Natt Spil

My favorite bar in Madison… no, in Wisconsin (and that says a lot because we all know how many bars are in this lovely state). I’ve been going to Natt Spil for years and it has NEVER let me down. The atmosphere is sexy and the drinks/​food are delicious. What more could you want?! My only complaint is that it is cash only, but that isn’t really a big deal. I highly recommend this place to those looking to escape the undergraduate mess that occurs on/​near State St. or for anyone who needs a late-​night meal and prefers to have it served to them by friendly waitstaff. I

My friend and I stopped by Natt Spil before The Nutcracker on a Friday evening. It was my first time and my friend’s second time dining there. When we arrived, around 5:30, the place was pretty empty, save a couple of folks at the bar and another table of people. When we sat down, the waitress came over immediately to ask for our drink order. My friend ordered her drink, but I wasn’t quite ready and asked for a minute to check it out. We did not a get a minute. We did not get two minutes. We got FIFTEEN minutes until our waitress came back to check on us. My friend tried to get our server’s attention at least four times, and each time it was almost as she made a conscious effort to ignore us. When she finally came back we were ready to order drinks, our appetizer, and our food. I ordered my food and my drink, and when my friend ordered her food, she mentioned her drink again. The waitress replied, «you already ordered that.» My friend kindly pointed out that she hadn’t received it yet, to which the waitress barked back that the bartender was busy because there were a lot of people coming in. Okay, then. When I was finally brought my drink (a cider) it came in a can, which I was unaware of. I would have liked a glass to drink it in, but our server literally did not come back until after our dinner had arrived and my drink was mostly gone.
I was really hoping that the food would completely make up for the poor service we had received, but sadly, I was not impressed. We ordered the spicy cheese wontons which were basically giant fried wontons with a teeny tiny bit of (not spicy) cheese in them and some kind of (maybe?) sriracha sauce. I didn’t like them at all. It came with three, and my friend and I both only ate one. Very quickly after the appetizer had arrived, our food came. The table was super cramped. I appreciate that the food came quickly, but it drives me crazy when the dinner comes within like five minute of the appetizer. I choose the brie and apple pizza for my meal. This was the best part of the entire experience, but it still wasn’t that great. The pizza itself was cooked perfectly. The crust was excellent. The toppings, however, were a bit lackluster. I was expecting more flavor from a pizza with brie, apple, shallots and sage. It definitely wasn’t bad, it just needed a little more… something. I would have tossed a bit of salt and/​or pepper onto it, but there weren’t any shakers at the table.
When we left, the restaurant was still not full, which surprised me, because I have always heard Nat Spill described as one of those tiny places that you have to get to early to get a seat. This was definitely not the case, and it seemed like they had trouble serving the patrons they did have. This restaurant is listed on Madison.com’s list of 30 plates that define Madison, but honestly, it was a pretty big disappointment. I can overlook bad service for really good food. I can overlook just okay food if there’s really awesome service. This place had neither. Bummer.

Ok, I get it. It took a while, but I totally get it.
Natt Spil is to dog owners what a cat is. Wait… what? Let me explain… the number one complaint about cats? «They’re not dogs.» And they’re not supposed to be. Cats are their own creatures. They do their own thing, and they don’t care what anyone else thinks. They march to the beat of their own drum. They’re cool without trying to be cool. They’re masters of their domain.
And that’s what Natt Spil is. It’s so cool; it really is. It’s not trying to keep up with the Joneses. So what if it doesn’t have 39 taps? The beer they have is usually quite *amazing*. Not a beer fan? No worries. They have some stellar mixed drinks and a diverse wine list.
Yeah, the menu is small. But it’s big on winners. 3-​cup chicken??? Are you kidding me? It’s unreal. Dave’s pork sandwich? Amazeballs. Brick oven pizzas? Yes, please. Still not sold? Check out their always-​changing daily specials.
Pickled veggies, tomato cucumber salad, dim sum — all are truly excellent. I get them with every visit.
So… color me sold. I love everything about this place. I love the vibe, the lighting, the background music, the comfiness; hell, I even love the bathrooms.
Pro tips:
+ Sit at the bar if you can
+ Ask for suggestions; servers are usually outstanding
+ Sit at the bar
+ Get the pork sandwich
+ Get a pizza
+ Try one of the signature mixed drinks
+ Relax and enjoy

Can not say enough good things about this place. My favorite place to go in Madison for sure!
Wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
The menu is small, but diverse, and you truly can’t go wrong with ordering anything on it.
I like starting out with some of the dim sum options – the spicy cheese wontons are my favorite.
If you have never been, then for entrees I recommend one person getting three cup chicken (or tofu) and another person getting the pork sandwich because both are amazing.
Their pizzas are great too, can’t go wrong there either and they have both veggie and meat offerings. Did I mention you can get a pizza with brie on it?! Um, amazing. And I almost forgot their tomato and cucumber salad is also a favorite of mine. It sounds simple, but I promise it’s very good.
And it’s not just their food, they have great drinks too. If you like a spicy drink, I recommend the orange dragon. They have a wide variety of unique drinks on their menu and they house infuse some of their liquor as well (e.g. lemon grass infused vodka)
The place itself is small, cozy, and dimly lit. Many nights there is a live DJ spinning in the back. If you have a large group, be prepared to wait a little while, but it’s worth it, plus you can try some of their drinks while you wait. Also be advised that it is cash only. I’ve never had anything but excellent service, excellent food, and excellent drinks here.

This is and will remain my favorite bar/​restaurant/​hangout in Madison, until further notice. The BEST date place, unless of course you’re dating some hoity toity fancy person. The best ambiance. I love the dark factor. 9 times out of 10 there’s an excellent dj. Pizza gets an A+, mussels as well. It’s not on the menu anymore but you can still order their Key Lime martini… and it’s amazing.

I got the 3 cup chicken, and the portions are VERY generous. Now a late and large lunch today did influence that assessment, but it is still objectively a good amount of food, and I eat a lot. I don’t actually like zucchini so I took that out, but it doesn’t detract from my rating. The reason I’m leaving this as a 3 instead of a 4 is because there was just too much sauce. They could have easily halved it and it would still be flavorful, but it was kind of overpowering as it was. One person told me the tofu is better than the chicken but I can’t comment on that.
Keep in mind this place is cash-​only and does not have a phone number (I asked) so you can’t call in a to-​go order.

My wife and I were invited here on what might have been the coldest night of the past winter. We parked our car and walked around the block. We didn’t find the restaurant, so we walked around the next block. I don’t remember how we eventually figured out that the assholes who run this place decided not to post a sign in order to be edgy or something, but I do remember that I couldn’t feel any of my limbs when I finally staggered in 20 minutes late.
Since we were so late, I assumed that everyone else had ordered, so I quickly asked the waiter for some sort of pizza when
he came by. He sneered back, «Maybe you should let the ladies order first.» What an asshole– exactly the kind of guy who works at a place without a friggin’ sign.
The pizza was fine. I won’t be back to try it again.

FOod is always great here, but service was shotty this time around. My friend and I approaches the hostess stand and asked if there were any available seats (the place looked busy) and she told us we could go check for ourselves – so much for customer service!
Food was good but took a long time and our waitress was super busy. We also mistakenly sat next to a loud table with 5 children under the age of 2 that were screaming the whole time. This kind of ruined the atmosphere.

Ah, the good ol’ Spil. This place is one of my favorites in Madison for so many reasons.
The vibe is awesome, warm, low light, oriental feel, relaxing and very chill. There are DJs playing a variety of awesome music to keep things fun. The place also smells of amazing food being made as you can basically see your food being prepared. Traffic fluctuates through the evening which makes it pretty fun. The spil is busy for a reason. It is a great place.
The staff. This is something I come back for. The staff is inviting, friendly, as well as professional. From the bartenders, to servers, cooks and even the door guy, the staff works hard to ensure you are having a great time. They keep the bar top clean, they clear your plates swiftly when finished eating, they move well through the small spaces. Brett and Laurel, who generally tend bar are great. Fun time, super kind… Great people.
The food. The good stuff! This place has a menu that is consistent and great all around. There pizzas are my favorite. The wood fire oven in the middle of the does work! Great ingredients on a crispy crust. The three cup chicken is a favorite among many. The chefs are great and it is also fun to watch them work! Start off anything with the Shu Mai, it’s damn good.
The drinks. They know their stuff on this one. From martinis, cocktails, mixed drinks, their signature coffee shot (home made coffee infused vodka) they strive for excellence. Drinks are balanced, light and taste great.
Like I’ve said. The Spil is amazing for many things, a first date, a solid go to spot to eat, or a solid start or end to the evening for a good drink. Could not recommend it more. 5 stars no question.

Natt Spil is our favorite place to stop into when we’re downtown in the later hours. We stop in, have a couple of unique drinks, and take in the atmosphere of one of the hidden gems of downtown Madison.
Both the food and drink menus have unique twists on some familiar drink specialties. We love trying the new drinks out, and the infusion of heat/​spicey taste (in both food AND drink) is why we keep coming back.
The atmosphere is a little tight, and when the Majestic is playing a popular show the seats can fill up quick. But overall, you’ll likely be able to find a seat in Natt Spil.

Excellent food, excellent beers, ambiance is dark comfortable asian/​german with a DJ pumpin something loud, and usually good.
One thing I didn’t like is that the waiter would not do separate checks. When I asked him «why is that?» he said «because we don’t do separate checks, I can tell you your individual totals if you like» which to me was a barely acceptable answer mainly because this place is dope and I’m not about to get my panties in a bunch and get banned from this joint.

Writing bad reviews makes me nervous, especially when talking about local establishments. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do…
After reading many glowing reviews by my peers, I had high expectations for Natt Spil. This sweet little hole-​in-​the-​wall promised excellent food and a relaxed atmosphere. The venue delivered. I enjoyed to low lighting and chill environment, but the service was slow and lightly attentive. The food, sadly, sort of paled.
The biggest bother was the tomato cucumber salad. Chunks of tomato and cucumber had been marinated for what felt like days at room-​temperature. The soggy texture was unappetizing, but I ate it because it was one of two vegetable-​heavy options on the menu. You’d think the dish would have more finesse because they also served it as a side for the 3 cup chicken, one of their most popular dishes. And I’m not entirely sure why the 3 cup chicken is so popular… I could have got something of the same quality from a Chinese take-​out place. The spring rolls were bland, with a sweet bottled chili sauce. Not my jive… The dumplings (shu mai), on the other hand, were fine. I’ve had better at a dim sum house in Kansas City, but I’m pretty sure these are the only ones of their kind in Madison, so try them if you’ve never experienced them.
The pizza at Nat Spill still makes me a little curious. I haven’t had it, but maybe that’s what people go there for? I already found a few pizza places in the area that I really enjoy, so not sure I’m curious enough to go back…

Why do love Unilocal?Let me count the ways:
–I pay more attention to what I am eating
–I focus on the surroundings and the service
–I get to write about a food!
But mostly I enjoy meeting other Unilocalers. I recently met Kelvin at a Unilocal event. He is 25, I am not. He asked if I would like to get together with him and his girlfriend. I was thrilled to do so.
The three of us met at Nat Spil. We way over-​ordered but each and every dish was excellent. The food was presented beautifully and each dish was full of flavor. Servings are generous and we shared everything.
My favorites were the mussels, this time with the cream, and the Mediterranean Spreads. The mussels were plump and luscious. The other dishes were delicious; Apple Brie Pizza, Three Cup Chicken and shu mai.
Oh, how could I forget about my Caipirinha. It was sooooo goood.
I love this place.

Two things that you need to know 1) it’s cash only (as someone that never has cash on them, I think it important to know — plan for it!) and 2) if they’re busy, don’t sit on the side of the table where people walk by if you’re bigger (I got bumped a ton!).
There, now that those points are out there… it is quite the ‘hole in the wall’ but not quite a dive bar … bar. You may miss the entrance on your first visit. The inside is dimly lit, allowing for an intimate experience — maybe not for the first date, but definitely the third!
I still need to make it back to try the food, so far I’ve just gone for what was supposed to be just one drink and turned into several. That place will do it to you, haha.

Natt Spill is fun and kind of different. I’d recommend it more for grabbing a drink and a snack than for getting a complete meal.
The vibe is kind of hip but also low key. The front looks like a somewhat nice bar and then there’s a back cove area which is a little cozier.
I didn’t dislike the food, but the menu isn’t exactly cohesive… pizza and Asian cuisine. We split a pizza and one of the chicken dishes and had a nice time. Definitely a plus that most items are shareable.
Overall, I give 4 stars because it’s something different. Probably wouldn’t go everyday, but it’s a nice spot to hang out with friends when you’re sick of your usual places.

We got treated well for walking in tipsy as a party of ten late on a Monday night. They quickly found room for us in their little alcove in the back of the restaurant. It took too much time for the server to come, but I think they realized this and quickly made up for it.
The chips and salsa were a life savor.
We split 3 wood-​fired pizzas; Natt Spill Sausage, Greek Goddess Love Nest, and the pepperoni and mushroom. All Divine!
Definitely a quality choice for a beer and a pizza.

We went to dinner here Saturday night around 6 p.m.
The first thing I noticed was how dark it is inside. I’d heard that this was a great date restaurant, but given the noise level, audible conversation is difficult. The décor is eclectic, with Chinese lanterns suspended overhead, stuffed animals (the taxidermy kind) in glass boxes, and various forms of carved and rough-​hewn wood throughout. It was intimate and warm, in a way that was reminiscent of Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, back in the day.
Our waitress let us know that she was new, right off the bat. Being new makes certain things excusable, but never acknowledging people, smiling or making eye contact when you are constantly passing directly by their table isn’t one of them. Given the noise level, it becomes even more important to look.
So, how was the food? Drinks were great, right?
Uneven, and wrong.
DC really enjoyed the chips and salsa. The presentation was very appealing, with a dollop of guacamole in the center of a wide dish of salsa and plentiful, well seasoned chips. They noted an odd meat-​like flavor to the guac, which they said wasn’t a bad thing. I didn’t try them, but those go in the win column.
The Shu Mai was a standout winner for me. Tons of fresh garlic, big chunks of pork and shrimp, wrappers toothsome and not gummy, and presented in a generous amount of sauce that was so freaking good that I poured the rest of it on my salad. WoW. At $ 4 per plate of three, it was also a great value. WoW. WoWiE WoW WoW. More like Dim YUM!
DC had mussels, which they said were pretty standard, average, nothing special, which given the price, they expected better. I don’t like mussels, so I couldn’t agree or disagree. Also the pork sandwich was reportedly just OK. Not bad, not great.
The biggest letdown was the cocktail. We both ordered the same drink which arrived basically undrinkable. I would say it was 90% rail quality rum, a couple lime wedges, and 10% ice. We sent them back to be adjusted, and when they came back ten minutes later, we could detect no adjustment. Very disappointing, but the waitress did agree not to charge us for them, when we requested that.
I’ll go back, maybe to try the pizza, and will probably stick to beer next time.
Shu Mai: 6 stars out of five. Did I mention the Shu Mai? No? Do you have a minute? Pull up a chair, actually this might take awhile.

Came here while bar hopping downtown for a first date… pretty fun place… just not the place for a first date due to it being so loud.
But…The atmosphere is super awesome at Natt Spil! it was really dimly lit but the candle lit tables help bring that extra glow… especially with the good company I had, made it a bit more cozier.
I ended up getting the Hot Bourbon Cider off of their ‘Specialty Cocktails’ a bit too strong for me, but very tasty non the less. And we also shared the chips, guac and salsa… pretty good.
When we were there they had a DJ coming in, so soon after he started playing we ended up leaving just due to the noise and trying to talk. But seems like it would be a fun place to get drinks, and do a little dancing maybe?
Also…our waiter was pretty fantastic as well! Pretty attentive to us and always making sure we were well taken care of.

Insider tip!
(If you can’t or don’t read the chalkboard.)
Specials are stellar, and there’s usually two. Ask about ‘em.
Get ‘em both.
Thank me later.
I feel like typically there’s a small plate and a ‘za, although earlier last week it was a fall soup and the best egg rolls I’ve encountered here, pork and wild mushroom whaaaaaaa? We started with an order then ended our evening with another order.
So ask. Or read.
The more you know.

I’m sad to write this place isn’t what it used to be. Went early on a Saturday evening to have a cocktail and small plates.
I started with the raspberry kombucha Collins. It has gin, which I prefer to whiskey (the other drink they make with kombucha), but it wasn’t great. I’m often afraid the fruit added to a cocktail will be overpowering, but in this case, I would not have known there was raspberry in my drink if it hadn’t been listed on the menu. I was looking forward to a drink with kombucha, but this just didn’t do it for me.
My husband and I shared 3 items:
— pickled vegetable salad: I love pickled veg, but this was so terrible I could not eat it. The dish would benefit by having less — a lot less — vinegar. I was surprised when the nearly full bowl was left and I told the waitress I didn’t like it that she didn’t remove it from our tab or offer to bring something else.
— three cup chicken: it sounds so amazing on the menu, but it’s the equivalent of fast food Chinese you might find in an office or school cafeteria. The flavors did not match the description, and the «chicken» pieces were shaped like small pellets. Definitely some sort of over processed chicken meat product.
— Middle Eastern plate: this was quite good. I liked the purées, although they were a bit on the stiff side. I really liked what they did with the pita. It had some olive oil drizzled on it and had been in the oven long enough to make it perfectly crispy. That’s good stuff! The olives were good as well.
It’s such a distinctive little place, I expect the food quality to be much better. I hope they can kick it up a notch.