Four stars for ambience and service; not-five stars for shrimp cakes. I'll get the negatives out of the way first. Shrimp cakes were...meh. Not terrible, but I wasn't a fan of the texture (this is more of a personal preference thing, but the cakes had whole chunks of shrimp in them, including those crunchy outer/end bits, and I like my seafood cakes smoother), or the rather one-dimensional shrimp flavor. Not bad, but not great, for me. Hoooowever. The chips & salsa were awesome, as were the dumplings. Service, as mentioned in other reviews, really couldn't be better. The guys working were friendly without being pushy, we never had to ask for water refills or hunt them down for another drink, and they happily gave food recommendations. And the atmosphere is the best - very chill, very cozy, very authentic. Natt Spil knows what it is, and it doesn't try to be anything else. read more

Love the food, love the decor, love the atmosphere, but you can end up waiting a long time for a table, and it can get rather crowded with so many people in a small space. Loved the fusion menu and the creative ways in which meals are prepared. Definitely a great place to go for new and exciting options. read more

The food is amazing and we've always had great service each time we go here even when it's busy! Definitely recommend the mussels!

This place houses my FAVORITE meal in madtown... 3 CUP TOFU! This stuff is amazing! White rice topped with a deliciously sweet and spicy sauce with tofu that is cooked to perfection with some amazing pickled vegetables on the side. My boyfriend is a meat eater and this is always what he orders as well. And we always start with the chips and guac. Seriously, stop in for this meal!!! Drink wise, they have a large selection, I usually get a beer and the bf loves the high tea (i think that's what it's called). Love that they have DJ's every night. As for the crowd, I feel as if it is the perfect mix of all types of people. read more

Ah, the good ol' Spil. This place is one of my favorites in Madison for so many reasons. The vibe is awesome, warm, low light, oriental feel, relaxing and very chill. There are DJs playing a variety of awesome music to keep things fun. The place also smells of amazing food being made as you can basically see your food being prepared. Traffic fluctuates through the evening which makes it pretty fun. The spil is busy for a reason. It is a great place. The staff. This is something I come back for. The staff is inviting, friendly, as well as professional. From the bartenders, to servers, cooks and even the door guy, the staff works hard to ensure you are having a great time. They keep the bar top clean, they clear your plates swiftly when finished eating, they move well through the small spaces. Brett and Laurel, who generally tend bar are great. Fun time, super kind... Great people. The food. The good stuff! This place has a menu that is consistent and great all around. There pizzas are my favorite. The wood fire oven in the middle of the does work! Great ingredients on a crispy crust. The three cup chicken is a favorite among many. The chefs are great and it is also fun to watch them work! Start off anything with the Shu Mai, it's damn good. The drinks. They know their stuff on this one. From martinis, cocktails, mixed drinks, their signature coffee shot (home made coffee infused vodka) they strive for excellence. Drinks are balanced, light and taste great. Like I've said. The Spil is amazing for many things, a first date, a solid go to spot to eat, or a solid start or end to the evening for a good drink. Could not recommend it more. 5 stars no question. read more

FOod is always great here, but service was shotty this time around. My friend and I approaches the hostess stand and asked if there were any available seats (the place looked busy) and she told us we could go check for ourselves--so much for customer service! Food was good but took a long time and our waitress was super busy. We also mistakenly sat next to a loud table with 5 children under the age of 2 that were screaming the whole time. This kind of ruined the atmosphere. read more

Me, in a rowdy pre-wedding crew: "Can I have a Bulleit on the rocks?" Bartender: "Bullet?" Me: "Bullaaay? Bullet?" Bartender: "Bullet." Then we piled in a booth near the front to continue celebrating the evening into the morning. Natt Spil, I never remember very much from you, but what can recall is always fantastic. See you next time! read more

My lady and I attended the Natt Spil with the intention of a Friday night dinner but unfortunately found the results very dissatisfactory. While the decor is quite romantic and it's kinda cool to eat at a place that doesn't have a sign or a telephone the actual delivery isn't worth the setup. All the pre-eat impressing sets up the expectation for some fabulously hip food. The results however came as lackluster. Ordering the Salmon with fried plantains and the Italian sausage pizza with feta we initially were excited. A change of pace ambiance and a diversified menu with a combination of different ethnic flavors seemed promising. With the placement of the dishes in front of us our eagerness seemed to fade. To start the presentation was mediocre. Admittedly there isn't too much you can do to make pizza look amazing. The Salmon however was not pink, served upside down, and was about the smallest piece of fish I have ever received. Not a fish expert, I was told by my more knowledgeable girlfriend that the salmon was poor, not cooked well, lacking juices and a pink color. I found the fish ok, tasting fairly bland and without any spice to cover up the disappointing bland salmon flavor. The noodles that came with it were sort of a mix of curry and pad Thai which while better than the salmon were still rather dull noodles. The pizza was admittedly better though still a small portion. The sausage was very good with a nice distinctive spice, the best part of the entire meal. The feta was tasty..but it's feta and the placement of it on the pizza was effective because feta is inherently tasty nothing above your own ability in the kitchen though. A dough and sauce that served as more of contributing flavors and less as bases would have helped. The seemingly harsh rating is a judgment of the food not as a place to grab drinks with a friend. Their beer menu had simple selections highlights being some nearby Great Dane brews and an Ale Asylum. In the end the food isn't bad, but for a the $12 dollars the tiny dull Salmon dish cost and the $9 decent Pizza better tasting and equally unique Madison flavors can be found. read more

We got treated well for walking in tipsy as a party of ten late on a Monday night. They quickly found room for us in their little alcove in the back of the restaurant. It took too much time for the server to come, but I think they realized this and quickly made up for it. The chips and salsa were a life savor. We split 3 wood-fired pizzas; Natt Spill Sausage, Greek Goddess Love Nest, and the pepperoni and mushroom. All Divine! Definitely a quality choice for a beer and a pizza. read more

This is a great place if you're in with the artsy crowd... and don't mind crowds. It's small, but the service is generally better than OK, so is the food, and so are the drinks. For a night out, get there early and expect loud music and a small crowd. As long as you're okay with that, it's a great little spot. Oh, and hit the ATM before you go... it's cash only. read more

I also didn't have a problem with the atmosphere. I found it warm and welcoming and our waitress was very friendly. As a Bostonian, I'm used to being ignored by waitstaff, pricey yet boring food, being deafened by awful music and squawking fellow patrons time and time again. But Nat Spil treated me very well- no pretension- and I will return! read more

amazing food, drinks, and atmosphere. music and employees are phenomenal as well. open later which is very nice for a later bite.

The food is great here, everything that I have tried has been excellent. The 3 cup chicken is delicious, I would recommend it to everyone. Across the board everything is a dollar or so over priced, but that keeps out all the college scavengers. The vibe is great, nice and cozy space that seems to be self regulated and not too packed. When I'm in the area I definitely stop here for a drink or two before moving out to the higher capacity bars. So in my opinion I would recommend it as a good place to start the night, great food and atmosphere. Thumbs up from me. read more

This place is the shit. Super hipster and had great drinks. The pizza is to die for and the music is awesome. If you're looking for a place off the main drag than this is it. Hope your enjoy your time. read more

DIM SUM! Perfect date night spot. It is dark and intimate. The loud atmosphere forces you to get close to who ever you are with... or yell. I have tried most of their menu items (they haven't changed much with the exception of their specials). My personal favorite is the three cup chicken. It is a huge portion of chicken and rice with a tomato salad. Other favorites include the dumplings, wood-fired oven pizzas, and pretty much everything else on the menu. Don't miss it. They don't have a sign, but the atmosphere will draw you in from the street. read more

Great atmosphere, as long as you can find the place(having no sign makes this a wee bit difficult). Dark and brooding, yet soft enough to be romantic. They have a fun drink list, for those of us who don't do beer(although my last mojito tasted more like lime and Aquanet rather than fresh yummy goodness). The menu is interesting, although small. Nice place to grab an appetizer and a cold beverage before a night out. read more

This place is awesome! My husband, aunt, uncle, and myself were in Madison from Chicago. The place has a very interesting menu - dim sum and pizza were two of their specialties. Apparently we could not decide what to order, so we ordered everything! We had each kind of dim sum, and a sausage pizza, both of which were fresh, different, and delicious. But the real highlight was the duck duck soup. I really do not have words for it, and I am an English teacher! They also have great beers, a swanky atmosphere, and a DJ camped out in the corner. Awesome all around! read more

The food here borders on gross and is not that cheap if viewed in light of how crappy it is. We started with the catfish egg rolls, which tasted like someone dropped a fish stick in Tabasco, put it in a wrapper and fried it. The three cup tofu is apparently their most popular dish. It looked beautiful and tasted completely uninspired. Tofu drowning in heavy, corporate "Asian" sauce with over-marinated cucumbers on the side. My limp pizza was the worst attempt at thin-crust I have encountered in Madison. I guess this place is "cool" because the lighting is red and the waitresses wear stripes and polka dots at the same time. I've been here at night for drinks as well and found it very awkward. The music is loud, so there's no way to talk, but also no expectation of dancing. The positives: They have a nice selection of beers on draft and the waitresses were polite. read more

When I eventually leave Madison, Natt Spil is one of a handful of restaurants I'll miss. As other reviewers have noted, the Three Cup Tofu and Three Cup Chicken are the bomb. I used to get the chicken, but as a New Year's resolution, I decided to torture myself more and animals less by only eating local/sustainable meat. Yes, I am those people in Portlandia. The first thing I thought of when I made that decision was "no more Three Cup Chicken," which was rough, since this is one of two dishes I turn to whenever I crave eating out (the other is the Harmony Bar's walnut burger and chips with blue cheese). Since I made that resolution, I have turned to the tofu, which is fabulous. The dish comes with pickled vegetables and rice. I've never eaten anything bad at Natt Spil, but I also particularly recommend the pizza. Natt Spil also has the city's best drink, the Orange Dragon. It involves their Thai chile-infused vodka (which gives the drink a nice blast of heat) and orange blossom. The other week, Jeanette the bartender (also one of the city's best) made me a cocktail of the Thai chile vodka and the green tea kombucha, another fantastic cocktail. The only crappy thing about Natt Spil is its design. I always sit at the bar, because then at least all the people I am with can have a view of sorts and a chair to sit in. I hate restaurant designs that force one person to sit staring at a wall and, in this case, with that person's butt in the middle of a (sometimes unbearably) busy restaurant. Seating issues aside, this is one of the best places to eat and drink in Madison. And in the evenings, there are always djs playing great music. read more

If you are in Madison you have to stop at the Natt Spil most awesome time with drinks and food. Brett took care of us with amazing cocktails and yummy food. You must have the Trinity of the best. Pizza off the chart wood fire and the mussels and 3 cup chicken were the best anywhere....cya tomorrow. read more

Chef Dave, did I really see you sprinkle some MSG into my 3 cup chicken??? Please say it isn't so! Otherwise, this place is cozy and quaint. No other complaints. read more

Great beer and cocktails options. Had an ale asylum that's not normally at places, and is a favorite. Also had a kombucha cocktail. Very good. Pizza and clams in kim chi were both very tasty. On top of this, awesome art, environment and staff. read more

Ok, this place is not good. I just so spent 22 dollars for a "pizza" that tasted really really bad and 10 dollars for a watered down cocktail. Service was on part with the food. Never coming back read more

I don't know what changed in a year and half, but the quality went down rather drastically. This used to be my one and only favorite destination in Madison for a while, but they're so "out" for me now. My friend and I stopped over here on Wednesday bar hopping night, and everything was terrible. First, the service: Ok, but nothing special. And what happened to those smoking hot ladies? Why is a jersey wearing lady with zero enthusiasm serving us? Is this Wed's night thing? If so, I'll never come back. And, the terrible drinks, too. My mojito was passable while my friend's caipirinha was way below the standard. If they have the balls to charge $6-8 on a drink, I expect something good. I've seen this trend in Madison. If you used to be the "it place," you need to keep up with the incoming competition and continue polishing the reputation rather than taking it easy by falling back on the title. read more

Good food, great drinks, poor ventilation. Sitting in back is fun most of the year, but you'll want to be front by a window in summer. Cash only, but there's an ATM. The pork sammie is fantastic. It's savory, it's spicy, and so full you need the sturdy baguette to keep things together. The duck duck soup is usually delicious. Not as good as ramen at Umami, but an excellent appetizer and very comforting on a cold day. Their wood-fired pizzas are well-executed. I'm partial to the brie and apple, but I tend to enjoy the combination of cheese and fruits in general. They have a decent selection of craft beers and they make good cocktails. Start your evening here, and you can walk on to Opus or Merchant if you're looking for more. read more

I feel like Natt Spil is what a nightclub would be like in The Shire (Middle Earth). It is all polished wood and tiny nooks and crannies with low lighting. The very reason the atmosphere is so cool however means it can feel really crowded pretty fast, so if you are at all claustrophobic you may want to stop by on a weeknight. I have always had wonderful food and cocktails each time I have visited. I also came once for a Goose Island beer pairing dinner they did which was delicious and a lot of fun. When I am in the mood for a good drink in chill setting Natt Spil is at the top of my list. read more

I love the dark secretive feel of this place! You're enclosed by wooden furniture and mood lighting, a cool DJ and good looking chic waitstaff. The food is really good too- my go-to dishes: 3 Cup Chicken or the Brie and Apple Pizza...I'd top either one off with a whiskey Old Fashioned, extra cherries. One time I went there, they had an excellent Squash soup, but some of the menu is seasonal, so I haven't seen it since. Remember, its CASH ONLY! don't be 'that guy" scrambling through crumpled singles only to leave your date/friends waiting while you quick run to an ATM read more

Natt Spill is fun and kind of different. I'd recommend it more for grabbing a drink and a snack than for getting a complete meal. The vibe is kind of hip but also low key. The front looks like a somewhat nice bar and then there's a back cove area which is a little cozier. I didn't dislike the food, but the menu isn't exactly cohesive...pizza and Asian cuisine. We split a pizza and one of the chicken dishes and had a nice time. Definitely a plus that most items are shareable. Overall, I give 4 stars because it's something different. Probably wouldn't go everyday, but it's a nice spot to hang out with friends when you're sick of your usual places. read more

Omg!!! So good. We strolled in between hours and they were very accommodating. Noodle was incredibly friendly and caused us to return for dinner. Really great food. read more

So hip, so pretensious, so eh. Natt Spil has a lovely solid drink menu, and considering the "atmosphere" you're paying for it is pretty standard pricing. I am a fan of their mojitos. As for the food, I think the previous reviewers summed up the misses quite nicely. Fortunately Natt Spil is located in an area where you can walk 5 blocks in almost any direction and meet up with amazing food. (so come for a drink, soak up the hip-ness, and then go eat somewhere else.) read more

Three words, three cup chicken. So great! I love the cucumber tomato side. All the pizzas are also delicious are reasonably priced. The High Tea is also good, but kind of pricey read more

This little bar/restaurant is the place to go on a Friday night! It is the perfect date spot-- dim lighting, great drinks, and a decent wine list. The food is amazing, especially their pizza because they have an awesome wood burning oven. This place is better in cooler months though as they don't have air conditioning. It gets a little sweaty inside during summer months! read more

Natt Spil - Dim lighting and dim sum: two things that make for a great date-night location. - Pizza Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Dim Sum and Pizza? If you know me....you know this is my kind of place! The dim sum definitely isn't the best I've had, but great dimsum is hard to find in madison. They had a chicken dish that was DELICIOUS. And obviously their pizza was great! I also tried an alcoholic drink they had mixed with Kombucha! It had a cool vibe with eclectic asian decor. I think this would be a nice casual date spot to grab a drink. read more

Pricey drinks and a poor bar layout make for a crowded experience here. They've got DJs spinning on a pretty regular basis in the evenings, which is hit or miss. I've never eaten here, but the food coming out of the kitchen looks great and you can get food pretty late, which is a plus. My favorite part about this place is the huge window at the front which can be opened up during the (few) summer months in Madison, making the whole place feel a little opened up. Nevertheless, I can't help but feel like this place is an overflow pub for the crowd not patient enough to wait for a table at the Great Dane next door. A decent stop on a bar-hopping night. read more

This was my second time to Natt Spil. The first time I went, my boyfriend and I went on a date. From what I remembered, he ordered a pizza with mushroom so I wouldn't eat it (HATE mushrooms) and I had the three cup chicken. I was surprised with the amount of Asian influence, but I enjoyed it. Chris didn't like how dark it was and I how I selected tree stumps without backs for seating arrangements. Whatever, he is just not hip enough. When we went again, we just went for drinks. I had a super strong mojito and he just had a lame-o Tanqueray and tonic. He drank two of those really quickly, so I don't know if it was just the quality was superior to the average rail drink or it was weak. My mojito was good, but lacking on the sugar. I really like the atmosphere and layout of this bar. It reminds me of hipster Brooklyn with a milder hipster attitude. I would love to go again and again, but unfortunately my friends never want to wander to the Capitol bars with me. read more

Excellent food, excellent beers, ambiance is dark comfortable asian/german with a DJ pumpin something loud, and usually good. One thing I didn't like is that the waiter would not do separate checks. When I asked him "why is that?" he said "because we don't do separate checks, I can tell you your individual totals if you like" which to me was a barely acceptable answer mainly because this place is dope and I'm not about to get my panties in a bunch and get banned from this joint. read more

I love this bar /eatery even though it was a bit challenging to find in the dark they don't appear to have their name outside on the building. The food was excellent, we really enjoyed the wood fired pizza. We ordered the "Greek goddess love nest" for the name alone which was fabulous. We also ordered the 3 cup chicken which was delightful had a lot of vegetables over rice.I enjoy the ambience of the bar it's very eclectic , the wait staff are very attentive and they have great sense of humor, it was a really enjoyable evening my only complaint if I had one is that I found the benches for seating mildly uncomfortable. read more

Natt Spil - Wood fired stove - Pizza Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The owner (if I recall correctly) spent some time in Taiwan hence all the Chinese dishes on the menu. The mixed drinks are fairly inventive. This isn't really a beer bar but at least LL Scotch ale is on tap. The three cup chicken is the bomb. The place is a little bit too dimly lit for my liking, but it's a great place to get some food when you go out drinking so you don't die of alcohol poisoning read more

If you've got a group of friends who you want to show a unique, hip, and fun place in Madison; this place Should be at the top of your list. Full review: http://manifoldman.wordpress.com/2007/11/03/nat-spil-review-nochspiel-nachspiel-etc-this-place-rocks/ -Manifold Man read more

Never have a bad thing to say about this place! I just simply ADORE their dumplings. :) I don't quite remember the name of the bartender and cook but I think they were Jon and Travis? Big thanks to them :) read more

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