Hugo’s Restaurant

Best meal of the trip and this was a foodie trip. We did the 5 course tasting menu and it was fabulous. The miso ice cream was life-​changing. A wonderful way to spend New Years Eve.

I really wanted to love this place, but have to give an honest review. If it wasn’t for the impeccable service I wouldn’t have given it a single star. I’ve never been to a place that wants to focus so hard on the food that it makes every other part of the experience fantastically dull. I really expected a little slice of what progressive fare such a vibrant food scene could offer, but man was it boring. Technique was great, but with every course I had to go back to the simple question of whether the food actually tasted good, and the answer every time was «no». I’d love to chalk this experience up to a bad night for them, but ultimately think we’ve come to the intersection of hype and creative limits. As well, price should not be relevant to how good the experience was, but for this bill I’d take your money somewhere else.

Absolutely amazing. Who would have thought you could get food like this outside of NYC or Chicago. Hugo’s is fine dining for foodies.
Originally started and owned by Rob Evan’s a James Beard award-​winning chef, it was sold in 2012 to the team that had being running the restaurant for the prior 3 years. They still seem to have the creative magic. The menu is whimsical and inventive.
If you like beautiful, out of the ordinary food creations and you are anywhere near Portland Maine, it doesn’t get much better.

This place was a ton of fun. No point in describing the menu, as it changes daily. Not pretentious at all. For us, three dishes were enough. There are many in between course nibbles that were brought out for our delight! All things considered, it’s not crazy expensive either. Definitely a food event.

Having been to several high end restaurants around the world, Hugo’s has it figured out. The service is first class, ambience is crooners and cocktails, and the food is beautifully prepared and delectable to the palette. Three restaurants, one kitchen, all different tastes of the world. We didn’t go with the wine tasting. We selected our own. The wine list was well represented. A must try for Portland.
Great job!

I started with a Sicilian Sour and my wife a Kir Royale.
We did the five course tasting menu which also happened to have nice amuse bouches between a number of the courses. The lamb tartare to start was very nice. For courses, I though the BLT, steak & eggs and salmon were all excellent. My wife had the consommé, steak & eggs and tempura. For dessert, I had something that looked like a garden but was sweet and very tasty.
We went with the Maine wine tasting which was a nice way to try some local wines, recognizing that you cant really compare them to most wine regions. But when in Portland…
Overall we had a very nice dinner here and its a great couples spot

I came here a couple of years back, and I remembered enjoying myself. I came back with a few friends recently, and I’m extremely glad I did.
The food, the service, and the ambiance all worked together to great a truly inspiring experience. The new (since my previous visit) renovations gave the restaurant a sense of understated maturity. Or perhaps, it was the confidence and generous hospitality of the people who gave it that feel.
My friends and I had the pleasure of experiencing some amazing dishes that night! All those adjectives I used in the previous paragraph? Apply them here. We had an offering of new, modern, traditional, and eccentric dishes. The deconstructed pot pie was an assortment of perfectly executed ingredients. Each component stood out, yet they all worked so well together to create a really heartwarming and soulful dish. The soba was simple and delicate, yet undeniably satisfying. And, the octopus… Yes, it’s all in my mind, but that’s the point. The dopamine and endorphins released in my brain during that particular course has left a permanent impression on me. As of this posting, best dish I’ve ever experienced.
Hoping to visit again soon!

One of the best meals and service my wife and I ever had
Everything was exceptional
Keep it going

Hugo’s offers an incredible experience — knowledgable, courteous and warm staff. My wife and I went for her birthday and everyone was so pleasant. They made the occasion special, delivering us champagne before we even had menus. We always highly recommend to anyone staying in our summer rentals. And last but not least, the food is what it’s all about. The flavors, the scents, the colors, the presentation, the TASTE — all professionally and artistically done.

Are you at that point in life where dinner conversation is no longer necessary? Then stop whatever you’re doing, and get yourself a reservation at Hugo’s. Ask for a bar seat next to the open kitchen and you’ll be set for the evening. You’ll spend hours watching the staff meticulously assemble mouth watering dishes using tweezers to delicately place flower petals on them, or watching them sharpen a knife so carefully it conjures images of Bill Door sharpening his scythe**
This restaurant concept is brilliant. I’ve not seen a high caliber restaurant like this do an open kitchen before, so this was a unique experience for me. If you’re lucky, you’ll be seated at a plating station (and if you’re extra lucky, you’ll get desserts… oh glory day). The staff are very friendly and interactive, yet are still able to churn out beautiful dishes with machine-​like precision. The wait staff is gracious, patient and knowledgeable. They are resolved to not let anything interfere with your dining experience.
Get the 5 course tasting menu. These folks have no idea how to count, and that will work out entirely in your favor. It is a veritable assault on your taste buds. The dishes were unique and imaginative and precisely paced, but here, is where the pictures below will probably do a better job than I at visualizing the experience.
This was, without a doubt, the most outrageous dining experience to be had in Portland. I might not have agreed with every dish put in front of me, but the flawless execution of this meal will make it one to remember. Well done.
** Ref: Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett. RIP good sir.

Food 4.5 Service 2 Décor 3
Food was well cooked and executed perfectly. However, service lacked attention and focus as we poured wine for ourselves the entire night and dessert took 35 – 40 minutes to come out…

Good food and ambiance, didn’t like my window seating that much, but others loved it. From the tasting menu we ordered both the land and sea courses, it was great. Lots of new flavor combinations, and desert was great. Good service, Overall pricy but good. $ 265 total bill for two.

One of the most unique restaurants I’ve ever been to. It’s always exciting getting food that you’ve never tasted or even thought of tasting before and the entire staff is clearly excited about and proud of the amazing things they’re sending out to hungry customers.
I’ve eaten here three times and given the fact that the menu changes nearly daily I won’t make specific recommendations about dishes since they probably will be different when you, the reader, goes (and you definitely should try it at least once). Yes the prices are higher than most in Portland but it clearly shows why when you get your dishes — they are complex, refined and incredibly beautiful, a sign of the many hours I’m sure spent working on each and every item that gets put on the menu.

Hugo’s has become an annual trip for us (because its a 2 hour drive!). My husband loves the place and we end up there on his birthday each year.
This past weekend was delicious as expected. We ordered their land, and the sea menus. The standouts were the roasted quail (best I’ve ever had) and their desserts (I’m already craving the dark chocolate ice cream they had w the tiramisu). Other dishes were a bit more adventurous but great experience all in all.
Their service is great too and because they knew we were celebrating his birthday, they added an extra fish course free of charge! Overall you come out very happy. Including the delicious breads, we had an 11 course meal!!!

I’m not sure where the bad rap comes from at all– maybe the old restaurant, but this place is exquisite. Perfect service, perfect flavor combination and beautiful display. Will recommend to anyone wondering what the best fine dining in Portland is.

Enjoyed my dinner at Hugo’s where my wife took me for my birthday, We sat at the bar toward diner’s right which turned out to be the best seats in the house because you could watch two of the cold plate chefs at work right in front of you. These guys were masters of their craft and were happy to answer questions too.
Overall this was a true foodie experience and I enjoyed it very much. I’m glad we went and am comfortable recommending it to food lovers. However, it loses one star for me personally for being a little overly– contrived at times. As an Olympic judge you award points for difficulty, but as a diner, sometimes you just want a good meal. I found myself wishing I had larger potions of the dishes I liked (the duck breast was succulent), and fewer of the dishes that were fascinating but just not as satisfying (the tuna appetizer).
But still, for that special night out where you are looking for a great overall experience (and don’t mind a large tab), I would recommend trying Hugo’s. Be sure to order an after-​dinner drink as well-​ask them for a recommendation. They have a great and interesting selection.

Should be ashamed of themselves!!!
My wife and I tried to eat at Hugo’s on a Saturday night around 5:30PM. No, we did not have reservations but there were plenty of open tables and open seats at the bar. We had our 6 month old daughter with us. When my wife asked for a table, the hostess took one look at the baby carriage and told my wife «Sorry we’re booked for the night.» There were literally two or three empty tables in eye-​shot and plenty of room at the bar. We left and walked next door to Eventide where they were much much busier than Hugo’s and where they accommodated us including our daughter and her carriage in about 10 minutes. We have never been turned away by a restaurant because of our little munchkin. Every other place has loved having baby as a guest.
We’ll remember this. We come back to Portland from time-​to-​time. We won’t be dining at Hugo’s. Ever.

My husband & I had a very causal elopement in Portland and went to Hugo’s for our special dinner together. The staff was amazing and treated us with such warmth and attention. We sat at the bar which was fun because you feel like you are seeing the show with a view into the open kitchen. The food was outstanding, every bite is meant to be savored. We did the 5 course menu with wine pairing. It is a great place to spend our special night because it was upscale but not at all stuffy, very good vibe. It’s a place to eat slowly, enjoy each morsel, drink amazing wine & cocktails, and have a romantic dinner. We were warned that we would leave hungry but we went for a shared entrée option of duck and it was way more then I could eat and filled up my husband who is a good eater.
Highly recommended.

Many people, myself included, get mad at the idea of a restaurant review written by someone who’s never actually eaten at the restaurant in question. Why should I care what a person like that has to say? Why did he/​she write a review in the first place? Well guess what, this is one of those reviews.
To be fair to me, I tried to eat at Hugo’s. And not in a «I called to make a reservation and got answering machine! If they can’t be bothered to pick up the phone I can’t be bothered to give them my business» kind of way. I really tried.
But I’m getting ahead of my self.
First I voted. That’s not really relevant. But participating in democracy is important, and it gives us an exact date for this event. The first Tuesday of November, 2013.
After fulfilling my civic duty, (and grabbing a quick beer at Novare) I walked over to Hugo’s to meet a friend for drinks and some food. He had a gift certificate for $ 75 which we figured would cover a round of drinks and couple small plates to share. This is where things started going poorly.
The door was locked. It was about 6:30 so theoretically they had been open for an hour. We could see the staff inside, finishing up their side work, chatting. The hostess walked past the door and gave us a wave and a smile. She didn’t seem to realize that we weren’t just loitering on the stoop for fun. We backed off and checked the website on our phones to make sure we had the hours right. We did.
After about ten minutes someone let us in. They were very surprised and apologetic about the door being locked. And I have to say that all of the staff there were excellent. Warm, friendly, knowledgeable. I have no complaints there.
But the thing is, they still didn’t unlock the door. Not out of spite or laziness or anything. They just couldn’t seem to figure it out. The same little scene, customer pulls on the door, staff finally realize it’s still locked, staff stand around trying figure out how the lock works, staff decide they’ve really got it this time, customer pulls on the door, was played out at least four more times over the course of the next hour before they finally got it reliably open.
Is this a core competency on which a restaurant should be judged? Perhaps not. But being incapable of allowing customers onto the premises seems bad for business.
Anyway, the cocktails were great. A short list of genuinely interesting twists on some classics, on top of a very well stocked bar. The bartender was friendly but not overly familiar, made good recommendations on liquor choices and poured them strong. Again. Nothing bad to say about the service.
This would be the point to mention that the place is lovely. I never saw the inside before the renovations, but the bar is nice and big and timelessly classy. The whole place is dark wood and warm lighting. The bathrooms share some kind of long modernist sink trough. All very expensive looking.
After the first round of drinks we asked to see a food menu. It’s split into three sections that basically boil down to meat, fish, veg. Except, at least on the night we were there, I think 3 of the 5 courses on the vegetable section also had a bit of meat in them. So maybe not a great place for vegetarians? Not a problem for me though and most everything sounded great. The bartender came back over after we had had a few moments to look and explained how the menu worked.
This is when things really got really annoying. So obviously they want you to order 5 courses for $ 90. And obviously that wasn’t going to happen for us that night. No problem, it says here you can get one course for $ 22. «Ah, but there is a minimum of two courses» Ok, still not a problem. We’ll share two courses. «The minimum is per person». So, because there are two of us. If we want anything at all but liquor it’s going to cost us a minimum of $ 90? «Correct».
I’m not naïve. And I’m not a dining lightweight. I have no problem with a pre fixe menu. I (and the same friend I was with that night!) have worked my way through a dozen courses at weird restaurants in Spain. I’ve spent way more than $ 90 on food for two. But we’re sitting at a bar, on a Tuesday in November, and this is Portland, ME. I just want a snack. Sitting at the bar and having a drink and a small amount of food is my go to method for determining whether or not I want to come back to a place later for a full dinner. If the bar snacks impress enough they might even evolve into an unexpected meal.
I get that Hugo’s is a destination restaurant of sorts. It has it’s James Beard award, and it gets mentioned in every. single. article. ever. about the food scene in Portland. But if you don’t want people to come in and have a drink and a bit of food at the bar, why is half your restaurant taken up by the huge 20+ seat bar???
Anyway, we drank our way through the rest of the gift card and moved on. I think we finally ended up eating a bowl of Ramen at Pai Men much later. It’s a bit of a blur after that.

What a perfect way to be introduced to Portland! Having just arrived in town for the first time, to visit a friend, he suggested we eat here for a great meal. It was perfect.
The atmosphere is very stylish, comfortable and conducive to focusing on the art made in the kitchen. My cocktail ordered lived up to my high expectations and we ordered the 5-​course tasting menu with a strategy of sharing and experiencing 2/3’s of the entire menu. Rather than list it, dish by dish, I’ll testify that every dish was a foodie dream with new, layered flavors each time. Often combinations were surprising which kept it an adventure. The amuse bouche flavors were as wonderful, punctuating almost every course. There were additional surprises with the various delicious bread courses with cultured butters.
The service was impeccable, making this the most perfect meal I’ve had in quite a while.