This was the best meal I’ve ever had. Not only are the dishes delicious, but the experiences with the wait staff and chefs is beyond comparison. Non-pretentious, homey, and intimate but more gourmet than anything I’ve ever had. Highly recommend visiting before Nook becomes world famous.

Nook has some of the best cuisine Madison has to offer. Their tasting menu consists of about 14 courses. The chef walks you through each of the courses before you begin to eat. The chef had a great personality and he made it seem like I was visiting an old friend with his charm and hospitality. The seating is communal style for 12 people, so you better get ready to socialize a bit at this dinner. I am vegetarian and Nook created a separate tasting menu for me. The food was delicious and innovative. Some of the dishes were so unique that I had never heard of them before. My favorite was a pesto pasta created from heart of palms. I even bought some heart of palms the day after to try and recreate this masterpiece of a dish. I went on my birthday and I even got a small “cake” made of chocolate ganache with a candle on it. I would definitely eat here all the time if the price was lower, but there is no doubt I will return for another meal the next time I get a chance.

The food is incredible, of course, but what sets Nook apart from other fine dining establishments is the atmosphere. With a single communal table with only 12 seats, right next to the kitchen, you are truly dining in the chef-owners’ “nook.” It felt almost like a dinner party with friends, but with the service and quality of a fine dining establishment. My water never ran dry, the dishes came out at a perfect pace, and the drinks were solid. Frankly, $100 for 13 courses is a steal compared to what you’d pay in a larger city. I went with a single wine a la carte but the pairing looked like a great deal too with 9 half-pours for $50. Chefs and servers were lively and friendly, and I dug the music (mostly 90s hip-hop and R&B). Make your reservations well in advance! They were booked 2 months out and we only got in because of the waitlist.

Been here twice now, and for sure plan on another trip. The food is fantastic, and the presentation -- of the food, the restaurant, and the people running it -- is a great time overall. Highly recommended.

I'm half tempted to leave a bad review to deter everyone from going so I can get a reservation! I love doing tasting menus, and Nook is hands down the best one I've been to from Madison to Denver. The food is beyond amazing, you leave so full and the atmosphere is top tier. As soon as I can get a reservation again, I'll be back!

This was such a great experience! Starting with tiny persistent bubbles all the way through to a tasty cookie bite, the food and paired drinks did not disappoint. Reservations are hard to come by, but it's worth the effort and wait. Shout out to CC, Major and the party of 8 we shared our experience with, y'all were great dinner companions. I can't want to return to Nook again and again!

Most excellent experience. This was our first time at Nook and the food was absolutely incredible. Each course was impeccably executed, both visually and by taste. Chef Noah was an absolute joy. Highly recommend this gem of a restaurant, Madison is so fortunate to have the Nook!

I wanted to love this place and waited for months to get a reservation but unfortunately the food didn’t live up to the hype. I will say that the food was beautifully plated, innovative and diverse. The atmosphere is lovely. The chef/owners are down to earth, it’s not stuffy like other fine dining and the vibe is playful. The music is 90’s hip hop and rap which is surprising but fun! The service is great and they are very accommodating to dietary restrictions. I can’t eat shellfish and they have gluten free menu options too! My biggest issues with the meal were two dishes were extremely over salted which is very disappointing. I have a high salt tolerance so this is not something I usually complain about. Second, the venison was super tough and they did not serve it with knives so it was a strange experience to eat. I ended up picking it up with my hands which was fine and fits the vibe of this place. I wasn’t a fan of the chocolate mole pairing but that might just be preference. I felt like it over powdered the venison. Two dishes were amazing: the pea soup with cream and a pesto and the Romain boat with grapefruit! I also quite liked the custard dessert which was so creative but I thought the custard needed more citrus to cut the sweetness. My final qualm is environmental/ethical. The menu was very neat focused which is fine but almost everything was flown in from crazy far away places. It felt like a strange disconnect after the chef talking about how they love nature and foraging but then the main ingredient in each dish was from thousands of miles away. So many nice restaurants in madison use farm to table locally available meat and produce u was disappointed that nook didn’t consider their environmental impact more.

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.

The ever-changing menu and genuine love the owners/chefs have for what they do makes for a truly unique experience. You don’t know what you’re going to eat, but you can count on still thinking about at least a couple of the dishes months later because they are just that good.

Pretty fantastic experience, please read other reviews for positives and I absolutely echo their sentiment. However, I am giving a four star rating because the two times I have been, I have found that about half of the food was “too flavorful”…. Too sweet, too salty, too acidic, too rich… etc. As someone who does not love sweets, I also really did not like that 4/13 courses were desert. By the end I honestly wanted to throw it away. Overall it is a really fun experience and I will definitely go back to enjoy times with friends and the food and experience is incredible quality… just a bit much for me.

Prepare to take your taste buds to the moon. Come hungry and leave in a state of bliss. Food is art. The 13-14 course meal over 2 hours is a feast not only for your taste buds but also for your eyes. The small communal atmosphere adds to the experience. Chef Noah and his wife have created a gem on Atwood Ave 🤘🌟

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.

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.

The absolute best! If you have what it takes to get a reservation here, you will be rewarded with not just some of the most amazing food but an absolutely wonderful dining experience. Cannot recommend enough!!