Yesterday evening, I met some friends here for drinks and what we thought would be dinner. We have dined here before, but it has been a few years. When I arrived, they were already seated at the far end of the bar. I asked the floor manager if I could join them and was asked to make a reservation. I understand now that reservations are required for the bar and parties are limited to two(2) people. As well, the menu is limited in that area. I was told multiple times and emphatically that I was Not guaranteed a seat next to my friends. My friends had already started a tab and we were looking forward to spending the evening with Hillstone. I was told that I could join my friends while I waited for my reservation. As I arrived, next to them, was a party who was leaving. It was unfortunate that the floor manager was not even aware that they had a party leaving. With just a bit more attention to the room, they would have seen that there was space for me right next to my friends. Since we were not able to get access to the vacant seats, we moved to a two-top along the edge. However, because we were three(3) people and another chair was not provided or made available, we had to sit in shifts. Ridiculous - after one round of drinks we left. It was unfortunate that we were not at all encouraged to stay, in conversations or actions. The team members working the floor were polite, but not helpful. As a fellow restaurant industry alumni, I understand that it can be difficult to seat and keep track of a room. Especially a bar area. But this was a Sunday evening and traffic was slightly moderate. The floor teams inability to manage the room and the unfortunate bar reservation system seem to be hindering the flow and their ability to turn the area. It is sad to see that the atmosphere here has become so unaccommodating.

One of my favorites. The food is consistently excellent and all of the servers are so kind and attentive. Love that they swap out your martini glass for a new cold one frequently. Highly recommend the martinis, spinach and artichoke dip and the chicken sandwich. Also, do not skip dessert! The key lime pie is divine!

Brittany Pearl

I went here for dessert because I couldn’t get in at dinner time. We were 4 people, and the service was very friendly and attentive. The dessert was both excellent and exactly what we needed after a long, rainy day walking around NYC. We got the following: Cheesecake, Limoncello Olive Oil Cake, Affogato, and Decaf Cappuccino. Highly recommend for a post-dinner treat.

Lei Weekend

Excellent service! My husband and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary together at Upland last night and they went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our evening. The food was spectacular. Zero complaints. We will be telling all of our friends to come here when in Manhattan. The Limoncello Olive Cake was DIVINE. Thank you Upland!!

Vinu Kurian

Had a good friends dinner here. The standouts were the margarita pizza. Hamchi crudo and the pastas. Loved the choice of wine and also the upland martini which was refreshing take on the dirty martini.

Aneesha Reddy

Upland hit the spot! Every dish we tried was fantastic. From drinks to desserts, everything was delicious and portion sizes were reasonable. Highly recommend the spaghetti al limone and baked cheesecake.

TM Toast

First time here and WOW. The server, Joel was super attentive and nice, I think my water was refilled 9 times, new plates/silverware with each course, very impressed with the service. The food was outstanding, starting with the complimentary bread, so soft and amazing butter. Then the burrata, margarita pizza, cacio &peppe and rigatoni for our table, all so tasty and you can tell it’s made with fresh ingredients and homemade pasta! We didn’t leave a crumb behind. We got the olive oil cake too and they put a candle in it for my bday. To top it off, the atmosphere was intimate with lovely booths yet lively! Can’t wait to return!

T

Busy active Resturant with mix of regular dinners and business lunch crowd. Buzzing but still comfortable level to talk. Food came out in a timely manner, staff was very accommodating and attentive. Group of 7 and we all truly enjoyed our lunch. Will be back!

Merisa J

Went in 10/17 for a quick bite a little after 2pm and had the most delicious cacio e pepe, glass of red wine and cheesecake. I will be back for that cheesecake!!! I wish I remembered my waitresses name she had cool hair and her eye makeup was elite. She gave great recommendations!

Sammy Devine

Delicious food and great service! Everything was so good I almost forgot to take pictures. Definitely worth coming back — make a reservation, it gets busy!

Lee Stat

Excellent food and service. The food had flavor. In fact, it was so good that my pictures are half eaten before I even got the chance to take a picture. I would definitely go back. Make reservations as it gets packed for lunch.

+12

ILYA SHMIDT

Walked in on a Friday night, snagged some bar seats. Great ambience and service - with the food quality to match. The Hamachi had a very unique, smoky flavor.. the best dish of the night was a skirt steak.

Paul Ampunun

Chic, spacious brasserie blending Californian & Italian. Hearty dishes, fresh ingredients. Known for pastas & the Upland cheeseburger. Pricey but worth it for a special occasion. Trendy, can feel a bit more LA than classic NYC. Reservations recommended.

+11

Carlton R

What a delightful experience! Came here for dinner on a Tuesday evening and it was absolutely amazing! The wait staff here were extremely attentive and ensured we had a great dining experience! Special shout out to Olive for making the experience that much better. The food was delicious, and we were able to try a nice range of different options. Ambience was really upscale and pleasant! Drinks were well made with a good variety of cocktails! Highly recommend! Thank you Olive and the upland team for an amazing experience.

+11

J

I visited Upland on a Saturday morning at 10:30 for brunch, having made a reservation in advance. It was much quieter than the lively atmosphere I’ve experienced during dinner here. The host and server were friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious. The cozy decor and large front windows make it a perfect spot for brunch.

+1

Hillstone is a gem. The food is incredible, and the service stands out in the smallest but most meaningful ways. The fact that they serve your martini and then refresh it halfway through to keep it perfectly cold is exactly the kind of thoughtful detail that makes the experience feel elevated. It’s the ideal spot if you want a great drink, great food, and a reliably good ambience. The only downside is the chaos around reservations and wait times. The hype has made it almost impossible to book, which takes away from the ease and authenticity the restaurant used to have. I just wish it were more accessible to the people who love it most, because when you finally get in, the experience truly delivers. Overall, Hillstone is exceptional. They just need to find a better system for reservations so more guests can actually enjoy it.

Deviled eggs was quite good actually. French dip wasn't particularly special. A bit bland and wasn't hot. You get the oily brioche and some flavor from the horseradish sauce and the 3 pieces of cilantro. My main course was served before my appetizer odlly enough, so I set my main aside until my appetizer arrived and I had finished it.

AMAZING vibes, pretty good food, and questionable service. the noise level was like perfect and i would come back for the atmosphere tbh. the food was decent but the portions are not generous but what can you expect : ). the thai tuna roll and the noodle salad were really good, and the pressed sushi was ok at best. we also got the sashimi was was decent, the bell pepper which i would not get again, and the artichoke dip. it took us a while just go get water from the waiter and i felt like he was clearing the food before we were done eating. at the end we split the check (we were a group of 4) and they swiped one of our cards twice and didn’t swipe another one at all which seemed rarely careless and idt i’ve ever seen that happen also apparently this is THE murray hill date spot.

After the Harry Potter exhibit we decided to have lunch here. There was a very short wait for bar seating, unfortunately the dining room was reservation only. We were able to get drinks and appetizers at the high top tables, the server was quick to get us our drinks and put our appetizers in. Within 10 minutes we had a spot at the bar and the bartender, Tommy I believe was the name, was very kind, attentive and professional. The food came out and was spaced decently. We ordered way more than we could eat, but everything we ordered was delicious. The deviled eggs were some of the best I’ve ever had, and the chicken sandwich was juicy and rich and the kale salad was cool and crisp. Would love to try this spot for dinner next.

Okay so I went here yesterday and “fancy TGI Fridays” really fits. The atmosphere is fairly dim and somewhat intimate but also corporate feeling. Service was very professional and when they missed my partner’s drink they ended up giving it to him on the house. The marg is really good. No fancy flavors but super smooth and well mixed. The food we ate was nothing super out the box but done really well. We had Osaka sushi, spinach and artichoke, Dutch chicken and ribs. My only complaint is the place is pricy (damn you nyc prices) and they did not give nearly enough chips for spinach and artichoke dip but I would certainly go back

Deanna Danaf

*UPDATE* Upland reached out and apologized for everything. They remedied the situation and invited me back to try again. I live in Canada but have a trip to NYC coming up again soon. I plan to come by and give them a try again. Will update again once I give them another try. This restaurant was highly recommended to me and I was excited to try it. We arrived before opening and patiently waited until they opened. The hostess was Incredibly rude and snooty when I informed her that I didn’t have a reservation. She told me if we promised to be quick she could seat us. Which we were. When we were seated the original waiter gave us the dinner menus. After we received our drinks the new waitress realized the mistake and brought us the lunch menu. She was very flippant, wasn’t informative and barely came to the table. The actual food was a 5/10. The portions were tiny. The noodles weren’t even al dente and the sauce was barely flavourful. There’s much better places in NYC than upland.

Eileen Ma

Very nice good and ambiance. Slightly lack in service for the following reasons: Food: I ordered the blacked hamachi. It was nicely smoky, great texture, nice flavor. Service: very disappointed by the passive aggressiveness. 1. I sat at a table without water for 0.5 hours. I didn’t eat much and only had a small appetizer, but just because I finished my food doesn’t mean I don’t need water, I get the passive aggressiveness of wanting a high turnover, but I arrived at 6:30, you don’t need to clear my water right as I finish my food. I like to take my time and enjoy your ambiance, don’t sheesh me. 2. Just because I eat by myself doesn’t mean I don’t want bread. The server was really kind in trying to resolve the issue, but the bus boy and other waiting staff was inattentive in the matter. I spent $60 for a glass of wine, appetizer and tip.

Vyacheslav “Slava” D.

It was a great time there with my friends. To be honest I expected more than we had from food and service. Unsmiling manager was touching our table twice or three times to pour the water, never told us Hello or asked something. Very comfortable seats and a lot of natural light. Basque cheesecake was very delicious, rest ok, not bad.

+1

Kristina Zhegunova

We made a reservation for five just a day in advance — rare and appreciated. Later, we added two more guests without any issue. When we arrived at 5:00 PM, the restaurant was practically empty, yet because two people in our party hadn’t arrived, we were seated at the bar. Why is this rule even enforced? No clear explanation (at any restaurant in the U.S.), just a vague “policy” that seems to exist simply because “that’s how it’s done.” That said, the space is beautiful — stylish and warm, with a polished urban feel and a steady, confident buzz. Now to the food: We were offered complimentary brioche with butter — soft, warm, and comforting. The pizza was decent — nice crust, mild flavors, but nothing remarkable. The hamachi came in two and a half very thick slices — an unusual presentation. It was okay, not particularly memorable. The burrata with finely chopped asparagus was a miss. The texture leaned more toward overripe mozzarella or even feta, with a sour note that didn’t sit well. We were told the vinegar was responsible, but with over 15 years in the industry, I respectfully disagree. To their credit, the dish was removed from the bill — much appreciated. The mushroom risotto — again, fine, but not exciting. We’ve had far better, with more depth and finesse. Our friends tried several other dishes, and the consensus was: everything was overly salted. But the desserts. Oh, the desserts. The chocolate mousse cake? Flawless — rich, balanced, and elegant. The ice cream with biscuit crumble on the side? An absolute delight. The cheesecake? Truly one of the best we’ve ever had — creamy, light, unforgettable. Hats off to the pastry chef — that part of the meal alone is worth coming back for. If we return, it will be for the sweet finish.

+10

Daniela B

Had a fantastic date night at Upland. We did not have a reservation but managed to wait at the bar with a drink before being moved to a table. Service was fantastic, and the food was definitely tasty. Beef tartar was great, different from others as the rice gives it a special crunch. Pizza had some little burned bits but overall was delicious. Would go back!

+1

*This review is written by someone who is not a big meat eater. * I came here for lunch with my husband on Labor Day with gorgeous weather outside at around 1:30pm with no reservation. This restaurant is localized branding of the national Houston’s chain. It is believed that one of the reasons they changed the name locally to avoid calorie posted regulations in NY that impact restaurants with multiple locations. It is almost impossible to get a reservation here during peak hours which I think is wild for a place that is a chain restaurant. They open reservations 30 days in advance of the date you wish to dine. When we walked in, we were told only seats at the bar were available on a first come basis. We opted for the bar and ended up waiting about 20 minutes. Especially in New York City, I don’t eat meat (exception fish and seafood) very often for a variety of reasons. I NEVER eat poultry (knowingly). This menu is very meat forward. I was excited to try to the spinach and artichoke dip but even that contains chicken stock. The food that I did find to enjoy was good. All people eating other meat dishes seemed very happy. The decor and vibe of the restaurant feels like suburbs upscale. All of the servers were very nice and professional. I likely would seek out another meal at this restaurant especially given the meat forward menu and high prices. If someone had a reservation and invited me to attend, I wouldn’t protest but wouldn’t look forward to it. I wouldn’t wait to be seated ever again.

Asiana Billie

LOVE their food but it’s so unreliable. Their iconic bread was sold out when I only ordered it at 7:45 PM? Lunch salmon was amazing but their dinner salmon was flavorless and embarrassingly had to send it back. Their waitress took so long to attend to us that I had to share my friends dish. Their staff was super nice, I’d love the blame the mediocre staff experience on the manager for short staffing the poor waitress but she only attended our table twice (maybe three times including the bill)? She was yelling when speaking to us and definitely treated our (white) neighboring table with more care than my friend & I. The male waiter we had for lunch last time was normal though so that gives me motivation to actually go back.

Kelly Veronica JORGE DEJO

I was disappointed with the risotto at Upland. Unfortunately, it wasn’t properly cooked, which affected both the texture and overall experience. I was expecting a creamier, fully cooked risotto given the restaurant’s reputation. We were sitting next to the door and it was cold

After living in the neighborhood for 13 years, I finally gave in and tried Hillstone, against my better judgment. Its reputation as a glorified suburban chain in the heart of NYC has always kept me away—why choose Hillstone when the city is bursting with fantastic, unique restaurants? Seriously, who craves artichoke spinach dip, something you could just as easily find at Chili’s, when you’re in New York? The experience was even worse than expected. My family eats out regularly, and our kids are well-behaved; we’ve never been asked to leave or even had a single complaint about them in any restaurant, anywhere in the world. But at Hillstone, the staff seemed almost eager to exclude us. Upon arrival, my youngest daughter made some sounds, and after she had waited quietly for about twenty minutes, we were met with rudeness and were actually asked to leave. Apparently, Hillstone’s idea of hospitality is to treat families like a nuisance and make them feel unwelcome. If you’re looking for a genuine, family-friendly dining experience in NYC, skip Hillstone. With so many excellent restaurants around, there’s absolutely no reason to settle for a chain that can’t even get the basics of decent service right. The only thing memorable about our visit was how quickly we wanted to leave.

I am writing this review to detail the less than hospitable experience I received at Hillstone on Nov. 26, 2025. I reached out to several times via email to the company directly and even left a message through their website to avoid leaving a bad review however, all of my attempts when unacknowledged and unanswered. Not the hospitality I'm used to from Hillstone. At 4:50pm, I walked into Hillstone on Park Ave South and was greeted by the Hostess. I asked for a seat at the bar for 1. She informed me there was a wait but that I was “next to be seated”. She took my name and number and told me that I would receive a text when a seat was available. At 4:55pm I received a text letting me know that I was added to the waitlist. I went to the restroom, returned to the lobby, took a seat and I waited. The lobby was empty when I arrived, however, as I waited more people began to come. As time passed I noticed 2 ladies who had come in after me got seated at the bar after just a brief wait. At first I thought nothing of it but then when another party of 2 that had also come in after me, AND after the other 2 ladies got sat, I went to the hostess to inquire about my wait. She replied… “Those were parties of 2, you’re the next party of 1 to be sat.” I was confused. Excuse me??? Two separate parties came after me and both were sat before me because they were “parties of 2”??? I didn’t understand this process/policy so I asked for clarification. Again she reiterated the “Party of 2” vs. “Party of 1” as if there are 2 separate waitlists. When I reminded the hostess that she told me I was next to be seated she tried to clarify that she said I was the “next party of 1” to be seated! Additionally, I asked the hostess for her name just for the purposes of this review and she told me that she does “not give her name out for security purposes”. A quality hospitality establishment like Hillstone and they don’t give names… For “security reasons”. Unheard of. Did I feel like a threat to her because I didn't look like the other guests that were there to dine? For over 20 years I’ve been patronizing Hillstone restaurants. It is mine and my family's favorite restaurant. We even went every year for Mother’s Day to the one in LI and had the same amazing server until they closed. In recent years, 53rd and Lex became the go to for me and my mother while she was receiving chemotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering around the corner. My mother has passed on since the 53rd street location closed and now there’s only Park Ave South. To say it is impossible to get a reservation there now is an understatement and forget about a walk in… Great for business, not so great for regulars who might just want to stop in. Even the bar has turned into a “waitlist” if you don't get there by 4pm. I don’t live in the city so after work I traveled from Jamaica, Queens about 1 hour and 20mins away, to go to Hillstone. Being at Hillstone, a place I used to share with my mother on the eve of a holiday that is no longer the same without her was all I wanted. It was early so getting a seat at the bar shouldn’t have been too hard. Sadly, Hillstone’s Bar Waitlist Policy made a “Party of 1” feel even more lonely and ostracized for not having anyone to share the evening with because now, I had to wait even longer to eat because I was alone. My hope with this review is that no other “Party of 1” ever has to experience what I did and that guests are seated at the bar in the order that they arrive. And if that is the policy, two separate waitlists, then that needs to be communicated to the guest upon arrival. On a positive note, 8/15/25, I was dining at the bar for lunch and TOMEE was my bartender and I just want to say that she is amazing… The epitome of service and hospitality. As a solo diner most times, I’m never really looking to engage with the bartender, I just need them to anticipate, acknowledge, and be attentive without being intrusive and she was all of that and then some while being extremely busy. Full email and details not able to fit due to character limits.