it was okWheelchair accessibility: i didn't see an elevator and it's upstairs
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Malcolm Gray
Great to have them back in a new place, Always an interesting selection with an Asian slant and seasoning, nice folks,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rowen Malley
Best restaurant and food I have ever
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
snowyknoll
*Reviewing their new location at the former Black Door. After the flood, Hugo's has risen like a Phoenix in its reincarnation upstairs on Main in the old Black Door digs. This feels like a very good match. On a recent Thursday night, out dining with friends, every table was filed, the iconic bar flush with patrons, and live music seeped down from the third floor. The mood and menu seem well matched to the space's speakeasy bones. A bevy of curated cocktails paired with an inviting wine & beer list first commanded our attention, and our server was attentive yet patient as we perused the main menu. There are a number of directions I could have taken, ultimately settled on a roasted cauliflower salad with chickpeas. It was outstanding both in flavor, concept, and quantity. I am still thinking about it two weeks later. My friends enjoyed their meals too, though the steak my friend ordered for her salad came uncut on a side plate, without a steak knife. And another friend nearly finished her fries before ketchup was requested and delivered. But, all in all, a very auspicious beginning for the reinvented Hugo's. We sat in the front room, but peeking into the main dining room I saw a modest amount of tables bundled together. Missing was the velvet banquettes and rich jeweled interior decor of the Black Door, leaving the space feeling a little underwhelming. Perhaps something is planned for the near future to pull it all together. We enjoyed our meals, our company, and the energy of the space. I look forward to returning soon for a date night, tucked away in a table for two.
Austin Hinton
We had a excellent salmon dinner with carrot cake for dessert. The cocktails tasted great and our server was friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beto Andrés Silva
Upstairs salsa spot brings so much. I heard many people express how special it felt to witness the salsa scene bringing life and intricacy to Montpelier. Many people traveling miles to come here for the salsa event felt unbelievably special. Up-Upstairs Bar tender (Cecilia?) was amazing. Very helpful, very resourceful. Instrumental to make this happen and informing new clients of drinks and promoting food. I have to say, I hope this spot establishes itself as the hub for Latin dance community in Central VT. It can be even more epic.Thanks for helping this happen.
Chef Daniel J.
Walking in the door I expected a little more flare. Slightly bland and a little pretentious for the overall Montpelier crowd. To be fair it was a Monday evening, also the location of this establishment is one that is very dear to me. NECI ran its restaurant out of here while I was attending for my Bachelor's and I have spent hundreds of hours working and learning in this space from some absolutely incredible talent. I felt bored sitting in the dining room, it lacks stimulation. Maybe a pop of color with some fresh flowers or some ornate utensils and tableware to add some warmth? The restaurant was clean. Our table however was not and we had to have them wipe it while we were already seated. A little awkward. The waitstaff was not unfriendly but also not attentive. They get a "C" on that report card. Yup she was there; but rarely and we had what we needed but just barely. We also had to request that the music being played on the speakers be turned down so that we could talk amongst ourselves. Way to loud. Let's talk about the food. I had the salmon and my wife had the pad Thai. The salmon was roughly 5oz and did seem to be center cut. I specifically asked that mine be cooked to medium. It came out over cooked. It was good but not what I ordered. The risotto that came with the fish was undercooked. The flavor of the fish was good. I'm not sure about the honey comb garnish;the food was hot and honey comb is naturally Made of wax so the heat from the food took away the slight crunch that honeycomb can add to a cheese plate or slightly chilled application. In concept I understand why that garnish choice was made. The execution needs to be more developed.All of the food needed additional seasoning. It was not enough food for me but I'm large and hungry all the time. I had a sandwich after my walk home.The Pad Thai was good. It needed more sauce; I liked that they use marinated chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. The noodles were cooked well and overall it was tasty. Between the two the pad Thai was the winner. But it's not the best pad Thai I have had in Montpelier and is by far the most expensive. Overall this place is currently just ok, and with having some heavy contenders just around the way at a lower price point this place will need to reevaluate their operations to be a front runner sitting in the shadows of 3 penny taproom. It has potential, I could see the vibe changing with live music which I know they have at times. It also may take some trial and error for them to find their rhythm in Montpelier, it's always been a tricky town. Best of luck
AJBobs
We so wanted to like this relatively new addition to the Montpelier food scene but the dishes we had failed on multiple levels. Fish and chips - small portion of fish which was dry and tasteless, served on a very small plate so not easy to eat. Guessing frozen. It was not overcooked just poor quality. Partner had mussels with frites: sauce was not memorable and was served without any dunking bread or bowl for the shells. Our server was the best part of the meal - attentive and pleasant…. Oh and good beer selection.
We had a reservation for our anniversary dinner. We were seated and then didn't see a single employee for a full 15 minutes before giving up. There were only 3 other parties dining in the dining room and at least 4 staff that we saw on shift this evening. Employees were walking about through the dining room but nobody made eye contact with us. We finally left and went to another restaurant in town and had a nice meal. I hope the management will train employees to pay attention to customers and that this restaurant has a chance of staying open. The service was truly disappointing.
Bob F
I've always wanted to try Hugo's because the restaurant selection in Montpelier leads a lot to be desired. And, I think I've tried them all at one time or another. Usually when we go out to dinner we drive to Stowe or Waterbury where there are numerous restaurants much better than Montpelier's supposed #1. But, last night we didn't want to drive far and decided to try Hugo's. What a pleasant surprise!! The staff was super friendly and accommodating, with quick service. We had two of the small plates, the calamari and the tuna tacos. The seafood in both was super fish and tasty. The sauces were wonderful. And, the bill was a pleasant surprise also! I have a new #1 in Montpelier and #2 is a distant second. If you like good food, an honest deal and nice people try this place out!
Jason Chartrand
We made a reservation on a Tuesday evening. The decor is wonderful. We were sat at a perfect table for 2. We ordered a bottle of wine and our food. Our wine came with an additional member of staff as our server had not done a wine service. There was no tasting as we both were poured an ounce of wine. Our appetizers showed up. My wife's soup was a special, duck soup. It missed the mark, the unrendered duck skin was included and the broth was a bit over salted. The Han Shan dumplings were delicious. We ordered the trio of pickles; I should have asked for clarification on this dish. The dish is three pickled vegetables none of them a cucumber- that's on me, but my wife enjoyed it. 3 minutes after our appetizers arrived, our entrees arrived. Our perfect table for two had 3 appetizers, 2 mains, share plates, a bottle of wine, wine and water glasses and no room for the candle or flowers. We resigned ourselves that we would be eating something cold. We ate the meal with dirty dishes that remained uncleared. While navigating hot and cold foods a server sat a single diner at a table for 4, perhaps seeing the kitchen makes all your food at once. We wanted a romantic evening, celebrating our anniversary. It was what it was, but not romantic. If you dine here, I highly recommend just ordering appetizers and then order main courses after you eat, unless cold food is what you're looking for...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Dumplings
Justin H.
Stopped by for dinner, had the Pad Thai Noodle Bowl and the Roasted Vegetable Salad. My husband and I were very satisfied with our dishes. They were loaded with flavor and the portions were great. Our server was Leslie, she was so wonderful and friendly and provided us with the specials of the day... which were endless. The ambiance was so nice and calm with the lighting and light music. The tables were spaced appropriately, it's not always great being in the middle of a restaurant when the tables are close, Hugo's were not. I so appreciate that. We are moving here soon and look forward to this being one of our regular spots.
Rachel
Ok, so I moved to town about two months ago. I’ve sat at this bar bare minimum once a week since, always order off the special menu, always get app din and dessert. This place is fire. I get a lot of seafood, they have some pan Asian feel items which are also delicious, some classic New England feels. I’d say a lot of French influence, especially with their desserts, which are incredible. Beignets, hands down, all day. I guess a little bit of everything in true Vermonter style.I hate writing reviews for my most fav places bc I don’t want them to get busier, but they deserve it. High quality food, high quality staff, high quality vibe. Bar is a cool hidden stone basement speak easy feel, love everything about it. Montpelier’s little hidden gem :)
A great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Live music. Great place in the capitol city.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
it was okWheelchair accessibility: i didn't see an elevator and it's upstairs
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Great to have them back in a new place, Always an interesting selection with an Asian slant and seasoning, nice folks,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best restaurant and food I have ever
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
*Reviewing their new location at the former Black Door. After the flood, Hugo's has risen like a Phoenix in its reincarnation upstairs on Main in the old Black Door digs. This feels like a very good match. On a recent Thursday night, out dining with friends, every table was filed, the iconic bar flush with patrons, and live music seeped down from the third floor. The mood and menu seem well matched to the space's speakeasy bones. A bevy of curated cocktails paired with an inviting wine & beer list first commanded our attention, and our server was attentive yet patient as we perused the main menu. There are a number of directions I could have taken, ultimately settled on a roasted cauliflower salad with chickpeas. It was outstanding both in flavor, concept, and quantity. I am still thinking about it two weeks later. My friends enjoyed their meals too, though the steak my friend ordered for her salad came uncut on a side plate, without a steak knife. And another friend nearly finished her fries before ketchup was requested and delivered. But, all in all, a very auspicious beginning for the reinvented Hugo's. We sat in the front room, but peeking into the main dining room I saw a modest amount of tables bundled together. Missing was the velvet banquettes and rich jeweled interior decor of the Black Door, leaving the space feeling a little underwhelming. Perhaps something is planned for the near future to pull it all together. We enjoyed our meals, our company, and the energy of the space. I look forward to returning soon for a date night, tucked away in a table for two.
We had a excellent salmon dinner with carrot cake for dessert. The cocktails tasted great and our server was friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Upstairs salsa spot brings so much. I heard many people express how special it felt to witness the salsa scene bringing life and intricacy to Montpelier. Many people traveling miles to come here for the salsa event felt unbelievably special. Up-Upstairs Bar tender (Cecilia?) was amazing. Very helpful, very resourceful. Instrumental to make this happen and informing new clients of drinks and promoting food. I have to say, I hope this spot establishes itself as the hub for Latin dance community in Central VT. It can be even more epic.Thanks for helping this happen.
Walking in the door I expected a little more flare. Slightly bland and a little pretentious for the overall Montpelier crowd. To be fair it was a Monday evening, also the location of this establishment is one that is very dear to me. NECI ran its restaurant out of here while I was attending for my Bachelor's and I have spent hundreds of hours working and learning in this space from some absolutely incredible talent. I felt bored sitting in the dining room, it lacks stimulation. Maybe a pop of color with some fresh flowers or some ornate utensils and tableware to add some warmth? The restaurant was clean. Our table however was not and we had to have them wipe it while we were already seated. A little awkward. The waitstaff was not unfriendly but also not attentive. They get a "C" on that report card. Yup she was there; but rarely and we had what we needed but just barely. We also had to request that the music being played on the speakers be turned down so that we could talk amongst ourselves. Way to loud. Let's talk about the food. I had the salmon and my wife had the pad Thai. The salmon was roughly 5oz and did seem to be center cut. I specifically asked that mine be cooked to medium. It came out over cooked. It was good but not what I ordered. The risotto that came with the fish was undercooked. The flavor of the fish was good. I'm not sure about the honey comb garnish;the food was hot and honey comb is naturally Made of wax so the heat from the food took away the slight crunch that honeycomb can add to a cheese plate or slightly chilled application. In concept I understand why that garnish choice was made. The execution needs to be more developed.All of the food needed additional seasoning. It was not enough food for me but I'm large and hungry all the time. I had a sandwich after my walk home.The Pad Thai was good. It needed more sauce; I liked that they use marinated chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. The noodles were cooked well and overall it was tasty. Between the two the pad Thai was the winner. But it's not the best pad Thai I have had in Montpelier and is by far the most expensive. Overall this place is currently just ok, and with having some heavy contenders just around the way at a lower price point this place will need to reevaluate their operations to be a front runner sitting in the shadows of 3 penny taproom. It has potential, I could see the vibe changing with live music which I know they have at times. It also may take some trial and error for them to find their rhythm in Montpelier, it's always been a tricky town. Best of luck
We so wanted to like this relatively new addition to the Montpelier food scene but the dishes we had failed on multiple levels. Fish and chips - small portion of fish which was dry and tasteless, served on a very small plate so not easy to eat. Guessing frozen. It was not overcooked just poor quality. Partner had mussels with frites: sauce was not memorable and was served without any dunking bread or bowl for the shells. Our server was the best part of the meal - attentive and pleasant…. Oh and good beer selection.
Restaurantji Recommends
We had a reservation for our anniversary dinner. We were seated and then didn't see a single employee for a full 15 minutes before giving up. There were only 3 other parties dining in the dining room and at least 4 staff that we saw on shift this evening. Employees were walking about through the dining room but nobody made eye contact with us. We finally left and went to another restaurant in town and had a nice meal. I hope the management will train employees to pay attention to customers and that this restaurant has a chance of staying open. The service was truly disappointing.
I've always wanted to try Hugo's because the restaurant selection in Montpelier leads a lot to be desired. And, I think I've tried them all at one time or another. Usually when we go out to dinner we drive to Stowe or Waterbury where there are numerous restaurants much better than Montpelier's supposed #1. But, last night we didn't want to drive far and decided to try Hugo's. What a pleasant surprise!! The staff was super friendly and accommodating, with quick service. We had two of the small plates, the calamari and the tuna tacos. The seafood in both was super fish and tasty. The sauces were wonderful. And, the bill was a pleasant surprise also! I have a new #1 in Montpelier and #2 is a distant second. If you like good food, an honest deal and nice people try this place out!
We made a reservation on a Tuesday evening. The decor is wonderful. We were sat at a perfect table for 2. We ordered a bottle of wine and our food. Our wine came with an additional member of staff as our server had not done a wine service. There was no tasting as we both were poured an ounce of wine. Our appetizers showed up. My wife's soup was a special, duck soup. It missed the mark, the unrendered duck skin was included and the broth was a bit over salted. The Han Shan dumplings were delicious. We ordered the trio of pickles; I should have asked for clarification on this dish. The dish is three pickled vegetables none of them a cucumber- that's on me, but my wife enjoyed it. 3 minutes after our appetizers arrived, our entrees arrived. Our perfect table for two had 3 appetizers, 2 mains, share plates, a bottle of wine, wine and water glasses and no room for the candle or flowers. We resigned ourselves that we would be eating something cold. We ate the meal with dirty dishes that remained uncleared. While navigating hot and cold foods a server sat a single diner at a table for 4, perhaps seeing the kitchen makes all your food at once. We wanted a romantic evening, celebrating our anniversary. It was what it was, but not romantic. If you dine here, I highly recommend just ordering appetizers and then order main courses after you eat, unless cold food is what you're looking for...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Dumplings
Stopped by for dinner, had the Pad Thai Noodle Bowl and the Roasted Vegetable Salad. My husband and I were very satisfied with our dishes. They were loaded with flavor and the portions were great. Our server was Leslie, she was so wonderful and friendly and provided us with the specials of the day... which were endless. The ambiance was so nice and calm with the lighting and light music. The tables were spaced appropriately, it's not always great being in the middle of a restaurant when the tables are close, Hugo's were not. I so appreciate that. We are moving here soon and look forward to this being one of our regular spots.
Ok, so I moved to town about two months ago. I’ve sat at this bar bare minimum once a week since, always order off the special menu, always get app din and dessert. This place is fire. I get a lot of seafood, they have some pan Asian feel items which are also delicious, some classic New England feels. I’d say a lot of French influence, especially with their desserts, which are incredible. Beignets, hands down, all day. I guess a little bit of everything in true Vermonter style.I hate writing reviews for my most fav places bc I don’t want them to get busier, but they deserve it. High quality food, high quality staff, high quality vibe. Bar is a cool hidden stone basement speak easy feel, love everything about it. Montpelier’s little hidden gem :)