Hugo's Wood-Fired Kitchen Tucked just off University in the Drake neighborhood, Hugo's is a quaint and interesting little restaurant. The space feels open and inviting, and you immediately know you're in a true wood-fired kitchen--the scent of burning wood fills the air in the best way. The atmosphere is lovely overall. It does fill up quickly, so a reservation is necessary if you're planning dinner, as the wait can be long. You can also choose to sit in the bar area, which is a bit more tucked away and quieter than the main dining room--and thankfully, there's no blaring TV. The service was great. The food is spectacular, especially the pizzas. The only drawback was that both the appetizers and pizzas arrived a bit on the cool side. If I'm craving a really good wood-fired pizza, I would absolutely consider Hugo's. That said, I'm not sure it would be my first choice for a special night out or a full dinner experience on the town. read more

Spent a very nice Friday happy hour. Sublime dry martini accompany with a delicious hummus plate. The mix mixed with beet and the mint leaves took the hummus to another level. Naturally, the margarita pizza was delicious. Great ambience great great service. I will be back read more

My husband I and finally tried this place for dinner tonight. It has been on my list of places to try for a while. I didn't know what to expect because I heard this place is in the same building as Meals on Wheels. It's easy to miss if you're driving by because doesn't look like your typical restaurant on the outside. Inside the vibe is upscale and modern but casual. We liked it immediately. We both ordered pizzas because I had heard so many good things about them. I wasn't feeling adventurous so I got the vodka and cheese pizza. My husband got the pork and apple pizza. They were both really good but I liked the pork and apple one better. It was the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors and I love anything that has pickled onions on it. The crust had the nicely blackened char from their wood-fired oven. It was light and airy and had a nice chew to it. They were about 12" and two people could share one if they weren't super hungry. Next time I want to try the fig and honey pizza or the Hugo. I also want to try a few of their appetizers and salads. They have a happy hour from 3-6:00 PM on Tuesday-Saturday that includes $10 pizzas and $10 cocktails. It was really busy when we went and we didn't have a reservation so we had to sit at the bar which was really nice-looking. Both bartenders were super friendly and provided great service. I got the feeling that everyone who worked there really enjoyed working there. Everything was like a well-oiled machine and ran smoothly. I would recommend getting a reservation if you're going on Friday or Saturday. The maitre d' told us it gets really busy on those days. The place isn't huge but it's open and very clean. There's a patio outside. We really enjoyed our experience and can't wait to come back again during happy hour. read more

Everything was good, with the pizza being a star, and the Falafel appetizer very tasty. My wife and I stopped in with another couple for a weeknight outing. They were busy on a Tuesday evening, but we were seated right away, and there were a few brave souls on their beautiful patio on a windy and slightly chilly spring night. Our server was newer, but enthusiastic, helpful, and friendly. Other staff also delivered food and drink throughout our visit. I got the burger. It was fine but nothing too noteworthy. I got the side salad with Green Goddess dressing. I've been eating variations of this dressing since the 1960's (OK, I'm old), and this one was runny and didn't have a lot of flavor. My wife got the Gulf Shrimp. It was OK, and comes with the tail and more still attached, which usually makes it more flavorful. It was a bit dry, but the polenta was tasty, as were the chickpeas. The other couple split the Falafel appetizer and Fig and Honey pizza. The appetizer was very good, and the pizza was the clear winner at our table. It was a great blast of flavors. Prices are reasonable, the drink list good, and the atmosphere open and nice. Bathrooms were clean. The parking is a bit confusing, but there are ample spaces a few hundred feet behind the building. I would certainly recommend a visit to the patio in nice weather (though it is covered with fans, so it's well protected. Based on our visit, I'd do pizza and drinks. read more

Great food, service and ambiance! Loved the cauliflower steak! Sauce was delicious! The shishito peppers were also delicious! read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - Shishito peppers appetizer - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I've eaten at Hugo's Wood/Fired Kitchen twice in the past 2 weeks- the atmosphere is open,full of plants and very chill. The cocktails are excellent- my fav is the Fig and Stormy- dark rum, some fig syrup and it's Delicious! The blood orange margarita is also excellent. But their salmon entree is Devine! I never eat the skin on salmon but Hugo's makes it so crispy- it's delicious. And it sits on a pool of puréed potatoes, grilled asparagus, grilled Tim's tomato slices and an herbed cream sauce. It it SO good. read more

So I was enjoying my meal when this dasher was picking up an order. They were super polite and I saw the server was trying to help them when I noticed the chef walked over to them asking what they're doing, when they replied, "I'm waiting on this order." The chef then rudely was like can you wait out there. I noticed the dasher was very confused and embarrassed the chef would say wait outside the restaurant?!!!!!! After I saw all of this happening I was definitely not enjoying my food!!! You don't treat human like that!!! So my rating has turned from a 5 to a 1!! That Chef (manager) can't be treating anyone like that!! Doesn't matter you're black/white/brown whatever; you should treat everyone fair and equally. I will not support an establishment of any sort who does this crap!!!! read more

Immediately seated near the windows, looked to have a fun patio in season. Waitress recommended some pizzas and I went with the white sauce hot honey and added chicken. Service was great, drinks stayed filled and it was a small cozy atmosphere. Conversation was easy as there wasn't a lot of noise. Parking wasn't clear and we drove right past it-signage wasn't super obvious. Small menu and the food was good. read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - Dining view into kitchen - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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My first experience was during happy hour, and I had the woodfired pizza. Holy smokes was that good! Recently, I took my daughter for lunch and they had no trouble accommodating. Her gluten-free needs. Food was wonderful. Exceptional service also. read more

Amazing food and atmosphere! Our server, Amanda, was very efficient and friendly!Best pizza and cocktails around!

I am so glad I discovered Hugo's! My first experience started out with being greeted by Colby. He was so welcoming and pleasant. All five of us ordered a different pizza and each one was excellent! They're happy hour prices ($10 for pizza, $10 for cocktails)can't be beat! I plan to be a regular and can't wait read more

I love that they have different kinds of pizza than other places. The fig pizza, vodka pizza, and beet salad were all pretty good. Parking is kinda a mess, and a little hard to find. read more

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Went to dinner with a friend last night. We went to a new place in the Drake area at Hugo's Wood-Fired Kitchen. It is a cute restaurant that you would miss if you were not specifically heading there. It is in the front of the Meals on Wheels building. It was predominantly Mediterranean food with wood-fired pizzas. The prices were reasonable and the staff were quite nice. They have inside and a lovely patio. In my opinion last night was too hot to eat outside however many guests chose to eat outside. We started with the baked feta appetizer and we liked it. For our entrees we had a pizza and Turkish meatballs and the house salad. Finally we tried both the desserts - lemon creme brulee thing and the other was an orange cake. The desserts were the start of the show. You will want to save some room for them. read more

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This is off the charts coolio fantastic!! The head chef is killing it, hamachi crudo makes me cry how good it is. Been there 3 times and it's CONSISTENTLY on point, they do not let up. Drinks are well balanced and they have seasonal ones, the tequila/ pear was amazballs. I also had the Hugo non-alcoholic and added alcoholic tequila to it and boom! Magic. The pizza is great but also eat the lamb shank that melts in your mouth. Cheers read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - Hamachi Crudo - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great food and cocktails. Waitstaff is top notch. Lack of meaningful signage hurts this place. I drove by it hundreds of times before a friend told me there was a restaurant there. You need a Sherpa do find it in the building and a door to enter. read more

My dinner date and I couldn't decide on an appetizer- so we started with three! The hummus with goat cheese was incredible. The crudo- like sashimi- was great. My favorite was the baked feta- the top and bottom was crispy, the feta itself so rich, topped with a tomato sauce- and garnished with toasted almonds- magic in my mouth! My date had the Hugo cocktail and if you enjoy pear, I highly recommend it! Our starters were so filling we didn't try an entree, but completed our experience with dessert. Don't skip the dessert! Lemon cake with blueberry sorbet and a 60% cacao truffle. Every bite was to be savored. Our server, Kassara, was so kind and met our every need. Looking around the restaurant, it was beautiful- all the tables full, every table enjoying their experience- conversation and laughter. I highly recommend Hugo's to anyone who loves the full dining experience! read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - Dessert! - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great service. The waitress and hostess were very friendly. Followed up on every part of the meal. The baked feta app was so good! Even to my mom who is notably a picky eater. The pizza was great too. They come in 6 slices but one pie can feed two people. The sliced as big. Crust is then and chewy. Plenty of cheese. The dining room is large and open concept so you can see into the bar and kitchen. Only bad thing I can say is there are issues with the booth tables. The booth seats sit much higher than the table, while the chairs on the other side of the table sit much lower than it. Will definitely be going back! read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - Goat cheese, mushroom, caramelized onion, spinach, picked fennel & butternut squash base. Very good! Not very butternut squash-y - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

After having numerous meals there with outstanding food and service, tonight was not good at all. We ate outside on a beautiful evening but it was beyond loud and not because of the car traffic. Our food took over an hour to be served and then my steak was just plain cold. It should not have been served. It seemed like the portions got smaller since the last time we were there. Under staffed, one or two (loud) mid sized groups that kept ordering drinks but should not have continued to be served, all added to a not good experience. read more

I suggested this place to a group of women I was meeting for lunch. Initially I think they were overwhelmed by some of the (unique to them) offerings as they were not familiar with some of the ingredients. As for me as a vegetarian, I had difficulty choosing what to order (there are plenty of meat options too). Four of us ordered four different pizzas and all of us liked them, sampling a few of them by sharing. The Greek pizza has a bite so good if you like spicy. The fig and honey pizza was delicious- figs, goat cheese, arugula, candied walnuts. The crust was good - thin but chewy. The other two women had soup and salad combos and both liked their choices. The service was attentive and friendly. The decor was modern but not too bright. Be aware if you want to sit on the (covered) patio that it is right on University and noise can be an issue. The only other things keeping this from a 5 star review: parking is restrictive in that many spaces are reserved for non restaurant customers (and not close by, a consideration for those who have mobility issues), and the water glasses are small so we were constantly asking for refills (and it was tepid; I prefer ice water). However on the plus side (and this may not last) was that there was no additional service charge for using a credit card, which was very much appreciated. I will definitely come back again to try other options. read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - Fig and honey pizza - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We have been here twice now and had great meals both times. The drinks and baked feta appetizer were super tasty, and all of the pizzas that we've tried have been great. Prices are reasonable. The restaurant is easy to miss if you're driving by but they have a great patio (albeit a little noisy due to its location along a somewhat busy road) and the interior is super cute. We'll be back! read more

The restaurant is beautiful! Very clean and decorated tastefully. The fresh flowers were a special added touch. Our server Jada was present with a smile and filled our every need. We ordered the Baked Feta with fresh pita, Falafel and Hugo's pizza! The Pita was soft and warm, the Baked feta was delicious...I loved the pickled peppers and all the flavors seemed tasty! The falafel was the best I've ever tasted! And the Hugo pizza was divine! I loved the Alfredo sauce, spicy sausage, red onion, tomato and spinach combination on the Wood-Fired pizza! The Blackberry tea was a treat for my dinner mate. The dessert was definitely a highlight....chocolate truffle with fresh blackberries, raspberry sauce, Carmel sauce and pecans...delicious! Hugo's is a must stop if you love fresh, beautifully prepared, tasty food!! The manager, Juan even stopped by our table to make sure we enjoyed our dinner. We sat outside on the patio and totally enjoyed our experience at Hugo's!! read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - We ordered the Baked Feta, Falafel and the Hugo pizza with Blackberry Tea - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Menu very limited but creative . The bar can make the entire place very loud . Hopefully they rotate menu items

The food was delicious and the service was stellar. Excited to go back and try different pizzas. read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - Lamb meatballs, Greek pizza, falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Delicious dish! If you're a sushi lover, I recommend this crudo dish and their seasonal dessert to cleanse your palate. read more

Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen - The crudo is delicious! - Mediterranean Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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The baked feta is incredible!!! The pizza was also great and service was friendly. The restaurant itself was smaller than I expected but the patio was a nice space. One note... the booth seating was way taller than the chairs at the table, which made for a funny feel as one person was much lower/higher than the other at the table!! read more

Terrible service bad food. Two hours and not served. No apology. We left without being served. Save your money.

Service was slow. All staff available was waiting on tables. It was hard to hear anyone at the table. The food was not amazing.

Service and Ambiance wonderful. Restaurant hard to find and too many rules for parking. Once in building , not sure which door to use to get in, might be helpful if name was on the door. Had apps baked feta and hummus, both were good, but VERY heavy on oils. Had couscous salad though it would be light and airy but again very heavy on oils, sticky like paste. Vodka pizza very nice. Salmon cooked great! Orzo again very oily. read more

Incredible experience from start to finish. The drink special was delicious, service was friendly and prompt, and the food was amazing! Prices seem very appropriate for the quality of food and presentation. Going to love this place! read more

Excellent service. Mediocre food. How dare you charge such aggrice prices for such subpar food. Yuck-O . I feel sorry for the poor servers. It's not their fault that the food bites. It has such potential. Their menu is all over the place. Pick a theme and stick to it. The ambiance was giving old foggy vibes. My meal came on fiesta ware. Get with the times and stay out of the target clearance aisle. read more

Excellent! A little bit hard to find but so worth it. The smell of the wood fired grill when you walk in the door immediately gets the stomach growling. We sat out on the lovely patio--nicely covered from the hot sun but also has heaters for those cooler days/evenings. We had a delicious bottle of rosè off the by the glass wine menu (can't remember the name). I loved that all their wine selections were also from Mediterranean area-I don't want another boring California Chardonnay at a restaurant like this. We started with the lamb meatballs which came in a delicious rich tomato sauce with a little lemon crème and crostini to soak it up. I had the Greek pizza which is one of the best pizzas I've ever had. There was so much flavor and a little zing from the pepperoncini. We also tried the smoked salmon pizza, the Hugo and the shrimp skewers. Everything was delicious and I want to go back multiple times and try everything on the menu. Their lunch menu also looked awesome read more