I had your chicken pesto panini yesterday for lunch and I’ve been home sick with food poisoning since yesterday late evening. Your sandwiches looked expired and old and now I see why.
Jonas Gavelis (John)
Avoid that place. It’s a scam. They serve small pizza and show much much bigger.
jimgreens
It’s a scam. They show much bigger pizza and serve super small. I don’t like scammers like that. It cost me 7 + tax + tips. So, recommend avoid that place.
Sydne y.
Lmao I got RIPPED OFF Paid $7 for a scoop of the strawberry gelato, lady with the brown short hair in a bun gave me a small cup and barely filled it up to the brim (less than half a scoop) I'm paying $7 for a decent sized scoop of gelato but basically got a few bites. not at all marketed like the pictures. I ended up getting a sloppy cup that barely had anything in it. Basically got charged 7 dollars, what I got was basically 2 bucks worth. I've bought pricey ice cream before and they usually give a decent sized scoop that's reasonable. I also take into account the area that I'm in so I know that prices here in Santa Monica are a bit heftier but THIS was an absolute rip off. Gelato was ok but I've had better tasting ones too. Do not get this.
White D.
Best gelato so good I had the dolce de latte yum .. must try so refreshing and really great customer service ..
Sandra O.
Went today and they sold me a Napoleon cake full of mold. I also got a panini and the bread was old and stale. I can understand that they are just reopening after a few months of quarantine but honestly it was disgusting.
Serenaa C.
Didnt care for this place at all. Drink sucked, service sucked, entire place smelled horrible. I came in last week on a rainy day for some hot chocolate and it was just a horrible mistake. As soon as I finished ordering, I began to smell a foul and sour odor coming from behind the counter. I was about to go tell the short haired girl at the front register that I would just like my money back but I caught her mid attitude with a small family of Asian tourists. They were literally doing nothing wrong but sampling some gelato yet she was acting like they just got her last nerve. As they tried to ask questions in broken English, they were completely shut down. I was so shocked to see how these employees treat tourists that I completely forgot about the nasty smell until it hit me again. I was born here and I deal with tourists on a daily basis, it doesn't take much to have some decency and patience. If someone is trying hard to respectfully communicate with you, meet them half way. Anyways, another dent to this perfect experience was when I finally did get my drink, it was about three inches from the top of the cup. When you pay that much for a large hot chocolate, I would expect that it would be filled somewhat towards the top. The taste was odd and I ended up throwing it away half way through. Nasty hot chocolate, nasty smell, and nasty attitudes coming out of this place. Don't pride yourself on being "Italian", you're giving us a bad name
Jovanna Anderson
Hello on Sunday 2-23-2020 I want into the cafe to buy a coffee there was only one employee I literally waited 30 mins... for the employee to get done with the Asian customer she was assisting. I have patience and she ignored me and ask the other guest what she can get for them and they was Hispanic and I am African American. And when I brought it to her attention she said oh well I don't care. And I left out.
peseva
The ice cream is really good, typical Italian gelato, but the service was terrible. The guys working there were not patient while we were agreeing on the orders of our friend's group, making sounds and rolling eyes, while there was no one else inside but us. The ice cream itself was overpriced and when we wanted to sit outside, the tables were so dirty, there was trash everywhere around them, the chairs were stained with ice cream, that we really just gave up and left.
Great food and customer service! Everything from the pastas to the sandwiches to the desserts! Like everything I've tasted here is amazing!
Andrea O.
Calling all Baristas. Calling all Baristas. Ugo employees are showing you how great coffee is done! The coffee here is out of this world. It isn't too bitter or too strong. I've tried their cappuccinos, lattes and hot chocolate. They never disappoint. I first ran across Ugo in Culver City. That's where I first fell in love with their coffee and pastries. This location in Santa Monica is fairly small. It's right in the center of Santa Monica place. It's very hard to miss! They usually play music right next to Ugos and I used to attend a Zumba class there on Saturday mornings @ 9 am. Ugo's would just be a great place to people-watch and enjoy some music while you sip on some great coffee. On New Year's Day, I stopped by Ugo's again and this time I tried their thumbprint cookies. I only purchased two since they seemed a little pricey, but I regretted that decision immediately after I ate the first cookie. I was so mad that I didn't buy more. That's how delicious these cookies were. If I could give this place more than five stars I would! Great job Ugo!
Kate C.
I usually steer clear of the Promenade food and shops, however today some family was visiting the town and there were no other dessert places open on New Years, so we decided to give Ugo Cafe a try. Ugh Cafe is a tiny stand-like building in the middle of Santa Monica place and be warned, it feels pretty crowded if there are more than 5 people in the establishment. Their gelato selection was decent, and the prices were typical for the SM tourist area. I ordered a chocolate gelato in a waffle cone and I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was. I do have to agree with some reviews as Ugo is more of a "you should stop by sometime" and not a "you HAVE to try this when you go to LA!!" However if there are no other options for dessert and you are hankering for a gelato, this is not a bad stop!
Shu E.
Alright. Pros. Coffee is wonderful. We had two caffe lattes and they were absolutely brilliant. The coffee was just nicely done, the milk well frothed. Good benchmark in terms of coffee. We also had the butter croissant and the apricot croissant. While the butter croissant was alright, it wasn't as flaky as a croissant should be. For a butter croissant...I think they're being a little selfish with the butter. You can definitely find better croissants - but this will do for a quick fix. The apricot croissant however - as seen in the pictures - were entirely deflated. Come on guys, don't do a croissant like that! Where are the flakes!?! They didn't heat it up, didn't make it not even room temperature...I mean. For 4$, I think y'all might as well head on to Target, split a croissant, heat it up, and slather some apricot jam. These were a disaster. Flat, dense, and nothing like a croissant should be. My word of advise, go for the coffee - skip the food.
Mingzhao Xu
Quality stuff but you do have to find parking and venture all the way inside the mall to reach it. Prices are reasonable. Also, I didn't know items were made fresh out of its Culver City location. I need to visit the actual restaurant.
I had your chicken pesto panini yesterday for lunch and I’ve been home sick with food poisoning since yesterday late evening. Your sandwiches looked expired and old and now I see why.
Avoid that place. It’s a scam. They serve small pizza and show much much bigger.
It’s a scam. They show much bigger pizza and serve super small. I don’t like scammers like that. It cost me 7 + tax + tips. So, recommend avoid that place.
Lmao I got RIPPED OFF Paid $7 for a scoop of the strawberry gelato, lady with the brown short hair in a bun gave me a small cup and barely filled it up to the brim (less than half a scoop) I'm paying $7 for a decent sized scoop of gelato but basically got a few bites. not at all marketed like the pictures. I ended up getting a sloppy cup that barely had anything in it. Basically got charged 7 dollars, what I got was basically 2 bucks worth. I've bought pricey ice cream before and they usually give a decent sized scoop that's reasonable. I also take into account the area that I'm in so I know that prices here in Santa Monica are a bit heftier but THIS was an absolute rip off. Gelato was ok but I've had better tasting ones too. Do not get this.
Best gelato so good I had the dolce de latte yum .. must try so refreshing and really great customer service ..
Went today and they sold me a Napoleon cake full of mold. I also got a panini and the bread was old and stale. I can understand that they are just reopening after a few months of quarantine but honestly it was disgusting.
Didnt care for this place at all. Drink sucked, service sucked, entire place smelled horrible. I came in last week on a rainy day for some hot chocolate and it was just a horrible mistake. As soon as I finished ordering, I began to smell a foul and sour odor coming from behind the counter. I was about to go tell the short haired girl at the front register that I would just like my money back but I caught her mid attitude with a small family of Asian tourists. They were literally doing nothing wrong but sampling some gelato yet she was acting like they just got her last nerve. As they tried to ask questions in broken English, they were completely shut down. I was so shocked to see how these employees treat tourists that I completely forgot about the nasty smell until it hit me again. I was born here and I deal with tourists on a daily basis, it doesn't take much to have some decency and patience. If someone is trying hard to respectfully communicate with you, meet them half way. Anyways, another dent to this perfect experience was when I finally did get my drink, it was about three inches from the top of the cup. When you pay that much for a large hot chocolate, I would expect that it would be filled somewhat towards the top. The taste was odd and I ended up throwing it away half way through. Nasty hot chocolate, nasty smell, and nasty attitudes coming out of this place. Don't pride yourself on being "Italian", you're giving us a bad name
Hello on Sunday 2-23-2020 I want into the cafe to buy a coffee there was only one employee I literally waited 30 mins... for the employee to get done with the Asian customer she was assisting. I have patience and she ignored me and ask the other guest what she can get for them and they was Hispanic and I am African American. And when I brought it to her attention she said oh well I don't care. And I left out.
The ice cream is really good, typical Italian gelato, but the service was terrible. The guys working there were not patient while we were agreeing on the orders of our friend's group, making sounds and rolling eyes, while there was no one else inside but us. The ice cream itself was overpriced and when we wanted to sit outside, the tables were so dirty, there was trash everywhere around them, the chairs were stained with ice cream, that we really just gave up and left.
Good place.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and customer service! Everything from the pastas to the sandwiches to the desserts! Like everything I've tasted here is amazing!
Calling all Baristas. Calling all Baristas. Ugo employees are showing you how great coffee is done! The coffee here is out of this world. It isn't too bitter or too strong. I've tried their cappuccinos, lattes and hot chocolate. They never disappoint. I first ran across Ugo in Culver City. That's where I first fell in love with their coffee and pastries. This location in Santa Monica is fairly small. It's right in the center of Santa Monica place. It's very hard to miss! They usually play music right next to Ugos and I used to attend a Zumba class there on Saturday mornings @ 9 am. Ugo's would just be a great place to people-watch and enjoy some music while you sip on some great coffee. On New Year's Day, I stopped by Ugo's again and this time I tried their thumbprint cookies. I only purchased two since they seemed a little pricey, but I regretted that decision immediately after I ate the first cookie. I was so mad that I didn't buy more. That's how delicious these cookies were. If I could give this place more than five stars I would! Great job Ugo!
I usually steer clear of the Promenade food and shops, however today some family was visiting the town and there were no other dessert places open on New Years, so we decided to give Ugo Cafe a try. Ugh Cafe is a tiny stand-like building in the middle of Santa Monica place and be warned, it feels pretty crowded if there are more than 5 people in the establishment. Their gelato selection was decent, and the prices were typical for the SM tourist area. I ordered a chocolate gelato in a waffle cone and I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was. I do have to agree with some reviews as Ugo is more of a "you should stop by sometime" and not a "you HAVE to try this when you go to LA!!" However if there are no other options for dessert and you are hankering for a gelato, this is not a bad stop!
Alright. Pros. Coffee is wonderful. We had two caffe lattes and they were absolutely brilliant. The coffee was just nicely done, the milk well frothed. Good benchmark in terms of coffee. We also had the butter croissant and the apricot croissant. While the butter croissant was alright, it wasn't as flaky as a croissant should be. For a butter croissant...I think they're being a little selfish with the butter. You can definitely find better croissants - but this will do for a quick fix. The apricot croissant however - as seen in the pictures - were entirely deflated. Come on guys, don't do a croissant like that! Where are the flakes!?! They didn't heat it up, didn't make it not even room temperature...I mean. For 4$, I think y'all might as well head on to Target, split a croissant, heat it up, and slather some apricot jam. These were a disaster. Flat, dense, and nothing like a croissant should be. My word of advise, go for the coffee - skip the food.
Quality stuff but you do have to find parking and venture all the way inside the mall to reach it. Prices are reasonable. Also, I didn't know items were made fresh out of its Culver City location. I need to visit the actual restaurant.