Houston's Restaurant

The first Houston's restaurant was launched by current owner and CEO George Biel, Joe Ledbetter and Vic Branstetter in 1977 in Nashville, Tennessee.[1][2] Bransetter sold his shares in 2006, and Ledbetter in 2011, leaving George Biel sole owner of the company. The corporate company, Hillstone Restaurant Group was founded in 1976 and owns the following restaurants: Gulfstream, Bandera, Rutherford Grill, Palm Beach Grill, Cherry Creek Grill, Los Altos Grill, Woodmont Grill, R+D, Hillstone, The Honor Bar, South Beverly Grill, East Hampton Grill, White House Tavern, Big Jake’s Steaks, and Houston’s.[3] As of 2019, the group owns and operates 76 restaurants under 13 different brands in the United States.

Zagat gave the restaurant high marks and remarked on its '"vibrant”, “modern” setting matched with a “lively bar scene”; “seamless”, “tag-team” service".'[4]

Since 2009, several Houston's locations around the US have changed their names to Hillstone. In 2010, Houston's in Austin, TX changed name to 'Bartlett’s'.

The company maintains the changes are in keeping with a long-term strategy of disassociating from the chain image to remain a niche player in the industry. The practice of changing restaurant names is not a new strategy for the company, which has similarly converted several Banderas to locally named Grills, all predating state and federal regulations. The company states that the name change was based on rebranding with a focus on more regional and less standardized fare.[5][6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hillstone restaurants reopening in Texas forbid staff from wearing masks, or PPE of any kind, while working. The company says no one will be fired for refusing to work without a mask, but they would also be ineligible to receive unemployment benefits.[7]