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Hugo's Frog Bar
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
1024 N Rush St(between Bellevue Pl & Oak St)
Chicago, IL 60611
Neighborhood: Near North Side
(312) 640-0999
- Nearest Transit:
-
Clark/division (Red Line)
Chicago-Red (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
369 reviews for Hugo's Frog Bar
Review Highlights
"It was good, but I'm not a huge key lime pie fan."
(in 33 reviews)
"The crab cakes were absolutely DELICIOUS."
(in 59 reviews)
"They have a wonderful wine list."
(in 23 reviews)
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369 reviews in English
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Review from Kori E.
2/9/2012
Love this place!! We sat in the bar Friday night and shared some apps and drinks and we had the best time. I love the live music in the background and how sophisticated you feel sitting there drinking your wine and eating your grown up food! We split both the crab cakes and the avocado with crab meat, and both were outstanding!! The crab cakes were stuffed full of crab, no fillers here, and the dipping sauce was perfect. I have never had anything like the avocado with the fresh crab meat, and I couldn't get enough. I have been dreaming about this dish since. We sat here til the wee hours of the morning eating our delicious food and drinking ourselves silly all while listening to the awesome Piano man in the corner.
On a side note, I was here on NYE for my friends wedding, and they hosted an open bar before the cocktail reception for us here at Hugo's. The service was outstanding, and they kept the drinks coming. There were approximately 50 of us tucked into a small space in the back of the bar, but they did a great job of getting us drinks throughout the hour we were down there. The reception upstairs was amazing and very old school - sophisticated. I would highly recommend it as any event space. The food was cooked to order and all came out amazing. it was a great wedding and a fabulous NYE! -
Review from Sam M.
Seattle, WA
2/1/2012
Oh my gosh!!! This place is the best!! Really!
I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday last summer. We both loved everything about it- from the atmosphere, to our super fun, attentive, knowledgable server to the friendly strangers sitting at the table next to us (who shared their gigantic chocolate cake with us because, well, it was just so big). And of course I can't leave out the DELICIOUS food.
The cream of mushroom soup turned me into a cream of mushroom soup lover. It was so good, I don't even know how you can make something as simple as cream of mushroom soup so dang good! And of course I had to get the perch. It came with four pretty good sized perch; seasoned and cooked perfectly. Almost as good as my dad's (shhh...)!
The ambiance was nice and the people working there were very accomodating of our huge luggage that we were carrying around (we flew in from Seattle). And that was only the first taste of Chicago for my boyfriend who had never been there. He agrees- 5 stars for Hugo's! I would say Hugo's was a great first impression of all the great food Chicago has to offer. -
Review from Ngoc T.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2012
I don't usually spend $40 on an entree. But this deserved it. Everything was perfect. From the outstanding 5-star customer service, the cream of mushroom soup, the quality of seafood ooh it was to die for. The $40 was worth every penny. You won't regret it!!
Be careful though! The serving size is so big, you might as well order one entree and share it with a friend -
Review from Andre W.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had some clients come into town and they wanted to hit up a nice spot for food and drinks. They were staying @ the Knickerbocker Hotel so they wanted something not too far away.
We tried to get into Gibson's but they were packed on a chilly Wednesday night. I looked over into Hugos and noticed it wasn't too crowded. Our party of 10 figured it was a good idea and proceeded next door. We didn't want a heavy meal so we just ordered a bunch of appetizers. The spinach & crab dip was awesome, the potato skins were pretty good and the calamari was definitely on point. I washed it all down with 2 glasses of pinot grigio!
Great spot & great service! -
Review from Bob K.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2012
Seafood done right... on the Great Lake. Warm friendly atmosphere, simple but effective menu. Cut to the chase - one of the nicest cuts of seared tuna I've had anywhere. Simple perfect preparation with some wasabi and pickled ginger to heighten and palate-cleanse between heavenly bites. Grilled (grilled, yes!) asparagus for a side brings some Chicago steak echoes to the vegetable ... in a good way.
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Review from mmm l.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2012
the desserts are bigger than my face. enough said.
besides that, the lobster is fresh and cooked to perfection. my fiance (who proposed the night we went there!) ordered the T bone which he loved. The service is flawless.
the crowd is a bit old...understandably because it's so damn expensive. the ambiance is a bit stuffy. but if u want quality eats, it's your place to go! -
Review from Emilee S.
Minooka, IL
2/1/2012
First, let me start off with, RJ the manager, is wonderful.
I came in here for my birthday recently, and the server was notified 3 times it was my birthday by our table and once I presume from the receptionist (it was in our reservation). I NEVER got my "happy birthday". This is one of the reasons we went here, they have a wonderful assortment of desserts and GREAT FOOD. So, to get back to why RJ is great, I am not a complainer (YELP! doesn't count) Ha! but i complained and spoke to the most professional, nicest , understanding manager ever. This made me give my review 5 stars. Otherwise it would be a four.
DRINKS: Peach Blossom Martinis are awesome. A large assortment of wine from knowledgeable servers and bartenders that can answer ever question under the sun about wine if your not a wine drinker.
FOOD: Clam chowder- WOW! Everything was served piping hot and the steak was so tender, we ate the leftovers the next day. I also had one of the most amazing crab cakes ever. Salad was cold and crisp.
SERVICE: Good, I guess. The bus boys cleaned and refilled every two seconds but they were definitely not a bother. Despite the fact that our waiter seemed to favor the "wealthy" larger group of 12 next to us, he was OK. He made a few jokes the two times he visited our table and was fast. We had a gentlemen in a suit come to check on us twice. It was nice to know that they are attentive to the guests b/c this is not a $50 Joes Crab Shack spot, so I think the attention is well deserved.
PARKING- Valet next door at Gibsons.
Overall this place is a GO! :) BTW thanks Mr. Manager Man RJ, I am not mad about my Bday cake anymore :) -
Review from Tory B.
St Joseph, MI
1/31/2012
I didn't care for this restaurant at all. Walking in, the atmosphere was pleasant, white table clothes, good ambiance, etc. However, once we were seated, the wait staff seemed canned and corny, calling all of us young ladies and other cheesy comments. When the salad arrived, it was iceberg lettuce with NOTHING else. When the main courses arrived we simply the meat on a plate. Literally, visually appealing and under seasoned. Go somewhere else.
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Review from Taylor D.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2011
Hugo's has some incredible food! I started with the fried calamari, which was perfectly tender. The clam chowder was awesome as well! For my entree, I had the crab cakes! They were delicious! Purely crab meat with a little filler. Most places load their crab cakes with a filler, but not as Hugo's! Service and food is excellent which shows in the price of dinner. It cost us about $150 for two, without drinks. (A splurge for two college kids!) We ordered the chocolate mousse pie for dessert which we ate for about 5 days it was sooooo big!
The only reason I give this place a 4 instead of 5 is because my boyfriend (at the time) and I were celebrating our 5 year anniversary. We were only 19 years old when we came here for our anniversary dinner, and they did not do anything special for us. No dessert or anything. I understand we were young, but we were paying for our meal and expected to be treated like any other paying customer. I guess not. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Chicago, IL
2/2/2012
Love this restaurant! The crab legs are amazing.
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Review from Helen S.
11/16/2011
This is probably my favorite seafood place in Chicago. My friend's mom treated us to dinner here awhile back, and food usually doesn't stand out to me a year later, but this meal did because it's one of the first fancy meals I've ever had.
Service was awesome - we had a server who was really funny. We had a group of 7, and the server saw that we would probably be ordering a bunch of food so he gave us complimentary samplers. I can't remember what exactly he gave us (or if he was allowed to do that) but it was super good and we ended up ordering a ton of appetizers - crab cakes, spinach dip, calamari, oysters, and I can't remember what else.
I settled on getting fish for my meal - I think it was some kind of tilapia and I liked it, although my piece was a little small. I tried some of my friends' food though and I really liked the snow crab legs and the steak (I was trying to be modest with my order, but I guess I didn't order right :/ ).
What really stood out was the chocolate mousse cake dessert. My god it was good. It looks like a cake and it was huge, but when you bite into it, it was like eating a rich chocolate-y cloud. I would come back just for this.Listed in: Noteworthy in Chicago
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Review from Colleen W.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2011
Hugo's was, as promised, an overall success. The service was friendly from the minute we walked in the door. The food is incredible (the clam chowder was the best I've ever had), and the creamy garlic dressing on the salad was perfect. The salmon melts in your mouth, the steaks are perfectly cooked (no surprise, as they are the "Gibson's" seafood house...). Our server Adam was attentive, informative, friendly, and incredibly charming.
This is a can't miss in Chicago...as long as you are being treated (in my case) or are not afraid to drop a decent amount of dough on a meal. But to be quite honest, if I had the money to spend, I would spend it here. -
Review from Jessica S.
Chicago, IL
12/31/2011
What a great Chicago experience. A bustling crowd, with a mix of classic seafood and bar atmospheres. The crab legs are rich and delicious and the enormous crab cakes are a MUST TRY! I'd recommend getting two for the tale to have as appetizers. Save room for the chocolate mousse. It's a Chicago establishment and a great place to take out of towners!
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Review from Ann J.
Chicago, IL
12/30/2011
Amazing every time and service is impeccable! Love it!
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Review from Jill T.
Grand Rapids Charter Township, MI
11/10/2011
I totally recommend this place for a nice dinner!
We were greeted with a very friendly staff and had amazing food from the appetizers to the main course (side note: the clam chowder is to die for)! We will be returning as this was one of the highlights of our weekend away in Chicago!
And the cake? HUGE! -
Review from Michael S.
Schaumburg, IL
9/11/2011
Here is the deal...... This place is alot easier to get into and has the same menu as Gibson's.
Service 5 out of 5
Food 5 out of 5
Atmosphere 3.5 out of 5(I heard Happy Birthday sung 15 times which got alittle annoying)
Bring your wallet and your appetite as this place is KILLER to both -
Review from Aaron L.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not going in depth but overall very good place.
Service was top notch and the food was very good. -
Review from Alexandra C.
New York, NY
9/17/2011
Was excited to try this place but reality turned out to be that everything we had looked so much better than it actually tasted.
Didn't at all find the bookbinder soup good.
The sauteed frog legs- I can't believe I even tried one. All I can say is never again.
The seafood dishes were just regular, rather blah seafood I feel I could have gotten somewhere else at half the price. (sea bass and
salmon). I ordered the bouillabaise, which
I usually love but this was the worst one I've ever had. Did not care for the flavor of the broth (and there was a lot of it) at all.
Side dishes were not anything special. The mac and cheese with crawfish and sausage was the most filling side dish you could possibly ask for. The first forkful was good and then it just tasted too heavy. Good
flavor though and this was the tastiest dish of the night.
Now the dessert........The key lime pie looked amazing when we saw it so we had to get it. It is beyond huge. However, it was the worst tasting key lime pie..or any pie I've had in my life. Terrible, soggy crust and filling...The pie itself is about 90% meringue topping, which makes it look great but the meringue tastes like nothing. Out of the 4 of us, none of us wanted to eat much of it.
Now the Muddy Bottom pie served next to us....that looked amazing. Might be worth the 5,000 calories.
But our meal itself? 5 star restaurant prices for 2 star quality.. No thanks. -
Review from Astrid W.
Tampa, FL
12/13/2011
I'd been here a couple of times and each time it was like being crammed into an expensive sardine can. Couldn't get near the bar, the service was "meh" at best. We ordered the raw oysters and they were room temperature and smelled fishy. I don't even remember what we'd eaten after that because we were just trying to kill the aftertaste of the oysters we didn't finish. If I were describe this place to someone I would still call it a great place for happy hour and tourists..i.e., have a few drinks and leave or check it out when you're in town. Not a regular place I'd go to for the dining or service.
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Review from Marc H.
Chicago, IL
12/23/2011
Been there only to entertain clients and prospective business but worked every time! The location is historic. Once filled with denizons of nightwalkers and now it is one of the IT places for Chicago's Golden neighborhood. Hugo's a sister to Gibsons Steak House, but it's a bit younger and more relaxed crowd. No disappoints on the menu. No crusty old feel of some other "3 months waiting list establishments" too. Have fun!
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Review from Rachel K.
11/25/2011
I still dream of the lobster cobb salad I had here six months ago. It was one of the best salads I ever had, and it had generous portions of lobster. I was with a large group of coworkers and with our mixed tastes, there was something for everyone. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and enjoyed devouring the mountainous deserts---seriously the biggest deserts I have ever seen. The atmosphere here was cool and relaxing, and we were given great service even though they were extremely busy. The next time I am in Chicago I will be back for their top-notch lobster cobb salad! I can't wait!
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Review from Harpreet K.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2011 ROTD 7/21/2011
Janus: "Preet, you are looking skee-nee."
Edyta: "YAN-OO!! She IS skee-nee!" [enter scolding in Polish]
Janus: [ignores stop sign] "No. But she used to be LEE-tle bit fat. Maja, see? You can be skee-nee, too."
OH. SNAP. Welcome to my big fat Polish graduation dinner. Or, more accurately, my best friend, Maja's, little sister's law school graduation dinner (Congrats, G!).
Listen, I don't normally find myself this close to the shaft of the Viagra Triangle (ewww), but when Janus calls, you come, because NOBODY knows how to party like my rich Polish peeps know how to party. Trust me on this one; I'm Punjabi, game recognize game.
This was one of those epic dinners that goes down in the history books, a feast of Roman proportions, where even the skinniest woman at the table (not me, per Janus) was in a (Polish) Thanksgiving frame-of-mind (Eat until you can't eat any more. Smoke three cigarettes. Drink some vodka. Tell someone you love them. Stroll around the block. Hug an Irishman. Come back for Round 2). And Hugo's Frog Bar delivered.
The night is (surprise! surprise!) a blur - I do know that there was Filet Mignon, lobster (excellent), truffled potatoes, crab cakes (perfection), mussels, east coast Kumamoto oysters (!!), mac and cheese, something green (next), steak tar tare (special order), key lime pie (a must), and that the Cristal was flowin' (yes, it does make a cameo outside of hip hop videos. And if you were a member of Solidarity that escaped Warsaw with $219 in your pocket and ended up w/ a mansion on Muholland Drive, you'd be poppin' the same shit too). Bottom line: if you're looking for a great place to celebrate with your gigantic extended family, you really can't do much better than this.
And I didn't even get an STD on my way out (You heard. Polish-Punjabi's tell it like it is). -
Review from Rosa L.
Kalamazoo Township, MI
12/16/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I've been to Hugo's twice and this score is for both experiences.
The first time I ate at Hugo's, my boyfriend and I were in Chicago for our 3 year anniversary. We decided to give Hugo's a try for a light dinner. We didn't have a reservation but got a table near the bar with hardly any wait, We ordered 2 dozen oysters right away and browsed the menu. We each settled on a bowl of their clam chowder, which is fabulous! The atmosphere was great as was the service. Left with nothing but positive feeling about this restaurant.
Two months later my family decided to spend a weekend in Chicago to celebrate some birthdays. I made a reservation a week in advance for 8 people for a Saturday night and could only get a 5:30 or 9:30 table. Not great choices but I suppose that's what I get for waiting too long. Anyway, they had a table ready for us and it was in the main dining area shoved into the corner by the entrance to the kitchen. Not my favorite spot but whatever. This time around I was not as pleased with the service but the food was still fantastic but very pricey. Everyone had one drink, we ordered 3 dozen oysters for the table, and everyone had an entree. Our bill ended up being over $500. I suppose it's to be expected for a place of that caliper, but I doubt we'll be going back with a group that large ever again. It's too crowded, loud, and uncomfortable. -
Review from Robert S.
Aurora, IL
8/24/2011
This ia a review of a quick visit to Hugo's Frog Bar in Chicago.
I is nit uncommons for us to stop and Hugo's in Naperville for a quick bite and drink. This was not a good visit.
The bookbinder soup was overly thick and tasteless. My girlfriends clam chowder was not good at all. My steak filet slider was good, but my girlfriends was fatty.
The services was great and the drinks were cold. We mentioned to the staff that the slider was fatty and it was removed from the cost of the bill.
This is a great location and maybe this was a bad day, but most likely we will not eat at this location again. -
Review from Mark C.
Glenview, IL
12/7/2011 Seated via OpenTable
The classic downtown steak and seafood restaurant. I love the vibe much better here than at Gibson's next door - not as big a sausage fest. The drinks are strong and made well and the service is top notch. You can't go wrong with any of the steaks and the fishselection is awesome. Crab cakes with hot pink mayo is a must order!
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Review from Josh E.
Peoria, IL
1/16/2012
I had Salmon, and it didn't taste very fresh. My lady-friend got a steak and I tried it and it was literally the worst steak I've ever eaten. Maybe it was an off night, but it was so bad, I'm never going back.
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Review from Andrew R.
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was a joy, luckily not on my tab! The food was fantastic, the waiter was friendly and genuine, and the dessert! Oh, the dessert! I thought the waiter was bluffing when he said our table of 7 would have trouble finishing a single dessert. I was wrong - we left a slice of our massive mouse cake dish uneaten! The thing was enormous, seriously, and yet priced remarkably low for it's size and for being at this type of establishment. Overall, I have only good things to say. I could have done without the guy in the men's room offering to spray me with an array of cologne, but I'm guessing that wasn't the "official" restaurant staff.
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Review from Victoria O.
Riverside, IL
12/4/2011
Can't complain, as I was a guest. Food was good, atmosphere was 'see and be seen.' It all was fine, but nothing special or memorable. A companion ordered a double martini as "dinner," and the waiter said, "Cool." Need more be said?
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Review from Tiffany W.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2011
A few tips to dining in this fantastic establishment:
1. Opentable
I had a last minute need for a 7pm reservation on saturday...at 4 pm. Needless to say the restaurant said they were booked. When I checked opentable, someone must have JUST canceled a rezzo as there was a 7pm booking available. SUCCESS!
2. Come Early
Especially if it's a weekend, come check in a half hour before your seating if you have a time pressure. We had 9 pm tix for a show, so I came at 6:40 and checked in and secured a seat in the packed bar. Coming early accomplishes 2 things- you actually may find a seat in the bar for your wait and also you stand a better chance of actually being seated on time. Even so, we finally were seated closer to 7:20 and were out by 8:40.
3. Ask for the Booth
Request it with your reservation and even wait a little longer for it if you must. The place gets PACKED and a booth is an oasis in the crowd. Sooooooo worth it!
4. Request the Olive Oil/ Balsamic
They serve insanely delicious fresh bread. I am not a butter fan so our server was more than happy to hook me up...heaven.
5. Get the Seafood!
I love tasters to share, so we ordered East Coast Oysters (yum), the Softshell Crab (delish) and definitely get the Clams in white wine garlic sauce...amazing! If you really were set on steak, they have it, but at that point
why not just make a rezzo for Gibson's? Stick with the seafood....
5. Bottle of Wine
Just do it. Concannon Pinot Noir was lovely.
6. Birthday Song!
Yep, it was my friends bday the next day, so I asked the waiter for a dessert list. The Military style Hoo-Rah Birthday song is pretty fun.
7. Dessert
As others have said, "as big as your head." The Apples in the apple pie were tart and hard. I think I would try a Strawberry shortcake or something else instead next time as I like my apples a little softer and sweeter.
8. Leave a big tip
Some of the best service in the city, hands down. I always make friends with the server, call them by their name and engage them, therefore getting the best service. (Still shocked most people don't do this.) Both the server and busser used crumb removers to clean the table to get us ready for dessert. Nice. You KNOW you will be back, so make friends with your server before you leave. ;-) -
Review from K B.
Denver, CO
12/3/2011
Great food! Great service! This was probably the best service I have had in years! Huge crab cakes! A must go to!
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Review from Monica T.
6/20/2011
We decided to check this place out for our first sit down dinner in Chicago. Let me just say that this place definitely sold me on Chicago food.
We showed up around 745 or so and were quoted an hour wait, but it seemed more like 30 minutes when we got a table. The place was packed, but we were able to find a spot to wait in the bar that wasn't totally jammed. A server came by and got us some wine, which was nice.
Our spot was outside. Despite it being on the cool side outside, the temperature was perfect near the heat lamp. Our location gave us a great opportunity to people watch and check out the scene. At some point, a bunch of naked people biked by, and we were informed by our server that this was the annual Naked Bike Ride. I'd say there was either too much nudity or not at all enough, but that's just me.
Speaking of our server, his name was Raul and he was awesome. He was very personable, had great recommendations, and just made our experience fantastic overall.
For our appetizer, we got the frog legs. This was the first time either my boyfriend or I had tried them, and we were quite impressed. As everyone says, they do taste like chicken, but it's kind of like eating a chicken wing that was made of dark meat. The butter and garlic sauce was super complimentary (but when is such a sauce not?)
My boyfriend got the Cajun chicken and crab, which he was very fond of. Everything was very fresh, and there was a great mix of spices. I must say, though, that the bouillabaisse that I ordered stole the show. Fantastic, flavorful broth with generous portions of tasty seafood. Be sure to get it with the lobster.
We were stuffed after our meals, which we decided was a good thing after we saw one of the desserts. The table next to us ordered a piece of cake, and the piece looked like it had been cut for King Kong or something. They ate some of it, then gave the rest of it to the table next to them.
The bill was a bit on the high side, but it was well worth it for the quality of food, great service, and just overall wonderful experience. I'd highly recommend you check this place out, and if I'm ever back in Chicago, I might just have to go back. -
Review from Adam M.
10/19/2011
Wow, Hugo's Frog Bar was amazing. I started with the New England Clam Chowder (has smoked bacon in it!) which was sooo good. Probably the best chowder I've had outside of Boston. I went here with my girlfriend so we had the luxury of splitting two so we could try multiple items. The Charbroiled Filet Medallions Oscar (hollandaise sauce on the side) was very good; the King Crab Meat on top was phenomenal. We also had the Miso Marinated Sea Bass. This was my first time trying Sea Bass and I must say I'm hooked. This was the best fish I ever had! We complemented our main entrees with a side of crawfish mac and cheese that I highly recommend trying. Overall Hugo's Frog Bar is a must try for anyone looking for a great meal in Chicago!
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Review from Cinday G.
Chicago, IL
12/2/2011
I am very reluctant to eat sea food but I went there with my sister and her friend. I was blown away! I had the sea food gumbo and it was delicious. The crabmeat avocado appetizer was so fresh, that I could not help but try it! I did not try the frog legs though, I wasn't feeling that adventurous that night. My sister and her friend loved them though! I ordered a filet mignon because it seemed like a safe choice for my first time in the restaurant and I had my fair share of seafood already. The steak was great, how could you go wrong with a filet mignon! It was very busy and crowded in the restaurant but I liked that, because we were a chatty group. I would definitely return and try the seafood.
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Review from Jen J.
Wheaton, IL
12/23/2011
Greeted by flighty hostess who called me John instead of Jen and then ignored by a batender who could be equivocal to Derick zoolander because he could not turn his head left. The crowd at the bar were difficult to hang with. Within a short time we watched an overcooked steak get sent back as well as a disagrement over whether the oysters were too large. The dining room atmosphere was okay. The tables are crowded and you can overhear (and watch) as the rich old farts sexually harrass the hostess. In general, the meat was good quality, yet the flavor was underwhelming. My mahi filet was good, the sauce sucked. My boyfriend's peppercorn filet was good quality yet over seasoned. The server had a personality and was friendly. She saved the experience from being sour. We decided our experience wasn't enough to bring us back. There are much better fine dining choices.
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Review from Grace N.
7/12/2011
We had a fabulous experience here for our one year wedding anniversary. We made a 7 pm reservation on a Friday night and arrived early, but they ushered us immediately to the Best Seat in the House - an old wooden elevator (old-school lever and all!) turned into a lovely sheltered booth in the middle of the restaurant. It kept the noise out and the candlelit romance in, and we felt like rockstars.
Porterhouse medium rare = perfect. They have you test the doneness as soon as they bring your steak to make sure it's to your liking, so my husband stuck his finger in the steak (the "only way to test a steak"). Awesome, flavorful char crust, perfectly rested so that the juice remained inside the steak, giving it a buttery soft texture.
Crab cakes = huge and delicious with just enough filler to keep the succulent lump crab pieces together. Pink sauce? Pink you very much.
The servers were mind-readers. They even asked if I wanted extra pink sauce to go with my leftover crab cake.
***As an aside, I was walking down the street with the Gibson's to-go bag when a homeless man said...."GIbson's? That's all riiiiight....." so I gave him my uneaten crab cake, with extra pink sauce. I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did. -
Review from Dru M.
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
A few folks in our group were in the mood for oysters and Yelp told us that Hugo's Frog Bar was one of the best in the city to go. So we did.
The oysters were delicious and per my request...they gave me a lot of fresh horseradish.That made me happy. They were smaller that typical oysters, but the flavor was great. Our group ordered a variety of entrees...shrimp, fish/chips, BLT, turkey/avocado sandwich, etc. Everyone was very happy with what they ordered.
Our server was very nice, but at times...a bit slow. I think it had to do with the fact that she was covering the entire bar during lunch on a Saturday.
Note...everyone at our table raved about their bloody mary's. You can get it with cucumber vodka...nice touch.
Overall...we really enjoyed our lunch and I suggest if you're in the mod for seafood or just a good lunch spot...they are worth a try. -
Review from David B.
Cincinnati, OH
11/21/2011
A little too much noise but the food was excellent and the service was great.
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Review from Gonzalo B.
Boston, MA
11/19/2011
Big seafood lover from Boston, and thoroughly enjoyed this place, it ticks off most of the boxes you want...checked off. Large joint and I mean joint in the good way, nice vibe, funny name. Don't have any (as in like none) desire to ingest any froggy legs.
Big vibe, nice place. Lots of smiles all around, lots of happy people, both customers and people that work here. Friendly. Like the feel here, the different rooms, the booths, the whole layout.
Big menu, lotsa lotsa. Everything we had, all seafood, all really good. Good, experienced, professional waiter, in the right way. Big, did I say big. Well, so's the Bill, but that's the kinda place this is. Hay. Hay now. You want some big, you gonna pay some...big. -
Review from Stephanie H.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2011
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was hoping to get a last minute seat at Gibson's in the piano bar room to no avail. But the hostess informed me that Hugo's has the same Gibson's steaks and that I would probably be able to get a table there. So I went next door and was able to get a table, however, the place got packed quickly (it was a Thursday night) and I once again was glad that I'm thin because people definitely had to squeeze by my table and the one next to me to get by.
I love seafood, but the seafood on the menu really didn't appeal to me, so I opted for a steak. I started with the lobster bisque which was absolutely dreadful. It tasted fine, but in my book if you're going to have lobster bisque I need to be able to see the lobster. It was basically a cup with orange soup in it, the lobster was in there I think, but I couldn't see it.
My steak was cooked perfectly (medium-rare of course) and was fantastic. I ordered a side of mushrooms which were rather oily and greasy but still tasted good.
My service was excellent, but I can't say I would come here for the seafood, and given the choice I'd rather go to Gibson's. But if you really need a place for a steak and don't want to deal with reserving a table at Gibson's well in advance then Hugo's isn't a bad second choice. -
Review from Jeff K.
Longmont, CO
8/18/2011
Terrific dinner, took my wife & kids -- all thoroughly enjoyed it.
We had Chicago cut (bone-in ribeye), salmon, scallops, calamari, crab cake, raw clams. All yummy! The calamari were the least-special item, but were still good. Salmon dish was probably the star of the meal.
Tip: go early. We walked in with no reservation, but 30 minutes after we arrived it was packed with a line on a Wednesday night.
