They tried to seat us at the worst table, ear-level to the bar. First they said all the other tables were taken. After 5 minutes of them ignoring us, and us standing up ready to leave, they "found" another table. The waitress then proceeded to lecture us in the nicest possible way about reserving a specific table next time. A few minutes later, another couple was seated at the same bad table and went through the same rigmarole until they were reseated. Also, woefully understaffed. Lots of inattention, and over two hours for dinner. Good food, tho, and a cozy neighborhood feel. read more

Nell's is our go to restaurant for special occasions. Birthdays and anniversaries...it's Nell's. Why? The food is consistently excellent, the service is great (they can tell if you are in a hurry to get to a show or want to linger and adjust accordingly) and the wine list has a section called "gems $30 or less" with stellar selections. Contrast this with a fine restaurant like Crush which has almost as good food for more money, less than attentive staff and the least expensive wine is $48 and rising quickly from there and you can see why we love Nell's. Well worth the travel from Mercer Island. Just for point of reference our other favorites are Ponti, Cantinetta, Serafina and La Medusa. read more

Brought a date here to celebrate her birthday based on the recommendation of a friend. Arrived to find Nell's located in a strip mall, but it did allow easy parking. The ambiance of the place we found to be a little dated which reminded me of something of an eighties decor and the restaurant is quite small where the clientele was mainly on the older side. But the waiter was very personable/friendly yet professional and was helpful in recommending a suitable wine and entrees that would appeal to us without making us feel rushed at all. The food was excellent arriving in a very visually appealing manner and tasted delicious for what we both ordered. You could tell the chef was very talented. Overall, the meal was a little on the pricey side, but it was of such high quality that I didn't mind footing the bill at all. Will probably come back again. read more

My first visit to Nell's was hosting a party of 6 for dinner. The decor is a bit outdated, in a space that feels a bit like a nice 1980s eatery. I was honestly a bit worried when I stepped in. But there weren't ferns everywhere, don't worry! :) It's just not a trendy Seattle restaurant. We were served cocktails by our very friendly and knowledgeable waiter and then enjoyed some beautiful raw oysters. Very fresh and perfectly shucked, served with a tangy citrus vinaigrette. Our waiter recommended a perfect bottle that worked with what all the wine drinkers ordered. I tasted one companion's squash soup, which was lovely. My duck was served over a parsnip puree and with crisp wax beans, both of which were wonderful. The duck itself was perfectly done and presented. The skin was delightfully crispy but a bit salty for my taste, though if I took a bite with the parsnip it was nicely balanced. I tasted someone's halibut, which was also cooked perfectly but a touch too salty for me. The chanterelle risotto I tasted was TO DIE FOR, just so earthy, with perfectly al dente rice and a broth that celebrated the mushroom flavor. We were the largest table in the restaurant and the loudest. Our server met our energy level perfectly and we enjoyed the evening immensely. Overall I'd sum it up by saying that Nell's is a nice change from trendy Seattle dining. The menu is diverse and pretty traditional French-American, prepared with skill and served with charm. read more

Had a great meal here a couple months ago when I was in Seattle for work..... this was a little far off the beaten path for me (i.e. outside the downtown area, which i hadn't yet ventured beyond), but this neighborhood seemed charming and the food here was fab. I had the Leek risotto to start, and then the Kobe hanger steak cooked to perfection... and BTW, I did not know whether I was a fan of parsnips, but the way they served this puree with the steak was really good. All this washed down with my favorite Pinot - J (I know this one's not for everyone - but I like it cuz it's a bit on the light side). I don't remember what I had for dessert, but I remember really liking it. A good time was had by all! Can't wait to visit Seattle again! read more

We've eaten here once so far, and it was very nice. We made sure to sit outside, as the weather was lovely and the inside of the restaurant seemed to be kind of dark and gloomy. I tried the Dungeness crab salad and was not disappointed, the crab was fresh and flavorful. The wait service was well paced in my experience, as we spent time savoring the food and enjoying the nice weather. The bill for two with wine was about $120; not something I'd spend more than once every few months but well worth the splurge. read more

We had a very disappointing visit to Nell's. Our reservations were for 6pm...and not many people were there when we arrived. What food we had (a sparkling wine for a toast, another bottle that was supposed to go with our entree, and appetizers) was very good. But the service was truly awful. We were there for two hours, she only brought us a single order of oysters when we had ordered two, and she (we thought rather bizarrely) kept flitting by calling us all "darlings" and saying she was just giving us time to "settle"...maybe some customers like this...but she misread her audience. The couple who were seated at the same time we were, were finishing their entree before we got our initial wine for a birthday toast. After 2 hours the tables around us were on the third turnover and we still hadn't gotten our entree. When we finally got up and said that was enough we would just pay for what we had received and leave, the apparent manager tried to defend the poor service by saying the waitress thought she was just giving us time to enjoy the experience...it was anything but enjoyable. All in all, we won't be going back. read more

What a great neighborhood find! Fresh, seasonal ingredients, great flavors, and good service. I'm so glad fellow yelpers led me in the right direction for a great place to catch up with an old friend. The pork tenderloin with butternut squash tasted like fall on a plate and the apple crisp with rosemary vanilla ice cream was the perfect ending to a good meal. The ambiance had enough noise to keep it lively but not so loud that I heard other table's conversations. Five stars all the way. read more

My husband and I dine at Nell's several times a year. We love Nell's for a number of reasons: the food is inventive and delicious, service is the best in Seattle, seating is comfortable, the ambiance is quiet, and the low light and Green Lake views give a special feel. We have been here with guests, older and younger family members, during Restaurant Week, on special occasions, and for a Chef Tribute night. The food is consistently great. Once, on a Dine Around Seattle night, I had some beef that seemed very ordinary, but that is my worst criticism of the place. Some of the reviews of Nell's I am reading here are really offensive. They suggest that a place isn't worth going to if older folks like it, or that it's a downer to be around older folks. To them I would say: (1) Though it's not a hip, happening place, I see a broad range of ages at Nell's. (2) Second, many adults appreciate the quiet atmosphere and the comfortable seating that also appeal to the elderly. Not everyone wants a loud, bustling restaurant. (3) Undoubtedly, the higher prices, leisurely pace and gourmet menu bring out an older crowd. I would not have bothered coming here with my young children. But since when is it okay to diss a restaurant because of the (perceived) demographic of its patrons? We don't do that with race or ethnicity, why do it with age? read more

The food and service were fantastic - I don't know why reviewers are rating it lower because of the ambiance. It's not your typical sprawling fine dining establishment, but that didn't impact my experience at all. We sat outside on a warm summer Seattle night after walking Greenlake. Our server was just the right mix of friendly/personable and that more formal server persona. The Halibut with lobster sauce was the most succulent fish I've ever had. My friend ordered tomato basil gnocchi and loved every bite. We were with another friend who doesn't like anything but very traditional foods and flavors, nothing on the menu suited her. Our waiter offered an off-the-menu-to-suit-our-friend butter, Parmesan bow tie pasta dish with a side of sauteed green beans. She enjoyed it tremendously . The accommodation on the part of Nell's and the waiter was very nice and ensured everyone in our party was able to have a wonderful dining experience. I intended to forgo desert, but when I saw the menu selection, I had to try one! No regrets! Worth every bite! I would go back every opportunity I could. I'm glad we decided to venture in to try a new place. Even though the cost is "$$$" there were menu options for about $12 . I splurged on the Halibut, but you could dine here without spending a bunch of money. read more

We went to Nell's solely to check out a restaurant that we don't go to all the time. Our regulars are starting to get played out. So when the 30 for 30 listed Nell's we decided to give it a try. We were really happy we did in the end. The restaurant decor is upscale (cloth table cloths, napkins, etc) the building and interior I'd say is slightly dated but don't ever let that stop you from tasting the food. I had their mussel chowder for an appetizer which had plenty of the little buggers for me to chomp down on. I'd say about 10-12 in the bowl. The broth was a rich cream based broth in white wine. Yumm. For my entree I had the boneless pork chop which was cooked perfectly. It sat atop a a bed of sauerkraut and broccoli. Quite good overall. For desert I had chocolate cake with an orange creme ice cream. I'd definitely go again and suggest it's a good place for a date to impress or taking your parents out, etc.. read more

The Alaskan halibut with zucchini spaghetti and tomato anchovie jam was outrageously good. I will return to try the ahi my friend enjoyed. I only wish they were open for lunch. read more

I was excited when I heard Nell's is open for brunch on the weekend. We live within walking distance--and always love having places to go for brunch. Unfortunately, we were not very happy with our meals. First, it took a VERY long time to receive our order. There were only two other occupied tables (for a total of 10 people, including us) in the restaurant. I think we waited at least 30 minutes for our food. Second, the food itself was not very good. I had the mushroom omelette. The eggs were overcooked, and the mushrooms were bland. Perhaps I expected too much since I had heard that Nell's was an excellent restaurant. But I thought something as simple as an omelette would be perfectly done. Plus, the toast that came with it was whole wheat sandwich bread--that tasted a bit stale. My partner didn't like his meal either. So, perhaps dinner is the way to go at this place. Or maybe they are still working out brunch. But there are MUCH better brunch places in Seattle--and even just a couple blocks away. read more

I had a Seattle restaurant week dinner at Nell's with wine pairing. The food was amazing. I loved the leg of lamb. The paired wines were very nice match as well. Overall, I had a good time. read more

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Solid fine dining experience with invariably excellent service. First discovered it through one of Seattle's restaurant nights, and of all the places we visited, this is the one that went into steady rotation. The food is elegant and expertly prepared. Great place for a romantic dinner or to entertain guests. read more

Came here for restaurant week with two girl friends and the service alone guarantees I will never be back. It's a shame too because the food was actually great. Our server, Skye G., was absurdly unwelcoming. She barely spoke to us and didn't come by to check on us once. She was friendly and talkative to every other table she was waiting on so she clearly had an issue with just us, despite the fact that we were nice to her from the beginning and continued being nice and sweet to her even when it was clear she did not want to wait on our table. We said thank you several times throughout the dinner and she never responded and just walked away, barely even looking at us. I have never felt so unwelcome or out of place at a restaurant before. I have never not tipped before and this was the first time. Based on the reviews, this seems to be a common experience so Nell's management, you should vet and train your servers to not be complete jerks. I don't feel that it was a coincidence that we were the only brown people in the room so maybe y'all just don't like us. (If that's not the case, you had us fooled!) I mean, yes, you are located in Green Lake but damn, you act like you ain't ever seen brown folks before. (The other patrons were all middle aged to old white folks.) read more

My husband and I decided to try this restaurant for our anniversary instead of heading downtown for once. We chose Nell's as neither of us had ever been there. When we arrived the restaurant was practically empty, we thought because it was a Thurs evening. We were unsure of where everyone was as we stood around for a few minutes waiting for someone to come out and greet us. Finally the waitress came out of the back and greeted us and also sat us. She was extremely nice and very helpful. We decided not to do the tasting menu as it differed than what we originally saw online. For starters my husband had the veal and I had the risotto. Veal was delicious and perfectly plated, my risotto however was a little more al dente than I would normally have it, but the flavors and creaminess were there. Entrees, my husband had the braised rabbit and I had the seared scallops, both dishes beautifully plated and had amazing flavors as well. I would've given 4 stars if there had been a prompt greeting and my risotto had been cooked a little longer, and also the decor didn't seem to match the greatness of the food, but the overall experience with food was great! read more

One of the nicest meals we've had in Seattle. Very creative menu with a wide variety of great choices. Wonderful wine selection. We always love it when Sancere is offered. We enjoyed raw oysters with a delightful minionette, a scrumptious tuna tartare salad that had avocado mousse topping, then salads followed by leg of lamb cooked perfectly and black cod over zucchini spaghetti with favas and porcinis. Beautiful preparations that were equally delicious. Lovely; low key but elegant ambience. read more

We have come here a couple times per year since it was saleh. Usually pretty good. I wish there was more beef on the menu. I had to drop off at least 2 stars for the yucky sides served with the Kobe beef. Any guesses why rutabaga puree is not as popular as mashed potatoes? Yuck. Also, apparently changed out the Brussels sprouts for an even more bitter green nobody wants to eat. No salt and pepper available....they just know you are going to like it. read more

Was so pleasantly surprised by the dining experience at Nell's. The staff was great and super attentive. They didn't rush you at all through the meal but allowed you to savor the great food and provided some yummy recommendations. The potato salad w/ smoked salmon belly was amazing. The red beet and apple salad had some great textures. I had the hanger steak and it was cooked perfectly. The decor is definitely a bit strange and doesn't quite fit. However, the food totally won me over and will definitely be coming back for a 2nd visit. I can't believe it took us this long to finally try Nell's!!! read more

We had family in town the middle of October and it was also restaurant week so we decided to try Nell's, based on their stellar reputation. We had reservations at about 6:00 and arrived on time. Our waiter was excellent; attentive but not too much. Three of us (a table of 4) ordered the lamb shank dish and it looked great. However, it tasted like paper. Our waiter offered to replace the meal, but some had already eaten enough that they said, "Thanks, but no thanks," and at least one of us thought it would slow down our dinner too much if a different entree was ordered. Our waiter did offer to take $15 off of the 3 lamb orders. We asked him to have someone in the kitchen taste it to verify that it was truly awful. Later, after our guests left the city, we wrote to the restaurant through their website and got no response. We then wrote to them via the USPS with no response. We just wanted some acknowledgement about the poor entree meal after paying over $200 for 3 spoiled meals and one so-so meal (the fish entree). This was a big surprise, since Nell's has such a great reputation. The rest of our meal was ok, but nothing special. read more

A perfect dining experience: it was quiet, the food was great. The desserts and drinks were delicious. The wait staff was attentive and very helpful. read more

Kobe hanger steak was delicious! Seating is a bit tight, so I wouldn't recommend for large parties or big groups.

This is hands down, so far, my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Everytime I've come here, the food is excellent and it's a very unique menu which I always think is important. Seriously, why would I want to order a $30 dish if I can go home and make it myself. But sweetbreads? These things are godly. If you're one of those types that order a good steak well done, go ahead and pass this place up. I'd hate to see a good dish go to waste. I'm only sad because the old wine guy apparently left...and he recommeded to me what is my favorite wine as well. read more

8 of us ate at Nell's New Year's Eve. Food was fantastic. We brought our own wine, but the wine cellar there is outstanding. Great local Gourmet restaurant. read more

We enjoyed a lovely, intimate supper for 2. Very attentive staff, always easy to park. Dining room is elegant, calm & comfortable. Great view of Greenlake. The food always is very good here. I wish they would change their menu more often. Classy place...go there and have a lovely, quiet dining experience. read more

Bottom line: not cheap but good value for money. After a series of disappointments with other Seattle restaurants, found ourselves at Nell's. The food is some of the best we've had so far in Seattle. Very high quality. Service was excellent - our waiter was professional and pleasant. Highly recommended if you're looking for an upscale dining experience without spending a fortune. read more

Yikes. This place was not good at all. We live in the neighborhood so wanted to try all the walkable restaurants. This one has such a beautifully worded menu, but the food does NOT MATCH. I would say it is 80's food without much variation in texture or color. Very monotone. Certainly not the elevated cuisine we expected. We later found out that it caters mostly to the retirement home right next door- which totally makes sense looking back at the style of food, and the clientele in the restaurant. Yuck. Wish we had known earlier. We much prefer MKT if we want to go out in the area. read more

I give this restaurant 5 stars and add it is slowly becoming our favorite restaurant. Usually the service is wonderful and the food is amazing. It's the kind of place where you can come as you are, settle in and have a lovely dining experience. The staff has been there a long time, the menu keeps some favorites and cycles through many different choices. You can sit back and have a leisurely meal--unless it's Valentine's Day--there isn't a rush to get you in and out. read more

We went to Nell's for a birthday dinner recently. We only ordered small plates and lots of them. The food was just excellent (except for one dish - the cauliflower soup was unremarkable). The only reason I marked this down a bit was the poor service. We got the impression that we were second class patrons for not ordering an entree. We had to get the attention of a waiter twice - to ask for salt and then to get our waters refilled (which were never filled again). We had asked that the small plates be staged, but four came at once, so some things got cold. And finally the portion in the soup was pathetically small. But the quality of the rest of the food made up for the neglect. We are likely to return again, to try more of the food (and maybe even an entree!) read more

Only place I've had a decent duck confit in Seattle. Very good!

Amazing cocktails, delicious, inspired food, a good wine list, and outstanding service! This is a wonderful place for a date night, a special event or when you just want the best food around! read more

If you're looking for a nice, expensive restaurant with great food and wine, Nell's is a great pick. All of the food was well prepared -- our favorite dish was the lamb. Tables are packed tightly together, but service was professional and knowledgeable. Overall, from my experience, I would not recommend Nell's if you are looking for something unique or special from the food. If you're looking for "fine dining" with a heavier focus on the experience, rather than the novelty of the food itself, I think Nell's is a good pick in Greenlake. read more

Just had the price fix dinner for Valentines's Day and it was the best! We're close enough to walk there and we do that often. Tonight's dinner was the best we've had in our 5+ years going there. With 2 choices for all four courses we had them all except for dessert. We both had to go for the chocolate tart at the end. The champagne toast to start when you sat down was a special treat. All the dishes glistened for the eye and flavors were spot on. Special shout out to our server, Stacey. She also glistens - such a sweetheart! Going back soon!! read more

Had dinner at Nell's last night. It was wonderful ! As it was restaurant week, the place was full on this Monday night. Dinner was three courses for $ 32.00. What a steal ! And, even though full, the service was perfect ! Thank you Travis ! The timing too... Started with the Mozzerella Tomato salad. Very tasty. My wife had the onion / olive tart. Yum ! For dinner, she had the hen, I had the pork tenderloin. The portions were healthy and the food served piping hot. All good. We took our sweet desserts home as we had some wine left, and finished with their cheese plate as an add on. All in all a very surprisingly excellent dinner for that price. We might go back again tonight... read more

Good, but not great. Recently came in for a birthday dinner with four people. The ambience transports you back to a 1980's cruise ship. The place is super quiet, so I constantly felt like we were being too noisy when we were speaking to one another. Older crowd. This place could use a face-lift. Food was good, but not great for the prices they were charging. Will be my first and only time to this restaurant. read more

It's restaurant week, and I decided to give this place a try. It was unbelievable! The service was great, and there was a casual relaxed atmosphere. They have a great list of bottles of wine that are less than $40, we bought a bottle that was recommended by our server, and had a nice light fruity flavor...The menu selection looked so good that it was hard to decide what to order. We were scoping out all the other diner's food. For an appetizer I ordered the leek soup which was pretty good and potatoey, the croutons added a nice buttery flavor that complimented the potato flavor, and although I never do this, I took the bread, and slopped up some of the soup. For an entree I ordered the trout, which was phenomenal!!! It was in this amazing sour, almost lemony sorrel butter, and it was cooked crispy to perfection. It was a big piece of fish, but I ate it all, it was jut too delicious. I almost licked the plate for this one, again something I don't really do. Lastly I was debating between the rhubarb and strawberry crisp and the bread pudding. I chose the rhubarb which was fresh from the oven, buttery and delicious!! Another plate licking moment. My husband ordered the bread pudding which is good for the chocolate fiends, but I stick with my choices. I will be back soon, and I'll come prepared to lick the plate. read more

I went to this restaurant recently during restaurant week when they offered a three course meal for $30. That would have been quite a bargain for Nell's if the food had been up to the restaurant's reputation. I was excited to try this restaurant, based on reviews here and comments from friends, but I couldn't have been more disappointed. I was with a group, so am not judging based only on my one meal. First let me say the service was awesome! The location across from Green Lake and the environment in the restaurant were pleasant. It was the food that disappointed. My rutabaga soup was beautifully presented, but the only flavor in it was from the fresh chive garnish. The rest was as bland as anything I've ever put in my mouth. The second course was a piece of cod poached in milk, placed on a bed of mashed potatoes. It doesn't get any whiter than that. The cod was unseasoned and flavorless. Others at the table ordered an asparagus salad that seemed to please. Their second course lamb was very inconsistently cooked and so gristly that one of our group left half of the serving uneaten and another complained she could barely cut the lamb. Two of the pieces of lamb were so under-cooked the meat was translucent red, as in raw meat, not even rare, and one was almost well done. The rhubarb dessert was satisfactory to everyone. All I can surmise is that the restaurant went on the cheap with their restaurant week special, buying a second grade of lamb and fish. I assume the whole idea of restaurant week is to give people the chance to sample a restaurant and see if they want to become a regular customer. If the restaurant cuts corners to offset the reduced revenue, they are shooting themselves in the foot. I won't be going back. read more

While we have had many lovely meals at Nell's in the past, the other night was a total let down. We were understanding about the incredibly slow service, as they were understaffed, but this is no excuse for 2 dishes being so undercooked (salmon entree cold, raw in the center) that they had to be sent back. The dishes did not return until the other diners had finished their courses. And frankly, when a second dish needs to be sent back, there should be some compensation for the guests. The meal was painfully long as we waited without bread or water refills between courses. I found it unprofessional that each fumble was blamed on others, "not enough help tonight," "chef doesn't listen." There should be a gracious "I am so sorry, let me take care of this, and dessert is on us." read more

It is amazing. How amazing? During one dinner my plate and tongue nearly met, when I snapped back both delighted and horrified that I had nearly licked my plate. I'm not a habitual plate-licker, but the chef here has the ability to transport me and my tastebuds to other realms. Why I love this place: 1. The food. This is not a place that serves heavy food that relies on richness to cover what it lacks in quality and the perfect balance of flavor. Some people prefer that. But here you can have your steak, fish, vegetables, cheese course, dessert, and feel like you did your body good from your taste buds to your soul. 2. The details - the flowers, the bread and butter...perfect. 3. The mains - always an array of meat options paired with old world European vegetable choices and lovely sauces. 4. Dessert. One of the very few places in the city where dessert options are unique and flavorful without being overly sweet or heavy. Just perfect. There is always a chocolate option, but the chef is good, so he can actually prepare something other than the chocolate that others have to default to. 5. The service. This has varied over time from sublime to nondescript, but it is one of the few places in the city where I have ever been delighted by the service on multiple occasions. It reminds me of the few places in Europe where being a server is still respectable and a profession. 6. The ambiance - there are few places where one can truly enjoy the company of one's companion(s) and feel that one is surrounded by others who truly enjoy quality. 7. The wine list. A long list to serve any budget. Always something new to try. 8. The price. Why spend almost as much or more for less? Not something I can do every day, but I won't spend my money to eat what I could make at home. I suspect that people who were disappointed went during one of the promotions when the service and kitchen were overwhelmed. This isn't "fast food" and the attention that is paid on a regular night can't be beat. The ambiance? If you like loud and need distractions from your food or your companion - don't come here. The corner booth tables have allowed me to be that much closer to my date....I've spent money elsewhere in and around Seattle - only 1 or 2 places have been as good. This is our go-to place for a lovely evening out! read more