Friday 4th of June 2010 11:15:32 PM

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Update 2008:
Stopped in again, and had a better experience. The atmosphere definitely has a unique feel to it, many textures and subtle touches add to the vibe here. Had the LL Prairie Moon on tap, which paired well with the crusted salmon sandwich I had. Creative dishes, you get what you pay for. Again, we were here early in the evening, so I can't comment on the late night debauchery that may occur here.

Original review:
Arrived here before 6pm, it seemed like we were the first patrons that night.

The place was cozy and dimly lit, with creative touches like wooden booths and red Chinese lanterns and Mandarin symbol ceiling tiles. It was a draw that they didn't have a sign and it was somewhat "hidden".

The kitchen was open and right behind the bar, which was a little awkward. The chef/manager was loud and condescending towards the kitchen staff. He kept bringing up "colorful" subject matter at the bar after we were eating and other patrons had arrived. The place was small and quiet enough that it was like he was giving some kind of profane soliloquy. Pretty annoying, given the mellow mood and music playing (Syd Barrett).

Finding Lake Louie and Great Dane beers on tap was the main draw, and the food turned out to be excellent. The applewood smoked pork sandwich came with cilantro, sliced jalapeño, carrot, and smoked tomato mayo on a baguette. A thin crust pizza with apple, brie, and shallots was also tasty. The beer selection wasn't huge, but was well thought out and had some local rarities. Our server was really attentive and also helpful. We were more interested in finding a chill place, and later found what we were looking for at Maduro.

Monday 5th of May 2008 01:11:58 PM

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I'm not sure that I would have found Natt Spil if I wasn't led there by others. The front is very unassuming and the place is long and skinny so it keeps a very low street profile.

They had about 8 or 9 draft handles and they all seemed like beers I could enjoy. Mostly craft regional beers from breweries like Lake Louie and Ale Asylum. The food menu looked interesting and the atmosphere definitely made me want to check the place out some more.

I only stayed for a pint, but I do want to go back and check Natt Spil out a bit more in the future.

Monday 13th of August 2007 11:04:35 AM

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Nat Spil is located in a narrow space just behind the Great Dane downtown. This place is easy to miss as they do not have a sign on the front of the building. An assortment of small tables is available out front for dining or socializing in the open air.
The interior space was dimly lit and narrow, but deep. On this visit we were able to sit at the bar with a good view of the chef working his magic. He is a true artist when it comes to his saucepan work. A flick of his wrist sends sauces skyward only to have them gently fold back over themselves. I was truly impressed if not jealous of this skill.
I had a pizza with thick cut pepperoni and fresh mushrooms it was cooked in what is rumored to be the only wood-fired oven in Madison, if not the only one in the state of Wisconsin. Others dishes our group tried were a chicken dish that came with a mound of white rice, and a steaming plate of mussels. The food was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The food menu is rather small, but the dishes are done superbly.
There were perhaps eight taps here and I had several Ale Asylum brews before I called it a night. This is a place that you can find a great meal and enjoy a great with it.
Nat Spil is definitely worth your time and money.

Wednesday 1st of August 2007 11:59:01 AM

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The beer selection here is good. It's about 8 taps and a good selection of bottles. A ale asylum, a couple lake louies, a dane (tho it's right down the street) and a few tasty others... The beers here are the cream on the cake, but not the real substance.... this place is probably the best rounded of the bars I've been to in madison... The liquor list is quite extensive and is a great bridger for those who's beer is not the first choice... giving it a great all in one sort of feel.

I've noticed the gear near the door a dozen or so times... it's always eye catching. The place sits maybe 10ish at the bar and another 30... there's a stube of sorts that you enter thru a rounded entry way in the back of the bar, the face that stares at you in that stube is something to take note of... apparently a dj spins records above the bar and right off the mens bathroom, but it's a very good use of space. What struck me as best in this place is it's comfortable vibe.... this is a place of relaxing, good conversation... its a true meeting place where people talking over a beer is truly comforting... No plasma, no loud college kids... this is a place of exceptional tastes and endulgences, but shattering my illusion of this... a family complete with baby stroller ate and was merry as well, so apparently it's a place for everyone... which impressed me all the more.

Service was good. We ordered too much, got our food boxed and wanted drinks afterward and forgot about us for a bit. But that was remedied with a move to the bar...

All in all a great place for beer and an exceptional meal.

there's only like 10 things on the menu, but they're all exceptional... and I think that's due to the wood stove, it's hard to miss, and as someone told me, it's great in the winter to drink a pint and relax all in the same breath..

Wednesday 20th of June 2007 07:10:03 PM

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This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

If you've spent any time in those long, narrow Chicago bars, you'll feel right at home in Natt Spil. When you enter, you're enveloped in several types of warmth: the red/ochre color scheme flirts with dark wood, the wood-fired pizza oven wraps its wool-sweatered arms around you, the small-but-quality tap and bottle list tips its hat like an old friend, the staff usually seems genuinely glad to meet you, and the menu... oh, the menu. Yeah, I like to eat here. It's an especially great place to visit after you've been drinkin' with friends (Maduro,anyone?), need to eat, and want just one more good beer before you hit the road.

Everything on the menu is tasty -- at least, everything I've had. It's a smallish list: about five apps, five entrees, and four or five wood-fired pizzas. The pork sandwich is to die for. I mean, there's pulled pork and then there's Natt Spil's pulled pork. And the only time you'll pay more than $10 for any dish is if it's a special that's priced that way. You'll get a delicious, homemade, well-priced meal no matter what you order. Hell, if you're with a group, get a few apps on top of your entrees. Mix it up. It's not going to set you back much at all.

Atmosphere's cozy and cool as hell, whether you're seated at the bar or snugged up at one of the tables. I've always had good service. If you can snag a seat at the bar in front of the cook and his stove, do it; it adds something special to the night.

Beer selection, as I mentioned, is short but quality. Of late, you can expect a few Lake Louie taps, one from the Dane, and one from Ale Asylum. Expect other good Wisconsin bottles and a few imports, like Xingu and Quollfrisch. If you're not in the mood for beer, the wine and liquor lists are well-put-together and reflect real interest in enhancing one's meal or general night out. I asked for something made with Campari last night and the bartender made me a Negroni. Delicious.

Just go, okay? If I pimp this place any more, I'll have to start working there.