-I decided to go with the California Burger and Fries. Man, Go big or go home! That run totally got sidetracked and after tasting this bad boy I couldn't of cared less! The burger was a solid size, so juicy and moist, perfect! The Avocado was awesome, Fresher than Fresh. The Cheese melted to perfection and the Bun with some sort of awesomely tasty mayo type sauce spread on it was insane. The Cali Burger really comes together here friends. This is one of the better Burgers I have had anywhere. truly I will come out of my way for this burger.The fries are great too, thin little fritters that are gourmet, properly seasoned and not greasy at all. I didn't feel too bad about crushing them. If you like burgers my friends, get this guy now!
-My buddy go the Thai Steak Noodle Salad I believe it was called. I had a bite of this and it was awesome. Perfectly cooked tender pieces of steak, mixed with some awesome noodles in a great sweet sauce that had big chunks of mango mixed in as well as solid slices of Avocado. Dude, If I didn't get the burger I would get this instead. It was bomb as well. Well done on this dish.
-My other buddy got 2 small things, I honestly cannot remember what one of them was (sorry Peeps) but he also got their spicy tuna roll that was generous cuts and the fish again was fresher than fresh. Being that he nombed down of his one dish he wasn't able to take down all the sushi so I scored a few pieces of that guy as well, and damn, it was good. Sushi that you go to Sushi establishments for. No wonder, when you walk up stairs to the bathroom, lo and behold the sushi Chefs are up their doing their thannng in the upmost cleanliness with Top Notch cuts of Fish.
-My buddy Rich got super aggressive at this point because we had all grinded down hard, and yes I do love to eat LOTs of Great food, but evenI was stuffed! Rich, decided to order 2 different deserts cause he was in town on vacation and was like hey whatever, you only live once. Dude, I don't remember the names of these but one was like a caramelized walnut ice cream thing and the other was pretty much a Sunday with Hot Fudge. For all you Ice Cream Lovers and Sugar addicts out there, holy cow, look no further for your fix! These were insane. Even though I only had one bite I was like damn. My other 2 buddies went to town and said it was one of the best things they have ever had!!
-The service was great. Our waiter was awesome, so nice, about as good as a waiter can be! The food, really was wonderful! Not one thing to complain about. The atmosphere in great and it's just an overall great experience. If you are in the area and need some good eats, head here! You will not be disappointed at all, I promise friends! (Get The Cali Burger)! -
Review from Kylie L.
1/28/2012 4 Check-ins Here
This place is paleo friendly. I know I know... DUH it is a steak house. But seriously.... The steaks are cooked perfectly and whatever side you decide to order you are going to be happy. The glasses of wine are not poured lightly and the staff is ALWAYS pleasant and helpful. Make sure to start with an artichoke. So So So worth it and yum yum yum. I have had the chicken here as well and it really is good but seriously people... Order the steak.... Rare + please... sigh... I could go for some Hillstone right now...
-
Review from Soo H.
9/18/2011 1 photo
I come here all the time and everything I've had has been great.
I've gotten the French dip (delish), the burger (ENORMOUS), the ribs (awesome but not my fav), and the filet (amazing).
The service is always good and they have $20 corkage, which I usually use. Sometimes you have to wait for a while if you go without a reservation, but it's worth it. -
Review from Ann R.
Santa Monica, CA
4/27/2012
Hillstone (formerly Houstons) is SUCH a good place to eat. From the sushi to the steaks, there is not one thing I wouldn't eat on that menu. When I order I'm always torn because there are just too many great choices. And how do they make that coleslaw?!? It's out of this world. I sometimes get coleslaw, even when I'm having sushi, it's just that good. The grilled artichoke is also fantastic. (They only have it during the week though). You CAN make reservations now, which is great, but the weekends get filled up fast, so call ahead.
-
Review from Venus R.
Santa Monica, CA
3/4/2012
Love their burger! Swap out lettuce for arugula and I'm pretty darn happy. So flavorful, juicy and perfectly cooked. Love their fries, too. Hawaiian rib eye is good, too, but sometimes I'm not in the mood for a sweet marinade. Artichoke appetizer is great. Service is on par with all Houston's locations, meaning good. Martini's are good. Fun crowd. I'm a fan.
-
Review from Michael M.
Santa Monica, CA
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has perfect lighting and the food has been top notch so far. I must recommend the the ruby red trout, it shows up on the menu every 2 weeks or so. It kicked ass.
On the down side, my white wine was served in the same stemware as my dinning companion's red wine. This may seem obscure to some but it means a lot to me.
On an up note, the male waiters are very attractive and don't seem to mind if you cut your eyes in their direction. That's important to me too. -
Review from Sokey L.
8/1/2011
I saw Giada de Laurentis here!! Already, it's a 5 stars!!!
Hillstone is one of the few places my boss and I haven't tried, so we decided to come here on our working lunch. Everything about the restaurant screams luxury: the décor, the service, the food, and the wine selections. Luxury however comes with a price tag. However, I felt Hillstone was a worthy splurge!
I ordered their highly reviewed French dip with a glass of their Mi Sueno cab. Both were delicious. My boss had the seared Ahi tuna and enjoyed her dish as well.
We left Hillstone as a happy campers! Will definitely recommend it to others.Listed in: Around 3rd St Santa Monica
-
Review from Michael S.
Marina del Rey, CA
Excitement of trying a new restaurant called Hillstone in Santa Monica quickly changed to excitement for finding out it is really just Houston's with a new name, but the same menu, decor, and staff. Whew... at least it's gonna be good.
Houston's, er, I mean Hillstone, is generally praised as a premium chain with consistently delicious dishes and stellar service. Why in the world would you re-brand a place that already had a long wait and good rep? Well, it turns out you would to avoid the calorie count menu labeling that is gaining steam across the country. I guess it's smart if you need to hide the amount of calories in that tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip or the irresistible Warm Five Nut Brownie. The parent company of Hillstone and Houston's now has over 40 restaurants under 10 different brand names.
For dinner, it was great to see the pricey Barbecue Pork Ribs (aka Knife and Fork BBQ Ribs) still on the menu. I seriously love those ribs cause the meat just falls off the bone. These were a little drier than the Houston's version or the chef changed because they needed more sauce and juice. I got it with Spinach and skinny French Fries. The ribs are still a recommendation.
Olivia went with a Grilled Chicken Salad. It wasn't exactly thrilling, but got the job done. I suggest the Thai Steak Noodle Salad if you're in the mood. For dessert, we did indeed split the Warm Five Nut Brownie topped with Ice Cream and drizzled with Caramel. Yummy.
As with all locations of this chain (whether they call them Hillstone, Houston's, or Hillston's), I totally love the service. We were helped by 4 different people and our main waitress was a star. The only let down was an indifferent hostess who wasn't having a good day.
One warning: skip the sushi. It really should be dropped from the menu completely. The effort is there, but the quality isn't if you are familiar with Japanese sushi.Listed in: America's Got Talent, Must Be Santa Monica
-
Review from Joe O.
Elkhorn, NE
10/2/2011
This place is very good. It's a Houston's but due to the franchise rules/fees in CA, they renamed to HIllstone. Same menu, same vibe, same prices so it's pricey. Food and service were great though.
Wine and champagne list are very limiting though. Pretty surprising actually. I was bummed there.
Would definitely go again. -
Review from Dia P.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2012
If you are a foodie that enjoys meat, this is your place. The smell of the wood burning ovens permeates this upscale restaurant in the heart of Santa Monica. While it is tasty, and service is good, it can be extremely busy on a Friday night. Reservations are definitely recommended.
-
Review from Hayley Z.
1/20/2012
houston's turned into hillstone. same menu though.
i highly recommend the california burger and a baked potato! (baked potato only a dinner time option tho).
they also have a good spinach dip if you're into that.
my only complaints are that there is no seating for those waiting for a table and it creates a lot of traffic by the entrance/exit. Also their sushi is terrible! i ordered a california roll and it was WAY TOO lemony.. i like my sushi without lemon please. -
Review from Oz W.
Huntington Beach, CA
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nothing bad to say. Food was awesome, service even better. If you're in the area don't hesitate and go eat here. I had the Prime Rib, it was phenomenal. I also had the Pecan Cobbler... oh my goodness, it was delicious
-
Review from Natalie T.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 10/13/2011
I had a great experience here recently! Much better than before! Came here to celebrate with some friends and we all had a great time!
The wait wasn't too long for a Saturday evening around 8pm (30 min). We went to the bar to grab some drinks while we waited. The beer they had was pretty good but also they didn't have an extensive beer selection which was still ok.
We also got a side order of the spinach dip which was really good as well as an order of the chili! The chili I think was the better option over the spinach dip if I had to choose.
For our entrees, we ordered the rib eye, the center cut filet and also the prime rib! Everything was delicious, cooked perfectly and just plain ol' good!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/17/2008
I came here on a Sunday night and it was pretty crowded. We called to see if it was possible to get… Read more »
-
-
Review from Raymond H.
Laguna Beach, CA
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love it! Best Filet and Baked Potato around. Stellar service.
-
Review from Mark M.
Pasadena, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food was delicious, service was great. Can't complain about anything. Still love our Century City Houston's the best. Too bad they shut down.
-
Review from Bob J.
Los Angeles, CA
2/29/2012
Prime rib sandwich. Pricy but worth it.
-
Review from Janine S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/13/2012
Yes!! Consistency you can count on. I made a reservation earlier that day w/a special request. We arrived a few minutes early (the place was packed) The beautiful Indian hostess said she'd try and get us seating before our reservation. We took a walk and came back. Through the fray of people the hostess said our name so the crowd parted as she made eye contact w/me. The ribs were awesome and came exactly as I asked. Ferrin was great and accommodating. They even honored my special req. with how busy they were. Love this.
