Hillstone, formerly Houston's, is gone. My first experience at Hillstone, then Houstons, took place during my first years in Houston, as a doctoral student at Rice University. It was the mid-to-late 90s, and a colleague invited me for lunch there. Following that fantastic experience in the main dining area, I occasionally returned to the restaurant. When Houstons was renamed Hillstone, after I believe the name of the corporation that owns the restaurant, things started to go downhill. The restaurant started to become more corporate feeling and antiseptic, though still pristine in appearance, with well-dressed, courteous, friendly staff. My favorite plate has always been The Hawaiian. The price of the steak has skyrocketed from what I believe was $38.00 about two to three years ago, to somewhere around $60.00. I understand that restaurants have to pay the bills, but I believe the siren should be sounding constantly now in response to the inflated prices. I sat at the bar one evening (I was told I had to sit in order to eat at the bar), and I immediately noticed that the generous size of the original martini glasses that had been one of my favorite experiences at the restaurant had been reduced by several ounces. Really? Do these corporate bigwigs in the conference rooms in expensive suits really believe we are stupid and will not notice these changes? Are we really meant to feel like rats in a cage, being manipulated by subtle changes to increase profits for the higher ups? The straw that broke the camel's back occurred Thursday evening, April 3, 2025, at 8:35 pm. I had not been to the restaurant in awhile, and I had a craving for a Hawaiian to take home after work, something I had done on many occasions. I entered the restaurant and told the welcomer that I would like to order carryout. She replied that she would need to ask the manager, a young man at the food counter I did not recognize. I found this unusual, that a welcomer would have to ask a manager if I could order carryout. The young male manager then made a snooty negative turning of his head to the welcomer, and she returned to say that it would not be possible to order carryout. I inquired as to why, and she told me that it was getting too late to order carryout (the restaurant was scheduled to close at 9:30 pm), and/or the restaurant was too busy. I noticed as she was replying to me what looked like plastic or glass barriers that had been placed between booths in different aisles, and I thought this change looked unnatural, clinical, and jarring. I am fortunate to be an American who has learned another language late in life, living in France for three years and having traveled as a performing musician to several countries, never feeling like a tourist, but being shown around the different lands and cities to an extensive degree. I have grown accustomed to accept the superficiality and consumer-oriented nature of many aspects of American society (I refuse to use the term American culture), one example being friendly staff who appear interested in what you have to say but who are simply making it part of the job. But what I experienced on the evening of April 3, 2025, was the final straw for me. I would like to thank the staff to whom I have made more than the casual, superficial "hello", who have always greeted me and made me feel welcome at Hillstone in the last few years. I wish one of you had been there that night to help me. Perhaps I would have been able to order my Hawaiian fifty-five minutes before closing, as I have in the past. For those reading this, I ask you to join me in never returning to Hillstone. I certainly will not return. The damage has been done. read more

I and another lady came in a Jersey after a winning game and were not allowed in. Men with T shirts were allowed with Texans T shirts. Also t shirts and flip flops are allowed. I owned a restaurant and this kind of discrimination is not ok. read more

Came here for lunch! We waited 45 minutes at 2 pm in the afternoon. The food is okay, on the pricey side. But the staff are very friendly. And I liked the inside ambiance. read more

Hillstone - Pork Rib - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

I love Houston's, and it seems like ever since the parent company has taken the namesake, it's just been even to downhill. Not sure what's up with the corporate management but it just seems lazy. No new locations, many closing, no innovations on the menu in years. I don't want to give up on this place because it was once superb. Gorgeous locations, wonderful ambiance, great food and service, but it just lacks the energy it used to have. Giving it 5 stars mostly for what it used to be and has the potential to be again. read more

This restaurant feels casual but it has class. A nice warm setting , not too bright inside this restaurant. Our waitress was very patient and polite with me and my sister given it was our first time there. We shared the french dip sandwich & the smoked salmon toast as an appetizer. Both were very good!!! French dip was tender , juicy , bread had a nice soft chew , and the soup was a great compliment to the sandwich :) The smoke salmon toast was nice :) light and very bold taste. i ended up ordering the Hawaiian Ribeye! It lived up to the hype! Very tender , a semi sweet smokey , slightly tang, but bold beef , great sear!!! A steak should always look that beautiful Those chefs definitely know what they're doing!!! I felt very welcomed by this restaurant and the vibe is very pleasant. Peaceful environment. I will definitely be returning to have the Hawaiian Steak once more!!! Thank You Hillstone! Santangelo Balli Gonzales. read more

Went back to try the BBQ ribs and they are by far some of the best pork ribs I've had. Once again service was amazing staff is awesome! Along with the ribs we also ordered a filet which was cooked to perfection buttery soft and tasty. We wrapped up dinner some desserts the apple one was delicious and you cant go wrong with keylime pie. Ambiance of restaurant is very nice and private it was definitely a little more busy this time around but they still managed to give perfect attention. read more

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Best restaurant in town. Food, service and ambiance is always perfect. They just know how to do it. Always delicious!

Never been in the restaurant but the men who work in valet are so nice! I would come back to try this place based off of how kind and helpful they were! I was in a bad situation and they really saved the day!! read more

Have not been back for quite a while. I had lunch at the bar and the bartender I knew was there and I ordered the Chicken salad which was great. They no longer serve the flying chicken tenders platter which made me sad. But they served up a great screwdriver that is my to go to drink there. I also ordered the apple walnut cobbler that is fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone that happens to dine there. The ambiance is business as usual but gets festive during the evening hours. I will try to make my visits more frequent from now on. read more

Outstanding ambiance and food! One of my go to places in the USA for the French dip. Absolutely delish! Could eat this everyday! Always on par for the perfect dish! read more

Hillstone - French Dip au Jus w/ steamed broccoli and a side of horseradish - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

Bad Customer Service. We asked for a table for 4 and they said it will be a 45 minute wait when it was empty. There were at least 20 empty tables there. Not apologetic at all. Didn't seem to care. A street food restaurant has way better service. I would not go there. Bad Service. Never going back. read more

Lovely ambiance, great aesthetics and super comfy seating arrangement. Our associate was extremely helpful and attentive. Our beverages were never empty. I had the ribs. They were super tender and full of flavor. read more

Hillstone - Ambiance - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hillstone is basically the new Houston's. Similar vibe menus and I believe the waitress said owners. The food is also just as great. We ordered steaks, the ribeye and the Hawaiian both medium and absolutely delicious and juicy. Fair warning, they won't commit to cooking your steaks anything over medium be prepared. Also they don't have any steak sauce so if you like a little edge to your steak choose the Hawaiian. The grilled artichoke is the most amazing appetizer and I highly suggest it. There are only a certain amount a night so be prepared! Also if you've never eaten a whole artichoke know that you are supposed to eat meat off the leaves. Don't be afraid to ask your server if this is a new dish for you. What I was most impressed with here is that the cocktails and wine selection are not too pricey. I would definitely say that it is well priced or glasses and bottles of wine! Perfect for a date night. read more

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These people treated a couple next to me so horribly! This will be my last time coming to this place, the husband got up to take a phone call and they claim that he was being loud when he clearly wasn't these people treat their customer poorly it seems like all they care is about the money! Avoid this place smh read more

I ordered the Thai filet noodle mango salad and it was perfect. I actually cleaned my plate. The service was outstanding and the atmosphere is relaxing and sophisticated. I highly recommend this restaurant. Oh, my friend had the French dip and said it was superb. Five stars. read more

Hillstone - Thia mango filet salad. Superb. - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

I am so sad that I did not have a good experience here. They messed up my order (ordered the emerald kale salad and they gave me the side kale salad?), gave me the wrong drink (ordered a cosmo and brought a manhattan) and never refilled our waters. It was my first time and I'm usually really chill and understanding with the wait staff but last night was just not the experience that Hillstone/Houstons is known for and not worth the money spent. read more

I ordered the same thing from here I had many years ago when it was called Houston's. I ordered their famous Hawaiian Ribeye cooked medium rare with a loaded potato instead of fries. The steak was very delicious, well marbled, good quality, very tender n very juicy with high consistency in every bite. The pineapple soy marinade really goes a long way and makes this meat unique and kinda sweet in a tropical way. The loaded potato was good, but the cheese could have been melted more in it, but there are other sides I prefer with steak anyway such as mushrooms, spinach and brussel sprouts. The steak was really the main importance for me and it was a very good success bringing back memories from the late 90s when I first had it under its original restaurant title. I also saw they have a Prime NY Strip served a la carte n will definitely order that on my next visit since it's my go-to and favorite cut that I get everywhere when ordering steak. I will then get the hot fudge sundae or key lime pie for dessert afterwards. The service was very good, efficient and friendly from my server earlier. Awesome Hawaiian Steak and awesome service. read more

Hillstone - Fantastic Hawaiian Steak Meal !!! - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've never been more disappointed in a restaurant (especially one that I used to love) service slow, took 15 minutes before I was even acknowledged, food below average, spinach dip came with about 6 chips and it took 20 minutes to get more chips, the $62 filet had no flavor, the hostesses were more concerned with their phones than their customer service. My friends and I will never return. read more

Great place for special occasions whether it be birthdays or anniversaries! The atmosphere is fantastic and very warm and welcoming. The menu is very simple yet elegant. I highly recommend ordering the prime rib here. It is the best dish for a carnivore. The meat is just so juicy and and wholesome. The jus is perfectly made to compliment the dish. The addition of horse radish also cuts through the dish and really excites the palate. Overall, my experiences at Houston's are always wonderful. The service here is impeccable. The staff are very friendly and provide great suggestions for menu options. I would highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Hillstone - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

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So this spot is the old HOUSTON'S. I had the Hawaiian Ribeye, and fries. So delicious just the way I remembered after all these years. I'm so happy Hillstone kept the old menu items. Also I enjoyed a Dirty Martini with Tito's as my vodka. Britannia was a very accommodating hostess, found a charging station right next to my table so I could Vlog away. My waiter Deliride was very positive and had great service. I hope I spelled your name right hun. I will definitely be back. One of my absolute favs here in Houston. read more

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I used to only go for the soup of the day on Saturdays and Mondays, i love the chilli and the red beans and rice but i finally had the ribeye and the baked potato the other day and it was so good, i will definitely be coming back for this staple read more

Hillstone - The Hawaiian - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

My boyfriend's favorite restaurant right now. We always have wonderful staff and we always get the rotisserie!!

The food is always great. No matter what you get. A great place to meet friends or just quiet time

We've been loyal fans of Houston's/Hillstone since they opened in Houston many years ago. Our last couple of visits have been disappointing due to changes being made which seem to be an attempt to rebrand/modify their image. And in our opinion, unwanted and completely unnecessary. The concept was tasty, upscale casual food that was consistent, friendly service and a great place for adult visits. More recently? A lot of "no's." We don't offer that any more, you can't wear that anymore, you can't get that combination anymore, etc. The food is still tasty, but the menu seems greatly reduced, the portions halved and the service, a bit pretentious. What has always been top of our list for a quick enjoyable lunch or dinner is much less so. read more

Tonight, after a very hard day, I called to order Spinach Dip to go. I was placed on hold for five minutes and while on hold I used my business phone to call the restaurant and asked for the general manager. Jennifer informed me that she was the manager on duty and that the general manager is not in. I informed Jennifer that I was on hold on the other line and that no one came back to assist me. Jennifer didn't acknowledge what I said. I informed her why I was calling and she said that the restaurant no longer does to go orders. I said when did that start because I have placed a to go order and picked it up. Jennifer said it started 2-3 months ago. I have picked up spinach dip to go within the time period that she said. In my opinion Jennifer didn't give the service that is the Hillstone standard. Again, as a customer of this brand for over 20 years, I am accustomed to highest level of customer service from this brand. Jennifer didn't give that tonight. Please note I do not live close to the restaurant. I live 40 miles away and in Houston that is over an hour away. After I hung up with Jennifer, I noticed that my other phone was still on hold. No one came back to that phone line. So I called back and when Jennifer answered I told her I was still on hold on the other line and that no one ever came back to the phone. She said; "you said when you called that you had called were put on hold and I spoke with you." Yes, you read that correctly, that was the answer I got from the assistant manager. Jennifer does not properly represent the Hillstone Brand read more

Hillstone - On hold for 5 minutes. - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

Houston's or Hillstone...as long as you keep my Hawaiian and Smoked Salmon, I'll be back over and over again! Could you bring back the Steak Salad though? read more

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This restaurant gets really busy. You need to make reservations so you don't have to wait. I went for a business meeting and enjoyed the ambiance. The food was delicious and the service was great. I will definitely recommend Hillstone. read more

Hillstone - The Hawaiian - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

It's always a treat to come to Houston's! Great food, great service, great ambiance and excellent management. The food is always consistent and I can always count on a high quality meal at a good price point. It will continue to be my go to and Schauna is amazing! She made my friend's birthday so special! read more

Some say Houston's - some say Hillstone - but regardless of the name, this chain has been my go-to destination for a slightly elevated burger or a veggie burger for the vegetarian friends since 2008 in Boston,MA. Their menu is limited but consistent and well prepared. The spinach artichoke dip a favorite, the Dings Crispy Chicken excellent, the pork ribs fall of the bone, the pork chop is awesome, the fish dishes great too (I'm told - can't have it personally anymore due to allergies) and the burgers are just the right type of comfort food with all the flavor but without the grease. One thing that first timers might find surprising but every regular knows: their bar is the place to sit when you don't want to wait too long and the bartenders are genuinely good at their craft! There are really only 2 reasons in my mind why they fall short of 5 stars. Firstly, their grill has been somewhat inconsistent the last 6-12 months (most steaks come out about a preference level colder than ordered - so if you're a medium kinda person - that's gonna get you a cold center somehow). And secondly, they've stopped allowing take out orders - which is a pity. read more

"Hillstone" has severely changed and not for the better. When it was "Houston's" you could actually eat there. They've changed the name, raised the prices, changed the menu and decreased the quality. You can't make a reservation for 5 people, which doesn't make sense. It's not a party of 18. Maybe they need to switch the name back. Likely will not return. read more

We came in on a whim and found 2 spots at a packed bar. There was a 45 min wait for a table. Seems like a lot of regulars frequent this place. Spinach and artichoke dip - (5/5) very popular for a reason. Thai noodle and chicken salad - (3.5/5) portion was light and rotisserie chicken was over cooked. Sauce was good. Bbq pork ribs - (4/5) saucey and fall off the bone. Cheeseburger - (3.8/5) a lot of bread and not much meat. The fries were mediocre and could have been cooked a little crispier. The homemade spicy ketchup/Mayo dip was good. I wanted to try their chicken sandwich but they said they had sold out for the day. read more

Nice restaurant with upscale feel. Good service and food that is consistently well prepared is important. Hillstone is a reliable . You can come in week after week and it is just like you remembered from your last visit. I don't have pictures but quick shout for the grilled artichokes and the chilli. read more

I had the same thing happen Brenda G. On an important call with my doctor. Had already placed my order got a no cellphone card collected my things and left did not wait for food to arrive. I will never dine there again. A bunch of arrogant asses! read more

I went to lunch today from 2-4:30pm to sit at the bar with two girlfriends. The bartender Danny was fabulous, everyone else including the GM Shauna was down right nasty and awful!!!! We felt targeted the entire time. The bar was quite loud and numerous people were on their phones. At no point in time did they approach the other customers about being on their phones. I got 1 phone call in that 2.5 hrs and the staff brought me a no cellphone card. I dismissed it as I had to finish up a business call. I was NOT loud nor was my phone on speaker. Before I could finish the call, they brought me another card. At this point, I hung up and asked them what was happening. They stated the policy is a NO CELLPHONE BAR. I couldn't believe it. No where else in Houston is this even a thing. I even had to turn the volume up on my phone to hear my phone call because it was so loud at the bar. I asked them where the sign was that stated it and the lady rolled her eyes and walked away. How UNPROFESSIONAL!!!! I turn to look and the General Manager and staff (who brought the cards) were all huddled together staring. Horrible to feel profiled but that's just what they did. I will be filing a complaint with the Better Businesses Bureau as well. I spent a lot of money there and to feel targeted was not okay. We will never come back to this horrid establishment and will let our friends know as well. read more

I gone to Hillstone on Oct. 26, 2022 approx. 7 p.m. on Kirby in Huston, TX. I ordered the skillet beans and when it came, I bit down and felt something sharp. It turned out to be a broke piece of porcelain. I called the waitress over and explained what happened, she would get me another order. The order was brought out by the manager whom I didn't know who she was at the time. She didn't say anything. She just slid the skillet beans onto the table, smiled then walked off. After the main course, my fiancee and I ordered dessert. In the middle of dessert the lady who brought the beans, smiled and walked away came to the table and set the check down. For one, no one said that I was finished with dinner. Secondly, I'm like who is this lady so I called the waitress and asked who she was. She responded that was the manager. So, I asked why did she bring out the beans and not give any conversation to what happened or apology. Also, who told her that I was finished and wanted the check. Of course, she was shocked at what I just told her and apologized. I thanked her for her great service, tipped her well and told her to tell her manager that I will be reporting her customer service to corporate. read more

I've never been made to feel so unwelcome! They are not what Houston's used to be. While I was listening to my voicemail, not speaking, they slipped this card on my table. They didn't even have the decency to speak to me about their concerns, though I'm not sure how my silence could have been anyone's problem. It was just so rude. On top of that, apparently they have changed the black bean burger recipe. It used to be the best in town, or several towns! Now has a weirdly sweet note that just doesn't work. What used to be a favorite is now not worth returning to. read more

Hillstone - They put this card on the table and didn't even have the decency to speak with me. - Salad Near Me - Houston, Texas

I will say I was sorry to see the name had changed. This place holds its own against years of eating there! I like to take customers to (Houston's) Hillstone the few times a year I'm in town. Last Wednesday during OTC I met an old friend and customer there under the new brand. The ambiance is amazing! Bustling and energetic in a sophisticated way. Everyone is talking but you can't hear their conversations. All that and it's easy to hear the waitstaff and each other. We all got steaks and everybody raved about them. We even splurged on dessert! Our server was amazing! read more

Yum yum yum yummmmmmmm! I CRAVE, this place. Walk in, go sit at the bar, enjoy the dark atmosphere of hillstone. The bartenders KNOW what they are doing. I love a dirty martini but if you order a martini with lemon twist OMG. After you drink 1/2 of that, order the spinach artichoke dip, it's the best little creamy app in the world. Pulled straight from the oven brought to you, with warm chips, cold sour cream and salsa to break it up in between bites. Their ribs are fall off the bone good, I try and be a lady when I go but come on I roll my sleeves up and dig in! Mmmmmmmmm Enjoy read more

Just like the old Houston's back in the day! The service was ok! Whatever issues we had were taken care of. Cheeseburger was good! read more

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We went for Easter lunch. It has been a while since I've been to a Hillstone, but it was as good as ever. We started with the smoked salmon, just amazing. We followed that with a French dip for each of us. They were definitely top notch. Service was great, we were seated right away and our waitress was very attentive. The place gave off a really chill west coast vibe with jazz playing in the background. Definitely recommend. read more