First Look: Hugo’s Pizzeria in Midtown

Restaurateur Dave Bailey’s latest venture, Hugo’s Pizzeria, opened doors today, Sept. 20, at 3135 Olive St., in Midtown, formerly home to The Good Pie.

As The Scoop reported in March, Hugo’s marks Bailey’s seventh restaurant concept in the St. Louis area. He named the pizzeria for his son.

The menu at Hugo’s is based around a variety of hand-tossed pizzas. Bailey said they are akin to Roman-style pies with a yeasty pillow-like dough. The pizza selection includes classics like pepperoni and sausage and a white pizza with bechamel, prosciutto and lemon zest topped with charred grapes. For an additional charge, diners can add house-made pepperoni in five varieties: beef, spicy beef, duck, Buffalo chicken or a vegan variant. Vegan cheese and gluten-free dough can be subbed in, too.

The menu also includes salads and shareable plates like meatballs or fresh mozzarella with garlic oil, black honey, toast and more of those charred grapes. On the beverage front, Hugo’s offers a small selection of cocktails, a wine list heavy on Italian varietals, plus approximately 25 beers on tap.

Hugo’s seats approximately 100 inside and also boasts a partially covered patio space. The interior’s centerpiece is an open kitchen, fronted by the bar, for pizza aficionados who want to see the action up close. Rough-hewn wooden tables with fresh flowers and colorful metal chairs soften exposed brick and concrete floors in the dining areas.

Hugo’s is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Here’s a first look at Bailey’s latest new project.

Matt Sorrell is staff writer at Sauce Magazine.