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Nodding Donkey Bar

4.4 (10 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
Updated 2 months ago

Nodding Donkey Bar Photos

NODDING DONKEY BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Outdoor seating

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the donk
Kaitlin K.

TLDR: local spot STAFF is amazing. sydney is one of the best bartenders. she's super sweet and knowledgeable, with attentive/fast service! the donk looks good after the the remodel, great food, solid selection, location and i always miss it but they do have karaoke!! and i think live music every now and then? over all the donk is your spot for welcome local vibes without the headache of downtown. the fact it's right next door to the pot shop is also convenient haha ;) definitely a go to when in the burg. thanks for the good times, food and service noddin donkey!

Lemon drop martini and the menu!
Arline S.

Yum! The menu items are puzzling to understand if you are only reading them online, they have a whole car theme! Now it makes sense! I dont know if Route 66 comes up through Ellensbug, WA but what a fun idea! Staff is happy to be here, they get along well which is really nice to hear them affirming and appreciating each other's efforts, a very welcoming place indeed. Daily specials, really interesting menu items; I'm having the Lead Sled, again, puzzling to read that online, makes perfect sense once you get in here. Variety of newspapers you can peruse while here; adds to the welcoming setting. Dont rush, settle in and enjoy your time at this quirky little hot spot. Outdoor as well as indoor dining, plus delivery. Walking distance from the major truck stops in the area, (although WA state doesn't seem so pedestrian friendly. People here drive like cops: fast, reckless & they don't care who they kill.) They accomodate weird requests without resistance or prying, which is wonderful when you have food allergies. Food is amazing as well. As beautiful as well as tasty.

The nodding Donkey

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5 months ago

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9 months ago

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7 years ago

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8 years ago

Amazing first time experience. Not what I had originally expected. But fantastic service from our amazing waitress and great food as well.

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The Pearl Bar & Grill - 2024.07.06. The Pearl Bar & Grill - Ellensburg, WA

The Pearl Bar & Grill

4.3(189 reviews)
1.4 mi

WOW! Found this gem while traveling through Ellensburg. What a find!! Our waiter gave us a few…read moresuggestions in each section. We ordered the Pearl Mac & Cheese and the Black & Blue burger. They were both SO tasty!! Heavenly! And the staff were very friendly! Can't wait to pass through Ellensburg again.

Omg. That food was so good!!…read more Hubby got the tenderloin and loved it which is super rare for him to say about steak when he eats out. It came with mashed potatoes and green beans, and had Gorgonzola cheese, as well as bacon chunks and mushrooms spread all over the steak. Meat was very tender and cooked exactly like he likes it which is medium rare. Portions of everything were generous. He also got a Caesar salad which he enjoyed but would ask for light dressing on it next time since it was way too much dressing My son got a basic burger. He thought it was very good but would prefer the Patti be a little shorter and wider than taller and less wide. The sandwiches and burgers don't come with sides which is weird. So we ordered the french fries to share. They're my very favorite type - medium thickness (1cm x 1cm), long, crispy but doesn't break when you bend it and not oily at all I had the BLT with avocado and pesto aioli sandwich but I made it into a grilled chicken burger. It was very good and the bacon there is amazing. So thick but not overly greasy either. And not fatty. Amazing flavor. Plus the walls are old brick and we love brick so really enjoyed the setting Great service too. He knew the menu really well and was always there when we needed him. Very friendly. I could tell he likes his job. We will be going back!

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The Pearl Bar & Grill
The Pearl Bar & Grill - 2024.07.06. The Pearl Bar & Grill - Ellensburg, WA

2024.07.06. The Pearl Bar & Grill - Ellensburg, WA

The Pearl Bar & Grill - 2024.07.06. The Pearl Bar & Grill - Ellensburg, WA

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2024.07.06. The Pearl Bar & Grill - Ellensburg, WA

The Early Bird - Sausage scramble bowl

The Early Bird

4.4(334 reviews)
1.3 mi
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The Early Bird -- a truly great, innovative restaurant that is a must-stop if you're passing…read morethrough Ellensburg. I'm lucky to live here so I get to go at least once a month. While every dish is an eating experience, the Early Bird has monthly specials that are as unique as they are wonderful. The only problem: they only exist for that month (although manager Erica tells me they occasionally have made a monthly special a permanent fixture). Come early or late on weekends -- The Early Bird is often difficult to snag a table, especially on Sunday mornings and in the winter when they don't use their outdoor dining area. Also: their adjacent sister eatery, the Night Owl, is a similarly high-quality Korean restaurant.

In this case, the early bird most definitely gets the worm…read more I visited this local cafe after seeing Rufus Du Sol at the Gorge. Unfortunately for me, many other concert goers had the same Sunday morning plan. While The Early Bird is delicious, it's by no means speedy. We originally received a 45-minute wait for takeout, but ended up waiting closer to 75-minutes. My order consisted of the Eggs Benedict bowl with the veggie medley, monkey bread, and a hazelnut iced latte. The perfect cure after a night of debauchery. You can tell they're doing their best to manage crowd control, especially the morning after a popular concert. Something to note is that you must have a table secured before ordering food. They don't let you order and wait to be seated to help lessen the crowding. Pro tip: the city park behind this building is much better spot to wait for your food. There's seating and even private bathrooms - a god-send after a night of camping at the Gorge.

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The Early Bird - Inside

Inside

The Early Bird - Morning salad

Morning salad

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Kids waffle and scrambled eggs with avocado

Nodding Donkey Bar - bars - Updated October 2026

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