Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal City

Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal City reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. D

   Daisy

   California Central Coast1 review

   4.0

   Dined on May 25, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Seafood was so sweet and fresh. Ambiance was great !
   

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2. V

   Victor

   Orange County1 review

   1.0

   Dined on May 25, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   The total bill for two people was over $400 dollars. They made up a charge (Facility fee) $47.00. Like in Vegas resort fee. It wasn’t advertised anywhere. Last time we will be there. Totally not worth it.
   

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3. M

   Maribel

   Unspecified1 review

   3.0

   Dined on May 25, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   We’ve been coming to this restaurant regularly over the years. We usually stay at the hotel and enjoy dining in. Last year, the price was around $80 per person, and during my boyfriend’s birthday in February, we were shocked to see the price had jumped to $160. This time, we were told drinks are now included and unlimited during dine-in, which helped explain some of the price increase. We returned again last Saturday over Memorial Day weekend, but when we received the bill, we noticed a surprise charge labeled “Facility: Hotel Charge.” I asked our server, Michael, about it, and he directed me to the manager. She explained that the charge is mandatory and cannot be removed. This was extremely disappointing because in all our previous visits, we never encountered this “facility charge.” It was never disclosed anywhere — not on their website, not during check-in, and not posted visibly at the restaurant. As regular customers, we felt blindsided by this unexpected fee. To make matters worse, parking is another added cost. While they validate for $30, you’re still responsible for the difference depending on how long you stay — we ended up paying over $50 for parking. Although this visit left us feeling frustrated and disappointed, we’re thankful for the excellent service from Michael, our server. The buffet staff, especially those at the lobster and crab station, were also outstanding — hardworking, friendly, and very accommodating. That said, the hidden charges and lack of transparency have made us rethink coming back. Driving all the way from the Bay Area just to be surprised with additional fees isn’t worth it. Sadly, this might be our last visit. A truly disappointing experience for loyal, returning guests.
   

   1 person found this helpful

4. H

   Haji

   Los Angeles1 review

   3.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   Place Way too cold so cold the hot food gets cold. For the price I thought the food ,presentation will be grand but it was so mediocre for 400 for two ppl I could have went to Ruth Chris Eddie V Javier and really enjoyed
   

   Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal CityResponded on May 13, 2025

   Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your recent visit. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations and will be addressing the food temperature and presentation with our culinary team. Thank you again for the feedback as it helps us improve on future visits. The Cafe Sierra Team
   

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5. J

   Jennifer

   Orange County2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We came here for the Mothers Day Seafood buffet. The check in process was a bit chaotic due to the crowd. Other than that, everything was great. I enjoyed the unlimited seafood
   

   Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal CityResponded on May 12, 2025

   Thank you for the 5-star rating. We do apologize regarding the check-in process however, we are happy to hear that you enjoyed the rest of your experience. We will pass your comments to our team so that we can improve on future experiences. The Cafe Sierra Team
   

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6. H

   Hueiyuan

   Los Angeles1 review

   1.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 1

   I took my parents there for Mother’s Day and was really disappointed. There weren’t many food options, and everything was a mess. It felt like we were eating catering food. I don’t think I’ll ever go back.
   

   Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal CityResponded on May 19, 2025

   Thank you for taking the time to rate and review your recent visit. We are sorry to hear that your Mother's Day experience fell short of expectations. We will address your concerns with the team improve our overall guest experience. The Cafe Sierra Team
   

   1 person found this helpful

7. S

   Seleste

   Unspecified1 review

   5.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Definitely come on a empty stomach to get your moneys worth. Amazing deserts for after as well !
   

   Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal CityResponded on May 12, 2025

   We are happy to see that you enjoyed dining with us. Thank you for the 5-star rating and kind words! The Cafe Sierra Team
   

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8. R

   Rhoda

   Los Angeles1 review

   5.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The family went for Mother’s Day brunch. The brunch was set up in the ballrooms. It was really special. The food was amazing and service was exceptional. A must if you love all things seafood, including lobster, crab legs, king crab, oysters, and shrimp. Thank you for a wonderful day!
   

   Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal CityResponded on May 19, 2025

   Thank you for the 5-star rating. We are happy to see you enjoyed celebrating Mother's Day with us and look forward to seeing you again soon! The Cafe Sierra Team
   

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9. S

   Sam

   Los Angeles1 review

   3.0

   Dined on May 10, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   On top of the already expensive bill they add something called facility change. The tip is not included. For 7 people we ended up paying 1500$ 170$ was the new facility charge! This was second time we were going there and I think it will be the last one!
   

   Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal CityResponded on May 12, 2025

   We understand your frustration with the facility charge and the overall cost for your party. This fee helps us maintain our services and is separate from gratuity. We apologize if this wasn't clear and for any disappointment caused. The Cafe Sierra Team
   

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10. T

    Thao

    California Central Coast1 review

    1.0

    Dined on April 28, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1

    No price published. They even added “facility fee” in there, jacked up the price so much higher. Will be no return from us
    

    Cafe Sierra at Hilton Universal CityResponded on May 12, 2025

    We are sorry to hear that your visit did not meet expectations. We aim to be transparent with our fees and pricing by noting them on our website, menu, and OpenTable. However, we do apologize if these were not disclosed at arrival by our team. We will make sure to address this issue with them to avoid any confusion on future experiences. Thank you for your feedback. The Cafe Sierra Team
    

    1 person found this helpful