3 /5 L S: We visited Xochi last night to celebrate a special occasion and were excited to continue exploring Hugo Ortega’s restaurant collection. Upon arrival, valet was prompt and efficient—$11 for the first two hours felt very reasonable, especially with easy access and visible security at the entrance.
We were seated quickly, and the hostess kindly helped us find a semi-private table that suited our preferences perfectly. Our server was pleasant and answered our questions, though the overall knowledge of the menu felt limited. One nice surprise was the all-day happy hour, which was a great perk.
For drinks, we ordered a gin and tonic with prickly pear and a margarita topped with jalapeño foam. The gin and tonic was fantastic—beautifully presented and reminiscent of a tiny forest in a glass, and equally delicious. Unfortunately, the jalapeño foam margarita wasn’t for me. The egg white–based foam was overpowering and masked the tequila almost entirely.
We started with the ceviche de atún with cactus pear aguachile. While refreshing and visually appealing, the flavors didn’t quite live up to the presentation. The style of the chips felt awkward, and when I asked a busser about them, he admitted he didn’t know why they were served that way, which suggested a lack of staff training. Our server later explained they’re fried that way for extra crispiness. Personally, I think homemade blue corn chips would elevate both the flavor and the aesthetic, especially alongside the dish’s pink tones.
For entrées, we ordered the pulpo with papas con mole and the Tlayuda de Res. The pulpo was just okay. The portion included 6 ounces of octopus, two red potatoes, and a green chorizo. The chorizo was creative and delicious, but sadly the octopus itself was chewy and rubbery. The papas con mole lacked both crispiness and sufficient mole, which was disappointing.
The Tlayuda de Res was a generous portion—easily shareable—and decent overall, but it didn’t wow us. It essentially felt like a Mexican pizza.
We ordered another round of drinks: Hugo’s Rita with a salt-and-pepper rim. While this is a common request in Houston Tex-Mex, the server seemed surprised by the order. Another recurring issue was the lack of explanation or storytelling behind the dishes. When spending close to $200, I expect to learn more about what I’m eating. While our server was kind, the service felt undertrained—something I’ve never experienced at Hugo’s other restaurants.
They did generously bring out a complimentary congratulatory dessert, which was appreciated and tasty, though it was essentially a dressed-up vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. Adding to the confusion, despite providing celebration details in advance, we were given another couple’s “Happy Anniversary” card—with their names on it. We had a good laugh and gladly accepted the extra anniversary.
Overall, the food was good, portions were fair for the price, but for several reasons, we likely won’t return to this specific location. So far, Caracol remains our favorite experience, and while we still plan to try Zaranda, this visit felt like one of Chef Hugo’s less impressive offerings.
