Nell's just earned a place as one of my favorites. Intimate, relaxed, but bringing lovely flavor with great service. White linen and vintage service ware is matched with impeccable service. We started with the cocktails, bread service, and the calamari which was tender and perfectly seasoned and cooked. The bread was so good we asked for a second serving. Dinner was a tough choice between the duck (which I had heard was amazing) and the hanger steak. I went with the steak which was outstanding with incredible pearl onions and a sauce to die for. I literally almost licked the plate. Hubby had the pork loin which was also great. For dessert, my flourless cake was great but the ice cream with it was clearly house-made and exquisite. Hubby loved his sorbet. I found myself asking why we hadn't been in sooner. The service and the vibe are exceptional. This is the perfect spot to impress a date, a romantic evening out, special night with the family, or to celebrate a special occasion. We'll be back--sooner than later. read more

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I can't get over how delicious this place is! Every single item I tasted was so good, from the calamari, to the onion tart, to the bread and salted butter, to the perfectly cooked steak to the dessert! You can tell they use high quality ingredients! The restaurant itself is very cozy and the staff is friendly and efficient! If you're celebrating something or just want delicious French inspired cuisine then this is a must try! I will definitely be coming back! read more

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We came here on the first night of Restaurant week - which was unplanned; but it was my birthday! Which *was* planned. We'd never been here, and it's much fancier than its location or name suggests. We had a great meal trying as many of the dishes as we could. The food was well seasoned, and they didn't push the wine on us as much as I would have expected. The steak was cooked perfectly and the cod was cooked creatively though I felt it could have used a bit more salt. The asparagus salad had a unique presentation with big looped shavings of kohlrabi. The main dish of risotto was amazingly cheesy - in a good way. The service was a bit icy, I don't know why. Maybe because we weren't regulars at Nell's? Our server would actually sit down and chat with other diners, but we got all serious business and not the slightest bit of greeting or chit chat. read more

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Its retro-ness is the entire point. Back when the entire Country was coming out of its steak/lobster phase, late 1970's into early 1980's westcoast nouvelle made a splashy debut. In 2025 a few of us like to be reminded of those exciting experiences. As much as I enjoy all the new things, sometimes it's nice to visit where we came from. In this case, we find a throwback near Greenlake, not Sunset Blvd or La Cienega. Couldn't be happier. Seattle is the right steward for it. read more

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Delicious 3 course meal with wine pairing during restaurant week! Nice atmosphere, though they could consider shortening the hanging lights...I bumped my head twice! Great service too!! read more

Lovely evening out, can't remember why we hadn't been in so long! Excellent service, imaginative cocktails. Comfy and warm dining area. Onion tart was the stand out, as was a creamy potato soup. Entrees were also very good. Will be back sooner! read more

We went here for restaurant week, and it did not disappoint. I had the asparagus salad and braised chicken, both were quite good. For the quality of the food (good), service was fast, and staff was helpful. Nice place to stop, but not the best. read more

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Here on the first day of Seattle Restaurant Week. Lots of people were actually there even before opening at 5pm. I made reservation 2 day prior at the opening time. It was a good idea as their parking lot was half empty I didn't have any problem. You know parking is always an issue in Seattle. My friend and I ordered soup/salad, iberico pork/cod, apple crisp from SRW menu. Both agreed they were all bland lacking complexity in flavor though ingredients were pretty fresh and generous portion. Unfortunately the plates were cold with warm food on them. They also show black edges from wear. It was good we shared main entree so we could try variety. It's not very common in the US to share dishes but pretty common in Japan. Restaurants there accommodate sharing by serving half each or offering additional plates. Anyways I enjoyed the ambiance of this restaurant very much. SRW menu starts at 35, the pork extra 15. read more

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This is consistently one of our favorite places. The food is outstanding and the service can't be beat. Skye, Gabriel, and Wyatt are great. The prices are also very reasonable for such a high end establishment. Very highly recommended! read more

Nell's has become our favorite go-to restaurant. Food is excellent, service is friendly and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is relaxing and quiet. read more

My wife and I were both looking forward to another amazing Seattle Restaurant Week meal at Nells's last night. I have to say that for the first time in many years of never missing this event, I was a bit dissapointed. The pork choice was quite fatty and I thought the MahiMahi on top of carrot purée an odd combination. Perhaps this is just a preference, but carrot purée reminds me of baby food. The soup and salad appetizers were quite good and the service was impeccable. I won't give up on Nell's, one of my favorite Seattle restaurants. I will be back for Restaurnt Week again in the spring. read more

This is a higher scale restaurant with delicious French style food. They have a wonderful duck leg confit in their menu, which is my favorite. It's hard to find a good confit duck leg in Seattle, and Nell's definitely nailed it. My husband ordered the beef cheek, which was wonderfully cooked as well. However, the service here was somewhat snuddy. My husband and I are middle aged, but we look younger than we actually are. The typical customers here that we noticed, are silver haired diners. I guess it has to do with the location with a high end old folks home next door. As a result, I think the servers here are not too interested in serving younger people with whatever their assumptions are on us. I heard a group of seniors leaving saying great service. Our experience was VERY different. Last night we went there for a date night meal. The appetizer, onion tart did not come out for 40 mins, and our entres did not come out for another 25 mins. The server offered us no apologies nor explanations, did not even refill water. The diners next to us sat down 20 mins after we ordered, and their entres came out the same time as ours. Hum.......some mixed up in the kitchen? Diners are not stupid, nor do younger looking people. We have eyes! I did not bother to confront nor ask the server because I did not want to spoil our date night mood. With this kind of service, somehow a 20% tip or above is expected. What a joke! Food is 5 stars, service is 0, so a 2.5 star in average for this well respected establishment. read more

Superb experience! Delectable meals (Trout, Sturgeon, Pork Loin, Lamb Chop, plus desserts); delicious cocktails; personable service. Nell's is wonderfully quiet - no background music - which allows great conversations without going hoarse yelling above the din. We have been a number of times over several years, and like to take out-of-town guests - a place visitors to Seattle would never hear about or find on their own. Thank you, Nell's, for another outstanding evening! read more

Great food and service in a wonderful location. The dining room is not overly packed, so holding a conversation is not difficult

From appetizers to dessert the food was exquisite. We had tuna tartare and calamari. The calamari melted in our mouths and the tuna had a refreshing pineapple salsa. For entrees we had the hanger steak and short ribs. Both were cooked to perfection and delicious. This was one of the best meals I have had in Seattle in several years. Our server was a wonderful guide to the skills of the chef. I wish I had gotten his name so we could give him recognition. It's a wonderful place for dinner and conversation. read more

Had an incredible experience from beginning to end thanks to our incredible server Gabriel who ushered us into great food suggestions as we tried some of Nell's greatest hits: The Steak, Cod, Beet Salad, and Calamari. The Caramel Chocolate dessert to finish it all off with ice cream was exceptional. Thanks again Gabriel! read more

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My wife and I went to Nell's last night for our first time. We drove 26 miles from our home in S. King County, and let me tell you, it was worth every mile. This little, unassuming restaurant with the antiquated decor, "Best Restaurant 2010" sticker on the door, and half burned-out neon sign has instead put their energy into the creativity and quality of their food and the hiring of a truly professional staff. We ordered the Winter Tasting Menu with a bottle of "reasonably-priced" Burgundy and then sat stunned staring at each other and smiling as each course came out better than the last. Steelhead with pickled root vegetables completely on point and delicious; cherry tomato risotto with a fresh chiffonade of basil and the perfect amount of Parmegiano; absolutely perfectly cooked pork loin--not dry at all, nor undercooked--served with butternut squash medallions and Brussels sprouts and a plate-licking-worthy sauce; a cheese course; and finished with crème brûlée with fresh raspberries hiding under the crust. Nell's is obviously a favorite with the locals, as we saw plenty of them pouring in for dinner, meeting their friends, embracing warmly, then ordering multiple bottles of great wine and generally enlivening the place with the sweet sound of camaraderie, laughter, and joy. It has been quite a while since I've heard that. I was under the impression that dining out was a dying pleasure, but I don't think Nell's or this little corner of the world has gotten the message. read more

Seattle restaurant week is coming！ our first dinner in Nells with 3course 35 dollar set its small but cozy with a view of the greenlake. People are friendly spanich salad is delicious with cream and sweet pumpkin and the pumpkin soup is smooth with some to chew. Pork with apple is good because the pork is so tender that you can see the pink texture in the middle of it. Cod is fresh and the outside is crispy, the side dish with cabbage and mashed potatoes is juicy and creamy so that the whole dish will not be too dry , which reach a balance. As to desert I really prefer the chocolate brownie with ice cream, it is not that sweet than the other. Overall, I enjoyed meal there. read more

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I love Nell's. Phil is so entirely likeable and he runs a crew that are friendly and flexible. The food is excellent - everything, really - and on the more reasonable side for the quality and ingredients. The risotto is always a winner, as is the onion tart. Phil knows wine and champagne so the drink menu is likely going to be a winner. read more

This is a restaurant that can stop time...nothing had really changed since my visit with a pastry classmate 17 years ago. A college friend made dinner reservations on 11/1/17 for Seattle Restaurant Week. Nice to see that Nell's has staying power, clearly has the formula down pat that other restaurants don't. It was a long day from work and I took some time to decompress at another Tangletown café before heading down to Nell's for the reservation. Took awhile to circle around for parking as the immediate lot was full. I ended up with street parking next to the Hearthstone by Green Lake. The restaurant was full when I arrived, sure felt underdressed coming straight from work as I was brought to a two top on the other side of the bar. The college friend arrived shortly thereafter, also of the same mindset killing time at the nearby Peet's Coffee. I'll be brief with the three course rundown from my feeble memory from this visit 9 days ago: Both of us stuck with ice water and enjoyed the two kinds of Macrina bread and sweet butter provided. College Friend had an apple starter salad, Coq au Vin, and pear buttermilk cake. Me - I had the Potato Leek soup (meh), NY Steak with root veg (sadly sinewy but perfectly medium rare beef), and their chocolate tart with strawberries (underwhelming - but a big portion). Decent, unobtrusive service. Oddly placed two top. Ample portions and eye pleasing plating of each course. However, the restaurant environment was very sedate and reserved; clearly had the niche of serving an older clientele. In contrast to the other SRW restaurants I dined at during this autumn's campaign: Derby was ear splitting, trendy, Nell's was library quiet, and both Vendemmia and Cantinetta were 'Goldilocks just right' environment for me. For the Green Lake vicinity, I'd be more partial to Duke's across the lake or a handful of other restaurants in the Tangletown and Latona area instead. read more

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I looked forward to dinner at this well known, well regarded restaurant. Their website reads "Nell's is an intimate, chef-owned restaurant located...". It is not intimate, it is one large room with a strip mall feeling. If the weather is nice, recommend sitting outside. Simple cocktails and wines by the glass were good. Tomato risotto was loose and oversalted, not the creamy loveliness I anticipated. Good quality, good cut, good prepared steak. Good veggies. Good fish. Desserts looked great on the menu, not great flavor. Service was a little awkward. Perhaps this was an off night, perhaps they are resting on their laurels, perhaps my expectations were too high... it was food, it was hot, it was priced right. *** read more

I visited Nell's for the first time in many years and had a wonderful experience. The food was fantastic - truly some of the best dishes I've had (I in particular loved the fettuccini and the peach crisp with lavender ice cream dessert!). Additionally, the service was fantastic. Gabriel made several recommendations which turned out to be great, and Sky made several fun visits to my table as well, which helped create a fun and wonderful experience. I loved my visit! read more

My husband and I went to Nell's for our anniversary yesterday, and everything was absolutely incredible. I ordered the August tasting menu, and my husband ordered the halibut. The food was so good, with obviously fresh ingredients and thoughtful preparation. The mixed drink I ordered was also beautifully made and delicious. As for everything aside from the food: All the hosts were masked up, and tables were far apart. The proximity to Greenlake (right across the street!) meant it was easy for us to take an after-dinner stroll around the lake, which is always lovely. Parking, both street and in the lot was surprisingly easy for the neighborhood, considering there were so many folks out enjoying the summer evening at the lake. We loved it and will return for special occasions for certain! read more

Unfortunately not a huge fan of this place. It's way, way too expensive for the service and quality of food. We came for SRW so I thought the portions were small because of that, but we went to like 5+ other restaurants too for SRW and they all provided full sized entrees and appetizers. There was a bug looking creature in my wine glass and the waiter refused to replace it and said it was part of the cork, but it wasn't. The portions like I said were tiny and the food wasn't anything special. I got the pork chops and they lacked flavor and were pretty dry. We hadn't been for several years and thought we'd give it another shot but that will probably be my last time. read more

Nell's was my first Seattle Restaurant Week (SRW) experience and it surely surpassed my expectations! For SRW, you can pick 1 appetizer, entree, and dessert for only $33. The wine pairing option is also available for additional $19. *Grilled Octopus What a surprising treat! Each component of the dish had distinct taste. The savory octopus was seasoned nicely and tender, the leek confit was sweet, and the roasted carrot was tangy. This was a small plate with big explosion of flavors! *Grilled Hanger Steak This was the first time I truly enjoy medium rare steak. Very juicy and tender with a smoky aftertaste. The balsamic jus complemented the steak really well! The rapini and parsnip puree were also nice additions to the dish! *Red Wine Poached Bosc Pear I've never had this but wow I think I need to start getting this regularly! You can taste the natural sweetness of the pear and the wine blending well together. The subtle yet flavorful homemade goat cheese ice cream balanced the sweetness of the pear, making it a refreshing and irresistible dessert! I also wish they would sell the goat cheese ice cream in pints, it is that good! Throughout our meal, our server was really attentive and cordial. Overall, my dining experience here was impeccable and I can't wait to come back for their non-SRW menu! read more

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WOW! What a great place. Refined, delicious food and lovely ambiance. The service was a bit slow but it wasn't a problem to luxuriate over such a fine meal. read more

We had planned a celebratory dinner over a year ago then bam Covid. So how cool was it to make a trip back to Seattle and have Nell's be open. And it was just wonderful. Started with a martini and oysters, moved to salad and, who can pass up on the sweetbreads. And never ever pass up dessert at Nell's. The room is still lovely, the seating ample, and the service is always and certainly continues to be a pleasure. You know, profession but warm and never stuffy. Our guests were super happy and a bit surprised to have our server tailor our veg guests's selections. Yes it's still one of my favorite places to eat. Love it. And so will you, just do it. Highly recommended. read more

Wow, this place was a very pleasant surprise!! We have walked by Nell's countless times and honestly didn't pay it much mins - it kind of looked like an older place and we had never really heard much about it. We decided to give it a try for Seattle restaurant week and couldn't have had a better experience. The food was incredible!! We will definitely be coming back soon. read more

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Excellent food, charming decor and nice waitstaff. I had the braised beef cheeks which were very tender and flavorful. Tye coffee was excellent. My appetizer (sweet onion tart) was delicious. Capping it all was the dessert- strawberry rhubarb crumble with amazing ginger ice cream. I definitely want to go back. read more

Had a lovely solo dinner here. Service was attentive and good. Food was upscale and delicious. I had the salad and risotto. They serve two kinds of delicious warm bread with the meal. It's a little on the expensive side but the calm, upscale atmosphere was worth it. The people inside seemed like the neighborhood privileged. The people working there were very welcoming but the other patrons not. That may have been a one off; I'll definitely try it again. read more

Went to Nell's for Seattle Restaurant Week and boy was it a treat! We ordered the wine pairing to go with our meal, which was a great deal at $19.50 for 3, 5 ounce pours. We both ordered the grilled octopus starter, the meat was tender and well paired with pickled vegetables and a flavorful sauce. I ordered the Cod entree and my date the hangar steak. The cod was tender and light, very filling. The steak was a little tough, yet good. For dessert we had the apple crisp and brownie. Both were very good. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the wines and helpful when ordering. The wine pairing had quality wines that were very good. A great dinner deal, would absolutely return and recommend! read more

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The atmosphere of this restaurant is lovely for mature adults. Peaceful and quiet. Service was great. Food portions are much too small. The food is delicious. Onion tart as an appetizer was as wonderful as it always is. read more

I was not super impressed by this place. The restaurant and parking lot are very small. Ambiance was quaint and romantic. The service was great! Can be considered casual dining or you could go dressed up as well. It was packed with gray haired folks (no offense). We were definitely the youngest couple in there. The wine list was quite impressive. I tried the wine pairing for my entree and it was an amazing red blend of Malbec, Cabernet, and something else. Yumm! They had $2000 bottles on the wine list. Whoa! I dropped in for date night as a first-timer for Restaurant Week 2018 and enjoyed the experience. We both ordered from the 3-course special SRW menu. I felt like the portions were very small. Though the food was delicious, I couldn't imagine paying full price for these items and leaving hungry, like we did. That's why i can't rate Nells a 5-star. I'd give it a 3.5 if it were possible. All the dishes came out fast and beautifully plated! My thoughts: - Complimentary bread & softened butter - without this I would've been highly disappointed in Nell's because our dishes were so small this was really needed. 2 types of fresh bread. Yumm! - Octopus - This appetizer was really good. The octopus was cooked to perfection. Tender and not chewy at all. There was a strong smokey flavor that was a bit overpowering, but it was still quite good. Dish was incredibly tiny. I maybe got only 3-4 small legs of protein and some veggies. - Pork Shoulder (or was it lamb? I forgot) - My entree was decent sized, but my dates hanger steak entree was really tiny. His sauce was amazing though. My meat was tender and the brussels were very well cooked. Dish had really good flavor! I give this dish 5-stars! - Poached pear dessert - This dessert was the perfect finishing touch. It was unique and delicious and not overly sweet. The crisp brie added a nice savory flavor to balance out the sweetness. All the food was good, but I would not recommend coming here super hungry. I'm not super excited to go back here. read more

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The good, the bad, and the ugly. So the things I like about this place are the lovely view of Green Lake from the restaurant. Getting a reservation is pretty easy and they can be accommodating to people with disabilities and helpful in getting the wheelchair in and out. The food is really good, but I wouldn't say it's superb. I enjoyed my drink as well, so they can pour a good & strong cocktail. Also, I love, love, love that they have a parking lot. Although the last time I came, it was during restaurant week and the lot was full so it took me 10 min of driving around Green Lake to find a spot. Great safe neighborhood that it's in and very mellow relaxing feel to the restaurant. The only bad things are that it's a bit pricey for the size and quality of what they are offering, and that service is typically slow. So I guess if you want a place that you can lounge at & spend a lot of time talking, they won't rush you and this would be the perfect place. If you're in a hurry, this is the wrong place to be. The ugly? Ok there really is no ugly. It's a lovely little restaurant. Overall, I really enjoy it but can't say it's one of my favorites. Would definitely come back though. read more

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A friend took me here & I was not disappointed. I was underdressed, so it definitely has the date night vibes. We came on a sunny afternoon & it was perfect in front of Greenlake. Free parking! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Hanger steak, lillet cocktail The risotto, calamari, & hanger steak were all delicious. They have a tasting menu for about $55, which I want to return to try. I saw it comes with a full course. We left with some sorbet for dessert, which was unique. The mango was amazing. Portions are healthy. Flavors are satisfying. The venue is quaint. Service is delightful. read more

Nell's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Seattle restaurant week 2020 takeout edition was great. Thought out meals that travel well and not lacking on flavor and balance. Paired beautifully with the bottle of wine we got as well! Will go back. read more

Nell's Restaurant - Seattle restaurant week 2020 takeout style at Nell's! Cod and rissoto options, both delish. My favorite was the roasted radishes - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My favorite restaurant for enjoying the company of your dinner companion. You can have a conversation at a table of 6 which is impossible in most Seattle restaurants. Food is reliably good, especially vegetables, fish and their iconic onion tart. read more

I came here with my friend for Restaurant Week so the review may be a little biased because we chose from the set menu. I had never noticed this place driving around Greenlake, to my surprise. But this place is pretty cute and I like that they have a parking lot. Makes life way more convenient - but it's small so be warned. Service was spectacular! The food was divine as well; we both ordered the same three dishes... lame, I know, but it sounded the tastiest at the time. We had mussels, steak and the brownie with vanilla ice cream... mmm... I am drooling as I think about the food. They also have a wine selection but we opted for pale ales. They were excellent and I normally don't even order beer. $4 beer for a night after work? Heck yeah, why not. The crowd does seem a bit older... even when it was restaurant week so I assume that might be the norm. But I really enjoyed the open kitchen area where diners could see what the chefs were doing. But it did get a little distracting when I saw when the dishes were ready because I would get antsy anticipating my food. read more

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Such a relaxing vibe with a nice view of green lake. Love the classic atmosphere! Classy, but not pretentious. Amazing wine and food. Had a romantic dinner with the husband. Our waiter, Dan, was prompt, knowledgeable, and attentive. We can't wait to come back! read more

Unfortunately this wonderful restaurant is NO MORE. Food preparation and quality is not what it used to be. Second time we are disappointed. No more. read more