Spiro’s Hilltop Fish Fare & Steakhouse

I love this place! It has consistently over the years, had great food offerings from the menu, and we love the breakfast and dinner buffets. They never disappoint. It’s clean, reasonable, and delicious food. My Dad and I eat there a lot traveling between Marshville and his home. This is one of my favorite restaurants.

I love Hilltop. I go at least once a week. They have a very extensive menu and also a very good lunch buffet.

I heard good things about this restaurant from the locals and while it maybe one of the best in town my meal was basically not edible. The seafood buffet (mostly fried) looked ok but I didn’t do the buffet. Instead I had the grilled Covina and it was disgusting! The fish was soggy, over cooked, fishy and tasted like it was going bad. I could not eat it for the taste and fear of being sick. Don’t believe I have ever and I mean ever had a piece of fish that bad in a restaurant. I have grilled corvina many times at home and it was nothing like this. In fact it is one of my favs. If I cooked this it would have gone right in the trash. The risotto was creamy but it was like over cooked rice with heavy cream added. No seasoning and no flavor. The house salad tasted like bagged or lettuce that had been shredded hours ago: couldn’t eat anything but the tomatoes and cukes. Service was good and helpful. Nice restaurant inside. Too bad they can’t compliment the service and surroundings with good food.

You could drive to Charlotte and waste 45 minutes on Highway 74? But why this is one of the best restaurants in the area. Complete menu with many favorites. I just had a Delmonico Rib Eye that rivals anyone’s, my wife had stuffed Flounder that was excellent. Do yourself a favor and request Elena as your server!

In all honesty, Hilltop’s a diamond-​in-​the-​rough, gem-​in-​the-​middle-​of-​nowhere, oasis-​in-​the-​restaurant-​desert-​that-​is-​the-​Monroe/​Wingate-​border sort of restaurant. Not only are its exterior façade, interior décor, and waitstaff surprisingly pleasing [and dare I say random for a place so far removed from Indian Trail and Matthews], Hilltop substantiates itself with quality Southern cuisine, a bustling-​yet-​kicked-​back atmosphere, and overall service that exemplifies Southern hospitality. Monroe/​Wingate residents ought be grateful for this eatery nestled right in their backyard.
A pharmacy school student at Wingate University myself, I’ve now frequented Hilltop for all of breakfast, lunch and dinner, well as any alcohol wants/​needs. Ordering from their menu (and a hefty one at that!) is always available, but it’s worth noting that an EXCELLENT spread is offered with their breakfast buffet and then later with their lunch/​dinner one. And as if Hilltop’s prices weren’t already a steal, daily specials are highlighted both as you walk in and atop your menu. Whatever you decide, it’s rare to leave disappointed — food taste and quality are excellent and portion sizes more than enough.
Accommodations include 5 different main dining areas — 1 of which can be partitioned off accordingly, another which is an upstairs balcony, and yet another that includes stools at their open-​faced kitchen — a large bar, and even a side patio. Moreover, a private meeting room is available upon reservation. Past the bar and down a staircase is situated yet another hangout area, nicely separated from the bulk of the restaurant.
FYI… (1) there’s free WiFi — it’s just extremely unreliable especially during peak rushes; (2) inform the host/​hostess if TV seating is preferred; (3) despite opposing reviews, the level of care and attentiveness shown to my party by Hilltop’s staff/​management has ALWAYS exceeded expectations; (4) take advantage of their VERY wallet-​friendly deals for breakfast/​lunch — feel free to ask your server what the kitchen can whip up for you; (5) give the weekend seafood buffet a go; (6) abundant private parking; (7) ideal for students — discounts with ID, free + unlimited coffee refills, large bar w/​continuous sports coverage, catering services, etc.
Rating specifics (i.e. 1 – 5, low-​high)…
— Overall recommendation = 4.75
— Food taste and quality = 4.75
— Portion size = 5
— Price = 4.5
— Atmosphere = 5+
— General service = 4.25
— Waitstaff = 4.75
— Location = 5

So first off, we were seated without menus and silverware. It took about 10 minutes to be greeted by a server. Salads took about 30 minutes, and still had to wait for the waitress to come back to give us silverware. Walked in at 7:15 for our reservation, food did not arrive until 8:30. Once the food arrived, it was cold and nasty. I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo and added grilled chicken. The Alfredo sauce was very watery, and the pasta was way over cooked. The chicken was also dry. By the time the checks came it was 9:30. I will not be returning.

Pretty good. They are just a little pricey on some items. I brought my parents here for breakfast when they came to visit, everyone really enjoyed it. If you want fruit, like the strawberry pie filling the advertised with waffles & pancakes, expect them to come out cold. I was disappointed when I realized they came directly from the fridge, but I’m sure they would have warmed them at request.
I really enjoyed the $.50 wings they have Sun-​Thurs downstairs in the oyster bar. I have certain expectations when it comes to buffalo wings & they definitely met them.

8am and not many locals in here. Not a good sign.
The breakfast buffet was weak. The bacon was crispy and plentiful but then the eggs were scrambled and tasteless. Seemed to be powered eggs or something other than fresh eggs.
I ask for a large orange juice and received a small 10 ounce bottle of OJ I could have gotten at the gas station. I was never ask if I wanted another or any water.
I tried the pancakes also and they were ok. It’s pretty hard to ruin batter from a box and a griddle.
I have eaten here several times before in the evening and things were better.
Maybe this is not a breakfast spot.
I’ll go back to Bojangles for breakfast next time.

WARNING: STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!
This is our 2^nd visit. And it was absolutely AWFUL! We will never go here again. We ordered chicken fingers dinner and fish dinner. It was taking too long for the food to come out and I asked the waiter (Robert) what is going on? He said there was grease on the plate and when he grabbed it, the plate fell over. I told him to make sure my wife food is cooked over and is fresh as well since she had to wait for my food. He said it will be cooked over again fresh also. I observed a plate of food just sitting there. GUESS WHAT? It was my wife’s plate. He «tried» to bring the food out as if it was fresh and I told him this is not fresh b/​c it is the same plate I saw sitting up there. He said I can get you a manager. And when the manager (George) came out, I told him that we would just pay for our drinks and we were going to leave because of the lies, food and service. He said to me, «You can’t just leave without paying. You act like the food was sitting up there for 2 days» My wife said we will pay for her food but not mine and we are leaving. I was appalled by his comments. WE WILL NEVER EAT THERE AGAIN!!!
It is really sad when a restaurant doesn’t realize that your BEST advertisement is word of mouth. I am going to make sure I let as many review websites know about this service and the unacceptable work ethics the waiter and manager displayed!

We were in town to meet with family and decided to have dinner here. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. We would definitely come back when we’re in the area.

Good, reliable comfort food. Best Fried Squash around! Fresh food, clean, lots of variety on the menu.

get the salt and pepper catfish…

Host, which might be the owner or operator seemed very irritable with me and my family trying to find a table. He also seemed to be rude to his employees which made for an uncomfortable experience. Granted I went here on a Sunday, and it was busy, most people there were participating in the super long buffet line,…but do I really need to wait over 30 minutes to get a basic hamburger with fries plate… yes, I guess should have crossed the slam packed parking lot and gone to the Jack in the box… On a positive note, this was a very clean restaurant! And the burger was good!

Passing through Monroe and stopped at the Hilltop for lunch. They had a decent buffet. Pass on ice tea. There are water issues in Monroe and it tastes bad.

My husband and I moved to Monroe a few months ago, we have officially settled in and found our favorite restaurant!!! I love the atmosphere you can show up dressed to the nines or in jeans and a tee shirt and feel totally comfortable. This place is beautiful, clean and huge! The parking lot was completely full we had to park next door but it only took a few minutes to be sat. Then that’s when our dinning experience really began, our server Christina was super friendly and knowledgable she had no problem guiding us through the expansive menu. My husband had the stuffed flounder which was delicious and I had the Spiro chicken that was topped with goat cheese. It was fantastic!!! We walked (more like waddled we were so full) through the restaurant checking it out, we were impressed! We ventured downstairs to The Oyster Bar that is more laid back we decided to try that next! I hope you do yourself a favor and check this place out! If you get Christina you’re in for a real treat but to be honest all the staff was very friendly!

Hilltop Bistro and Bar is just like Mama’s home cooking. I started with a Madras Martini, perfect in every way. The buffet was my choice and I’m not a normal buffet participant. The buffet station is raised which I like because I’m a tall lady, but I believe the buffet is raised to keep little hands from playing with the food.
I enjoyed a bite of several meats. I thought the shrimp was quite tasty, as well as the baked chicken with lemon pepper, the chicken livers were perfectly prepared, and the country style steak with gravy was delicious. There was a large container of pulled pork, fried chicken, and fried fish.
My favorite veggie was the broccoli casserole, and I tried the fried squash, homemade mashed potatoes and lima beans.
The restaurant is very clean and the staff super friendly. The noise level is moderate making for easy conversation.
Our waitress Christina was attentive and friendly. She was very knowledgable of the menu and kept our table neat and clean between visits to the buffet.
I will definitely return!

This is are go to restaurant for lunch or dinner. Great prices and great food. We never had bad service yet!

Came here for breakfast… it’s a cool diner setting with country folk and spirit. The food is awful. My eggs had to be sent back twice, they charged an extra $ 2 when I wanted to exchange two cheeses for one different one, and my eggs were burned all three times. The server didn’t tell us to pay up front and left us sitting at the table for 20 minutes. It’s not worth it, find somewhere else to go!
(It was so bad I actually created a Unilocal account to write a review)

First visit to Hilltop since my grandparents took me there… oh… about 50 years ago! Of course, it certainly has changed since then — namely there’s a bar which was not there 50 years ago (that would have been SO inappropriate in Monroe!)
I was on my way to the coast and drove through Monroe at lunchtime. We decided to stop at Hilltop. They offer a very nice buffet in addition to their menu. We went the buffet route and enjoyed soup, salads, fried chicken (yea!), tender braised pork loin and vegetables. Vegetables could have been better but everything else was fine.

I’ve been eating here for 27 years. Spiro offers the best food available in this area. His food is consistently great. Prices are fare and competitive. He offers a breakfast buffet with all your favorites. He also has a very tasty country lunch buffet. At night the fare changes to a seafood smörgåsbord. His menu food selections are enormous. Eat here and if you go away hungry, it’s your fault.
This the place to go to meet old friends and make new ones. You can’t go wrong.