This restaurant was reviewed in the July 2006 LVA some of the information contained in this review may no longer be accurate.
For decades, Hugo’s has enjoyed a reputation as one of the finest and most romantic restaurants in Las Vegas, and the Four Queens has been wise enough not to mess with a good thing. For example, in a time-honored tradition, ladies are handed a rose when they walk through the doors. The dark and intimate room still exudes a Rat Pack-cool ’60s-Vegas look. The waiters and sommeliers have been there forever (our server was “still one of the new kids on the block”—after 17 years). Hugo’s is also known for a couple of culinary traditions, including table-side salad and flambé preparation, the small sorbet cone that’s delivered between the appetizer and entrée, and the plate of strawberries, dried apricots, and figs dipped in dark and light chocolate served after dinner. It’s all old-style Vegas gourmet room. Appetizers range from shrimp, duck, and escargots ($12) to the hot-rock specialty, a sizzling slab of granite with tenderloin medallions, chicken, swordfish, and jumbo shrimp ($24 for two). Light eaters can skip the starters, thanks to the huge salads. Entrées, which come with potato and vegetable, start at $29 for chicken, pause in the $30s and $40s for veal, duck, seafood, steaks, and Hugo’s vaunted rack of lamb, and top out at chateaubriand for two at $115. We had the salmon en papilotte and chicken raspberry, both excellent. With tip and tax it cost us $95 for a great meal and a neat little trip back to the Las Vegas of at least a quarter-century ago.
This restaurant was reviewed again in the December 2017 LVA some of the information contained in this review may no longer be accurate.
And then there’s Hugo’s Cellar, which might be the best high-end dining value in town. Hugo’s is located in a sunken room off the main casino floor of the Four Queens. It’s dark and intimate. Ladies are handed a rose upon arrival (when you see a woman walking in the casino with a rose, you’ll know she just came from Hugo’s). At first glance, you might wonder where the value is—the least expensive entrée is chicken for $40 and salmon is $47, then it’s $50s and $60s for the steaks. But meals come complete with a bread basket, vegetable, choice of potatoes or wild rice, Hugo’s famous salad, a selection of chocolate-dipped fruit for dessert, and even an intermezzo sorbet. The salad, mixed tableside with your choice of a dozen items added “garbage-style,” is almost a meal in itself, and everything else is included (there’s a full selection of appetizers and sides, but you don’t need them). Hugo’s has always been known for its rack of lamb and it’s as impressive as ever, both in portion and quality ($59). Prepared perfectly with no overwhelming sauces added, it’s our favorite lamb dish in Las Vegas. We also had scallops in lemon butter for $52. As mentioned, you won’t need more, but if you want to splurge, this is one of the few restaurants that still does flambéed desserts. The Bananas Foster or Cherries Jubilee is flamed tableside and feeds two for $19. Our bill for two was $198 with tax, but that’s because we went for $60 in appetizers. The value play is to stick with two entrées. If you want, lean on long-tenured sommelier Jon Simmons for a perfect wine recommendation—a glass of Shiraz was just $10—and you’ll have one of the best dining experiences in Vegas, while getting out for under $150. (Note: This is also the place to go if you want to incorporate some video poker before or after dinner.)