Hugo's in Portland - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Hugo's is a really special place in Portland. Although the city is bursting with amazing restaurants, they still manage to be unique and cutting-edge. I will fully admit that I have had some dishes here that simply don't work for me but that is part of the fun of dining at a restaurant that is constantly trying to innovate. And the dishes that I didn't care for are clearly outweighed by the majority that I found wonderful over the course of my half dozen meals here. This is not to mention the absolute top-notch service you can expect at a real fine dining establishment like those sporting fancy Michelin stars. I always felt extremely welcomed and catered to whenever visiting them. A particular reason that Hugo's has a fond place in my heart is that they served me one of the handful of dishes I've had that not only was incredible but actually changed the way I thought about food and what it could be. Around five years ago I shared a large-format ribeye steak with five other people that changed my life. My stomach was already so miserably/joyfully full by the time it was served. The fact that this juicy, fatty, umami-filled piece of meat was good enough that I still managed to eat another half pound of food and love every bite speaks to just how awesome it was. As you can tell I'm passionate about a good steak and since then I've learned to make one (almost) as good as that but it was still enough to keep me coming back time and time again.

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.

A first rate, varied, experimental, different and great restaurant Not an inexpensive venue. Really good wine list

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.

Service was top notch. The food was interesting, artful, and delicious. We had a reservation, but, when we arrived, the hostess wanted to sest us at the bar. We asked for a table or booth and the hostess was accommodating and seated us at a window table. The only complaint is the chairs at the table were very uncomfortable and low to the table.

Hands down one of the best food experiences I've had. I would highly recommend the chef's choice. Sit back, so to speak, and let the chef take control of your taste buds. A truly wonderful taste treat.

Excellent food, beautifully presented, and excellent service.

The food was amazing. It was my first time dining there.

Definitely the place to go if you’re looking for a true dining experience. I highly recommend the chef‘s tasting so you can enjoy food the way it should be based on what the chef Feels are the ultimate taste combinations. I would highly recommend Hugos to anyone.

What do you say about a restaurant you have been to over 100 times? It’s good? Probably it’s a little more than that. We came when it was new, stayed as two different sets of chef/owners won James Beard awards and continue to come back for the creativity, passion and open mindedness to invent and re-invent.

We had a wonderful meal to celebrate my husband’s birthday. The meal was innovative & excellent, the wine list extensive and the service was some of the best we have experienced in Portland. We are renewed fans!

Fantastic as always. Food, drinks and service are always exceptional. Collaboration with Izakaya Minato was delicious.

Excellent atmosphere and very good food. Thanks for your attention.

The food is absolutely fantastic here. Though it's on the pricier side of the restaurants in Portland, it's an amazing place if you're looking to indulge! Can't recommend this place enough.

Every single person was friendly and engaging. The food was more than amazing. The flavor combinations were out of this world and the wine pairing was perfect. I cannot recommend this place enough and I can’t wait to go again.

I would recommend the Chef’s Tasting; the experience of trying many different courses was a real treat. Outside of the food, the atmosphere and staff made our Valentine’s Day evening special.

Incredibly kind devoted interactive staff. Happy confident beautifully presented food, open kitchen, fine dining

Food great, atmosphere good. But we had reservation and expected a table/booth. we were instead seated at Bar near front door. Seats at bar were comfortable, but still a surprise. I asked and they said all tables reserved, even though we had a reservation. This should have been made clear upon reservation.. can't imagine how we'd have felt if we were older (or had handicaps), or if I brought my 92 year old mother, or if we had special celebration night and wanted privacy. Service good and well informed. Food portions smalls and shared mostly.. order a lot (you'll pay for it too - very expensive for smalls).

I was very disappointed with my experience . We had informed the restaurant earlier that it was a special occasion . When we reached , our server automatically assumed we would not try the tasting menu since we had our baby with us . It seemed like they weren’t happy we brought our child with us to the restaurant ( which was something we had informed them earlier when making the reservation ) . Lastly, all the good restaurants offer a small token of appreciation at the end , like a small dessert acknowledging your special occasion ( birthday in this case) . There was nothing from this place .

My fiance and I had the blind tasting menu as a celebratory dinner immediately following our engagement. The courses were spaced perfectly and unfolded thoughtfully. Highlights included the monkfish with sunchokes prepared in four different ways, chili covered scallops on a sheet of pasta topped with pepitas, and a delectably crisp octopus tentacle served on a garlic puree with pickled onion and tiny citrus fruit. The sommelier was fun to talk to and steered us well, and an espresso martini recommended by our bartender was the perfect nightcap. Looking forward to returning the next time we visit Maine.

As always Hugo’s was wonderful. Perfect for a birthday dinner!

Just our second time. Great experience in all ways. We'll be back.

Hugo's remains a delight. One of the finest restaurants in an amazing restaurant city. First class in every way.

Hugo’s remains my favorite restaurant topping the more famous Patrick’s Inn of Little Washington, and Jose’s (?) Matchbox in DCand Jean George in NYC. SERIOUSLY. The flavors were like perfect harmony at one moment, and like a choir the next. We had the Tasting menu with many wonderful courses. My favorite, if I dare say that because each was very good, but what stand S out are the sweet potato and carrot with mint, and the sable fish. There was another particularly excellent pairing that I can’t remember, but with Tahini. The service was very hospitable. They shared our enthusiasm. We have gone to a Hugo’s several times over many years and it has maintained it excellence, which is also remarkable. As for a,Bierce, our only comment was a slight chill in the air, but after all, its Maine in February.

This continues to be our favorite restaurant. Our dinner there this past Saturday 2/1/20 (our wedding anniversary) was terrific. The welcome, helpfulness, and friendliness of front of house and cooking teams was great. The food -- pork croquettes, scallops and sun chokes, beef with blue cheese and duck papardelle were wonderful.

New Years. Best food in Portland!

This is our favorite restaurant. The food is consistently delicious, imaginative, and beautifully presented. Just as important for us, the Hugo's team is always welcoming, friendly, and enjoyable to be with.

Amazing food! Menu was incredible!

Not family friendly. Unaccommodating of well behaved children. On 12/27 the host was unwilling to seat us despite multiple open tables & telling folks in front of us that they have a lot of availability.

Excellent food and service; lovely atmosphere and perfect for a date.

Great restaurant. Beautiful food. Wonderful atmosphere.

Very good food. Could have been paced a touch better at the start. Entrees were excellent but temperature on the proteins was a bit cold. Hard to tell if it was intentional for not. Great wine list and spirits with a very well informed bar tender. We didn’t order the tasting menu and were fine with that decision especially after likely saving $150 or so.

Unique and delicious food. Cocktails are great. Fantastic service. Highly recommend.

Hugo’s never fails to deliver amazing, unique meals with fantastic service. We don’t go often but know when we do, it’ll be very good.

Hugo’s is intimate, warm, fresh, and a perfect of example of what it means to dine in Portland. Every visit has been superb - from the staff, to the changing menu options, to the general concern for food allergies and preferences. The food is also incredible! Highly recommend trying multiple cocktails and deserts. This is not the place to skip either of these treats. Highly recommended for locals and visitors alike. Reservations are also highly recommended as the space is small. This translates to a wonderful dining experience where the staff can focus on you and your table. Vegetarian/vegan and GF friendly although your options will be limited.

Average flavor profiles. Expect earthy shroom dishes with no palette cleansing. Staff is excellent.

Great restaurant for a special occasion - birthday! Our table did the tasting menu which was delicious. One member of our party had dietary restrictions and they were very accommodating. We enjoyed all the courses and liked the idea of 9 small plates so we could try so many items. Each plate was a work of art!

Fantastic, look forward to returning

Overall very nice. Service was attentive and friendly Pickled oysters outstanding Bronzini fish shared. Was good but sauce overpowered the fish

Been coming to Portland every year for the last 5 and having dinner at Hugo’s every time, this was by far bad . I think the kitchen staff was off tonite . The charcuterie board meat were oxide. Look brown , like they were cut a few days ago and layer with deli paper . The pork entree was not what you expect for a place and price like this , no flavors except for smoke . Only one dimension. The spaghetti what was list it as on the menu . Was more like Asian noodles drawing is a some kind of squash-cream sauce . Need to try and give wine service too , don’t just open serve a glass and leave it there for the customer to finish pouring them self .

We live in Boston and drove to Portland just to eat at Hugo’s. This is my favorite restaurant in the US, and once again did not disappoint. The chef’s blind tasting is a must do and they are so accommodating of dietary restrictions (Paleo in my case). I can’t say enough wonderful things about this restaurant.

This is our favorite restaurant in Portland. The food is amazing and the the service is fantastic.

Hugo's Hits Every Note Perfectly I cannot say enough good about the food, the atmosphere or the service. The appetizers were exquisite, we had a mushroom salad that brought the taste of the out-of-doors to the table and a squash salad with duck confit that I can still taste. It had the wonderful creamy sweetness of the squash, but there was this smoky, ducky flavor throughout. If you like oysters, you must order their "bar snack" of marinated oysters. The oysters were plump and delicious and the brine did not toughen them, it seems to make their taste even better (if that's possible!). We had the duck breast as a main course and it was tender, flavorful and maybe the best duck I"ve ever had; plus the pork with sunchokes which was excellent. The waiter chose wines to accompany our dishes and he did a great job. My only suggestion to you is not to over-order. We ordered the bread and the cashews and the charcuterie board, all of which were great, but contributed to that sense you've eaten too much. So be judicious in ordering so you can savor every bite. The waiter suggested maybe 3-4 appetizers and 2 mains. I think one of each would have been better, and left more room for dessert! A must-visit restaurant and our thanks to the many many staff that worked to get everything so right!

Outstanding dining experience at Yugos for our sons 27th birthday. Thank you!

Hugo's never disappoints. The service is impeccable; and of course, the food is wonderful. Ask your waitperson for a wine to pair with your meal... you will be pleasantly surprised. And for a real treat, sit at the bar and watch the kitchen in action!

Great culinary experience with many options to try - a little overpriced in my opinion, but good none the less

$$$$ and not Many choices but staff and chefs were amazing

Stunning tasting menu and fantastic service.

Did the tasting menu - loved that they were able to accommodate my vegetarian diet. All the dishes were very unique and tasty. I loved being introduced to new (to me) veggies such as the sunchokes and habanadas! They have bar seating where you can watch the chefs at work, or they also have booths. It's a relatively quiet / dim lit atmosphere. Perfect for small groups or dates. Definitely recommend.

My wife and I opted for the chefs table with the wine pairings. The service was excellent, the staff interactive and knowledgable. The wine steward was exceptionaly knowledgeable and took adequate time to explain the wine selections. Wine pairings were perfect. Food was fresh and well composed. Presentation was acceptable but became boring as dish after dish was presented as a corner of the plate stack. A little more varation and creativity would have been nice. Dishes were prepared perfectly except for the monkfish that was a bit overcooked. This likely the result of the tiny serving size. Although the food was generally excellent, it was composed of 90% vegetarian ingredients. One dish included one small scallop, another perhaps 1/2 ounce of lamb, another a few small clams and a fourth, 1/2 ounce of monkfish. For a $400 dinner for 2, before tip, my expectation would include a larger amount of protein. The dishes had exceptional flavors and composition but were composed primarly of inexpensive ingredients, i.e. cauliflower, chickpeas, various nuts and seeds, potato, small protein portions. For the price paid I expect a few high end ingredients , i.e. foie gras, truffle, caviar, lobster, etc. Overall a 4 out of 5 and a great evening. However, the addition of a few high end ingredients, perhaps 2 scallops in place if 1, a complete lamb chop rather than 1/4 of a small chop, a serving of monkfish deserving of a dinner knife to be cut into a smaller bite would have resulted in a wow rating. Kudos to Patrick our wine steward and primary server.

Excellent dining experience. Service was phenomenal, and the dishes were delicious and unique. Highly recommend.

Some of the best service I've ever had.

The food and drinks are artful, presented in an amazingly beautiful way, seasonal, local and delish!

Low key chill place for fine dining. Had the lamb tartare.....delish!! prices were adequate for level of service and quality of food

Exceptional food and service. Highly recommend the tasting. A bit expensive but it is farm to table and definitely worth every penny. Such wonderful food combinations, your taste buds will thank you.

Monkfish was overcooked. When we told them they didn’t even try to fix it. One of us had a dislike of spice. They were not accommodating. Service was not friendly. We will not be back.

We did not care for the food, it was far far too deconstructed for us and we would not return or recommend. Ambiance was nice. Service was sub-par as they could not really describe the food to us, tho water/drink refills were frequent, as were check-ins.

Definitely a great experience, smaller end of portions and was great but nothing stood out to be fantastic for us to come running back.

Always an excellent experience. The chef's tasting menu was delicious, and the wine pairings were spot-on. The sommelier was engaging and knowledgable, waitstaff were professional, and everything added up to a great experience.

My wife and I indulged with the tasting menu and wine. I also enjoyed a couple of whiskey’s that went great with the later courses, with Jordan’s help. It was nice to have nearly all of the staff serving and explaining the different courses in their own unique ways. We chose Hugo’s because they actually want to know about food allergies or aversions. As a food allergy sufferer, it means so much for a restaurant to accommodate my needs so I can dine in relative comfort and safety. Kudos to the kitchen staff for their attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile.

Sehr spezielle Showküche. Alles schmeckt wunderbar und ist eine Augenweide. Ein Muss bei einem Aufenthalt in Portland

The chef’s choice was an outstanding assembly of flavors, one right after another. Great service!

Was in NH/Maine for a long weekend away and heard great things about this place. Had to try it out. Highly recommend the nine course food tasting and sitting at the counter for the truest experience. One of the owners (out of three) served some of our plates. Everyone was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Great experience. Don’t pass it up!

I use opentable for reservations often & Hugos is the first to acknowledge upon being seated my dietary restrictions mentioned in the notes section. This immediately set the tone for my first meal at Hugo’s. The waitstaff displayed their craft & it made for an enjoyable & relaxed evening. Seth spoke of wine pairings to the couple nearby & while I was seated at the bar, I still felt a sense of privacy thanks to Seth’s technique of dipping in/out as needed. I felt comfortable & taken care of. I watched as the manager(?) watched the dining room in order to carefully consider timing when plating or delivering courses. Oh & the tasting menu ....yes, choose this option. For certain. Will I be back? For sure!

My wife and I sat at "The Bar" and had the tasting menu. The food and the service were exceptional and we were impressed by the sommelier , Seth. The kitchen showed great creativity and execution of an exceptional array of food while the wait staff was also top shelf. We highly recommend Hugo's.

We ordered the Chef’s table and it was fantastic. Each course was better than the last and a few courses even changed my wife’s mind on food that she thought she didn’t like (clams and mushrooms). I admit when they brought out the corn salad I was thinking “I guess I have to get through this before I get another course” but it turned out to be one of my favorites. Not cheap but this level of quality rarely is.

Exceptional food, cocktails, wine and service. This was the Second time we experienced the tasting menu and what a culinary treat. The mushroom plate was terrific and the deconstructed clam chowder was out of this world. Our server was both knowledgeable and gracious. Don’t miss this special Portland experience.

What a fantastic dining experience! My husband and I couldn’t have been happier with the Chefs tasting menu. Each dish was well thought out and cooked to perfection. The service was terrific was well. We really couldn’t have asked for a better meal.

Excellent service and drinks. Chefs tasting menu was great.

Went around 830-9ish while visiting Portland. The venue was stylish and the ambiance was very laid back. Didn't wait long for service and was able to eat at the bar. The wait staff and food were wonderful! Had the lamb tartare, which I would suggest to anyone. If I'm ever in Portland again, Hugo's will definitely be on the list of resaturants to visit.

we had a fabulous time and the food was amazing! they easily accommodated our no-meat preference (we did the chef's tasting menu and it was great!). the staff are professional, friendly and warm and the service was efficient. its one of our most favorite places to eat in Portland.

Once again, Patrick and Robbie, as well as everyone in BOH and FOH made our 2(!!!) meals in a row delicious. The Branzjno was outstanding. And I ate the best beef tartare of my life. How do you pull off eating such fancy mansy stuff while feeling like we’re visiting dear friends. Lastly, the extra amuse, both at the beginning and end were perfection. Thanks folks!

Wonderful and unexpected combinations — worth the drive to Portland. Great wine list. Low key, but attentive service. Not a bad seat in the house. Hugo is amazing.

Everything was excellent - the food, the staff and ambiance!

We both had the 9 course tasting menu and everything was prepared to look and taste amazing!

Wonderful food & service & wine All for a reasonable price.

Awesome, interesting food served by awesome interesting people!!

Wow, what a real treat for the foodies of Portland, Maine! We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen and ordered the chef's menu. All 9 courses were perfectly small sized and exquisite in their presentation, taste and uniqueness. I was impressed by the team work of the entire staff, from the chef who was running the kitchen, to the cooks at their stations, and the folks who delivered each course with a very detailed explanation of what we would be eating. I have dietary preferences, and they were honored at every step of the evening. I can't say enough about the entire experience! It is not for your brother-in-law who likes fried food :) Save this one for your adventuresome friends who are willing to pay for quality and love to try new foods.

Food was very good but I think "interesting" is a better way to describe it. The food was different than most places so it was fun to try the different items. The vibe was a little too quiet. The wait staff was pleasant and attentive but I think would be improved if they considered that not everyone agrees with their recommendations.

The menu was creative and the food perfectly prepared and presented

Attentive and friendly staff, amazing food, and great cocktails. Highly recommend the blind tasting!

Absolutely incredible. Service presentation everything!!

Real food experience in Portland. Probably the best restaurant in Town. Chef knows their ingredients and shows in all the twist around international cuisine. Ill go for the tasting menu with pairing. The sommelier is very good and shows his passion researching new wines. Great cocktails as well. You cant go wrong here.

Did not like the snippy bartender when I asked questions about the very unique menu. It was my first time there and I did not understand the way the menu worked.

The staff was very attentive and great. They work as a team and check on you just the right amount. The food was creative and very good. The atmosphere was intimate and a great place to hold conversation and not feel rushed.

This was an elevated dining experience! From the appetizers to the main entree, it was top notch ingredients! We had very uniquely prepared foods that challenged our palates and left us wanting for more! Every bite was uniques and savory! Our dessert was the perfect ending and a true testament to the brilliance of the chef. My favorites were the melon salad, the beef tartare and the halibut crudo in that order. The tuna and the pork dishes were equally phenomenal. I wished I had a pen and paper to write down all the unique ingredients. If anyone wants a dessert that will remind you of simple yet very elegant taste, order the Milk and Honey! The rhubarb dessert was a palate cleanser but equally refined in taste! We had a wonderful dining experience and we want to come back to check out the Chef Tasting choice!

The food was amazing, we celebrated our wedding anniversary at Hugo's. The staff was amazing, very helpful, and knowledgeable.

Had awesome visit here sampled different things waiter was very helpful

Wandered in Saturday around 6 and we got lucky to get seats at the bar. Unusual menu but we figured out how to have 4 courses for $60/person. The tomato and melon salads were very novel, the mushroom tempura amazing, and main courses of chicken and cod were delicious. Inventive desserts. Service was team-based and well-timed. A great experience so next time we'll make a reservation!

Very gourmet, very small portions but delicious. Staff was friendly but very stuffy and ridiculously snooty.

Very disappointed. I asked for a booth or table when I made the reservation, but we were seated at the bar next to the bathrooms. 90 minutes later when I left, the restaurant was still less than 1/4 full and only one booth in the whole restaurant was occupied. I ordered the pork dinner and it was luke warm at best. I would not go back and would not recommend the place to anyone. It was the worst meal I ever had in Portland, a city with so many other high end choices. I will stick with Fore St.

We did the tasting menu and I think it would have been better ordering off the menu. Like their other restaurants better-the honey pot and eventide.

Very ambitious chef, but less ambition and more food would have been a better compromise. Portions were small.

Did the tasting menu for an engagement celebration and it was incredible! The portions looked so small but towards the end we were so full, barely had enough room for desert. The waitstaff was so sweet. Just a perfect night!

We had the tasting menu and a bottle of their house rose. Every course was surprising and delicious. We stop here on our way up the coast every year and have never been dissappointed in the offerings, quality, or flavor explorations. Do not miss the experience.

We love coming to Portland and experiencing exceptional cuisine. Hugo’s did not disappoint. Loved the attention to culinary details and their passion for delighting diners’ palettes. Friendly staff and craft cocktails enhanced the experience too.

Exceptional food, service, and atmosphere. We came to celebrate our honeymoon and we'll be back for subsequent anniversaries for years to come. A must stop on your Portland food and wine tour.

Dining at Hugo’s is such a lovely experience. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and so creative. The service was excellent, the cocktails were refreshing. Overall we had a wonderful meal, and will definitely return without hesitation!

Great food. We Were Able to sit at the counter and watch some of the prep. It was fascinating. They served us some Little surprises along the way. Enjoyable dinner.