Jump to content

Nordstrom Cafe, Relatively High Quality Cafeteria Dining inside Nordstrom - Several Suburban Locations


Recommended Posts

[Please don't hide this hidden gem in "Multiple Locations" because it might be the best restaurant in Tysons Corner!]

I had lunch with two colleagues at Nordstrom Cafe today, and I can't recommend it highly enough. This place is knocking out some of the best food in Tysons!

First off, it's a cafeteria style, where you get in line -- and it can be quite a line at noon -- and order at the far left, pay at the far right, and the food is brought to the table when ready. There was an affable chap out front handing out menus and plenty of gratis tastes of today's fare. Inside, the decor is nicely not cafeteria-ish and there is comfortable seating for 100 or so.

Ah, but the food....wow! Today I enjoyed the best bowl of she-crab soup I've eaten in a long time, if not ever, and the salmon salad nicoise was an amazing rendition. The she-crab soup was loaded with crab flavor and was really rich with cream and aromatics. I would order this soup over an over again.

But let me pause to laud the salmon salad. Everything was perfect, and the roasted potatoes stood out with yummy caramelized crunchy surfaces. The salmon itself was cooked perfectly, with caramelized surfaces and a medium rare center, and it was melt-in-mouth delicious. I looked around the dining room while I was enjoying my food, and I was watching some beautiful compositions coming out of the kitchen....and a lot of empty plates returning.

Notwithstanding the cafeteria style, service was excellent, from the gregarious greeter to each server along the line to the cash register team to the servers and the managers. This is a well staffed operation, and whatever gets emptied on your table is cleared in seconds.

Oh yeah, and at the register you can get wine by the glass, or beer by the bottle.

I went about some mall business after lunch, and on my way back to my car I passed the Cafe again. I grabbed a Margherita pizza to go....you know, in case I got hungry on that long ride back to Springfield. I ended up eating half of it before picking up KN Jr from high school, and he ate the rest. He typically complains about anything that doesn't come from McDonald's, but I never saw him eat half a pizza to fast.

Since Inox and Michel closed in Tysons, I think this cafe can go toe-to-toe with Nostos, Shamshiry and Chef Geoff's when it comes to quality of food. I encourage some of you to check it out.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I'm not ready to say it's the best place in Tyson's, it's easily the best place in that mall and probably the other mall too. Eat there all the time, never been disappointed, except for the times the line has been 40 feet out the door.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[Please don't hide this hidden gem in "Multiple Locations" because it might be the best restaurant in Tysons Corner!]

[You know I have to. Are you volunteering? :) (I put it as #1 in the American list - that must be worth something.)]

I used to eat here fairly often back in the 90s, but the last time I went (perhaps 2-3 years ago), I just wasn't all that impressed - but that's one visit in about 15 years. Incidentally, the coffee bar upstairs used to be one of the better cups of Java in town, and my oh my do I have a story about that place to tell.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to eat here fairly often back in the 90s, but the last time I went (perhaps 2-3 years ago), I just wasn't all that impressed - but that's one visit in about 15 years.

Rocks, you have to put it in your rota because they actually have a real Chef who runs the kitchen and designs the menu and that Chef does change from time to time. I knew a very good Chef who worked there about 8 years ago and was truly surprised that he was running the place. He said the pay, hours, and benefits were great and that he had lots of freedom to play within the concept.

Shouldnt be multiple locations, menu and quality vary from place to place.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I mostly agree, but I won't lump Lebanese Taverna in with that crowd. The Tysons Galleria outpost is one of the best of the Lebanese Tavernas, along with the expanded original on Washington Blvd in Arlington. And footsteps away is the dependable Paul Bakery, one of the better coffee shops in Tysons.

Other than those two, you are right. You even missed Cheesecake Factory.

While we're wandering off-topic, the best place you've never eaten at in Tysons Galleria is the Marketplace Cafe in Nordstrom's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, dcs said:

I have eaten at a Nordstrom's from time to time.  My mother introduced me to this, so I like to continue the practice when I can.  The food is not bad, even though it is over priced.

I went to Nordstrom Cafe in Tysons for the first time in many years, perhaps two-years ago. I distinctly remember it being much better in the past - has anyone else noticed a decline in quality over the past decade or so?

Note: I'm not referring to the Coffee Kiosk on the top floor outside the store; I'm referring to the actual restaurant in the store itself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We've been going there for frequently for the past 5 years as it is a very baby to kid friendly place especially with the Women's wash room nearby the cafe. A lot of families frequent the Cafe as there are plenty of booths and it gives off the impression of being in a normal restaurant. It is still our default place to eat in either of the two Tyson Corner malls. The quality has dropped slightly but the change which has occurred more noticeably is that they appear to have cut back on trying new items.

For us and the Tyson's area, Nordstrom Cafe and Silver Diner our are regular family sit down places. Asian Origin is our take away place, though we have taken friends there. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to eat at the Annapolis one frequently when I worked for Lord and Taylor in college.  The salads were very good and reasonable and it was generally fairly quiet.  It was a nice little escape from the rest of the mall.  Of course now that mall has a lot more eating options, but back then it was more limited and places were pretty crowded.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...