Hillstone — Restaurant in Houston

Now that I have been allowed some time to process the situation, I am finally able to speak on it without becoming emotional. On Monday April 3rd, I visited the Houston's Restaurant at 1755 St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans, LA, where I was treated like less than a human being. I went with the anticipation of winding down with a nice steak after successfully teaching a business class at one of the world’s largest beauty shows (which is the reason why I was in town visiting the city). Before I go into the details of the despicable and degrading service I received, I’d first like to recap my previous visit at this restaurant two days prior, when a friend and I went for dinner. It was up the street from our hotel and we decided to walk since it was close by.

Upon arrival, we were told by the hostess that unless we had a reservation, the only seating that was available was at the bar. We went to the bar, where the bartender (a very nice young lady), informed us that there was a waitlist to be seated. But, she said that the wait wasn’t long because there were only 2 other names ahead of us.

I put our name on the list, and my friend and I stood along the wall looking over the menu while enjoying each other’s company and conversation. After quite some time had passed, I noticed a single African American woman dressed in business attire, standing beside us looking towards the bar with a serious look on her face. Wondering why it was taking so long, I asked if she was a member of management, as she gave me the “Girl, you tried it” look.

I apologized for my assumption, as she explained how she felt as if she had been skipped. I expressed that we were feeling the same way. The female bartender, who had originally put our name on the list, was busy with guests, so I ushered for the attention of the male bartender and asked where we were on the list. He said that we had 2 people ahead of us. That was impossible because we were told there were 2 people ahead of us nearly an hour ago and we had watched at least 6 parties be seated at his end of the bar since then.

I brought this to the attention of the female bartender, she spoke something to the male and came back to assure us that we would be seated after the next party was sat. None of what was happening made sense. It was at that moment that I realized something that would be very pivotal to my future visit in a few days. At the end of the bar, where the male bartender worked, there were only Caucasian guests seated, including several of them that had been seated in lieu of us.

At the female’s end of the bar, her guests were primarily black, except for one Caucasian couple seated in the center. It appeared as if the male bartender was avoiding seating people of color at his end. Once sat, she apologized for the wait, and offered us a complimentary appetizer for the inconvenience. She was very pleasant and the food was great. I ordered a meal to-go for a homeless lady we passed on the way there, we left and I didn’t think much more about the situation UNTIL my next visit 2 days later.

Back to my visit on April 3rd. My friend had left town the day before, so I was dining alone. I ordered the same steak, with a side salad and a baked potato. My server was very polite and my salad was great. Once my steak arrived, I noticed that it was under-cooked and bloody. Before sending it back, I cut it in a few spots to ensure it wasn’t just the center that was undercooked, but the entire steak. As a former veteran server, I know that sometimes this happens with thicker pieces of meat.

I called the server over and explained that it was undercooked and bloody. I asked if they could cook it a tad bit longer. She politely assured me that it wouldn’t be a problem. She grabbed an empty plate and asked me to transfer my steak there.

While transferring the steak to the plate, a nice size piece (about 30%-40%) fell onto the table. I asked her not to put that piece back on my plate since it had fallen on the table. She was unsure about what to do, but said that she would...

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

I’m going to start off by saying: Schauna, I am so disappointed in you.

I’ve worked for this company for 2 months. And I absolutely loved coming to work. Unfortunately , I was terminated today because of a review that was from 2 weeks ago..

“They only hire attractive women” is a light hearted joke I have been told many times by guests. One would think that’s a compliment, right? Yeah.. Sure.

The reason I am making this review is because I know that I was not terminated for a 2 week old review for a “Seared Tuna Salad” at table 6. If so, why am I just now being terminated?

I am so good at my job, that I remember Exactly who the two women were. They split the check. One was in town from North Carolina. And the other one is the lady who ordered her Seared salad. If there was someone in the expo Window when I “bypassed the manager on duty”— why wouldn’t they stop me and ask me if I needed anything?? So like I said to Schauna and Ashley— there was no one around. Claire , Hannah and Lindsey sometimes work hot and cold by themselves. It is IMPOSSIBLE to be on both sides simultaneously. You’re only one person. Right ?? So at the time that I needed my salad dressing the “cold” expo window was unattended to. I was unaware that getting salad dressing was considered a recook. A simple mistake right? Possibly a write up? But no. I am just now being terminated 2 weeks after?

They hire young white/ hispanic assistant managers who talk to the servers/ staff like they are children. I will not be disrespected. It has been brought to their attention many times before , yet they do nothing about it. And as a black woman, when I speak up for myself— I appear to be “unreasonable” or I’m told I should just “let it go”, .. Who wants to work for a company that supports bullying? Because that is exactly what it is.

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, one of the “expo staff members”, Lindsey, decided she was going to speak to me rudely and get Loud with me. Despite my professional tone with her, she continued to be condescending. I put my hand up and walked away. That was 5 days ago.. THAT is what I believe got me terminated, not a salad review from 2 weeks ago. I really believed Hillstone cared for their employees, but it is very clear that they only care if you’re compliant and willing to be talked down to. Just to “get the job done”. No thank you.

This was my FIRST and final warning and was terminated on spot.. nevermind the review expressing how great of a server I was or how awesome I was as a person.. Hillstones General manager, Schauna decided that parting ways with me was the best decision. I’ve never been written up. I’m always on time , and I actually enjoy working. But I guess I’m just a black lady, in a white mans house and I am not allowed to defend myself when people disrespect me. There’s been MULTIPLE servers who are not black— that have been late, multiple times, that have messed up orders, that have actually spilled wine on guests or just made simple mistakes like I have.. the only difference is, they don’t look like me.. and guess what.. They are still employed.

So Hillstone will not convince me that I was terminated over one seared salad review. Absolutely not. They wanted me gone. And they found a reason. A lousy one , but a reason nonetheless.

I’ll still recommend eating here, but if you’re a black person or “too vocal”— don’t even think about applying to work for this company. I’ve seen this far too many times in this world and it’s so unfortunate. I trust that This is Gods doing, so with that being said— I will move forward and Do what I need to do for the wrongful...