The Hugh, Midtown East’s new subterranean food court on 601 Lexington Ave., was set to launch in March 2020. The pandemic delayed those plans, but the sleek, stylish venue finally opened last November. This “culinary collection” features 15 distinct restaurants inside a sky-lit atrium beneath the architecturally distinguished Citigroup Center office tower. The name pays homage to Hugh Stubbins, who designed the tower in 1977.
The restaurants offer a wide range of global cuisines inspired by cultures that exist in New York City, said Anna Castellani, CEO of Local Culture Management, which co-developed the venue with Boston Properties. These include Alidoro, a specialty Italian sandwich shop; Jumieka NYC, which cooks up traditional Jamaican fare like jerk shrimp and fried plantains; Korean ramen and bulgogi at Mökbar; and “African superfood” like rice and ancient grains at Teranga. Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. has a raw bar plus beer, wine, and cocktails, and Joseph Brothers serves craft beer and inventive gastropub fare. “We’re bringing Downtown and the outer boroughs to Midtown and giving the neighborhood diverse culinary experiences that may not have found their way to this area otherwise,” said Castellani.
Prices hit every budget, from $5 tea cakes from Ma Ze Dahr bakery to a $150 seafood tower from Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Company. The Hugh is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Sunday, so menu options tilt toward breakfast, lunch, and after-work food and drinks. Individual restaurants, however, set their own hours. All offer online ordering and delivery.
“It was important to me that The Hugh be a great happy hour spot in addition to a lunch venue, so bar concepts and operators willing to manage full liquor licenses were critical,” said Castellani. The 30,000 square foot space, 14,000 of which is devoted to food production, feels open, relaxed, and park-like, thanks to the sunlight streaming through the atrium and canopies of trees between well-spaced tables and chairs. Many of the individual brands also offer bar or counter seating. “The space needed to complement the stunning architecture and appeal to the current professionals working and living in the area,” she said.
The reception by visitors has been uniformly positive. “Everyone who walks through the space has been taken back by how beautiful it is,” said Castellani. “We are thrilled with the local neighborhood support from both residents and professionals, and as folks come back to the office and return to dining out, we’re seeing that momentum in the space.” Future plans include adding a fine dining restaurant and a speakeasy, as well as building out the lineup of events, live music, and art exhibits.
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