---
title: "Great Places to Eat - Hugo's, Leith, Edinburgh · Rampant Scotland"
description: "Great Places to Eat in Scotland - Hugo's, Leith, Edinburgh Location Hugo's can be found at 76 Commercial Quay, Leith, Edinburgh (tel. 0131 555 2225 for reservat"
canonical: "https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/besteating/best_eating_dev_hugo.htm"
last-updated: "2026-11-11"
date-basis: "git-content-change"
---

# Great Places to Eat - Hugo's, Leith, Edinburgh · Rampant Scotland

Great Places to Eat

# Great Places to Eat - Hugo's, Leith, Edinburgh

[Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20040423153548/http://www.rampantscotland.com:80/besteating/best_eating_dev_hugo.htm)

Historical archived material. Venue details and prices describe the original review, not current availability.

**Great Places to Eat in Scotland**
** - Hugo's, Leith, Edinburgh **

**Location**
Hugo's can be found at 76 Commercial Quay, Leith, Edinburgh (tel. 0131 555 2225 for reservations). Commercial Quay in the heart of Leith should be renamed Restaurant Row due to its wonderful eclectic mix of bars, bistros and brasseries which have developed over the past few years. In premises which until recently was a fine-dining restaurant called the Rock, you will now find the chic and cheerful Hugo`s, described as a café-bar-restaurant, owned and run by three partners, Tom King, Murray Georgeson and Tracy MacDonald. The aim behind Hugo's (named after the French novelist Victor Hugo), is to welcome everyone whether for a glass of wine, a classic martini, a beer, a bar snack, lunch or dinner. Outside on the patio there are tables with Moet & Chandon umbrellas, perfect for a glass of bubbly on a warm evening or weekend brunch.

Alternatively, chill out with a drink in the bright and airy glass-fronted cocktail bar; with its circular bar, high stools and stylish tables and chairs - it's all reminiscent of the upper deck of a cruise ship. No expense has been spared on the interior design at Hugo's. Here you will sit on gorgeous Philippe Starck moulded chairs, which are left pure and naked around the bar, but modestly dressed in cool white linen drapes in the dining room.

**The Restaurant**
The dining room is long and spacious with tables for dinner a deux, intimately placed behind the pillars. There's also very comfortable cushioned banquette seating stretching right down the far wall with a clean line of individual tables which can then be pushed together or separated depending on the party number. On the opposite wall is the open kitchen, which offers a fascinating live performance, watching the chef and his team at work, chopping, mashing and grilling, with fabulous smells wafting our way.

**The Food**
With leading chef John Costello (previously at Gleneagles and Ballathie House Hotel), the emphasis is on seafood of the highest quality, freshly prepared right in front of you. There's platters of oysters, served on a bed of ice, with tabasco and lemon, grilled asparagus decorated with pecorino shavings, a fabulous dish of Scallops, which are exquisitely and lightly cooked. This is creatively presented as a little mountain, layered with potato cakes and mange touts, flavoured with a touch of lemon grass. Other main courses include lobster, seabass, crab, grilled steaks, and breast of chicken with black pudding.

The equally delicious lobster is served cold with potato salad - not of the diced tinned variety in mayonnaise - but thick wedges mixed with a rocket, lettuce and tomato salad, tossed in creme fraiche. A perfect combination, washed down with a few glasses of rich, vanilla-tinted Pinotage - a snip at just Ł 14 a bottle.

As with the rest of the menu, puddings are innovative and trend-setting. How about a Malteser cheesecake to finish? An interesting flavour and texture but not enough maltesers! On mentioning this as a casual aside to our waiter, we were promptly presented with a bowl of chocolates with the less fattening centre. What a star! And the service throughout the evening was just perfect - efficient, friendly and fun.

**The Bill**
Starters: Ł4.50; Mains: Ł12.00 - Ł25.00; Puddings: Ł4.00. Wine: from Ł12.95.

**Conclusion**
This buzzing happening place was packed with couples, groups of friends and a large family gathering. Many are repeat guests - and no wonder. I'm going back as soon as I can!

*Vivien Devlin*

Return to the Index of [Great Places to Eat in Scotland](https://web.archive.org/web/20040423153548/http://www.rampantscotland.com:80/besteating/best_eating_index.htm).

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## Source

From Rampant Scotland, restored from the page as it stood on 23 April 2004. [Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20040423153548/http://www.rampantscotland.com:80/besteating/best_eating_dev_hugo.htm).

Links to pages not yet restored here lead to the original page or elsewhere on the web; 0 of 1 links on this page are restored on this site.