This is legitimately one of the best places I've ever eaten in Iowa... It would probably rank in some of the better places I've eaten in the entire United States. I travel quite a bit for work so I'm on the road and I'm usually stopping at new places, but I took my family here and was absolutely blown away by the service and their attentiveness to my wife's allergies, their menu was simple which speaks volumes to the quality that the chefs will be putting out, their drink menu was superb and they didn't miss on a single facet of the experience. read more

Great service, friendly staff, relaxed vibe, fantastic food! Our server surprised us with a glass of champagne for our Anniversary dinner! read more

The Half Nelson - Celebrating our 43rd Anniversary at The Half Nelson! - Bars Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

Stayed in davernport overnight and picked this restaurant for dinner based on yelp reviews. I try not to have high expectations for restaurants based on reviews and make my own opinions. I'll admit I was a little bit disappointed with the experience. The ambiance is very nice. The restaurant was in the downtown area very close to the mississippi river. There seemed to be a lot happening at the other establishments.In the area. The service was efficient , although we weren't a big fan of our server. One of the things that bothered me was when our bill came and they have those handheld machines that cash you out , the server stood over the top of us waiting to see how much gratuity we were gonna apply to our check. That's one thing that should never be done in a nicer place. The food was decent. The brussels sprout salad was absolutely fantastic. We ordered four different entrees. The swordfish , the salmon , lamb meatballs and a pasta dish. All came out hot looking really nice and had multiple components. Some of the dishes lacked seasoning and the overall wow factor. The bill came out to $240 with one salad , four entrees and five alcoholic drinks. Very reasonable fo four people at a nice place. We didn't order dessert, but I would've liked to try the cheesecake. read more

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First time to visit. An amazing place with a really cool vibe. Bar area is very nice. Restaurant seating is spacious yet cozy. Service was terrific! Our waitress paid attention but wasn't over bearing. The food was amazing. I had the Sunchoke Agnolotti. The proportion was perfect with a great blend of rich and savory flavors. My dining partner had the Elderflower Cured Salmon. Another great taste treat with a perfect blend of sweet and savory. A great place to treat yourself or celebrate a special occasion! read more

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Best food I've had in Iowa. Start with the Under the radar drink. Best drink I've ever had. Then, from what I can remember, The swordfish rivaled anything I've had in my home city of New Orleans. The dude next to me has the steak and potatoes. It's a bone in ribeye and looked like the greatest steak on earth. Coming back. Several times. Don't drive after the "sunder the radar". Sorry, I'm slurring now. read more

The service and the food were absolutely amazing! I had the swordfish and beet salad. read more

The Half Nelson - These two lovely waitresses were great! - Bars Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

Our waitress Cassidy was an absolute gem and delight! She was nice and definitely gave us options and offered us mocktails if we didn't want anything from the bar or soda. Whoever this chef is, he needs a raise. Everything we had was top tier. THERE WERE NO LEFTOVERS. The crab beignets, fantastic. The duck, mouth watering and the croquets with it were so crispy on the outside. I could've eaten a whole basket. The scallops with pork belly and plantains were phenomenal. read more

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Food is amazing. Pork chops were absolutely insane. My dad ordered the steak and potato's and the steak came out on bone and huge. Drinks were also fantastic (I got an espresso martini:)). Our waitress was fabulous, very informative and welcoming. I live the inside vibe, it feels like you're in a fancy trolly car in Europe read more

I went to the Half Nelson for a drink and stayed awhile. Everyone got the crab beignets and flatbread. I got the best salmon of my life!!! read more

The Half Nelson - Best salmon dish that i have ever had! - Bars Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

Came here for a birthday dinner, pasta and swordfish were delicious! Brown butter cheesecake is to die for!! Small and very unique cocktail menu, but our bartender helped convince us to expand our horizons and branch out. Cute vibes inside, good ambiance. read more

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Wait staff friendly, wait endless, decor, passable, food not so much, fat, plentiful, taste, illusive, meatballs like tofu, tasteless. salmon OK, Trip home, pleasant relief, dining experience not even close. Disappointment, overwhelming. Value, look elsewhere. read more

Fabulous food in a beautiful setting. Husband and I ate at the bar. I had the lamb and garlic salad--both were fantastic. He had the flat bread, which he liked. I'm an eater and i thought the serving size was perfect (i even had two lamb chops to take home w me). A great date night out in Davenport. read more

The crab beignet recipe was recently changed & not for the better. No longer soft. They're now crunchy, smaller, & fewer in the order. Are they bad? No, Just not as good. The menu changes every month or two which we like. It's not a very big menu for food or wine. The wines are also on the pricey side, but a nice mix. Located in an old building that's not very handicap friendly. Parking is on the street with no handicap parking available. A very long ramp & incline to get in & out. Service is decent & the ambiance is classy. I'm handicapped so we only go when the weather permits considering the difficulty of getting in and out. read more

Steak/potatoes excellent texture, taste , portion. Garlic Salad superb. Duck/chicken/croquette dish didn't meet my expectations, nor was I offered any compensation after sending it back twice. read more

They ought to start calling this place the FULL NELSON, because there was nothing half about our expereince here! I took Becky out to eat for a belated Birthday Dinner on a Thursday and we got Right In. Becky said the the Decor was TIMELSS, and loved the open plan, brassy colours and unique textures Their menu was short and sweet- but that always means the kitchen has mastered their craft! Becky got the Sordfish with Creme Sauce, aparagus and rice, and I ordered the Lamb Navarin, grilled lamb with heavenly sauce (and carrots/potatoes). You all know that rice is usualy a filler on the place, but Becky said this rice was the star of the show (and she knows her rice!!) My lamb was very well done (actually a perfect medium- LOL!) cooked to perfection and well complemented by the chrispy salty potato and carrots. The portions aren't huge, but are packed with flavers, so next time, we'll order and appetizer!! It was OK this time because it left room for Becky and Me to get ICE CREAM at one of our favorite QC spots!!! read more

Did someone say crab beignnnyaaaayy?!? My god yes! One of the best appetizers I've had in Iowa for sure. My husband and I made a reservation here for our wedding anniversary on a work trip and it did not disappoint. Atmosphere- sweet bar. You can dine here casual or dress up and still feel comfortable. An updated classic. Love the touch of the old photos in the bathroom. Service- Service was top notch! Our waitress rocked! Maybe she is a professional photographer but she offered to take a pic for our anniversary and staged the table and everything! She was very attentive and provided great suggestions. They even acknowledged our anniversary with a great dessert. Food- yes yes and yes. Well I've already raved about the crab beignets.... But get them. I had the scallops and risotto, amazing! My husband had the pork collar. He wished it was cooked a little less but he's always on the brink of getting trichinosis. Finally the lavender dessert is to die for! I wished I lived in Iowa to eat it every day! The mezcal drink and the old fashioned were awesome! Especially the cube! If I'm ever in this area I will be back for sure ! read more

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I thought the restaurant was cute and we were sat in the perfect booth overlooking the bar area. I got the goat cheese ravioli and it was amazing! We were celebrating an anniversary and brought complimentary champagne which was a nice touch! Our server was great and had great recommendations on food and drinks read more

We have been wanting to try Half Nelson for a while. The service and drinks were great. I wish there was a place you could rate just based off of that because I would have given it a 5. I ordered the prime rib and it was good, but nothing special. Certainly didn't hit the mark for a $60 steak. My girlfriend got the burger and she didn't care for it, not because it was overcooked or anything it just wasn't anything special. This isn't a negative review, we just didn't think it was an amazing meal. I would go back and would encourage others to try it out as well. read more

By far my favorite spot in the QC. Unbeatable menu and food. I come back here any chance I get.

Good table service with a smile and the food is predictably good here; Freshly prepared and just a bit of a twist on the seasonal menu. This is not QC bar food. Hearty portions with both the appetizers and main course. Upscale casual with an urban vibe. read more

Genuinely everything was excellent! The swordfish was rich and flavorful, the cocktails were super tasty, and the set up is totally inviting and makes you want to hang. read more

Note: menu changes seasonally. Great ambiance, service, and food and drink (old fashioned). read more

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Best dinner we've had in the Quad Cities. Raven's service was impeccable! Had the crab beignets as the starter. Menu rotates with the seasons so you can get something different every time. read more

The Half Nelson - Crab Beignets - Bars Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

Was hesitant to try this place from the reviews. I like to check places out for myself and happy I did. Unsure what the actual menu was inside the restaurant as all I could find was an order online menu as much of the time they are limited to what you can actually get while seated, couldn't find a drink menu online either. We made a reservation online a day prior for 7:15, showed up at 7:10 and our table wasn't ready. Waited 10 minutes for our table and was then sat at a different table than we were waiting for. The host was very kind and friendly. Once we were seated, we waited about 10 minutes before greeted by Rukkus, he was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We skipped the first course and ordered our drinks and main course. We ordered the pistachio-crusted barramundi and the spring chicken. I was told I could switch out my sides for any other sides listed, I wanted the polenta cake. Soon after order the sever came back and said the chef said I couldn't have that side, so went with the fingerling potatoes which was a bad idea because they were very dry and tasteless like they had been sitting out at a gas station under the heat lamp for a day or two. Other than those our meals were delicious! The white fish was very flaky and the pistachio crust was to die for. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy in and the farroto was flavorful. Our server talked us into the best dessert ever, the name was complicated but it was pecan crumble and ice cream, I won't do it just it but it was so yummy, trust me! The ambience here was nice and a great spot for a date or group or even singles as there is seating at the bar top. The hour and 15 they want to allow each table doesn't seem reasonable but the food does come out quick, just seemed a bit rushed. Somewhere I seen they once had shrimp and grits, wish they still had those on the menu they looked yummy. read more

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The ambiance in the restaurant is nice! The lighting, seating, and details are nice! The flatbread was very tasty. My filet was good too! Next time I'd visit, I would try the pork medallions for something different. I would come here again and recommend all try it. read more

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The fried potatoes with arugula were delicious. Ambiance and waitress were excellent. The pork al pastor was unpalatable; akin to an elderly cut of pork with a can of sickly sweet Ragu pizza sauce slathered on top. The 10 gram piece of chicharron was good, though. Just grab a reservation at Duck City. read more

Pretty disappointed with my "32 hour braised" short ribs. There's no way they were cooked that long. Fatty slab of meat covered in salty thick reduction. If it had been cooked that long the fat would have rendered out and the meat would be falling apart. The response from the staff about the food was not good. I had been a long time customer, so it's unfortunate. read more

Ambiance is amazing a little loud but doable. Great service from start to finish. We had the salad which was really good and then the cowboy steak and salmon. Girrrllll mmmhhmmm. So good. Will be back. Make reservations otherwise I promise you won't get it cuz it's just that good!!! Drink was so so good. Love this place!! read more

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The Half Nelson is a gem. We had an impromptu visit for dinner before a baseball game. My salad was amazing (fresh lettuce, refreshing flavor, great homemade dressing) and my husband loved his scallops with Capellini. The crab beignets are popular - but weren't a favorite of mine. The flavor was ok and they use real crab meat, but it was a texture thing. They were too soft and mushy for me. read more

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We've been a couple times. Solid cocktails and the seafood has been first rate. Kids menu is a bonus for the little man!

We wandered in on a Friday night after a convention in the area. We were seated right away and the staff was very friendly even though we were still wearing our silly convention clothing. Food and drinks were both excellent! read more

We had such a great experience here! Caden was an amazing server and anticipated all of our needs. He made great recommendations, he was friendly with our pup, and when we explained we were in a hurry he rushed our order and promptly got our bill. We were out of their in record time. The inside is beautiful, but we are outside because of our dog. The food though was so incredible. The garlic salad was super tasty. They make homemade croutons and crush them, mix it with Parmesan and lots of garlic and mix it with dressing. We were licking our plates. We also ordered the fish which was prepared perfectly. We'll be back!! Thank you, Caden!!! read more

Two words: CUTE + CLASSY! This is the perfect date night location. The atmosphere was so cute, the details of the walls, paintings, floors, etc. It's called the half Nelson because the other side of the building is a "bar" called bootleg hills honey mead. The drinks here were outstanding - my bf got the Drapers escape (old fashion) and I got the unwinding hours. They only have 6 options on their cocktail list so that told me that their cocktail was perfected which I can agree with. We started off with the soup of the day which was a creamy chicken Tuscan soup, excellent flavor. He had the filet mignon and added the lobster as a "surf n turf" and I had the chicken Madeira. His filet was cooked well but didn't have much flavor, although the risotto that came with it made up for the lack of flavor. The lobster was of course good and came with butter. My chicken entree had excellent flavor - it had grilled mushrooms, mashed potatoes and veggies. My bf who hates mushrooms even said it was really good. Our server, Jessie was very attentive and made sure the filet was cooked properly and food tasted good. They did not have a dessert list but she named off a couple (creme brûlée with butterfinger topping, cheesecake, fried bread pudding with ice cream..etc.) - they all sounded amazing but unfortunately we were too full from our dinner. So glad I found this gem on Yelp! 10/10 would recommend. read more

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Was in town for work and looking for a place with fresh food and good atmosphere! Traveling for work and eating alone isn't always easy but when you find a place that is cozy, great food and excellent service then it makes it easier. This place was a recommended and I'm gonna recommend it as well. I got the shrimp and grits with a bacon red sauce. It was very reasonable for the portion. The taste was excellent and presentation was awesome! They don't skimp on the shrimp which is nice to see! Service was fantastic at the bar and it's a very cozy place. Definitely will be back to try some of the other foods! Also has a large bar with options. read more

The Half Nelson - Shrimp and Grits - Bars Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

Went there for a date because the restaurant looks fancy, we don't drink so we can't talk about it. I read up on yelp before going there so I ordered dishes suppose to be good. Crab cake taste like poorly crab, too much flour mixed and the sauce that came with too strong, I felt like eating regular frozen from store. The potato came out good but nothing outstanding. The steak is the lifesaver, hard to went wrong with it. The sunflower scallop is the most disappointed, it ruined the night!. I had the couscous first, it was ok, then I had scallop at first touch was great but then it was so ridiculous full of salty that's it!! I tried to continue with the sides and had a bite of steak. I could not come back with these scallop. The server didn't even ask about what I had it left. Food looks great but not worth $115 before tip read more

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Some colleagues and I had dinner last night here and it didn't disappoint. Rukkus (yes that was his given name, we asked) our waiter was very knowledgeable and shared his favorite dishes with us to try. We took his suggestions and boy were we glad we listened. I had the scallops and was not disappointed the risotto was fantastic with so much flavor. To finish off the meal we shared some homemade butter pecan ice cream that may have been the best ice cream I have ever had. If you are in Davenport you must try this place. Next time I'm trying the pork and beans. Cheers Rukkus!! read more

Amazingly delicious seafood! I highly recommend! Crab Beignets Scallops were absolutely mouthwatering! I cannot wait to go back and try other things on the menu! read more

The Half Nelson - Scallops - Bars Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

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We finally went back to Half Nelson this weekend. It was ok. The server didn't know the items on the menu and could not describe how they were prepared: "I don't know what a Beignet is, sorry..." The Cipollini (seafood stew in tomato base) was overpowering and the seafood was overcooked anyway. The fries that arrived with my husband's meal were VERY well done, oddly, but his burger was ok. I wanted to try other items on the menu but with the shaky knowledge from the server, it seemed like a fool's errand, and it turns out the kitchen isn't executing the dishes very well either, so probably no love lost there. read more

best meal I've had in Iowa thus far! The ambiance is fantastic, relaxing, fancy but not pretentious. Food is great- can be made gluten free as well! Service was so nice- super friendly and talkative without intruding. 10/10. Potato salad is a must. Fish lovely. Flatbread perfect. Filet is great. read more

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My husband and I came here for our engagement anniversary dinner. The ambiance here is really nice - for both happy hour and dinner. Decor reminds you of a restaurant in Chicago or another major city. It was very nice. Unfortunately the drinks and food were mediocre at best. We got 3 cocktails. All pretty sweet. I ordered two cocktails and left both of them and couldn't finish them. Waitress didn't ask why. The food was pretty flavorless. It tasted better after I went home and added seasoning to it. The best thing here was the cake. The cake was surprisingly good. I won't be back, but it was good to have tried. read more