Needless to say, given the weight for a reservation time being a month out in advance, that I had high expectations of this restaurant. That was a mistake, because my expectations were tempered by the food that was served there. Now I’m no fine dining snob, but if I’m spending $30-$40 per dish, and with the portion size being as small as it is, i’m expecting no less than the best. And that, unfortunately, is not what I got from the food. We ordered the Focaccia, Tagliatelle a Nido, and Fazzoletto, dishes that were praised in other Google reviews. Don’t get me wrong. The focaccia was actually pretty good, though the crust was a little hard. The dipping sauce was really nice and solid. It’s an olive oil dip with roasted garlic and spices. However, it was not worth the price. The Tagliatelle a Nido tastes almost exactly like what you can get at Due Cucina (Short Ribs Ragu), except slightly worse because the pasta is cooked beyond al dente. Also, at Due Cucina, you can customize the pasta shape, how well the pasta is cooked, etc. Sure, it’s no fine dining, but it tastes almost the same if not even better. For the Fazzoletto, the flavors are definitely something I haven’t tried before; the mushroom ragu is very good and the parmigiano flavor complements it really well. I like to think of this dish as a deconstructed ravioli. Unfortunately, with the olive oil and egg yolk, the dish was so rich that my partner could barely finish it, and felt discomfort in her stomach afterwards. Overall, I believe that Il Nido is overhyped, and I’d rather order something from Due Cucina where the price of dishes are 1/3 of what they are here and are of the same or better quality.
Il Nido
Excerpts
Needless to say, given the weight for a reservation time being a month out in advance, that I had high expectations of this restaurant. That was a mistake, because my expectations were tempered by the food that was served there. Now I’m no fine dining snob, but if I’m spending $30-$40 per dish, and with the portion size being as small as it is, i’m expecting no less than the best. And that, unfortunately, is not what I got from the food. We ordered the Focaccia, Tagliatelle a Nido, and Fazzoletto, dishes that were praised in other Google reviews. Don’t get me wrong. The focaccia was actually pretty good, though the crust was a little hard. The dipping sauce was really nice and solid. It’s an olive oil dip with roasted garlic and spices. However, it was not worth the price. The Tagliatelle a Nido tastes almost exactly like what you can get at Due Cucina (Short Ribs Ragu), except slightly worse because the pasta is cooked beyond al dente. Also, at Due Cucina, you can customize the pasta shape, how well the pasta is cooked, etc. Sure, it’s no fine dining, but it tastes almost the same if not even better. For the Fazzoletto, the flavors are definitely something I haven’t tried before; the mushroom ragu is very good and the parmigiano flavor complements it really well. I like to think of this dish as a deconstructed ravioli. Unfortunately, with the olive oil and egg yolk, the dish was so rich that my partner could barely finish it, and felt discomfort in her stomach afterwards. Overall, I believe that Il Nido is overhyped, and I’d rather order something from Due Cucina where the price of dishes are 1/3 of what they are here and are of the same or better quality.
My cousin hosted a private event here earlier this year and Il Nido provided excellent service and incredible food! Every dish from the breads, the pastas, the salads, the desserts all were delicious. The service was also impeccable. We had various food allergies at our table and each was accommodated with their own unique dishes that were in line with their needs. The owner was attentive and friendly as was all the staff. Their presence was much appreciated and when asked all of them recommended drinks that delighted everyone! I'd recommend Il Nido for a tasty night out or a private event without any hesitation.
My cousin hosted a private event here earlier this year and Il Nido provided excellent service and incredible food! Every dish from the breads, the pastas, the salads, the desserts all were delicious. The service was also impeccable. We had various food allergies at our table and each was accommodated with their own unique dishes that were in line with their needs. The owner was attentive and friendly as was all the staff. Their presence was much appreciated and when asked all of them recommended drinks that delighted everyone! I'd recommend Il Nido for a tasty night out or a private event without any hesitation.
What a wonderful experience! Impeccable service during the 7:45pm reservation on 2/21–table 35 (our receipt says we were sat with Linda, but for some reason I think her name was Robin). The focaccia was an excellent start, the 12oz cap ribeye was amazing, but the star was the limon butter pasta. Wow, didn’t think any other spot in seattle could compete with Spinasse on pasta. Il nido exceeded on the overall experience and atmosphere. Dinner was complemented with an excellent and reasonably priced amarone which is a rarity. Overall excellent experience and can’t wait to return!