Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House

Hubby and I popped in on a Sunday night, sat in area next to bar at a good sized table-was comfortable. Waitress was extremely nice and accomodating throughout the night-A+! Opened with salads, both dressing were much better than average restaurant dressing surprisingly. For entree, I had crab cakes, and they were very good, and finally a restaurant that brings me a huge piece of lemon and enough mayo concoction for them! Hubby had the ribs, was knee deep in them before long and loved them! We got a piece of chocolate cake to take back to our hotel room. It was as big as our heads, I'm not kidding. We were very disappointed to have to leave more than half of it in our room upon leaving Chicago. Again, waitress was wonderful, hosts were very friendly, staff was attentive. Would definitely return again when in Chicago-easy to become a regular in this place! Pros: Portions-huge, table right away,excellent food and staff! Cons: Dessert was TOO big, had to leave left overs in hotel room! more

A New York City couple with high expectations for the culinary (that comes with the territory) on our first trip to Chicago. We shamelessly admit that N.Y.C. is missing and needs a Hugo's. With a menu that offers a variety of seafood that fools you into thinking you might be near the Atlantic coast and a shared kitchen with Gibson's Steakhouse next door this was a fantasy come true for a Carnivore-Vegetarian couple. From the moment we entered the door to the moment we wobbled out onto Rush Street the entire restaurant staff was not only courteous and attentive but genuinely welcoming and quick to acknowledge us with a smile whenever we came within five feet from one of them. Our server was Dustin and not only was he a chip off the warm personality of the entire staff, he was a knowledgeable and honest guide through what the menu had to offer. My Gibson's 22 oz. bone-in Ribeye was cooked to exactly what temp. I had asked and was the closest I'd come to the quality of beef that reminded me of what I grew up eating in Texas. The bookbinder soup is a must try appetizer for someone who has already tried Gumbo in New Orleans and the Chowdah in Cape Cod--it goes great with the generous serving of various fresh tasting bread delivered promptly to the table just before the drinks. My companion had a jalapeno crusted Halibut which was flaky and delicious. We both thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers the Bookbinder soup, frogs legs and crab cake are worth a mention. The decor was warm and welcoming and the tables are far enough apart that you aren't invading the tables next to you. Great wine list, fabulous food and wonderful service - what else could you ask for? Make Hugo's a must stop in Chicago. It is a better choice than its' older brother Gibson's if you aren't looking for the flashy "see and be seen" scene next door. But fine dining nevertheless. Pros: Excellent seafood for a midwestern hotspot, great wine list, great service Cons: reservations are a must! more

We took our son to Hugo's as a special going away present the night before he left for China as an exchange student. I was looking at other steak/seafood houses based on internet searches and changed to Hugo's based upon a recommendation by the Concierge at out hotel and I am so glad we did. Our waiter (Anthony) was the best waiter we have ever had at any restaurant. We never felt rushed (and the menu was extensive so it took awhile to order). The Lobster Bisque was the best soup we have ever had, the mustard/dill sauce for the salmon was fantastic, the crab cakes were really lump crab and not filler, and the steaks were fantastic (they come from their sister restaurant Gibson's). The most expensive restaurant I have ever been to but we also ordered more than usual because it was a special event. Glad we made reservations or we could not have gotten in until after 9:00 (Friday night). Hugo's will be a destination for us whenever we travel to Chicago from now on. Pros: Service and quality of food. more

I took a group of 8 to this restaurant and can't say enough good about it. We had to wait for our table ...but it was well worth it. This restaurant is awesome and the food is fantastic...Go and return often...!! FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE- great staff - wonderful menu! wow! Pros: great food, great service, more

My wife and I went there on a very cold January evening and found the restaurant a warm and lively place to get out of the cold and enjoy a good meal. We found the shrimp bisque, bookbinders soup and broiled scallops good but the Alaskan King Salmon was great, being perfectly cooked and seasoned. The asparagus was bland but overall it was a good meal. The desserts are decadent and can easily feed 4 people (thank goodness they provide doggy bags). We live on the gulf coast and were pleasantly surprised to find such good seafood without paying an arm and a leg although it was not cheap. Pros: Great Service Cons: Small restaurant so it feels you are right on top of fellow diners more

well first of all, their servers were not that nice at all. Didn't care about my table and i don't know why. Also, tomato and veg. soup and clam chowder were all too salty and my fish dish was salty as well. However, the worst part was that the creme brulee came out and the caramelized sugar didn't break. One of my friend asked the waiter if it is supposed to be like and he didn't say sorry but asked if we wanted a new one. And, when my friend said he was just curious how it suppoed to be like, he took the thing and said "whatever". The foods weren't good but the service was the worst ever. I would never go back there and would never recommend this place. more

My mom and I were just riding around and needed to make a pit stop. We just happened to find a parking spot in the area and parked. We decided to step in for a quick drink, but after entering and inquiring about a table, we were seated immediately, although the wait was an hour to sit outside. We were waited on immediately and the food was excellent. The waiter gave us each a complimentary bowl of clam chowder for the extra 20 minute wait for the food and comped a drink for having us sit, as he put it, in an awkward spot. (We loved the spot). We ordered the Lump Crab Cake, Seared Scallops and the Portobello Mushroom with a shrimp stuffing. Being from Houston, Texas I was impressed. We are accustomed to good seafood. more

Excellent food, had to wait 40 minutes despite having a reservation. The staff where very attenative and knowledgable, although a bit confused I was told they were out of the lobster bisque and asked if clam chowder would be okay, and then they brought lobster bisque to other's at my table when I asked about it they found another bowl of bisque for me, maybe from Gibson's with whom they share a kitchen. The atmosphere was a little noisy and crowded. But on future trips to Chicago this will be one of the places I must return to. Pros: Very good selection of Seafood Cons: Noisy and crowded more

It's obvious from the name, but there is only one thing on the menu that a true vegetarian can eat (I was coerced into going there by seafood lovers). It was incredibly noisy and we had to wait for atleast 30 min, depsite having a reservation at 9pm. Also waited atleast 10-15 minutes at the bar trying to get a drink. So crowded that it must've been a fire hazard and we could not have a conversation at the table due to noise. It might be worth it for the seafood but if you even want to talk to the other people you're with, don't go. Also, too expensive considering the food and service, which was borderline hostile, rushed us and then was unattentive. Pros: great location and hip crowd Cons: everything else more

We had a wonderful experience all around. Reservations are highly recommended, especially on Valentine's Day. I chose Hugo's because they're one of the few in the area that didn't have a prix-fixed menu. I love to have choices! We were seated immediately in the upstairs party section. They turned it into a quaint little dining room of about 7 or 8 tables for 2. Our server, Anthony, was awesome - tentative, funny, lively, knowledgable of their menu and made great suggestions. We had the 1/2 order of mussels, frog legs, seared tuna for me, porterhouse for the man and dessert was chocolate ice cream and creme burlee. We sure had a good amount of leftovers. Everything was tasty and good. It wasn't, "WHOA AMAZING!", but it was good. The mussels weren't too salty or garlicy, the frog legs were delicate and meaty, my medium rare seared tuna was a little "too" cooked. The porterhouse (not the Big Porterhouse) was BIG! There were no sides to share for us that evening...there was plenty for us and the table behind us. Nice selection of wine and very easy to follow on the menu. The downstairs bar area seemed like everyone was having a great time. We'll definitely be going back soon. Pros: lively, friendly, good food, great service, nice wine selection, comfortable Cons: didn't know to walk over by Gibson's for valet (they share) so waited a bit in the cold more

If you go to chicago, you have to go to Hugo's in Naperville, very nice place, the stakes are great orded the chicago cut , frog legs were awsome , atmosphere is great everybody is having a great time, been there tons of times and will go there agian, most Def. The only thing that bothers me about the place are the busboys running around with huge tray holding them on top thier heads which is kinda scary if he drops it on you other than that food was awsome servers where great , had to wait a lil bit to get seated although i had reservation but defenetly worth it. Great wine selection, a lil expensive though, crab cakes are awsome, don't order the clamarie though. more

Hugo's Frog Bar shares a kitchen with Gibson's, so I would expected it to be amazing, but it was just so so. The seafood was okay, but nothing to write home about. It seemed overpriced for the quantity and the quality. The wine list was comprehensive though, and the desserts are amazing. Our waiter was a bit snobby, slow and not very attentive. I would give this restaurant an average rating. Pros: Great location, fabulous desserts Cons: So so seafood, not the best service more

wanna have fun be alittle rowdy with haveing to worry about getting yealled at, this the place to be. had a 21st birthday ther and am having my 21st there. great food service and very very well kept. hugo's is the place to go on the weekends. i live near one in naperville but i have to go to this one in chicago. Pros: valet, food, and the people Cons: sometimes a wait but not very long more

We love this place! Everytime we are in Chicago, we eat here. The best jumbo shrimp and Appletinis! We have never had a bad experience in all the times we have eaten here. Great service and excellent service. The only negative thing I can say about Hugos, is that we have never been seated at our reservation time. With this in mind, I usually make a reservation a half hour earlier than I normally would, and enjoy a drink in the lively bar before dinner. Pros: great food, great service, great drinks Cons: expensive more

Gibson's founders have created another restaurant that has proven to be one of the best in the city. Visitors and locals are treated to delicious food of enormous portions accompanied by fast and personable service. Prices are fair, and dining here multiple times a week is not unreasonable. A terrific restaurant for a fun night out no matter what the occasion. Pros: great service, large portions, exciting atmosphere Cons: not good for kids more

When I entertain my business groups, I always go to Hugo's. It is a great value and a fun place to take my clients when the work is done. Can get really fresh seafood, great steaks and be in the "heart" of Rush Street. Always have had professional servers and been treated like a VIP Pros: Service, Location, Food more

I recently went to Hugo's for dinner and found that the experience was very satisfying. One of the first things I noticed was how busy the place is. Waiters are moving very quickly and the service is prompt. I was at times surprised by the speedy response of the service, and I don't generally notice something like that. The food was equally excellent. The freshness of the fish is evident. The menu seems broad enough to tempt even non-seafood eaters. Everything we tried was thoroughly enjoyed by all. And if you make it to dessert -- be careful! These things are huge. Overall my experience there was fantastic. This is a hot spot that I will be returning to very soon. Pros: Excellent service more

My husband and I have been regulars at Hugo's Frog Bar ever since we moved to Chicago. In fact, we were treated like old friends even on our first visit! The staff is well informed and charming, the fish is incredibly fresh, and the bar is always hopping! (Get it?!) We love to start with the crabcakes and can't leave without the chocolate mousse for dessert! You should go there too! Pros: Valet, Live Music more

I am a pharmaceutical rep and spend quite a bit of time entertaining doctors at great restaurants all over the city. My first time at Hugo's was six weeks ago with 5 doctors on a Thursday night. What an experience from beginning to end. My docs have still not stopped talking about the dinner. We started with cocktails in the bar, and service was impeccable from beginning to end. Everyone we encountered was friendly and knowledgeable of the restaurant. I highly recommend the seafood platter as an appetizer. I had the halibut that was featured for dinner, and it was delicious. We topped everything off with a gigantic dessert called Muddy Bottom Pie. The trip was worth it just for the dessert. I have been back several times since then. Hugo's staff has made me a regular customer. Enjoy your experience at Hugo's I know I did. Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Great Location/Scene more

Ive been going to Hugos since nealry the beginning and continue to go back time after time for the great food and service. The seafood is always fresh and dont forget about the ""Gibsons" steaks for a little variety. You wont find a better value in the Gold Coast for food and drinks. more