These top Phoenix restaurateurs opened a Mexican cantina downtown. What to expect at Hugo's
Aaron and Jared Pool, the brothers behind the popular Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup restaurants, opened a new restaurant and bar in downtown Phoenix at the corner of First and Garfield streets on Jan. 5.
Hugo's Cantina took over the space formerly occupied by Sin Muerte, the brainchild of Michael Babcock and Instrumental Hospitality Group. The vegetarian restaurant closed after nine months in the historic 1937 home the group had renovated.
The Pool brothers said they decided to open a cantina to bring a different vibe to downtown. "What we see is either beer bars or hipster higher-end dining," Aaron said. "This is a more low-key place where people can gather and have fun."
The name is an homage to one of Aaron's general managers, who was "a big, burly, masculine, red-bearded guy who signed his emails 'el oso fabuloso.'"
"The phrase made me chuckle and stayed with me over the years," Aaron said. "So when it came time to name this place, I thought what if we name it after a bear that lived in the woods, but became a city bear who has an eclectic taste and likes to party?"
What's the vibe at Hugo's Cantina?
Hugo's Cantina is inspired by the Pool brothers' travels to Ibiza, which they described as bright and fun with good music.
In terms of the space, according to Aaron, they decided to bring in more light and plan to change the seating to include L-shaped booths and a circular booth in the middle.
The bar, which is internally called "Hugo's Hideaway," is more moody with rich emerald greens and plenty of TVs. "It's a place where you'd want to hang out until midnight," Aaron said.
He went on to explain that Hugo's is a bar first with "seven well-executed bites" to accompany the drinks.
What's on the menu at Hugo's Cantina?
Aaron developed the food menu, which, in true cantina style, includes complimentary chips and salsa.
"We are just doing sharable plates of what we do well, like nachos, enchiladas and tacos," he said.
They plan to use the existing Italian pizza oven to make old-school Arizona cheese crisps and Gadzooks' baked enchiladas. There will be brunch on Saturdays and Sundays with breakfast burritos, breakfast tacos, enchiladas and their mom's "fantastic quiches."
"We'll hand press our tortillas and have statement nachos," he said, adding that they will also feature specials like duck carnitas and ceviche.
The drinks were developed to be "crushable" and reasonably priced with beers for $6 to $9 and cocktails between $12 and $14. Some of the cocktails include: Who the F%#@ IS Hugo, made with Rayu mezcal, coconut rum, coco lopez, vanilla liqueur, sweet cinnamon and coconut milk; Can Bears Even Swim? made with tequila charanda uruapan, blue cura?ao, lime juice and orgeat; and Flowers in Field, made with Hendrick's gin, aquavit, aloe liqueur, lemon juice and seltzer.
How to Visit Hugo's Cantina
Hugo's Cantina soft opened on Jan. 5. Currently, the bar is open for drinks only. Food will be available after the grand opening, which is expected at the end of January.
Hours: Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 4-10 p.m. Thursdays; 4 p.m.-midnight Fridays; 10 a.m.-midnight Saturdays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays.
Details: 817 N. First St., Phoenix. 602-767-5600, hugosphx.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hugo's Cantina opens in downtown Phoenix. What to expect
