Nell Thorn the great restaurant, is back! As you saw, bad times under new management (2019-2023) but they seem to have finally gotten it ‘back’ to being a fine dining restaurant we frequent AND will take visitors to. Experienced wait staff that are not hovering or over-sharing about their lives, as you saw in other reviews. Food is back up to par. Bread you pay extra for is to die for. Get some. You won’t regret it. Cocktails and beer-wine selection is top notch. I urge you to try it again if you’re a previous fan who gave up on them after bad experiences. We’re back to being big fans.
529benedettop
What is this place doing in such a little town? It's a very good restaurant. I wish my town--Vancouver, BC--had a restaurant like this. I had a simple dinner--pasta and a glass of wine. The pasta--penne arrabiata--was excellent. Home-made and perfectly cooked. It could have been spicier, but I think they are afraid of overheating the tongues of the tourists who visit the town. The wine I had, a Nebbiolo, was wonderful and not expensive. Staff are friendly, if not particularly urbane, but I prefer that to the food snob who hands over a dish of mediocre food. This food was wonderful.
J2938ILrichardm
We found this place by chance as we wandered around La Conner as a side trip of a Puget Sound cruise. We were looking for oysters on the half shell because the ship didn't have any, and the Northwest is famous for them. Nell Thorn had super oysters harvested from an inlet we could see from our table. They were delicious.
Portobello B
I live in Seattle and love visiting LaConner for a girls day of shopping and dining. Nell Thorn Bistro is my favorite restaurant and I have never been disappointed in any thing I’ve ordered. What most people who have never tried this place don’t know is that they have a small deck behind the restaurant that is dog friendly. It was a perfect place for us to have lunch as my friend has a 3 month small puppy. We enjoyed great salads, fabulous cocktail and dessert. Nell Thorn supports their community farmers so always uses the fresher ingredients. Be sure to make reservation as they can be very busy. The interior restaurant is also nice and the lower section of the restaurant has a view of the river. Service was very attentive by host and staff.
Mobile05278935220
Wonderful view, service, and menu. My husband enjoyed his local Penn Cove muscles. Their bread is heavenly. The price is about typical for the area. We dined outside, but the inside was nice too. Cute little bar.
sheriw914
Nell Thorn Waterfront Bistro & Bar is beautifully situated in downtown La Conner, making it the perfect spot for a memorable lunch or dinner. I had the pleasure of dining here with my oldest and dearest friend while catching up during my visit for my nephew's wedding—it couldn't have been a better choice for our reunion. The restaurant offers reasonable prices and exceptional farm-to-table cuisine that truly stands out. Having tried many farm-to-table establishments, I can confidently say this ranks among the very best. What impressed me most was the staff's thoughtfulness and hospitality. Understanding that we were catching up after living in different states, they graciously allowed us to linger for hours—from our noon arrival until nearly dinnertime when dinner reservations began. Throughout our extended visit, they attentively kept our water glasses filled without ever making us feel rushed. I highly recommend Nell Thorn if you're visiting the La Conner area. The combination of excellent food, reasonable prices, stunning location, and outstanding service makes it a must-visit destination.
AndileeJordan
I've been going here for the last five years and somehow Nell Thorn has leveled up! The halibut was better this time than anytime before and believe me...that's saying a lot. This restaurant has been my favorite place this side of the Mississippi for years! Tonight, every single thing has been improved upon. The bread, phenomenal. Crunchy crust but a perfect texture on the inside. The oysters were cold, fresh, and shucked to order. The halibut was pan seared perfectly golden with a béchamel, served over Meyer lemon risotto. This dish could not be more balanced with the addition of the sweet peas. The ribeye is as perfect as always. Superb cut of meat, prepared perfectly, with a demi glaze and seasonal vegetables. To cap the evening off, the decadent cheesecake and huckleberry compote provided a rich and delicious "not overly sweet" combination with the perfect compliment of whipped cream. The crème brûlée boasted a creamy custard and perfectly burnt sugar top layer. Service is always impeccable. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who have been there for years. Ambiance is quiet. Nice but not formal, and very well decorated. I don't know how they keep getting better, but Nell Thorn has once again knocked it out of the park.
lanzie99
Best Salmon Caesar salad EVER….we wanted a lighter dinner and this was the perfect choice. You can really tell the difference with the lettuce being so fresh and crisp. The grilled salmon was a nice size portion and cooked to perfection. The restaurant was cute and the servers were all very friendly, decorated with tulips on all the tables. Next time we have to try something else, but we would go back for the exact meal…oh….and the yummy bread
N3463ZPjeanc
Bartender and chief went above and beyond. Because my daughter has major dietary issues, she usually is unable to participate in restaurants. They went out of their way to prepare a delicious meal for her. Their kindness did not go unnoticed.
Asia Citro
What a hidden gem for a perfectly cooked absolutely delightful meal. We have enjoyed both lunch and dinner here and highly recommend both!
I was told this was the best place to eat in town. It was good but not exceptional; except the bread. The bread was homemade sourdough and very fresh. I looked around at other dishes and didn't think any particular one looked better than any other. I had a salad with salmon. The salmon was high quality but nothing special just cooked.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Ellie McAllister
If your visiting La conner this restaurant is a must visit,our food was delicious the service was great!! I most definitely will go back to eat there!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shannon Thornton
Waterfront view, house made bread and pasta.
Kid-friendliness: They had a verbal kids menu, nothing printed. Meal was huge too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mr Kargo
I have been here twice within the past few months and it has become my new favorite date spot to go to with my wife. Great food, service, and ambiance. Huge plus the restaurant is right along a beautiful river. Fantastic spot. No pictures of food because it was that good to eat there was no pausing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee, Spaghetti Del Mar
Luke Lewis
Just moved into this sweet little town and went to get dinner with my family. What a great spot. Annie is absolutely precious. Lovely service and great food. Ribeye was delicious. Definitely will be back! ❤️ from Pie Dive.
Nell Thorn the great restaurant, is back! As you saw, bad times under new management (2019-2023) but they seem to have finally gotten it ‘back’ to being a fine dining restaurant we frequent AND will take visitors to. Experienced wait staff that are not hovering or over-sharing about their lives, as you saw in other reviews. Food is back up to par. Bread you pay extra for is to die for. Get some. You won’t regret it. Cocktails and beer-wine selection is top notch. I urge you to try it again if you’re a previous fan who gave up on them after bad experiences. We’re back to being big fans.
What is this place doing in such a little town? It's a very good restaurant. I wish my town--Vancouver, BC--had a restaurant like this. I had a simple dinner--pasta and a glass of wine. The pasta--penne arrabiata--was excellent. Home-made and perfectly cooked. It could have been spicier, but I think they are afraid of overheating the tongues of the tourists who visit the town. The wine I had, a Nebbiolo, was wonderful and not expensive. Staff are friendly, if not particularly urbane, but I prefer that to the food snob who hands over a dish of mediocre food. This food was wonderful.
We found this place by chance as we wandered around La Conner as a side trip of a Puget Sound cruise. We were looking for oysters on the half shell because the ship didn't have any, and the Northwest is famous for them. Nell Thorn had super oysters harvested from an inlet we could see from our table. They were delicious.
I live in Seattle and love visiting LaConner for a girls day of shopping and dining. Nell Thorn Bistro is my favorite restaurant and I have never been disappointed in any thing I’ve ordered. What most people who have never tried this place don’t know is that they have a small deck behind the restaurant that is dog friendly. It was a perfect place for us to have lunch as my friend has a 3 month small puppy. We enjoyed great salads, fabulous cocktail and dessert. Nell Thorn supports their community farmers so always uses the fresher ingredients. Be sure to make reservation as they can be very busy. The interior restaurant is also nice and the lower section of the restaurant has a view of the river. Service was very attentive by host and staff.
Wonderful view, service, and menu. My husband enjoyed his local Penn Cove muscles. Their bread is heavenly. The price is about typical for the area. We dined outside, but the inside was nice too. Cute little bar.
Nell Thorn Waterfront Bistro & Bar is beautifully situated in downtown La Conner, making it the perfect spot for a memorable lunch or dinner. I had the pleasure of dining here with my oldest and dearest friend while catching up during my visit for my nephew's wedding—it couldn't have been a better choice for our reunion. The restaurant offers reasonable prices and exceptional farm-to-table cuisine that truly stands out. Having tried many farm-to-table establishments, I can confidently say this ranks among the very best. What impressed me most was the staff's thoughtfulness and hospitality. Understanding that we were catching up after living in different states, they graciously allowed us to linger for hours—from our noon arrival until nearly dinnertime when dinner reservations began. Throughout our extended visit, they attentively kept our water glasses filled without ever making us feel rushed. I highly recommend Nell Thorn if you're visiting the La Conner area. The combination of excellent food, reasonable prices, stunning location, and outstanding service makes it a must-visit destination.
I've been going here for the last five years and somehow Nell Thorn has leveled up! The halibut was better this time than anytime before and believe me...that's saying a lot. This restaurant has been my favorite place this side of the Mississippi for years! Tonight, every single thing has been improved upon. The bread, phenomenal. Crunchy crust but a perfect texture on the inside. The oysters were cold, fresh, and shucked to order. The halibut was pan seared perfectly golden with a béchamel, served over Meyer lemon risotto. This dish could not be more balanced with the addition of the sweet peas. The ribeye is as perfect as always. Superb cut of meat, prepared perfectly, with a demi glaze and seasonal vegetables. To cap the evening off, the decadent cheesecake and huckleberry compote provided a rich and delicious "not overly sweet" combination with the perfect compliment of whipped cream. The crème brûlée boasted a creamy custard and perfectly burnt sugar top layer. Service is always impeccable. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who have been there for years. Ambiance is quiet. Nice but not formal, and very well decorated. I don't know how they keep getting better, but Nell Thorn has once again knocked it out of the park.
Best Salmon Caesar salad EVER….we wanted a lighter dinner and this was the perfect choice. You can really tell the difference with the lettuce being so fresh and crisp. The grilled salmon was a nice size portion and cooked to perfection. The restaurant was cute and the servers were all very friendly, decorated with tulips on all the tables. Next time we have to try something else, but we would go back for the exact meal…oh….and the yummy bread
Bartender and chief went above and beyond. Because my daughter has major dietary issues, she usually is unable to participate in restaurants. They went out of their way to prepare a delicious meal for her. Their kindness did not go unnoticed.
What a hidden gem for a perfectly cooked absolutely delightful meal. We have enjoyed both lunch and dinner here and highly recommend both!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I was told this was the best place to eat in town. It was good but not exceptional; except the bread. The bread was homemade sourdough and very fresh. I looked around at other dishes and didn't think any particular one looked better than any other. I had a salad with salmon. The salmon was high quality but nothing special just cooked.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
If your visiting La conner this restaurant is a must visit,our food was delicious the service was great!! I most definitely will go back to eat there!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Waterfront view, house made bread and pasta.
Kid-friendliness: They had a verbal kids menu, nothing printed. Meal was huge too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have been here twice within the past few months and it has become my new favorite date spot to go to with my wife. Great food, service, and ambiance. Huge plus the restaurant is right along a beautiful river. Fantastic spot. No pictures of food because it was that good to eat there was no pausing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee, Spaghetti Del Mar
Just moved into this sweet little town and went to get dinner with my family. What a great spot. Annie is absolutely precious. Lovely service and great food. Ribeye was delicious. Definitely will be back! ❤️ from Pie Dive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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