The Hilltop Banquet Hall — Restaurant in San Bernardino

The only positive thing this restaurant has going for it is the view. My family and I had not dined at here in many years, and based on their web site's description of the restaurant, great ambiance and menu, we decided to try it once again. We made dinner reservations for 7:15, for a party of four. We were promptly seated and given menus. We noticed that the dining room was fairly empty with the exception of two other tables with only two people at each. We figured it being a Thursday night, after the dinner rush hour, we wouldn't have much of a wait for our meals. Our waiter didn't come around to offer water or take an order for drinks until 15 minutes after we sat down. Our water was served about 10 minutes later, and our drinks 15 minutes after that. The waiter said he would be back to take our dinner orders, but didn't return for another 20 minutes. Our meals weren't served until about 9:00, and were a total disappointment all the way around. My prime rib, ordered medium was well-done, my husband's prime rib, ordered medium-rare, was more than well-done... Pretty dry. He is not one to complain at restaurants or send anything back, but he couldn't bring himself to attempt to eat something that resembled cardboard. We waived the waiter down and showed him the dry cut of beef. He made no appologies, just grabbed the plate and took it to the kitchen. He returned within a couple of minutes, this time with a smaller cut of prime rib, which looked like an end piece, still over done. Too frustrated and hungry to send it back a second time, my husband kept the serving. His baked potato looked and tasted like it had been prepared the day prior, dry, hard, overly microwaved, but was cold and the butter on it didn't even melt. The broccoli on everyone's plate was also cold and under done, raw. The shrimp in the Shrimp Diablo ordered by another guest in our party was cold, and dried out... tasted like it had freezer burn and had just recently been defrosted and tossed into the pasta. The fettuccini was over cooked, and about the only thing that made that dish palatable was the Parmesan and fresh basil... No effort, flavor or creativity was put into it.

We brought up our dissatisfaction to the waiter, and he didn't even apologize.... merely blamed the entire thing on the chef and kitchen staff! He said it wasn't his fault. We expressed to him that aside from the poor quality of the food, we had slow and poor table service. We stressed to him that as the waiter, he was overall responsible for both. He again said it wasn't his fault, and that the management could offer us a glass of wine or complimentary dessert to make up for it. REALLY?? We weren't wanting any comps, an attempt on his part to make things right by asking the kitchen to prepare new, fresh meals, or even just an apology would have been nice. We spent over $250.00 for substandard meals and a poor, disappointing dining experience....and for him to not even acknowledge that mistakes were made?

We expected a whole lot more from a restaurant that advertises "award-winning cuisine that is prepared fresh daily". The waiter's lack of caring to make things right was insulting, no matter the cost of the dinner. Whatever happened to customer service or customer satisfaction? I truly don't know how they're open for business. This restaurant has potential to be an excellent place for dining and successful restaurant... It already has a great location, but unless the management and owners wake up and hire skilled, competent, and customer-oriented employees, it will fail. We will never...

Made a reservation a month out and explicitly requested a table by the window. I called two weeks and a week prior to my arrival to ensure that we had a table by the window. However, when we got there, the hostess (rude and uppity Mexican girl with glasses) told us there weren't any available. No big deal. We were then seated in a booth on the other side of restaurant FAR from the window. Fine. Looking around, we saw THREE empty tables by the window. They were empty for 90 mins and 2 were still available by the time we paid and left. During our dinner, the Mexican hostess seated two walk-ins (dressed like they just got done doing construction work) at the window table. I know they were walk ins because I walked by the hostess (en route to the bathroom) and the couple stated that they didn't have a reservation. That really pissed me off.

Secondly, the attitude of our waiter was abominable. I believe his name was Edgar. During our entire meal he was extremely inhospitable. I don't know why he would outright lie about clam chowder being the ONLY soup available for the Prix Fixe when the people behind us were able to order and receive French Onion soup. Further, he came by twice during our meal -- once immediately after WATCHING us putting food in our mouths, he bum rushed us and asked if everything was ok. I didn't even have a chance to swallow and ask him why they would put gravy on top of the Filet and NOT the mashed potatoes. Second time he came around was to deliver our checks at which time I reminded him that our daughter's meal comes with an ice cream. He responded by rolling his eyes and telling me that he didn't think she would want the ice cream as it was freezing cold outside. Yeah OUTSIDE Edgar but we were seated directly next to the busy kitchen and the heat from it drafted into our booth. He was by far the worst waiter I've ever encountered. Lastly I'm not sure if he was instructed to call us "friends" but that got annoying real quick. His attitude did not make us feel like "friends" -- made us feel like three guests he wanted to collect the tip from.

Food also isn't up to par. If you want better steaks, go to Mortons or Flemings. Not this pathetic excuse of one. As I've mentioned before they put the gravy on top of the filet and leave the terribly-mashed potatoes bare naked. Btw there were still large chunks of potatoes in the MASHED potatoes. the best thing at this place is the kid's menu. For a measly $8 you get a monster of a meal. Chicken strips. So yes if you want to order a chicken strips or cheeseburger kid's meal (something the chef and sous chefs at this place can't screw up), then I recommend this place. Otherwise stay away. If you're looking for a view while dining, go to the other restaurant that's situated on a cliff (I believe it's in Pomona). Lastly, good luck getting up the hill to the parking lot...

Very Disappointing! It's a run down top of the hill restaurant with like 4 employees running the show. My husband and I came to celebrate our 15th Anniversary here on a Wednesday evening and had a very bad experience....

We were promised a view window table and it didn't happen. When we got there it was not busy at all just 5 parties there at the time all against the glass window we requested for view of coarse.  Manager/host said it would be 15 minutes, so suggested the table w/ view window in the bar temporarily until guest had left. Guest left in estimated time, but no one rushed to clean table until an additional 20 minutes later, by then our food came out. And Manager had the nerve to ask while we were eating our main coarse meal if we wanted to move (a little too late). Our waiter was rude, unfriendly, and serious. Who was not concerned about us, but he was more concerned about mixing and trying drinks in the bar with other employees including the manager. In addition, we had to ask him ourselves for a refill on our beverages. My $48 Filet Mignon dish came out like a $18 sirloin steak not flavorful at all.  My husband's filet with lobster was much better and my hubby was kind enough to trade my steak with his. To also include, my mashed potatoes tasted like watered down box potatoes. No one cared to ask what occasion we were there celebrating at our arrival until we were ready to leave. (Probably a better idea to ask in advance so you know how to serve your guest) We wanted to share our concerns with the manager before we departed which was the host as well and she deeply apologized and offered to reimburse us to make up for it. Our check was $120 just for 2 and she reimbursed us 11% Wow! Not as apologetic as expressed. It basically paid for the umbrella we left there that never got returned to us when we went back the following day. So Sad! To have our 15 year Anniversary Dinner memory such as that. We unfortunately, will not be returning which is disappointing to us because we love the view and is a fairly local romantic spot. This up class/upscale restaurant has the potential to step it up, but poor management will prevent it from becoming possible. Not worth at all the extra money! Victoria Garden's Fleming's is much better or Duane's Prime Steaks & Seafood in Riverside is more upclass and worth the...