Hill Street Tavern

First time there we ordered the chicken sandwich and a couple of drinks. The chicken was not only overcooked, but had a 3″ rib bone still in the meat, which my wife found when she bit into the sandwich. When we told the waiter about this, he just sort of shrugged, took the plate away and left. No apology, no offer to replace it and it was still on the bill when we went to leave.
We thought we’d give them another shot a few weeks later and order 2 burgers med-​rare. What they brought out was so charred you could flake off blackened chunks from the meat. We told the waiter, he apologized and 25 – 30 minutes later he brings out our new burgers — which are nearly raw. Meat was completely red inside, outside was still cold and barely cooked. Waiter offered to get us something else, but if you can’t make a burger and your chicken still has bones in it, it doesn’t leave you with much faith they can make anything else.
Fast-​forward 3 – 4 weeks and we see the place is now apparently closed, and given the poor quality food, I can’t say I’m surprised.

I’m sorry Hill Street Tavern. I like your location and your food, but your service has been positively abysmal on my last two visits to the point that I will not be returning.
We arrived at 11:50am for lunch and were the only customers there. We placed our orders at 11:55 and requested separate checks, which we were assured would be no problem. We received our appetizer of boiled peanuts at 12noon, and they were really spicy but tasty. Then we waited. And waited. And waited.
At 12:45, I informed the waitress that we had been there for nearly an hour. Her response? «Oh wow! Has it been that long?» Um, yes. Yes, it has. She goes back to check on our food, and returns to tell us that the cook has started it, and it should be out soon. Five minutes pass, and she returns to tell us that it will be out any minute. Food comes out around 12:55, and we ask for our checks as soon as the food is brought. We scarf our meals down because we’re only supposed to be gone for an hour for lunch.
Checks arrive after we finish our food, and the waitress informs us that she’s «taken a little off to make up for the wait.» Except what she’s done is applied the $ 20 discount she meant to apply to our group total to each of our separate checks, making each of our bills look paid in full. We know this not to be the case, and point our the error when she comes back, to which she offers that she can just split the total equally between our cards. Fine, whatever, we just want to go. So I ended up paying $ 10 for my $ 8 sandwich.
Maybe I could see returning if they had been slammed, but no more than one other table was ever occupied during our nearly two hour lunch journey. Maybe I could see returning if our drinks were kept refilled, but they weren’t. Maybe I could see returning if we had been kept up to date with the delay in the kitchen, or even informed of it as we were seated as we were all dressed in business attire and thus likely on limited time. But we weren’t.
The visit immediately before the epic fail that was this past Friday was also pretty bad service wise, but I chalked it up as a fluke and not worth Unilocaling about. Well, now I’ve been fooled twice. Shame on me for being proven the fool, but I hope to save other Unilocalers from similar shame.

I really wish I liked the food here as much as much as I like the environment. The restaurant has a very comfortable vibe, and I’ve been impressed with the staff. It’s an easy walk from my house, and the prices are reasonable. I find myself there on occasion with friends based on these factors alone.
But the food is what keeps me from being a regular. The menu item that I’ve settled on is the French dip. I’ve learned to forgive the fact that the dip is served in a bowl that is too small to actually dip the sandwich in – but the restaurant could impress me by actually serving the dip properly so I don’t have to actually pour it over the sandwich. But today my French dip came as thick brisket-​like slices instead of the thinly-​sliced roast beef that constitutes a proper French dip. Also, one of these slices was a bit gristly, making an improperly-​formed sandwich into an unpleasant one.
I will be back to Hill Street Tavern just because of its convenience and great atmosphere. But I hope the proprietors will see this and make a commitment to serving my favorite sandwich as it was intended to be served. (Or if they really prefer to serve the sandwich that they’re serving, call it something else to avoid confusion because the name «French dip» already means something else.)

I haven’t had anything here that I didn’t like. Their food is really good– everything from flatbread pizza to a BELT (BLT with an added duck egg– different but wonderfull) to their french dip to their boiled peanuts. Their french fries are my favorite anywhere and they have dipping sauces that make it even better.
The pricing is great for the quality, and things like $ 3 pint night make it even more affordable. The staff is all really nice and great to talk to. I go here just to hang out and grab a drink or have a nice meal and am never disappointed.

And… the O4W is better because of Hill Street. Thanks Hill Street!
I will now give a Pro’s list of what you should get/​see/​do when you go there, but no Con’s. There are no Con’s to Hill Street.
1. sit at the bar and get a drink from Gordon. That guy… is…awesome.
2. order the Smoked Wings with BBQ sauce. Life changing.
3. order the Friend Green Tomato Sandwich. Also life changing, and the melted cheese is amazing.
4. order the burger with cheddar. Don’t let them talk you outta the cheddar.
5. enjoy the free, covered parking
6. enjoy the people-​watching of DeKalb Avenue. ‘Nuff said.
Excellent addition to the hood.

Okay, last time our food took a while but still got us in and out in roughly an hour. This time, we ran into a few problems…
1. Our server seemed very inexperienced. I am a very forgiving judge of wait service, but this made me think long and hard.
2. Our food took a really, really long time. And we were only one of three (tops) tables in the joint.
3. Food came out… and it wasn’t cooked properly. My friend ordered a med-​well burger. It came out burnt, hockey puck style. At that point, we were so pressed for time she couldn’t even wait for a reorder. I will say my chicken sandwich was good — but again, the time problem really made it tough to enjoy.
The manager on duty (our server last time we were here for lunch) tried valiantly to right the wrongs — he gave my friend $ 5 off her next visit and checked on us several times — but the experience didn’t leave us wanting more this time. Might give it another shot… might not.

I love this place. The food is legitimately good to excellent, depending on what you order. There are several options for craft beers, with a selection that is always changing. All of the staff there are extremely personable.
Another thing I like about it is that it’s not a real niche bar… like, I don’t feel out of place just because I have no tattoos, or because I’m wearing stilettos, or because I’m not wearing stilettos, or whatever. Hill Street Tavern welcomes country bumpkins, moms, ghetto superstars, functional alcoholics, theater majors, and everyone in between.
More than anything, it’s the feel of a neighborhood bar that has me spending far more time and money there than I really should. When I leave the city, this is gonna definitely be one of the first places I visit on return trips.

This is a cool spot downtown near GA St. Good beers, huge bar (friendly bartenders) and really good food. I am a lover of wings, and hate baked wings usually — but these have a ton of flavor and crispness to them. You can tell these guys and gals running this place have a good time by the vibe inside.
Plenty of parking in their deck. For Marta riders it sits right on the MLK Station — literally right there — not down the street or around the way… right THERE!
Recommend!

Looking for a new, fun place to grab a bite or drink? Here you go! Hill Street is perfect for before/​after a Braves game too. They also have free parking in the attached garage.
Love the service. Our server was just lovely and knew the menu well. There’s something great about a server telling you what their favorite items are on the menu, but also why.
Food — we went simple this time and ordered sandwiches. I ordered the grilled chicken and the boyfriend went with the prime rib french dip. They both came with fries and were pretty large portions. The only thing I would have changed was with the bread. I am a fan of hoagie rolls, but I felt like I would have liked the sandwich more if the bread wasn’t so soft.
I love the feel of their bar. It’s very large and open… really inviting with TVs and several bartenders. I honestly can see myself coming up here to grab a few beers. That doesn’t happen often.
Bonus — they have poker on Sunday nights. We hope to check that out soon.
Overall…its official, I love Hill Street Tavern and after you give them a try, I know you will too!

Lovely vibe! This was my first UYE (Unofficial Unilocal Event), and it was a good way to get a taste. This place is so cool, laid back and easy going. For a Friday night it was just the vibe I was looking for. The music was good, big-​up to the Dj! Love the idea of the dance floor being right in the middle of things so if you’re feeling to get jiggy you don’t have to go far. People seemed to really be enjoying themselves and the company that they were with. The atmosphere puts you at ease. Parking is free, that’s a plus.
I definitely enjoyed my food, not pricey at all. The servers were all great and helpful!

Uh oh. I think I’ve found another bar where I’m likely to be a regular. You know, because I needed that.
Despite being brand spankin’ new, Hill Street Tavern feels comfortable and cozy. I loved the huge square bar and bright open windows. The bartender was super friendly: the kind of guy you don’t mind shooting the shit with for a few hours, who doesn’t seem to mind refilling your Diet Coke 11 times.
The menu is definitely a step up from your typical bar fare without being pretentious. I arrived starving and more than slightly hungover so I decided to break my vegetarianism for the day and try their grilled chicken sandwich. I don’t regret this decision in the least, as this was probably the best grilled chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. Caramelized onions, avocado, crusty fresh bread: it was insanely delicious. I opted for a side salad that was SO much better than the typical iceberg stuff you get: big fresh tomatoes, high quality greens, and a super yummy citrus dressing. The best lunch I’ve had in a while, and all in a comfortable setting.
They’ve got different specials and events going on every night of the week and never a cover. With the free secure parking around the corner, I’ll be back real soon, and I see this easily bumping up to a 5 star review with a few more visits.

Stellar selection of fine drafts (set up like a European draft house) and Chef Lee cooks up some tasty fried green tomatoes and whole okra.
The tavern itself is very wooded in it’s interior design, but also maintains a comfy feel. Very attentive & courteous staff. The tavern has a real «City Bar» feel to it, which I don’t think I’ve felt in the ATL since the closing of The Stein Club on Peachtree some years back. Hill Street however has that feel, but is a much nicer spot than the Stein Club ever was.
FREE covered and secured parking in the deck beside Hill Street Tavern as well as FREE WiFi.
On 2^nd & 4^th Fridays, «For The Love» takes place and a full sound system is set to play Reggae, Soul, Funk, (good) Hip-​Hop and other treats… also FREE like the parking and WiFi.

Super cool place in my neck of the woods and pretty chill. I’ve only been here twice but it seems as close to a lounge as I’m going to get in Grant Park.
Wings were okay, not the best around but still pretty good. Good beer prices, for sure, especially since they serve them in real adult glasses. Yes, real pints my friends — Ireland would be proud.
I was really excited though about it having real food not pretentious bar food like St. Augustine’s. Thank goodness.
Service was great. Both servers were attentive to our table, one of them was very informative about the place and happy we were there. Made the visit very enjoyable. If you have good people working, I will contain to visit. It’s a bonus that the Hill Street Tavern is in my neighborhood. Can’t wait to go back.

$ 12 glass of wine!
Maybe rather than proceeding this purchase with «this is what I have open,» you should say this is where I take all your money. And it was grape-​colored vinegar. Not to mention, upon arriving to my new neighborhood bar – after paying too much to see Owen Wilson not act yet again – I got hit on by a drunk ogre that proceeded to kiss me on the neck. My friend asked why I let him do that, and I said I was playing dead. And it didn’t work. Then I told her, he’s still here don’t provoke the crazy.
So, in summary, Midnight in Paris — fail trying to regain what was left of the night at Hill St. — double fail and $ 25 I’ll never get back.

So far, so good. The staff– super nice, like cultish but in a sweet way. I drank their kool-​aid and had a great time chatting with them. We went to hear our friends DJ last week, and they let them put up their elaborate set that involved lasers, a giant TV prop, and a projector.
The menu looks good, and for veg folks like me they have hummus and boiled peanuts to snack on, which is more than I expected. They have an outdoor smoking area that consists of two chairs I swear to you were once my mom’s in the 80’s. The parking garage is free for 2 – 3 hours and the entrance is right next to the resto off Decatur Street. I’ll be bach.

Came here with some friends who live in nearby Summerhill. We’d all been meaning to come by since the place opened up. Since my friend’s 18-​year-​old kid brother was tagging along, we needed a place that was more restaurant than bar, so we ended up here. The food and service were good, and while the DJ setup left my hearing muffled for a few minutes after we left, the tunes were awesome.
The beer selection consisted of standards and staples. The menu seemed to be typical tavern food with a few fancier selections, as one of their specials was a pecan-​crusted chicken with mashed potatoes and asparagus. I went with that, while everyone else went with more traditional choices. It seems that I quite literally paid the price for it, as my meal was the only one in double digits. FIFTEEN DOLLARS. It was delicious, but seriously. $ 15 for some chicken? I’m at a local tavern, not a fine dining establishment.
I’m not complaining too much; like I said, it was yummy. I suppose I was just surprised by the price. The chicken was not an actual piece of chicken like I thought it’d be, but three patties (?). The breading was good. As for the sides, the asparagus was very good, while the mashed potatoes were slightly too salty.
The service was good, nothing extraordinary. We came on a Friday night, and they had a DJ set up next to some kind out-​of-​place lounge area (it looked like someone’s living room) on the far side of the place. The playlist was mostly old school R&B jams. A couple of other random notes: The free covered parking is a huge plus, but the high walls between the booths where we set and the bar (where the TVs are) were a big minus on a night the Braves were playing.
I would definitely come back here. They have $ 3 pints on Thursdays. I’d just make sure to stick to the menu items, and steer clear of the delicious-​sounding but crazy expensive specials.

My boyfriend and I went here on a clear Wednesday night.
I like the smell of the wood inside. The waiter said he was the only one working so to warn us in case we might think he forgot us. «I haven’t forgotten about you,» he said, when, upon just greeting us, it didn’t make any sense.
He was very personable, and managed to be really good at «upselling» at every opportunity without seeming canned and annoying. He convinced me to get a second Duvel, convinced Matt to get bacon on his grilled pimento cheese
Nothing took very long, despite the waiter’s warning. At one point he came up to us and reassured us our food would be out soon. The time elapsed without my knowing it — a true sign of a good time.
The fish and chips were as good as any and great with my beer. The bacon on the grilled cheese was chewy and tough. That and the fact nothing else on the menu interested me that much is why I give 4 stars.

Located in the Pencil Factory Lofts building, the Hill Street Tavern is another local business to recently open on Decatur Street (noted by Creative Loafing as the next neighborhood to boom!). Luckily I scored a parking spot in front of the building; someone smoking a cigarette on the sidewalk squinted at me while I accidentally wheeled onto the concrete and pounded back onto the road in reverse.
I agree that the live music created an environment too loud for intense conversation. One guy belted out «The Sweater Song,» which excited me so much that I screamed «Like father, stepfather!» But then he looked at me weird, so never mind, I won’t support your traveling covers show.
The margaritas were tangy and powerful and the salt around the rim, coarse.
I wouldn’t consider this the safest area of town at night, but these new businesses should make it better.

This is going to be a relatively short and sweet review because 1) we didn’t spend much time here and 2) they haven’t been open that long. Given both conditions, however, we were pretty pleased with what we saw. So what did we see? We saw a well-​thought out space with a theater-​in-​the-​round bar setup that creates much more bar space for aspiring drunks.
We saw highbacked bar chairs (not stools, thankfully) and several of purse hooks underneath. There were tables and booths a-​plenty. We also saw (and heard) an acoustic guitar playing in the corner. My only minor gripe is the booth walls are kind of high, limiting the view of the band (or anything else on that side of the bar). This may not be a problem for most, but I’m exceedingly paranoid and always feel like wherever I drink will turn into a scene from «Roadhouse.»
The drinks were fine. I ordered a Yuengling which was priced higher than post at $ 4.50. Not a killer, mind you, but it’s Yuengling. (I probably deserved to be overcharged for ordering that.) But then, there’s the food. The wife and I were actually there for dinner. The printed menu, consisting mostly of sandwiches, didn’t seem too gluten-​free friendly at first, but the specials definitely were. Our server listed them off: a 16oz ribeye (aged in-​house). Ditto the 32 oz. (32 oz?!), the giant grilled porkchop. And… um, there were a few others, but it’s been a few days now and I forget. Also I was drinking and am old.
We started with the wings. They were smoked then flash fried. While I still think the Local’s are better, it’s only by a smidge. These wings were killer and the sauce (on the side for some reason, but actually appreciated) was plenty spicy for even me, the chilihead. The wife then ordered the 16oz steak (the server checked that the accompanying sauce was gluten-​free) and I ordered the fish and chips. Again, we were pleased with both. The steak was cooked to order (medium rare, natch) and the batter on my fish had something extra that I couldn’t place but found tasty.
Now did I mention Hill Street Tavern is smoke-​free? We asked if this was a permanent thing and our server lead us to believe it was. Awesome. Dude, you just cemented our biz right there. I grant a conditional 4 stars to the Hill Street Tavern. Way to go, Hill Street! And to the rest of you, let’s be careful out there.*
*obligatory pop culture reference.

I went here last night with Ian R. I too was aggravated by the «live music,» which consisted of two dudes who obviously went to 420 Fest a few weeks back. I thought the «music» was too loud and I could barely hear our friends.
Our waiter was really nice and came by often to check on us. And the place got pretty packed by 10 p.m. I hope this bodes well for this stretch of town. It’s been on the up-​and-​up for a few years now. Just get rid of the two Dave Matthews wannabes at this place.