Hill Top Inn in Elmira
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Elmira, Chemung County, New York, US
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Site: http://www.hill-top-inn.com/
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:5–8PM
- Wednesday:5–8PM
- Thursday:5–8:30PM
- Friday:5–9PM
- Saturday:5–9PM
- Sunday:Closed
Excellent food! The scallops au gratin is the best scallop dish weve ever had, hands down. The tuna tataki appetizer was prepared very well and the seasoning was amazing. Lacey, Jeremie and Michael (the owner) were attentive, professional and kind. They even offered us bug spray when at dusk to help ward away mosquitoes as we chose to dine outside.The view speaks for itself. Do not pass up an opportunity to eat here. Before you ask, no, they didnt pay me for this review, lol.
I’m a Horseheads native who came back to town to celebrate my mothers 81st birthday. Picked the hill top in based on reviews, location, and vague memories of it when I was a kid.First the positives. The ambiance is incredible. We were able to be seated outside under a tent and had an unobstructed view over the hill. Very nice. The staff was pleasant, though harried. The wings appetizer was delicious. Crispy and smokey, i recommend them to everyone. The rolls are good. Soft, warm, with a slight dusting of sugar on top. More like. Yeast roll than a typical dinner roll.So now the negatives. It was busy, with several different events going on besides the Friday night crowd. So one can expect service might be slow.We were seated about 6:20, dinner order placed about 6:40. 2 appetizers, 5 meals. First appetizer, the wings, came about 45 minutes after that. For some reason it took another 30 minutes after that for the spinach and artichoke dip to arrive. Finally, after just breaking the 2 hour mark, our meals arrived. Everyone said their meal was fine, except me. I had ordered the shrimp scampi and what I got was some boiled shrimp on top of pasta with no scampi sauce at all. Just completely flavorless. Not wanting to spend the night there waiting for the food again, I did not send it back.Our server did acknowledge our wait many times, and apologized. They also offered us deserts as comp several times, which I declined every time. I just had no faith they would be out anytime soon. The manager also offered a gift card for next time. Which again, being from out of town, I declined. They finally took the value of the gift card off the bill, $25 off of $175. 14%. I did not want to wait anymore so I said thank you and paid.Yes they were busy. But I was able to watch multiple parties be seated, order food, eat and leave before ours ever came out. What happened exactly will be a part of lost hill lore I suppose, I just know I won’t be back..
The restaurant is at the top of Jerusalem Hill overlooking a spectacular view. The food was delicious. The service is timely and good. I ate at this restaurant twice. I was an invitee at both occasions so I have no idea about prices. I do not drink alcohol. I do not know about their drinks. Everything was great.
Beautiful views. Great service. The fish fry was delicious. Had to take off one star because they dont have plain mashed potatoes. I do not eat veggies. The ones they have come with cabbage and leeks blended in. My husband who likes cabbage loved them. I gave up fries to get my beloved mashed potatoes but it was not meant to be.
We had a really great time here at the Hilltop Inn. We were celebrating a couple of big life events and couldnt have picked a better place. The food was great, but even better was the service. The staff was incredibly inviting and fun. I hope everyone has as nice of a time here as we did. The view is spectacular. There arent many better backdrops for dinner at sunset than this.
Very disappointed at my recent visit . I was in From out of town & had a special dinner planned. I had emailed a week before asking for a nice table for just 2 with a view for my special celebration dinner & was told we were all set . We arrived & were told it was busy from a wedding & we would have to eat upstairs. We were brought through a beautiful dining room with several empty tables into a dark , storage looking room upstairs. It had 3 large long rectangular tables with 20 people at a table ( not sure if it was another private party ?) and we were seated along an empty wall , with absolutely no view and couldn’t even hear a word we said the room was so loud . I wish they would have told me this prior to my arrival. It was such a disappointment. Our hostess and then our waitress said they couldn’t switch our table because “ the other tables were reserved “. I also had a nice table reserved. We ended up leaving as they really could have cared less . I will not be back . I know business has been rough due to covid but don’t turn an awful room into a dining area . Or at least tell people ahead of time so they can make their own choice.
Nice upscale Local restaurant. Service started out well. We had a large party & took over 45 min for the food to come out. Other than this everything was fine manager came to greet the table. The view of Elmira was nice. A few tweeks would be keeping glasses full & more attention to food prep speed. But this is more of a Local restaurant I think people from out of town would have different expectations.. Also for what you get Id say its slightly overpriced.
Went here for St Patricks day, third year in a row. I had the shepherds pie and half of my daughters Reuben. The shepherds pie was a smaller portion than I expected, but it was fantastic and filling. It melted in my mouth. My daughter couldnt finish her sandwich so I ate the second half. In all my 50 years of eating sandwiches, that was by far the best corned beef I have ever tasted. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the restaurant was well staffed. Food was served quickly. Due to covid, things were spaced out much more than in the past and it was a much better experience.
I see a lot of 5 star reviews but unfortunately that wasn’t our experience. We went to celebrate my sister’s bday. Like the location and atmosphere a lot. My husband and I ordered the concannon potato’s and langastinos - they should just take that off their menu. My son ordered a burger medium and got it well done. My sister’s caprese salad was “ok”. We ordered a bottle of wine for the table and the waiter brought glasses, which ended up costing $54 instead of $26.
This place has a fantastic view. It is spacious and great for events. The food is really high quality and delicious. Even the chicken wings were decadent. The owner is very nice and was making sure everything was ok with all his guests. Highly recommend getting a reservation. Oh and the chocolate peanut butter pie was great! Save room for dessert.
Hill Top has the best view in the region. The staff are welcoming and well trained. The drinks are a mix of old standbys and unique offerings. The menu has something for everyone - including vegetarian & gluten free. There are meat dishes, seafood, pasta, a variety of appetizers, and delectable desserts.
Even though we were only able to see the upstairs dining room, it was still a great experience. It wasnt hard to get a reservation. The servers were always tentative to us. They have an especially large, wooden, fresh, pepper grinder. The room was very clean and they had pretty table linens. The view from the upstairs was very romantic. The sunset was perfect if you went at 6pm in October. The room wasnt loud even when all the tables were full.
Awesome awesome place!! The food was phenomenal and the wait staff were so great, professional, and helpful. They truly went above and beyond to make our baby shower experience memorable! Would definitely recommend this place to anyone and will surely visit again when we visit this area next time.
What a wonderful experience at the Hill Top Inn.After a funeral, we wanted to gather immediate family for lunch. In September 2020, how could we do this safely and follow all Covid19 guidelines? Call Michael Sullivan at the Hill Top Inn! He reassured us that we could dine outside and all safety precautions would be in place. Servers wore masks and gloves and served the most delicious food. The only thing equal to the quality of the service and food, was the beautiful view. Thank you to Michael and his staff for making a difficult day easier.
This is by far the best restaurant in all of Elmira. Theyre incredible food is not to be missed and if you is undeniably breathtaking no matter the weather or the season. If you want a private, date a private party, or private wedding, this is the place there is no other option.
A charming restaurant great for parties, commencements, business meetings, prom, and receptions!Amazing view overlooking the city of Elmira.Great outdoor and indoor space. Indoors includes a large dining area with floor to ceiling windows, letting in ample amounts of natural light.Accommodating staff and a great menu to choose from.
Wonderful view, but other than that...food wasnt that spectacular....especially for the high price. Had to ask waitress for more bread. Staff was mostly young kids who werent super professional. Salads were very small with only bare ingredients. Bartender was a jerk and he rolled his eyes and audibly sighed when my friend changed his mind about a beer so the bartender had to spend an extra 4 seconds turning around and getting another.
Food was good and the view was great as well. Overlooked the city of Elmira and the lake too. We got a good view of the sunset when we came. There wasnt too much of a wait and it didnt look very crowded when we went. Service was a little slow but everything else was good.
I was here for a banquet. The prime rib was excellent. The rest of the meal, spinach strawberry salad, roasted mixed vegetables, herb crusted chicken breast, rolls, and carrot cake kept the standard high. The view over the valley, including a beautiful sunset. The service was stellar! Must bring my wife here fit a romantic dinner!
Had an excellent dinner tonight. The food, service, and atmosphere was all top notch. In addition to the nice experience you cant beat that view at sunset. Its nice to have a meal prepared and cooked for you (thats not Italian) rather than that over processed food weve all gotten accustomed to at chain restaurants.
Attended a private party in their upstairs banquet room. Good was excellent, and plenty of it. Great waitstaff, kept drinks filled, meaning they had to keep going up and down the stairs, we didnt. This was our third year having our company Christmas party in this venue, everyone was really pleased with it.
The restaurant its self is nice. Great view. The food on the other hand, yuck. Bland! Covered in oils and sauces that didnt compliment the dish. My husband and I threw up when we got home just to get the bad taste out of our mouth. And the wine selection was garbage. Which is funny because there are 100s of wineries in upstate new York. I will never eat there again. Maybe if we pulled the food from the dumpster out back of the restaurant we could get some flavor!
As usual the view was amazing and the food was excellent. This has been our go-to place for special occasions. However, this time the service was poor and our martinis were dissapointing. Our waitress forgot to take our order until another staffer went to get her a half hour after we arrived. She also got one of our sides wrong and didnt bring the wine we ordered with dinner until we were almost done with our meals. As to the martinis - the glasses were filled to the brim with ice - so much so that the olives didnt fit in the glass. This meant that the little liquid that was in the glass quickly got watered down.
Beautiful venue and restaurant. I was in town for a wedding and this was my first time going to this place. Absolutely beautiful, the setting is beautiful and views are amazing. The staff was very friendly and the food was great. I would definitely go back to this place if I was a local.
Staff was excellent. Food was mediocre at best. The filet mignon was the most unflavorful piece of steak Ive ever had. With the exception of a couple of bits of garlic as the only flavor the potatoes looked and tasted like they were made last week. I dont normally write reviews and am not one to complain often but for a $100 meal Ill go to Libs next time. Was the low point for our 20 year anniversary.
Great view, friendly service, not well trained. Not sure of menu or daily options. Quite pricey, value not appropriate. Prime rib was good not great! Baked potatoe was boiled not baked an Irishmans dream but wanted a crispy baked potatoe, not to be had. The vegetable medley was very strange, carrots, squash, green beans and red onion, all undercooked. Fish and chips was Haddock, which we appreciated, the chips were potato chips not fries after we specifically asked. However, the saving grace of this meal was my girlfriend and her Elmira College graduating daughter thoroughly enjoyed their short ribs, so I would like to thank them for making the ladies in my life very happy. Unfortunately I dont think we will return or recommend this to our family and friends.
Spent 2 hours plus at the Hill Top last night. Extensive menu with many GF options. Our party had several entrees each one being excellent . My wife and I both had the filet - absolutely delicious! Our server Haley (?) was wonderful. Will be back. Jim and Marilyn from Hammondsport NY
The food is not as good as it was a decade (or more) ago, and the menu seems to be about the same since then. That lack of change/growth probably appeals to the frequent clientele of the elderly.The location is the main selling point. Everyone talks about the view.Its especially unique in a region known more for opioid abuse than being Samuel Clemenss home. Another bright spot is that they regularly have Pat Kane playing music there. That guy puts on a good show. I dont know the schedule though.If youre looking to spend an evening telling yourself, oh, this is nice all the while paying more than any of it is worth, then the Hilltop is where its it at.Oh, and if they are busy, the wait staff can NOT handle it whatsoever.
We were 11 and the variety pleased all ages. Or beer drinker was thrilled and the girls got a bottle of Atwater Reisling. We ran the gamut from scallops to beef to wings. When the outdoor diners left the little ones played on the deck. We were loud and rowdy and had a ball. And of course, the view was gorgeous!
Total reviews rating 4.5
199 Reviews for Hill Top Inn 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-08This is the second time I have been to this wonderful restaurant! The view is spectacular, the tasty food is well prepared and our waiter Zack was very attentive and made our evening even more enjoyable! This is a perfect place for a memorable evening. You will see the best sunsets EVER!
Review №2
2021-07-25It is our first time to dine in here this evening.We just moved from Florida last week and we were looking for a nice restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary.This is a perfect place.The view was stellar, food was amazing, ambiance was romantic and service was great. We even talked to the owner Mike who took our lovely pictures. We are definitely coming back next month together with our family. We found our favorite restaurant.
Review №3
2022-06-30Wonderful in every way! Food, personnel, attention paid to detail and we thank them for that! We celebrated our 50th anniversary and the Hill Top Inn certainly made it a memorable and excellent experience. Many thanks.
Review №4
2022-03-29Friendly and hospitable waiter. Crowded on weekends. Reservation is preferred for evening dining in. Everything is always perfectly cooked.
Review №5
2021-08-27The service was spotless, from hostess to wait staff, to owner visiting our table to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. The drinks were delivered promptly with appetizers. All were delicious, I could live on the chicken wings and Peach Wheat Ale forever. 🍺 We all loved our entrées, particularly the cajun seared tuna. The made from scratch bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce, and perfectly moist brownies with ice cream were a perfect close to the meal. The live music was fun from Frank Sinatra covers to Irish folk music. Even got to see one young 6 year old guest dance an Irish jig, so sweet! Definitely visiting again with more friends and family.
Review №6
2021-12-13Went for brunch on Sunday. Busy!! Need to make a reservation! The bartender Jeremy was a star. He handled all drink orders with calm efficiency. Even the women who wanted every detail customized, because they didnt realize the other hundreds of people mattered. Breakfast was great. Possibly the best omelette if had! Owner was also on sight and chipping in.Great place for views. Staff was attentive and friendly. The wings were great! Oysters were a tasty treat. The tuna was pretty good, but watch out for the wasabi- its the real deal. HOT! The calamari was very greasy and the ceasar salad was small and no dressing, and was $7. Lots of interesting mixed drinks. Definitely worth another trip back.
Review №7
2022-04-18We are frequent guests at Hilltop. We love the environment, the food, the staff, and the views. Today we got the pleasure of having Easter dinner there, I normally cook for all holidays but decided this year I did not want to. I was so impressed with the food and the staff. Everything was delicious and I didn’t even have to do the dishes!! AND The most important part…… I have an allergy to Gluten (Celiac disease), they labeled the food items in the buffet so there was no guessing and no need to find staff to ask a bunch of questions! Makes buffet dining so easy and relaxing which literally never happens anywhere! Thank you Hilltop Staff!!!!
Review №8
2022-04-26Our out door seats with the view was nice. The food was good as well.
Review №9
2021-04-19Great experience. The staff were very friendly and attentive. We ended up ordering the tuna tataki appetizer and the stuffed haddock and eggplant parmesan and they were delicious! The view from the restaurant is beautiful but unfortunately it was overcast on the day we went. Nonetheless it was a great experience. I would love to come back during the day (with nicer weather) so I can better enjoy the view and maybe sit outside in their large patio area. Reservations are recommended.
Review №10
2021-05-07The food here was absolutely amazing! The scallops were the best Ive ever had. The ambiance was relaxing and clean. The staff was courteous, and service was prompt. Though it was too cold for us to enjoy, there is an outdoor deck and fire pit for enjoyment during the warmer months.