Hugo's West Hollywood — Restaurant in West Hollywood

This is a low-key restaurant without an ounce of pretense that focuses intensely on providing healthful, delicious meals to its patrons, and carries that off extremely well.

Hugo's does not advertise itself as a health food restaurant, but the kitchen at Hugo's is supremely conscious of, and attentive to, the healthfulness of its preparations. Recently, for example, I commented to a waiter on the excellent taste of the table water they serve, and was told that they have a whole-building reverse-osmosis/carbon water filter installed on the roof of the building, and that they use that water in everything they create. Food at Hugo's is "organic as available," and, when I inquire, I usually find that it is "organic in fact."

Hugo's is the only restaurant at which I have ever seen Barramundi offered. This fish, featured about a year ago on one of the "Dr. Oz" shows as one of the world's most healthful foods, suddenly turned up at Hugo's as a special shortly after that program aired, and has continued to be offered from time to time on the specials menu. This is one of the many signs I've noticed over the years that Hugo's has it's head up to what's happening in that place where health and cuisine coincide.

The food is largely continental, but with spectacular creative touches. The beet salad, for example, is defined by a thicket of crisp cut vegetables, nuts, and dried organic cherries, with Roquefort cheese on the top (I usually substitute goat cheese). They have a very large menu of specials that change every week or so, including miraculous dishes like Indian lentil patties.

While the restaurant is not vegetarian, it has a greater variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes than most restaurants that claim to be "about that." Chicken or turkey can be added to most of the vegetarian dishes for those who, like me, feel that they need animal protein. The turkey meat loaf is especially tasty.

Prices are quite moderate considering the quality of the food and of the service, and they accept the KCRW card for a 10...

My son and I booked a reservation for 2:15pm for Mother's Day. We showed up early and got seated immediately as the restaurant was not busy surprisingly.

The waitress came to take our order and I mentioned I'd like to have the orange juice, vegan French toast with vegan bacon and vegan Just Egg scrambled. She repeats and says regular bacon and I correct her saying vegan before each thing I ordered to be very clear again that I'm ordering everything vegan.

She then takes my son's order and he starts of with a vegan Mimosa, the vegan Mac and cheese and the vegan pesto sandwich which she says chicken pesto and he says no the tofu pesto. She kept saying non vegan items after we were clearly ordering vegan.

She was not vegan friendly at all and was getting quite obnoxious but we just waited for our drinks and looked forward to eating.

She came back with the orange juice and a non vegan sparking wine so we asked for her to get the one we ordered and so she went back to the bar.

Finally got the vegan sparkling wine and waited for our appetizer which was the was the vegan Mac and cheese well that turned out to be the non vegan version and we would know as we are very aware of the difference, so we ask another waiter to take it back after we had already regrettably eaten some of it.

They did replace it but what they brought out was green, watery and tasteless. It was supposed to be a cashew cream Mac and cheese and it was nothing close to that.

We were disappointed/disgusted in the waitress/chefs and her careless attitude. The bill came out to $104 for what we ordered and it was mediocre food and horrible service. And this is why we end up going to vegan restaurants because people choose disrespect instead...

Hugo’s has been one of those restaurants that I keep returning to year after year because it always delivers exactly what I expect. That kind of consistency is rare in Los Angeles dining, where places come and go quickly, but Hugo’s has built a reputation as a true staple. The menu is centered around healthy food, and they take that seriously without ever sacrificing flavor. You will find dishes that cater to just about every preference, whether you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, or simply looking for balanced and fresh meals. Favorites include the sesame ginger salad, the blackened salmon tacos, and their wide range of pasta options, many of which can be made with gluten free or kelp noodles. They even have comfort-style dishes reimagined in a lighter way, which makes the menu feel both familiar and exciting.

The service is consistently friendly, and the atmosphere is relaxed without trying too hard. It is the kind of place where you can come for a casual lunch, a healthy solo dinner, or even a gathering with friends who all want different things. Everyone can find something here. Hugo’s has been around for decades because it fills that perfect niche of reliable, delicious, and wholesome food. If you want to eat out and still feel good about your choices, this is the spot. It is definitely worth going to, and I always...