Nell's

01/10/2007 Posted by unfix8r

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!

Pros: Great spot

Cons: Interior sucked. Music was marginal.

11/21/2005 Posted by celesteduncan

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.

Pros: seated promptly, good bread, other food good

Cons: raw chicken, service, cold when door opened

06/17/2005 Posted by ben2e

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.

Pros: Food, Value, Parking

06/09/2005 Posted by eatsouttoomuch

Seattle has many great restaurants, but this is my favorite. I think it may be because they are not in a restaurant hot spot like Belltown and, therefore, have to be a little better to attract people. My favorite items are the Duck Confit, Black Cod, Pork Cheeks, and Braised Lamb. However, the items rotate on and off the menu depending on the season. The tasting menu is always great, too. And be sure to ask your server about the wine list. I learn something new about wine every time I go.

Pros: Wine list

11/08/2004 Posted by bostock

A definite must try. Wonderful sweetbreads, very tender with great flavor. The Onion tart was also delicious, like eating a cloud! Try the seared duck breast with chard and potatoes. Very tasty and filling. The decor is modest and could be updated to be more romantic and elegant.

Pros: delicious, good service, good value

Cons: , parking, ambiance

10/25/2003 Posted by east_by_nothwest

You could easily blink and miss this charming spot on Greenlake's shore as we almost did, but a stop for dinner invariably demands a return vist. While the decor is a modest cry from trendy Belltown epicurean archtecture, the cuisine is far more rewarding. Superb attendance to service trumped my initial aesthetic bias--where the decor lacks intimacy, the staff makes up for it. And the food itself is absolutely solid. Saleh's Calamari Salad is an institution that never leaves the menu with good reason. Squid was perfectly tender with an irrestistible interplay of fried capers and aioli. Salmon done to perfection has a new take each season, this fall paired with buttery gingered squash, sauteed mizuna, and thick slices of heart-warming porcini. Don't miss the Kobe Beef or Pear Upside Cake. Our server had 4-star timing, and a welcomed professional warmness. A great place for to sample solid NW flavors.

Pros: NW cuisine with flair, An exemplary winelist, Gracious service

Cons: Basic decor, Can't afford often!

03/17/2003 Posted by zorbajim

The service was so inferior as to ruin the meal. The waitress failed in all respects even preparing the bill.

Pros: food, selection

Cons: service, service, cramped

09/20/2002 Posted by jack_olson

We had a great meal at Nell's. The food was perfect, rich but not too heavy. The service was friendly but not intrusive, just enough information.

Pros: Awesome food, easy parking

07/04/2002 Posted by skyflyer3

Terrible service, food was so-so, and just an overall unwelcomed feeling. Lot's of seats were available, but they wouldn't let us in without a reservation. Overall, very disappointed.

Cons: Service was snobbish