Hugo's Cellar — Restaurant in Las Vegas

A Timeless Classic with a Touch of Old Vegas Charm. Las Vegas is a city that thrives on reinvention, but some places remain timeless. Hugo’s Cellar, nestled beneath the Four Queens in Downtown Vegas, is one such institution—a haven of old-school charm, impeccable service, and steakhouse classics done right.

I celebrated my birthday here tonight with my brother, and from the moment we walked in, it was clear we were in for a special evening. The signature red rose for ladies, the dimly lit ambiance, and the personalized service made for a dining experience that felt both luxurious and personal.

Starters: A Luxurious Prelude We began with the Prosciutto-Wrapped Prawns in a Creamy Garlic Sauce, and they were absolutely phenomenal. The salty crispiness of the prosciutto paired beautifully with the succulent prawns, all bathed in a rich, garlicky sauce that I couldn’t get enough of. A decadent, flavorful start.

Next up was the Lobster Bisque, which was smooth, creamy, and packed with deep lobster flavor. The only thing I wished for was that it had been served a bit hotter—but perhaps that’s the intended temperature. Either way, the velvety consistency and well-balanced seasoning made it a standout dish.

Then came the Tableside Caesar Salad, an experience in itself. Watching the server mix the dressing from scratch, toss the crisp romaine, and shave fresh Parmesan over the top added a touch of interactive elegance. The result? A creamy, tangy, and utterly perfect Caesar salad that easily ranks among the best I’ve had.

Intermezzo: A Refreshing Pause Just before the entrées arrived, we were served a Raspberry Sorbet Intermezzo, a refreshing palate cleanser that added an extra layer of sophistication to the meal. Light, tart, and beautifully presented, it was a lovely touch that showcased Hugo’s commitment to a full fine-dining experience.

The Main Event: Steakhouse Perfection For my entrée, I chose the New York Strip, Medium Rare, Oscar Style, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The steak was cooked flawlessly—perfectly charred on the outside, tender and juicy within—while the Oscar-style topping of lump crab, asparagus, and silky Béarnaise sauce elevated it to a rich, buttery masterpiece.

On the side, I indulged in the Blue Cheese and Horseradish Au Gratin Potatoes, which were every bit as indulgent as they sound. The bold, tangy blue cheese and zesty horseradish combined beautifully with the creamy layers of potatoes, making for an addictive side dish that complemented the steak perfectly.

My brother opted for the Surf and Turf, featuring an 8oz Filet (Medium) with Lobster Tail and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. The filet was melt-in-your-mouth tender, while the lobster tail was sweet, succulent, and drenched in butter. The garlic mashed potatoes were smooth, rich, and packed with just the right amount of garlicky goodness—classic comfort food done at a high level.

A Sweet Celebration Hugo’s Cellar knows how to make special occasions feel truly special. To my surprise, they presented me with a signed birthday card and a decadent Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream to end the evening. The cake was warm, oozing with molten chocolate, and paired beautifully with the creamy, cool ice cream—an indulgent, satisfying finish to an already unforgettable meal.

Final Thoughts Hugo’s Cellar is a rare gem in a city that often prioritizes flash over substance. From the tableside preparations to the small thoughtful touches like the raspberry sorbet and chocolate-covered strawberries at the end, every detail is designed to make guests feel valued and pampered.

If you’re looking for an intimate, elegant dining experience where classic steakhouse fare meets top-tier service, Hugo’s Cellar is a must-visit. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone or simply craving an exceptional meal, this Vegas classic delivers on all fronts.

Final Rating: 9.5/10 ✔️ Best for: Romantic dinners, special occasions, steakhouse aficionados ✔️ Standout Dishes: Prosciutto-Wrapped Prawns, Lobster Bisque, Tableside Caesar...

TERRIBLE- Beware of upcharges and them ignoring severe allergies. Almost killed my elderly mother and gave no response or tried to apologize for our horrific dinning experience. It was my parents 65th Wedding anniversary and what should have been a beautiful experience and memory turned into a nightmare. They could not have cared less. Below is the letter to general manager. Which received no response.

Thank you for sending the itemized receipt to me for our meal on January 7th. While I appreciate that you removed some of the overcharges, I have to say that I'm appalled that you still found it reasonable to charge us for my parent's meal. We explained to you on the first phone call that it had to be sent back to the kitchen due to their steak being full of gristle and it was too tough to cut. The second steak was brought to them in a box after the entire party of 14 had finished eating. So they sat and watched everyone else eat at their party as the guests of honor. As you know, and I explained to you it was their 65th anniversary celebration.

Honestly, the overall experience at Hugo's was dismal at best. I worked in the service industry for many years, and even at a low-end restaurant they strive for better service and quality. At a minimum, a meal that is sent back is taken off the check. The second steak that they boxed up and sent in to-go containers was not any better than the first one. My parents ended up throwing the entire meal in the trash. We also told you that our shrimp on the steak and shrimp plates was small and not even close to the advertised so-called jumbo as described on the menu and very undercooked. As you know, my sister and I have been to this establishment many times and have always had a great experience. That is why we chose Hugo's for this special celebration, made reservations weeks in advance, and made the trip downtown when we were staying on the strip. This is supposed to be a highly-rated establishment and frankly, we deserved better service and quality for the price of this meal.

Yesterday, I shared with you that my mom told the servers she had a severe shellfish allergy. After eating at Hugo's, she got extremely sick from the salad being mixed with shrimp utensils. On her anniversary celebration, she had a severe allergic reaction that required the use of an EpiPen. She threw up all night and was miserable on a night that should have been special. My sister and I and all of their grandchildren traveled from all over the United States to share this dinner with my parents. This experience ruined 2 days of their anniversary trip. My sweet parents are in their 80s and what happened at your restaurant was not okay or safe for my mom and could have ended with dire consequences. Not to mention my father was stressed and worried and had to care for her in an urgent medical situation due to the carelessness of your staff. People at their age do not just bounce back the next day, she was tired and felt terrible into the following night. Your staff asked us at the beginning of service if anyone had allergies (which I assume is standard protocol) and were told of her allergy. A shift meeting to address the issue weeks later does not begin to compensate for the reality of my elderly parent's situation.

Stephen, I do not feel you did enough to right this entire situation. Therefore, I am requesting the contact information for your direct supervisor so that I can share my concerns with him/her.

Contrary to what you may think, we are not the type of people who complain. We are happy to pay for great service and excellent food. But between all the extra unsubstantiated charges and unexplained mystery items on the first receipt, my mom's illness, the overall quality of the food and service, it needs to be taken to the next level. Both my sister and I are not satisfied with the outcome. I do feel that your servers treated us with disrespect and thought we would not realize they were upcharging us and adding in extra...

We came here to celebrate my wife’s birthday but she became ill at the last minute so we went ahead & promised to bring her home something. My brother and his wife sponsored the event as a thank you for their stay with us as they live out of town. The ladies at the hostess stand were very nice, validating our parking ticket for us, & in Hugo’s well known tradition since they opened in the mid 70’s, presented my sister in law with a beautiful long stemmed rose. We were seated at a nice 4 top immediately. The party next to us were drunk, slurring, & laughing loudly. Annoying, but we decided we would stay put & tolerate it. That’s not the restaurants fault. Our service team consisted of Ahmad, Pete, & 2 others. I can’t remember their names but one was the Sommelier, & the other was a big guy who ran the table side gueridon cart. He looked a little disheveled with an untucked shirt, but he was a funny guy. He handled our salad choices smoothly & later impressed us with his mastery of the cherries jubilee presentation. Pete was attentive to our needs, & Ahmad took our appetizer order. Our Sommelier chose a very nice bottle of J cuvée sparkling wine. We appreciate the fact that he chose something that was a great match with our appetizers, & not too pricey. The crab cakes were outstanding, seasoned with just the right combination of spices, not too much breading, which is the biggest disappointment of crab cake aficionados everywhere. The remolade sauce was superb, a touch of Coleman’s mustard and red pepper were detected. Unfortunately, the escargot’s were disappointing. The concept was great; (puff pastry & the cast iron dish presentation) the execution not so much. If there’s one thing that personifies escargot, it’s that garlicky parsley butter. Hugo’s butter had neither. I tasted some paprika but that was all. In fact, I’m guessing that the butter was actually a blend of drawn oleo & butter because I detected no milk solids in the blend, & the butter flavor just wasn’t there. It was oily & bland. The entrees were ordered, & our Sommelier again flawlessly presented a wonderful house Shiraz that he chose for my sister in law to accompany her rack of lamb. What a perfect match. My brother ordered the filet mignon medium rare, & I ordered a NY Strip charred medium rare. Ahmad suggested the potatoes au gratin. They were beyond excellent, both in presentation, texture, & flavor. Both steaks were the perfect temperature, & both had a wonderful aged flavor. My NY steak wasn’t charred at all though, in fact, the filet had more char than the NY, but I don’t like sending food back so I ate it & I enjoyed it. The rack of lamb was tender & flavorful too. The accompanying bearnaise & au poive sauces were just ok. I think they may be from a package. They certainly weren’t made to order. Back to the dessert course. I mentioned to the sommelier that my wife, whose birthday it was, wasn’t in attendance & would he please cancel the whatever it was that they do for birthdays? He said ok, but something got lost in communication & out came our server, presenting a piece of lava cake & ice cream with a lit candle. It was a little awkward, but we had fun with it, softly singing the birthday song to my wife & blowing out the candle as the phone video was recorded for my under the weather wife to view when we got home. The cherries jubilee were fantastic, & so were the complimentary chocolate dipped strawberries that were presented. I had a cappuccino which was warm, not hot, & a little bit too sweet for my taste. Pete, our assistant server, was awesome. He appeared as if on cue & our sommelier was attentive, getting me a replacement napkin for me without being asked when I accidentally dropped mine. Ahmad, the big guy team were pro. Overall I give Hugo’s 4 stars. The small things matter when one is paying this much for a meal, & Hugo’s, while good, didn’t quite meet our high...