On our way to the restaurant, I tried to call to reserve a table. However, no one picked up and I soon understood why. Even at almost 3 p.m. on a Wednesday, the place was packed.

We were told the wait for a table would be about 40 minutes, so instead, we decided to grab seats at the bar.

Once seated, the bartender provided us with folded cloth napkins and menus.

I noticed the menu said hot towels could be provided upon request. When I asked the bartender about it, she gave us steaming towels for our hands.

I thought this was a nice touch, especially on a chilly NYC day.

For an appetizer, we ordered the spinach and artichoke dip ($23), which came with salsa, sour cream, and warm tortilla chips.

The dip was salty and had generous amounts of spinach and melty cheese. The salsa was my mom's favorite, and I loved that just as we dwindled down to the last few chips, a server came by with a fresh refill.

My mom and I wanted to try Hillstone's beef, but we didn't necessarily want to have steak in the middle of the afternoon.

So, we decided to share the French dip ($33), made with USDA Prime beef. The sandwich was served alongside a mountain of thin-cut fries that were crispy and well-seasoned, and a bowl of horseradish cream.

We were also given an empty bowl, which confused us at first. However, the bartender filled it with au jus from a small, elegant jug.

The steak was pink, tender, and lightly seasoned, and the bread was nice and soft. It melted away along with the beef after heavy-handed dips in the accompanying sauces.

Overall, the sandwich was so good that my mom and I almost forgot about the fries.

When I visited Hillstone years ago, I ordered a delicious warm brownie ($15) with ice cream. I was excited to see that it was still on the menu during my visit, and knew I had to order it.

Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, the brownie was warm, covered in a decadent caramel sauce, and sprinkled with salty walnuts and peanuts.

Even though we were getting full, my mom and I finished the entire dessert.

After our meal, I wondered why I hadn't returned to Hillstone sooner. The food was excellent, the service was attentive, and we felt like we got great value for our money.

Our bill came out to $77.30 with tax and before tip. Although this price may be a little high for a casual lunch, it felt right for a nice, tasteful meal. The food was easy to share, the dining room was classy, and the menu had a little bit for everyone.

It feels like the type of place you'd go to for an anniversary dinner or special occasion — just be sure to make a reservation in advance.

When we walked into the restaurant, I felt like I was walking into a time capsule. The white plaster walls, blue lighting, and curved white banquettes all seemed reminiscent of the early 2000s.

Bubbles seemed like an appropriate way to kick off our reunion meal, so I ordered a glass of Veuve ($36) to start.

My friend chose a cocktail called Fade to Blueberry ($23), which contained Jack Daniel's No.7 Whiskey, mint, blackberries, and fresh lime juice. She said it was refreshing and tasted like summer in a glass.

We also ordered a bottle of Saratoga water ($9) and a glass of Caymus cabernet sauvignon ($57) to share during our meal.

We ordered several appetizers to share, the first of which was an iceberg salad ($32).

The pungent Point Reyes blue cheese and cubes of applewood-smoked bacon were balanced by the refreshing cherry tomatoes.

We enjoyed the grilled octopus ($34), which was on special the night we dined at STK.

In addition to the octopus, this dish included fingerling potatoes, salsa verde, olives, and smoked paprika aioli.

Honestly, the seafood was so perfectly charred, tender in texture, and delicately sweet that I didn't think it needed the sides or sauce.

The Lil' Brgs sliders ($36) seemed like an homage to a McDonald's burger with a high-end twist.

These were made with premium wagyu beef, STK's house sauce, and homemade sesame seed buns. The meat was ultra juicy, and the sauce provided a nice tanginess.

The first entrée we ordered was the the Hokkaido scallops ($67). This dish was a special and came with celeriac purée, brown butter, capers, and a pomegranate reduction.

The scallops were naturally sweet, rich, buttery, and tender. It was my favorite dish of the evening.

The duck confit gnocchi with Parmesan crema ($59) was rich and heavy — but I think that was the point. Thankfully, the butternut squash, oyster mushrooms, and brussel sprouts balanced the dish nicely.

The 6-ounce filet mignon ($64) is something I'd never traditionally order because I don't like leaner cuts of meat. However, our server assured us we'd love it, so I decided to give it a try.

The filet was cooked medium-rare, fanned out, and topped with wagyu-umami butter ($13), which was torched tableside and drizzled over the meat.

"Wow" was the only word that came out of my mouth when I tried it. The meat was tender and complimented the salty notes from the butter nicely.

We ordered three sides: lobster mac and cheese ($43), Brussels sprouts ($21), and truffle fries ($21).

The lobster mac and cheese seemed over-the-top, but even with all of the cream, butter, and cheese used, it didn't overwhelm the delicate lobster meat.

I was excited to try the Brussels sprouts, which were deep fried, tossed with bacon pieces, and finished with a cider glaze. However, I wasn't a fan of the glaze and thought it made the dish too saucy.

Finally, the Parmesan truffle fries were decadent and had a crispy exterior and fluffy interior.

The mac and cheese was my favorite of all the sides we tried. If I wasn't ordering anything else, I'd happily enjoy it as an entrée.

We ordered the chocolate cake ($22), which was decadent but balanced thanks to the airy layers of cake that offset the rich chocolate ganache.

The doughnuts ($22) reminded me of the ones you'd find at a fair. The fluffy fritters were tossed with cinnamon sugar and had the perfect amount of sweetness.

The most unique dessert was "The Cloud" ($22), a mass of cotton candy set on fire tableside with Belvedere Vodka.

The sweet, sugary threads dissolved slightly, revealing a cake surrounded by berries and marinated in ginger syrup.

It was flashy and fun, but I thought the dish was far too boozy and sweet.

After tax and before tip, our meal came out to just over $636. We spent about three to four hours at STK chatting, feasting, and catching up, but we never felt rushed.

Most of all, I appreciated that the music wasn't turned up throughout the evening so we could hear one another.

I was so pleased with how I felt when leaving this location that if I was back in Los Angeles, I'd definitely visit again.

Arby's is a Georgia-based chain that has over 3,400 locations across eight countries, the majority of which are in the US. The restaurant is best known for its roast-beef sandwiches.

Walking in, I noticed a giant letter "A" decoration with light bulbs on the wall. I thought this added a fun, retro vibe to the dining area.

This location felt clean, and I really liked the white subway tiles around the register area. There was even a bell by the door for customers to ring if they enjoyed good service.

At Arby's, I ordered a variety of menu items, opting for a mix of sandwiches and smaller sides.

I went with the classic French dip and Swiss, the three-piece chicken tenders, curly fries, and the chicken bacon Swiss sandwich. Altogether, my meal cost just over $26 with tax.

The French dip ($7) came on a fluffy white roll with a good amount of sliced roast beef and melted Swiss cheese.

The roll was soft and didn't overwhelm the sandwich. The roast beef was lightly seasoned, and the au jus added a rich flavor.

I also liked how the cheese had a nice creamy aftertaste that made each bite really satisfying.

Arby's chicken tenders were my least-favorite thing I ordered. The breading had a light peppery seasoning that I enjoyed, but overall, I thought they were a little too dry. Plus, at $6 for three tenders, I felt they were overpriced.

On the other hand, the curly fries didn't let me down. They were hot and tasted fresh, with a mild peppery spice. They paired well with the other food, but I thought the $4 cost was a bit pricey.

I was impressed by the chicken bacon Swiss sandwich, which came with shredded lettuce, tomato, and a honey-mustard sauce. I also thought the sandwich was a decent size.

The chicken was crispy, and there was a nice amount of lettuce. I wasn't expecting the honey mustard to add so much flavor, but it was light and tangy.

For $7.20, the sandwich was filling and delicious.

I'd been to Applebee's before and had a good impression from the last few times I went.

The fast-casual restaurant is known for its classic American food, including burgers, sandwiches, and ribs. The California-based chain has over 1,500 locations in 11 countries and territories.

When we got to Applebee's, our server sat us in a quiet corner booth with wall art depicting red rock canyons and Nevada landmarks.

As was the case with my last experience at this chain, I thought the restaurant was clean, and the service was fast and friendly.

Unlike at Arby's, a server took our order at Applebee's.

I opted for the prime rib dipper, the chicken tender platter, and a bacon ranch crispy chicken sandwich.

Including tax, the whole meal came to a total of about $48 before the tip.

The prime rib dipper was smaller than I expected but had a lot of flavor.

I thought the prime rib, which was served on a lightly toasted cheddar bun with American cheese and onions, was well seasoned. The accompanying French-onion au jus truly tasted homemade.

Though the sandwich came with fries, I thought $15 seemed a little expensive, given the portion size.

I was surprised by how big the chicken tender platter ($14.30) was.

This meal came with seven tenders, some fries, and a small serving of coleslaw. The tenders were mildly seasoned and seemed pretty standard.

I'm not sure how Applebee's cooks or seasons its fries, but I've been blown away every time I've eaten at the restaurant. They packed a ton of flavor and were cooked to perfection.

However, for me, the best part was the coleslaw — it was light, fresh-tasting, and not overly sweet.

I was shocked at how massive the chicken patty on this sandwich was. The brioche bun almost felt too small.

Still, I was even more surprised at how perfectly this chicken was cooked. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside — absolutely delicious.

The lettuce and pickles added a pop of freshness, and I liked that the ranch dressing was served on the side, so the sandwich didn't get soggy. At $14.60, I thought this meal was a fantastic deal.

Applebee's offered more food at a higher price, which initially made Arby's seem like a decent value.

However, the bacon ranch crispy chicken sandwich at Applebee's was incredible. I'd go back for that alone.

When it comes to which chain I'd be most likely to return to, I have to go with Applebee's.