Hillstone Reviews

A little pricey but worth it (which can’t be said for a great many san F. Restaurants.) The staff were attentive and friendly, professional and warm which is a tough balance. The food was made with pride and the beef (French dip) dip was outstanding. By far the best I’ve ever tasted. Our whole dining experience was excellent from start to finish. The children loved it and you could easily share a lunch time sandwich between two adults let alone children and it therefore negates the cost some what.

Last night marked my one year since moving to San Francisco. About two days after moving here, everything shut down for COVID, so my dining experiences have been limited to outdoors or take-out. Somewhat serendipitously, my anniversary in the Bay Area coincided with indoor dining starting back up. I knew for the occasion that it had to be Hillstone. I was introduced to Hillstone by a friend while in Phoenix, and when I saw that they had one in San Francisco, I knew I had to go. So I told my partner that we were going out for dinner and to dress nice (it's been a year of sweatpants and being couch potatoes largely). Upon arrival, I was delighted to hear from the hostess that our table was not ready yet. After a year of making my own cocktails, I was THRILLED to have a pro make me a Dirty Kettle Martini. Absolutely divine. Once seated, I knew what we had to get: the Grilled Artichoke to start and their famous Cesar Salad (made famous by Tyra Banks). After our starters, my boo had the Hawaiian Steak (so. much. flavor.), and I had the perfectly cooked pork chop. Of course, no Hillstone experience would be complete without their Ice Cream Sundae with House Made Hot Fudge and Pralines. The service was excellent, the price point was manageable, and for the first time in a year, things felt almost normal. Nature is indeed healing -- and I can't thank the fantastic team at Hillstone San Francisco for an almost erotic experience back on the dining circuit.

Today, I went to Hillstone on the Embarcadero in SF with my wife and four children. My youngest uses a wheelchair so I asked for a table for six and let them know one in the party used a wheelchair. The hostess' expression was a look of what I can only describe as annoyance. She consulted another hostess who then came back to us and said they had nothing that could accommodate us. This was surprising since the restaurant was 90% empty. The second hostess said the only thing she could offer was to separate us into two tables. My wife and I discussed briefly and decided to leave. The hostesses had no apologies or evidence of concern or regret that they could not accommodate us. If it is true that Hillstone lacks even a single six top which could accommodate a wheelchair, then I find this a shocking lack of consideration for the millions of disabled patrons who also may seek to dine with them. I also would recommend to the management that they provide training to their hostess team to provide a greater level of empathy and hospitality to guests they are turning away especially with an empty restaurant. We left and all concluded even if it were true that they couldn't accommodate us, they certainly didn't act like they wanted to as no effort, creativity or concern was applied to serving us. This is the first and only time after many years of traveling and dining out with my son that I've been turned away like this from any restaurant. Very disappointing.

After our trip to Alcatraz we needed somewhere for lunch. Hillstone is directly opposite where you exit the ferry. Lovely place with absolutely wonderful food. A bit pricey but well worth it.

Any of the Hillstone restaurant group is a safe bet, and this one is not the exception, nice place, nice food, this time service was average, not as friendly and attentive as their brothers restaurants (Bandera and Houston's) are, but in general it is a good option and a nice place.

We were there twice during our stay in San Francisco. The rips were so good that we had them again on the second night. Despite the large space, the tables are somewhat private due to Boothes. Gladly again

Love this place - great location accessible from Downtown Salmon starter was great for sharing and the Hawaiian steak was a winner all round! Awesome atmosphere and service and nice to have a post dinner drink outside by the fireplace

My daughter and I ate there in the fall. Fun bar scene, outside tables and classic interior. Great steaks too. I highly recommend it.

Great location across from Pier 33. Fabulous hamburger and French dip sandwich. Very friendly staff and clean place. !

Great late lunch, Simone, our server was special, had the famous French dip sandwich with fries! Very good, well worth the price!

Houston's/Hillstone has been a favorite since my days in Dallas in 1980s to the past 18 years in San Francisco and also visiting many other US locations. It was the gold standard for flawless service, team members working Sympatico - expectations were always met. Dining at least twice a month, during these years, we've seen some things slip. Martini drinks delivered spilled, no cocktails napkins these days. Come on - $15 for a cocktail deserves a cocktail napkin to dispense with a sticky mess on the table. Really! The past year we've experience little miss haps but never wanted to have our evening ruined. Small things - having to ask twice for a steak knife while food is getting cold. 20 minutes for a cup of coffee (ok it's now a drip Americano) "Yes, we have Key Lime Pie, oops, we don't have Key Lime Pie tonight." "Wait at the bar, we'll come and get you when your table is ready." 30 minutes later, they tell us we're a no show. Tonight was the last straw. In the middle of our meal, waitperson snatches the pepper off our table - taking it to another table. We were still using it! We were invisible to her - didn't ask, say a word, just swiped it off our table. Even "Madge at the diner would ask." While there were apologies and comped of a round of drinks - it just wasn't enough after all these years. Perhaps a sincere apology - a comped meal, "please give us another chance." It didn't ring true. I believe the problem isn't so much this wait person but the lack of good training. We have had many great servers over the years, and Sunday nights at Hillstone was a great way to cap off the weekend. They no longer serve de-cafe coffee after dinner. We have a home in NYC - I don't know of a restaurant that does not serve de-cafe. In fact, last month I was in Hong Kong, yes, they serve de-cafe. Sad to say goodbye - but would rather remember it as it was rather than continue to be disappointed. Having to ask for a cocktail napkin or wondering if I should just ask for hot water and bring instant de-cafe in a bag - really?

We had some out of town guests visiting SF and decided to bring them to Hillstone in the city. We regularly frequent their sister restaurant Los Altos Grill in the Mid-Peninsula which we absolutely love. Hillstone SF has a very similar decor with lots of comfy booth seating. It has the added benefit of being located right along the Embacadero with some nice views of the bay side. For starters, we tried the Artichoke and Spinach Dip (since they were out of Grilled Artichoke). It was nice, but not nearly as good as the Grilled Artichokes we've had at the Los Altos Grill. For entrees, we tried the Bone-in Prime Rib, Rotisserie Chicken, Emerald Kale and Chicken Salad, and Famous French Dip. The Prime Rib is a hefty cut, so either share it or be very very hungry. Rotisserie Chicken is a good choice, but somewhat plain and simple and not especially outstanding. The French Dip was good with the tasty and tender prime rib meat, but the bun here was not as nicely toasted as it is usually served at Los Altos Grill. I liked the Emerald Kale and Chicken Salad with the light peanut vinaigrette -- very fresh, clean flavors. To finish, we shared the Key Lime Pie, which is a seasonal dessert at the Hillstone restaurants, but it's probably one of the best key lime pies anywhere with just the right balance of sweet and tart, and a delicious pecan nut crust. We liked the free corkage on the first bottle of wine you bring (again consistent with other Hillstone restaurants), but they also have a good selection of wines on their menu. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner here, but still much prefer the food at our regular Los Altos Grill where their menu boasts quite a few favorites that are not available at Hillstone SF, including the Skillet Cornbread, Deviled Eggs, Macho Chicken Salad, Ahi Salad, BBQ Rib & Chicken Combo, and more.

Restaurant located in front of the Ferry that goes to Alcatraz! Clean and very ageable restaurant with outdoor terrace! We had some very good burgers and the service was nice and very fast!

While waiting for our tour to Alcatraz we had lunch here. We were very pleased. Very friendly and courteous service and a delicious meal. I highly recommend this type of American cuisine.

A good meal and atmosphere with excellent service from friendly staff. We are there twice during a three night stay.It was a 45 minute walk from our hotel,but worth it. Although it was quite expensive,it was still a lot cheaper than other places of similar quality.

Poor customer experience. Long seating wait on a Sunday afternoon 45 mins. Wonky dress code that prohibits hats, dress hats . No outdoor service while you wait. Rude greeters!

Stopped by for a beer on a typically hot day, whilst walking in the area of Fisherman's Wharf. Nice venue, although the drinks were on the expensive side - but we were in the main tourist area and is was German beer.

Had lunch here with a business partner, came without reservation and was seated in the bar. The restaurant was full and there was a nice atmosphere. We had a steak (ribeye) and ribs. The ribs were good, but the steak was too cooked compared with the ordered and also the meat seemed a little sub-standard for a restaurant at this price point. Bar selection seemed pretty wide. Staff was super attentive and service minded. overall not a bad lunch, but not what I expect from a $200 lunch.

Last minute decision for an early dinner. We were able to get seated at the bar. The food was amazing. Service was prompt (per our request). A pleasant impromptu surprise. Not the best of location IMO, but was where we were when we were looking dinner.

We came here for lunch, it was quite busy but we were lucky to get a table. The hamburgers we chose were simply delicious! Highly recommended to reserve a table, especially for dinner .

What an excellent restaurant as well as visually stunning! Discovered as our last meal out before leaving San Francisco. Although booking is absolutely essential to guarantee a table on a saturday night, the bar offered a full menu service with small table cloths etc provided whilst being more than comfortable. Staff were extremely polite and knowledgeable. Hawaiian Steak was cooked to absolute perfection and one of the best i’ve ever had, whilst i’m assured my friends Crab cakes were also incredible. Portions also large which is not a complaint. It may be pricey for some but I could easily pay 2/3 to double that price for a similar meal in London so worth every penny. Cannot recommend highly enough.

I had to go into the city on the weekend, so I stopped at Hillstone for lunch because I like their burgers. The last couple of times I've been to this location, it hasnt been as good of an experience as at other Hillstone or Houston"s restaurants. This visit, after taking a long time to arrive, my burger had all the things on it that I had specifically asked to leave off. Mistakes happen but when they had ro redo the burger, it took just as incredibly long as the first time. The restaurant was not busy, so it is hard to give them a pass. And to top it off, my bill was $35 for a hamburger and glass of tea. I generally like to post positive reviews, but I felt that this experience was poor ejougjh that it needed to be mentioned.

A friend & I decided to try Hillstone after not dining there for a few years. Our consensus: we've far better restaurants in our City by the Bay. I'm a fanatic for a great Burger and at $21 I think this Burger should be superb. It arrived and no way to chew on it 4-5 inches tall!) so opted for fork and knife which is not my way to enjoy a burger. It was laden with shredded white lettuce - come folks we have really green good lettuce available here. The cheddar cheese was not even melted . Fries on the plate: looked leftover from an early morning rush on fries and were not warm. No dijon as they offered only ketchup or mayo. Sorry Hillstone - but you're not worth returning to. I'll take a burger on the Embarcadero at EPIC any day ... a few dollars less but far more delicious and not junked up.

We came in hungry after visiting Alcatraz and had a great meal of grilled artichokes, fried chicken sandwich and the breaded white fish. Food was fast and very tasty and service was top notch

Went with friends for a nice day out. Great service and ambiance but when I asked for an Arnold Palmer our server apologized saying “we don’t make lemonade any longer” the shock began to set in. Also, on menu in appetizer section it states “we no longer offer the Oak Grilled Artichokes”. Why not just omit it all together? Shock also with final ticket price. Fish of the day almost $40!!? A nice piece of salmon grilled over cedar with a few broccoli florets, but that’s it! I appreciate what they’re trying to do with spot on service, but what could have been an amazing lunch, left me shaking my head. Choose somewhere else to go that fulfills all needs and wants.

We found this restaurant near the front, on our way to a boat trip The great location was matched by excellent service and wonderful food The Proud Vegetarian was interesting, attractive and delicious The Cheeseburger was nicely cooked and tasty. And a very good size. We both had Hot Fudge Sundae for dessert. It was great.

Hubby and I dined here yesterday for lunch on a Sunday around 1:30. We had hoped to be able to sit outside, but we did not have a reservation and the restaruant was very busy. We opted to sit at a high top table in the corner of the bar area - same food, same service. We had a great waitress, Clarissa. We each enjoyed a fresh glass of Syrah, we split the absolute BEST Caesar salad ever, and also split a delicious cheeseburger with fries. We are so glad we stopped. However, if they take reservations and I am not sure they do, I would suggest making them prior. Also, sitting outside would be a lovely experience, but there are not many outside tables avaialbe. We'll be back!

Lovely rich ambience, quiet. Attentive service and high quality food. The French dip melted in your mouth and the bbq ribs were plentiful and juicy. Sides imaginative.

The staff were friendly. The food was amaze balls. French Dip was killer. Burger was also top notch. Worth it!

A pleasant place where we found exquisite dishes and great friendliness. A tasty and refined lunch. I recommend to everyone

Yes, I understand restaurants in San Francisco tend to be expensive but $10 for a small pile of unremarkable French Fries, to go with a $20 cheeseburger, was surprising. Our group of 5 had a nice roomy booth for lunch. Even midday the restaurant seemed very dark. Service was professional but lacked warmth. As for the food….. I had the Kale Salad with Roasted Chicken. I found it very oily. My husband was disappointed in the portion size for the Ahi Salad. Others had the Cheeseburger with the previously mentioned fries (nothing special), and the Crispy Chicken Sandwich (they enjoyed it).

Since we last visited this restaurant, in 2013, our son and daughter-in-law have moved even closer, so it is virtually on their doorstep! We started with artichoke dip and the smoked salmon to share, and it was ample for four of us. My son and I had his favourite Hawaiian steak, while the girls had a Thai steak salad and the ribs. The food was delicious. One of the things my son likes about this place is that he can take his own wine. Back in 2013 when we went they didn't charge corkage. Then a while back they introduced a corkage fee of $15 per bottle. Now it is $25, which I though was a bit steep. It was 50 bucks just to drink two bottles of our own wine! Other than that, though, all was good and enjoyable.

Owned by the Hillstone Restaurant Group (who also own Los Altos Grill and Rutherford Grill in Napa). very good, American-style food I've been to Los Altos Grill 400+ times I think and the menu here is essentially the same. but obviously I like LAG so for me, this place was great too. the thing that's great in both places is the service. anyone walking by the table will clear empty dishes, refill water, bring condiments, etc. and do it with a friendly smile there are some items not served at LAG and it's open for lunch which makes sense in SF. I recommend the burger, French Dip and Thai noodle salad. decent wine list too.

Nice restaurants across from pier 33. Great food and great staff. Very tasty French dip and tuna burger. Good salads as well!

Avoid at all costs.. it wants to be trendy but fails miserably.. weird dress code ..depends who is serving you if they like the look of you.. no hats inside but you can if they look cool.. eg no baseball caps but you are allowed baseball if you sit in the bar which is inside the restaurant approx 2ft from tables!! We saw Females wearing baseball caps backwards?? Which were not told to take them off.. Food overpriced and servers not attentive or very welcoming ..for me this place is a no go and needs a proper overall in terms of what they are trying to achieve..its based opposite the pier for alcatraz so relies on tourist trade..who guess what..Wear baseball caps and shorts ..get a grip houstons

I have been to Hillstone, but not since the beginning of the Covid era - so it has been three years. I was happy to return, and was really happy with my meal. I had the "Hawaiian" ribeye steak, and it was really good. The service was very good. The vibe and the mood here is really good. Kind of what you would expect from a nicer, higher end restaurant. A lot of business dinners, dates, and groups of friends all coming in here. It's a little pricey at Hillstone, worth it for sure. Hillstone is now one of my "go0to's in SF because of the quality of the service and the quality of the food.

Great, friendly staff. Overpriced and overrated food. I'm a goody and this was disappointing for the cost. It wasn't nasty, just mediocre.

Our concierge recommended that we have lunch near Pier 33 before our Alcatraz tour. The food and service was very good. I had the French dip and my wife had the chicken tenders. I would highly recommend either one! The only drawback is that they are a little pricey!

Great little spot for lunch, not expensive considering it’s just opposite the Alcatraz tours at pier 33. Great service and delicious food. Worth a visit if you’re about.

I enjoy going to Hillstone in NY, so hearing there was one in San Fran, and so close to the harbor where we had gone for sightseeing, I was happy. The food is good also at this place, the wine assortment is nice, considering the ones you get to try, and the pouring’s. Very good and friendly service. Overall, thumbs up!

Nice ambiance and right on the embarcadero. Service was friendly. The Food and Drinks were excelent. Be sure and try the ribs!

This is a favorite of mine. The ribs are fall off the bone and always worth getting. I've never had a bad experience with them in eating at 13 different Hillstone's, same goes for the Prime Rib au jus. Never a bad experience. The coleslaw is excellent. Very crisp. The fries at this location had a nice new seasoning I've never had before. Always a 10/10 visit. The manager did great as well stopping by and giving pleasantries.

Quality food excellently presented. The portions were very (over) generous so sharing is recommended. The waiters are well trained and provide good service. However it is on the expensive side.

A great find! Good atmosphere, nice cocktails. Service was attentive but not overbearing. Our mains (rib eye steak and ribs) were very tasty. But the absolute standout was their key lime pie. The best I have ever had. So smooth and creamy and the right balance of sweet and sharpness. So good we came back just for pie on our last day before leaving for the airport. And it just as good second time round!

great place to go after going to Alcatraz. Overall the experience was good though service could have been a bit better as there was no wifi for guests the burger was great and very filling

Hillstone is always reliable, fun and great, fresh food. Bar area is nice to hang out with friends or table seating. Free corkage if you bring your own wine, a novelty in San Francisco!

We stopped in this place after finishing the classic trip to Alcatraz. Cozy place, attentive and friendly service. Very nice food, open kitchen and always open. Excellent desserts. Prices in the medium-high range of San Francisco.

Had a late afternoon lunch here before heading out to Alcatraz for the tour. Food was excellent, mainly did appetizers, the service was excellent and the drinks were great!

Burgers and salad were very good, but unfortunately our waitress was rather cold and haughty. Maybe due to our bad accent, was hard to make "hot chocolate" understandable, like she disapproved our choice... Other waitresses seemed to be more nice, maybe we'd just been unlucky.

We had lunch at this restaurant and ordered hamburgers and a chicken sandwich. We weren't even attended to by most of the employees, with the exception of one employee who was in a bad mood and was a little rude to us. As for the meal, we really enjoyed it, the burgers were great and the portions were very well served. Good fast food restaurant with good quality/price

This is my first bad review ever ! My pregnant wife was craving Hillstone so we drove from Sacramento to SF to spoil her. During dinner my 2 year old son was laughing out lout, which then a manager named Leslie came to inform me I need to take my son outside until he is quiet. (Its mid January in SF, which means its 45 degrees outside). I informed Leslie he is 2 years old and I’m doing my best and that he is not an adult and he isn’t doing anything on purpose, to which her response was that even if adults make noises they are asked to do the same. Her response really shocked me, even more than I already was, from her lack of sensitivity and awareness he is 2 years old. He didn’t scream or break anything not disturbing the other guests, just laughing and having a great time. We left humiliated and hungry as they would’t let us dine in unless he is quiet. We are dining at Hillstone Group all over the US and never had anything bad to say. But at this time, we are really not sure we will come back anytime soon.

Sure Hillstone might be part of Houston’s chain of restaurants ,but there is something about this one is special . The food and service are always excellent here . Out of the ten times I’ve eaten here nothing has gone wrong with an order or how a dish was prepared. The smoked salmon is a must and there are some pretty good vegetarian options as well.

We decided to dine at Hillstone in San Francisco, and we’re so glad we did! The restaurant was bustling with a lively atmosphere when we arrived, which was a great first impression. Our waitress, Amanda, provided exceptional service, offering fantastic dish recommendations and expertly pairing wines. She even suggested a nearby café for breakfast the next morning. Located just a short walk from Pier 39, Hillstone was the perfect choice over the typical tourist spots. If you're in San Francisco and looking for a great dining experience, Hillstone is a must visit!

We have eaten at a Hillstone in Dallas before and we spotted this one in San Francisco the quality was excellent the service was very timely and diligent. The artichoke spinach dip is must have for sure every trip ! My wife had the grilled chicken salad it was fresh and well presented! I had the Prime Prime Rib sandwich it was the melt in your mouth version. Our beverages were never empty ! The prices are a little high but the quality justfies it to me !

A few years back I raved about Hillstone's french dip sandwich. Went back a few weekends ago and am said to say that it was not that great. They are now serving the sandwich on house-baked french rolls (and not very good) and the service has become lethargic. When we arrived during prime lunch hour on a Saturday, I was expecting the usual long wait for a table. We were seated almost immediately, and I was surprised that the place was not packed on a beautiful afternoon in SF. I guess others have already figured out that this restaurant is no longer the bomb. Disappointed.

Great service, beautiful setting and exquisite food. I had the Tuna Ahi steak burger which was cooked to perfection and had a very generous amount of filling. Really enjoyed my visit here

Crazy in the cradle of inventiveness, tech and $s, why is Hillstone our favorite? Because they do everything just right. Everything. The wine selections and markusps are unparalleled for a ‘casual’ restaurant. The menu caters to virtually every taste. The servers look out for you and one another; rare in 95% of any restaurants we’ve visited. The kitchen is efficient and consistent - visit after visit. It’s cozy with just the right ambience, including ‘artichoke’ lights (timeless Scan classics) and hand-selected art. And the fireplaces for chilly evenings. Can’t wait to be back next visit

Comfortable booths, good food and live music makes for a lovely evening. The portions are huge and the Prime Rib is cooked perfectly and very special. Huge baked potatoes filled to the brim with bacon, cheese, sour cream and when they ask if you want the "Works" it really does come with the works! Not cheap and not really expensive but worth every penny. Good service and very comfortable ambiance, definitely would return.

What a bizarre experience! We walk into this dimly lit dark wood restaurant that has this warm fireplace feel to it. We are greeted by a host who walks us to a table and just drops the menu on the table and walks away. Ok not so warm and friendly. Now here comes our drink server, she has this snooty personality and is sadly unable to explain the beer selection. We asked simple questions in a nice friendly way. Instead of getting a sample since most of us who travel are not familiar with local craft beer, she just gives us attitude and walks away. And by the way does not come back! We had to wait for our main waiter to order drinks from the bar. The waiter was fine. Basically took our order and pretty much disappears until check time. We couldn’t even get our water refilled. Every other table had a bottle of water on it. The only helpful and courteous person we encountered was the manager walking around. He brought over a water bottle in seconds and replaced by cold fries in minutes. They need more people like him! That said, the food was Fantastic! Absolutely delicious!! I don’t know why the servers were so full of snooty attitude. Maybe we were just unlucky with who served us. But if not, If you can stand the Service the food is totally worth it!

Stopped for a late lunch while cruising the Embarcadero. Sat outside on a perfect afternoon. Nice wine selection, hubby enjoyed the French dip, I loved the ruby red salad with crispy salmon, grapefruit, hearts of palm and avocado. Service was attentive and friendly. Pricey, but nice.

Hillstone is a best-in-class American bistro with a combination of casual-elegance and outstanding food and service. Our dinner was superb from start to finish, beginning with the wine, live music and starters. Savory chicken, best cooked red cabbage every, and my son's ribs reminded us of some of the best we've ever had in Texas. Service was impeccable.

I was here with my step-son and his girlfriend for dinner, and we had a really really good meal. It was good enough that I came back again the next night for dinner. We had a shared a really good shrimp cocktail and spinach/artichoke dip. Both were very good. I had a french dip; they had a kale salad with roasted chicken and a burger. Everyone really enjoyed the food. Have to mention that the service was very good. Live music going, how can you beat that? I will be back in SF again in a few weeks, and Hillstone is definitely on the list of places to go.

I have been going to Houston’s / Hillstone for at least 28 years and this is the first time I can say that it was not good. We sat at the bar and the service was sub- par, which normally the service is stellar! The food was good but the lacking service made the night lack luster. Maybe sitting at a table instead would have been better.

To be met at the door by an rude cook didn't make us want to eat there, to be questioned about f we were customers or not is hardly welcoming , best advice avoid the place unless you enjoy being spokenn downb to by a egotistical cook , we didn't eat there but with down the road to the Fog City Diner and had a great meal and evening , the hospitality trade is just that be hospitable

Food was good, service was reasonably good. But one thing I didn't really enjoy... And for this reason I'm awarding too generous Stars. A woman walked up with her seven-year-old daughter and asked the bartender If the child could sit at the bar with her. The bartender very politely explained, no ma'am we don't allow anyone under 18 to sit at the bar. It's a reasonable rule. A few minutes later, dad arrived. Apparently he'd been parking the car. he asked his wife in a very sarcastic tone, what, you mean they won't let her sit at the bar this time? he said, they always let her sit at the bar. So then another bartender walked up and the father commented to him, so she can't sit at the bar? He said, of course she can. What are you talkin about? that's when the second bartender completely made the first bartender look like an idiot. It's also when a small child joined the 20 or so adults sitting around a bar. the first bartender, the one that politely informed them that the child could not sit at the bar, walked back and noticed the situation and smiled and didn't say anything. Just before I left, what I believe was the manager walked up to talk to the father. apparently he's a regular there, so she was having a casual friendly conversation. The first thing she said was, well aren't you a big girl sitting at the bar. She continued, semi jokingly, you're certainly young to be sitting at the bar. I love children. I took my nephew to high class restaurants all the time when he was 6 7 and 8. and I waited for a table more than once in a crowded restaurant when there were plenty of seats at the bar. I paid almost $58 for a French dip, salad, and an order of fries. The food was very good, but I've had exactly the same meal at Denny's for a third of the price. when you pay $58 for something that you could have gotten for $19.50, you do so because you're kind of paying for the ambiance also. Management, if you're interested... It was the tall thin bartender with the shaved blond hair that advised the family of the policy. It was the much shorter, darker complected bartender that contradicted the first.

We dined at Hillstone twice in a week while in SF for business. Carefully prepared and presented dishes. Phenomenal service. Our waitress Anahit was very courteous, attentive and was a pleasure to have her ten to our two tables.

We had a lovely evening with a business friend. Intimate yet lively. The bar is fabulous, many people opted to eat at the bar. The service was impeccable. Sexy restaurant. FOODIE PARADISE! The smoked salmon and spinach dip were a homerun, the wine list was great and perfectly curated for both the bottle buyer and glass buyer, ROMBAUER, YUM! We had the ribs and the ahi, everything was delicious. No bites were left. Thank you.

Not even a third full, and no waiter noticed me for 20 minutes, that’s a disgrace of service. Nothing to add.

Hillstone San Francisco is exactly why I’ll always ride for Hillstone as one of the most consistently excellent restaurant groups in the country. You walk in knowing you’re going to get a great meal, and this location delivered in a big way. The chicken sandwich and the french dip were out of this world, like “why am I not ordering this every week?” level. The spinach artichoke dip was ridiculously good, and the burger was perfect too, cooked right, super flavorful, just classic done the right way. Service was fantastic from start to finish, attentive without hovering and everything came out exactly how it should. If you want a guaranteed win in San Francisco, this is it.

Great food with great service. We enjoyed this dinner a lot eating all their famous dishes: artichoke, grilled chicken, and beef sandwich. Great hospitality.

Always enjoyed eating at Hillstone. Even if it is a bit on the expensive side I always returned back and if you were a wine drinker the bonus was no corkage if you bring in your own bottle. It has been a while since I had eaten there. The food is still very good as well as the service. I took my own wine as I had always done in the past and was a bit shocked that the corkage fee went from free now to $20. As I stated the food was always a bit expensive but the free corkage sort of made it ok. I always was swayed to coming here because of the free corkage. After this recent visit I now feel I will check out other places to dine around pier 39. Lots of other nice restaurants in the area. Guess the new corkage fee is the was the deal breaker for me. Still I rather doubt many other people will care since it is still a decent place to have a bite. Probably would have not been taken back as much if they were charging $10 for the corkage.

I dropped by Hillstone around 2:00 pm for a late lunch. They have some nice outdoor spaces, but I was told that meal service on the patios was not available and took a place at the bar instead. While I was at the restaurant, multiple other people showed up asking to eat outdoors and were denied. Some got a regular table, others left – just looks like Hillstone is losing an opportunity here. Either way, I ordered the fresh fish (a crusted sole) and it was very good. It came with coleslaw, of which I am generally not a fan. I asked the waitress for a substitution and she said it was not possible because “the coleslaw was an integral part of the dish.” When my fish arrived, the coleslaw was sitting in a lump on the side of the plate, so I don’t really see how it was integrated with the fish. Oh well. Still hungry, I eventually ordered a side of fries, which were fine. The bill arrived and I found that my fish and chips cost more than $50 with tax -- $10 for the side of fries alone. I knew the price of the fish going in, but I think the $10 for fries was ridiculous. I thought the food was well prepared, but I am knocking down to four stars because I did not think my meal was a good value.

Visited Hillstone before our Alcatour. We sat at the bar and our bartender Oliver was amazing! He made us delicious cocktails and was very personable. 3 of us shared the Spinach and Artichoke dip, which is larger then it looks. It is a bit on the spendy side but absolutely worth every penny!

Every time I come to SF I try to have dinner at least one night in this place. They have a short but sweet menu, I love the home smoked salmon, the artichoke dip, and the pork ribs are fall off the bone awesome!

We walked in without reservations after our Alcatraz tour across the street. We had to wait about 30min for a table which is fine. The staff were very attentive and the place atmosphere is very nice. The food was decent but not amazing. Also portions were on the small end especially for the prices. A lot better choices for dinner in San Francisco but location was very convenient for us.

We enjoyed a beautiful dinner on a Saturday evening. There was a three piece jazz band playing that gave the atmosphere a great feel. I eat out a lot and the level of service is over the top. I am not sure what type of training they put their employees through but the attention to detail is incredible. Top this off with food that melts in your mouth. We enjoyed the Dove sole and New York Strip specials. You cannot go wrong here.

Really used to love going here because the food was reliable and they didn't charge an exorbitant fee to bring in a favorite bottle of wine into the restaurant. Now this has changed and they are charging a large fee. The associated Rutherford Grill out in Rutherford has not started charging a fee so I suggest you go there if you need a Hillstone experience.

Hillstone is one of those places that has a great vibe, great staff and great food. Kudos to my server Monique and the team on the floor for excellent service. Food as always is very good, very well prepared. I had a chance to talk with David the floor manager and complimented him for the job his team does. Hillstone is another of those places I go back to and can count on for a great meal and experience. It’s a touch pricey, but worth it

This review is only for the bar. I didn’t eat here. My group decided to use Hillstone as a meeting place before heading out for a walking tour of some of San Fran’s sites. Good place to meet up if you are planning to climb the Greenwich stairs to Coit tower or Pier 39. We enjoyed the place but the bar had limited cocktails and beer selection...the could get more creative. The menu looked good but we didn’t eat...maybe next time. Nice place to relax a bit if in the area.

I enjoyed my time at the Hillstone. I had an appointment close so why not try a new place. The food was delicious. My clam chowder, definitely one of the best I have had in SF. The setting is upscale service.

Been here dozens of times, food is excellent, especially the dip and the ribs, Incredibly for such a well run place, drinks are amazingly and consistently terrible, step up your drink game please!!

Right across the entrance of the Alcatraz ferry. Before boarding you want to get something to eat. And this place is perfect. Super friendly staff, fantastic location, nice big open kitchen, food is excellent. But the food and drinks are not cheap… but I guess you pay for quality. Will go back if I’m there again.

very impressed by the look and feel of the place. It is across the road from the Alcatraz boats. Greeted well by member of staff when we first arrived and pointed in the right direction. We were well served through throughout. I chose a burger and my wife chose the french dip. Both were good. Put off when I first looked at menu which showed french fries or coleslaw priced at $10 each but ok when I realised they were costed within the price of the main dish. Pleasant lunchtime had. Happy to recommend

We've always in the past many years have enjoyed our dinners here while doing Christmas shopping in the city. The food has always been prepared well as well as our prime ribs (ordered rare) since you can always add more heat if needed, but ours were great as was my husbands other cut of steak. Only this time did we feel it was a bit rushed getting our food out, but once pointing that out, it was fine!

They have the best cheeseburgers 🍔 in San Francisco. Another thing they have great 👍 beer 🍺 too . Also the setting is nice too. Lastly, the people who work here are very nice.

The food was delicious and staff proper and friendly at the same time. Reasonable prices. Definitely highly recommended.

Similar to their other restaurants with nice professional staff and comprehensive menu. Only miss is sushi found at other locations; e.g Yountville. Dress code with no ball hats, team stuff. Large tasty portions promptly served. Large cocktail and wine selections. Expensive street parking. No outdoor seating. Why?

Good spot not that far from all the mediocre restaurant at Pier 39, this restaurant worth all the price and what about service, always someone to ask you if you need something, if you are getting out of the Alcatraz trip and you want to relax, go for it, my baby back ribs was WOW and my wife salad was delicious

My husband and myself went for dinner. We had ordered Grilled Artichoke and Wood grilled Sirloin as entree . It was awesome! We had a table overlooking the Embarcadero. Sunset was beautiful. Price is reasonable; service is good. Worth visiting!

We celebrated my dad's 70th Birthday at Hillstone and had a wonderful time. Our waiter was knowledgable and attentive as we enjoyed cocktails, appetizers, our prime rib, and dessert. This location is in the heart of the Embarcadero and provides views of the wharfs. Although it is a busy area, the restaurant does a good job of making you feel relaxed and at ease once inside. As we've come to expect with any Houston's/Hillstone restaurant, this is a truly enjoyable dining experience and the San Francisco location did not disappoint. I will definitely be back when I'm in town again!

I walked into this restaurant for the first time ever last night and immediately hallucinated that I was in Cabo. It has a very fire-pits-meets-upscale-seafood-joint vibe. The restaurant was larger than we expected and completely full on a Friday night. Side note: I would not recommend this restaurant to folks expecting to have a quiet conversation. It was loud and we had to talk pretty forcefully to hear each other over the house band playing covers of crappy pop tunes (like Pharrell's "Happy"). Needs to be said that I was the only member of our party bothered by the tunes. I'm a musician so I hear stuff like that, but I'm pretty sure everyone else thought it was classy to have a band in the house. The food was fine -- didn't knock me out. My partner got the salmon and said it was fine, nothing special. I got a 40-dollar prime rib and felt similarly. It was fine. The menu overall is basic. Burgers, a couple fish dishes, steak. My Manhattan was mediocre. The waitstaff is the real treasure at this place. Attentive, smiling, accommodating. I sent my steak back at one point to have it cooked a bit more because it was pretty rare. When they brought it back they apologized profusely when there was no apology needed. They brought doggie bags at the end of the meal and packaged everything right there at the table by hand for us -- we hadn't even had to ask. They just did it. I don't think I've ever seen that.

Certainly not the caliber that I've experienced for this restaurant in Dallas and Scottsdale. Server did not get meals correctly delivered. One meal was cold and the check was not split as requested. Asked server to notify manager, but after checking, manager was never made aware.

Really a great dinner, really good dishes. I tried ahi tuna tartare, kale as a side dish and classic fudge sundae as dessert. Price not low, but at classic San Francisco level

I understand not everyone is going to have the same experience, but I am super thankful ours was fantastic! I recommend you make reservations a couple days before you dine here considering how busy this restaurant ends up! You can bring your own bottle of wine with but it’s a $15 dollar corkage fee. The first night we split the chicken and veggies, second time I had the grilled chicken salad ($24 bucks) and my friend has the Hawaiian ribeye ($42 bucks) cooked to perfection! Robert was our server and he was fantastic! I cannot wait to dine here again!!!

The three times I've eaten here I've gotten the cheese burger, you think I would learn not too. Every time it's been cold and the last 2 times the sauce they use is not as good. Some complain about the price but hey it's San Francisco.

Hillstone is a bit on the expensive side - $20 burger, but the food is always good, waitstaff accommodating, and the booths very comfortable. They are famous, when available, for their grilled artichokes and good cocktails.

Excellent, delicious, adorable, perfect. I ordered Thai salad and the Hawaiian ones were beautiful. I highly recommend.

After visiting Alcatraz we dropped in to Hillstone, which is almost opposite the ferry terminal. We were well received and comfortably seated. We found the staff very pleasant and eager to please, the food arrived promptly and was well prepared and the price was right. Well worth a visit.

My husband and I made a reservation for a day late Valentines dinner. When we arrived we were seated quickly but I was disappointed at the noise level of this restaurant. Not a place to hold a conversation. The service was prompt but impersonal. I ordered the Salmon with greens and potatoes but the plate came minus the potatoes. I mentioned this to a server and I was quickly brought a plate with mashed potatoes but no one seemed to concerned, rather I was told "Don't worry we are not charging you extra for the potatoes" to which I replied "weren't they supposed to be included with the meal?" to which the server smiled and said "yes, they were" and hurried away. The food itself was good but I left feeling less than impressed. We are from out of town so a return visit won't be happening but if I lived in San Francisco I imagine there are my other locations where it might be a little less frenzied.

Hillstone (originally Houston's) is a time-tested San Francisco favorite. The Bar is fantastic accommodating well executed classic cocktails along with a distinguished wine list. The food is both upscale and casual at the same time. Thai Steak Noodle Salad...Excellent Biltmore Chicken Sandwich (ask for it)...Outstanding They would likely never get the credit for this, but when available, the Boston Clam Chowder is also a standout. Nice Bacon accent with hearty croutons and a chive dusting....totally hit the spot on cooler San Francisco evenings... The Shrimp Cocktail & Spinach And Artichoke Dip appetizers may sound basic but @ Hillstone they are standouts that will not disappoint -especially if you are interested in a lighter dinner at the bar with a nice glass of wine.

We are visiting SanFran and I asked friends where to take my husband on his birthday for steak, ribs and cocktails and they recommended this place. Our meal was excellent. They smoke their ribs for 48 hours before slow cooking. Everything was delicious. Service was excellent. We will go back next time we are in the area.

This restaurant is in a very nice location and has a nice appearance and terrace. We decided to go for fried oysters as a starter. Personally that wasn't my thing but my friend loved them. As a main course I had the Hawaii steak and my friend the pork ribs and both were tasty. Bigger and better! Our waitress was very nice! Probably the nicest of the entire trip. The only disadvantage is that you will be outside again within an hour with a starter, main course and dessert. But that's basically every restaurant in San Francisco

We spent a quick dinner after afternoon at Pier 39. Nice staff, atmosphere and location. Very good food quality, but too expensive.

We have been coming here for years. And there is one reason we return every time we are in SF. It’s the RIBS! They can be eaten with a fork as they actually fall off the bone when you pick them up. Can’t comment on any other entree because we’ve never tried anything else. If you order the artichokes (if in season) or the artichoke dips, the ribs and the apple crumble I promise you will have one of the best meals of your life.

After doing the Alcatraz tour this restaurant is perfectly situated across the road from Pier 33. Some what surprised to read the poor reviews. We found the staff excellent and understood and catered for our gluten free need perfectly. Nice ambiance great food. Would definitely recommend.

I've always wanted to try out this SF Hillstone... what a location... and finally made it here on a recent Saturday night. The place looks great, the crowd was interesting, I got seated on time by a friendly host, the server was nice. However, none of the basic food items (artichoke dip, french dip, I apparently like things with dip in their names) were nearly as good as you'd find at the Hillstone in Santa Monica, the Houston's in Pasadena or the South Beverly Grill. I had a lot of explaining to do to my dinner guests, who kept hearing about how great the food was at Hillstone and how consistent it was. It feels like this place is maybe a little past its prime? Or was I just here on a bad night? I found out after the fact that a lot of Hillstone locations are franchises, which may explain the lack of food quality control here. In any event, not sure I will be back. Still love a good Hillstone, though. The one in Santa Monica was great last night.

Grossly overpriced food by the Hillstone Restaurant Group chain serving unhealthy American comfort food. Service is fast because they want you out the door asap. Their specialty is Table Turnover to maximize profits.

Located opposite pier 33. Lots of wine to try by the glass & nice lighter lunch salads incl. Thai beef noodle & ahi tuna with mango. Bar staff super friendly & keen to take care of you at the bar. Outside tables had limited menu options. Not the cheapest lunch but good quality ingredients done well...

Be sure to try their Hawaiian Rye-Eye Steak. Every bite was just divine, juicy, and delicious. Cooked to perfection. Perfect balance of savoriness and sweetness. Their Key Lime pie was out of this world too! Our server Robert C, his service was excellent, attentive and timely. His recommendations were spot-on from entrees to desserts. Will definitely go back.

Walking near the piers in San Francisco I noticed Hillstone. I am glad I tried it for lunch. Service was outstanding, but the food was even better. I had the Thai Steak and Noodle Salad. The salad was amazing. I almost wanted to lick the plate. Walnut desert was great as well. I can't wait for another trip to San Francisco.

Highly recommend. Great value for couples, friends, family and business. Service is A grade. Food was good to great. The Prime Rib with French Dip was the one to get. See pic. The cheese burger was okay. Definitely definitely definitely get the ribs. Melt in your mouth. The meat falls off the bone. A little on the expensive side but you will enjoy and you only live once. Enjoy and appreciate a great experience.

I went on a Friday night and the wait time was long so I sat in the bar area, that turned out better anyway I think because I was by the window away from the crowd. The food was nice but pricey, the wait staff seemed like they were being bothered to have to wait on me. I guess I should have dressed better than I did, I wore Levi's and a short sleeve shirt, should have sported a suit.

Yummy yummy yummy! Ate here right after finishing an Alcatraz tour it was so yummy, we thought we won the lottery! Loved everything we ordered: cole slaw, fries, salmon, veggie burger, and the broccoli I was perfect!

Based on the reviews, we expected a lot. Atmosphere is very nice but it is loud which was fine. The concern for us was the limited menu and high prices for what you get. Our special artichoke was overcooked and crispy. Average entree for dinner was bit high and potions a bit lite. The service was pretty good but not great. I think the idea is to always make sure you do not need anything but with so many different waiters and staff there was no consistency. We were ovecharged for our wine, only a few dollars but regardless overcharged. The wines on the bill were not what we drank but our original waitress did not give us the check, a different wait staff gave us the check, another took my credit card and yet another processed the payment. Not worth struggling to point out the mistake but not sure how you make that mistake. I think there are better options in SF.

Great upscale vibe but not OTT. On the embarcadero but a local joint. I had the double cut pork chop at the bar. Cooked perfectly. Definitely will come back.

First, the food was delicious and would have given the place 4 stars if not for the service. Can’t blame the server as it seemed that all the staff worked to turn the tables as quickly as possible. We ordered the Clam Chowder which was delicious - the bacon added an outstanding flavor. We also order the Ahi Tuna main and I ordered the Thai steak noodle salad as my main. We assumed that the soup would come out first followed by the entree sized salad and the Tuna. No all three items came out together. If the tuna or noodle salad were hot, I would have sent them back. Instead we just set them aside and had the soup (they offered and brought a second bowl when they saw we were sharing) and tried to take time between soup and our main course but still was quicker than if we had the courses served separate. My husband ordered a second glass of wine and before he was finished his main course and still had about a 1/2 glass of wine left (I had finished my salad and the plate was cleared rather quickly after), the server asked if we were interested in seeing the dessert menu or anything else and when we said no, left the check on the table (she did tell us to take out time). We were not looking for a 2 hour dinner but an hour (drinks before placing our food order) would have been nice. We could easily have finished in 30 minutes.

We were looking for a friendly cozy family friendly place to celebrate our last day of vacay in Cali and we came across this place. We loved every single thing about it! The cozy corner booth overlooking Embarcadero street, the fire crackling (even in July!) and the live jazz music. The food was also very nice and they had the Rombauer Chardonnay which was from one of our favorite wineries of the trip. We definitely recommend!

Great food! Excellent location and the staff was amazing! Neil and manager Kelly were the best! Service was fast and food was fresh!

The lunch menu was varied, food was delicious as well as the drinks. Located across Pier 33 in San Francisco's Fishermen's Wharf.

We went on the Monday of Christmas week at 7pm. The restaurant was full and buzzing. We were seated in a booth and generally speaking tables and booths were placed so that you could enjoy the atmosphere while carrying on a private conversation.The food was excellent and varied . By English standards on the large side.We had a drink to start and wine by the glass with our meal. Service was slow getting a second glass of wine as the restaurant was so busy.

Dropped in here last night spontaneously. Got a table, without a reservation, within 20 mins. Service was fantastic, attentive, and knowledgeable. Food was delicious...recommend the steaks (Hawaiian and the special bone on Ribeye) Wine selection was excellent, particularly recommend the Rioja and zinfandel. Overall a strong recommendation for this great restaurant.

We are staying in a condo not far from this restaurant for the next few months ( we live overseas) and have now visited Hillstone many times for lunch and dinners We love the food, the service, and they make beautiful special vegetarian *vegetable* plates for people who ask for those (we do :). Great coffees, champagne, deserts. Sitting outside on a Sunday afternoon, right at the Embarcadero, on the sunny terrace, is a delight to do. Coffee and afternoon snacks are served there and ofcourse a glass of wine if you so wish:) We can recommend this restaurant wholeheartedly. It has also a bar and quite often live music.

Literally and figuratively. They have a great variation on the gun gimblet using lemon juice instead of lime. And honey syrup instead of simple sugar. It's outstanding. The artichoke, when in season was off the charts, blanched then roasted, with a special dipping sauce that was to die for. I ate at the bar, met great people and will come back.

Hillstone aka Houston’s still lives up to the hype! Consistent for all these years, this Houston,Tx based chain in still consistant. Their training manual should be studied by all restauranteurs. Timing was a bit off Saturday night, but just slightly off. We started with their signature artichoke/spinach dip which is still very good. Wifey had their crab cakes with broccolini and fries. No filler in those crab cakes. Just egg as a binder. Superb. I had the eponymous ribs with slaw and fries. Still plentiful and tasty. I had to bring a half slab home! Finished our meal with the hit fudge sundae. High quality hot fudge, super cold vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream and candied pecans. Glad we shared. Live music thrown in. A perfect birthday evening!

Solid good food. Generous portions. Well made cocktails and nice wine list. I had my "go to" spareribs that fall off the bone with French fries and coleslaw. Enough to take home for next days left overs. Good service, great location except the parking is a challenge. I used the local lot ($20) and had to park on the 4th floor with no elevator. Best to take a cab or Uber. Would definitely recommend.

We stopped in for lunch after our Alcatraz tour and were very pleasantly surprised by the high quality food and service. Nice looking restaurant with delicious food and service was prompt and courteous. We had the beef dip, Thai noodle salad and Crispy chicken sandwich. All were delicious. It’s pricey for a lunch but well worth it.

Had dinner here last week and I knew exactly what I wanted...the French Dip. I have had this many of times when I come here and it has been consistently delicious and good. The fries that come with it is also outstanding as it is more on the skinny side and always very crunchy. The meat is always tender and dipping it into the au jus just completes it! I highly recommend the french dip the next time you try it out.

Even if you have a reservation they make you waiting 20-30 min while tables are empty. The restaurant is loud and noisy and therefore it is hard to have a decent conversation. Staff is on the arrogant side. “oh we do not have sparkling water only Perrier” …normal people would say it is sparkling water. Nicer places to go to!

Wife and I arrived just after 12. We walked in with several open tables and thought we would be seated immediately but was told the wait time was about 45 minutes. When we were finally seated (plenty of open tables still). The waitress came by and took our drink order. After getting our drinks she took our order for appetizers. We got our appetizers (chicken meatballs) and finished them. Ten minutes after finishing the appetizers she finally took our lunch order. I ordered the Thai noodles with chicken salad and my wife ordered a cheeseburger well done. It took about twenty minutes for our meals - probably a little longer than expected but not too extreme. My Thai noodle and chicken salad was a lot smaller than expected (considering it was $24). They used dark meat, which is fine for me but many people don’t like dark meat. The flavors were good but was not an authentic “Thai” taste (no mint flavor, cilantro or even lemongrass)- this is always annoying to me when they say it’s Thai. It should be a chicken with noodle salad with thai flavors. Regardless it did taste good just not enough. My wife’s burger was very disappointing. The burger was not hot, more in the cold side, and was not well done - cooked more to a medium. Lots of lettuce and mayonnaise which made it very overloaded and messy - when you bit into it, it slid everywhere. After our entrees we ordered an ice cream sundae to share. While waiting, the waitress finally brought some water for us - it should of been before we even ordered our appetizers. The sundae was ordinary but still good. Overall the food was okay and service was slow and mediocre. The inside of the establishment was really nice and they have an open kitchen. I wish the food and service matched to the inside view and decor…

Great location, impeccable service and tasty food. We ordered the burger, the tasty thai noodle salad. and a delicious mango lemonade.

Busy, sophisticated place for a special night out in San Fransisco. Family, Friends or a Date will enjoy this place. The menu is not extensive but it doesn't have to be because every thing is great. Enjoy specialty cocktails or a fine bottle of wine. We had a great waiter who was a nice balance of fun and friendly with professional service. Finally there is a jazz quartet that is playing and they add the perfect background music to a perfect night. Enjoy it.

We live in SF and have not eater here (or when it was Houston's) in many, many years. However it has become a favorite for lunch when looking for something relaxing when spending the day on this side of town. There's something here for everyone--great entree salads (Macho), burgers, chicken sandos, fantastic cocktails as well. It has an Orange County, CA vibe. The could use a few more tables that sit more than 4 or 5. But other than that we've always had great servers and delicious meals.

Ok just going to say the place was nice .the prices fair. .so had to move our 2 bar seats together. For my wife .when rude black hair bartender started her very rude about us ask for regular beer we had to go outside. Look was judge ...what a shame ...🤑🤑👎🦀🦀 E BUTTS

Great location, walked right over after our Alcatraz tour. Friendly service! You can tell the food is fresh & made with care (especially the homemade fries, similar to In N Outs) but it is quite expensive for lunch, although most good restaurants in SF are. If you got money to spend than this is the place to have lunch!

By chance we found this lovely place to eat after we returned from the Alcatraz tour. Really handy as it is just across the road from the wharf. We ate a late lunch and it was super. Lovely food, good atmosphere and really friendly staff.

I took a cheeseburger which was well served and very good. Unfortunately I have been left unimpressed by the fries, a bit dry for me. Otherwise nice place!

Hillstone is a good all around restaurant. The food is quite tasty with some fun and different menu items. There is a fun bar that seems to attract a good crowd and the ambiance is modern / sophisticated. It is also well located near Fisherman's Wharf if you are spending time downtown.

We had previously dined at Hillstone on an earlier trip, and were really happy 5 years on to find it again. American food is the standard fare here - think burgers, ribs, big tasty salads and seafood. An upscale steakhouse of sorts. The servings are large and the food is great. We were sat in a comfy booth but anywhere would be nice. Our waiter was excellent - attentive and helpful without crowding us. Would recommend this to anyone looking for lunch in the Fisherman’s Wharf area.

This was a welcome distance from the pier! A little more light would be great but good ambience. The food was great. The artichoke and spinach dip was refreshing! As was the chicken sandwich! Portions are awesome! Great for sharing. Good choice of drinks! Loved the cocktail called Crush! Nice place to spend dinner time!

Upon our arrival to San Francisco, looked for a quaint place to have lunch with our family. Used Trip Advisor and found Hillstone. Wow!! Started with the in season grilled artichokes, followed by focaccia bread with olives. Outstanding. Main entrees were caesar salad with grilled chicken and seared ahi salad. Everything was superb. Will defiantly come back. Service was impeccable.

Booked a table for 2 for 9.15 as we disembarked the Alcatraz evening your at 8.50pm and as the restaurant is situated directly opposite the pier this was an ideal spot for dinner. Hillstone has a trendy cocktail bar was friendly attentive staff. The menu is varied and interesting and both of us agreed this is a great spot. Chilli Soup Starter and a Cheese burger to follow. Professionally presented, served and accompanied by live jazz. Reasonably priced.

The restaurant was full, but we were offered to wait for our table by the bar where we had some drinks and starters. There was a jazz band and the food great as ever. It’s not cheap but worth it. Thumbs up !

Want to hear a great jazz trio? Jeffrey Chin Trio plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at Hillstone on the Embarcadero across from Alcatraz Landing (no cover charge). Start with a Kale Salad or their Home Smoked Salmon or Oaked Grilled Articokes (when in season). Follow with a burger or prime rib or center-cut fillet (tenderloin) or barbecued spare ribs or my favorite double cut pork chops. Don't fire up the barbecue; instead go to Hillstone for great jazz and a delicious barbecued meal.

Sunday, July 16, 2023 5:00-6:30pm Our worst experience at SF Hillstone ever, covering over two decades. Service was slow, food was cooked incorrectly, even after two tries. To top it off, the general manager, Tavia B., was extremely rude and unprofessional. We are done with Hillstone, after 20+ years (Houstons then Hillstone). We visit at least twice a month, driving 30 minutes each way, spending over $500 each time, dependent on how many are in our group...family, friends, business associates. Our bill has surpassed $2,000 on many occasions. We even had our wedding reception there. (Sad, I know.) We have spent well over $50,000 in the past decade alone at SF Hillstone. We will not even consider returning as long as the current GM of SF Hillstone, Tavia, is there. The restaurant was unorganized and staff was untrained. These have been ongoing issues for many months, very sub-par especially for the outrageous prices. They are embarrassments to themselves. We were very kind and patient even though our server was clearly not trained properly. He was very nice and we gave him all the slack he needed and we were very appreciative of his efforts. We knew it wasn't his fault that he was untrained and the amount of staff was insufficient for the quality of service expected at Hillstone. We managed to overlook the lack of food and service quality, chalking it up to being a Sunday. We enjoyed our evening with our elderly mother nonetheless. However, after dinner things got worse and very disturbing. The general manager, Tavia, approached us and rudely accused us of being in their private area. On our way out we stopped at a public area that has two chairs and a window overlooking the Embarcadero. This area is directly connected to the dining room and we have been told in the past, by servers, that this area is for guests to enjoy, with a drink, just relax, wait for a table or whatever. We stood in this public area less than a minute reminiscing how there used to be a live band. Upon exiting the area, the general manager, Tavia, abruptly approached us and rudely told us we shouldn't be in their private area. What? We were NOT in a private area. When I asked her to please explain what she meant by "private area" she threw her hand up and said "no, I'm not going to do that, leave" and walked away. I followed her asking her again to explain and she then called me "crazy" for being upset and that since I was upset I must be obviously guilty. No, I'm upset because you have accused us of something we did not do. We did not go into any private area...all is clearly open to the public. Tavia is not a good fit for Hillstone or any public interaction in my opinion. We have never come across anyone at Hillstone who has ever been rude. Not even close. Everyone is always overally pleasant. She is a horrible employee. How Tavia became a GM is absolutely mind-boggling. Good help is hard to find, I know. I imagine her employees must be suffering under her as well, if customers dislike her. Tavia's staff can thank her for my boycott and the money they will not earn because she is incapable of professionalism and making their customers feel welcomed, not scolded and demeaned with false accusations. She had a big giant smile as she falsely accused us. Disgusting. She didn't even want to entertain the notion that this was a misunderstanding of some sort. She told me she was "doing her job". Someone in corporarate needs to explain things to her. All of the above doesn't even consider the fact that SF Hillstone no longer offers live band music in the evenings (since 2020). They destroyed that entire area of the restaurant, building a big box where tables and the band resided. They use that for storage, we were told years ago. So, it is now a smaller, more crowded venue with no music and a horrible GM, Tavia. Time for us to try some of the many other options we are so fortunate to have in the Bay Area. The manner in which we were treated and spoken to at SF Hillstone by current GM, Tavia, is inexcusable and unforgivable.

After reading many positive reviews we decided to stop after an evening Alcatraz tour. The restaurant was mostly empty (25% or less of tables were occupied) and we were seated immediately. A server came by before we even opened the menu and we asked for a few additional minutes. He stopped by a few minutes later and took our order. After an average amount of time my husbands order was brought out by a different server. We waited almost 5 minutes before my meal was brought out - almost cold by yet another staff member. The food was tasty enough and since we tired and jet lagged we just ate it, paid and left. I don’t think we would go there again next time in San Francisco.

Went to Hillstone for dinner. It was delicious! They have a nice beer menu with some great choices. The burger was huge and cooked to perfection. I had the coleslaw which was equally delicious and a good alternative to fries. The ambiance was nice, but a little loud. I would recommend coming here.

We rang to book for 8 people and then followed up to confirm the next day and were told that they were two separate tables of 4 . We then asked if they could push the tables together as we didn't want to sit separately . We were told that they didn't except reservations for 8 and the tables were bolted to the floor. They had not mentioned this when we rang originally. The gentleman was very rude and we had let all the guests know, so it was a real inconvenience. It was such a shame as we had enjoyed a lovely meal earlier in the week. Quite upsetting

We booked our table for 7pm on a Saturday evening, turned up on time to a very busy restaurant and eventually got seated at the table 30 mins late. The manager did comp us a drink each, the waiter service was swift and the food we ordered arrived quickly too. The food was tasty, we had the pan-Asian salad and the pork tenderloin, and then a key lime pie. Overall, an enjoyable visit, but be prepared that you may have to wait a bit to get your table.

We thought this would just be a tourist trap and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the service and the food, great job!

We had visited Alcatraz, and were walking around sight seeing. We crossed over the road and were walking back to the car, just looking for somewhere for a cuppa. I saw tables and people dining through windows and went to go in. I am so glad we did. I had a feeling that it was going to be a good experience as there were no reservations available, but luckily we were the only walk-ins. We had a good cup of tea, and were taken to our seats, after about a 30 minute wait, and again it was so worth it!! Oh wow!!! the starters were there within minutes of ordering, the drinks superb, the staff amazing and the whole experience of Hillstones was amazing. The mains just blew us away, but it was the Key Lime Pie that nailedit! I have never tasted something so delicious.Hillstones needs a Michelin Star!! Just superb!!

I was in town on business and by myself. They were very welcoming and have a great bar. I had dinner in the dining area which has a great ambiance. My waitress recommended the artichoke as an appetizer and it was fabulous. I recommend it highly if it is in season on your visit. For dinner my I had my prime rib medium rare with an awesome with a grilled smoke flavor. If you are in town and don't want fish dinner every night this is the place to go.

The food was good, but nothing special. We were shown a table of dirty cloth and asked to have it changed so as not to get dirty on the shirt. A waitress presented herself as "ours" but during dinner, surely 3-4 different waiters passed by our table and it was difficult to get any feedback on what we ordered. Several waitresses took the same order, but it took a long time before someone came up with what was ordered. The food was so so. Will not go back next time we are in SF.

We were looking for a restaurant in the Fisherman's Wharf area and the reviews for this establishment were good. It did not disappointment! Great location to start with. But it is what was on the inside that was exceptional. Despite being late for our reservation time, we were greeted quickly and warmly. The restaurant was clean and had a supper club feel with live string quartet music. However the serving staff was amazing, glasses of water never went below half and bread was plentiful. Despite being very busy, server came by table frequently "just to check on us". Multiple servers delivered our service courses very quickly The food was excellent. If in Fisherman's Wharf area, this will be a great choice.

Top shelf service and amazing food and ambiance. Spur of the moment find after visiting Alcatraz. I will definitely be back again.

They have a great menu and the service is also good. The food is pretty generic but good generic. The only reason I marked it down by a point is the lack of creativity when it comes to making something different than say, Outback.

Well, we were told about this place from the concierge at our hotel. Walked down bay street and it was a block up on the waterfront basically. Walked in and was seated straight away. Was semi busy for a Sunday night. Waiter was attentive, drinks were as described and flowing. Food was good, I had the prime rib, wife had a Filet and the daughter had the salmon. All cooked as described. Had the artichokes as a starter as well. Tasty! To be honest, we had a few entree's and a main each so couldn't fit dessert in. Was priced the same as what we get in Australia, but the service is just better in the States. Beer was cold and I would return.

The food was super nice! And it was easy to reach out after a tour to Alcatraz (just in front of Pier 33). The only thing is that It was a rainy day and my kids were super wet and the supervisor/hostess was super rude and lacked of empathy with that.

We had dinner at Hillstone's during our stay in San Francisco and were really pleased. The place is elegant but without being pretentious, with soft lighting and impeccable service. The menu offers classic American dishes revisited with great care, all good. Friendly and attentive staff, we would stay again

I just love this restaurant, located right on the By with fabulous decor, a great bar, fireplace, music, and wonderful menu. I go here every time I am in San Francisco especially for their Grilled Artichoke. This time I had my favorite and their absolutely wonderful Sole special. The fish was fresh delicious, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. The wait staff is top drawer. I love this restaurant. Took home an additional Grilled Artichoke for my daughter. it was still fabulous the next day. Wonderful experience. Never disappoints.

We took our daughter to Hillstone for her birthday dinner, and had a great time. The ambiance is lively and fun, with mainly booths, soft lighting, an open kitchen and a trio playing live music, but not too loud to overwhelm conversation. Our server recommended a started of grilled Brussel sprouts with aioli, and they were excellent, I selected fish, my husband had pork ribs and our daughter had the prime rib and baked potato and couldn’t even finish half of it, so she was looking forward to some yummy leftovers. We shared a couple of ooey, gooey buttery rich desserts.

The welcoming was very nice , the staff are kind of friendly though some of them do not even make eye contact which is ok . I ordered the Hawaiian and the steak came exactly as ordered , juicy , and big enough . A good restaurant if you are craving for steaks .

This restaurant doesnt even deserve 1 Star. Today I got harrased at this restaurant! I was having lunch with my 2 year old, where he had some moments, and i was trying to distract him with videos.The manager came to our table, with a big smile, and asked me to take my son outside, while eating ?? How dare you ask me to leaveI?? This was the rudest thing i have seen!! Beware this restaurant is not kids friendly !!! İf your kid is having a moment, they will ask you to leave !!!

Enjoyed a sunlit lunch on the terrace, prior to a tour of Alcatraz. The seafood was really nice, as was the spinach dip and coleslaw. Service was attentive without being overbearing, which is sometimes a difficult balance in the States.

Group of 8 adults. Spinach dip very nice. Rare steak come out well done snd sent back. Meant 2 of us waiting and by the time it arrived everyone else was nearly finished. Was tasty but not a nice experience. In fairness we didn’t get charged for the 2 mains.

After an evening on Alcatraz, we were looking forward to some good food. Hillstone did not disappoint. The menu was varied, the crab cakes certainly recommended. The service was great. Our waitress was prompt, happy and very helpful. Very ambient atmosphere.