Hillstone Restaurant — Restaurant in Winter Park

We received a gift card to Hillstone Restaurant for Christmas last year and finally made a reservation to use it. We arrived about 12:30 for our 12:45 reservation. We were greeted warmly at the entrance and told we would be seated in just a few minutes. Shortly we were escorted to our booth. I wish we could have been at a smaller table by the window. The booth tables are large and I sat across from my husband and felt like I was far away from him and had to talk louder to carry on a conversation. When we arrived at the booth we couldn't sit right away because the seats had been wiped down, which is great, but they were still wet. The hostess quickly dried off the benches and apologized for the inconvenience. It really wasn't a problem. It was nice to know it had been cleaned.

She took our drink order and left us to look at the menu. We quickly decided to order 2 appetizers, the jumbo shrimp cocktail and the jalapeno queso with tortilla chips. We had read good reviews for these appetizers and they were correct. The shrimp was fresh, nicely chilled and firm with great flavor. The cocktail sauce was perfect. The jalapeno queso was just spicy enough to let you feel the heat in your throat yet also taste the flavors of the ingredients. We managed to eat all of the shrimp and the dip appetizers. We have already looked for knockoff recipes for the chilled queso dip because we just have to recreate this one at home!

We ordered our main courses, my husband getting the French Dip with the Emerald Kale salad and I ordered the Hawaiian Ribeye with french fries. I was a little disappointed that it didn't come with a baked potato which is why I didn't give 5 stars, but the fries were truly delicious especially with the dipping sauce provided. I really think the steak deserved a loaded baked potato as it's companion rather than a pile of french fries.

When ordering my ribeye I asked what a rare steak would look like there and I was told it would be very red, so I asked for medium rare. When my ribeye was served, as soon as I touched it with my fork I realized it was quite rare and sliced into it confirming it was pretty bloody for my taste. I let our Server know and she quickly returned it to the kitchen to bring it up to medium rare. It came back more what I would call medium, but it really was delicious, so I'm okay with how it was cooked. The seasoning on the steak was full of flavor and the outside had a little bit of charring giving a crispness to it complimenting the juicy center. There was absolutely no gristle, but the fat marbling throughout melted in the mouth adding to the satisfying beef flavor. I was only able to eat half of my meal after demolishing the appetizers. My husband was very happy with the French Dip and his salad. I did taste his Emerald Kale salad and it was fresh, cold and had great flavor. The sweetness of the peanut vinaigrette dressing complimented the slight bitterness of the kale which was finely chopped and easy to eat. A small heat probably from red pepper flakes was detected, but just enough to intensify the flavor of the salad and not cause discomfort from spiciness. In the end, we took home half of each of our meals. We spent just under $170 including a generous tip for the attentive, friendly service we received from several members of the staff.

We did not see desserts on the menu which was surprising, but understandable when you are trying to get customers in and out and not lingering at precious tables over coffee and dessert. We couldn't have eaten a dessert anyway.

We look forward to returning for...

While the food and location are both okay quality, the experience is unacceptable from an establishment with explicit decorum expectations and close to fine-dining pricing. The more I retroactively consider it, the more I realize this is one of the worst restaurants I've ever visited - if not the worst. 0/5 rating. Long review, tl;dr - go to Kres Chophouse.

My fiancé and I visited for our 2nd anniversary. Throughout the entire dining experience, about 1.5 hours, the table directly adjacent to ours was screaming at each other, biligerently drunk.

One of the patrons at that table was causing the entire section to have to speak much louder to even hear.

I know his entire story, he was droning on about 20 keg frat parties that sounded like a life highlight and other drunken exploits. This individual was likely 60+ years old.

When he momentarily left for the bathroom, the entire section quieted noticeably and the two other guests he was with both quieted to a normal speaking tone. But once he was back, from God knows what in the bathroom, he was doubly biligerent and literally slammed his palm on my table twice.

This is a restaurant that has extensive rules on families, party sizes, payment methods, ect, ect. More than many real upscale dining establishments I've visited. Yet they allow a table to continue being served while shouting and literally slapping tables of other patrons.

This patron was also disrespectful to their server by abruptly thrusting his arm out in her way as she was walking through the aisle.

Unacceptable management of the situation, and inappropriate handling of their own posted standard operating procedures.

Mind you, I've purchased the most expensive bottle they sell, and spent $500 on two guests. I spent about the same last time I visited, and would if I ever visited again - but am doubtful as there are better managed dining experiences in Orlando for less. I'm hoping should my partner and I find ourselves visiting again this review will be revised.

Although the manager comp'd our starter and mentioned they would add a note to his dinner profile, it was obvious they preferred to take no action. I told the manager I couldn't care less about them comping a starter for $20 compared to not ruining the dining experience of my fiancé, myself, and everyone else in the section he was harrassing.

Interestingly, I did call ahead and let the team know it was my anniversary and was told they would inform our server, but they never mentioned and when I asked they said they didnt know. So, I imagine if a note was added to his profile, it's unlikely to ever be acted on - but I doubt any action at all was taken.

Personally, I doubt I'll ever return considering how many better restaurants are available nearby, and strongly recommend against wasting your time and money at Hillstone.

Hillstone: "Guests [...] can elevate or diminish the experience of others."...

If there’s a foodie hill to die on, this is it. Hillstone NEVER disappoints me. This is our go-to standard for (almost) every birthday, anniversary, college basketball team win, or even the successful completion of a load of laundry. This is our place - and for good reason.

When other restaurants think about service, Hillstone is the gold standard they aspire to. Every dimension has been thought of. They run their staff like a well-oiled machine, and you’re never without a freshly chilled glass for your dirty martini.

By the way, they have the BEST dirty in town—olives stuffed to the hilt with blue cheese and just the right amount of ice crystals buoyed by the surface tension.

The bar is the heart of this place, and if you can score a seat, you can have dinner and a lively conversation with the bartenders. It makes for a fantastic Saturday afternoon.

The food. My god… where to start? The keyword is consistency. Every time we go, it’s always top-notch. I’ve never had to send back the Hawaiian Ribeye due to the cook being off. It’s always a slam-dunk. We also love the Grouper sandwich, which is only available at lunch on certain days but totally worth the trip.

The burger is insane. Juicy. Sumptuous. And the fries? Dip them in the seasoned mayo and sprinkle on their signature seasoning. Pure Heaven.

Desserts are inspired. They have this concoction served with ice cream, and you pour on warm chocolate sauce and watch your eyesight blur as your brain goes numb. It's insane.

If you’re up for a big night out, add a glass (or bottle) of The Prisoner. They have an exceptional wine list and some knowledgeable staff who can guide your choices.

Parking is tight, so plan to valet. Dress decently - it’s a warm, charming, upscale atmosphere. Even though they don’t enforce a dress code like they used to, I always make an effort to button up.

It's possible to get a seat at the bar, but it's always tight. As far as the dining room goes, I recommend a reservation. Showing up with a party of two has a good shot at getting something when it's busy, but plan to wait. Parties over four aren't a thing, although they've let me sneak a fifth in before. But don't count on it.

In terms of prices, it’s actually quite reasonable. That said, you can easily run up a major bill with a few cocktails, but that’s a risk almost anywhere these days.

Finally… the outdoor patio and lakefront area. This is the pièce de résistance. At sunset, when the weather’s right, grab a libation at the bar and steal an Adirondack chair for the ensuing light show. You’ll be treated to epic views of Lake Kilarney, and maybe catch an amphibious prop plane pulling up to the dock for a dinner reservation. It's a golden hour that can't be topped.

Hillstone is magical. I even hesitate to leave this review for fear of interrupting my access to greatness. But anyone who’s anyone in Winter Park will tell you that this is the...