Hugo's - Portland

My wife and I found ourselves in Portland on a Wednesday evening without dinner plans. A friend had to cancel dinner at her home last minute due to a family emergency, so we decided to try Hugo's. We arrived without a reservation and were rudely greeted by the host. The restaurant was only about 20% full, but he reluctantly said he could seat us. My wife was bothered by his behavior, but I chalked it up to him doing his job during a busy time. As we ordered our meal, the host's mood slightly improved, but we soon realized he was also serving us. If we had known earlier, we would have likely left. His unwelcoming attitude and presence at our table negatively affected my wife's mood throughout the meal. By the time we left after 8:30, the restaurant was still mostly empty. Despite the delicious and creative dishes, the poor treatment we received from the host/server overshadowed our dining experience.

We visit Portland at least twice a month and have enjoyed many of the fantastic restaurants in the area. However, Hugo's was a major letdown. The wait staff never smiled and lacked friendliness. The food was overpriced for its taste, lack of creativity, and small portion sizes. Don't be fooled by the small portions - they lack flavor and disappear quickly. We don't mind paying a premium for small portions at high-end restaurants, but when the fish is cold, the service is unfriendly, and the food is uninspiring, it's not worth it. Save your money for a better dining experience.

Very sparse vegetarian offerings. Service was not well coordinated. Cocktails delayed resulting in dinner served before finishing. Wine served near immediately after cocktails. Desserts served (small tablespoon ice cream) well before coffee that was like warm. Personnel very pleasant.

Hugo’s is the most consistently amazing cuisine in portland. We shared a baked monkfish tail...wow! Sunchokes, kimchi... Great salad and appetizers as well. Service is exceptional always. This is the place to go in Portland.

Beautiful and delicious food. Awesome service. Great environment.