California Pizza Kitchen

Have been coming here for years. Hands down the best veggie burger. Even my meat eating son approves. Recommended dishes vegetarian: spinach artichoke, grilled artichoke, kale cashew salad, French fries, veggie roll macadamia. Great service. My son loves their ribs.

One of my fav CA Cuisine restaurants. Great food and service and location (Wilshire & 2nd St.) The Hawaiian ribeye is the best. Perfect char and cooked to your liking. It comes w fries. The spinach artichoke dip, cashew Kale salad were also amazing. Martini was perfectly chilled. My biggest suggestion is reserve ahead of time especially Friday and Saturdays. Reservations only for 1 to 4 persons. If your group is larger than 4, then it's waiting list only. So expect a 90 min wait on a Saturday night! We had a party of 3. Perfect. We arrived a little early but werent seated for another 15 to 20 min. But it's worth the wait.

+1

The nigiri sushi rolls were great, and the pineapple marinade on the ribeye was excellent. The grilled artichokes were a unique starter and the brownie for dessert was delicious also. Service was really good and efficient except towards the end of the meal when we wanted to order dessert.

Always great! One of our favorite restaurants. Located a block from the beach in Santa Monica this restaurant is always a great choice. There is another one in Pasadena. From the daily soups, appetizers, salads and steaks, its all amazing. Service is great, professional and accommodating. Good selection of wine and cocktails. Sashimi and sushi is great too! Really great place!

+6

Service: amazing and welcoming, make sure to get reservations early Food: Filet was tender and amazing, spinach artichoke dip was fire, and veggie burger is good! Atmosphere: american restaurant feel

Wow! The portions! The taste! The diversity of options! The overall feel of the restaurant and people! Spicy tuna roll! The Pork Chop and the chicken were incredible. Did I mention the portions??? Our server Abbie was also great. Thanks for a great evening.

+3

Pleasantly surprised by how nice the ambiance, food, & service were! Alexis did an amazing job, brought us a spicy mayo for our fries and chicken sandwich without us asking. Her service was superb & it’s not often you get that genuine type of warm and hospitable energy from a server. The sandwich itself was delicious! It’s huge, big enough to split between two or take leftovers if you want. It’s crispy, not too heavy & the cilantro in the slaw adds a nice complexity to the overall taste. I don’t usually like tomatoes, but it fit well with the sandwich. The spicy mayo she brought on the side had sesame oil in it— which I’ve never had in a spicy mayo— and it complimented it soooo well!! The ambiance was nice, busy and formal, yet casual enough were you could walk in for an impromptu lunch ( as long as you dress properly). I would highly recommend Alexis as your server for a wonderful experience.

Great atmosphere; music was curated well and artwork was a great addition to the ambiance. Waiters were knowledgeable, can answer any question w detailed descriptions, attentive (swapped a martini glass for a chilled glass midway thru my drink). Great variety of foods - recommend chicken sando, rainbow roll (good crab filling) and artichoke dip of course. Salmon was fresh, well prepared and mash was soft.

Service was awesome, something just to mention we got our drink in about 3-4 minutes after ordering:) The food though I had their French dip sandwich before and it was awesome, this time it tasted different didn’t like it that much.

A great atmosphere, staff is friendly and warm yet professional and respectful. Food is great too......no wonder there's a waiting line even if one has reservation. But not long. Price is just about acceptable 🙂. Overall, definitely going back and recommended.

The food was good but what made the experience stand apart was the service. Our server, Taylor, was great throughout the night. She was so nice and ensured that we had everything we needed during our meal. The manager, David, also checked on us a few times and was so personable. He made recommendations for us to try the next time we come back! Overall, a great experience and will definitely be coming back.

One of my favorite places. The sushi is excellent. The Ribs are excellent with the perfect sauce: not too sweet and not too tart, good as a side to dip the fries! Love it!

Every time you walk into a Hillstone restaurant you know that you are going to leave happier than when you walked in. Tonight the food had taken a bit longer than usual, and the manager Esther could not have been more hospitable. Her kindness, understanding, and generosity truly meant a lot. The Hillstone group NEVER disappoints and is lucky to have Esther and the incredible bar team at Hillstone Santa Monica.

Hillstone never disappoints. The service and food are consistently top notch. The French Dip and Tuna Tartare are our go to dishes, always fresh and full of flavor. The margaritas here are also my favorite, perfectly balanced and delicious. Highly recommend.

Great date night spot (with a reservation). Even with the reservation, we had to wait in a crowded waiting area for about 15 minutes. But the service was quick and attentive once seated. The grilled artichoke was excellent (so flavorful!) and the French dip was actually so good - we worried it was over hyped or over ordered because it is one of the more affordable mains but it's excellent. I've had better brownies but it was very satisfying as a shared dessert. Would recommend.

One of the best dinners I’ve had in a while. Kara was our server and she was so friendly and attentive. Stand out was the coconut shrimp rolls. Beautifully appointed restaurant, upscale vibes on casual food. Ribs were amazing, as was the French dip. Will definitely return next time I’m in the Santa Monica area.

With Houston's properties you know the food and atmosphere is top notch. I prefer the bar seating and if I'm lucky, Tyhesha will be my server.

felt like simple food done right, staff knew their stuff too! the crispy chicken sandwich was hefty [but not greasy], soft squish of buttered buns and crisp chicken that tasted like real chicken, not that freezer-to-fryer mystery meat; and i say this as a cilantro-hater but that coleslaw was great—tangy and fresh. the tuna mango roll was interesting.. more for the sweet-dinner people: very ripe mango, buttery-soft tuna [wasn't fishy at all], and i've got no idea what the lil clear skin-like wrap was that held the roll together, but i need more of it, just wish the bell pepper wasn't there, it stood🧍‍♂️awkwardly in the mouth. the chocolate brownie for dessert sent me into a sugar coma: warm, rich, sweet, and not a cake cosplaying as a brownie as most restaurant "brownies", the vanilla bean ice cream had legit flavour too; it's a full sugar send, no regrets, recommended.

I really enjoyed this upscale restaurant. The food and service was superb. What else can you ask for? The California Burger and the French Dip were delicious one of the best I’ve had! The fries came with a spicy dip that was yummy.

Love this spot. Kind of a family tradition to come here for birthdays. The kids love it and so do the adults. The portions are good and the food is delicious. I always want my fish “blackened” and they know exactly how I mean. Wonderful staff. Always a good time. Money well spent. The fish is great, kale salad, artichokes omg!!! I don’t eat steak but my guests said it was perfect. Chicken sandwich is huge and a big hit with everyone. If you don’t like the slaw on the sandwich just have them put it on the side. The baked potato is so good. The desserts are great too, definitely shareable and decadent. Ambiance is old school in a smooth way. Real classic upscale vibe without trying too hard.

There’s truly nothing better than a night at hillstone. The spinach dip is phenomenal, the service is even better. They provide chilled glasses with martinis & will replace the glass throughout your meal. All the sandwiches are divine, but the chicken sandwich takes the cake.

This is one of my favorite restaurants, I've been coming here for a well over 10+ years the quality has never declined nor the experience. This place truly has a special place in my heart. If you're looking for a great experience and amazing food this is the place to go! Everything is impeccable and I haven't had a bad experience there yet. The staff treats me so well to where they recognize me by my face and it really makes me feel valued as a customer. I can't wait to come back!

Came here to eat for a business lunch and definitely enjoyed this place. Our waiter was friendly and went above and beyond to help us. I enjoyed the food I ate.:) It was a bit pricey though.

The steak and salad were both incredibly delicious, exceeding our expectations. The service was also very comfortable and accommodating. Although the wait time was a bit long, it was totally worth it. This is one of the best restaurants we've been to during our trip in California.

Kenric Marshall

This is one of my favorite restaurants, I've been coming here for a well over 10+ years the quality has never declined nor the experience. This place truly has a special place in my heart. If you're looking for a great experience and amazing food this is the place to go! Everything is impeccable and I haven't had a bad experience there yet. The staff treats me so well to where they recognize me by my face and it really makes me feel valued as a customer. I can't wait to come back!

Henry Ting

One of my fav CA Cuisine restaurants. Great food and service and location (Wilshire & 2nd St.) The Hawaiian ribeye is the best. Perfect char and cooked to your liking. It comes w fries. The spinach artichoke dip, cashew Kale salad were also amazing. Martini was perfectly chilled. My biggest suggestion is reserve ahead of time especially Friday and Saturdays. Reservations only for 1 to 4 persons. If your group is larger than 4, then it's waiting list only. So expect a 90 min wait on a Saturday night! We had a party of 3. Perfect. We arrived a little early but werent seated for another 15 to 20 min. But it's worth the wait.

Sarah Chase

Great date night spot (with a reservation). Even with the reservation, we had to wait in a crowded waiting area for about 15 minutes. But the service was quick and attentive once seated. The grilled artichoke was excellent (so flavorful!) and the French dip was actually so good - we worried it was over hyped or over ordered because it is one of the more affordable mains but it's excellent. I've had better brownies but it was very satisfying as a shared dessert. Would recommend.

Ross Kizik

One of the best dinners I’ve had in a while. Kara was our server and she was so friendly and attentive. Stand out was the coconut shrimp rolls. Beautifully appointed restaurant, upscale vibes on casual food. Ribs were amazing, as was the French dip. Will definitely return next time I’m in the Santa Monica area.

Vitaly Kolas

I really enjoyed this upscale restaurant. The food and service was superb. What else can you ask for? The California Burger and the French Dip were delicious one of the best I’ve had! The fries came with a spicy dip that was yummy.

kim

felt like simple food done right, staff knew their stuff too! the crispy chicken sandwich was hefty [but not greasy], soft squish of buttered buns and crisp chicken that tasted like real chicken, not that freezer-to-fryer mystery meat; and i say this as a cilantro-hater but that coleslaw was great—tangy and fresh. the tuna mango roll was interesting.. more for the sweet-dinner people: very ripe mango, buttery-soft tuna [wasn't fishy at all], and i've got no idea what the lil clear skin-like wrap was that held the roll together, but i need more of it, just wish the bell pepper wasn't there, it stood🧍‍♂️awkwardly in the mouth. the chocolate brownie for dessert sent me into a sugar coma: warm, rich, sweet, and not a cake cosplaying as a brownie as most restaurant "brownies", the vanilla bean ice cream had legit flavour too; it's a full sugar send, no regrets, recommended.

Kayla Jochimsen

There’s truly nothing better than a night at hillstone. The spinach dip is phenomenal, the service is even better. They provide chilled glasses with martinis & will replace the glass throughout your meal. All the sandwiches are divine, but the chicken sandwich takes the cake.

Edward P Moreno

Came here to eat for a business lunch and definitely enjoyed this place. Our waiter was friendly and went above and beyond to help us. I enjoyed the food I ate.:) It was a bit pricey though.

Goldy Azure

Love this spot. Kind of a family tradition to come here for birthdays. The kids love it and so do the adults. The portions are good and the food is delicious. I always want my fish “blackened” and they know exactly how I mean. Wonderful staff. Always a good time. Money well spent. The fish is great, kale salad, artichokes omg!!! I don’t eat steak but my guests said it was perfect. Chicken sandwich is huge and a big hit with everyone. If you don’t like the slaw on the sandwich just have them put it on the side. The baked potato is so good. The desserts are great too, definitely shareable and decadent. Ambiance is old school in a smooth way. Real classic upscale vibe without trying too hard.

Superb birthday experience here for a close friend. Despite a line going out door the greeter was very welcoming & accommodating. Our server Emily an absolute superstar. The vibe in here is near perfect in that it is both lively & energetic and yet easy to have a conversation across the table. Food across the board is very good; I'd describe it as elevated comfort food. The Textbook cabernet sauvignon is in fact a textbook house red; very good indeed. For my Westwood friends this is their family's favourite restaurant and I can see why. Hope to return soon! 👍🎉

Hillstone is a great Santa Monica staple, and part of the Houston’s chain of restaurants. Book ahead because this restaurant is busy all throughout the day and walk-ins are usually only accommodated at the bar. We loved the artichoke spinach dip, the French dip sandwich, and the fried chicken sandwich.

Excellent sushi rolls of a non-trad variety, two were too much to finish for one person. Also loved the salmon grapefruit salad. Although they have a ton of staff they have a lot of tables so it was hard to get our server back but large menu so we will return.

Hillstone never disappoints. I love the bar at this location. Great service. Sort of surprising a cocktail is $18, but that is everywhere. The sushi is remarkably good for an american restaurant.

Veronica Long

Hillstone never disappoints. I love the bar at this location. Great service. Sort of surprising a cocktail is $18, but that is everywhere. The sushi is remarkably good for an american restaurant.

David Krivit

Excellent sushi rolls of a non-trad variety, two were too much to finish for one person. Also loved the salmon grapefruit salad. Although they have a ton of staff they have a lot of tables so it was hard to get our server back but large menu so we will return.

Gina M

Hillstone never disappoints. The service and food are consistently top notch. The French Dip and Tuna Tartare are our go to dishes, always fresh and full of flavor. The margaritas here are also my favorite, perfectly balanced and delicious. Highly recommend.

Great place to grab a classic meal. Well rounded menu with fair prices given the area and quality of ingredients. Easy to forget this is part of a chain. You won’t be disappointed dining here.

Food was absolutely fabulous. Tasted great. Good atmosphere. Needed better waiters. More tvs.

Always great service, as you would expect from a Hillstone group restaurant. Food is nothing ground breaking but always solid, it's okay to order the burger here. Though, I do wish you would offer a version of the ribeye that's non-marinated like Houston's does. The mid martini cold glass refresher always pleases. Nice enough for a date, but not so nice that catching up with friends and family feels stuffy. Upstairs is a little more quiet and intimate if needed. BTW what's with 86'ing cake cutting service and not letting us know when we dropped off the cake upon checking in with the hostess? You've done it in the past and it would make sense to let us know the change in policy then and not after we finished our entrees ‍

Carefully read the description and composition of the dish. It is our fault that we did not read it and took Hawaiian steak instead of the usual one. We do not like it. In addition, we did not like the fried fish and the sauce for it. Apparently, we are used to other tastes.

Ryan Westberg

Great place to grab a classic meal. Well rounded menu with fair prices given the area and quality of ingredients. Easy to forget this is part of a chain. You won’t be disappointed dining here.

Olya Minasian

Carefully read the description and composition of the dish. It is our fault that we did not read it and took Hawaiian steak instead of the usual one. We do not like it. In addition, we did not like the fried fish and the sauce for it. Apparently, we are used to other tastes.

We love Hillstone! Have been to several locations around the country. The food is amazing and it always feel very welcoming with great service. Unfortunately, our service was a bit below expectations. Our server had to come back not once but twice to let us know what we had ordered was not available. Not sure if a kitchen issue or wait staff issue, but it was disappointing and disrupted the flow of the experience. Hopefully something they can tune up. Otherwise, great food and ambiance and we always enjoy.

Andrew Vandekerckhove

We love Hillstone! Have been to several locations around the country. The food is amazing and it always feel very welcoming with great service. Unfortunately, our service was a bit below expectations. Our server had to come back not once but twice to let us know what we had ordered was not available. Not sure if a kitchen issue or wait staff issue, but it was disappointing and disrupted the flow of the experience. Hopefully something they can tune up. Otherwise, great food and ambiance and we always enjoy.

Vinh N.

Always great service, as you would expect from a Hillstone group restaurant. Food is nothing ground breaking but always solid, it's okay to order the burger here. Though, I do wish you would offer a version of the ribeye that's non-marinated like Houston's does. The mid martini cold glass refresher always pleases. Nice enough for a date, but not so nice that catching up with friends and family feels stuffy. Upstairs is a little more quiet and intimate if needed. BTW what's with 86'ing cake cutting service and not letting us know when we dropped off the cake upon checking in with the hostess? You've done it in the past and it would make sense to let us know the change in policy then and not after we finished our entrees ‍

My Wife and visited for dinner 10/12/25 we were regulars at Houstons in Manhattan Bch. we both ordered the Hawaiian Ribeye prepared perfectly pink center arrived hot to our table. unfortunately this is definitely a different cut than we’re use to my first bite was from the center of the cut and it was so tough it was undesirable i then tried the outer portion which is usually more fatty on this cut and it was perfect unfortunately there were only three bites there after trimming the majority of the fat. the mashed potatoes were great and so was the tabouli, as was our spinach artichoke appetizer. I also noticed the 🥩 steaks were rather thin when served which caught my attention immediately. our service was great reception and service staff we even had a great welcoming from the manager David. We really enjoy dining out and will definitely go back it just won’t be for steaks anymore.

We are big fans of Hillstone but on the 1st of Nov (without resy ended up at the bar) visit we were very disappointed by the surly attitude of the female bartender/server as soon as she realized we aren’t ‘drinkers’ albeit our food & nonalcoholic tab still added up to a 25% undeserved tip. It was the 1st time we’re trying out their burger & it was tasteless. All other food items are great including artichokes Hawaiian steak/prime ribs dover sole the best hot fudge sundae etc —except the burger —HiHo burger mmmuch better.

Clarissa D

We are big fans of Hillstone but on the 1st of Nov (without resy ended up at the bar) visit we were very disappointed by the surly attitude of the female bartender/server as soon as she realized we aren’t ‘drinkers’ albeit our food & nonalcoholic tab still added up to a 25% undeserved tip. It was the 1st time we’re trying out their burger & it was tasteless. All other food items are great including artichokes Hawaiian steak/prime ribs dover sole the best hot fudge sundae etc —except the burger —HiHo burger mmmuch better.

Update 6/10/25- Do not order takeout here for the life of you. I placed an order for 11:30 for pickup yesterday and did not get it until after noon… it was over thirty minutes late while I waited and watched other people dining in receiving their meals… I was then told the order would be comped for the inconvenience but was still charged. Yikes. I won’t be back. Hillstone is one of the most consistent restaurants I’ve been to in Los Angeles. The food is always perfectly prepared and matched with excellent service. If you order a martini, they will bring you a fresh chilled glass once your thaws out !! The attention to detail is unmatched for the area in and this price point. They also offer a limited menu for takeout and the takeout is also excellent.

My family and I, who have been patrons of this location for over 20 years now, drove over an hour for a special birthday dinner. What we had looked forward to all week took a turn for the worst as soon as we walked in the door. This wasn’t an isolated bad experience — it’s part of an ongoing pattern with this restaurant. We walked in as a party of 5 and were immediately met with a rude, unapologetic, host who treated us like a problem instead of paying customers. Without any attempt to be polite or accommodating, or coming up with a solution or compromise, we were turned away on the spot. Management clearly supports this behavior, as they showed the same dismissive, unwelcoming approach, including the outstandingly pathetic “General Manager”. Lesson learned, an average party of 4 or 5 is no longer welcome at this restaurant(no matter if you’re a walk in or reservation), despite them having several booths that could sit 6-8 people. There are plenty of restaurants without this “better-than-you” entitled corporate vibe that understand how to treat guests with respect and value. So don’t go here unless you want to be treated like gum on the bottom of a shoe.

Great food, but refuses to accomodate our family of 5. They will not let you book a reservation for more than 4 online even though they have tables that seat that size. Went to put our name down for a walk in and they refused to put us on the list. Disappointing after being one of our favourite establishments for many years.

I ordered lunch at 2:50 PM on November 10th, 2025. A male escort showed me to my table, and since I was wearing a hat, he told me hats weren't allowed in the restaurant. Thirty minutes later, another male customer came in, also wearing a hat. However, the escort didn't tell him that hats weren't allowed. I felt extremely insulted. I will never return to this restaurant.

We order take out tonight since they didn’t have any open seats to 8:45. I ordered at 5:40. We both got crispy chicken sandwich. When I picked up food I asked about French fries and I was told by the hostess they don’t travel well so it was only the sandwich. I said should have gotten a discount right and she made no comment. So total cost 2 chicken sandwiches plus tax and a $6 tip came to $55. Terrible they should be upfront on that or offer another side. Very disappointed!!! Santa Monica location

Norma Long

We order take out tonight since they didn’t have any open seats to 8:45. I ordered at 5:40. We both got crispy chicken sandwich. When I picked up food I asked about French fries and I was told by the hostess they don’t travel well so it was only the sandwich. I said should have gotten a discount right and she made no comment. So total cost 2 chicken sandwiches plus tax and a $6 tip came to $55. Terrible they should be upfront on that or offer another side. Very disappointed!!! Santa Monica location

Peter Wu

I ordered lunch at 2:50 PM on November 10th, 2025. A male escort showed me to my table, and since I was wearing a hat, he told me hats weren't allowed in the restaurant. Thirty minutes later, another male customer came in, also wearing a hat. However, the escort didn't tell him that hats weren't allowed. I felt extremely insulted. I will never return to this restaurant.

Noa Schwartz

Great food, but refuses to accomodate our family of 5. They will not let you book a reservation for more than 4 online even though they have tables that seat that size. Went to put our name down for a walk in and they refused to put us on the list. Disappointing after being one of our favourite establishments for many years.