Il Nido Reviews

We came to Il Nido to celebrate my husbands 50th birthday. Though it was a bit of a challenge to get a reservation I was lucky enough to get a table on his actual birthday. The entire experience was excellent .. the atmosphere was very comfortable & not at all pretentious. The entire staff was knowledgeable, helpful and delivered the perfect amount of attention without being under or overly attentive. The food was fabulous which paired well with their extensive wine selection (or cocktail if preferred). It really was a pleasant experience, we were never rushed, rather the vibe warrants you to sit back and take your time to enjoy a fine evening out. Thanks for making my husbands celebration a special one!!

Making a reservation for the first available time (30 days in advance), we arrived 5 pm, December 20, 2019 at il nido (The Nest). The five of us were seated so some could see the Christmas tree and old stone fireplace. I have childhood memories of this log Alki Homestead (1904) with my grandparents eating baking powder biscuits and chicken dinner. Presently, the Italian language menu caused confusion. I told our server Chad, "I have questions." He said, "I have answers." Then he enthusiastically described various dishes. We chose 5 including the rib eye, venison, beets, Brussels sprout, sable fish. Each was presented beautifully, enjoyed, plates bussed and replaced seamlessly to complete our 4-course dinner. My chocolate torte...light and luscious. The entire dinner experience? A guest said, "I'll never forget it." All agreed and same with the check.

Wonderful food, service and decor. Plan on trying for reservations as far in advance as possible and consider going on their wait list. That's how we got in. One of the hottest new places in the Seattle area.

When we arrived for our 5:15 pm reservation made 3 weeks earlier, the hostess asked the couple ahead of us if they had a reservation. When they said no, she asked them to step aside for a moment, while she asked us and the couple behind us if we had reservations. She then seated those with reservations first and then offered the unreserved couple a seat at the bar. Initially, I wanted a full bodied Italian red, to pair with our food, but our waitress, Erin, steered us to a lighter red that was $20 cheaper. She let us sample both, before we went with the lighter wine. The 3 of us started by sharing some appetizers of focaccia bread, prosciutto, and buratta. I was concerned that we would be too full for the pastas we ordered. But there was a nice pause between courses and the pastas while plenty, I had the tagliatelle with a ragu sauce of beef and pork, were not too heavy, nor with too much garlic nor with too much cheese. The pasta had subtle almost muted flavors that paired well with the wine. The service was perfect - just right for us. Staff there when you wanted them, but not in your way. My partner, during the meal, dropped her napkin without knowing it on the floor behind her, the waitress picked it up went and got her a fresh one and quietly put it beside her, all without a word. There were multiple wait staff that as they walked by removed used silverware and plates. The service was not Michelin star precision with everyone served at the same instant, but just nice comfortable, competent service. While there was an attractive bar area, the dinner seating was the least desirable feature, relatively close to your neighbor on hard benches. The restaurant setting is one building down from the beach, but not on the beach and we didn’t have a water view. The cost was on the higher end for pasta, but overall an enjoyable dinner.

After many attempts to secure dinner, reservations, we finally secured a spot on a Friday night at 6 PM – but for the patio, not the lovely dining room. We were warned that it could be cool out there, and it was. The service was excellent, and the food was delicious. But the cold, drab, noisy patio, made it feel more like a burger joint than a high-end restaurant. If I have to eat dinner with my coat on, it shouldn’t cost well over $200. I recommend the place, but do not accept a table reservation for the patio.

We have tried for over a year to get reservations- we finally did and it was worth the wait! We did have a rough start with the host who turned out to be the manager- not only was he abrupt and unfriendly- he actually accused me of lying about my party size to get a reservation. We honestly thought about leaving at this point- fortunately the wait staff was superb- we asked the first waitperson who the manager was and if he was in- we were then told it was the gentleman who spoke to us. We decided not to speak with him- we had wanted this to be a special night. The waiter was very apologetic and friendly- he told us we would have Courtney as a server. Courtney was excellent in every way- she took her time explaining the pasta dishes and went above and beyond all night. What a pleasure! The food was excellent- all staff help one another with clearing and serving- they are all friendly and efficient. Because of this our night turned around and we hope to go back. I hope Mike knows what a great staff he has. It is unfortunate that the manager started our evening off as such- his assumption was in very bad taste- unbelievable actually- Thank you to Courtney and the staff for a great evening-

Visiting from NYC and decided to venture out from normal tourist hot spot eateries. Showed up and decided to wait for bar seat--and worth the wait Fabulous restaurant in every way: service, optics, atmosphere, drinks and--most importantly--food. The atmosphere is warm and inviting; tables are well spaced and a roaring fireplace in the bar. The servers, bartenders and hostess were all wonderfully friendly and helpful. The food incredible. First rate. We had the burrata/prosciutto, the Kale Rigatoni Cacio & Pepe, the Cavatelli with Lamb Ragu, the Brussels Sprouts and the braised pork cheeks. This restaurant is what Babbo used to be. I wish it were in Manhattan! One of the best restaurant experiences we have had. Perfect.

Incredible Italian food, served by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. The host and chef are top notch, create a dinner party atmosphere given in a warm and welcoming home, only you didn’t have to cook or do the dishes.

Set in a large old log cabin, this popular spot has charm, character, friendly servers and it’s very busy. We ordered a steak for the table and Buratta between four of us to share and the appetizers were luscious. Worth going back for appetizers alone. We then all ordered their reasonably sized pasta main courses. Mine was a pistachio stuffed pasta which had too much oil but was good. We all shared bites and when I tasted the Wild Boar Ragu, I thought it was great. And yes, we all ordered dessert and I thought the Kumquat Panna Cotta was delicious with a slight tang, exactly how I like Panna Cotta. The food experience was 5 stars. I took off a point for the hard seats and the utensils that kept slipping off of my bowl, into my bowl. Otherwise it was a great dinner.

Went here with friends and it was outstanding! The service, the ambiance and of course the food! Fresh and delicious, the ragu special was amazing along with the fresh salads. It takes some effort to secure a table but worth it!

FINALLY got in to see what all the hype was about and it was WORTH IT. We absolutely loved our valentine’s night dinner here. The atmosphere is super cool, cozy and authentic. The cocktails were great, the server was knowledgeable and very friendly, and the food hit the mark. My girlfriend is Italian and she said the pasta dishes were on point! We also had the rabbit which was moist and quite good Heads up - book early and plan your night out in advance! Reservations open up 30 days out so keep that in mind. You might not have luck with short notice bookings as the place is quite popular.

This is a new restaurant and we went after our daughter got married. The food was spectacular and the service was perfect.

We loved everything about our meal from the setting, charming old historic home decorated beautifully and most of all the food! Everything was so fresh and beautifully prepared. The pasta dishes were exceptional especially the special. Lovely service too. Definitely worth the visit when in Seattle. Reserve in advance.

The best way to experience IL Nido is with friends with no dietary restrictions- that way one of everything can be shared. Each pasta is unique with its own flavor profile, and each appetizer is distinctly different from the others but equally as delicious. The biggest issue I have here is figuring out what to order.

Reservations were made five weeks in advance and we happened to dine the night of the wild lightening storm in Seattle. Our reservations were for 7:15 and we arrived a bit early. Cameron, the host, offered us a menu and a drink from the bar, as leisurely diners had us waiting past our reservation. We were seated around 7:35. We ordered margaritas, as my parents said that they ordered them the last time-they were wonderful. We ordered some Focaccia and each of us had a salad. The pasta dishes were quite heavy, great flavor and presentation. The lightening and heavy rain outside made us appreciate the soft glow of the candles on the inside. We finished our meal with vanilla gelato and tiramisu.

Tried this restaurant with my wife and we really liked the food and the service. I would recommend the pasta dishes and the chicory salad. They have a good wine list too. We went to this place (previous owners) 20 years ago and the new owner did a very good job (besides the food) with restoring this historical Alki landmark keeping both charm, space and overall building style. The only small disappointment was the dessert with the poached pears which were not cooked properly but everything else was top.

Wonderful service, good food but too pricey. Outdoor patio lacks ambiance for the price. But the service is second to none!!!

I’ll Nido is in the old Homestead Restaurant in West Seattle.......it is updated and charming but has kept the flavor of the historic log cabin. We have been to this restaurant 3 times since it opened and each time the host has been very welcoming and have had a memorable Italian dinner.

We were blown away by the AMAZING service especially by Cameron, one of the owners. They made my husband's birthday extra special with the personalized service. Not to mention, the food was absolutely incredible. Beyond impressed and we will certainly be back!

Wow, everything we had was delicious. From the cabbage & potato appetizer to the clam linguine, Neah Bay black cod and dessert exceeded expectations. The server was knowledgeable and helpful. Service from her and the staff was superb. We are grateful the owner kept the historic Alki Homestead venue. It brings back lots of wonderful memories. Highly recommend.

We were three couples celebrating a birthday. The regulars advised arrival no later than 4:30 for the 4 to 5 PM Antipasti hour. The receptionist regretted the outdoors was reserved but the small bar, I think eight chairs, was free. Perfect. You get to watch the mixology theater, schmooze with the busy staff, and enjoy a direct view of kitchen. If careful you can have a great experience at a fair price. The house special Negroni is $15 and they were flying out of the bar. I had a $12 lovely rose and John, a $7 draft pilsner. Well dressed salad added $10, a chunk of delicious olive oil soaked foccacia added $8, and a delectable vegetarian pasta, $20. Total $50 plus tip. Value for money considering the handsome ambiance, sparkling friendly well trained staff, and superlative food. Spotted the chef taking a break, thanked her and had a quick chat..

Excellent food and impeccable service. Reservations and this restaurant are almost impossible to get but if you show up at 4:30 (they open at 5) and wait you haves good chance of snaring a table or seat at the bar. Unique menu items, we tried 4, were all excellent. Highly recommended.