HUGO NOGO

HUGO
3235 Madison Road · Cincinnati, Ohio 45209 · 513.321.HUGO(4846)


I had originally told T.J. I wanted to try out NADA in downtown because I've heard great things, but it was too late to get reservations (obviously other people like it as well) and T.J. had a gift card to Hugo from www.restaurants.com. We decided to give it a try because it was something different and as T.J. pointed out it was romantic.

So, the reservations we got was for 8:30. When we went in, we didn't feel like celebrities like at the Waterfront, but instead felt like we were at a restaurant we shouldn't be in because we didn't make a certain amount of money. The atmosphere was indeed romantic, there were candles at each table and it was decorated very nice on the inside. However, nobody there was under the age of at least 40. We felt young, awkward, and out of place. When our waiter came, he actually wasn't the friendliest. He talked very little and didn't seem to pleased by our presence. He just mumbled a lot and was hard to understand.

When we recieved the menu there was not a huge variety of foods listed. The menu is described as southern sophistication. For an appetizer we tried the fritters. These were the best part of our meal because they were served with a chili jam that was sweet at first then followed by the spicy kick. I have to be honest and say that I really enjoyed these. After that, T.J. and I just went for the main course, although the menu is set up with 3 courses. T.J. got the New York Strip and I got the Free Range Chicken. The steak tasted charred and my chicken was absolutely nothing special. Since the restaurant was so "fancy" there were no sides that accompained the food. It was basically a piece of meat with decoration around the plate. My chicken was served on a bed of hash which was probably one of the nastiest things I've ever tasted. The texture was watery and gross on my tongue and it did not accompany the meal well. Tj's was served with onion straws on top of the steak which he said was "the best part."

Our drinks were often empty with nobody there to refill them even though many waiters and waitresses walked by. The table next to us provided the most enjoyable part of the night as they were being loud and cracking up laughing and even spilled wine at one point. Everyone else in the restaurant was staring at their rudeness but we were happy to see some sort of livliehood in that place.

Anyways, the meal was about 60 bucks which we really don't mind spending every once in awhile if the food is great and the service is good. HUGO did nothing to make our trip worth it, it's a shame to try to go out on a nice date and be utterly disappointed by not only the food, but the wait staff as well. Even though food critics in the past have labeled it as great, I would steer clear of this place.

With your best taste in mind,
Lauren

Jeff Ruby's The Waterfront

$
Watch out blog readers this place is pricey!
After that disclaimer I will have to say that the food is out of this world.

First, before the meal comes out they bring you bread with mushroom butter! YUM! My boyfriend and I are both huge fans of mushrooms and the combination that they make is just delicious. The Freddie salad is their take on a BLT which i would highly recommend. These things both prepare you for your amazing meal about to come.

I chose the 12 ounce fillet Mignon and it was to die for. The taste almost melted right in your mouth. You can choose toppings for your steak also, such as onions or mushrooms, which I opted out of because I enjoyed just tasting how flavorful the meat actually was.
My boyfriend got Jeff Ruby's Jewel which he figured he couldn't go wrong with because of the name... WELL it was good but the steak came on the bone which was a lot of work to cut up and he actually had to ask them to put it back on the grill as parts of it were RARE which is not our cup of tea.

Forget mashed or baked potatoes for your side! Go for the mac and cheese. This is not kraft. It's like no macaroni I have ever tasted before. It comes to your table in your own personal pan where it has been cooked with crumbles on the top. The steam rises off as soon as you put your spoon in and the taste is just great.


The environment is one of the most vital parts I think. It is romantic. It overlooks the Ohio river and as the sun is going down it is one of the prettiest places to be. Not to mention while you are there you get treated like you are a movie star (and you sometimes may be among them). Everyone is waiting to greet you and talk to you, your drink never gets emptied, you are never left wondering when something is coming. From start to finish you are welcomed.

Stay for the night atmosphere, the live bands or piano player, and an all around good time.

Until our next dinner together,
Elle.

Dewey's Pizza

I know we have not updated in awhile but I have decided to keep up the blog because I still want to educate you wonderful people on the places I love to eat. I hope you will try them too and be just as thrilled.
On today's list.... Dewey's pizza, one of my favorite places to eat on a regular basis. Dewey's Pizza has locations in greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton, St. Louis, Cleveland, and Columbus. I once met a lady from Pennsylvania who was living temporarily in Cincinnati. She said when she went home she would miss Dewey's Pizza the most. I do not blame her.
First lets talk about the atmosphere, Dewey's is a fun environment and children especially like the glass windows to the kitchen where they can watch the cooks making their hand tossed doughs. Just like you see here.
So, as you would probably guess, their doughs are delicious.

So what do you get when you go here? NOT CHEESE.
Don't get me wrong, all of their pizza is excellent quality, but whey get cheese when they have a whole list of specialty pizzas that are waiting to awake your pizza taste buds.

My personal favorite....Ryan's Inferno. This pizza is Dewey's take on a buffalo chicken pizza. Trade the marinara sauce in for olive oil and you have your start. Accompany it with buffalo chicken, Gorgonzola cheese, red onion, ranch dressing, and celery. YUM!

Prefer veggie? Then how about trying their Billy Goat, olive oil sauce, minced garlic, light mozzarella, goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, green peppers, and fresh tomatoes. This pizza made a vegetable lover out of me!

Of course there is always an option to create your own pizza, but try one of theirs. They know what they're doing.

One thing is for sure, you will see toppings here that you would see at no other pizza place, so it creates a whole different experience for any pizza lover.

I think I'll go get some Dewey's now.
Elle.