T........s

As one would expect in Bellevue, The Novel Tree is a very high class establishment. When I arrived I was surprised that the door man was queuing clients up for when a Budtender became available. This reminded me a lot of visiting an Apple store but with a much shorter wait. Once my Budtender became available, I had her undivided attention until I decided I wanted to peruse the menu in peace. Once I had more questions or needed advice, I once again had the same young lady's undivided attention - this was wonderful. There was no pressure from the Budtenders, and they were fairly unbiased in their recommendations. I'm somewhat of a novice with this stuff, but they were still able to help me with every question even if my lingo was wrong. Prices are a bit higher than other stores in the general area, but I'd expect no less in Bellevue. Their prices seem to run about $5-15 dollars per strain higher than competitors who carry the exact same product. That said, I was happy to pay the premium price for the level of service that I received. The store itself reminds me somewhat of an art gallery, and as such seems somewhat crowded even when it's not In all, I would recommend this store to anyone looking for top shelf product in the Bellevue / Redmond area.

Herbal Nation was the first recreational store I visited, and the staff was exceptional. They provided first hand recommendations and were honest in their opinions. Look and feel is very cozy in the store, but can get cramped very quickly when it gets busy. When it gets busy, service quickly turns from personal to automated as the staff tries to whittle away their line. Completely understandable, but disappointing. Prices, I've found, leave a lot to be desired. On my first visit the prices seemed reasonable, about $65-75 for an eighth. As I've shopped around I have found that better prices can be found not far away, for what is in my opinion superior quality weed. I stop in for the specials, but any time I'm in the market for anything more than a gram or an on-sale joint I make my purchases elsewhere. The 510 cartridge I purchased several weeks prior ended up breaking shortly after purchase, but I'm glad I kept it. I mentioned my disappointment a few weeks later to a man who I assume to be the owner, and he told me to bring it back. Once I returned with the cartridge, he verified the defect and replaced it without issue. Aside from mediocre prices, my only other complaint is the limited quantities that are available. Very few things seem to be available in greater weight than an eighth (although this seems to be slowly changing each time I visit), and some items are only available in 1-2g increments. I prefer to pick up less often so I prefer to buy a half ounce or more at a time. In all, I would recommend Herbal Nation if you're looking for a bit less selection overload or don't want to drive far for your weed. If cost is a concern, there are better options available.

Bud Hut has quickly become my go-to spot to pick up my bud. Staff are friendly, eager, and extremely knowledgeable. Derek is on point, and has yet to steer me wrong with a single recommendation, and even the names I can't remember have a wealth of knowledge and experience with the products they sell. Bud Hut has a vast selection; many strains from a variety of farms, and have quantities at prices in everyone's budget - just last night I saw half ounces for as low as $100. I've picked up nothing but primo bud from these guys, and recommend them to everyone. The one time I had an issue, the store manager and assistant manager resolved it swiftly and were genuinely apologetic that it happened, and didn't make me feel like they were just trying to placate me or make me go away. I've held off on reviewing this store because I wanted to make sure that my experiences weren't just a fluke, and I'm sure glad they weren't. The experience that I've had with Bud Hut has been consistently top notch every single time I have gone in. What's even better is that the staff is usually the same on any given visit. I can get to know the Budtenders and establish a long term sales relationship with them, and that's important to me. As someone who isn't a pro in the industry, I really rely on a quality staff to point me to a great time. A+. I will happily recommend Bud Hut, its excellent selection, and great employees to everyone I know.