Hugo's - Queens Park, London - Restaurant Review
Best All Day Brunch, Mainly Organic, Romantic Dining, Sunday Jazz
Mar 15, 2009
Hugo's Café, the " boho chic " fun restaurant favoured by the trendy locals in hip Queens Park North West London, is by day a family friendly eatery serving an extensive all day brunch. Yummy mummies with or without off-spring twitter with the girls, media types, musicians and other local cognoscenti talk their rap occasionally casting an eye toward the group of dishy blondes, casually saucy, tending their sweeties or themselves, tucking into a fluffy eggs benedict or elegant fry up.
Hugo's is Trendy and Eco Friendly
The owners Bryn Jones , ex director of Greenpeace and Carol Charlton previously a simultaneous translator in Spanish and French are Eco friendly environmentalists. Electric cars parked outside in the cobbled mews of Salusbury Road and mainly organic food characterise the eclectic bohemian ambience of this popular restaurant.
Brunch Every day and Weekends at Hugo's
The food is good and the all day brunch menu which is served every day of the week including the traditional Sunday is extensive. Pancake Stack with Bacon and Fruit and Maple Syrup, Eggs Florentine, Benedict and Royale, scrambled , fried or poached and if the brunch extends into the lunchtime hour the Organic Burger, delicious and lean with House Organic Brioche Bun, Sautes and Salad is a favourite at a reasonable £8.80.
Romantic Dining at Night
At night Hugo's dresses up for dinner although the clients can wear what they want. Soft lighting, ruby red walls and and not a kid in sight. The dinner menu is a far more sophisticated affair although the food still has a fresh healthy simplicity with top quality ingredients and many are organic. Waiter Nathan; effusive and friendly, happy to make suggestions of his own favourite dishes.
Hugo's Restaurant Dinner Menu
The black board sports the special main courses and the menu changes frequently.A starter of Deep - Fried Five Spice Calamari Served with Garlic Mayo tasted very fresh and not at all greasy. The Mayo was delicate and the garlic just enough to give it a kick without leaving an unpleasant taste for the next course.
This was the Roast Rack of Welsh Hill Farmed Lamb on Roast Sweet Potatoes, Melted Spinach and Cinnamon Flavoured Red Wine Gravy. The meat well cooked and tender, potatoes crisp and the spinach light and fresh with a subtle well balanced gravy that almost seemed a better contrast than the traditional jelly and mint served with this meat. All this was served with a smooth Merlot from Chile.
Delicious Desserts at Hugo's
The sweet platter of tasting portions of different desserts was specially requested. However only the moist chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream and dark succulent sticky toffee pudding with a delectable caramel sauce were worthy of a dieter throwing caution to the wind.
The chef Eraldo Pinto from Portugal looks younger than his forty years. Coming up to a decade he is still here and so too are the staff who seem to relish the lively atmosphere of this enjoyable restaurant.
Sunday Jazz Evenings at Hugo's
Hugo's does another transformation on Sundays. The Jazz7 club run by singer Eliana Tomkins hosts top rate musicians. There is a £10 music charge but for those who wish to dine it is free. Doors open 7.30pm music at 8pm.
In Summer Hugo's exterior is the hot spot of North West London. Outside Hugo's the street buzzes with the fashionable crowd eating and drinking at wooden tables shaded by parasols.
Definitely worth a visit from far flung foodies South of the river and visiting tourist who love " all that jazz."
Dinner around £35 pp including wine
Hugo's - Cafe - Restaurant - Bar 25 Lonsdale Road Queens Park London N.W.6
Tel: 0202 372 1232
Jazz7 Sunday Night Club Contact Eliana Tomkins Tel: 07889 305 222 Bookings 0207 372 1232
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