Backstreet Cafe, Hugo's, Caracol Review

We came here with high expectations. We came for their restaurant week and tried their duck and short rib menu. The duck was a little dry, but the short rib was tasty. A little pricy for what you get. Drinks were normal, nothing special. Not sure if we ll be returning.

The staff is very knowledgeable and very friendly. The food taste amazing. Worth every cent.

Getting back in swing of things. Food was just okay but the dessert was fab not to mention the margaritas delish and usual.

Best waiter ever, Carlos took great care of us, fabulous happy hour and of course we had to get the grilled octopus!

WOW!
I m leaving this review before even leaving the restaurant.
Incredible dining experience at Hugo s.
AMAZING food and the service was top notch. Francisco was our server and he took SUCH good care of us.
Highly recommend dining at Hugo s.
You will not be disappointed.

I don't think there's much left to be said about Hugo's. Besides, I don't have the words to describe how great it is.
We made a trip to Houston for the weekend and decided to go to Sunday brunch. The place was packed, of course. I'll just mention three of my favorites items on the buffet; Chilaquiles, arroz con leche, flan and chilaquiles. I mention that last one twice because it alone was worth the eight hour drive. If you're ever within a few hours drive of Hugo's, do yourself a favor and go. You'll be glad you did.

Excellent place to treat your family for a dinner as my husband brought me here last night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. With all the food I tried especially their steak, I feel truly deeply loved by my husband. Hope to celebrate more of our anniversaries in your restaurant. Cheers!

Food was authentic, but the portions were too little.
Overpriced

One of my preferred locations for delicious mexican food. Arrived at six, it was not packed. I think I might become a regular.

Hugo's is always a treat. Try the lechon, it's to die for.

I recommend the scallops. Great selections of quality food.

Delicious, authentic Mexican food. Terrific service. Not too noisy.

I specially like the shrimp and crab cheese cake. It was really tasty. Overall staff is welcoming and nice.

I have to give Hugo's an absolute 5 stars. This place has such tasty food! I went here for Houston restaurant week and it was my first and definitely not my last time. The food is very flavorful! Each dish has a distinct flavor. I would reccomend everyone to try this place. And if you are looking for an authentic Mexican tres leches cake this is the place!

My husband chose this restaurant not even realizing that the chef was a James Beard winner! Great atmosphere and very friendly service! I had the striped bass special and I loved it! I am not usually a fish eater...thus I was very surprised how much I enjoyed it! Of course the Blackberry Mojito went down fast! Lol, my husband said that was the best Mexican food he has had since our trip to Mexico!

The first time I went there it was midday and I sat at the bar. The bar tender was very chill and only came up to us once in a while so we weren't constantly being asked if there was anything else we needed. The drinks are absolutely amazing. I had a Sangria and it's honestly the best I've had in a while. The second time I went back I dined. We went on a Saturday night with no reservations and only waited for about 15 minutes. Not bad at all. For dinner I had the Birria and it was sooo good. The food is top notch. It's a great place to go with your partner.

Awesome margaritas, food taste and presentation above 5 stars

Came here for brunch a few weeks ago and got the pork. It was good, but not great. I ll be trying it again.

We just had an absolutely fantastic meal at Hugos. The chicken taquitos were lovely, super crisp and light. We also had the tuna ceviche which was incredibly refreshing. For my main I had the scallops and I couldn't recommend them more, I would go as far to say these are probably some of the best scallops I have ever eaten!!! The cocktails were tasty and the staff were very pleasant and helpful. We will definitely be returning!

tex mex annd traditionall dishes. An menu that doesn't dissappoint

Best Mexican Gourmet food; and the margaritas and blueberry mojitos are awesome. I highly recommend Hugo's.

I had a superb time at this spot. We enjoyed the first-rate vibes and the meals. The staff members are super personal. I am content we eventually decided to try this place.

decent food....decent customer service, but you have to pay for parking, and find out later that waiter changed your tip to higher fee..!!!.....watch out !!...

Always good experience. I've never had a bad meal here.

Hugo's is one of Houston's best Sunday Brunch restaurants. Food is excellent, music is fun, drinks are delicious. Always.

Wow! It was creative and extraordinary! Atmosphere was romantic and inviting. Perfect dinner date. My rib eye was full of flavor and every bite into my dessert shot electricity down my spine. Chills with every bite! Very impressed!

Where can you go to find octopus mini tacos as an appetizer? From the very beginning everything was perfect. The food was outstanding and the atmosphere was great!! I took my wife for a dare night and she was very pleased . I would highly recommend this place on any occasion though. If I could give it 10 stars I would!!

Came to Hugos for the first time on Valentine's Day. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. I love the decor, it's comfortable and inviting. The octopus is a MUST have appetizer. It had simple ingredients and tasted wonderful. I also ordered the lamb and my date ordered the goat. Both dishes were cooked to perfection and had just the right amount of heat and seasonings. Our waiter recommend the bread pudding for dessert. Everything was delicious. Definitely will be back!

The best authentic Mexican food restaurant in Houston love coming here ... don't expect texmex

It s difficult to find vegetarian options when you want Mexican food. Most places limit you to something like cheese enchiladas and guac. But Hugo s offered a whole separate menu of really tasty choices. The empanadas had a delicately chewy crust with big flavor for the filling (plantains and refried beans). I had the chile rellenos which were stuffed with veggies, lightly breaded and cooked so the chili was still firm. And my friend had the grilled cauliflower steak which was very tasty. The margarita options were great, too. Highly recommend this place!

Mexican with a twist. Where I am from, all the Mexican inspired restaurants are pretty basic, what you would expect. Hugo s changed the game with a more fancy restaurant look and feel. Everything we ordered was delicious as were the Hugo-Ritas.

The venue is nice and the staff was very friendly and gave great attention to service. Highly recommend. Especially for out of towners.

Nice atmosphere, friendly and prompt service.Though their coffee was like Starbucks($$), the quality speaks for itself along with the food. 10/10 coming back for my father's birthday

This is authentic mexican food. Best mexican restaurant I have been in the United States. It is a little expensive, but it is worth every dollar paid.

My new favorite Mexican place! Highly recommend the flank steak that was soaked in rum/pineapple it was cooked perfectly and very tender. The guacamole and salsa were awesome, and the tortilla chips were delicious and homemade.

Great food, probably the best Mexican food anywhere around. Only con is smaller than average portions

Can't quite figure why it is in such high regard in Houston. Nothing is wrong with its menu and the atmosphere is nice. Brunch is wildly popular - but it is not that special. So, you won't be disappointed, but won't be bowled over either.

Loved everything we ordered there. The waitress is knowledgeable and thoughtful.

Excellent everything, quality in the food, I suggest octopus with charcoal and roast pork, very good

Great food, great service. Even recognized us for our anniversary.

Not really sure why the high reviews. Probably some of the worst Mexican food I've had. Also the place looks like it hasn't been updated in a long time and the staff is nice but not very put together. I'd say skip and go to a local bar with tex mex for a quarter of the price.

The best brunch place I ve been to ever since Baba Yaga closed down. I d call it a brunch buffet and it s worth every penny! They offer from Mexican brunch entrees to desserts. Definitely coming back here! The customer service was phenomenal!

The food was good but not appropriate for the price, in my opinion. The place is very loud and the patio has bad lighting and no fans to help with the Houston humidity. They did not have any the first two dishes I asked for so had to go with the shrimp dish. That dish should have been more priced about $19 not $25.

WOW, I would run the Houston Marathon everyday if it meant I could eat at Hugo's afterwards.

Hugo's is a really nice place and they have a nice outdoor patio as well. The food is pricey and I thought it was overated. My brother recommended my parents and I come here. The food is not bad but it's not amazing. My father and I ordered a pretty expensive dish and the portion was small for everything listed for the dish. Service was a bit slow as well but they were busy so that's fine. What i absolutely loved and recommend that everyone try are the empanadas de platano/tajada. Those were sooooo good. After what we ordered, I wasn't really full. Maybe I'll go back and try something else.

Outstanding site for delicious Mexican food. Great place to meet and catch up with friends. I look forward to going back again. Prices were decent.

Amazing drink! And homemade refried beans were fantastic. Its more spanish food than mexican though. I was a bit disappointed it wasnt Mexican food. Classy place

We first ate at their restaurant at IAH when going on vacation. We loved it and, having just returned from said trip, thought it would be an appropriate bookend if we dined at the original to finish it.

We had Saturday brunch. Their cocktails, including their bloody Mary and the habenero pineapple, were delicious. The ceviche was very satisfying and our entrees were both just what we needed. I highly recommend this place.

Hugo's is my favorite place to go with my children !

This is an authentic Mexican restaurant and one of the best in Houston. Not your Tex Mex fare. Hugo's and the sister outlet Caracol are my favorites in H town. Don't miss the Chapulines (fried grasshoppers over Tortilla, salsa and guacamole)!

Charming atmosphere and really great food. I highly recommend the Grasshopper tacos. Nutty and seasoned to perfection.

Always a treat and a fun place to eat! A true Go To for Sunday Brunch, start with the Pulpo Al Carbon / Grilled Octopus. Seasonal/Daily Cocktails are always worth a try and if you find yourself having difficultly choosing from the menu - try the special! The September Special sincerely tasted like September with light yet robust flavors and delicious pomegranate topper. Always leave room for dessert.

Great place to eat! Service was great and waiter Josh was very attentive and very knowledgeable of menu. This is a five star restaurant for sure...food was wonderful. Josh is a well trained waiter and even though the food was great he made the business stand out by his service! It was my husband's Birthday and he made the night memorable!

So, so good! Had the duck mole and tres leches cake. The food was incredible and there is a great selection of tequila and mezcal. The bartenders were very attentive. I went alone and sat at the bar but it looks like a fun spot for a date or small group.

Met friends for dinner. Reservations were easy, seating was prompt, and initial service immediately thereafter. Good range of cocktails to select from. Everyone enjoyed their dinner and dessert great place to socialize

We arrived early for Saturday Brunch. Service was ... well Fantastic, Food even better. We had an appetizer sample platter, which we could have had as our meal!

Not your average restaurant, traditional Mexican cooking with great flavors. Feels more formal to me, a great place for a date inside or outside on the enclosed pattio.

Been here for dinner a few times now. Service has been terrific each time, atmosphere is fun and casual. Menu is terrific in both variety and taste. Prepare to have to valet, parking around here is scarce and intimidating. You'll be circling the blocks, trying to read the many confusing signs about where you can and cannot park, as you drive past 2-3 tow trucks just looking for someone to tow. Save yourself the anxiety, and bring some cash to valet. Oh! and sometimes, they'll give you a carwash if you valet for an extra $15. That's pretty nice!

Unique decor, but be prepared to spend a pretty penny on drinks, food, and valet parking. Their seasonal menu is interesting and they have drinks you'll only find here which blend European liquors with traditional Mexican ones to produce a particularly tasty result. Great place for meetings but there are better tasting and cheaper places to get unique Tex-Mex around town.

Great brunch food excellent. Service superb. All first class

We arrived at 6am for a 11:30am flight. Nope, still here the next day for a 11:00am flight. We visited Hugo's 4 times yesterday. The staff had to stay because of the disastrous floods here in Houston. The staff went above and beyond with attentiveness, friendliness, and keeping-their-cool! I commend Everyone! Great job with your staff Mark! Bravo!

Food was very good, service was very good and quick. Definitely on the more price end but good for special occasions or dates. Portions were a little small for me, but I eat a lot.

First time coming here to Hugo s for an anniversary and the place exceeded our expectations. The service was great. Marco A. our server was fantastic. The food was delicious, I recommend the carne brava!

Too notch authentic Mexican and amazing cocktails. Highly recommend

one of the best Mexican restaurants that I have eaten at in Houston.

Great food here. Had fried duck with duck empanadas here. I could eat both all day every day. My appetizer wasn't great but my margarita and dessert were as well. Definitely recommend going.

Decadent. Delicious. and well-deserving of 5 stars. The food at Hugo's is one of a kind. Definitely call to make a reservation for a dinner or their sunday brunch- you won't regret it!

Adrift in Veracruz// $11
Pato en mole// $25
Capirotada// $9

My eyeballs almost popped out of my head after I took the first gulp. It's like sweet innocence it's so pure and light-hearted. Absolutely perfect for the summer (but honestly I'd drink it anytime) it has mocabo 20 years aged Veracruz rum, lime, piloncillo syrup, roasted pineapple, and luxardo maraschino cherry. I'm still smitten over this delightful cocktail
As for the duck if you are a big fan of chicken it's time you give this bird a try. While the mole was good, it begins with a nutty creaminess then transforms into an earthy espresso chocolate flavor to then fade away with a slight heat, it was good, but the duck was so perfectly cooked and seasoned I would have loved to see what it's like without the mole to get the entire essence. Check out my Instagram @hiddenfoodgems to see the video of how easily it falls off the bone. I barley had to press my fork down to pull it apart. This is the place to go to begin your duck journey it will not steer you wrong.
And for dessert capirotada is a Mexican version of bread pudding and they add queso fresco ice cream, crushed candies peanuts and a side of cane sugar that you can pour over or even drink because it's that captivating. The cane sugar was thick and velvety, with the sweetness hit perfectly. The bread was spongy but not like a wet sponge and the outer edges all had a nice crispyness. The ice cream was very light, and subtle, to have quest fresco ice cream is extremely creative and appreciated.

Great food and service. You can also get your car washed with the valet service!

Excellent food and prompt service make this a sure bet.