HillTop Kitchen

We just came in for breakfast. There were four other tables seated, all at various stages of their meal. We waited for more than 50 minutes for our food. The waiter did give us bread while we waited, and said there was a very large table that came in before us which was why it was taking so long (it was a 5 top). When it came, both of the eggs Benedict were completely raw. When you look at the picture, you will see the egg white is not completely translucent. My husband didn’t realize how undercooked his was because the hollandaise sauce completely covered the eggs. The yolk was not textured at all, and as raw as it is when you crack an egg into the pan. This is not cooked. When we told the waiter, he apologized but that was it. $75, the only edible meal was my son’s grilled cheese. Unfortunately we will not be coming back.

Update for owner - We did tell our waitress we were surprised at the charge for the hashbrowns due to the portion & showed her pictures. She responded that she wasn’t the owner so she didn’t make the portions and she would take $2 off of the bill. She told us she preferred us to pay cash because earlier in the day there was a pub crawl and they had no cash left. Only a few tables when we were in, but I’m sure they were busier earlier in the day. Just sharing our dining experience. Wish you the best. Our first experience the pizzas weren’t great but they had just opened so we figured we’d try it again. Service was very slow. We had to ask for waters after sitting for a while. We were told they were out of chicken and chicken cutlets. We were surprised to be charged $4 for each “side of hash browns” (not $3 as it says on the menu) which was a comically small amount of hashbrowns, maybe 2 forkfuls on my plate. We assumed they just forgot them until we saw the bill. I have a picture of mine, my friend actually had less than pictured maybe one forkful. Then we were told they would like us to pay cash because they didn’t have any cash in the register from a pub crawl. My eggs came out cold, but tasted good. Overall, weird experience we wont be back.

Very tasty food that is inspired by the owner’s background and interest in all things delicious! Lovely soft felafel with both tangy tamarind sauce and tzatziki, very satisfying veggie samosas, and me and my dining companion’s favorite, grilled cantaloupe crostini! Ask for the pistachio gelato and you’ll be all set! Beautiful meal in a bright and modern setting with attentive and helpful staff.

The food was so good. The staff was super friendly. The atmosphere was great. Will return!

We have been eating at this location for 40+ years, it's not far from my parent's house, and has always been a favorite. New ownership / direction is a big change and may take long time loyal fans of previous owner to adjust. Hopefully it will improve over time. It looks lovely.

Such a beautiful restaurant! It was very clean and modern. The food was amazing. The service was exceptional. We also got dessert to go and it was delicious. The bartender was a true artist. I have to go again.

Had a very nice brunch with friends. Food and drinks were delicious; the staff were exceptionally warm and friendly.

Very cute atmosphere, especially when dining outside. Staff was attentive and kind. We enjoyed everything we ordered, but the standout stars were the Lamb Burger and the Calamari. Phenomenal!

fantastic dinner at hilltop. food quality and portions were perfect. service was attentive and friendly. even the bread course featured an amazing combination spread of seasoned olive oil and butter that made the freshly baked bread taste fantastic. we love eating at hilltop. the atmosphere is clean and well decorated. the staff patient and kind. locally sourced food beautifully prepared.

Our visit this evening was so disappointing. When we pulled into the parking lot, the restaurant looked so beautiful! We were a group of 10 celebrating my mother in law's birthday. I am mixed on our waitress. In some instances she was helpful and accommodating and others quite rude. Upon our arrival she told us that they had issues with their cooler not working properly and that as a result, certain menu items were unavailable - meatballs and chicharrones. We ordered wine, soda, juice, cocktails, appetizers, a salad, kid's dinners and adult entrees. I had my heart set on the cheese ravioli alla Bolognese. The waitress said they didn't have it and here is where the rudeness comes in. She said I told you before that we don't have meatballs'. To which I replied Bolognese sauce and meatballs are 2 very different things'. I ended up having to order the ravioli with the cheese cream sauce. However, when we got home and I reviewed the receipt, we were charged for the Bolognese sauce and there were 4 or 5 ravioli, so that $ amount for sparse ravioli . Also, we were told that they didn't have scalloped potatoes but could substitute rice. Again, we were charged for scalloped potatoes instead of rice. We asked for more bread and were told that there would be an extra charge. Seriously?! You are going to charge our large party who ordered a ton of alcohol and food for extra bread?! AND the glass of soda my son ordered was tiny and they charged us for refills. Again, what?! $15 for a couple SMALL glasses of soda?! They did comp us some desserts which was the right thing to do, but upon reviewing our receipt and what we were over charged for, it didn't work out in our favor. I genuinely wish the best for this restaurant. That said, after a HEFTY bill, sub par service and sub par food, Hilltop Kitchen is scratched from our list and we definitely won't be returning.

Burned eggs, overcharged relative to menu prices. Music too loud in an empty restaurant. Will never eat here again. .

The service was great! But unfortunately, a lot of the food missed the mark just a bit. The bread service was the highlight and the bread was great quality across all their items. For appetizers - we ordered the calamari and the fried pork belly. The calamari was done quite poorly, with most of the dish before batter or onions and very few actual squid. The lobster roll, and burgers were also decent, but the pineapple fried rice and teriyaki chicken was not quite what we expected and although the flavor was ok, it was far off from what you'd imagine it to be. Overall - the efforts were there, but probably needs to brush on actual cooking.

Have to say was pretty disappointed. We should have known when we arrived at 6:00pm on a Friday night and the parking lot was empty. For a fairly new restaurant in the area, many being Italian/ pizza places this one I think missed the mark. First, can't order pizza in the restaurant unless you order from the kids menu. How absurd. Now with that said I have to give it to them the food was really good however the dinners were appetizer portions. $27 for what they call jumbo ravioli was just 5 regular ravioli. Yes more than $5 per ravioli. Insane. With all the other options in town you can see why the parking lot was empty. We too, will not be going back. Service was so slow we almost got up and left. Hindsight, probably should have.

In my opinion, Hilltop Kitchen a place that gets so much right from the moment you walk in. The good is outstanding. Every dish we ordered from the shrimp scampi to the lamb burger were beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. I especially recommend the falafel sliders, which were a knockout. Equally impressive are the drinks. The cocktail list is imaginative without being over-the-top, with expertly mixed drinks that highlight high-quality spirits and inventive flavor pairings. The staff had always been friendly, attentive, and generally passionate about the food and drink they serve. I am sorry, I didn't take any pictures this time but I definitely will update after the next time I visit!

We adored our girls night sitting outside at the outdoor patio at Hilltop Kitchen overlooking downtown Sandy Hook. While the Caesar salad and cantaloupe crostini were outstanding twists on standard dishes, we found the Cobb salad to be just average. The menu offers a variety of price ranges with something for everyone. The service was fair- some staff seemed more knowledgeable about the menu than others. That being said, this restaurant did a great job despite their recent opening. We can't wait to come back.

Food was outstanding! Definitely becoming a regular spot for fabulous food. Family run establishment with a heart, definitely worth the time to stop in! The grilled cantaloupe appetizer is to die for!! Have never had a bad experience. If you have an adventurous side Christian the bartender is your man!! Will make a complimentary cocktail for your meal. You won't be disappointed!!!

Food was delicious! We got the French toast, corn beef hash and sausage egg and cheese. Perfect place for brunch

A newly opened restaurant in Sandy Hook still working through the kinks. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful. My husband & I came in for dinner 8pm on a Saturday night. It was quite hoping this will improve over time. Started out with the calamari - small portion, chewy, but had good breading and seasoning. They have a smaller regular menu with a big specials menu. Maybe over the next month or two they will move some of the specials to the permanent menu. Then make the specials menu a bit smaller. Our dinner - My husband got a slow cooked marinated roast pork sandwich with cheese, broccoli rabe and au jus. Big sandwich with good flavor. French fries with the sandwich were Amazing! But he was only given four fries which were disappointing. They were too good to give so few My dinner - burnt ends with cole slaw, corn on the cob, and baked beans. This was my first time trying burnt ends. I had heard they have alot of fat. The meat they did have nice and juicy. The baked beans were not for me. The cole slaw nice and creamy. The corn on the cob was so good - sweet & perfect. I hope the next time I go on a Saturday night they have taken some suggestions and have alot more customers. They have great potential.

A new restaurant always has to work out some kinks but Hilltop Kitchen did a phenomenal job when I visited. We were seated right away and consistently checked in on throughout our meal. There are multiple dining room options including booths, tables as well as patio seating. The restaurant is BYOB while they await a liquor license. We tried the traditional eggs Benedict with added fresh avocado and a bacon, egg and cheese. The home fries had great flavor, eggs cooked perfect and the homemade bacon had a nice thickness and saltiness. I will definitely be back to try dinner!

Pros - Beautifully decorated, pleasant servers, food was good. - Cons - (1) out of several menu items, at the beginning of the dinner hour, this includes certain spirits listed on the menu as well. (2) While the restaurant is beautifully decorated, it lacks warmth, does not feel cozy. (3) too expensive when you factor in the tiny portions.

Absolute deliscious. Friendly knowledgeable staff. Everything on the menu is divine. A wide variety of food, all cooked fresh from scratch. Nothing frozen

Really, really disappointed with our experience. We gave them a second try hoping that the issues we had on the first visit were just the kinks being worked out, but unfortunately found out that their inconsistency has persisted. The restaurant was mostly empty so we were seated outside rather quickly once some tables were pushed together (we were a party of 6). The server was very friendly and warned us ahead of time that our drinks may take a while (we were understanding because we ordered martinis and specialty cocktails). However, even subsequent rounds with just one or two refills were taking 15-20 minutes and the martini glasses were not even completely full. The bar also doesn't have Tito's vodka which seems a little odd considering it's popularity. We ordered the lobster/shrimp spinach dip special and were given sausage gravy in a bowl with tortilla chips. None of the staff that made the food or brought it out had noticed that it was sausage and not seafood and spinach. When we asked about it, staff apologized and said they "grabbed the wrong package" in the kitchen. The flavor of the sausage gravy was better than the dip we had intended on getting and honestly might be the only reason we would go back to try breakfast. We then ordered a pizza to share with the table - the Roman Empire. It is supposed to come with a balsamic glaze and showed up to the table without it. When I asked the staff who brought it to the table if the glaze was on there, they said yes. A few minutes later without us having to ask, a side dish of the balsamic glaze was brought out so it was clearly not on the pizza to begin with. The crust did have good texture so a less complicated non-specialty pizza may be the way to go if you're wanting to try something from here. Our last round of drinks must have been made by a different bartender or with different ingredients because the cosmo was SO bitter, but I knew if I sent it back for another one I may not have a drink for 20 more minutes so I didn't even bother. That last round of martinis also came in a smaller coup glass-still not full all the way. The menu is all over the place and the decor feels cold and out of place for the menu and the clientele. If they slim down the menu and really focus on doing a few things well and consistently, maybe they could survive. We probably won't be back.

Lunch today was out of this world. Confit Duck salad. marinated so long and paired with such complementing flavors it didn't even need a salad dressing! Alisha, our hostess and server was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. Her recommendations were spot on! On top of that, the bartender made THE BEST Bloody Mary! Could not have asked for a better afternoon.

I had falafel plate and it was so salty and dry, I couldn't eat it. It was not suitable for pita sandwich that 3 pieces out of 5? pieces fell to the floor as they were overcooked and hard, not much of sauce that wouldn't stay in the pita bread. I saw many good reviews and comments that I had to try this place. I'm not going to return as the environment is stale like a dinner but overpriced menus as the upscale restaurants. My grandson loves food especially Mac and cheese. We ordered Mac and cheese, but he left most of it uneaten. That tells me something.

I gave this place a second and likely last chance. My first visit was lunch soon after opening. They didn't have all of the items on the menu yet, service was poor and to make up for it they have us a free slice of cake which was so stale we threw it all out. Somehow lunch was still over $100 for two. This time I was convinced to try for dinner and it was disappointing, there was nobody there and it still too 45 minutes to get our dinner.

Ordered shrimp cocktail and the BLT for lunch. Arrived after 2 pm and was told it was the brunch menu, which seemed odd given it was well into lunch time. Shrimp was $17 and on the menu listed as large shrimp. There were 4 and they were small, about the size of a half dollar. The BLT claim was that it was house smoked and cured bacon which was hilariously false and tasted like microwave bacon. Server was nice, unless you go out to eat for a nice server avoid this overpriced underperforming restaurant in a town that has great options. Also the drinks were watered down and the soda was flat.

Add ice to drinks, none of our drinks had ice even when my cousin order an ice coffee they said they can't give ice for some reason which was a little head scratching, took almost 30 minutes since we ordered and the food wasn't even made yet when we asked. And the waitress didn't even apologize for how long it took and basically said the drinks can be on the house and we can leave. Completely unprofessional and overpriced.

Came in today for brunch. Great experience overall. The loaded bloody Mary was very good, with shrimp and bacon. Was a bit surprised by the quality of fruit that came with my eggs benedict, blood orange, strawberries, and grapes....it all was very tasty.

How is this place in business overpriced below average food no question! So let's start with a dreary looking place, service was ok nothing special and our server had little knowledge of the dishes? We won't be back and the cake was stale they served for dessert another below average food establishment in Newtown......

We went there for Sunday breakfast./brunch. Beautiful dining room. Overall food, drinks and waitress service are excellent. Definitely will go back again for the dinner.

I found the food to be overpriced and mediocre. With so many superior options in town I don't see how this place can survive. Service was subpar as well. I wish them luck but we won't be back. It is also worth noting that the restaurant is BYOB as they do not have their liquor license.

We've been here twice and both times have had an exceptional experiences. We sat outside on the lovely patio. The service was attentive and friendly both times. My 93 year old Dad was intrigued by the pasta and butter dish they have on the children's menu which reminded him of his favorite childhood meal. The chef was willing to make an adult portion of that and my Dad felt that it was the best meal he has had since he moved to Connecticut. I had the chicken tikka masala which was delicious with the perfect amount of spice. They have vegetarian and vegan options. The bartender is talented and a personable guy! We will be back!

Great little place with great foo, drinks and service. The menu has a large selection of unique dishes and the drinks come in a variety of choices.

I was sad to see there were no cars in the lot when we arrived but may have a better understanding now. Server was lovely and food was average. $27 for a cheese pizza seems a bit steep, especially when the online menu has a cheese pizza listed for $17.95. With so many other options in town, we will not be back.

So glad we found this hidden gem! Loved the ambience and decor! Food was great! Very good vegetarian options. Prices reasonable. Staff was kind and friendly.

Wonderful service! I am a big fan of the wings here, and love what they have done inside. Unique cocktails, and if you tell Christian what type of cocktail you like or certain ingredients, he will make you something spectacular. Ignore the other reviews. It's a new restaurant and just like a new restaurant they are working out the kinks. Quite frankly, I think it's pre-mature for anyone to leave a scathing review for a business within 3-6 months of their opening.

In one word: avoid. The water came quickly. Then it was another 16 minutes before a waitress appeared asking if it was ok that it would take some time (at least 20 minutes) before we got our food as there were "10 orders ahead of ours." Mind you this was July 3rd lunchtime in a small, quiet CT town that had basically emptied out for the holiday The place was empty save for about 2 or three other tables. I can only imagine what happens when they are busy! We left. No loss as The menu was also unappealing - unless you are clamoring for high caloric meats (lots of pork) and "chefs secret sauce." There were hardly any vegetarian options and zero vegan. The one star is for the atmosphere. We went down the road to Sugo and had an excellent meal and service.

Unfortunately have been there twice and will not return. We went for Mother's Day brunch, and two members of our party got eggs Benedict with cold eggs. Also my mother was not given a flower when others were. But we decided to try it again because it was new. I ordered a smash burger and asked for it well done. I was assured that smash burgers couldn't be rare. And yet, that's how it came out. One of the people in my party got chicken Marsala so salty she couldn't eat it. They nearly lost my husband's credit card, he had to ask about it and they had to go look for it. We asked for a split check, they put it all on my husband's card and then gave our companions a bill as well. The servers checked in a million times before we had food, but once food came out and there were issues with it, no one came to our table. Unfortunately, given how expensive the food is, I can't spend more money giving the restaurant a chance.

Food here is amazing, and Connor was a great server. All the staff were very friendly and the interior is beautiful, I highly recommend this restaurant (especially for breakfast!)

The renovations are absolutely amazing, it's like a whole new place inside. Went there for brunch. The New England eggs Benedict was delicious. We also love to drop in there for lunch. Their adaptation of the Philly cheesesteak is out of this world. The service is excellent. Run by a local, well liked family that puts their heart and soul into the food and service, and it shows when you eat there. Psyched for the bar that just opened. If their food is any indication of the cocktails they'll be serving I am excited.

Not ready for prime time. My inclination is to support a local business and I see from the previous reviews that this place is working out the kinks a few months after opening, but there are some basic fails here. Menu (actually, there are 3 menus) is indecipherable. Some menu items not available. We waited 30+ mins for our entrees to arrive and, when they did, one of us did not receive their entree. Everyone at the table ate their entree and, by the time everyone finished, that entree was still not available, so one of us went home hungry. Why have 3 menus of items when you can't deliver one of the most basic entrees on the main menu? One upside: server was extremely nice.

Our first time at Hilltop did not disappoint! We came for a late breakfast on Memorial Day...I had bacon and eggs with home fries. The home fries were savory and delicious... with just the right amount of seasoning. The bacon was absolutely amazing. Thick and tender. I could've eaten five orders. My husband ordered the French toast and it was perfect. Crisp on the outside and wonderfully creamy on the inside, served with fresh maple syrup and a side of perfectly ripe fresh berries. We were told the menu is evolving as they have not had an official opening yet and I am eager to see what's next! Our server was very attentive and super friendly. It was raining so we didn't get to sit outside, but I love the availability of the patio overlooking Sandy Hook Center. Excellent experience and we will definitely be back!

Went to Hilltop for brunch and holy smokes was it delicious. Sat outside on the beautiful patio, which had lots of shade from both umbrellas and trees and enjoyed the delicious avocado toast. The service was great, the owners took the time to chat with us about their future plans and how things were going thus far.

Not just another pizza place; Hilltop Kitchen brings an inspired menu, friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere to Sandy Hook Center. Just opened in the former Villa, Hilltop Kitchen offers breakfast lunch and dinner with outdoor seating and vegan options

I had a fantastic meal here! The decor is lovely, the service is excellent, and the food is amazing! I had the duck confit salad, and we shared a lobster dip app with the most amazing fresh-made pita chips. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try. I can't wait for my next visit.

Thought I would give this place a try for pizza. Don't waste your time or money. Crust was terrible and sauce was like ketchup.

I've been wanting to try Hilltop since it opened and tonight we brought an out of town guest to our first visit. what a remarkable place with a wide variety of delicious dishes with stellar service. we tried four different entrees pasta, pizza, chkn tikki masala, and salad with duck breast . we truly were very happy we chose the restaurant and will visit again soon! The presentation of the dishes was great too.

In addition to a beautiful atmosphere and friendly, professional staff, the food is excellent. My favorite is the Taj Mahal pizza. The seasoning is outrageously delicious. I will be frequenting Hilltop Kitchen at the Village!

My wife and I decided to give this place a try for a late lunch. We arrived and we had no problem getting in, it was empty. The server was excellent! We had the fried green tomatoes and fried calamari for appetizers. The tomatoes were excellent and while the calamari was good, the amount was minimal and the pieces very very small. I had the beef and lamb gyro and my wife had the quesadilla with lobster. Both were very tasty. While it was a bit on the pricey side, we may give it another try for brunch.

This server named Lucas gave excellent service and greeted with a perfect smile on his face. I'll be dining here again with my friends and family. Last time I was here was about 3 weeks ago; hope to see that young fellow again.

This spot has so much potential, but has quite a few kinks to work out. Very cute, great location! We were a party of 6, seated quickly but only given two menus. We placed our breakfast orders around 11am but were warned that they were "very busy." From our perspective, this was odd to hear because we saw many booths open; not many people were physically there. Maybe they do take out? After an hour and a half of waiting patiently, the food finally made it to our table. Although presentation was lovely, the quality of food couldn't be more disappointing (and especially for the price). Among 6 dishes, the food was either undercooked, overcooked, extremely dry, etc, etc... and by the end of the "meal", quite a bit of food unfortunately went to waste. It simply wasn't good. The owner was kind enough to come to the table to inquire, but we quickly noticed that she wasn't accepting of our feedback; she was extremely dismissive and defensive. Although one dish was specifically taken off the receipt (severely undercooked), we reviewed the receipt and noticed that an extra side that we never ordered was added (which we brought to their attention and they took off). I really hope that this place works out as I never want to see a local business fail, but also hope that the owner recognizes that an hour and a half wait for really bad food, and a bad attitude towards her customers, won't help her thrive.

Still trying to find their grove. Very very slow and a bit disorganized. The pizza took an excessive amount of time to come out and overall just a mediocre experience. Hopefully they improve!

Had a wonderful dinner tonight at Hilltop Kitchen in Sandy Hook and will definitely be back. The ambiance out on the patio was lovely and our waiter Connor was very attentive. We started with the fried green tomatoes with remoulade which was outstanding. Our entrees were cooked perfectly. Highly recommend!

Excellent service and exquisite food! Second time here and both times we had a wonderful experience. Lobster roll special the first time was delish! Tried the fried green tomatoes! Also, the grilled cantaloupe crostini was out of this world! Very impressed with their menu and loved the attention to detail and the staff. Highly recommend.

very disappointed with this newly owned restaurant . the menu is an array of many different dishes .. some even 35$?? ordered drinks . young waiter who was very kind had no idea about wine selections or mixed drinks . decided to leave after 2 failed drinks . thankfully they were complimentary. will not return . the atmosphere is stark , not comfortable at all. miss the old restaurant .

Tried to have lunch there today at this pretty restaurant. Place was empty except for a few outside tables, maybe 10 people at most. After menus were dropped off, we waited about 10 minutes. The sole waitress arrived and told us there were 20 patrons ahead of us and the wait for our meals would be at least 20 minutes. We know enough to bail.

We arrived and were told we could not sit outside, but then 15 seconds later told us we could... We did not receive our drinks until our appetizers arrived since our server forgot them. Tried ordering pizza but the pizza machine was not working yet and they do not have their liquor license at all yet. I ordered shrimp scampi and took one bite out of the shrimp and it had a funny taste. We told our waitress that there was a funny taste and her response was oh is there we had no idea, which to me seems like this wasn't the first complaint of the day. We will not be returning.