Hillstone

05/04/09

Great Restaurant

by dco22 at Citysearch

I went to Houston's for the first time a few weeks ago and it quickly became one of my favorite places to go for dinner. The Burgers are amazing and so is the staff. They were very friendly and the waitress was always there when I needed her. They also have great drinks. I recommend this place to all kinds of people.

• Pros: Good Food, Great Service, fun atmosphere
• Cons: Can get really crowded

02/09/09

Consistantly exceptional service

by Magzilla at Citysearch

We don't make a habit of visiting chain restaurants but Houston's is the one exception. Over the years this has become our comfy, cozy, neighborhood restaurant - the go-to for relaxed Sunday dinners. Of course, the food is great but it's the service that keeps bringing us back. Sincere smiles from the staff and warm, attentive, thoughtful service makes the Houston's chain unique. We tend to visit the 3rd Street Promenade location most but the experience is as good at the Century City branch. The side vegetable of the day is always delicious and we never fail to order it - curried cauliflower, spaghetti squash, corn, goat cheese cabbage, all are wonderful. Otherwise, I'm a fan of the spicy tuna roll salad and ahi burger. The fiance has great things to say about the burgers.

• Pros: Exceptional service, good food, fun bar
• Cons: Santa Monica location can get crowded

01/07/09

Prime rib is consistently good

by piuvino78 at Citysearch

Houston's may not be for everybody, and I know that a lot of people think it is overpriced and complain about the long waits at dinner, but let's get real folks. Houston's sets the gold standard for a moderately priced steak house like ambiance. This chain is not really a steak house but it comes close in a lot of respects. It is not a white table cloth place either, it?s more casual.

I?ve read some reviews where they said that It was just an expensive burger joint. It is true that you can get an over-expensive burger there, but that is really a misuse of this restaurant. I recommend their sushi appetizers, crab cakes and prime rib. If you order those sorts of items you will not be disappointed.

One of the best things I like about Houston's in Santa Monica is that they have a much better than average wine list. Although their wine by the glass is a little pricy, the list is large and has some surprisingly good offerings.

Yes, the waits at dinner are long, and yes it is expensive. But where else can you get such a good combination of reasonable wines by the glass and consistently good prime rib?

• Pros: Consistent food and good wine selection
• Cons: Wine is a little pricy -- long waits for dinner

08/31/07

Save your money...

by visa at Citysearch

Seriously. If you do not want to feel ripped off at the end of a totally blah meal, go somewhere else. Do not try to justify eating here as: it's easy, convenient, etc. because it's neither of those. There is always a ridiculously long wait and for what! My boyfirned and I ordered a hamburger and salad and left with an almost $60 bill. Wtf! We could have had a meal twice as good for half the price at any standard burger joint, which actually would have been easy, convenient.

• Pros: ummm...
• Cons: price. food. the essential elements of a restaurant

05/01/07

I love this place.

by caligirl30 at Citysearch

I have eaten here so many times. I think their food is great. I love the thai salad and many of their other dishes. All my friends love this place. My boyfriend likes the burgers here.

• Pros: great food, good service
• Cons: sometimes there is a long wait