Hillstone
American restaurant · Houston ·
Hawaiian ribeye, French dip, cocktails, dim lighting
Hawaiian ribeye, French dip, cocktails, dim lighting
"Hillstone in Upper Kirby falls somewhere on the restaurant spectrum between an upper-crust steakhouse and a fast-casual American mega-chain. The menu rarely changes, the food always arrives fast, and everything tastes exactly the same every single time. The cheeseburger is one of Hillstone’s best old reliables—whether you’re dining solo at the bar or out with your parents. The thick, cheese-encased patty arrives loaded so high with toppings you might need to make a few calculations before attempting the first bite. Crush one, along with the seasoned fries, alongside a house martini or two." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene
"The bar at Hillstone, a business casual steakhouse and grill in Upper Kirby, is jam-packed every day of the week. Regardless of the time, you’ll likely have to wait for a seat, which is half the fun. Nearly every other bar diner is solo, probably with a martini, and waiting for their French Dip sandwich or towering hamburger. Half of the bar guests are local celebrities, meaning the bartenders have their usual order memorized. Maybe one day you, too, can join such an illustrious list." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"I read an extensive New York Times backstory on the French dip at Houston's (also served at South Beverly Grill) that captures the sandwich’s appeal: the beef slices “aren’t squashed, but cling to each other so that when you dip the sandwich in a ramekin of light, slightly wine-dazed jus, the sandwich holds,” and it “saturates neatly, going from crisp to soggy at exactly the pace you set.”" - Matthew Kang
"I describe Houston’s as a Texas-based chain often cited for reliably good service and food quality — praised by Dickens as a model he admires — but its reputation is mixed after a 2017 boycott over alleged mistreatment of a Black actress and the subsequent closure of its Lenox Road location less than six months later, a history that has led some Black diners to refuse to return despite the chain's consistency." - Mike Jordan
"Hillstone in Upper Kirby falls somewhere on the restaurant spectrum between an upper crust steakhouse and a fast-casual American mega chain. The menu almost never changes, the food always arrives fast, and everything tastes exactly the same every time. Consistency is the key to Hillstone’s success—along with the Hawaiian ribeye slathered in a pineapple soy sauce, which a lot of people go bananas for. The plush booths and dim lighting, along with the conversation-style sunken dining room makes everything feel a little fancier than it is—making Hillstone a great place to go with your parents, your grandparents, or someone else’s parents. You may need to wear business casual to get seated, even if you’re just ordering a spinach artichoke dip and a cheeseburger." - Chelsea Thomas
