Hillstone - Broad Channel

This bar used to be a cool nyc spot. Now they manage reservations at the bar! Empty seats abound, but nobody can sit, and a couple of incompetent girls are running this joke. This is not NYC culture. There is something toxic with the employee culture now. They lie to you claiming to be fully booked, but half the seats are empty and remain empty. The bartenders now mail it in like robots. When I complained to a manager about empty seats for 15 minutes at the bar while not being seated, she said to me 'making money is not their priority, but instead it is about a customer experience '. I was jaw dropped. It wasn 't a good experience lol.

From a food standpoint, Hillstone makes it difficult to not love the place. My partner and I went there yesterday and had our normal appetizer fare (Osaka Style Sushi, Thai Tuna Roll) and both were up to their normal standards. Main course was amazing, she enjoyed her French Dip and I (as always) loved my Hawaiian Ribeye. The place simply delivers from a dining standpoint. I will say the only thing that's changed is the atmosphere of the place. Whereas Hillstone used to be on point with their service (uber attentive, courteously thanks you at the end of the meal with your last name and everything, staff dressed impeccably well), I feel like the quality has gone down a bit. The general manager just handed us our check without saying thank you, and felt a little weird seeing him wear a Hanes shirt under a blazer. I feel like ghosts of old Hillstone would have an issue with that. Like I said, the food is still amazing. The quality of service, however, is falling behind and getting too lackadaisical.