"If you’re looking for a movement to join, may we suggest the cult of Hillstone? The national restaurant chain—business-casual Applebee’s, essentially—only has one location in NYC, and it’s developed a loyal following thanks to its flawless service and supernaturally consistent American food. Bring a few friends or associates, spread out in a plush booth enveloped in a little cocoon of light, and conduct your initiation ceremony. It should involve artichoke dip, a crisp martini, and a french dip sandwich stuffed with silky prime rib." - sonal shah, bryan kim, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, carina finn koeppicus
"How similar is it to TGI Fridays? A business-casual cousin, with the consistency of an Atomic clock. Founded in Nashville in 1977, the Hillstone Restaurant Group has outposts from Dallas to Coral Gables. NYC has just the one Nomad location, and, like every other Hillstone, it looks like an upscale airport lounge with hints of film noir. With its sushi, shrimp cocktail, and barbecue ribs, the menu is even more chaotic than that of a Fridays, but the food arrives flawless every single time. Also, the service is impeccable." - bryan kim
"The folks at Hillstone like to play coy with menu descriptions, like this dish, which is much more than just a kale salad with rotisserie chicken and a roasted peanut vinaigrette. The scent from the open kitchen spit of herb-rubbed roasted chicken greets you right as you walk into Hillstone. The aroma shows up a second time when this salad hits the table with what we want to believe is Swedish-massaged kale, sheaves of pecorino, and pull-apart warm chicken so good we dredge our fingers through the nutty vinegar remnants." - chelsea thomas
"The Hawaiian ribeye at this spot" — Chris James Kahle. The Hawaiian ribeye is listed among three personal favorites and highlighted by an influencer for its appeal." - Courtney E. Smith
"Hillstone is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Their grilled chicken salad is delicious. I like to get it chopped with the peanut sauce on the side. Sometimes they'll do that, sometimes they won't. Either way, it's one of my favorite salads. I've been going to Hillstone since high school. I've celebrated birthdays there; it was the first restaurant I took my first-born child to. There was a time in my life where I was at Hillstone on 27th and Park multiple times a week. It was a joke in my office that if I was going to dinner, it was at Hillstone." - brennan carley