New to SF, need advice (San Francisco, Duarte: rent, theater, restaurants)

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by clongirl

This place....Original Joes SF


(Hillstone is a chain)

It is not a chain in the sense of what that word implies.

It was founded by a man who is a food perfectionist and opened his first restaurant in Tennessee in 1976. After the success of that years later he opened up one in Houston, TX. His restaurants have been so successful due to the outstanding quality of the food and service that he has expanded to 13 different types of restaurants nation wide.

Calling it a chain restaurant is a not a true representation of his restaurants or excellent quality of is made from scratch menu . All of his restaurants create their own signature menus and only employ outstanding cooks and chefs. Each of his restaurants is unique.

It's no chain in the sense of a Morton's or Ruth's Chris.

Have you ever eaten there?

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by Matadora

It is not a chain in the sense of what that word implies.

It was founded by a man who is a food perfectionist and opened his first restaurant in Tennessee in 1976. After the success of that years later he opened up one in Houston, TX. His restaurants have been so successful due to the outstanding quality of the food and service that he has expanded to 13 different types of restaurants nation wide.

Calling it a chain restaurant is a not a true representation of his restaurants or excellent quality of is made from scratch menu . All of his restaurants create their own signature menus and only employ outstanding cooks and chefs. Each of his restaurants is unique.

It's no chain in the sense of a Morton's or Ruth's Chris.

Have you ever eaten there?

I've eaten there. It's pretty good. My office used to be near there and it was one of very few places nearby to take clients. Im from Houston and I recognized it's chain connection to Houston's.

Like I said--pretty good, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.

[morenitachula]

Here's a link with a lot cool stuff to do/places to go SF Station - San Francisco's City Guide

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

I've eaten there. It's pretty good. My office used to be near there and it was one of very few places nearby to take clients. Im from Houston and I recognized it's chain connection to Houston's.

Like I said--pretty good, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.

What did you eat there?

The steaks and fish are fresh and outstanding. Cooked over a wood fired grill...no steak or fish tastes better than perfectly grilled.

They have the best steaks IMO and I do go out of my way to eat there. The atmosphere is very pleasant and the live Jazz Band in the evening makes it that much more alluring.

I worked my way through college at the second location to open up in Houston, TX back in 1979 which is how I know so much about the owner, his restaurants and the food at this nice establishment.

Everything is made fresh and from scratch...nothing left over is ever reused. The kitchen is spotless as well.

I would go out of my way to eat at any place that holds these high standards and consistently delicious food.

[dalparadise]

It's not exactly "meat and potatoes" but for a beer and a sausage in the Union Square area, Hogwash is hard to beat. It's several rungs below any steakhouse, though.

For simple French country cooking, I'm sure there is no equal in SF to Cocotte. Think rotisserie chicken, rabbit, coq-au-vin, beef Wellington, etc. It's up in Russian Hill, on the Hyde St. cable car line. Simple food at good prices.

Coquetta, on the Embarcadero is fancier, but still simple and tapas-style. It's a bit on the pricey side, but worth it. The food is delicious, with only a few dishes going off the grid in terms of exotic.

I find Ramen shops to be pretty simple comfort food places. Waraku in Japan Town is awesome. They have fresh garlic and presses at the table.

There are a few good soul food, Hofbrau,country cooking, or otherwise simple places all around--Hard Knox, Brenda's, Tommy's Joynt, Hops n Hominy, Zazie (brunch spot-gingerbread pancakes), Tadich (more seafood, but not fancy) and many many others that would offer even a non-adventurous palate a bit more of a taste of SF than a chain or a steak house...or a chain steakhouse would.

You're traveling to one of the finest culinary destinations in the world. You can get a steak anywhere.

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by Matadora

What did you eat there?

The steaks and fish are fresh and outstanding. Cooked over a wood fired grill...no steak or fish tastes better than perfectly grilled.

They have the best steaks IMO and I do go out of my way to eat there. The atmosphere is very pleasant and the live Jazz Band in the evening makes it that much more alluring.

I worked my way through college at the second location to open up in Houston, TX back in 1979 which is how I know so much about the owner, his restaurants and the food at this nice establishment.

Everything is made fresh and from scratch...nothing left over is ever reused. The kitchen is spotless as well.

I would go out of my way to eat at any place that holds these high standards and consistently delicious food.

I'm not dishing on Houston's/Hillstone. It's pretty good. But, it is a chain. I've been to Houston's more times than I can count. Obviously, I liked it. I've been to Hillstone in SF about four times. Obviously I liked it. You ask me what I ate and I really can't remember. That should tell you all you need to know. It's good, it's just not special to me.

Eating at Hillstone is like being out on Westheimer in Houston. That's not what I look for in SF. That is what it's like to eat at a chain restaurant.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

I'm not dishing o. Houston's/Hillstone. It's pretty good. But, it is a chain. I've been to Houston's more times than I can count. Obviously, I liked it. I've been to Hillstone in SF about four times. Obviously I liked it. You ask me what I ate and I really can't remember. That should tell you all you need to know. It's good, it's just not special to me.

Eating at Hillstone is like being out on Westheimer in Houston. That's not what I look for in SF. That is what it's like to eat at a chain restaurant.

Calling is a chain is laughable at best. Shows yor really have no knowledge about this restaurant or the owner and his standards. It's no Ruth's Chris or Benihana.

There is no other Hillstone in Northern CA.

Each restaurant is unique. The menu for Hillstones is not the same as the menu found at Houston's on Kirby Drive in Houston, TX.

Sounds like you ordered something rather boring. If you ever had their fish or steak you would clearly remember it.

I would bet they do steaks and seafood better than most places in SF without the SF prices. Hillstone is not a cheap place to eat but it is not outrageous either. Got to love their Grilled Artichoke appetizer as well.

I am a very picky eater (meaning quality and taste are very important to me.) I have not found many restaurants in the entire Bay Area that would trump this one. I have even all over the Bay Area.

It's pretty sad when you eat at outrageously expensive places such as The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse and it does not hold a match to Hillstone.

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by Matadora

It is not a chain in the sense of what that word implies.

It was founded by a man who is a food perfectionist and opened his first restaurant in Tennessee in 1976. After the success of that years later he opened up one in Houston, TX. His restaurants have been so successful due to the outstanding quality of the food and service that he has expanded to 13 different types of restaurants nation wide.

Calling it a chain restaurant is a not a true representation of his restaurants or excellent quality of is made from scratch menu . All of his restaurants create their own signature menus and only employ outstanding cooks and chefs. Each of his restaurants is unique.

It's no chain in the sense of a Morton's or Ruth's Chris.

Have you ever eaten there?

Okay...you win! I'm sure YOUR recommendation is FAR better than mine, lol. I'm sure it's the BEST you can find in San Francisco!! Whatever makes you feel good, guy.

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by Matadora

Calling is a chain is laughable at best. Shows yor really have no knowledge about this restaurant or the owner and his standards. It's no Ruth's Chris or Benihana.

There is no other Hillstone in Northern CA.

Each restaurant is unique. The menu for Hillstones is not the same as the menu found at Houston's on Kirby Drive in Houston, TX.

Sounds like you ordered something rather boring. If you ever had their fish or steak you would clearly remember it.

I would bet they do steaks and seafood better than most places in SF without the SF prices. Hillstone is not a cheap place to eat but it is not outrageous either. Got to love their Grilled Artichoke appetizer as well.

I am a very picky eater (meaning quality and taste are very important to me.) I have not found many restaurants in the entire Bay Area that would trump this one. I have even all over the Bay Area.

It's pretty sad when you eat at outrageously expensive places such as The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse and it does not hold a match to Hillstone.

First of all, I didn't say anything about The Sea by Alexander's. I don't even know what that is. I also made no comparison to any other restaurant.

Second of all, Hillstone's on the Embarcadero used to be called "Houston's". They changed the name to slide under the calorie-reporting requirements for chains. I'm sorry you have a problem with the fact that I don't share your enthusiasm for the place, but I don't. It's a chain.

The artichoke is the same thing they had at Houston's. Like I said, it's fine. It's a chain. It's a good one, but I don't draw a distinction between it and Morton's, Roy's or other high-end chains, in terms of quality. I never ate at the Houston's on Kirby. The one I reference is the one on Westheimer.

A friend of mine thinks Roy's is the most amazing place in the City. I think it's good, but nothing to write home about--pretty much the same experience I had in the Southern California Roy's I tried. That's the nature of chains.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Second of all, Hillstone's on the Embarcadero used to be called "Houston's". They changed the name to slide under the calorie-reporting requirements for chains. I'm sorry you have a problem with the fact that I don't share your enthusiasm for the place, but I don't. It's a chain.

First of all I am aware that they changed their name from Houston's to Hillstone...you will find their old Houston's sign still illuminated inside the front entrance. You can't miss it.

I don't have one single issue with your lack of enthusiasm for a place that you can't even recall what you ate.

I have been dining at Houston's and the sister restaurants since 1979 and have been wining and dining friends, family and business folks from all over the globe at Houston's. They all loved it just as much as I do!

You have limited experience with that restaurant but yet claim to think you have it pegged for being OK when you can't recall what you ate.

I on the other hand have over 30 years of dining experience with his restaurants spanning several cities and states.

I certainly have it pegged for outstanding food and quality. I love sharing this with others.