Some still call this “Houston’s” even though they changed the name a few years ago, but it’s all part of the same corporate family. Whichever location you choose, you’ll find the old-school French Dip Au Jus on the menu. Food lore says this crusty/juicy/meaty sandwich got its start a century ago in Los Angeles, when a restaurateur dropped a roll into a pan filled with meat juices and turned it into a menu item. Today, French Dip seems a slightly elegant if messy throwback, requiring the diner to work just a little for comfort-food pleasure.  

At Hillstone, the experience is a bit upscale, with attentive service and a dress code – no flip-flops or tank tops, please – and their French Dip will set you back around $22, so why not dress up? The crusty, toasted bread, made in-house, is neither too hard to sink your teeth into, nor so soft as to disintegrate when dipped into the flavorful and not-too-salty jus. Inside, thinnish slices of medium-rare roasted prime rib are stacked atop a creamy smear of mayo. You’ll want to order the fresh horseradish sauce for a welcome jolt of pungency. Their sandwich is served with a mound of shoestring potato fries or coleslaw, making this a satisfying splurge for lunch or dinner.

Hillstone is located in Coral Gables and Bal Harbour.