It was truly the best dining experience I’ve ever had. Beyond the amazing flavors of all the dishes, I liked: - casual atmosphere - hospitality and great service, there are only 12 seats, so you feel like you’re at a private event - because of the way the menu is built, you don’t wait for the food, once you finish one dish, they bring you the next one - very family-like/friendly atmosphere of seating together at a big table and enjoying great food - stories from the chef about each dish - every dish has a unique plate and style - 13-course menu for 125 per person is such a great deal
Thank you for preparing such a great dinner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mariah Vande Berg
They were soooo laid back and funny, totally unexpected considering the INCREDIBLE food we ate! They are the furthest thing from pretentious and really know what they are doing! Please experience for yourself!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Susie Hahn
Nook was a fabulous experience. The food was unbelievable! The service was also fantastic. Phenomenal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Skyler Van Dyke
Yup, it is that good.
Can’t overstate how blown away by the dishes I was, the food alone makes it a must experience. Also absolutely adored the staff and the atmosphere, they do a fantastic job creating a welcoming & relaxed environment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matt A
Nook is an experience - there is no other way to explain it.The passion the staff have for food and service is evident in every detail.We had 13 courses total for our seating, and left completely full, even after not completely eating every course. Opted for the beverage pairing, which was generally good. The sake was the only thing I didn't enjoy, and even then, that's on me.The risotto shall haunt my dreams for as long as I live, in the best way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bryce Podgorsek
I've been to many tasting menus around the states. I've found some incredible places, but there are a few restaurants that go beyond excellence and Nook is one of them. Nook is special. Not only is their food top-notch, but the environment they've created is truly unique and memorable. This is unlike any other tasting menu I've been to. The staff is so much fun and so friendly, elevating the dinner that much fuether. The courses are unique and don't lack on flavor. If you're lucky, youll be sat next to other friendly strangers and get to share in the exciting dinner with other good company. I could not give Nook a higher recommendation. If you're able to snag a ticket, do it, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind dinner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Devon Maier
I can't imagine a better dining experience: fun, delicious, comfortable. A true representation of the Wisconsin culinary scene. Fresh ingredients highlighted by an imaginative menu that maintains approachability over attitude. The chefs and family make you feel like you're dining in their kitchen. I went in with high expectations from friends, but was absolutely blown away.Seriously wish I had something bad to say to discourage folks from taking up all the reservations, but please go. A proud Wisconsin experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anna Lutz
A flavor explosion paired with a fun atmosphere and talented hosts. Laid back Midwest environment with artistic food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thomas Leffler
Hard to give a rating - I want it to be 5 stars, and for Madison it perhaps is, but when comparing versus similar price points in major food cities around the country or in Europe - the food falls short.All the dishes were well presented and generally good, but there wasn’t really a standout, special dish - which at this price point is a disappointment. The dishes are comparable to other good restaurants in Madison, just in the form of a 13 course menu and a little extra creativity in some of them.Service and chef are exceedingly kind and good hosts, and the drink menu is good/unique and pairings matched well - so definite positives there.Constructive feedback for the restaurant would be to pair down the quantity served with each course a little bit and use that saved time/money/effort to introduce more ‘gastronomique’ refinement to the ingredients. The quantity can be a bit too much - we were served 4 dessert courses which were each about the size of a normal dessert plate elsewhere. This was far too much and took me from feeling comfortably full to just gorged and still ‘needing’ to eat a ton more super sweet dessert because it was next up on the course. Four times. Looking around, most of the guests were barely eating these desserts because it was just too much. Focusing more on the distribution of courses (a stronger balance towards lighter/whimsical courses at the beginning of the menu and having truly “unbutton my pants good” savory courses mid menu, and fewer, less sweet dessert courses) would really improve the pacing of the meal and give more flavor/textual/sensory variety to the meal as a whole.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jeanna Schultz
Delicious, beautiful, interesting food. Cozy atmosphere. Welcoming chef and team! Such a treat!
If you are looking for a fun dining experience, it is a fairly nice option. The vibe is pretty friendly and casual; the plating is beautiful. However, when it comes to food I feel like (at least for our menu) they tried to put too many strong flavors on one dish and these are not always balanced. Sometimes too salty, too sour, or too sweet. (Especially the Mac and Cheese with pine and pretzel, way too much salt!! I can appreciate very strong cheese but it should be paired with something plain, not melted entirely as a cream sauce where the high salt almost tasted bitter and caused dizziness.) Among the 12 dishes, 2/12 really good appetizers raised expectations and 6/12 tasted OK, except that 1/12 was uneatable, 3/12 were a little disappointed concerning the flavor. I mean, it's definitely not a bad place as a cozy & creative family-owned restaurant, but it do need re-polishing for the menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cream Puff, Thin Crust Pizza
Eric Ristau
Amazing. Perhaps the best meal I've ever had in Madison! Chef was entertaining and informative. Staff was attentive and very friendly. Highly recommend for a special night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jiho Kim
After several attempts, I finally succeeded in making a reservation! I went there to celebrate the start of my wife's semester. You can savor more than 10 menu items to your fill. Four or five desserts are served. My wife's favorite menu was venison (it had a unique flavor and good texture), cheese dish, and the egg dish that came out first. Overall, we were able to taste different dishes, but there were dishes that we thought were quite salty, and there were dishes that contained only one ingredient (cucumber salad - my wife barely ate it, but it was okay for me), so likes and dislikes may be strong. . All the food looks good. The owner explains the story and ingredients of each dish in a fun and friendly manner. I think they only accept about 12 people a day. Eating together in a room with other people. The dessert was delicious, but my wife was so full that she regretted not being able to eat it all. It was my first time drinking tea that was as green as miraculous seaweed and it tasted good. Overall, there were many dishes with unique flavors that I had never tried before, and many menu items were stimulating and memorable. It was an interesting experience.
Sam Markovich
I’ve been twice and food is the best I’ve ever had. Very nice people, both the service to the chefs. The whole experience is a great time, and I genuinely smiled nearly the whole time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul Sahy
One of the best culinary experiences you can have in the area.Our meal was a 14 course meal with wine parings. The food was excellent and brought your senses to life. Courses are colorful, artistic, fragrant, and come with a short story about the food and wine.The menu does change and many local foods are used.The staff is outstanding friendly and fun making the dinner atmosphere enjoyable by the room.One key feature is the small crowd size, our party had 12 people.The dishes are prepared in the open so you can watch and ask questions.
Dietary restrictions: They accomidatel
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Most Luscious Passion Fruit Tropical Coconut Panna Cotta Dessert Ever
It was truly the best dining experience I’ve ever had. Beyond the amazing flavors of all the dishes, I liked:
- casual atmosphere
- hospitality and great service, there are only 12 seats, so you feel like you’re at a private event
- because of the way the menu is built, you don’t wait for the food, once you finish one dish, they bring you the next one
- very family-like/friendly atmosphere of seating together at a big table and enjoying great food
- stories from the chef about each dish
- every dish has a unique plate and style
- 13-course menu for 125 per person is such a great deal
Thank you for preparing such a great dinner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They were soooo laid back and funny, totally unexpected considering the INCREDIBLE food we ate! They are the furthest thing from pretentious and really know what they are doing! Please experience for yourself!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nook was a fabulous experience. The food was unbelievable! The service was also fantastic. Phenomenal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yup, it is that good.
Can’t overstate how blown away by the dishes I was, the food alone makes it a must experience. Also absolutely adored the staff and the atmosphere, they do a fantastic job creating a welcoming & relaxed environment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nook is an experience - there is no other way to explain it.The passion the staff have for food and service is evident in every detail.We had 13 courses total for our seating, and left completely full, even after not completely eating every course. Opted for the beverage pairing, which was generally good. The sake was the only thing I didn't enjoy, and even then, that's on me.The risotto shall haunt my dreams for as long as I live, in the best way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've been to many tasting menus around the states. I've found some incredible places, but there are a few restaurants that go beyond excellence and Nook is one of them. Nook is special. Not only is their food top-notch, but the environment they've created is truly unique and memorable. This is unlike any other tasting menu I've been to. The staff is so much fun and so friendly, elevating the dinner that much fuether. The courses are unique and don't lack on flavor. If you're lucky, youll be sat next to other friendly strangers and get to share in the exciting dinner with other good company. I could not give Nook a higher recommendation. If you're able to snag a ticket, do it, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind dinner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I can't imagine a better dining experience: fun, delicious, comfortable. A true representation of the Wisconsin culinary scene. Fresh ingredients highlighted by an imaginative menu that maintains approachability over attitude. The chefs and family make you feel like you're dining in their kitchen. I went in with high expectations from friends, but was absolutely blown away.Seriously wish I had something bad to say to discourage folks from taking up all the reservations, but please go. A proud Wisconsin experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A flavor explosion paired with a fun atmosphere and talented hosts. Laid back Midwest environment with artistic food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hard to give a rating - I want it to be 5 stars, and for Madison it perhaps is, but when comparing versus similar price points in major food cities around the country or in Europe - the food falls short.All the dishes were well presented and generally good, but there wasn’t really a standout, special dish - which at this price point is a disappointment. The dishes are comparable to other good restaurants in Madison, just in the form of a 13 course menu and a little extra creativity in some of them.Service and chef are exceedingly kind and good hosts, and the drink menu is good/unique and pairings matched well - so definite positives there.Constructive feedback for the restaurant would be to pair down the quantity served with each course a little bit and use that saved time/money/effort to introduce more ‘gastronomique’ refinement to the ingredients. The quantity can be a bit too much - we were served 4 dessert courses which were each about the size of a normal dessert plate elsewhere. This was far too much and took me from feeling comfortably full to just gorged and still ‘needing’ to eat a ton more super sweet dessert because it was next up on the course. Four times. Looking around, most of the guests were barely eating these desserts because it was just too much. Focusing more on the distribution of courses (a stronger balance towards lighter/whimsical courses at the beginning of the menu and having truly “unbutton my pants good” savory courses mid menu, and fewer, less sweet dessert courses) would really improve the pacing of the meal and give more flavor/textual/sensory variety to the meal as a whole.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Delicious, beautiful, interesting food. Cozy atmosphere. Welcoming chef and team! Such a treat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
If you are looking for a fun dining experience, it is a fairly nice option. The vibe is pretty friendly and casual; the plating is beautiful. However, when it comes to food I feel like (at least for our menu) they tried to put too many strong flavors on one dish and these are not always balanced. Sometimes too salty, too sour, or too sweet. (Especially the Mac and Cheese with pine and pretzel, way too much salt!! I can appreciate very strong cheese but it should be paired with something plain, not melted entirely as a cream sauce where the high salt almost tasted bitter and caused dizziness.) Among the 12 dishes, 2/12 really good appetizers raised expectations and 6/12 tasted OK, except that 1/12 was uneatable, 3/12 were a little disappointed concerning the flavor. I mean, it's definitely not a bad place as a cozy & creative family-owned restaurant, but it do need re-polishing for the menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cream Puff, Thin Crust Pizza
Amazing. Perhaps the best meal I've ever had in Madison! Chef was entertaining and informative. Staff was attentive and very friendly. Highly recommend for a special night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
After several attempts, I finally succeeded in making a reservation! I went there to celebrate the start of my wife's semester. You can savor more than 10 menu items to your fill. Four or five desserts are served. My wife's favorite menu was venison (it had a unique flavor and good texture), cheese dish, and the egg dish that came out first. Overall, we were able to taste different dishes, but there were dishes that we thought were quite salty, and there were dishes that contained only one ingredient (cucumber salad - my wife barely ate it, but it was okay for me), so likes and dislikes may be strong. . All the food looks good. The owner explains the story and ingredients of each dish in a fun and friendly manner. I think they only accept about 12 people a day. Eating together in a room with other people. The dessert was delicious, but my wife was so full that she regretted not being able to eat it all. It was my first time drinking tea that was as green as miraculous seaweed and it tasted good. Overall, there were many dishes with unique flavors that I had never tried before, and many menu items were stimulating and memorable. It was an interesting experience.
I’ve been twice and food is the best I’ve ever had. Very nice people, both the service to the chefs. The whole experience is a great time, and I genuinely smiled nearly the whole time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best culinary experiences you can have in the area.Our meal was a 14 course meal with wine parings. The food was excellent and brought your senses to life. Courses are colorful, artistic, fragrant, and come with a short story about the food and wine.The menu does change and many local foods are used.The staff is outstanding friendly and fun making the dinner atmosphere enjoyable by the room.One key feature is the small crowd size, our party had 12 people.The dishes are prepared in the open so you can watch and ask questions.
Dietary restrictions: They accomidatel
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Most Luscious Passion Fruit Tropical Coconut Panna Cotta Dessert Ever
Loading...