Hugo's Cellar
Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Four Queens Hotel and Casino202 Fremont St
Las Vegas, NV 89101 (702) 385-4011
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Garage, Valet
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
22 Reviews for Hugo's Cellar
A gourmet meal in the 4Q? Absolutely! The hub and I are big fans of this old-school gourmet room, where a couple can get some hooch with their dinner and still have a bill slightly over $100. It's dark and cozy, and the roses to the ladies add a cheesy yet sweet touch. Food isn't trendy or exotic, but is solid. I usually splurge on the filet with a bowl of lobster bisque. The salad cart service comes with the meal, and is always a treat. I look forward to the complimentary dessert tray with chocolate dipped fruit. And every time I have been there, the sommelier wears this Flavor Flav-esque clock/necklace thing. I have no idea what its purpose is, but it slays me!
Blow off those posers on the strip, and head downtown for some authentic Vegas fun without breaking the bank!
Make sure you make reservations and you're there on time as they are known to give them up. This is really a gem in downtown Las vegas which can run with the rest of the big guys on the strip. The ladys get roses when they first arrive. ..ahhhh...
Their salad cart contains the freshest of ingredients which comes with the meal. Their dressings are just tasty and they make it in front of you :) Their steaks are cooked to ordered, the quality of the food is good. Their sides make me smile, I think this is much more of a group place than romantic although its setup for romance it offers the classic old'school vegas vibe for a good group of people.
I want to give it a 3.5 but we're going with a four here because Rae really likes it. :)
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This is our anniversary/special occasion restaurant. It is always a great meal with great service. Their steaks are delish and the salad that comes with the meal is something I would put on my list of things to eat if I was going to the electric chair.
The meals include salad and sweets (choc dipped fruits and some delish and I'm quite sure the most fattening whipped cream ever) so save some cashola and don't order any apps. You will be quite full the time the dessert tray comes out. Our dinners usually range from $120 (no wine) - 200 (with wine) for the 2 of us. It's fantastic every time....well almost....
This visit was not as good as our other visits because of a bunch of goobers in the back room (we were seated right next to it) being very loud and obnoxious - since when do birthdays excuse you from having manners? The food and service were great despite the mannerless cretins.
If you go, request a booth in the front part of the restaurant. It is almost a completely different experience - much more quiet and romantic.
There isn't a dress code per se but there is a sign that says no tank tops, shorts or flip flops. Well, obvs they don't enforce it cuz the BF and I both had flip flops on and I had a tank on. There were folks in there in shorts and crap that they just pulled out of the hamper so it doesn't look like they enforce the rules.
PS: The gals get a rose upon entry which you can give to one of the many hobos or unsupervised little kids outside on the FSE.
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The name of this place makes no apologies: Hugo's Cellar in a word (or 2) is a complete representation of '70s fern bar mentality. This is old school Vegas, baby, and don't forget it. Hugo's is situated within the bowels of the Four Queens casino, located smack dab in the middle of the Fremont Street "Experience." The Four Queens is a retro-New Orleans style place. No need for pirate ships, mock Parisian towers and the like - gambling is the focus here with good food (at Hugo's) an added benefit.
Once you make your way past the slots, check-in area, and cashier, you walk down a set of stairs to Hugo's. It is a throwback to another time - red brick walls, large hair on the hostesses, and lots of flambe-food prepared tableside. I arrived an HOUR early (my fault - I'd driven in from Utah and didn't set my watch back an hour) and had to wait at the small bar area. The bartender brought me a portion of pate which was nice. I finally sat down for dinner which was very good - but not great.
Good things about Hugo's Cellar:
- Retro Vegas subterranean fern bar decor;
- Good wine cellar with selection of half bottles;
- Delicious Filet and Shrimp aux Poivre;
- Hugo's Tableside Salad - you get to pick the stuff!
- Cheese Lavosh! (kosher?)
Bad things about Hugo's Cellar:
- Need a guide with GPS to find the place in the hotel;
- Elderly hostesses seem a bit 'uncaring;'
- Side dishes bland;
- Service efficient but impersonal;
- Valet parking pretty slow.
I'd go back to Hugo's Cellar if I wanted a 'break' from the mega-restaurants on the Strip that are named after famous chefs (who rarely, if ever, cook in their kitchens). I'm glad I found Hugo's on Chowhound - I think it is normally 'locals only'. Worth checking out. Major yang decor with low fu design. Wear a tux with ruffled baby blue shirt to feel 'connected' to ghosts past in this place. Check it out. 4 stars.
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More like a 3.5...We decided to hit downtown because we'd never seen the old Vegas. We went, we saw, we ate, and we left. I am not sure the scene is for me but the saving grace is definitely Hugo's Cellar. This place was packed with a variety of folks and the atmosphere was classic and romantic. It definitely looked like it had not been updated in 20 years with the blue tableclothes and blue tapestry on the chairs. I took my rose as I walked in the door and we were seated on time for our reservation.
All in all, the food was good...not mind blowing but good. It is honestly more about the atmosphere than the food and that is what we wanted on the first night of our trip. I loved, loved the tableside salad. It was purely delicious with creamy peppercorn dressing and all of my favorite toppings. I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing so that I could enjoy my entree. My husband had the Filet Atlantis and I had the Seabass prepared with crab and shrimp sauce. Mine was alright but I would probably go for the meat if you dine here. My husband's steak was cooked perfectly medium rare and had a nice flavor. Being from Texas, we get good meat all the time and while his steak was good, it was not the best cut I have had.
We finished our meal with the complimentary chocolate dipped strawberries that were divine! Oh, and another great thing is that the wine list is priced extremely well. The value far exceeds most restaurants in Vegas. We ordered an $85 bottle of Jordan Cabernet, which is a steal in a restaurant. And, the Sommilier was quite charming with his British accent and all. If you are looking for something different from the strip, Hugo's is a good call.
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Subterranean, dimly lit, vaguely romantic restaurant that offers a cool "Old Vegas" vibe, but overpriced for substandard fare. Valet parking at the Four Queens is slow and frustrating, I suggest self parking in the garage. I've eaten here a handful of times, and the food seems to be getting worse and worse. Table side flambeed duckling was dry and overcooked to the point of inedibility, tasteless steamed baby vegetables, fatty and overcooked meat, marginally fresh seafood, and a raunchy table side salad course complete with frozen baby shrimp, wilted iceberg lettuce, and sickly sweet dressings. Service was fine, but nothing remarkable. The high points of this place are the knowledgeable and fun sommeliers, decent dessert cart, a palette cleanser sorbet course, and a cool ambiance if you can ignore the drunk tourists at the adjacent table.
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Went here for V-day with the wife and both of us were pretty impressed. I still can't get over the fact that THIS place is at the Four Queens!
Table side salad was great..we just got everything on it..can't remember the last time I had anchovies in my salad but it was pretty good. The wife went with the beef wellington and I got the rack of lamb which were both fantastic.
They gave us 2 complimentary desserts. One was a plate of things dipped in chocolate and the other was 2 chocolate coated gelatos shaped into hearts. Dropped a little over a $100 for everything but I found it to be well worth it.
I was worried after reading so many recent reviews of this place that said Hugo's was going downhill (even from some that had been coming here for years) that this place was going to suck bigtime. Well...this is pretty damn good if this is downhill.
This restaurant is located in the Four Queens casino and tucked away down a little staircase off from the black jack tables. Dimmly lit but cheery with chatter, this is the old time "romantic" restaurant.
Our booth had a little frosted flower light fixture mounted on the wall low, next to the table. Etched glass separated the booths to provide a little sound privacy. All the women received a long stem rose just before you're seated and the service was attentive from beginning to end.
There's a lot of gray hair in this place but it's a totally sweet place that doesn't smell old. Sure there's fake plants and Christmas lights. Sure the chandeliers feel a little like a billiards hall... but it's a really cute place.
The food was decent. My prime rib was cooked rare as I requested but I found the meat to be a bit too chewy. The Beef Wellington melted in my mouth though and I'd order it again.
I love that a great salad, bottled water and chocolate dipped strawberries all come to complete your meal. You'll even get a little cone of sherbet between your salad and entree.
Foodwise this place is fair.
But when you consider the service and the atmosphere this place is a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
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I was nervous about finding a nice downtown restaurant. Everything looked either very old or dirty. I came across an advertisement in the Las Vegas tour guide for Hugo's Cellar. It looked like the only decent place to eat, especially after leaving all the good restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip. Hugo's is located in the basement (cellar) of the Four Queens Hotel. Once you get through all the smoke and slot machines you are there.
At the bottom of the stairs the lady is given a red rose. After receiving the rose you are walked to your seat and the rose is placed in a vase until after your meal. Your seated in a cellar. The cellar is surrounded by all red brick walls and pictures. All employees are wearing suites or tuxedos. You are immediately served a glass of bottled water, given a menu and list of the specials. Before you receieve your appetizer and meal, there is a man pushing a salad cart. He will prepare your salad anyway you like. After you eat your salad you are given your appetizer and than a small scoop of sherbert. You receive your meal. After your meal you are given a desert tray with choclate strawberries and a couple of other delights.
Must warn you. Eat slow. They serve you a tremendous amount of food. I ordered scallops, which were cooked perfect! I have never been more happy with any restaurant. Be prepared. I never had a to ask for a single thing.
If you love wine, they have a huge selection. Salad, Bottled Water and desert tray is complimentary.
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Hugo's Cellar is an amazing find downtown on Fremont Street in, literally, the cellar of the Four Queens. It is so classic and old school Vegas, you really feel transformed back to when the waiters and owner knew your name and gave a damn about giving you a personalized experience. And I must admit, being given a rose when you arrive is a very sweet and romantic touch. I love how the salad is prepared in front of you at your table, and the steaks and wine list CANNOT be beat. I think we were all able to share one dessert at the end but I can barely remember, I was so full. This is definitely not a cheap place to eat, but a very memorable one.
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After searching and searching for the perfect restaurant for a group of 11 to celebrate my birthday, I hoped that I had finally found it when I read the reviews for Hugo's Cellar on Yelp. If you have ever planned a a group dinner, then you probably know what I'm talking about. The restaurant couldn't be too expensive, it had to serve a variety of food, it couldn't be too far, it couldn't be the same ol' thing, etc etc. Hugo's was everything that I had hoped it would be. It was PERFECT.
All the other reviewers were right on the mark when they said that Hugo's is the epitome of old school Vegas. It was definitely a nice break from the strip. When we arrived our table wasn't ready yet, but we had no problem passing the time by taking advantage of the low minimums on the roulette tables near by. Within a matter of minutes, the hostess let us know that they were ready to seat us. The long stemmed roses given to all the lady's was definitely a nice touch. (To be honest, this is one of the big reasons Hugo's topped my list of where I wanted to eat for my birthday. After all, I am a hopeless romantic at heart and I love it when I receive roses, whether its from a boyfriend or a friend or even a restaurant).
Our waiters (I believe we had 3), were all fantastic. Our main waiter was hilarious, he had us cracking up the entire night and at the same time, he was extremely attentive, helpful and knowledgeable. He also noticed that my friend was a little sick and so he had the bartender whip up a special drink that gets rid of that scratchy feeling in your throat. And miracles of miracles, it worked! Now, that's what I call service!
As previous reviews have indicated, a salad, a lemon sorbet to cleanse your palette, and some chocolate covered fruit are all included in your entree price. In my opinion, you really don't need to order an appetizer as the portions are all extremely generous so its already a good amount of food.
The salad in the beginning was great. A waiter comes around with a salad cart and you tell him what you would like in your salad. It was wonderful to be able to customize your own salad without feeling picky for not wanting this or that.
For the entrees, Hugo's has a ton of variety so that there's pretty much something for everyone on the menu, there's chicken, duck, fish, crab, lobster, etc etc. For the entree, I took a chance on the chilean sea bass ($36) even though I knew that Hugo's is mainly known for their meat. The sea bass was FANTASTIC. Every bite was cooked to perfection and it was extremely moist and flavorful. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. My boyfriend got the 16 oz. prime rib ($38) and that was melt in your mouth AMAZING. Our friend got the 24 oz. prime rib ($49) and that slab of meat was gigantic, It was a treat just watching him trying to finish that thing. Because we had 11 people and mostly everyone ordered different things, we got a pretty good taste of the entrees that Hugo's offers. While everything tasted great, the standouts of the night were definitely the prime rib and the sea bass.
By this point, we were so full after the entree that we almost groaned when they brought out the chocolate covered fruits. They served us two platters of chocolate covered strawberries, figs, and apricots. All of these were delish.
The prices aren't what you would define as cheap, but you're in Vegas so that has to be expected. Plus, for the quantity of the food, quality of the food, the service, the atmosphere, it was definitely worth it.
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(sigh)
hugo, will you be my valentine?
hugo, will you be my boyfriend?
hugo, will you marry me?
if i had a man like hugo, without a doubt, i will marry him and live happily ever after.
hugo is just lovely and just perfect for me.
lovely atmosphere
5-star, attentive, prompt service
resonable price-not too cheap not too crazily fancy
large portion
humongous wine menu
hugo's table-side salad--just the way i like it... a lot of red onions, some tomatoes, some mushrooms, some toasted pine nuts, some bay shrimps and some anchovies with mix of creamy peper and hone-walnut vinaigrette
hugo's hot rock specialty-this rocked my world.
chilean sea bass with sauce nantua (flaky crab meat with shrimp sauce)-WOW...flaky flavorful taste
i have so many great things to tell you about my hugo, but you'll just have to go and meet hugo for yourself.
i hate sharing but sharing is caring...enjoy
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Excellent all-around experience. Salads prepared for you at your table, your very own wine expert ("sommelier") complete with tasting ladle, and some of the best steaks and seafood in Vegas. This place is old school, and literally in "cellar" (basement) of the Four Queens, with a very romantic, family-oriented atmosphere and soft lighting. This is the place has a lot of class.
Been here many times over the years, but will NOT go back. Too much good steakhouse competition in Vegas to ever go back here. Waiter (Michael) was good, we were seated promptly (party of 10); food/ambiance/bar does not compare anymore to other leading steakhouses (Flemings, Morton's, Ruth's Chris, etc.).
The wine 'sommelier' is an A-HOLE! We asked about a bottle of Les Dix Cab, he said it was very good, blah, blah, blah...we ordered two bottles - he came back with 'the only one we have left'...I know my wines and this was clearly undrinkable...I let others taste it at our table and they agreed. When I asked if he tasted it (with his tasting cup hanging around his neck) - he said he did. Trust me, I watched him open the bottle, pour my tasting...he never tasted the stuff. It was awful - this last bottle must have been stored in the alley. He turned into a real prick in a hurry....first of all don't lie to me, and secondly don't treat the customer like dirt. He took it back, brought out another 'recommendation' (Whitehall Lane Cab - it was better, but not great). He poured it and never ever came back to our table - a real, walking, talking A-Hole. Funny thing was, when the bill arrived we did not get the detailed breakdown - I swear to God I was charged for the bad bottle of Les Dix, but we were celebrating my wife's birthday and my daughter's engagement and I was not going to raise a stink. They had the balls to put areas on the bill for tips for the Wine Steward and Waiter after already adding 18% for our group - no problem with 18% for a group of 10, but I put a big fat ZERO in for any other tips just because that Wine Steward was such a JACKASS!
Salad cart is not what it used to be and is over-rated!
You can spend the same elsewhere and have a much better experience.
No space in the bar for a comfortable pre-dinner cocktail.
Hugo's is officially in the cellar for me and I cannot recommend it. Food was not as good as Flemings.
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By far, the best downtown spot in Vegas!! I will drive 30 minutes to make it to the four queens any day of the week to eat here. A couple of hints to make your Hugo's Celler experience the best...
1. Go a bit early and have a drink at the bar, its old school and you can really get a sense of the place by watching the room and the waiters and the cocktails being made. Martini's are huge and served a fun way.
2. Order the salad cart, it is the most fabulous way to start a meal there.
3. If you drink Iced tea, get it. Its AMAZING I know, iced tea but trust me
4. Wonder around the hotel after and play a little craps or the slots, you will feel like its 1975 if you let it....
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I absolutely love Hugo's Cellar! I had dinner here during my bachelor party, and let me tell you, some of us guys can't stop talking about the meal we had here. Okay, it was mainly the amazing salad (mixed at your table, to your specifications) that grabbed our attention. But, the rest of the meal and spirits were great as well.
Well, from what I can remember (in between shots of Patron), I had a great salad and steak. The salad (did I mention it was amazing?!) was fabulous. Okay, maybe it was just the alcohol was talking at this point, but we all thought the salad was wonderful! Besides being made in individual portions and with whatever we liked, it was tossed thoroughly and not overwhelming in the dressing department at all. My steak was cooked well, seasoned just right, and helped combat the alcohol demons coursing through my veins at the time. Just remember that saying, "Beer before liquor..."
Like many of the other reviews state, this place is kitschy and 'old school' in terms of the decor. Set in the basement of the Four Queens Hotel in downtown Las Vegas, this place is something straight out of a 50s, 60s, or 70s movie. It's rather dark inside, but that only serves to heighten the mood: cool and chill. I felt like a high-roller in this place. It's classy and sophisticated...even though you're in the heart of Sin City itself! Service was top-notch and overall, we had a spectacular meal.
I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys good food and doesn't mind having to travel 'off the strip' in order to get it.
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Hugo's Cellar is almost like an "out of body" experience.
You will not believe that something that classy and nice can be in a "dive" casino like the Four Queens on Fremont Street.
I enjoy the Fremont experience and have stayed at the Four Queens hotel, but Hugo's is just something else.
Much has been said about the experience, but I would like to add the "Hot Rock" appetizer as a consideration for your next visit.
Pieces of beef Filet, swordfish, chicken and shrimp are cooked on a sizzling hot stone at your table. A Garlic paste is spead on the stone and you turn the meat enough times to meet your taste of "done-ness" and then you have a choice of Plum suace, hot mustard or Bernaise sauce to dip your morsal into.
Just outstanding !!! and just enough to not interfere with your dinner.
As for the salad prepared at your table, I suggest you get your salad favorites and then ask your tuxedoed server for a combination of the creamy pepper dressing and the vinegarette.
The combination of those two produces a dressing taste that is out of this world. The best salad I have ever eaten.
Lastly, being the beef eater that I am, I will recommend the Swordfish ( did I really just say that ) with the Sauce Nantua - a combination of shrimp and crab.
Can it get better than this - I think not.
Enjoy the end of your meal with the chocolate covered strawberrys, covered figs and covered apricots.
Walk back up the stairs into the Four Queens gaming area and ask yourself if just you got transported somewhere else for the past hour or two and then were deposited back rudely into this casino.
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We went down to Fremont Street because we were doing a Classic Vegas weekend. After realising our party was under-dressed for the steakhouse at the top of Binion's (turns out they frown on guys in shorts, even with good shoes and decent button-up shirts - Sorry about dressing for 100+ degree heat!), we wondered around just trying to find anything (turns out one in our group turned out to be kinda picky). I had "a feeling" for the 4 Queens, so we went in there and found Hugo's Cellar.
Sheer Perfection.
Great Style (You enter by going down a staircase. The brightly-lit hussle-bussle of the casino disappears as you descend into nice subdued lighting, beautiful brick and wooden pillars),
Old World Hospitality (the ladies all received long stemmed red roses and were seated by the staff),
Good sized Portions ( the drinks, from the bar that seat 5, come in 1/2litre carafes in little ice buckets, so you're getting about 2+ drinks for the price of 1).
Our service was over the top outstanding. Eddie, our congenial bartender fixed superb drinks, from uber-standards, The Manhattan and The Cosmopolitan, to the faddish Raspberry Chocolate Martini. Sue was at the podium as Matre'D. She optimized great service with her balance of candor and professionalism.
I've had lots of good food and I thought the food here was very good. The table side salads were all done in the same bowl; so you're right, it's not going to be pure flavor of your particular choices. Eh, we all thoroughly enjoyed our salads anyway. Two of us are Veg; you might be surprised by the great meals made from just veggie sides at your typical high end steakhouse. Hugo's didn't disappoint and they fixed up quite decent plates for us. Others in our group had the swordfish and a porterhouse. Everyone was pleased with their meal.
At the end of the meal they brought us chocolate covered strawberries; each one was about the size of your fist. Interestingly, we had had fist-size chocolate-dipped strawberries the night before at a wedding reception and had been impressed then. And yet, the ones at Hugo's were bigger and sweeter. Crazy...
Hugo's has become a permanent stop every time we come to Vegas.
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I've heard some mixed things about Hugo's. The atmosphere is old school vegas. The table side salad was good, but can't they use different bowls to mix when people get different dressings??? Had the scallops festival or something like that. It was good, but interesting. The scallops were cooked perfectly, but the sauce they were in was almost like a beef gravy. After a bite I just felt like I was eating a super tender steak covered in rich gravy. Kind of strange. But it was good. The chocolate dipped fruit plate they give for dessert was good too.
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Came to Vegas during your cold snap (01/13-01/16), but it didn't deter the wife and I on our 20th. Hugo's Cellar at the 4 Queens was, in a word, 'Classic'. The food was excellent...my Ribeye couldn't of been better, the service was good, and for the price (minus alcohol) was reasonable for what you get in the price (rose for the lady, Salad prepared at table, entree', breads, dessert). Tab was about $100 with tip and Hugo's will see us again in the future. Very romantic!
heavenly place to have dinner. though a little dark for some ( i actually liked their lights turned low) and tucked away far from the glitz of new vegas this ihas a different las vegas atmosphere. more slow, no gomba hairy chest with fake bling or the paris hilton wanna be starlets. this is a place to get away from all that for a while and get on of THE BEST steaks ive eaten on the west coast!
the salads were yummy as well. they take full attention as to how you want your salad done and will create it in front of you as you pick out what you want on it. all you do is eat it.
as for the wine list..the wine connessieur/sommelier(?) is very informative and youll learn a thing or two even if your palate was raised on pabst blue ribbon or shlitz malt liquor. dont worry, you wont feel intimidated, rather more refined . try the reisling!
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the ultimate place to go if you want a kitschy look at "old vegas" class: a swarthy maitre d', a rose for every female, salads mixed tableside to your specifications, continental classics like escargots, martinis on ice in tiny carafes...
the fact that this is hidden away in the basement (it's actually called "hugo's cellar") of the four queens makes it EVEN. BETTER.
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