Cafe Bistro

Always loved this place. 19 for just a turkey sandwich. I didn't want fries. Got charged anyway and didn't know charge to sub soup. Disappointed now and won't be back.

I haven’t been here in a while and it was nice to go back. The food was phenomenal. It’s not cheap, but you’re not going to the bistro in Nordstrom for a “good deal” anyway, right? I got a cup of their legendary bisque and it was so delicious while not being overly creamy and rich (in my opinion.) I also got the lump crab, avocado and mango salad and every single ingredient was fresh and tasty and the dressing was just a perfect accompaniment- not overbearing. Their hot tea selection was also great- had a jasmine green that was lovely. Here’s the unexpected part: I sad at the bar so in full view of the kitchen and the back and forth between the manager/expeditor, servers and chef/cooks. I spent several years working in restaurants and I was just floored with how incredible this crew was! Everyone was calm and respectful to each other (tough to do during a rush) while also communicating and moving everything through with a sense of urgency. The clear focus on providing a great experience was evident. Super impressive! This gets me to my next point and frankly my only “complaint” about my visit: the setup where you pay (and presumably tip) in advance is clunky and I’m certain leads to fewer tips than this crew clearly deserves. Asking customers (not at the bar) to tip in advance of any service received is a recipe for receiving no tip or a very small one. So few people have cash on hand to tip after the meal so, at the very least, there should be a second opportunity to tip on a card. The pay up front model fits with a cafeteria or buffet- not a high end bistro with excellent service- just my two cents.

Ordered a French dip at 5:30pm CT and Alfredo pasta to go. No au jus with the French dip and the pasta was hard and looked like it had been sitting out since 11am. My craving for a French dip was not satisfied when I am dipping it into warm milk.

Every time we go to eat dinner they are closed! Who closes at 7pm? Please update your hours!

Our food was very good. The hamburger was cooked just as I ordered. My wife said her panini was very good, too. Strange that the panini wasn't pressed, but cooked like a grilled sandwich. Generous amount of fries as well. Orders for food were taken at the hostess stand before seating. Took off a star because I thought it very forward that I was asked if I wanted to include a gratuity before we had any service. I'm not used to that idea for a restaurant.

My wife and I visited for lunch. We were recommended this place by a friend of ours who used to work at Nordstrom. This place is delicious! We did have to wait for a table, but not too long. It was a busy time. My wife tried a fig and berries salad, while I had the French dip prime rib sandwich. Both were out of this world. The prime rib was very tender and flavorful! We ended the meal with some bread pudding for dessert. Very tasty! It is a bit pricey, but worth trying out!

placed an order for food both to go and dined in, food is well prepared, portioned, and also family friendly. it is worth the wait however if you are impatient you have someone in your family or friend hold a place in line, just remember its about 10-15 minute wait or longer depending on the day of week or any type of promotion Nordstrom does in store. I have long to love the cilantro lime shrimp salad, the soup of the day, chef's special, sandwiches and new items I usually taste while I am there. Why not check it out for yourself. Menu changes with the chef's feature special.

Fantastic tomato soup at an awesome price 🍅🥣 It even came with the most tasty piece of bread I have ever had in my LIFE ... YUMMY! PERFECT!

I had seen the bistro a couple times while shopping at Nordstrom, but never ventured inside. Finally did. What a great place to dine in the mall! Located on the second floor of Nordstrom, you order and pay at the counter, take the receipts/tickets in and find your own table. The staff was great--nice, friendly and helpful. They come check your tickets, submit it to the kitchen, and bring your drinks. The food was delicious!! The ambiance was great. Excited to go back and try more items on their menu.

Kitchen took inordinate amount of time to get order out and the restaurant wasn't that busy. Cilantro lime shrimp salad was nothing like its heyday here. The lettuce had no crunch. The positive: the server was pleasant and attentive. Was hoping for a return to quality food here- Domain location is far better.

Decent breakfast sandwich and salad. The butter served with the roll was actually one of the highlights, slightly sweet, hints of cheese, all around great butter! Pretty high price point for what you're getting. It was also noticeably warm, almost hot as soon as you stepped in from Nordstroms. An interesting experience to check out once, but hard to justify making this a repeat thing.

On a whim we decided to try our old haunt Nordstrom's bistro. To summarize --We were super jazzed that the food and service are back to pre-Covid days. Perhaps a new manager is running the place? We Noticed right off that the employees were quite cheerful. Also, we were surprised that the assistant manager, MANDO brought us our food! A warm and wonderful guy who was genuinely interested in our dining experience. Leah's service cheerful ways were lovely... Just the right amount attention. The chef that made the Texas style burger madeA hell of a burger-- just like the appetizer and Brussel sprouts! We will becoming back on a regular basis---yahoo!!

The quality of the restaurant itself, the ordering process (you have to wait at the cash register in line to order like it's Panera bread but it's $30+ per person), the food, seating, and ambiance is dramatically lower than at the domain or La Canterra. Yet, this location charges more than La Canterra. Needs a renovation and reorg.

I haven't been here in a while and it was nice to go back. The food was phenomenal. It's not cheap, but you're not going to the bistro in Nordstrom for a "good deal" anyway, right? I got a cup of their legendary bisque and it was so delicious while not being overly creamy and rich (in my opinion.) I also got the lump crab, avocado and mango salad and every single ingredient was fresh and tasty and the dressing was just a perfect accompaniment- not overbearing. Their hot tea selection was also great- had a jasmine green that was lovely. Here's the unexpected part: I sad at the bar so in full view of the kitchen and the back and forth between the manager/expeditor, servers and chef/cooks. I spent several years working in restaurants and I was just floored with how incredible this crew was! Everyone was calm and respectful to each other (tough to do during a rush) while also communicating and moving everything through with a sense of urgency. The clear focus on providing a great experience was evident. Super impressive! This gets me to my next point and frankly my only "complaint" about my visit: the setup where you pay (and presumably tip) in advance is clunky and I'm certain leads to fewer tips than this crew clearly deserves. Asking customers (not at the bar) to tip in advance of any service received is a recipe for receiving no tip or a very small one. So few people have cash on hand to tip after the meal so, at the very least, there should be a second opportunity to tip on a card. The pay up front model fits with a cafeteria or buffet- not a high end bistro with excellent service- just my two cents.

This place is all about presentation, and the vibe and service are nice, but they price it to match how it looks, without the food quality to match. The appetizer tacos use hard taco shells, and the chicken in them seemed very ground up, definitely not fresh. The veggies were fresh though The crab bisque soup also definitely wasn't fresh. Very little actual crab, too. I suppose given the volume and location this makes sense, but again the pricing is too high for this quality of food.

This is for the stellar service that Scott delivered. He is the best server here. He is engaging and friendly. We enjoyed the food, easy to order (upfront) and comfortable. Food came in fast and efficiently. Nice break from shopping to get fuel for more shopping!

Friendly staff, great coffee, yummy breakfast. We enjoyed our breakfast very much. The fruit smoothie with granola and fresh banana was delicious. The bacon, spinach, cheddar quiche was outstanding. I recommend!

You will be pleasantly surprised if you decide to go to Cafe Bistro. I know I was surprised over Cafe Bistro being so delicious despite it being owned by Nordstrom. Nothing wrong with Nordstrom, I just wasn't expecting a department store to be capable of opening such a killer restaurant. You should have no problem with finding parking near the Nordstrom entrance of Barton Creek Mall. Be aware that you should dress on the nicer side. This cafe isn't a casual cafe where you can just wear some casual jeans and t-shirt outfit. My favorite dish is the turkey club sandwich. The club sandwich is chock full of your typical parts of a sandwich: tomatoes, lettuce, turkey, etc. But it's not like you'll have a hard time taking a bite out of the sandwich without food falling out from the sandwich. The fries that come with the sandwich are just as good too. They are neither too crunchy nor too mushy, and they come with their own sauce. As for the dessert options, I always go for the bread pudding. Cafe Bistro has the best bread pudding in Austin as far as I know. The white chocolate sauce is so smooth and buttery, and the bread pudding itself is so tender. You can definitely chew on the bread pudding and realize it's bread, but nowhere is there any hard spots that they forgot to soften for serving. The bread pudding is aesthetically pleasing because the plate is covered with the white chocolate sauce, and a small swirl of raspberry sauce is added in case you like your bread pudding dipping sauce to be more fruity. The mint leaves and the couple of raspberries are a nice finishing touch.

placed an order for food both to go and dined in, food is well prepared, portioned, and also family friendly. it is worth the wait however if you are impatient you have someone in your family or friend hold a place in line, just remember its about 10-15 minute wait or longer depending on the day of week or any type of promotion Nordstrom does in store. I have long to love the cilantro lime shrimp salad, the soup of the day, chef's special, sandwiches and new items I usually taste while I am there. Why not check it out for yourself. Menu changes with the chef's feature special.

Did heavy shopping at Nordstrom's and guess what I look forward to is the Bistro resturant they do have several menu items you have to try. One is the French onion soup amazing flavor of perfectly baked very well, has a less salty taste than most onion soups I had which I felt compelled to let everyone know it was bursting with flavors of onions with melted cheese. I also ordered the Mushroom Pepperoni Pizza so good between the two I truly loved both equally. My wine that was served to me was a Rose' a real summer type of wine light and perfect for the occasion. The waiter was very attentive and loves the fact he always made sure butter with bread was served to me after a busy day for me. The bar is also a nice touch cool decor and seemed to be busy. So many people visit this amazing place to shop and eat. Highly recommend this sweet place to everyone.

Great food, great ambiance, great service, and good prices. The mango crab salad was incredibly fresh. The French dip au jeu is one of the best. French fries are exceptional. Highly recommend this restaurant!

This is the best place to get a meal at the mall if you want something that isn't fast food. Tucked away in Nordstrom, you'll have time away from the crowds to refuel for more shopping. The ordering process is a bit confusing. You order your food up front, pay, and then you are seated and have a server. Make sure you request to add a tip when you pay for your meal. There is not a place to add a tip on the receipt and you won't have an opportunity to tip after your meal unless you have cash.

So like today I went to this restaurant and I expected it to be like super good. First I waited like so long in line to be seated and my legs were hurting like so much. When we sat down the water had like a bunch of ice in it so I thought it be cold but when I was swallowing it it tasted warm. I ordered the margarita pizza and the simple salad and when it came I was unpleased. The margarita pizza tasted like bread and cheese it literally didn't have sauce. The salad was like really bad it was super dry and it only had tomatoes in it. I felt super sick after and I'm never coming back again. I had super high expectations. Never coming back! #Ew #lol

Yelp pointed me to this place and it was worth going back into the mall for. The menu was quite eclectic with lots of healthy choices but of course I got the special which was pasta! Haha also with chicken, brussels, and artichoke. The service was impeccable and quite impressive even at the height of lunch. Now here's my sole complaint. I don't carry cash. You order and pay up front and the ticket is closed. That would possibly signal that there isn't a need to tip the server that provided you excellent service. Wrong. This is not a tip inclusive place. I asked my server if he could reopen the check for me. He said he has to reswipe the card and I tell him what to put. He was very appreciative since they only earn minimum wage. Now...how many people just walk the tip because they don't know? The cashier could easily leave the check open.

BEST macaroni and cheese i've ever had. they have great service. the french dip is really good. they are amazing food and service. i definitely recommend. it's nice to go there after shopping.

What can I say? I was here yesterday at Nordstrom's Barton Creek's Cafe Bistro with my brother and the food was mega delish! The crab bisque was off the hook! You want to have a powerhouse day, have a cup of this and just trust in me. Our server Scott welcomed us with a personality that made us feel like we were good family friends, he made us laugh and given the day we had it was so well received? Scott thank you for your amazingness. Today laura, Garret and chef Molly greeted my party and I with a warm welcome and fabulous smiles and service. What can I say?? Nordstrom's when you get it right you get it right! 5 Stars all the way!

If you're not sure about Café Bistro at Nordstrom's, take this mini-test and see if you can answer "Yes" to any three of the following statements: 1. For some reason, you absolutely, positively, have to eat somewhere inside Barton Creek Mall. 2. You think mall food courts generally suck. 3. You think mall food courts generally suck, but the Sarku line today is a little too long. (Okay, I like Sarku.) 4. You think Nordstrom's is pretty cool, if perhaps on the pricey side. But probably anything they do is going to be okay. 5. You have an odd affectation for all things Seattle. 6. You just won't let go of those old Nirvana & Pearl Jam Cd's. 7. You're curious where all the Women from Westlake might be. 8. You like cloth napkins. 9. You can take or leave Starbucks, but really enjoy good coffee, preferably in a real cup not made of paper or Styrofoam. 10. You're pals with Melissa A, who texts you on a lazy Friday afternoon with, "Want to eat at Nordstrom's?" The Hybrid Ordering System: You're handed a menu in line, you order and pay at the register, and you're seated by a host and meet your server like any other restaurant. I get how your order is probably being fired before you're even seated, and this results in a quick and efficient service. On the other hand, if I'm waiting in a line while I'm looking at empty tables, I start getting antsy. You'll either like this system or not. Venue: It sure doesn't feel like you're inside a mall. Service: Once you're seated, it sure doesn't feel like you're inside a mall. Food: They don't do French-fries here. They do Frites. Nitpicks: The risotto was a tad salty for me and the shortcake biscuit too firm. But then again, I'm in a mall having risotto, strawberry shortcake, and really great coffee on a lazy Friday afternoon. I thought that was pretty cool and had a marvelous time. Best Time for Café Bistro: Let's see, that would be pretty much whenever this place is open. And if you don't get a special invitation from Melissa A, then hey, shoot me a text - I'll come hang with you.

Cafe Bistro at Nordstrom's is better than most mall food. The wood-fired oven produces some good pizza and the entree salads (I am slightly addicted to the oriental grilled chicken version...) are lip-smackin' good. The crab bisque is nice but needs to be a bit crabbier to lift it to better than average. Be sure to request more cheese straw thingeys to go with the bisque. The wait staff is helpful but the weird 'order and pay first then take a seat' is a star-stealer. There is also a VERY high yin factor here - you got to struggle past women's underwear (....man, those are some big bras) to get to the Cafe and most of your fellow diners will be Westlake soccer moms on a shoe fetish excursion (which may have an upside, who knows).

Nordstrom knows how to do the old-fashioned department store experience, from the days where one store was your destination, and you could take care of everything you needed that day in one spot, including food. The Bistro is a bit different of a dining experience, but an enjoyable one nevertheless. It's a great place to take a break from shopping and have a glass of wine while you think up your next shopping experiment. It's the best food you'll find in BCM, and the most relaxing atmosphere. It's also more expensive than the rest, but, if you're in Nordstrom, I think you already get that point.

This place is inside nordstrom's. I don't know why I never noticed a restaurant inside of this store but it's real. When my friend told me about it, I kept thinking it was the e-bar. I was kinda laughing when she said she tried to get reservations to the e-bar. Little did I know about this place. It's a full blown restaurant. I liked it because their menu is quite large. I was impressed with the service. I ordered the steak and arugula salad. It was good but the sun dried tomatoes made it a bit salty. I also wish they gave larger portions especially for a salad. I would come again because I like that it's inside a store. Makes it very convenient. I can browse while waiting. I also would like to try other items on their menu.

Right, so... here's what you do (or at least what I do) at the Nordstrom Bistro: Order the Kid's Cheese pizza, (I'm still a kid at heart... and it comes with a drink) and get a cup of the Crab Bisque. If you like ranch with your pizza, ask for a side of ranch. Enjoy your pizza and drink, dip the pizza crust in the crab bisque (It's actually quite good) and finish your crab bisque. You'll be full, satisfied, and all for less than $15.

Why have I never eaten at nordstrom's cafe?!?! Cilantro lime shrimp salad: 5/5 - omg probably the tastiest salad I've ever eaten. Margherita pizza: 5/5 - Some lady was giving out samples and after I tasted it, I went in and got myself some. I really enjoyed it and I didn't think I could find pizza I'd love in Austin. Service here is always impeccable.

Wow, this place is a hidden gem! Unfortunately I've only had two items in the 10 or so times I've eaten here. The reason is that the cilantro lime shrimp salad is so good that I've never ordered anything else (except the crab bisque a few times). This salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, grilled corn, tortilla strips, grilled shrimps and a great light dressing is THE BEST SALAD I've ever eaten. So whenever I go to this fabulous little cafe, I crave this salad so much that I don't even look at the menu. In typical Nordstrom style the place is chic and clean with service that'd you would expect of a 5 star restaurant. They will give you a nice plate of fresh baked bread and butter on request as well. Although not cheap, the salad is $14 or so, there are times that top quality food is worth every penny. This is one of those times.

Great food but the service was very slow and I waited quite a bit for a pasta dish. I had a great time eating when it got there but I took longer than I had expected and I had wanted to keep shopping

Their freaking french fries with the olive dip are orgasmic. All of their soups are fantastic. Their shrimp citrus salad is TO DIE FOR! and I every time I go here, it makes me want it more!

I was pleasantly surprised by the Bistro inside Nordstrom's. My wife got the chicken and goat cheese panini and I got the salmon. Both were delicious. It is also convenient inside the mall, and better than just about everything else the mall offers. I would go again

I love shopping at Nordstrom and have been a customer there for more than 7 years now, I have found that the food at the Cafe Bistro has always pleased my pallet. I have not had a problem with their food since the time the store opened. I have enjoyed various salad entrees the best one is the Cilantro Lime Shrimp which the lime brings out the zesty flavor to the salad to compliment with the soup of the day or the crab or lobster bisque. The portions are generous and are freshly made. The desert is the best... Banana bread pudding, it is the best and my brothers love it... It is way better than other places my younger brother has eaten. The atmosphere and environment makes the cafe friendly and the service hospitable. During Half- Yearly, Anniversary, and other special events the cafe tends to be busy it is best to get there early to avoid the crowded lines.

The worst! You order and then sit down, so all they have to do is bring your food. One sandwich came with paper inside it.. my niece nearly choked. The other dish didn't come out at all. They just forgot. Then they forgot to make the replacement sandwich. We were there for an hour, spent $100, and left agitated. Run!

Been eating here for many years and the food is always memorable. I had the Citrus Turkey sandwich today and it was mind blowingly good. Turkey with cranberry citrus chutney, gruyere, baby greens, and garlic aioli on a toothy multi-grain ciabatta. It ranks very high on my all-time sandwich list. Of course it came with bistro fries which are without a doubt some of the best in town. Wifey had crab cakes on risotto with spinach, cherry tomatoes and cheese. Lovely flavors and a just right risotto - not gummy or runny. Dessert was a Callebaut Chocolate Pot de Créme with toffee bits, peanut butter caramel and whipped cream. The créme was silky smooth without any chalkiness sometimes seen at other spots in town. If you haven't tried the Cafe Bistro you really should. It's been here since 2003, so where have you been for cryin' out corn?

This place is certainly convenient, if you are at the mall, but it's slow as molasses!! You would think their set-up (order before you're seated) would speed things up but today it took over 20 mins to get a SALAD and thus I had to take it to go with me because I was out of lunch break time. Super annoying and I will not be going here for lunch anymore.

Tired of shopping? Hungry? This little hidden (well not so hidden - it's on the 2nd Floor) makes a good stop for a tasty meal. It's Nordy's so it's not particularly cheap but the food is well prepared and tasty. At peak times, be prepared to wait in line which could stretch into the store aisles. You order at the counter and then are seated for lunch or dinner. The place isn't huge so table turnover is needed to keep people moving and fed. So much better than regular mall food. Makes me wish that the Neiman's at the Domain had a cafe . . . my popovers and consummé.

My mother in law was in town the weekend before Christmas and wanted to go to the mall. We went here right before closing, but that didn't faze the exhausted waitress. She was super friendly and helpful. My hubby and I had never been here before so were relying on the server's suggestions. I ordered the roasted brussel sprouts and a cup of the potato soup. Both were excellent. The hubby had the chicken Caesar salad, which was huge. Everything tasted great and we did not feel rushed.

This ain't your average mall food! Your order is placed at the register in the front of the restaurant, then the hostess seats you at a table. You have a waiter to bring your drinks, food, etc. Now for the food... The sandwiches are incredible. My favorite is the steak with Gruyere cheese. The fries and kalamata olive sauce are the real highlight though. The olive sauce is a pretty pairing with the fries. The Shrimp & Cilantro Lime Salad is another winner. The shrimp are big and perfectly cooked, and the salad dressing is light and refreshing. Don't be discouraged by the fact that Cafe Bistro is in the mall!

I don't care that they have a really weird serving system, or that I am generally the only non-wealthy housewife in the place, nor do I care that the place isn't hip, cool, or local. Why not? Because it is sooooooo good. I can't even. I love everything I try there. I'm not usually a sandwich person but the citrus turkey is amazing. The bread, the marmalade, the cheese, everything. And need I mention the fries? They are the best fries I have EVER had. They are completely tasty on their own, but the olive/mayo mystery sauce is amazing and i don't even like olives. Also, I don't feel like gross greasy mess after eating them. Even their tea tastes better than anywhere I've ever been. I am salivating thinking about it now. The servers are always nice, I really like Hazel, and she even brought us a creme brulee when they made one by accident. It was...so...good. The kind of good where you have to close your eyes and process the level of awesome. In summary, I can't say enough good things about this place. I have even gone to the mall just so I could eat there. Lame? Yes. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Oh my god, yes.

Great for a quick lunch with clients or to break up a day of shopping. Great service and energy in the restaurant. Love the booths and well light area. Go to meal-salads and the brussels

Just like everything else with Nordstrom's, this place is biggity bad ass. Great freaking idea, by the way, order first, so they have your food working, then sit down. That way their kitchen doesn't get slammed and it maintains a nice, steady flow. It does make me feel a bit conflicted on tipping the waiters, since all they're doing is running your food and drinks, but whatever. Tomato basil soup is great. Pizzas are very good too. For my money though: Asian salad and bread pudding. Seriously, that dessert is the best thing ever. I'd slap my mom for one of those things.

This is a hidden gem inside of Nordstrom. Some of the best french fries I have ever eaten. Thin cut, crispy, seasoned perfectly with garlic and other herbs. I had the chicken sandwich sans the chicken, replaced with mushrooms. The chefs were accommodating with my request and the sandwich was made promptly. What I love is the fact that everything was made from scratch and with fresh ingredients. The serving staff was extremely friendly too. So next time you are on a shopping run in barton creek mall and need do not want to eat in the food court, this is the place to check out.

Just so you know - I wanted to give the Cafe Bistro 2.5 stars, but I rounded up because I'm a darling little angel ; ) So the food here is good - I work at the mall, and when I'm hungry, or when I just don't have time to grab a bite to eat in my day, I go to the Cafe. But while the food is good, it's not that innovative, it lacks a 'holy cow'/'wow' factor. Typical Bistro/New American stuff. Soup and Salad is where the Cafe Bistro really shines. I always get a cup of the soup of the day, and it never disappoints. Today the soup du jour was thai yellow curry soup. Ahh, that curry burned. But the pain was good, and I ate every last drop. If you're at the mall, don't bother with that chain-y CPK crap. Go to the Cafe Bistro and enjoy the classiest eatery at the mall.

This is the place to go to fuel your shopping appetite. The food is well-executed and very tasty, although it is a little on the pricey side, just like everything else at Nordie's. The system here is a little strange - you order and pay at the counter, then a host/hostess takes you and your receipt to the table. You then have a waitperson who takes your drink order, brings you your food, and takes your dessert order. Don't forget to tip him/her - it would be easy to do so. I've eaten mostly salads here, and they were all inventive, filling, very fresh, and tasty - the kind of thing that would appeal to the people shopping at Nordstrom's. They have a pretty large selection of entree salads - I guess lots of "ladies who lunch" go for those. If you're a male and you somehow find yourself here, don't despair; they have heartier fare, too!

Two words- crab bisque. Seriously the best crab bisque without being too heavy or rich and yet it still actually has some pieces of crab in it, real crab to boot. Really though, what could be better, you shop up a storm and then go in have a glass of wine, a delicious cup of soup, and pick from some really great salads if you're being good or enjoy a sandwich with some of the best fries and aioli around if you've worked up a real appetite. Then, if you haven't stuffed yourself to the point of no return, have the white chocolate bread pudding, another glass of wine and go back out to shop a little more freely, even if you do have to contemplate buying an elastic pair of pants to keep going without taking an eye out.

I agree that the system is weird. You can't add a tip to your credit card, and that is weird, because who has cash all of the time? The food was really good. I had the salad with cherry vinaigrette with pears, candied pecans and blue cheese crumbles. It was great. My husband had a Cesar and the crab bisque. Loved it. My daughter had chicken strips and fries and. . . .I'm sure they were good. Anyway, go there. It isn't cheap, but it sure beats the food court.

Nordstrom changed its menu a couple years back, and at first I was sad. I love being able to go to Nordstrom in any city and get the best Asian chicken salad I have ever had. The only change was less salad and a glazed chicken breast whereas before it was just cooked strips of chicken. While it tastes better, I still think the other was healthier. The dressing is delicious because it is so light and complements all the components. I know that it is good to have variety, but I just love the high quality of the Norstrom cafes. I have never been disappointed by anything I have ordered off their menu. The desserts are spectacular. My favorite is the shortcake because it is made with traditional ingredients for the shortcake and the whipped cream is fresh. For the price, it is worth every penny.

So, I finally checked this place out, thanks to the recommendation of -- this is going to sound random -- a Sleep Number Store "Sleep Specialist." But when you've been tirelessly negotiating over a price of a bed for hours, it's only fair that both parties come to a mutual ceasefire over lunch (wish a siesta could've been included in that ceasefire...). I called in my lunch order: Citrus Turkey Sandwich, sub the french fries and Kalamata Olive dip for a side salad with dijon balsamic dressing. Ready in twelve minutes. So precise. The sandwich was larger than I expected, on an 8-inch, multigrain ciabatta sub, and the side salad was anything but just a side. Field greens, red and orange pepper slices, homemade croutons, who made this? Not Wendy's. I personally always love the flavor combination of gruyere and fruit spread, and the Citrus Turkey Sandwich did not disappoint (though I could've done with just a little less citrus cranberry chutney, and a little more gruyere). For me, the meal was more than enough, and $11 for a lunch like that? No complaints. The overall gist of the menu seems to cater mostly to, like what Michelle C mentioned, "ladies who lunch," with a fabulous list of hearty entree salads (Cilantro Lime Shrimp seems to be the crowd fave), and a handful of gourmet sandwiches, soups, pizzas, and "specialty" entrees. I was recommended the Crab Bisque by the manager of Sleep Number, but he was on my bad side at the moment, so I disregarded his opinion (tho turns out, seems it's also a crowd fave). The setup of ordering is like a food court, but with a more upscale feel. Wait in line at the entrance, order and pay the cashier, the hostess will bring your food to your table when its ready, and then you tip your server separately, at the end of your meal. If you call-in your order, you can bypass the line after notifying the hostess, and simply pay and pickup your food with one of the servers. In and out. Ambiance of the cafe is cozy and sleek, and service was, of course, the same level of personal, efficient, hospitable Nordstrom service that one would expect! Would definitely grab lunch here again! I guess, thanks, Sleep Number?

Come to Nordstrom for the shoes, but stay for the cafe. Oh, how I love Cafe Bisro -- I was here on opening night, and will never forget the amazing bowl of Potato Leek soup and the equally amazing Wild Greens salad with balsamic vinegar, crumbled blue cheese, and candied walnuts. I've been back many times sinse, but I've never gotten past the soups and salads. I don't care what the Soup of the Day is -- as long as it is vegetarian, I always get it. Because it's just THAT good.

Two bad experiences, the second being devastating. 1) The first time we went either there was not enough servers or they were simply clueless. We were stated in the face for 5 minutes and then the chef stops by and tells the cashier that he has run out of nearly half the menu. We walked away. 2) I treated my family to lunch at the bistro yesterday and although service was decent my mother got food poisoning from the Romaine salad. I'm not talking about not feeling great I'm talking going from smiling to hurling, everywhere, all day and all night. Thanks Nordstrom Bistro for killing our holiday! Lastly, the wine pours are weak. Much rather run to the CPK and get a proper buzz. I hate to give one star but since we have had such great experiences at so many other Nordstrom Bistros this was a major let down, twice. Hit up CPK instead, excellent service and much more reasonable prices.

Update: If you are pre-diabetic or diabetic, the salad dressings are very sweet here. Opt for the delicious balsamic and olive oil. Also, they no longer substitute soup for the fries. The only sub is a salad! --- Husband is feeling fancy! Husband knows that I can only eat soups and soft things because of wisdom teeth! Husband loves me and suggests crab bisque! I jump up and down, I'm not kidding here - I'm a big child. When we get there, it's nicely empty which means that this restaurant is ours for a little while. Very romantic! We order our soup and take out seats. How posh! The sweet waitress brings our soup, apologizes that our crostini are still in the salamander, and brings us a nice, sliced baguette with my favorite butter, plugra butter! Unfortunately, but fortunately, the bread was perfectly/sadly crusty, but on this day, I discovered how delicious the butter and bread were after they soaked in the bisque for a few minutes! Oh man! Long story short! Go. Order cheese platter and crab bisque. Come back here and mark my rating as cool or helpful, because you're gonna love it! Enjoy!

LOOOOOOOOOOOVE this place! Seriously! I take my teenage daughter here for a treat and she loves it as well. The service is great (of course) and the food is even better! FUN!