01/10/07

Pricely but worthy

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.

09/28/06

Green Lake hits the jackpot with a friendly neighborhood restaurant with buzz-worthy Northwest fare.

by Contributor

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.

11/21/05

Raw Chicken

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

06/17/05

Amazing food at a great value

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

06/09/05

My favorite place in Seattle

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

11/08/04

Excellent

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

10/25/03

Earthen Elegance

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!

03/17/03

zorbajim

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

09/20/02

Fantastic Food - Great Service

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

07/04/02

Nell's wasn't swell...

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