Whether you are seeking a fine dining experience or a quick bite and a cocktail, Hugo’s Frog Bar and Fish House has you covered. Since opening in 2004, the upscale restaurant has been delighting suburban diners with fresh seafood and USDA Gibsons Prime Angus beef at their location in the Main Street Promenade in downtown Naperville.
“We buy fresh fish every day,” said Hugo’s manager Ryan Spulak, who grew up in Naperville and is a Naperville North High School alumnus. “Depending on what we receive, we take that and the chef pairs it with seasonal vegetables.”
While the menu changes daily, the excellent service and inviting ambience is a constant.
Here’s the dish on this local favorite.
What’s on the menu: High quality seafood (like fresh oysters, crudo, lobster and frog legs) along with USDA Gibsons Prime Angus steaks and chops shine are the headliners. They also offer a wide variety of soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches which make it a favorite (and reasonably priced) haunt for lunch. Appetizers, sides (like King Crab mac and cheese) along with a nice wine list and specialty cocktail menu complete the package.
About the owners: The Gibsons Restaurant Group was founded by Steve Lombardo and Hugo Ralli in 1989. The Gibson Group includes nine dining concepts with 14 restaurants in four states. There are three Hugo’s locations in Illinois (Chicago, Naperville and Des Plaines) as well as one in Philadelphia. Hugo’s was named after Ralli’s grandfather, whose nickname was Frog when he served in the British Army.
Mission statement: Gibsons Restaurant Group is dedicated to providing “unmatched hospitality and quality to its customers for over 28 years.”
Decor: Upscale and charming, Hugo’s is a good place for a special date night or somewhere to meet up with friends. Dark woods, subway tile and brass accents add to the ambience of the restaurant and bar.
Specialties: The jumbo lump crab cakes and frog legs get high marks as does the pan roasted Chilean sea bass and the W.R. Chicago cut steak (an 18-ounce bone-in ribeye).
Extras: Hugo’s has private dining rooms available to accommodate parties and events. They also have valet parking and are conveniently located near free public parking (lot and garage).
Price range: The lunch menu includes appetizers ranging from $3 (oyster on the half shell) to $26 (for shrimp cocktail), sliders from $3 to $5 and burgers, sandwiches and entree salads from $11 to $17. Dinner menu includes Angus beef steaks and chops from $33 to $89 (for a 32 oz. bone-in prime Tomahawk), fresh fish from $28 to $45 and specialty entrees from $21 to around $100 for surf and turf.
Logistics: Hugo’s is located at 55 S. Main St. in downtown Naperville (inside the Main Street Promenade). The dining room is open (for lunch and dinner) Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bar hours are every day from 11 a.m. to midnight. Call 630-548-3764 or go to www.hugosfrogbar.com.
Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
