On a perfect summer day in Madison we stopped by to grab a late dinner snack at Natt Spil, one of our favorite relaxed but obscure spots with the decor of an opium den slash western saloon. It was lively but we found seats right away, close to the window since their few al fresco sidewalk tables were all taken.
No more duck duck soup on the menu, but a BBQ pork soup instead. We opted for the Natt Spil sausage pizza, which had a crunchy crust and juicy center, with spicy fennel and pepperoncini seeds mashed between bites of goat cheese and tomatos. The High Tea was a refreshing, citrusy gulp and an appropriate accompaniment. Music-wise, they played everything from motown to grunge - but all good music - until the DJ came on around 9pm. Â
Cash or local checks only!
Considering how roughly eight months of the year in Madison could be described as "winter," it's not much of a surprise I've only been to Natt Spil when the weather was chilly and the restaurant's dark, warm, somewhat mysterious confines enticed me off the street. I've described Natt Spil to friends as "a Leaky Cauldron incarnate;" a pub with somewhat of an intangible mystique. (Plz excuse Harry Potter references).
Now, the promise of sipping an Oberon on a sunny summer evening could get me in the door of basically any spot in town. The perfectly spicy, tangy Three Cup Tofu and nice (albeit teensy) outdoor seating area is what drew me to Natt Spil last night and it definitely did not disappoint. My boyfriend got the Greek Goddess Love Nest pizza (feta, artichokes, olives, red peppers) and raved. My tofu was cooked to perfection (a feat rarely achieved, vegetarians/vegans can I get a hell yeah?) and came with a side of spicy tomato and cucumber salad. For those inclined chicken can be subbed in for the 'fu. Definitely staying at the top of my list for a certifiably great dinner and drink.
It took me a while to construct this review - mostly because I forgot that I'd even tried this place. TBH, the most memorable aspect of the meal was the company of my dining companion. While there is nothing wrong with that, for a restaurant that had quite a few yelpers raving, I was disappointed.
My first impression of the place was that it was really, really dark. It took a while for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, but after they did, I was able to appreciate the oriental-inspired decor.
While I was waiting for my friend to arrive, I ordered a Green Thumb per the recommendation of our host. It was a refreshing cocktail of cucumber juice, gin, and a splash of ginger beer. It also happened to go extremely well with the food we ordered. What a happy coincidence!
Other than that, our meal was average...nothing spectacular and definitely nothing I would find myself craving on any given day. We ordered the shu mai and brie/apple pizza. The shu mai comes as an order of three good-sized dumplings doused in a splash of dumpling sauce. They certainly don't skimp on the shu mai ingredients, but I think it was really the dumpling sauce that did the trick. As for the pizza, I'm not a big fan of brie or apple, but together, they worked. The thin crust was a little lacking in flavor, but otherwise, it was a solid pie.
All in all, I'd say that Natt Spil isn't quite a 3, but it also is not so mediocre as to only merit 2 stars...so take that as you will!
Good food, great drinks, poor ventilation. Â Sitting in back is fun most of the year, but you'll want to be front by a window in summer. Â Cash only, but there's an ATM.
The pork sammie is fantastic. Â It's savory, it's spicy, and so full you need the sturdy baguette to keep things together.
The duck duck soup is usually delicious. Â Not as good as ramen at Umami, but an excellent appetizer and very comforting on a cold day.
Their wood-fired pizzas are well-executed. Â I'm partial to the brie and apple, but I tend to enjoy the combination of cheese and fruits in general.
They have a decent selection of craft beers and they make good cocktails. Â Start your evening here, and you can walk on to Opus or Merchant if you're looking for more.
Natt Spil is a dark, shotgun-style space with Oriental decor, a Chinese-meets-Italian menu, and a Norwegian name. It's...a little different, to say the least. Sadly, I think the owners have overreached, but maybe they just need more time.
My friend and I met in the dark (very dark) back for a nice supper, but instead chose to go with a couple of small plates. Just as well, as that is the focus of the very small menu. Our cocktails took an inordinate amount of time to get to us, but were well-prepared. My friend's "green thumb" was deemed good and my negroni was solid.
Food also took a while to get out to us. The shu mai were just on the good side of decent, with a fair sauce and a generous plumpness. However, the water chestnut purported to be within was not noticeable in either taste nor texture. The brie and apple pizza, however, was a pleasant surprise. While the sage was a suggestion at best -- and maybe that's a good thing -- the pizza was cooked propery and generously topped with nicely melted brie and clear, fresh apples that complemented the crisp-tender but uncharred crust of the pizza. Quite good, and worth returning for,.
Natt Spil is a strange, disjointed place off King Street that I cannot figure out 100%. They're getting a three-star rating instead of a two-star simply for that. While drinks were good, our service was slow and the food nothing special. I'm not saying avoid it, but I'm not really recommending it either.
Offering shots to a table of noticeably disgruntled people does not rectify forgetting to put in a food order. Forget the DJ on a Wednesday night, stop letting your waitstaff drink on the job, and just do what you are trying to do-- be a cool looking bar, offer decent food, and make quality drinks.
Review Source:I've been to Natt Spil a few times and had pretty similar experiences each time. It's very busy on the weekends, but my most recent trip was on a Monday night with a group of 7 for dinner.
The ambiance is funky and hipsterish. I like it generally, but it was too dark and the music was too loud for a Monday night. On a weekend night I expect this, but it was 7pm on a Monday and we wanted to hear each other. I have also never been to Natt Spil and had enough room. Even on a fairly un-crowded Monday night, the 7 of us were crowded at a table that could comfortably seat 5.
Our server was attentive even though we were nestled back near the DJ. The food is pretty good. On Mondays you get a pizza and a pitcher for $16, which is a good deal, and we got 4 of these specials at our table, sampling 3 different pizzas, all of which were good. My husband had been excited about the mussels, which they didn't have that night. Salads were hit or miss, and the shu mai wasn't popular with a couple in our group, although my husband liked it.
The weirdest thing was that the beer wasn't very cold. We got 4 pitchers of 3 different types of beer. At least 2 of the beers were warm. In the past, I've ordered a bottle of wine that also came warm. It was red wine, which is still supposed to be served colder than room temperature, but it was definitely warmer than room temp. Disappointing because they have a pretty good wine list. Although they have a rotating beer list, I wasn't too impressed with their choices. It would be so easy to pick more popular or more exciting beers.
I know lots of people who love Natt Spil, but I am still not sold. With so many better options with more light, more space, and better food, I'm not sure I see the point. I would probably return for the pizza and pitcher special, for late night drinks or food, but not for dinner on a random night of the week.
Went here for the first time on an early Saturday evening, right before it got busy. Â Nice atmosphere. Â I had high hopes for the food, based on the other Yelp reviews, but I was kind of disappointed. Â The Dim Sum dishes we had were okay (spring rolls, dumplings, shrimp cakes) but not awesome. Â I ordered the raved-about three-cup chicken and it turned out to be the same kind of chicken you'd get at any Chinese restaurant (taste-wise). Â I guess I expected a lot more for the price. Â The Dim Sum prices were good for what you got, but the dinners are overpriced for what they are. Â
The service was okay, food was served in an average amount of time, if not a tiny bit slow.
I would go here again, but with adjusted expectations. Â And maybe next year.
Natt Spil has a super fun ambiance- dim lights, funky wood benches and decor.
Tonight we had the brie/apple pizza tonight and the dumplings as a starter. They were both really good. Although, we would have liked the pizza toppings to be a little more spread out towards the crust, the apple and cheese were more concentrated in the middle .
We went on a Monday where there's a deal of a pizza and a pitcher of beer for $17-- not bad! Also got a birthday shot of their coffee infused vodka- yum!
Our server was very friendly and attentive. We had been there before so had an option or two of what we wanted, but he was able to give some good tips.
Great place to go on a date or out with some friends.
I really enjoy coming to Natt Spil! The drinks and food I've had have been good, no complaints here, but I know I need to try the "dim sum". The pizza, mussels and chips and dip are fantastic.
What I love best about Natt Spil is the ambiance. I just love *being* there. Granted, I go at weird times because of my schedule-- week nights, mostly -- so I don't have to fight for a good seat.
Whether sitting at a table or the bar I feel the warmth of the red tones brought out by very, very dim lighting (and the fire from the wood burning oven!). Once my eyes adjust to the darkness, I start to notice different textures all over the place. Just look around: even the bathrooms are coated in different textures! It's truly a work of art just being there.
Practical tip: cash only.
Stopped in for a few drinks with a good friend and immediately felt at home. The place was busy, Sat night in the city and all, but tables were cleared quickly as people finished eating. We decided to wait for a seat at the bar. Loved the open concept and exposed kitchen next to the bar. Mood was relaxed, music was good. Noticed that there was a spot for a DJ overlooking the lower part of the space. Would definitely go back.
Review Source:Oh, Natt Spil, you're a fun place to hang out at. You've got wonderful cocktails and delicious infused vodka.
Your food? Well, that's pretty good, too.
But when one of your waiters decides to take food away when we're clearly not finished eating? Well, that's going to cause you a loss of two stars. And, I might add, a decline in tip percentage.
Three stars, easily could've been 4+. Service takes a nasty toll, though. Tsk tsk.
This was one of my favorite spots when I lived in town. Ambiance, food, drinks, hot bartender... Went back again and it was as good as I remembered. I really like the Mediterranean plate and their pizzas. I like the brie and apple but also the Greek goddess. And they have Ting! Love this place, but am moreso a weekday evening kinda gal, as I'm not into crowds or loud music, and it can get hairy on weekend nights.
Review Source:I love this place!
Pros:
- The three-cup tofu is outstanding. Â I know what you are thinking: "Tofu? Really?" Â Yes, really. Â I will be the first to admit that tofu can go terribly wrong, but this is delicious. Â It is the first tofu that I have ever craved.
- The Dim Sum options are fresh and delicious. Â I recommend the Sriracha wontons.
- The interior is awesome. Â It is like a modern take on an opium den. Â I find it very relaxing and engaging all at the same time.
- The service has always been very professional, knowledgeable, and on-the-ball.
- Lots of parking in the ramp around the corner by the Dane.
Cons:
- It can be loud on weekend nights. Â This is a great place for dinner with friends before a show - a bad place for weekend romance.
- The seats are very close together. Â Again, fun with friends, not so good for whispering sweet nothings.
- There can be a little bit of angsty hipsterness. Â Embrace it and you'll be fine.
- Cash only, but they do have an ATM.
- The pizza is fine, but not rave worthy. Â Try something else on the menu that is wonderful.
I think this was the first restaurant I ate at in Madison. And it definitely set the right tone for the rest of the city.
No sign at the door, which makes it a little hard to wander in unless you know you are coming here. For reference, it's right next to the Great Dane. Also, bring cash. But then again...if you forget there's an ATM conveniently located inside.
We're pretty boring when it comes to this place. Meaning that what we got that first time was so good that we barely deviate. Usually go with the following dim sum: duck duck soup, mussels, and dumplings.
Some of our deviations have not been too pleasant. For some reason have never had luck with any of the daily specials. And for pizza we unfortunately only tried the brie and apple (what was I thinking??)
The atmosphere is killer and they always have a live DJ. Yeah.
They may not have a sign on the door.
They may not have a phone you can call.
But they have damn good food and that's what matters.
What should you get! Start with Bombay and grapefruit. They put basil on the margherita pizza, so have them muddle that in your bev, sick back, sip and enjoy. (My hope is if enough people ask for muddled basil it'll become a regular fixture on the menu). Next up grab some mussels, in a broth so tasty, I wanted to ask for a ladle to spoon out every drop. I seriously don't know what's goin on in there (except for butter), but the stuff is bomb. Mussels are too. Super fresh, a breeze to slurp and not at all fishy. Next up grab their Mediterranean plate which sports grilled pita and two dips for dunkin'. First is a nice pepper spread, think humos but with a pepper base, and the second is a super intriguing almond butter garlic situation that I couldn't get enough of.
Service isn't super quick. But I don't think they care that it takes them a while to navigate the nooks and crannies of this randomly laid out space, so I stopped caring too. The stuff I put in my mouth more than made up for the fact that we waited a bit for drink refreshers and a check.
This is a great place if you're in with the artsy crowd... and don't mind crowds.
It's small, but the service is generally better than OK, so is the food, and so are the drinks.
For a night out, get there early and expect loud music and a small crowd. As long as you're okay with that, it's a great little spot.
Oh, and hit the ATM before you go... it's cash only.
Went last week for some late night dim sum and duck soup. I won't say 'duck' twice, as it's listed on the menu as such. It seems kind of silly. I'm also the kindergartener who refused to do the Hokey Pokey. Wet blanket, that's me. ;)
The 'bartender'? He couldn't have been more of a douche if he tried. And, boy, did he not try. Inattentive- but only after reading us the specials in what almost sounded like a parody of snottiness, without letting either of us ask any questions about them. Like, really- neither of us could get a word in edgewise. Throughout our evening, he kept giving us these dismissive glances as if he was just too cool to give a shit. Finally, we got to hear all about how one of the cooks 'saved his life' after his girlfriend 'went crazy' on him over the weekend. Wow. Good thing we were almost done eating- hearing him bloviate drove us out the door pretty quick.
I wish there were a better place to get late-night noodles in a non-hipster-bullshit atmos...
At this point, there is only one good bartender there: the young lady with short hair. Unless she's behind the bar, I won't bother staying.
I have to agree with Erin C. Â This place is a great find that I've walked past numerous times on my way to other restaurants and always wondered about. Â Now that I have experienced Natt Spil, I'm hoping it won't be more crowded next time I visit.
It was FABULOUS!
Dark and quiet with a friendly staff and an atmosphere that you can just sink into and enjoy.
Whether to meet a friend or enjoy a fabulous dinner, Natt Spil was a fantastic choice that will be made again!
Maybe it's the three cup chicken (such a simple dish, but it literally haunts my dreams)? Maybe it's the stiff cocktails? Maybe it's the fact that it isn't swarming with raging college kids (no disrespect, but it's nice when you need a night to recover from typical UW debauchery)? All I know is that after spending 4 years exploring Madison, and visiting twice since graduation, Natt Spil is my go-to.
The crowd is a bit on the hipster side, but I've seen all sorts of people set up shop and feel completely comfortable here. There is no website, sign outside or phone number, which keeps the place from becoming a mob scene. The lighting is dark, the music (usually a live DJ) is loud, the atmosphere is casual but cool and well designed. Sort of an Asian-influenced speakeasy meets your uncle's log cabin up north.
The dim sum is always a good bet (like, an exceptionally good bet...), and the pizzas never disappoint. Also, the aforementioned three cup chicken just does something to me. Great food at an even better price. Some solid, super-affordable wine and beer selections, too.
I've been here on dates and with a couple of friends at a time, but wouldn't recommend it for a big group. It's more of an intimate spot. Bring cash or your ATM card, credit cards are not accepted. Lastly, the kitchen is open until pretty late (1am I believe), which rules.
And so concludes my first Yelp review. I just wanted to pour one out for my homie. Natt Spil-I miss you.
When choosing my star-rating of places on Yelp, I usually compare the establishment to some sort of standard for the category it is in. This is impossible for Natt Spil, because there is no category. This is the iron man of food and drink joints. If you do not come here while in Madison or the neighborhood specifically, you are missing out!
Whether it is their rocking Dim Sum (my group split 3/4 of the options, and they were all top notch), their pizzas, or the eclectic options like this unbelievable Duck Duck Soup, you can't go wrong!
The drink options also abound with great local and farther options of craft beer and cocktails that looked quite tasty (stuck to beer though, so I'm just guessing).
Service was friendly and attentive, and the whole feel of this place is just hip while still being comfy. There's even a DJ tucked away in the place too.
Seriously, do not miss this place. We will be back whenever we're in Madison.
Translates to "night play" or "after party" in Norwegian -- as you can imagine, this place is open late in the night all week.
I'd like to think of this Madison's hidden gem of a bar (no sign outside, no phone)!
Good drinks; Great ambiance  - Intimate; Asian influenced- one of the owners spent a lot of time in China.
Their wood-burning oven roasted pizzas are very good. Love their three-cup tofu - an amazing blend of flavors served with rice and pickled veggies. I usually have them go a little easy on the soy and it is perfect for me. Their hummus plate is also delicious and a good value for the money.
Seating -- if it is winter, find a seat further inside - the door opening can get pretty drafty. Â If there is a DJ, the back of the place can get loud. The best, most intimate space is at the furthest back wall on the left -- there is a little alcove with about 4 tables! If it is summer, their front windows open out, so you can sit either up front or outside and it is quite nice.
Note: Small food menu and No credit cards accepted (ATM on site though)
What a cool little place. Â I would say it's "Dive" but that could be taken negatively.
There is no sign outside, there is no sign on the door, no real advertisement - nothing that would ever tell you "Come inside me and have a great time"
The Decor was great. Â It was very peaceful and the people / servers were all very friendly and nice. Â Â Quant, fun, and loved the food. Â
I had a brick fire oven pizza (artichoke, feta cheese, red peppers, and pepperoni) - Breathtaking!!! Â
The dumplings I had as an app. was the best way to start the meal - and I ended it with a huge brownie!!
I will certainly be coming back.
Love the food, love the decor, love the atmosphere, but you can end up waiting a long time for a table, and it can get rather crowded with so many people in a small space.
Loved the fusion menu and the creative ways in which meals are prepared. Definitely a great place to go for new and exciting options.
Natt Spil is a must for me every time I make a trip to Madison. Â However, it can get pretty crowded on some nights. Â This wouldn't be problem except for the fact that the venue is small. Â You can't do much moving around on busy nights and waiting for a table can take forever. Â Still, the atmosphere is really nice and comfortable on a low key night. Â It's a great place to have dinner and conversation with friends. Â There's a fairly priced Asian fusion menu. Â No where else have I been able to choose between dim sum or pizza. Â The mussels are a favorite! Â I'm not much of a drinker but the drink menu is definitely extensive and you'll have plenty to select from.
I always look forward to stopping by Natt Spil. Â It may be hard to find for a first timer, as there are no literal signs that give it away, but once you do find it, you'll enjoy it.
Me, in a rowdy pre-wedding crew: "Can I have a Bulleit on the rocks?"
Bartender: "Bullet?"
Me: "Bullaaay? Bullet?"
Bartender: "Bullet."
Then we piled in a booth near the front to continue celebrating the evening into the morning. Natt Spil, I never remember very much from you, but what can recall is always fantastic.
See you next time!
This place houses my FAVORITE meal in madtown... 3 CUP TOFU!
This stuff is amazing! Â White rice topped with a deliciously sweet and spicy sauce with tofu that is cooked to perfection with some amazing pickled vegetables on the side. Â My boyfriend is a meat eater and this is always what he orders as well. Â And we always start with the chips and guac.
Seriously, stop in for this meal!!!
Drink wise, they have a large selection, I usually get a beer and the bf loves the high tea (i think that's what it's called).
Love that they have DJ's every night.
As for the crowd, I feel as if it is the perfect mix of all types of people.
When it's not super-crowded, Natt Spil is delightful. Tasty drinks, food that looks mouth-watering (I've only had the bacon something-or-other pizza, and it was quite good), and a good rotation of DJs. The space is dimly lit, warm, and cozy, and their tiny outdoor seating section is perfect on warm weeknights when you want to converse with a few friends while enjoying a cool beverage.
When the Natt Spil is hopping though, it's not my cup of tea. It's such a narrow building that in order to move you have to make full-body contact with everyone surrounding you as you slink through the masses - I (semi-jokingly) refer to it as Frotteur Heaven for good reason. Aside from having to get overly-friendly with your neighbors, people end up awkwardly standing in the spaces between tables and holding their drinks over diners' heads. As a clumsy lady, this makes me nervous.
So, to review: laid-back nights = awesome, crowded nights = not so much.
Natt Spil... it's alright. Â I'm between 2 stars on it's lousy and over crowded nights, and an easy 3+ stars on the nights when it's the right size crowd, the windows are open, and I'm getting food. Â So... let's break it down...
Cash only. Â 'Apps' is the food here, for a snack. Â Beers/drinks aren't anything special, with a moderate selection. Â If it's incredibly packed, don't bother with food... you'll just feel in the way. Â They do serve late (not sure how late), so that's nice if it's a weekday. Â Go with someone who has been there before if you can to avoid what other people mention about it being 'confusing'. Â The crowd is generally very casual.
The best thing is that if you're downtown, you can 'try it out'... because if it sucks for you that night, walk somewhere else. Â I'd definitely say to give it a go.
This review is based strictly off their customer service.
My wife and I were going out for dinner last night at Muramoto. Â We arrived early (5:30p) to the King Street area. Â So, we thought we would stop by Nat Spil for a couple pre-dinner cocktails. Â Neither of us had been there before and were excited to give it a try.
Our initial take was we really liked the atmoshere - seemed very cool. Â However, as mentioned in other reviews, we soon found that the place was small and a little confusing for us. Â The place has about 10 tables that I could see and a small bar with about 12 stools. Â Is it a restaurant or a bar? Â The reason I bring this up is that when we walked in there were two couples sitting at tables and no one at the bar. Â One couple had food and other couple just had cocktails. Â There was no one to greet us when we walked in (i didn't think that was going to be a big deal but it obvioulsly was), so we sauntered over to the bar and ordered a cocktail. Â After the drinks were poured we thought it might be more comfortable sitting at a table and told the bartendress - "no problem" she says.
We chose a table in the front window area.  It was small but had four sets of silverware.  Suddenly a waiter appears and asks if it just the two of us tonight.  "Yes" I replied.  He lets out a big sigh, and then snatches two of the silverware sets.  As he is walking to the cupboard to put them away I notice that he is shaking his head the whole time and is still visible pissed that there is only two of us.  He then takes the silverware he just cleared and started slamming/throwing  them back into the cupboard drawers. Â
Let me take the opportunity to remind you that there were four other customers in this establishment at this point and it was 5:30pm. Â It's not like we were occupying prime seats during prime time. Â
So... The waiter comes back and says, "what do want for dinner?" Â with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. Â I said we were just having drinks and wouldn't be staying long. Â Another hugh sigh and he storms off to his station and takes a big drink from his wine glass. Â I was surprised to see the waiter drinking at 5:30. Â I wonder if he paid for that drink or if it was stolen from the establishment's owner?!?
Well that pretty much sealed it - not going to have a second drink there. Â We slammed our cocktails and high tailed it. Â As we were leaving we had to walk right past him. Â He never looked up or even acknowledged we were leaving. Â
Interestingly enough... Around 8:00p as we were walking back to our car from Muramoto, we glanced into the front window of Nat Spil. Â It looked they had a whooping crowd of about 6 people. Â I wonder how many other people left after dealing with that ass-bag waiter?!?
This is the best bar in Madison, hands down. Â I actually would place it as one of the best bars in the USA. Â
I was there last Saturday night and the DJ they had spinning was killing it (as usual). Â I spent two years at grad school in Madison and i stopped here several nights a week. Â Good music, good cocktails, and good food. Â The menu, while small, is excellent. Â If it is your first time there, definitely have the Three Cup Chicken. Â I have heard a few people say it is a little salty, but isn't that what beer is for? Â The pizza's are all good and they usually have some good appetizers also. Â
The beer selection is diverse yet representative of Wisconsin.  The only knock on this place is that it can get hard to navigate when it gets crowded as it is a small bar.  The servers manage to navigate it pretty well though so if you just grab a seat you'll have no problem getting service.  I hate to even write a review of this place because if too many people (or  undergrads) get wind of the place it might lose it's charm. Â
But as is, Natt Spil, you are perfect! Â Now please open a branch down the street from me in Chicago.
Although the food here is pretty darn good (especially the pizza), the seating is torturous. If I wanted to sit on a painfully too-short, wobbly, wooden stool I'd be roasting s'mores over a campfire. It's just not the sort of experience I look forward to when I'm out on the town, ya know? Something tells me I'm not the only one.
I have to agree with others who have noted the awkward partitions and general layout of the place. I've never been to a place where seating and layout was such an issue, so this really put me in an odd mood. It's gotta be the antithesis of feng shui.
The atmosphere was otherwise very interesting and I think the place has potential. I just don't think I'll be adding this place to my regular haunts. If I go back, I think I'll be sure to sit at the bar.
Well, say what you will (and I have complained to my compatriots) about the no phone, no sign, no credit card policy, but I love Natt Spil. I tell people I hate it. I tell people it is full of hipster assclowns (which it is). When it all shakes out though the food is amazing, the beer and wine list are great, and everything is terribly reasonable on the wallet.
Chef David Oliver has a great palate and an inventive menu. The three-cup chicken is terrific and would be something I would order every time I went to any other restaurant, but it is only the second best item on the simple, delicious menu at Natt Spil. Dave's Pork Sammie is absurdly good. It is the best sandwich I've had anywhere.
Lastly, the hipster assclown population is promulgated by the tremendous DJs regularly spinning at Natt Spil.
This is a great place to eat and a great place to grab a few drinks and listen to great music.
Great atmosphere, as long as you can find the place(having no sign makes this a wee bit difficult). Dark and brooding, yet soft enough to be romantic.
They have a fun drink list, for those of us who don't do beer(although my last mojito tasted more like lime and Aquanet rather than fresh yummy goodness).
The menu is interesting, although small. Nice place to grab an appetizer and a cold beverage before a night out.
The food here borders on gross and is not that cheap if viewed in light of how crappy it is.
We started with the catfish egg rolls, which tasted like someone dropped a fish stick in Tabasco, put it in a wrapper and fried it. The three cup tofu is apparently their most popular dish. It looked beautiful and tasted completely uninspired. Tofu drowning in heavy, corporate "Asian" sauce with over-marinated cucumbers on the side. My limp pizza was the worst attempt at thin-crust I have encountered in Madison.
I guess this place is "cool" because the lighting is red and the waitresses wear stripes and polka dots at the same time. I've been here at night for drinks as well and found it very awkward. The music is loud, so there's no way to talk, but also no expectation of dancing.
The positives: They have a nice selection of beers on draft and the waitresses were polite.
So hip, so pretensious, so eh.
Natt Spil has a lovely solid drink menu, and considering the "atmosphere" you're paying for it is pretty standard pricing. Â I am a fan of their mojitos. Â As for the food, I think the previous reviewers summed up the misses quite nicely. Â Fortunately Natt Spil is located in an area where you can walk 5 blocks in almost any direction and meet up with amazing food. (so come for a drink, soak up the hip-ness, and then go eat somewhere else.)
My lady and I attended the Natt Spil with the intention of a Friday night dinner but unfortunately found the results very dissatisfactory. Â
While the decor is quite romantic and it's kinda cool to eat at a place that doesn't have a sign or a telephone the actual delivery isn't worth the setup. Â All the pre-eat impressing sets up the expectation for some fabulously hip food. Â The results however came as lackluster.
Ordering the Salmon with fried plantains and the Italian sausage pizza with feta we initially were excited. Â A change of pace ambiance and a diversified menu with a combination of different ethnic flavors seemed promising. Â With the placement of the dishes in front of us our eagerness seemed to fade. Â To start the presentation was mediocre. Â Admittedly there isn't too much you can do to make pizza look amazing. Â The Salmon however was not pink, served upside down, and was about the smallest piece of fish I have ever received. Â
Not a fish expert, I was told by my more knowledgeable girlfriend that the salmon was poor, not cooked well, lacking juices and a pink color. Â I found the fish ok, tasting fairly bland and without any spice to cover up the disappointing bland salmon flavor. Â The noodles that came with it were sort of a mix of curry and pad Thai which while better than the salmon were still rather dull noodles. Â
The pizza was admittedly better though still a small portion. Â The sausage was very good with a nice distinctive spice, the best part of the entire meal. Â The feta was tasty..but it's feta and the placement of it on the pizza was effective because feta is inherently tasty nothing above your own ability in the kitchen though. Â A dough and sauce that served as more of contributing flavors and less as bases would have helped. Â
The seemingly harsh rating is a judgment of the food not as a place to grab drinks with a friend. Â Their beer menu had simple selections highlights being some nearby Great Dane brews and an Ale Asylum. Â In the end the food isn't bad, but for a the $12 dollars the tiny dull Salmon dish cost and the $9 decent Pizza better tasting and equally unique Madison flavors can be found.
Nattspill = "night play" in Norwegian, in case you were curious...
Even though this place can be crowded (despite its stealthy sign-less entrance), I love it. Â It's dark and moody and the djs who play on the weekends are really good. Â Get there a little early so you can stake out the awesome back room with tree logs as stools. Â Their drinks are strong and goood, especially their mojitos. Â The food is pretty good, too, especially the pizzas. Â My friends are obsessed with the 3-cup chicken, but being picky and not liking dark meat, I'm not crazy about it. Â
Nattspill really is a killer place to play. Â Check it out.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
