Café Bistro

Why haven’t I written a review for this place yet?! Maybe because the three times I went I am so full and satisfied afterwards food coma promptly follows and well, you know what happens in food coma.
The service here is wonderful. They’re very welcoming and even when we stayed for hours while my fiancé had to work on his laptop they were accommodating and friendly. Free wifi btw, added bonus!
The only criticism I have for Café Bistro is one time I had to send my fries back because I like my fries extra extra crispy. They rectified this immediately.
Now nothing but good things from here on out. Some of my favorite dishes?! Where do I begin?!
Pesto, goat cheese bruschetta drizzled in a rich, thick balsamic glaze. Bread toasted to a perfect crisp. The marriage of pesto and goat cheese, fuh-​get about it.
Crab mac and cheese. Mac n cheese is normally a boring dish for me but since the chef recommended it personally, I had to check it out. Crab and cheese, who knew. The dish is rich and scrumptious. Def don’t miss out on this Bistro favorite.
Shrimp and Asparagus risotto. Rice cooked nicely and mixed in with an elegant cream sauce. Shrimp cooked just right and asparagus providing an appreciated crunchiness to top it all off.
Tuna Poke. Marinated with ponzu and served with wonton crisps, a delightful and light appetizer.
Bread pudding cake. Again bread pudding not usually a go-​to for me but you put the word cake at the end of it color me intrigued. It did not disappoint! Decadent and divine.
The most recent dish I tried was the special of the day: a pizza. Not just any pizza! Chicken with red pepper, purple onion with small dollops of goat cheese scattered on top and to top it off it was drizzled with a sherry gastrique! It was like pizza wearing an evening gown, who knew pizza could be soo deliciously fancy!
Terrible idea writing a review when you’re hungry and several states away. Mouth is watering and the only Nordstrom in this state is a Nordstrom Rack. I lose. If you’re visiting SF and find yourself in SOMA try this place out. You’ll get great views of the city below too!

I’ve been eating at the top floor of Nordstrom for a while now. What was once a place to rest & have a bite turned into a regular spot.
The restaurant is larger than it looks. There is a bar area behind the hostess stand. Every time I go here, the waiter/​waitress leading me to my table never fails to say ‘watch your step’ before I step into the sunken dining area. There are small tables against the window that look out to a view. Unexpectedly, the corridor opens up into a dining area w/​booth-​like seating on the opposite side.
The menu includes their Fresh Sheet, which lists their seasonal specials.
These are some dishes I’m familiar with.
(* = my favorites!)
First, they start you off w/​some bread & their brand of olive oil.
Seaside Lemonade:
refreshing w/​bits of fruit & a sugared rim, so fruity, tart & sweet
Bistro French Fries — herbs, kalamata olive aioli:
Mr. Joy loves this olive aioli. The fries are crunchy & salty already, but the aioli adds a lot of flavor. If you do finish the aioli, you’re going to be tasting it on your tongue for a while, though.
No need to order, comes w/​most of dishes.
BISTRO PLATES
P.E.I. Mussels — mussels steamed in white wine broth w/​shallots, garlic, chilies & butter:
very simple, mussels prepared classically
SALADS
Crab Louie — dungeness crabmeat w/​zesty louis dressing over romaine & iceberg lettuce w/​scallions, eggs, tomatoes:
thick chunks of crab in creamy dressing, great meal for a hot day
Nicoise Salad w/​Salmon — organic baby greens, romaine lettuce, herb & dijon roasted salmon, french green beans, kalamata olives, petite tomatoes, red onion, potatoes, egg, capers, dijon balsamic vinaigrette:
buttery salmon, a good enough portion for a meal
SANDWICHES (served w/​fries & aioli)
Bistro Club — sliced chicken breast, organic baby greens, crisp bacon, roma tomato, avocado, french green beans, garlic aioli, toasted rustic bread:
Pretty good, but not my favorite club sandwich. Crisp vegetables & a good amount of chicken. I’ve never had green beans in a sandwich before. I kind of like it. A very filling sandwich.
Croque Madame — ham & cheese w/​fried egg on top:
The cheese melted over the top forms a beautiful crust. The fried egg was very runny. I would have liked it more if the cheese fused w/​the fried egg to be more cohesive w/​the sandwich.
Dungeness Crab & Shrimp Brioche — dungeness crabmeat, wild jumbo shrimp, celery, scallions, organic arugula, romaine lettuce, oven-​roasted tomatoes, avocado & lemon basil aioli on brioche:
thick chunks of crab & shrimp, tastes fresh & crisp, great for a hot day
New York Strip Steak Sandwich — grilled NY strip, fried shallots, Danish blue cheese, arugula, herb aioli on toasted French baguette:
Good substitute for the flat iron. A little tough, but NY strip tends to toughen up easily. The bread is very fluffy & crunchy.
BISTRO SPECIALTIES
*Grilled Shrimp & Asparagus Risotto — wild shrimp, creamy lemon scented carnaroli rice, parmesan cheese:
Shrimp is cooked well, usually has a light char on the outside. Very creamy & cheesy risotto.
Roast Chicken Pommes Frites — crisp, boneless half chicken, herb butter, fries & aioli:
juicy, buttery chicken about the size of a large chicken thigh w/​crispy, crunchy skin
Flat Iron Steak Frites — flat iron steak, herb butter, organic arugula salad, fries & aioli:
I haven’t seen this on the menu lately, but it was a great price for a decent steak. I believe it is now a NY Strip.
*San Francisco Cioppino — shrimp, clams, dungeness crab, mussels, roasted vegetables in spicy tomato lobster broth w/​sourdough bread:
Don’t recall seeing it on the menu lately, but it was good. The spicy tomato lobster broth has good flavor — very savory, but not so spicy. There’s a good amount of clams & mussels. The vegetables soak up the flavor of the broth & the bread is good for dipping too.
DESSERTS
Profiteroles — 3 pastry puffs w/​vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate ganache poured separately:
Great for sharing. The pastry only tastes good fresh, but it gets soggy very quickly.
*White Chocolate Bread Pudding w/​raspberries, white chocolate shavings, raspberry & white chocolate sauces:
It is an amazing hefty triangle of bread pudding. It is super moist inside with a beautiful crunchy outer layer. It’s not at all mushy or soggy like a lot of other bread puddings. I would stop by just for this. & I have!
The recipe is on their blog:
Lastly, your bill comes w/​their branded chocolate mint sticks.
The restaurant doesn’t get too crowded. They do take reservations on Opentable. Since it’s a little tucked away, there’s usually no wait.
I guess food at Nordstrom can be considered a chain restaurant, as there are locations across the country — probably w/​variations in menu and price. It may seem a little expensive ($ 15-​$ 25 for entrees), but actually not a far cry from what you would pay in the food court. Dpt store or not, the food & service are great, a dining oasis.

I often forget about Café Bistro when I am nearby. There are so many places to choose from on Market or Mission Street, near 4^th Street
Yet, whenever I do come here I am always happy to be here. It’s an oasis above the hustle of market street. Very good food, great views and good service. Also reasonably priced. It can get crowded around 12:30 or 1:00, so put your name down and shop a little while you wait

One star for the glass of Chardonnay that made this visit bearable and another for the view of the city when seated.
Save your time, money, and any expectations of legitimate customer service for another establishment. I am very disappointed that Café Bistro at Nordstrom did not deliver in quality of service or food to which they upload their standards to. I definitely won’t be returning!

I always have an amazing experience when I eat at the Bistro! My coworkers and I were planning a celebratory lunch, and oddly enough almost every good restaurant in SF happened to be booked up that day. We finally decided to come here to eat, which I was excited about because they have a great menu.
We started off with the crab mac and cheese which is probably one of the best things on the menu. Its really cheesy and creamy, and they don’t skimp on the crab like some places do. We also got the pepperoni and mushroom pizza, which had an amazing crust (I’m usually not a big fan) that I actually finished. For my entrée, I ordered the petit filet mignon, which I believe was a special that day. I asked them to substitute the original side for spinach and it came with some really tasty potatoes as well. It was cooked medium rare just the way I like it, and was perfectly tender and juicy. We finished off our meal with two desserts, the white chocolate bread pudding and chocolate and salted caramel cake. They were both so delicious!
Although I didn’t get it this time, I can never stop raving about the roast chicken and pomme frites. I’m never the type of person to order chicken when I go out to eat because I feel like it can get pretty basic, however this is one of the only chicken dishes I’ll actually order. They put some amazing herb butter on top of it and it melts down and makes the chicken so flavorful! It’s never dry or overcooked and is really filling.
I highly recommend eating here. Whether you’re starting or ending a shopping trip or are just looking for a well priced place to eat with quality food, don’t count out the Bistro Café!

Went to SF for a day trip and stopped by the café to get some fries. I was seated right away and our waiter was so nice… I wish I remembered her name :(. The fries were delicious and the truffle sauce was the best part. Next time, I’ll make sure to come here on an empty stomach.
(BTW, the view from this restaurant is amazing!!)

I love this place. I’ve been coming here since my college days, nearly 10 years now, and it never fails to disappoint. Yes, it’s San Francisco and there are a million 5-​star restaurants within a one mile radius, but this is a fantastic lunch spot with the world’s greatest bread pudding. Don’t write this place off because it’s in a department store.
The best thing about this place is that on a normal week day there are very few tourists, and if you’re lucky, you can get a table with an epic view of Market street.
Also, if you make it down to LA, try the Blue Stove café in the Santa Monica Nordstrom. They’re different, but equally as amazing.

Came here for lunch with a large group before attending an afternoon matinée musical at the Golden Gate Theater two blocks away.
Due to the holidays, the Café was very busy and they were a bit late getting out table ready despite our reservation. You get in line to get your name in to the hostess, and then you wait in the next line to get in.
Once the table was set up, everything was just fine. Service was very good, and the delivery of our meals was pretty prompt. My club sandwich was OK, and the fries were superb.
The restaurant was laid out along the windows on the upper floor of Nordstrom’s, so you had a nice view of the nearby buildings.
If you want a lunch near the theater district that’s easy to get to from BART, this would be a good choice.

This was a very disappointing visit to SF. The wait was pretty long. We were told there was going to be a 30 minute wait but we ended up waiting an hour because they accidentally gave our seat away. Once we were seated, we had to wait another 20 minutes for our food. As soon as we got our food, it was pretty bad. It was really salty and greasy. The waiter forgot my friend’s order but she fixed it immediately and her food was on the house.
Overall, the wait was really long. Food was pretty salty, greasy and overpriced. But our waiter was pretty nice, constantly apologizing. She also split our bills for us. I would not come back.

First time here and surprisingly the wait wasn’t that long. The location is the top floor at Nordstrom. Our table had a great view of the city. I ordered the bistro club and it was good. I love the fries and dipping sauce. It was so good my fiancé finished hers so I gave her mine! We’ll definite be back.

Nice views, friendly staff and decent food. Nothing too fancy or unique but a nice place to take a break while shopping. It can get quite busy and loud during peak hours.

Don’t overlook this place just because it’s attached to the Nordstrom in the mall (4^th floor). It’s probably the best option for new american cuisine in the immediate area. Since a colleague and I were exhausted and starving, I picked this place primarily because of it’s proximity to our hotel. We arrived 30 mins before closing but they still seated us and didn’t rush us one bit.
While not a special destination foodie spot, the dishes I tried were well executed and I wouldn’t hesitate to eat here again. I ordered the caprese salad appetizer and salmon with risotto entrée. The cookery of both salmon and risotto can be tricky, but they nailed both components along with a white wine cream sauce. The salad was fresh and vibrant; I heart yellow tomatoes! Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to try the dessert because my tired colleague was giving me the evil eye when the waiter asked if we wanted any dessert.

Nice place on the 4^th floor of Nordstrom in the SF Westfield mall :)
There was a little wait, 15 – 20 minutes but the quoted time was on point.
Once we were seated, it was a little while before we were greeted and asked for drinks but then again it was quite busy.
The server was really nice and efficient with checking up on us.
For drinks we ordered the Blackberry & Raspberry Lemonade.
For starters we got the Bistro fries & Crab bisque soup.
Those took awhile to come out but then for dinner we got the Sautéed chicken & angel hair pasta and the Crab Mac & Cheese.
Both very yummy and we were craving dessert!
We ordered the Chocolate Banana Crème Brulee.
Delicious!

I was going to head down to the food court in the mall but decided I didn’t want to fight the crowd for a seat, instead I headed up to the top of Nordstrom to the Bistro Café. I actually really enjoy this restaurant! It’s clean, the service is friendly the food is fresh, there’s a view of the city if you sit by the window and you never have to wait for seating. Want to see my full day click here:

I’d give this place a 2.5 if I could. It is not terrible, but a little below average for SF. I ordered the tuna ahi salad and side order mushroom oyster. The side order was a bit too salty for my taste and the salad was okay. The food took awhile to be served, but service wasn’t bad or great. I liked the free chocolate that was given to me by the end of my meal.

I used to love coming here when I was in high school. Pre shopping time, post shopping time… café bistro was a fun little spot to eat at.
Fast forward 6 years later, post college, maybe my taste buds have changed but Café Bistro’s food was just decent. I’m sad to say I’d rather go to cheesecake factory.

Came by for dinner the other night and was able to get a seat by the window upon arrival. The restaurant offers fantastic views of San Francisco!
Started off with the Crab Bisque and it was excellent! Flavorful and it contained chunks of crab meat!
Moved on to the Chicken and frites entrée which was a miss. The chicken was over-​fried and came out dry… The fries came out cold…
Service was friendly and prompt by the server.
~$ 25/​head after tax and tip for dinner.

This place ain’t cheap but man it has a great view and good food. I met a colleague here for lunch and settled on the shrimp salad and watermelon margarita (it has a fancy name but that’s basically what it is). Food was delicious and highly recommended. They even managed to make a salad interesting and i’m not a big fan of salads. Good place to have in your pocket.

A beautiful view over looking SF. It’s a lovely restaurant to an already architecturally beautiful store. Is it just another restaurant inside a store? Yes and no. Yes it is Nordstrom however, it’s in SF so for me it was different.
The restaurant has many qualities that I love which is it has an amazing view and yummy food. After looking through the menu, I ordered the crab bisque and the arugula prosciutto pizza. The crab bisque was good but a bit over seasoned for my taste but the pizza more than makes up for it. Our waitress was attentive but not overbearing. She checked on throughout the meal.
I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a must try. If you’re in SF, there are so many other places but since I joined a tour group, my time and distance was limited. I wasn’t disappointed in any way however. If you do some how find yourself in Nordstrom and looking for a bite, I definite say give it try!

I’ve been here for lunch numerous times while shopping in the area and always had a great experience! The food is pretty good and they have excellent wine too or so my mom says and she’s a wine connoisseur. :) Service is also great here!
I like their seafood cioppino which has a generous amount of assorted seafood and comes with a side of bread. This dish has a lot of flavor and everything in it is cooked to perfection. The fish and shrimp is tender and absorbs all the good flavors from the sauce.
All their salads are excellent especially the cilantro lime shrimp salad. It tastes fresh and has a good amount of shrimp. The little tortilla chips on it adds the perfect crunch to the salad. The dressing tastes light but also has a lot of flavor, which i really like. I don’t like when my salads are drenched in dressing, but this place adds just the right amount of dressing to their salads.
Also get the pomme frites! Comes with some amazing dipping sauce! I’m not sure what’s in it but it tastes like some kind of raspberry sauce and mayo. I always order the fries just so I can eat some of the sauce.
The raspberry lemonade is also to die for! It’s very refreshing.
The service has always been great and if you can get a seat by a window there’s a view of downtown.
Great place for a lunch date or a snack when shopping makes you hungry. :)

Who knew one of the best food places SF Westfield has to offer was located on the 4^th floor of Nordstrom?
I wish I could give this place 10 stars because I love their food, their servers (mainly Their bartenders, Taco & Jason) and their view.
There’s two best seats in the house and one is at the bar top being served by some of the best and the other is window side, overlooking market street. The view is really amazing.
I always order the cucumber cooler to start off. It’s gin, muddled mint and cucumbers, and soda water. It’s extremely refreshing and the you can’t even taste the gin (but I do love my gin!).
I recommend any of the pizzas. I usually order the prosciutto and arugula salad pizza. It’s not what it sounds like. It’s Gouda cheese with prosciutto on top and baby arugula piled in the middle topped off with fresh Parmesan.
Also, don’t forget to order the bistro fries. They come with an amazing dipping sauce.
Whether you’re by the window or at the bar, make friends with your bartenders. Taco and Jason are funny dudes and make amazing drinks.

Fun little café with a view for when you need a short break from shopping.
A friend and I were spending the day in Union Square. We already had lunch, but I was in the mood for a sweet ending. Nonetheless, we decided to start with a savory item and drinks. The Ahi Poke Tuna starter was fab. The fried wonton triangles were super crispy. The soy and sesame marinade was full of well-​balanced flavors and the little cubes of ahi were fresh and firm. The White Chocolate Bread Pudding was awesome, just like the other reviewers said it would be. The thick bread pudding triangle was crisp and dry on the outside, moist and delicious on the inside. The bread pudding itself wasn’t too sweet, which I liked, but it came topped with a bunch of white chocolate shavings, white chocolate drizzle, raspberry purée and fresh raspberry for extra sweetness and acidity. Two very solid items.

En plein cœur du secteur bouillonnant d’union square et de la station Powell, le café bistro du centre commercial Nordstrom tire avantage du dernier étage de l’immeuble pour proposer une vue intéressante de ce quartier fréquenté.
Le service et les menus ainsi que les prix correspondent aux standards des restaurants américains. Mais une fois servi, il faut noter une certaine supériorité culinaire.
Les aliments sont frais et riches en goûts mais ce qui attire l’attention est la recherché dans la recette et la maîtrise des combinaisons gustatives.
Un petit quelque chose de gastronomique pour un prix proche de ceux pratiqués dans un restaurant de chaîné.

Wow. Knew we might not get the meal of a lifetime but needed a quiet place for a family dinner and were already at the mall. Since the food court was packed as it was right before Christmas, we settled on this place after reading the reviews. What on EARTH were the previous reviews reflecting. After making a reservation, we went upstairs to the restaurant and were informed that our table wasn’t yet ready.
–French fries: even McDonalds can usually provide eatable fries. Café Bistro, however, cannot. The fries were somehow simultaneously overcooked and soggy, not to mention freezing cold.
–Asparagus: Burned on the outside, cold and RAW on the inside. Also, arrived about 35 minutes after our entrees… eek!
–Salad: Soggy and strange… my sister said that it tasted like parfait. She ate it, but man, was it strange! Sweet dressing almost more like a syrup, «goat cheese» with no flavor whatsoever, berries, and some wilted lettuce.
–French onion soup: So awful we literally sent it back… also somehow burned on the top and cold in the middle… not sure if their heat source was broken that night and they were cooking over a propane apparatus or not, but whatever was going on was really bad.
–Pizza: you’re better off going to the freezer section of the supermarket yourself and reheating it properly. Clearly a frozen pizza, and very soggy because maybe they microwaved it?
–Steak: steak was a horrible cut but did not taste that bad. Was on the menu to come with mashed potatoes, but instead came with home fries and this weird balsamic onion mess that really should never have touched a plate.
The only redeeming quality was that our server was kind, clean, and seemed decent at his job. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning. I will say that if you’re stuck in the mall and need somewhere quiet to sit, this is an ideal place… just try to avoid any sort of food or beverage. Also, in addition to the poor execution of meals, it is pretty pricey here.