Andy and Drew's Restaurant Review
Hugo's Cocina
Andrew Michel
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: Diversions
It's getting toward the end of the year, so Andy and I have been so busy that we scarcely have time for anything outside of school. We seriously thought about researching a place to go for our review, but we never actually did so. As a result, Andy and I jumped at the chance to go to Hugo's Cocina with the Diversions editor, Mike Opitz. (You should thank the guy; if not for him, you wouldn't be reading this fantastic review.)
When we got to Hugo's, my stomach was rumbling fiercely. I was in the mood for a big plate of Mexican goodness.
We went inside and eyed the wall-mounted menu for a while. The prices seemed reasonable; nothing was much over nine dollars, and most dishes came with chips and salsa. Hoping it was a heaping helping of ethnic chow, I ordered the chile verde plate for about eight bucks. While the others ordered, I had a chance to eye my surroundings.
A mural decorated the wall opposite the menu. It featured three men in ethnic Mexican clothing and some proud words above them. The mural wasn't the only decoration. The menu and other portions of wall were painted in a vaguely Mexican style that went well with the solid wooden tables.
As Andy and I sat at a corner table, Mike acquired some chips and salsa to hold us over. The salsa wasn't what I expected-I like chunky, hearty salsa even though it often lacks taste. Hugo's salsa is more of a sauce, but it makes up for its lack of body with authentic flavor. Hugo doesn't have bad iced tea, either.
The service was minimal, but prompt and friendly. Hugo's is more of a place to grab a quick, tasty bite of Mexican food before returning to work than it is a serious sit-down place. The vibes we got from our little corner were calming: the sound of a baseball game broadcast above us, cool air, and a brisk iced tea did wonders for our stressed college souls.
When the food came, it hardly had time to say goodbye to this world before I began devouring it. Surprisingly enough, during this food inhalation I actually tasted my food and was quite pleased by its rich flavor. Mixing beans, properly prepared Mexican-style rice, and shredded pork with green chile in a warm tortilla just felt good, and it tasted better.
While we were eating, I noticed that the back door was open, letting a little sunlight in. I liked the light but the open door and slightly noisy atmosphere made me realize that I would never take a date to Hugo's unless we were planning on grabbing a burrito to take along with us as we strolled outside. There just wasn't any romance.
All in all, Hugo's was a good experience. It's a friendly place to grab a good bite for less cash. Although you may not want to take a date there, it's always a place to hang out with your friends.
Restaurant Rating
Atmosphere 5/5
Service 4/5
Food 3/5
Date Place 0/5
Overall 3/5
When we got to Hugo's, my stomach was rumbling fiercely. I was in the mood for a big plate of Mexican goodness.
We went inside and eyed the wall-mounted menu for a while. The prices seemed reasonable; nothing was much over nine dollars, and most dishes came with chips and salsa. Hoping it was a heaping helping of ethnic chow, I ordered the chile verde plate for about eight bucks. While the others ordered, I had a chance to eye my surroundings.
A mural decorated the wall opposite the menu. It featured three men in ethnic Mexican clothing and some proud words above them. The mural wasn't the only decoration. The menu and other portions of wall were painted in a vaguely Mexican style that went well with the solid wooden tables.
As Andy and I sat at a corner table, Mike acquired some chips and salsa to hold us over. The salsa wasn't what I expected-I like chunky, hearty salsa even though it often lacks taste. Hugo's salsa is more of a sauce, but it makes up for its lack of body with authentic flavor. Hugo doesn't have bad iced tea, either.
The service was minimal, but prompt and friendly. Hugo's is more of a place to grab a quick, tasty bite of Mexican food before returning to work than it is a serious sit-down place. The vibes we got from our little corner were calming: the sound of a baseball game broadcast above us, cool air, and a brisk iced tea did wonders for our stressed college souls.
When the food came, it hardly had time to say goodbye to this world before I began devouring it. Surprisingly enough, during this food inhalation I actually tasted my food and was quite pleased by its rich flavor. Mixing beans, properly prepared Mexican-style rice, and shredded pork with green chile in a warm tortilla just felt good, and it tasted better.
While we were eating, I noticed that the back door was open, letting a little sunlight in. I liked the light but the open door and slightly noisy atmosphere made me realize that I would never take a date to Hugo's unless we were planning on grabbing a burrito to take along with us as we strolled outside. There just wasn't any romance.
All in all, Hugo's was a good experience. It's a friendly place to grab a good bite for less cash. Although you may not want to take a date there, it's always a place to hang out with your friends.
Restaurant Rating
Atmosphere 5/5
Service 4/5
Food 3/5
Date Place 0/5
Overall 3/5
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