The Half Nelson

half nelson has been so consistently amazing every time ive gone! this past saturday, we stopped by & our server was awesome, our drinks were perfect & our meals were just SO freaking good! the ambiance in there is so lovely as well. definitely one of the best restaurants in the QC ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – A Must-Visit Gem in Davenport! The Half Nelson is hands-down one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the Quad Cities. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between modern and cozy. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the food and drinks they serve. Speaking of the food—absolutely phenomenal. Every dish we tried was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The steak was cooked to perfection, and the crab-topped deviled eggs were a creative, delicious surprise. Their cocktail menu is top-notch too—crafted, not just poured. Whether you’re planning a date night, meeting with friends, or just treating yourself, The Half Nelson delivers a memorable experience every time. Can’t wait to go back!

Unexpected greatness. The Chef played to all the senses. Visually pleasing. Great balance of textures and flavors. Price was on the low side for what you are getting. The ABSOLUTE BEST waitress I have ever had. So engaging and sweet. (From SA) Restraunt decor is unique and adds to the overall experience. A must go establishment!

Where do I start with this place! The food is always incredible - Chef Connor puts his heart and soul into creating absolutely incredible dishes for the guests here. Seeing his creativity on a plate is a true treat!! Bren is always making up the best cocktails in the area also and is a hoot if you get to sit at the bar and get to know her! She is attentive, kind and checks in often. And lastly, Raven is so fun and sweet, always making our dining experience the absolute best. Her hospitality is top notch and truly, I wish every server was like her. Half Nelson - thank you for making meals memorable, having a beautiful atmosphere, hiring the best talent and giving us the best dining experience in town, consistently. This review was made in connection with a Toast promotion.

I feel like I’ve been under a rock for the last 6 years! This place is captivating. The wow factor when you walk through the doors! No part of this experience disappoints. From the service, food and drinks, down to the small details of the record player broadcasting over the whole restaurant. Matt, keep going! Thank you!

We routinely travel to the Quad Cities to enjoy their wonderful bike trails. Naturally we end the ride with a nice dinner. This spot never disappoints. Solid cocktails, had a Sazerac that was made very well. Duck breast was juicy and cripsy on the skin! Iberian pork collar stole the show! Like fried pork belly but better served atop mushroom risotto. Personally believe this is the best restaurant in the Quad Cities. Keep up the good work!

We had a delicious dinner here - the garlic salad was especially good. We didn't know what to expect with the banana split, but it was fantastic! Kind and friendly staff + good food + nice vibe = five stars.

Just passing through Davenport and so glad we picked this place to have dinner! We thoroughly enjoyed the crab beignets and garlic kale salad. The salmon was atrocious Atrociously delicious! And the CauliflowerTiki so so satisfying! The Pinot was the perfect pairing! Staff was excellent! Menu online is an updated so don’t look at posts over a month to pick😬

Fabulous food in a beautiful setting. Husband and I ate at the bar. I had the lamb and garlic salad--both were fantastic. He had the flat bread, which he liked. I'm an eater and i thought the serving size was perfect (i even had two lamb chops to take home w me). A great date night out in Davenport.

They ought to start calling this place the FULL NELSON, because there was nothing half about our expereince here! I took Becky out to eat for a belated Birthday Dinner on a Thursday and we got Right In. Becky said the the Decor was TIMELSS, and loved the open plan, brassy colours and unique textures Their menu was short and sweet- but that always means the kitchen has mastered their craft! Becky got the Sordfish with Creme Sauce, aparagus and rice, and I ordered the Lamb Navarin, grilled lamb with heavenly sauce (and carrots/potatoes). You all know that rice is usualy a filler on the place, but Becky said this rice was the star of the show (and she knows her rice!!) My lamb was very well done (actually a perfect medium- LOL!) cooked to perfection and well complemented by the chrispy salty potato and carrots. The portions aren't huge, but are packed with flavers, so next time, we'll order and appetizer!! It was OK this time because it left room for Becky and Me to get ICE CREAM at one of our favorite QC spots!!!

I went to the Half Nelson for a drink and stayed awhile. Everyone got the crab beignets and flatbread. I got the best salmon of my life!!!

Our waitress Cassidy was an absolute gem and delight! She was nice and definitely gave us options and offered us mocktails if we didn't want anything from the bar or soda. Whoever this chef is, he needs a raise. Everything we had was top tier. THERE WERE NO LEFTOVERS. The crab beignets, fantastic. The duck, mouth watering and the croquets with it were so crispy on the outside. I could've eaten a whole basket. The scallops with pork belly and plantains were phenomenal.

Did someone say crab beignnnyaaaayy?!? My god yes! One of the best appetizers I've had in Iowa for sure. My husband and I made a reservation here for our wedding anniversary on a work trip and it did not disappoint. Atmosphere- sweet bar. You can dine here casual or dress up and still feel comfortable. An updated classic. Love the touch of the old photos in the bathroom. Service- Service was top notch! Our waitress rocked! Maybe she is a professional photographer but she offered to take a pic for our anniversary and staged the table and everything! She was very attentive and provided great suggestions. They even acknowledged our anniversary with a great dessert. Food- yes yes and yes. Well I've already raved about the crab beignets.... But get them. I had the scallops and risotto, amazing! My husband had the pork collar. He wished it was cooked a little less but he's always on the brink of getting trichinosis. Finally the lavender dessert is to die for! I wished I lived in Iowa to eat it every day! The mezcal drink and the old fashioned were awesome! Especially the cube! If I'm ever in this area I will be back for sure !

The fried potatoes with arugula were delicious. Ambiance and waitress were excellent. The pork al pastor was unpalatable; akin to an elderly cut of pork with a can of sickly sweet Ragu pizza sauce slathered on top. The 10 gram piece of chicharron was good, though. Just grab a reservation at Duck City.

We have been wanting to try Half Nelson for a while. The service and drinks were great. I wish there was a place you could rate just based off of that because I would have given it a 5. I ordered the prime rib and it was good, but nothing special. Certainly didn't hit the mark for a $60 steak. My girlfriend got the burger and she didn't care for it, not because it was overcooked or anything it just wasn't anything special. This isn't a negative review, we just didn't think it was an amazing meal. I would go back and would encourage others to try it out as well.

Genuinely everything was excellent! The swordfish was rich and flavorful, the cocktails were super tasty, and the set up is totally inviting and makes you want to hang.

Pretty disappointed with my "32 hour braised" short ribs. There's no way they were cooked that long. Fatty slab of meat covered in salty thick reduction. If it had been cooked that long the fat would have rendered out and the meat would be falling apart. The response from the staff about the food was not good. I had been a long time customer, so it's unfortunate.

A QC gem. Upscale casual dining. This first timer was so pleased to discover chef prepared dining in river city. A limited menu of flavorful meats, seafood and pasta provide a choice for most any palette. Plan $35+ a plate plus drinks in a comfortable urban atmosphere. Our waiter was friendly and attentive but not intrusive. Outdoor dining is also available. Overall this was a very pleasant dinner.

Note: menu changes seasonally. Great ambiance, service, and food and drink (old fashioned).

Best dinner we've had in the Quad Cities. Raven's service was impeccable! Had the crab beignets as the starter. Menu rotates with the seasons so you can get something different every time.

Was hesitant to try this place from the reviews. I like to check places out for myself and happy I did. Unsure what the actual menu was inside the restaurant as all I could find was an order online menu as much of the time they are limited to what you can actually get while seated, couldn't find a drink menu online either. We made a reservation online a day prior for 7:15, showed up at 7:10 and our table wasn't ready. Waited 10 minutes for our table and was then sat at a different table than we were waiting for. The host was very kind and friendly. Once we were seated, we waited about 10 minutes before greeted by Rukkus, he was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We skipped the first course and ordered our drinks and main course. We ordered the pistachio-crusted barramundi and the spring chicken. I was told I could switch out my sides for any other sides listed, I wanted the polenta cake. Soon after order the sever came back and said the chef said I couldn't have that side, so went with the fingerling potatoes which was a bad idea because they were very dry and tasteless like they had been sitting out at a gas station under the heat lamp for a day or two. Other than those our meals were delicious! The white fish was very flaky and the pistachio crust was to die for. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy in and the farroto was flavorful. Our server talked us into the best dessert ever, the name was complicated but it was pecan crumble and ice cream, I won't do it just it but it was so yummy, trust me! The ambience here was nice and a great spot for a date or group or even singles as there is seating at the bar top. The hour and 15 they want to allow each table doesn't seem reasonable but the food does come out quick, just seemed a bit rushed. Somewhere I seen they once had shrimp and grits, wish they still had those on the menu they looked yummy.

We wandered in on a Friday night after a convention in the area. We were seated right away and the staff was very friendly even though we were still wearing our silly convention clothing. Food and drinks were both excellent!

Ambiance is amazing a little loud but doable. Great service from start to finish. We had the salad which was really good and then the cowboy steak and salmon. Girrrllll mmmhhmmm. So good. Will be back. Make reservations otherwise I promise you won't get it cuz it's just that good!!! Drink was so so good. Love this place!!

We've been a couple times. Solid cocktails and the seafood has been first rate. Kids menu is a bonus for the little man!

The ambiance in the restaurant is nice! The lighting, seating, and details are nice! The flatbread was very tasty. My filet was good too! Next time I'd visit, I would try the pork medallions for something different. I would come here again and recommend all try it.

Went there for a date because the restaurant looks fancy, we don't drink so we can't talk about it. I read up on yelp before going there so I ordered dishes suppose to be good. Crab cake taste like poorly crab, too much flour mixed and the sauce that came with too strong, I felt like eating regular frozen from store. The potato came out good but nothing outstanding. The steak is the lifesaver, hard to went wrong with it. The sunflower scallop is the most disappointed, it ruined the night!. I had the couscous first, it was ok, then I had scallop at first touch was great but then it was so ridiculous full of salty that's it!! I tried to continue with the sides and had a bite of steak. I could not come back with these scallop. The server didn't even ask about what I had it left. Food looks great but not worth $115 before tip

Some colleagues and I had dinner last night here and it didn't disappoint. Rukkus (yes that was his given name, we asked) our waiter was very knowledgeable and shared his favorite dishes with us to try. We took his suggestions and boy were we glad we listened. I had the scallops and was not disappointed the risotto was fantastic with so much flavor. To finish off the meal we shared some homemade butter pecan ice cream that may have been the best ice cream I have ever had. If you are in Davenport you must try this place. Next time I'm trying the pork and beans. Cheers Rukkus!!

The Half Nelson is a gem. We had an impromptu visit for dinner before a baseball game. My salad was amazing (fresh lettuce, refreshing flavor, great homemade dressing) and my husband loved his scallops with Capellini. The crab beignets are popular - but weren't a favorite of mine. The flavor was ok and they use real crab meat, but it was a texture thing. They were too soft and mushy for me.

My husband and I came here for our engagement anniversary dinner. The ambiance here is really nice - for both happy hour and dinner. Decor reminds you of a restaurant in Chicago or another major city. It was very nice. Unfortunately the drinks and food were mediocre at best. We got 3 cocktails. All pretty sweet. I ordered two cocktails and left both of them and couldn't finish them. Waitress didn't ask why. The food was pretty flavorless. It tasted better after I went home and added seasoning to it. The best thing here was the cake. The cake was surprisingly good. I won't be back, but it was good to have tried.

We had such a great experience here! Caden was an amazing server and anticipated all of our needs. He made great recommendations, he was friendly with our pup, and when we explained we were in a hurry he rushed our order and promptly got our bill. We were out of their in record time. The inside is beautiful, but we are outside because of our dog. The food though was so incredible. The garlic salad was super tasty. They make homemade croutons and crush them, mix it with Parmesan and lots of garlic and mix it with dressing. We were licking our plates. We also ordered the fish which was prepared perfectly. We'll be back!! Thank you, Caden!!!

I love the design and environment at Half Nelson. Also, the food has been consistently great and the service is always good. I would recommend experiencing this local favorite.

best meal I've had in Iowa thus far! The ambiance is fantastic, relaxing, fancy but not pretentious. Food is great- can be made gluten free as well! Service was so nice- super friendly and talkative without intruding. 10/10. Potato salad is a must. Fish lovely. Flatbread perfect. Filet is great.

I enjoyed my first experience at the Half Nelson restaurant located in downtown Davenport. I was very intrigued and impressed with how good tasting the Bourbon BBQ Pork chops were. The BBQ sauce was astonishing and I was more impressed with how good tasting the bourbon was within the sauce. I will defiantly be going back to this restaurant.

We finally went back to Half Nelson this weekend. It was ok. The server didn't know the items on the menu and could not describe how they were prepared: "I don't know what a Beignet is, sorry..." The Cipollini (seafood stew in tomato base) was overpowering and the seafood was overcooked anyway. The fries that arrived with my husband's meal were VERY well done, oddly, but his burger was ok. I wanted to try other items on the menu but with the shaky knowledge from the server, it seemed like a fool's errand, and it turns out the kitchen isn't executing the dishes very well either, so probably no love lost there.

The food was excellent. They easily accommodated no gluten. The server worked hard to make a great experience. She succeeded!

What a great recommendation from a local bartender! Our service was impeccable. She had great recommendations and the food was amazing. Thank you!

Was in town for work and looking for a place with fresh food and good atmosphere! Traveling for work and eating alone isn't always easy but when you find a place that is cozy, great food and excellent service then it makes it easier. This place was a recommended and I'm gonna recommend it as well. I got the shrimp and grits with a bacon red sauce. It was very reasonable for the portion. The taste was excellent and presentation was awesome! They don't skimp on the shrimp which is nice to see! Service was fantastic at the bar and it's a very cozy place. Definitely will be back to try some of the other foods! Also has a large bar with options.

Two words: CUTE + CLASSY! This is the perfect date night location. The atmosphere was so cute, the details of the walls, paintings, floors, etc. It's called the half Nelson because the other side of the building is a "bar" called bootleg hills honey mead. The drinks here were outstanding - my bf got the Drapers escape (old fashion) and I got the unwinding hours. They only have 6 options on their cocktail list so that told me that their cocktail was perfected which I can agree with. We started off with the soup of the day which was a creamy chicken Tuscan soup, excellent flavor. He had the filet mignon and added the lobster as a "surf n turf" and I had the chicken Madeira. His filet was cooked well but didn't have much flavor, although the risotto that came with it made up for the lack of flavor. The lobster was of course good and came with butter. My chicken entree had excellent flavor - it had grilled mushrooms, mashed potatoes and veggies. My bf who hates mushrooms even said it was really good. Our server, Jessie was very attentive and made sure the filet was cooked properly and food tasted good. They did not have a dessert list but she named off a couple (creme brûlée with butterfinger topping, cheesecake, fried bread pudding with ice cream..etc.) - they all sounded amazing but unfortunately we were too full from our dinner. So glad I found this gem on Yelp! 10/10 would recommend.

Great food, great service, highly recommend this place. The garlic salad is a must have!!!

Amazingly delicious seafood! I highly recommend! Crab Beignets Scallops were absolutely mouthwatering! I cannot wait to go back and try other things on the menu!

My boyfriend and I went to the half Nelson for dinner. We were not sure what to have so we ordered a couple of appetizers. The garlic and garlic and garlic kale salad was absolutely amazing. Whatever they made the croutons with was absolutely divine. We also tried the Carne Asada flatbread, which was also so flavorful! I highly recommend, having dinner here! All of the staff was amazing as well

Was traveling through for work and decided to stop in and thank god I did! Food, drinks, and atmosphere was amazing!!!

Visited a few times with coworkers, last Friday most recently. Relaxed setting, aesthetically pleasing restaurant appointments {especially if you're into Mid Century Modern stylings}. The servers were welcoming and also exhibited eclectic style that compliments the restaurant. I don't normally like Old Fashions, but Half Nelson's version was delicious. Be careful with the appetizers. The Crab Beignets and Flatbread are amazing and you WILL be full.

My favorite restaurant in the Quad Cities! The atmosphere is awesome. Service is always wonderful. The food and cocktails are amazing. The Pecan Chicken with mashed potatoes and All That Glitters are my go-to meal and cocktail. Highly recommend!

I've eaten here twice in the last six weeks and each visit was amazing. The food is excellent - I highly recommend the crab beignets - and they make some very unique, super-tasty cocktails as well. Highly recommended!!

Great good and drinks. The crab beignets were outstanding. Deep and broad collection of top booze from around the world.

Great date night spot! The filet was cooked to perfection, and the service was top notch!

The food at half Nelson was absolutely delicious, the service was exceptional and I will visit this restaurant every time I am in Davenport. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I was recommended by multiple townies to try this place! It was definitely a higher end restaurant and the service showed that. The young woman who served our table was happy to be serving us with a smile on her face! She gave us plenty of suggestions to try in each area of the menu, and they did not disappoint. The flatbread appetizer that we got was unbeatable, just simply delicious! My drink was never empty, and I never had to ask for a refill either. The ambiance made me feel like the young adult that I am and the soft lighting, music, bar, and happy vibes created the perfect environment! You have got to try out the variety of delicious menu items! 5/5 stars!!!!!!!

Visited for dinner midweek. The menu' had a nice selection of interesting cocktails and wine. We started with the fried crab cake and a garlic salad. The crab cakes were decent. The salad was average. For main dishes, we had the salmon, burger and pork chop. The burger was extremely overcooked and dry. The salmon and pork chops were average. Well cooked but basic. They were not particularly interesting or flavorful. Given the price point, I'd expect more interesting preparation. Atmosphere was nice. Spacious and reasonably quiet for an open space. The waiter was attentive and pleasant.

Husband and I were in town for 1 night ( NYE) and were so pleasantly surprised by the entire restaurant- decor, vibe, food, drinks, employees (especially Alexis!) if I ever find myself in Davenport again, will def visit again!

The Half Nelson is full awesome. Probably the best salmon I've had. I have nothing more to say.

Great drinks and atmosphere! The food has always been top notch. Service is a good 4/5. If you are looking for that one night a week/month date night then this will not disappoint! Well priced and expect to pay $75-$100 if you like to have a few drinks with your meal. Definitely a top 5 for restaurants in its category for the area.

Loud! Loud!! Loud!!! Would NEVER go back. Food average. Over priced. Service marginal

Amazing dishes! I came with a group and shared half a dozen appetizers. I would say my favorite dish was the crab. Modern Interior, great for a date or meeting (unless it's busy) the decor makes for interesting acoustics. Love the decor. Coffee is strong just how I like it. Great addition to the area. Yet to try the drinks. Will be back. Loved the privacy on a slow day around lunch. Great prices around that time as well.*

This restaurant is beautiful. The interior decor seems like something from the 50's with an extremely modern vibe. The drinks are delicious. If you want to go to dinner here, I recommend going early or being prepared to wait a little. I also recommend dressing up - this is not the place you should go to in sweats! As for the food, I was slightly disappointed. I ordered the lobster risotto and unfortunately it tasted slightly sweet... not at all what I was expecting. I also ordered the burrata and meatballs. The burrata was hardly a burrata... overall the food is delicious, but overpriced for what you get.

I wanna know why this place had the audacity to serve me the best meal I've ever had in my life. The pork tenderloin served with carrots and mash potatoes? Superb. That shit slapped me in my mouth it was so good. 10/10 recommend. The appetizers are great sizes, if you have the chance to get the crab cakes DO IT. I really regret not getting them.