Hillstone: A Premier New American Dining Experience in San Francisco

Food? 5 stars. Drinks? 5 stars. Ambiance? 5 stars. Them asking my friend who momentarily flipped his hat to the back to more accurately see the menu to turn it around or remove it? Wackness. But I get it.

Absolutely love this place. Hillstone Restaurants never disappoints. 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.

Service was lovely, shoutout to Nils for being an amazing waiter! The chicken sandwich’s tomato and cheese were a nice addition, but the greens were honestly disgusting. Key lime pie was delicious.

Not cheap but a great grownup sit down restaurant. I had an excellent two rib pork chop, mashed potatoes, and braised cabbage for lunch. And a tall glass of full strength iced tea. So so good. Before meal asked for the heated towels, a civilized way to prep for lunch. Service was excellent. Atmosphere dim, calm, and serene. Recommended.

Hillstone is Hillstone! Always great food and good service. If you are in the city you must try! I always make a reservation because I know how busy they can get and wait times are long. But if you have to wait it really is worth it! I never have any complaints every time we come service is always fast and you get your food quick! Love it!

Incredible french dip and chili! This restaurant has a decidedly upscale feel and service to match. Our server (Oliver) was also the bartender and his recommendations and service were spot on! The French dip is one of the best i have had in a long time, tender perfectly *medium rare* shaved beef with a jus that was flavorful and not overly salty. The crusty roll held up well to the dip, and the accompanying horseradish was creamy and made the sandwich complete! We also were huge fans of the chili, a rare treat to find in SFO.. and it was meaty and flavorful, served with tortilla chips. Last but not least, the spaghetti squash with crimini mushrooms, parmesan and golden raisins was an excellent side in lieu of fries. Dog friendly outdoors for bonus points!

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!

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.