Nell's Restaurant

Pricely but worthy. I took my wife here for an anniversary, and I know one of the chefs there. It made for a great time. The staff was friendly, although I could see how delicate the balance was on over doing it vs. helping you out. We had rockfish, awesome, BTW, and chicken which actually was cooked. I would go again, if I came into more cash!…

Green Lake hits the jackpot with a friendly neighborhood restaurant with buzz-worthy Northwest fare.. The Scene
Chef/owner Philip Mihalski has created the kind of warm, welcoming location that turns every visitor into a regular. The light yellow walls keep it feeling sunny even in gray days, and it's situated perfectly for a stroll around Greelake if it really is sunny out. The room is lively with conversation and service is expert and engaging.

The Food
Nell's seasonal menu reads like a poem: ahi tuna with almond couscous and onion-cumin broth; wild salmon with lentils, pearl onions and yogurt-cucumber cream; Dungeness crab salad with red radish and Braeburn apple. It's not just carefully chosen words that make these dishes stand out; Nell's plays far-ranging flavors just as artfully. Try veal sweetbreads over butternut squash puree, pea vines and aged balsamic vinegar. Pan-seared scallops arrive over a bed crushed English peas, warm fennel and mint cream, sure to convert almost anyone.…

Raw Chicken. I'm a Seattlite currently living abroad in a developing country. I'm home for 3 weeks, and though I don't have much money now, I wanted to treat my friend to dinner to thank him for letting me stay with him. I chose Nell's because it was on the 25-for-25 list, I'd had an excellent meal there before, my friend had never tried it, and the reviews were great. It was such a disappointment. My friend's chicken was only slightly seared on the outside. Although we're both big fans of sashimi, raw chicken is just not safe. My friend is shy and insisted I not complain, but an astute server would've noticed he didn't eat any of his entree, cut into cubes so you could see the rawness. My friend will never go back, but worse, I feel terrible because I wanted to treat my friend to something special.…

Amazing food at a great value. Nells food is as good or better then any restaurant in Seattle and I have tried most all of them. The food is continental / Northwest, and has complex flavors and ingredients but is not too heavy. Unlike downtown, you can actually park in their lot or nearby quite easily. Although you should call for a reservation, they often have space even calling the same day. As other reviewers have mentioned, the place isn't "Hip" but it's quite comfortable and I've always had excellent service.…