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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaiyan M
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
Mackerton D.
Tried for several months to get a reservation, and finally scored one while on vacation in Europe. The reservations open up at midnight on the first of every month, and fill up in less that one hour. All that aside...Nook offers a truly unique culinary experience. One big table of 14 people... 12-14 different "dishes" served throughout the evening...some absolutely delicious, others very interesting. The one big table leads to some lively table conversation. The chef(s) really make you feel the specialness of the experience. Overall excellent.
Sarah B.
Truly the best meal I have ever had! The creativity and execution was absolutely phenomenal.
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
Alesha Emmert
Truly amazing experience at Nook! We had incredible food, and while not every course was going to be our favorite (with 13 courses, how could they be!?), each course was interesting and kept us wanting to take more bites. The ambiance was the perfect blend of low-key and relaxed, while still providing effortless (from a dining perspective - the servers were putting in a LOT of effort!) top-notch service. An extra plus was my husband had to come 45 minutes late due to a last minute babysitter issue - Chef Noah and the Nook folks caught him up on all courses when he arrived, which was not at all expected but so so appreciated. We will definitely return on another special occasion date night. We'll be dreaming about the PB&J, pine bark, and squid courses for months to come!
?️?️?️?️?️ (IYKYK)At Nook, every bite is a pun-derful delight! With only 14 seats, it's like a cozy soup pot where everyone's simmering in good vibes.We came to celebrate our 12 year wedding anniversary, and Nook truly served up a slice of romantic perfection! We weren't just fed, we were whisked into an anniversary adventure. If you're looking to marinate in memories and garnish your special day with flavor, Nook's the place to be. We didn’t just celebrate; we savored every bite of the experience. Cheers to love and luscious dishes!Their take on PB&J? I have to spread the news about it; it’s utterly jam-packed with flavor! Over the course of 13 delectable courses, I wasn’t just full... I was stuffed with a buffet of emotions.The chef's recipe for success isn't just about seasoning the dishes right; it’s peppered with humor too. And the wait staff? They don't just serve food; they dish out an impeccable experience with a side of charm.So, if you're hungry for a place where the steaks are high and the puns are even higher, Nook’s the ultimate foodie destination. Remember, it’s not just about feeding the belly; it’s about whisking you away into a gastronomic journey! Go ahead and relish the Nook experience.Vegetarian options: You can request a vegetarian experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley S
My partner and I loved our experience here! I'm vegetarian and they were so thoughtful about alternatives for me. Near the end there were some plates I couldn't finish because I was so full. We also splurged on the wine pairings, which were fantastic. You can tell they're really passionate about food and family. It is expensive but we went to celebrate our 3-year wedding anniversary and it was 1000% worth it. Just be sure to read their FAQ's before booking so you know what to expect (and take the release time of the reservations seriously - I got on right at midnight and we barely squeezed in!). Thank you - we hope to be back next year!Vegetarian options: They adjusted their dishes in thoughtful ways - sometimes I go to places and they simply remove the meat, leaving everything else the same, but my meatless dishes had intentional alternatives and were absolutely delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kiro Chen
Food was fine, it was a tasting menu experience. They are really passionate about the food.You'll prob be surprised everytime you come here because their menu always changes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Erin O'Connell
This is a unique, intimate experience with one of the best chefs in Madison. It is in very high demand. Tickets require logging in at midnight on the first of the month to schedule a seating two months out; weekend tickets are gone within minutes, and the whole month is sold out within half an hour. About half of the group of 12 at our seating appeared to be regulars.This is primarily a “foodie” experience. If you are less of a regular foodie, be warned that 12 courses is a lot of food. Serving everyone the full sequence is baked into the communal dining experience (where everyone gets the same dish and then a full explanation is provided by the chef), but there are a couple of drawbacks. First, the entire group is paced by its slowest member, so this lasted around three hours. Second, there will probably be a few courses that are not to your liking, especially given the experimental ingredients here. And third, this is just too much food for a lot of people; it was about double what I am comfortable eating, even after fasting all day in preparation. (And these frankly work against each other: it is much harder to finish a dish you are not a fan of when you are already full and anticipating 6 more courses, and despite not wanting to insult the chef, we were not able to complete some of them. To the chef: sorry!) For us, this would have been a better experience if edited down to around 6 courses.The restaurant deserves a full 5 stars, however, because some of the dishes were among the best I have experienced in Madison. There is a creative use of plating, and an emphasis on texture and crunchy toppings that elevated each dish. The best dishes during our experience were a cold beef appetizer, a mushroom and wild rice soup, a quail entrée, and a phenomenal fresh chocolate bar with chilis and pistachios. (Please, please consider opening a gourmet chocolate shop on the side.)Everyone on staff was friendly and accommodating, and the atmosphere was as casual as promised. We love to dress comfortably when fine dining and were fans of the 1990s hip hop soundtrack. And we knew in advance that this would be a pricey experience (around $200 per person with drinks), but it is commensurate with the amount and variety of food that is served. I would highly recommend Nook to any foodie (they seem to be regulars here) and encourage anyone with an adventurous streak wanting to sample the best dining experiences that Madison has to offer.
Adam Hayes
The best restaurant in Wisconsin.Deserves a Michelin star, if you ask me, but I doubt they'd send a reviewer north of Chicago, unfortunately. Every time I've been, it's been a lovely experience with excellent food and friendly staff.
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
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
Tried for several months to get a reservation, and finally scored one while on vacation in Europe. The reservations open up at midnight on the first of every month, and fill up in less that one hour. All that aside...Nook offers a truly unique culinary experience. One big table of 14 people... 12-14 different "dishes" served throughout the evening...some absolutely delicious, others very interesting. The one big table leads to some lively table conversation. The chef(s) really make you feel the specialness of the experience. Overall excellent.
Truly the best meal I have ever had! The creativity and execution was absolutely phenomenal.
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
Truly amazing experience at Nook! We had incredible food, and while not every course was going to be our favorite (with 13 courses, how could they be!?), each course was interesting and kept us wanting to take more bites. The ambiance was the perfect blend of low-key and relaxed, while still providing effortless (from a dining perspective - the servers were putting in a LOT of effort!) top-notch service. An extra plus was my husband had to come 45 minutes late due to a last minute babysitter issue - Chef Noah and the Nook folks caught him up on all courses when he arrived, which was not at all expected but so so appreciated. We will definitely return on another special occasion date night. We'll be dreaming about the PB&J, pine bark, and squid courses for months to come!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
?️?️?️?️?️ (IYKYK)At Nook, every bite is a pun-derful delight! With only 14 seats, it's like a cozy soup pot where everyone's simmering in good vibes.We came to celebrate our 12 year wedding anniversary, and Nook truly served up a slice of romantic perfection! We weren't just fed, we were whisked into an anniversary adventure. If you're looking to marinate in memories and garnish your special day with flavor, Nook's the place to be. We didn’t just celebrate; we savored every bite of the experience. Cheers to love and luscious dishes!Their take on PB&J? I have to spread the news about it; it’s utterly jam-packed with flavor! Over the course of 13 delectable courses, I wasn’t just full... I was stuffed with a buffet of emotions.The chef's recipe for success isn't just about seasoning the dishes right; it’s peppered with humor too. And the wait staff? They don't just serve food; they dish out an impeccable experience with a side of charm.So, if you're hungry for a place where the steaks are high and the puns are even higher, Nook’s the ultimate foodie destination. Remember, it’s not just about feeding the belly; it’s about whisking you away into a gastronomic journey! Go ahead and relish the Nook experience.Vegetarian options: You can request a vegetarian experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My partner and I loved our experience here! I'm vegetarian and they were so thoughtful about alternatives for me. Near the end there were some plates I couldn't finish because I was so full. We also splurged on the wine pairings, which were fantastic. You can tell they're really passionate about food and family. It is expensive but we went to celebrate our 3-year wedding anniversary and it was 1000% worth it. Just be sure to read their FAQ's before booking so you know what to expect (and take the release time of the reservations seriously - I got on right at midnight and we barely squeezed in!). Thank you - we hope to be back next year!Vegetarian options: They adjusted their dishes in thoughtful ways - sometimes I go to places and they simply remove the meat, leaving everything else the same, but my meatless dishes had intentional alternatives and were absolutely delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was fine, it was a tasting menu experience. They are really passionate about the food.You'll prob be surprised everytime you come here because their menu always changes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
This is a unique, intimate experience with one of the best chefs in Madison. It is in very high demand. Tickets require logging in at midnight on the first of the month to schedule a seating two months out; weekend tickets are gone within minutes, and the whole month is sold out within half an hour. About half of the group of 12 at our seating appeared to be regulars.This is primarily a “foodie” experience. If you are less of a regular foodie, be warned that 12 courses is a lot of food. Serving everyone the full sequence is baked into the communal dining experience (where everyone gets the same dish and then a full explanation is provided by the chef), but there are a couple of drawbacks. First, the entire group is paced by its slowest member, so this lasted around three hours. Second, there will probably be a few courses that are not to your liking, especially given the experimental ingredients here. And third, this is just too much food for a lot of people; it was about double what I am comfortable eating, even after fasting all day in preparation. (And these frankly work against each other: it is much harder to finish a dish you are not a fan of when you are already full and anticipating 6 more courses, and despite not wanting to insult the chef, we were not able to complete some of them. To the chef: sorry!) For us, this would have been a better experience if edited down to around 6 courses.The restaurant deserves a full 5 stars, however, because some of the dishes were among the best I have experienced in Madison. There is a creative use of plating, and an emphasis on texture and crunchy toppings that elevated each dish. The best dishes during our experience were a cold beef appetizer, a mushroom and wild rice soup, a quail entrée, and a phenomenal fresh chocolate bar with chilis and pistachios. (Please, please consider opening a gourmet chocolate shop on the side.)Everyone on staff was friendly and accommodating, and the atmosphere was as casual as promised. We love to dress comfortably when fine dining and were fans of the 1990s hip hop soundtrack. And we knew in advance that this would be a pricey experience (around $200 per person with drinks), but it is commensurate with the amount and variety of food that is served. I would highly recommend Nook to any foodie (they seem to be regulars here) and encourage anyone with an adventurous streak wanting to sample the best dining experiences that Madison has to offer.
The best restaurant in Wisconsin.Deserves a Michelin star, if you ask me, but I doubt they'd send a reviewer north of Chicago, unfortunately. Every time I've been, it's been a lovely experience with excellent food and friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5