I went to have lunch at the Nordstrom Café for the first time when my sister started working in one of Nordstrom’s clothing departments, Encore. That was about three years ago and now, if I’m ever shopping around at the Garden State Plaza Mall, I often ditch the food court and chain restaurants to eat at Nordstrom’s instead.
When I used to work at the GEOX Shoe Store at the Garden State Plaza, my coworkers would often find me ordering food from one of the Nordstrom Café menus “to go.” Since I was already going to go there, some of them would join in and also place orders, and I would pick it up. The definite favorite, among them, was the “Roma Tomato Basil,” a hearty and satisfying tomato soup. If you want to take some home, the café even sells them in large glass jars.
During these lunch breaks, I normally ordered salads, and I usually don’t enjoy eating salads. But it’s probably because the Nordstrom Café’s salads are really appetizing. My favorite one is the classic “Grilled Chicken Caesar,” a fresh salad with grilled chicken strips, shredded parmesan and the café’s delicious Caesar dressing. It’s amazing. They have more than just salad and soup though. They have pasta, sandwiches and panini, specialty dishes and a kid’s menu (chicken fingers and fries, grilled cheese sandwich, etc). If I had to pick a dish that never fails to appease my appetite, it would be the “Chicken Pasta Rossa,” which consists of chicken strips, mushrooms, bacon bits and Rotini pasta in the café’s special tomato sauce. Hand me a couple of cheesy crostini, and I’m in heaven.
The Nordstrom Café, overall, has a pleasant atmosphere. Upon crossing the café’s threshold, you are greeted with soft, warm lighting. The cashiers are welcoming. The servers are friendly and accommodate customer needs. Unless the Nordstrom Department Store is having a huge sale, the café is a calm and very relaxing spot. It’s more comfortable than sitting in the dull drone of the food court, and it’s a lot more affordable than most of the chain restaurants at the mall, such as the Grand Lux Café or California Pizza Kitchen.
And not only does it have delicious, affordable food and a warm, sophisticated feel, the restaurant, location-wise, is conveniently inside the Nordstrom Department Store. So after you’re finished shopping, you can take a short walk and unwind at the Nordstrom Café.
