Cafe Bistro - Nordstrom San Francisco Reviews

Went for lunch after doing some shopping in the San Francisco Center, downtown San Francisco. It is a very nice restaurant that serves sandwiches, salads, pizzas, etc. I had a turkey club sandwich with avocado, bacon, thin string beans (very good addition), fresh turkey, tomatoes and lettuce. It was really good. The person with me had the risotto and shrimp which came with 5 or 6 larger prawns that were grilled and laid on top the very good risotta. The one complaint I had was with the fries that came with the sandwich. They were served cold, but when I told the waitress she said she would bring me some hot ones and she appeared in a couple minutes with a big plate of hot fries. They put rosemary on the fries, which I don't care for, so make sure you ask for them with no seasoning if you don't care for rosemary. It was a very relaxing, enjoyable lunch and a nice respite from shopping.

Stopped in here for a light lunch only to be surprised by a decent menu. The menu had items from the modern California creative cuisine genre at reasonable prices. We were even more surprised at the quality and great flavors of the dishes. this explained why the weekday lunch crowd consisted mostly of downtown workers, not just the Nordstrom upscale shoppers.

Hubby an I came here for a late lunch on a Saturday. We got seated by the windows and were able to watch the hustle on the street below. The food was very tasty. Hubby ordered the steak and barley soup (a bit salty to my taste but he loved it). I had the hummus - yum. And we split the parrelle pasta dish. Very filling and fresh ingredients.

Dinner Food: Bistro Burger with french fries sooo delicious Drink: Guiness, I like Guiness and funny label on it Catering: Very kind and always present

A nice view of Market And Powell Streets from just about all seats at this bistro. It is a short walk from Golden Gate Theater and you dont need to leave the bldg. to access public transportation. The service and food was above average. We were served promptly and not hurried after our meal. I ordered the risotto dish which was amazing. My companions entree was also better than average. The dishes were very pleasing to the eye.

My wife and I stopped in on a Thursday, finding the lunch crowd to be sparse. We began with two cocktails, finding them decent, but not superb. Appetizer (shared) of maple bacon deviled eggs found nothing wrong, but nothing which would say order them again. The warm Asian glazed chicken salad was enjoyed quite a bit. My French dip was on lean beef on Parmesan baguette with sharp white cheddar...yummmm. Our shared dessert of seasonal cobbler topped off the meal well. Server Michael was both pleasant and helpful. Prices appropriate for surroundings and location.

Had a very snobby and rude server who was not willing to help. I kindly asked him if they have any vegan options He bluntly replied "No. This isn't a vegan restaurant." And he left our table without offering any options to me! And it even says on the menu if you have any allergies please tell our staff! Only ended up drinking water.. while my non-vegan friend ate. Never had a worse dining experience. Very disappointed. And certainly not going back.

We came here so early and was seated near the window. The staff was really nice and friendly. The service is just outsanding. I just have a spectacular view of the cable cars going up and down the street. O ur food are just heaven, grilled ham and cheese. The prices are very cheap and so affordable. Cant' wait till I come here again next year. What a truly wonderful trip to San Francisco.

We went to the mall to pick up a few items and decided to grab dinner here. We frequently eat at the Nordstrom's Bistro where we live but the menu at this one is quite different and more extensive. The food was excellent and the service impecible. Try the lemonades - tasty! The room has good views of some of the local architecture. A nice quiet respite from the crazy, loud and crowded mall. Even if you're not in the midst of shopping, it is worth the trip to Nordstrom's just to eat here!

My best friend and I had lunch there and we enjoyed this place very much. We got some appetizers, a main course and some desserts. Food was good and the view of Powell street if I am not mistaken was breath taking. I think the prices were higher than expected for a café but after shopping a lot is nice that you can just sit down and have some quality food.

We sometimes find ourselves downtown, hungry after walking, shopping, people watching, and not interested in fast food or waiting in long lines. The Bistro at Nordstrom has been our fall-back place to go for years. My kids are now too old for the kid's menu but it was a great value when they were younger. As a matter of fact, the prices are just slightly higher than what you would pay at a fast food place but the food is SO much better! For me, being able to sit back in a comfortable booth to relax and take in the view is a major draw. I can have a glass of wine or beer and count on being taking well care of. The prices at lunch time are a bit lower than dinner and the portions are decent. Typically a salad and maybe the grilled asparagus (delicious!!) is enough. The pizzas are big enough for 2 or take home half for later. They do make a plain mixed greens salad that is not on the menu--I think it's around $10 and is big enough to share. The staff is always friendly and professional and we get a kick out of them always telling us to be careful of the step down into the dining area. After 7 years of going there, we know!

My wife insisted we go in to the Bistro during our visit to Nordstrom's and she was quite right in selecting it for lunch. We secured a small but adequate window table with the Hilton and St Francis in view and the service was prompt and friendly. I selected an Au Jus sandwich on French bread that was delicious and easy to eat. Madam had a shrimp dish that was also excellent. The Bistro might be a bit more expensive than outside but well worth it, not to have the uncertainty of finding a place and the added time plunging through the crowds at the cable car stop. If you are in Nordstrom's shopping or just looking, take the time and stop for lunch at the Bistro.

We were seated immediately with a window view overlooking Powell Street. Service was efficient and the food was tasty. Recommend the Warm Asian Glazed Chicken Salad of mixed greens, szechuan chickenbreast, crisp wontons, cilantro & julienne vegetables served with ginger sesame dressing. Due to drought in California, water not served unless one pays extra.

Had dinner at this place inMay. I sat at the bar as I was dinning alone. I have eaten at other Nordstroms Cafe Bistros in other locations and I would say the ambiance and menu at this location are superior to some of the others I have visited. I had a pizza and a glass of wine, menu choice for food and drinks was extensive and there were quite few dishes and wines I could have selected. Mypizza I had was good, nice thin crust and wine was chilled and crisp. The only problem I had was the service, my pizza arrived within in 10 mins of my order but no cutlery or napkin were provided. When requested the server looked confused and gave me a fork and nothing else. Further request for a napkin eventually did the trick. It also took a long time to get the check and pay.

I had time to kill before another event that evening and wanted somewhere familiar to have lunch. I ordered the pepperoni pizza (minus the mushroom). Although it had a good taste, it was a little greasy.

Most people visiting the San Francisco bay area gravitate to fisherman's wharf expecting to find some of the best seafood in San Francisco. You'll be surprised to learn that consistently the best crab bisque that I have found is at Café Bistro at Nordstrom's on 5th and Market street. It is a creamy tomato-based bisque that has just the perfect spice to it and locally sourced Dungeness crab. You can order it with a salad, several of which I highly recommend. Either the Crab Mango Avocado salad or the Warm Asian Chicken salad are two top shelf selections. You can substitute the chicken for shrimp lovers; you will not be disappointed! You can make reservations to save a little time if you're on a busy travel schedule. Enjoy!

The quality of the food and service was 5 Star. The seasoning and menu selection was excellent. Wait staff was attentive and never let our water glasses go dry!

This place is a new name. It was a little hard to find, at the top of Nordstrom’s in the mall. But man, was it worth it! We had crab bisque and New England clam chowder to start (which was amazing) and then for entrees we got the salmon with couscous and prime sandwhich. Both of which were so good that we forgot to take pictures! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are planning a trip to San Francisco or to the mall there! Also service was inviting and fast!

The Cafe Bistro was a wonderful lunch spot. It is on an upper level if Nordstroms with a wonderful view of Market Street. I had the Billionaire mixed drink made with Makers Mark and it was excellent. The calamari was as good as I have had anywhere - very light and crisp. The marguerita pizza was also excellent. The prices were very reasonable, too. Service was friendly and accomodating. What a treat!

We ate here for lunch and the food was fantastic! We had a salad with crab meat on top (fresh from the Wharf), French onion soup, and crab bisque. The service was a lil slow, but the food was tasty.

Shopping at Nordstrom can be pretty tiresome, if you're carrying your significant other's packages around. I suggest, let's catch our breath, check the basketball scores, and get something to eat if you want me to keep up shopping with you. We find some places to eat in the SF City Center, but this little hide a way inside Nordstrom I really thought was a great place to refuel. I know Nordstrom is smart when it comes to their shoppers so I suspect that they put just as much energy in making this experience enjoyable for their shoppers so that they will stay in the store. Jumping to the end, it worked. We stayed far longer and spent more than we planned. The restaurant has a bar, I could catch the scores, but they also had a nice enclave of tables and booths in an area that was a lot more relaxed and quiet than the store, or the rest of the mall for that matter. The service was attentive considering they had a pretty full restaurant. The sound level was not annoying either for that amount of people. I don't think I need to comment on the nice windows to see the action in downtown SF as others have already touched on that. I will however say that the dishes I had, Crab Bisque and the Grilled Shrimp & Asparagus Risotto was perfect. No leftovers here. The portions aren't very large, just enough to fill you up. Besides Nordstrom doesn't want you to take a nap after a meal here, they want you to SHOP! Worth the price of admission, check it out...and yes, get a window seat.

Before flying out, my husband and I stopped in to have a light lunch. I ordered the french onion soup and it was by far the best I have ever had. The prices were very reasonable and the staff was very attentive.

We always love Cafe Bistro for family environment and consistency. We ordered 3, yes three dishes in a row and the restaurant said they were out of that dish for several days. I ordered crab louis and it came with a mound of 1000 island dressing mixed in. Nothing more to say. Service was otherwise good.

We have been coming to the Cafe Bistro - Nordstrom San Francisco since is was built decades ago. It is a great place to sit and have a glass of wine and a snack or lunch. We like the view and were there at sunset...nice.

I had lunch here when I was in San Francisco in November. As I was on my own I found this to be a very comfortable place to eat. It is at the top of this beautiful store. Service was fast and the stacked crab salad was delicious. Also had a great cup of coffee and a chocolate dessert. The price was very reasonable. I always make a point of dining here.

Nordstom’s Bistro is a great spot to have lunch. It has a good variety of menu and the food is very good. Service is excellent!

We arrived at the top floor Rotunda of Nordstrom in downtown San Francisco shortly after noon. We were quickly seated at the table by the window with the view of Powell St. I ordered coffee(good) and Chicken Sausage w/ Burrata Pasta while others ordered Southern Chicken Sandwich & Bistro Club Sandwich. My pasta tasted excellent, with crunchy broccoli, right amount of seasoning with a touch of spices, and the perfectly cooked pasta. It shows the attentions paid by the kitchen staff. The other two dishes tasted very good as well including their presentations. It was a very satisfying lunch! Highly recommended!

What a pleasant surprise! Great service, reasonably priced food items including salads, main courses and appetizers. Plus, a lovely view of San Francisco. Highly recommended.

I hate shopping. I want to get in, buy what I want and get out. I don't amble through the aisle gazing at the finery and contemplating my purchases. I loathe the air quality in stores, and the teeming masses wandering about with their brats and pets. Yes, I am mean and cantankerous, but I loves me some good food! When I get hit with a wave of hunger, my focus becomes singular on getting food. I can't think and I feel awful. This is where Cafe Bistro comes in. If you are ANYWHERE near Nordstrom, JUST GO HERE. The atmosphere is pleasant, the other diners tend to be refined, and the service is indicative of the Nordstrom brand: excellent. I have eaten here for lunch and dinner many times over the past few years. I have tried their salads, risotto and main courses. I am never disappointed. I also like the fact that I don't have to worry about someone running by and possibly swiping my purchases. If you are on a budget, the best choice is the caesar salad with chicken. The portion size is generous and it's one of the best caesar's I've EVER had. There are plenty of other dining options within the Westfield Shopping Center, but I find many of them are more appropriate for dinner than lunch. The Nordstrom Cafe is my go-to lunch destination whenever possible.

I dined here alone and had great service. I enjoyed the hummus and crab bisque very much. Enjoyable experience.

Don't underestimate this Department store restaurant. Food was very good with some of the best salmon we had in San Francisco(tender and moist but not overdone) and service was timely but not overbearing. View is one of the best on Market Street in downtown(Ask for the table on the west side looking up Powell Street to watch the cable cars come over the hill). Noise level could get high if restaurant full as there is little noise baffling.

I hosted a girls' gathering last night and picked the bistro as one of my friends has food allergies. We ordered the roast chicken pommes frites (yummy, crispy skin and tender meat), cilantro lime shrimp salad (very good), Asian chicken salad (two ordered it one was very good and the other said the chicken was very dry), and caprese bruschetta with burrata cheese. We had such an enjoyable time that we decided to have dessert and coffee there as well and the ladies enjoyed their delicious decaf coffee, along with coppa mista gelato, triple berry shortcake and creme brulee with fruit. We all left satisfied!

Food is excellent and service was good. Relaxing place to have lunch while shopping at Nordstroms, or even when not shopping. Special requests are handled well, and the food was fresh and pleasing to adults and children.

Dont make a reservation for 8.30 pm like it allows you to on open table. When I arrived there with mu guests IT WAS CLOSED. It was really frustrating to try to find another place the last minute

The Cafe Bistro in Nordstrom San Francisco is on the Fourth. We have been very surprised at the level and quality of the food and the service. If time is short and you don't want to leave the downtown area, there is no better place the the Nordstrom Cafe Bistro. Another benefit is the price for a San Francisco restaurant is terrific. All the servers are helpful and charming and they make it a pleasure to eat there.

We had the prime rib beef dip and the crab mac and cheese. WOW! these were superb! Staff friendly, window view.

The view through the window is great, the actual restaurant layout not so much. I was there for the crab bisque which was excellent as I hoped. The Club sandwich was a real let down, though. Sliced chicken breast instead of a full one being grilled. The rest of the preparation underwhelming too. I left unsatisfied.

Had lunch at Cafe Bistro. Really nice atmosphere with excellent views from the top of the Nordstrom Building. Food was good...crab bisque and French dip sandwich. Server Ally was excellent...checked on me each time she walked by (but not obtrusive). Why can't all wait staff be this attentive?

Enjoyed their wonderful setting with a recommended white chocolate bread pudding which was amazing- not only in taste but also in presentation.

All you could want from a restaurant. Quick service, fine selection, very good staff and well priced for fine dining. Food quality excellent.10/10 We loved the food so much that we ate there twice ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Great service in this restaurant at the top of Nordstrom in San Francisco Center. The food is pretty good. The service is fantastic. It's a bit pricey but worth it in my opinion. I recommend it.

The place was very nice and the service was friendly. Prices are reasonable. We were given a table near the window which overlooked Market Street but the large overhang did take away part of the view. It also was a bit drafty. We started with the Mediterranean Hummous appetizer. It was nicely presented with the pita bread warmly grilled and served with feta cheese and Kalamata olives. The chicken breast sandwich was tasty though the chicken was a little overcooked but the garlic fries on the side made up for that. If you are hungry after a day of shopping and you don't want to deal with the food court at the Westfield mall this place is not bad.

So pleasantly surprised to discover that the downtown Nordstrom features a bistro-style restaurant! Delicious food -- many choices. Lovely to have a bottle of wine after shopping and a delicious piece of creamy cheesecake. This is a "must try!" You will be satisfied!

The waitress actually told is that nothing is bad. I don't know if that is true but of what we ordered, nothing was bad. Please eat the crab bisque. It is delicious. The roasted asparagus are also worth adding to anything you eat here!

Popped in for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. Efficient service and overall a good experience. Would definitely eat there again when in SF.

I brought my brother's family and my mother here for a family dinner. The staff were friendly and the prices are reasonable. You have a great view for those visiting SF and shopping just outside to boot. We go there from time to time to escape the madness. It is becoming popular though so it would be a good idea to reserve in advance to avoid the wait.

Appetizers for 3, followed by a couple of shared deserts. The atmosphere is very nice, the food was really good. The access, up the curving escalators, is almost worth the trip in itself.

I was surprised when we settled on this as a last minute place to grab a bite to eat on a Saturday night to see that there is a view of the city streets. Now, you won't catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge, but it was enjoyable in my book. I ordered the shrimp risotto and it was very good.

My husband and I were scrambling to find a nice place for dinner during out last night's stay at the Hotel Palomar in San Francisco, since, in all of my genius, I decided to book reservations for practically every night except our last one thinking it would be fun and hip to "wing it." We quickly realized this was a terrible idea and scoured the web for places, when, my husband, who is forever on a quest for the best bread pudding in every city we visit, came across Cafe Bistro in a Nordstorm's mall within walking distance of our hotel, which was known for this dessert. We made reservations about an hour or so in advance, but I was extremely skeptical given it was in a mall department store and was afraid we would find a food court-type experience, something I did not want for our last night in San Francisco. I have to say we were both completely blown away (and my husband relieved, of course) by the atmosphere, food, service, and even prices for the Bay Area. They have an extensive wine and beer list and a beautiful bar at the entrance. To boot, we were seated by a window with sweeping views of the city, and our service was prompt and courteous. We split the ceviche appetizer, while my husband ordered the crab macaroni and cheese and I ordered a rich, beef pappardelle pasta dish. And, the telling moment of course, my husband ordered bread pudding with raspberry while I had the profiteroles (French Cream Puffs in chocolate sauce, and yes I had to look up the spelling for it just now), both a decadent and wonderful end to our meal. We had no idea this place even existed until our last night, and even beats the more well-known, visible restaurants in the city! Highly recommended!

While shopping in Nordstrom's we decided to have some dinner there rather than sitting in the traffic due to an accident on the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge. it was a very pleasant surprise, the food was great real french onion soup, rosemary flat bread with warm mozzarella cheese, and macaroni with crab. Everything we had was delicious, and the service was great. I would defiantly recommend it.

On a family shopping trip to San Francisco, we ended up at the Nordstrom Cafe Bistro on the top floor of the department store. Although Nordstrom might not be cheap, the Bistro is quite reasonable. Kids' menu mac and cheese was $4.95 and a good portion. Pizzas were about fourteen inch, thin crust, and around $13. Crab mac and cheese was $15 and came with a small side salad. Although it had no discernible crab pieces that I could see, it was still hot and tasty. Calorie counts are posted on the menu, which might be a good thing or bad thing, depending on how much denial you would like to maintain). Water is available upon request. Chicken club sandwich looked quite nice, and arrived with a sizable portion of thin cut fries. All in all, it was convenient, and everyone was able to find something they enjoyed.

My college roommate and I visited the Westfield Mall for Sunday lunch. We spied the cafe while riding the escalator in the "mall under the dome." My friend ordered grilled chicken Caesar salad, a glass of white wine and I ordered the lime, cilantro shrimp salad and a raspberry lemonade. My friend chose a white wine from New Zealand, which she described as "lovely." She found the chicken in her salad to be bland despite her effort to season it with salt and pepper. My lime, cilantro shrimp salad was very tasty and my lemonade was made with fresh raspberries. For dessert, my companion ordered a vanilla gelato. The gelato was, "yummy." It reminded her of a childhood favorite - vanilla ice cream in a Dixie cup. I ordered the bread pudding with raspberry and white chocolate sauce. A lovely presentation. Not the best bread pudding I have ever had, but definitely one I'd order again.

Visited this restaurant twice for dinner and had excellent meals and drinks. Tonight, Burrata salad with Croque Madame and a dirty martini - excellent.

The kids ate mac & cheese. The salmon was good, everything else was ok. Nothing more. No need to reserve your spot. The service was a bit slow even though it wasn't crowded.

After a seeing a movie in the San Francisco Center, two friends, my wife, and I had dinner here on Saturday evening. The food was terrific, the wine excellent, and dessert was wonderful. There is also a great view overlooking Market Street. Who knew that Nordstrom had such a great restaurant within its doors? If you are anywhere in the area, this is definitely a spot to consider for a really nice meal.

This restaurant is excellent any time, but especially welcome as a break from shopping. Very pleasant ambience, & you'd never know you were within a department store. It's right off the BART line, too, so it's a good place to come to get out of the heat or inclement weather. Our mango, avocado, & shrimp salad hit the spot. Beautifully presented with 3 baguettes and quite delicious and refreshing. We also liked the rolls which were lightly salted on top. Excellent, attentive service. We even shared a truly yummy strawberry shortcake at the server's suggestion.

Located within Westfield mall - Nordstrom’s Cafe Bistro was a pleasant escape from Powell street crowds. Had a great burger and enjoyed the elevated street view. Curved escalators to restaurant were unique and made for nice photo. Convenient choice if you are staying at nearby hotel or happen to be in mall.

First to review the food. Four of us had the same salad which was the Asian Chicken and it was awesome. The atmosphere is bright and cheerful and the setting is quiet in order to enjoy one's company. For me, the salad had been my second choice. I ordered first a sandwich with beef. When it arrived it was not just totally undercooked but I could barely see the meat through all the fat. When our waitress came by I mentioned it to her and she said, that is a fatty sandwich but no one has ever complained about it before (very hard to believe). Then she said to her helper loud enough for us to hear "throw it away"!! She didn't ask what else I'd like but instead went to another table first. I mentioned to her that if the meat is always served fatty then it should be something she tells the patron instead of saying that no one has every complained about that before. Would I eat at the cafe again, absolutely but I'd not sit where this waitress is the server.

Had fond memories of this place after visiting years ago, but alas, is just not the same anymore. Had a steak salad which consisted of a few pieces of cold steak over a bed of too-much salted arugula. Others in the group had an 'average' meal as well. So this review is average. Too many other amazing places to eat in this city.

Love the French Dip & the best French Fries!!! Love the Brussels Sprouts too! The servers are so attentive. Was able to sit right away.

I used to go to the Bistro restaurant in Nordstrom's for many years. On Christmas eve the restaurant used to be packed. I visited Christmas 2017 and I was appalled. Gone is the food quality, and the quality wait help are no longer there. The place was half closed off and hardly anyone was in the place in the other half. The wait help although pleasant lacked quality service. I suspect this restaurant is an example of what results when the clueless set up what was once a beautiful city as a sanctuary city. What an unmitigated shame.

Went here for brunch, the brunch menu was small and just a reconfiguration of eggs and bacon on bread or not. Therefore, decided to go for the standard menu, the food was very good ordered the club sandwich and the caesar salad to share which were both delicious. Only issue was that you are unable to order barista style coffee, only coffee on tap which was disappointing.

While in San Francisco on a shopping trip, I knew beforehand where to go for an enjoyable lunch, having been there once before. From the moment I was greeted until I paid my bill and said goodbye, the staff was friendly, knowlegeable and attentive. Go early as the restaurant fills up quickly, especially the window seating. My table was window-side and I looked out over the cable cars going up and down the street as well as historic buildings. My selection was a Dungeness Crab Louis Salad of moderate proportion, but extremely fresh and appealing. Dungeness Crab is my absolute favorite crab. The dessert selections are selective and well described by the wait staff. My choice was a White Chocolate Bread Pudding. Although in my lifetime I have eaten very few bread puddings, this was the most exquisite and delicious serving ever. The portion was so huge that it caught the attention of another diner at the adjacent table who asked what the dessert was. It was obvious the patron wanted a bite, but I kept it to myself. The dessert was so large it could be shared with up to three of four people and I only ate half. The total bill, before tax and tip, came to $26.90

We had a quick lunch here whilst sight seeing in San Francisco. The ahi tuna salad was quite amazingly good...excellent wine, loads of choice on the menu, a great view, and this place is well worth seeking out if you're shopping.

Today we had a lovely lunch here and ordered the Pappardelle Pasta with Braised Beef (shortrib without the bones), Bistro Club and the Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Brioche! All were very tasty but the kalamata olive dip for the club sandwich and brioche was too sour for our taste and we ordered ketchup! The food is tasty and service was good. I thought my crab and shrimp brioche was good but a bit rich for my taste. It also had avocados in the sandwich but the fries were light and crispy.

This restaurant is located in Nordstrom in Westfield Mall in downtown San Francisco. The food was excellent, atmosphere was great, and the service was prompt. No wait time.

Salads were yummy!! I had the shrimp salad with a citrus dressing...yummy. My youngest the grilled cheese and fruit. My oldest the Crab Mac and Cheese, she loved it. My husband had the pizza and said it was not good :( He said it was doughy and not tasty...Anyway, it was a good stop to eat a quick bite while shopping in Nordstrom's. So take it for what it is worth. I definitely would not make a special trip to go there to eat :)

Perfect little cove that brings the city to you. We had a late lunch here, full with cocktails, appetizers and pizza. The food was served in large portions so we had enough to go!

Visiting as a tourist and staying at a hotel nearby, we went twice for lunch. Convenient location near Union Square, great view, high quality food and professional staff. They take reservations and it does fill up at noon. Salads, grilled chicken breast sandwich and friends were all excellent.

First the positives: - If you get a table near the window or on warmer days/evenings on the outside patio, the view is quite nice as you are up on the 7th floor overlooking Powell street. - The service was excellent. The waiter was very friendly and frequently came by to fill water glasses and check on us. - The food was also quite good. - Convenient, in the Westgate Mall, near Union Square, right next to the Powell BART station. The main negative is that there aren't a lot of choices on the menu and for vegetarians there were even fewer choices. There is mac & cheese with crab meat and I was able to order it without the crab meat, but the cost was the same - making it a rather expensive mac & cheese. But it was quite good.

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 Cafe. 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.

Came alone on a Monday for a quick simple quiet lunch. Service was prompt. Had a window seat, but there is a huge patio outside the window, which means there is no view of a street! Perhaps sitting at the bar could be better! Limited menu, but that's expected of a department store cafe. Crab bisque was delicious. The crab marcoroni is done in gratin style, with little bits of crab only. Not enough if coming for dinner, so be warned.

We were 5 adults traveling together. We had taken BART into the city and decided to spend a little time shopping. On previous trips we had tried to get into Cafe Bistro without luck. This time we were given a beeper and told our wait would be about 10 minutes and it was. The cafe has some window seating where you overlook the busy street but most of the seating is not by the window. The layout of the restaurant allows for good privacy between tables. In this Nordstrom Cafe you are seated and order from a menu, no cafeteria line. Our selections include calamari, grilled vegetable pizza, french onion soup, shrimp and asparagus rissoto, and cippipino shared by 2, salad of local greens, dried figs, fresh raspberries, strawberries, blue berries and goat cheese. Most all the food was shared around the table and it was excellent. Would order all of it again. Service was very attentive. When we asked about buying the mints that come with the check, they were out of them but put a number of them into a plastic cup with a lid for us.

This restaurant has been serving for years - the food is fresh, arrives promptly and is good value. Lots of tasty salad options too.

Food is great, tasty, and salty. But you can order the salt to be removed, and on children sets, fries are all non- salted, making it healthy. The kids pasta can be changed from macaroni to angel hair.

First time eating here. Had lunch here after a morning of shopping during my visit to SF. The setting was so beautiful and sitting under the ornate dome reminded me of eating out with my family during the 1950's. The food was so very good (I had the quiche of the day) and our excellent server was efficient with an amazing sense of humour. My friend made sure to order the massive Yorkshire pudding. Will definately come here again. Loved it.

After shopping at the Nordstrom, I decided to have a lunch at their bistro. The service lacked detail, and the food turned out to be over fried, over oiled and basically not tasty.

On November 16, 2013 an out-of-town friend and I had lunch at the Café Bistro. We arrived at 11:30 and were seated immediately by a window with views of the city of San Francisco. We both ordered Cioppino, a favorite of my friend. Our order arrived quickly. I had never had Cioppino before but my friend rated it with high marks. Mine was delicious as I am a seafood fan. We ordered extra sour dough bread for dipping and it took two requests to finally receive our bread, which was mostly burnt. Later we ordered the fantastic bread pudding to share. Thirty minutes later, plus three reminders of our order, it finally arrived. We ate it with great delight. The bill was slow to arrive as was someone to collect our payment. Another 20 minutes before someone came to our table. I waited for some time to write this review because it was negative due to the extremely slow service. The food, however, was delicious. The only thing I could think of for the slow service was that something was happening in the kitchen to slow the orders. The wait staff was attentive in the beginning, but it too slowed with changes of waiters. When we left we noticed about 20 people waiting for tables. Nordstrom's restaurants are always my favorite go-to restaurants when shopping, but this was definitely an off-day for Café Bistro. It will not, however, keep me from returning.

Tired & exhausted from mega shopping in this wonderful mall, we staggered up to the Bistro & were pleasantly surprised with great views (until the evening fog rolled in) and enjoyed a wonderful meal!

Where do they get ingredients this fresh and good in December? The place is really relaxing when wife is at Star War speed shopping. I got away and loved it. The menu is quite extensive. I had the crab bisque and hummus. Both were terrific- and I loved the views and people watching also. The service is exceptional- really good food, great service- wonderfully cool place- and the value is very good. They do not charge San Francisco prices. It is a great place.

When we heard Max's at Union Square had gone out of business, we quickly switched our dinner to Nordstrom Cafe Bistro. What a great choice. We were seated at a circular booth in the bar area and received excellent service. Six different choices of entrees, and each of us was pleased with our choices. The kitchen made a special adjustment for one guest allergic to pepper. We couldn't have had a more friendly, accommodating staff! Save space for the desserts--the bread pudding is to die for. The sorbet/gelato also a yummy treat.

This restaurant is located right in Nordstrom and has a great view of Market Street if you can get a table along the window. It's very popular as you can imagine due to its convenient location and view, especially during peak lunch hours. We tried to eat there during our last visit, but it was too long a waiting time. This time, though, we were fortunate to get in pretty quickly. It was around 2 PM so it was a late lunch. We did have to wait a few minutes, but the hosts gave us one of those vibrator devices. That really works out well if you want to shop while waiting. The lunch menu has a nice selection of sandwiches, pizzas, soups, starters, salads, and entrees. They even have veggie sides. We got a table by the window, but it was close to the serving station. I ordered the roasted turkey sandwich and my wife had a warm Asian Glazed Chicken Salad. My order also came with their bistro fries. It was all good and met our expectations. We recommend it as a nice and convenient restaurant in the Westfield Mall to get a decent lunch with hopefully a nice view. And...you can shop while you wait!!

During a recent trip to SF we ended up eating at the Cafe Bistro twice. The first time, for dinner, was good. The food was well prepared--if not a bit boring--and the service was okay. Combined with the cost, location, and ease of getting in on a Friday night at 7:30 p.m. we felt it was definitely worth a return visit. The second visit, for lunch on a Sunday, was very bad. The meal we ordered was very poor. The sandwich I ordered (crab and shrimp) had about a teaspoon of seafood on a stale brioche bun with lots of filler lettuce. The service was very bad. While we were still eating our salads, the entrees showed up and were just kind of thrown on the table. We rarely saw our waitress--and the restaurant both times was not full. Had to ask twice for an itemized receipt.

This is on the top floor of Nordstrom. I stopped here because I didnt really feel like trekking down to the food court. I an sure glad I did because my lunch here was one of the best meals on my trip. The mandarin shrimp salad was excellent. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, the veggies were very fresh, the dressing was very tasty. I had a nice view from my seat. The service was outstanding. When I told my waitress that I was from out of town, she printed the recipe for me. I will definitely be back again next time I am in the area.

While shopping I decided to stop and have lunch at the Cafe Bistro. I was treated to the most welcoming waitress. She was always smiling and provided me with a lovely lunch and super pleasant experience.

The Bistro a great place for me to go to have a great meal and cocktail to unwind after work. The Roast Chicken Pommes Frites is always moist with the skin nice and crispy! The New York Steak & White Cheddar and Herb Grilled Chicken Breast sandwiches are tasty! The desserts are fantastic, especially the bread pudding which is always served nice and warm. The wait staff is hit or miss. I go often enough to know who I will get great or average service from. And the view is pretty swell also.

We met friends here and it was the perfect place to meet - the food was really vey good as was the service. It was such a nice location to sit and have plenty of time to talk and catch up - there was no rush from the staff. It is quite a large restaurant but reservations would be recommended. It is close to the SFMOMA as well as the Asian Museum so it is very convenient if you are wishing to go there - of course the shopping center is all around you.

We had planned a pre-holiday treat in S.F. by making a reservation at this restaurant and traveling 15 miles to eat there and see the holiday scene downtown. We had a wonderful view from our table, but after waiting for 50 minutes for our food--salmon with risotto, I asked the restaurant manager what was happening with the food. As it turned out, the ticket (meaning "order") was lost. We got the salmon which was good, about 10 minutes later. The service was very attentive after I checked in with the manager and he eventually came to our table to apologize for what had happened and said the meal was complimentary and invited us to come back another time for complimentary main entrees. I would recommend this restaurant for non-holiday periods when the service and food can be enjoyable.

We booked a group of 16 for 8:00 pm through open table and received no confirmation or message from the restaurant indicating any kind of issue with the booking neither through email or telephone. We arrived at 8:20 and we were told that the kitchen was actually closing at 8:30. The service was very low either for drinks and even more for food. But the best is that the lights went off "automatically" at 9:30... We had to finish the dinner trying to eat with our smart phone in one hand and a fork in the other. Ok we were 20 minutes late... But the restaurant should have warned us that : - the Nordstorm building was closing at 8:30 (or 9:00) - the reservation was tight - the lights would go down at 9:30. We would have chosen another place to eat. We were offered 15$ of food but it hardly covered the 18% service fee that was addd to our bill (more that 600$ all together). The red wine was terrible. In other word, book early, leave early. Oh Yes, take into account that if you will have to search your way out of the building after dinner (a maze with no signs...)

Had lunch after a fun shopping time in Store. Had the Caesar salad with chicken with a delicious Parmesan crisp which was excellent. Waitress was attentive and very pleasant. Menu had some good choices available - well worth a visit if you are visiting the San Francisco Center.

What can I say? It is always awesome to come here for the view and the food that is always fantastic. My favorite is their french fries with aioli and a lovely glass of champagne. Great place to relax before hitting the shopping again!

I eat at this lovely restaurant almost every time I'm in San Francisco. It's a nice break from the crowded restaurants. The food is good. I love their French onion soup. It's a great spot to sit and have a conversation after work.

Always they have great staff and very nice and clean kitchen. I always enjoy their food. I love the menu.

If you are shopping at the Mall in San Francisco Market St try the Cafe Bistro at Nordstrom as an alternative for a coffee or casual lunch. The soups and pizzas are delicious, nice and quick service and fair price. Decoration is modern but with old carpets that need to be replaced and the place could use some other bright and positive colors, to create a better atmosphere, but in general is enough to have a quick lunch or coffee.

Everyone was really looking forward to our annual holiday lunch at the Cafe. Unfortunately, our waiter misunderstood my lunch order and brought a pork chop instead of the scallops risotto. Everyone else had their order and I had to wait for mine to be redone. The Cafe waiter and manager handled the situation beautifully without me prompting. The service was exactly of what you come to expect from the Nordstrom brand. Mistakes happen. How you handle mistakes makes all the difference and in this case they rocked it.

Who would have thought that one of the spiciest blood mary's i ever enjoyed would be at nordies? perfect place to start the day or for a lunch time break.

The food was all delicious. I had an evening special of haddock tacos. The fish was fabulous. The serving piece was cute but definitely awkward for eating. Three very attractive small tacos were tucked together on a small wooden board and garnished beautifully. The tacos had a lovely sauce and there was no place to set one down after picking it up off the board. The sauce dripped and there was no dripping room! Cute presentation but not practical for eating. The service was also a little strange. Two ice teas were delivered, then one beer, then a lemonade, then a beer - oops - forgot that third beer - one more trip for the server. Food service was a bit more coordinated except for the one person who ordered pasta so we all sat and waited for that to be served. The restaurant was not at all crowded so it's unclear why the service was so inconsistent. However, the food was delicious and the dining room is quiet - a rare treat in San Francisco!

We had a great lunch in this swanky bistro at the top of Nordstrom's that overlooks San Francisco. The atmosphere was very elegant, but not pretentious. The service was quite good and the food fantastic. Considering the location, the price was very reasonable and the portions were generous. Who would have thought that a department store restaurant could be so good? I'm so glad I checked my skepticism at the door and had the chance to enjoy such a relaxing and delicious lunch.

With a 2 pm play to get to, 3 of us had a 12:30 reservation. We BARTed to Powell St, walked into the mall, took the elevator to the 4th floor, and were seated immediately in the restaurant. I informed the waiter that we needed to get out of there with time to walk to the theater. Our attentive waiter took our order and made sure it went in right away. 2 of us had delicious salads--one with ahi tuna and one with chicken. The 3rd person ordered crab Mac and cheese and loved it. The manager checked in with us several times. The view through the long plate glass window is of Market St. So the short time we waited we had a great view. This will be my go to pre-play restaurant.

Fish was really fresh and tasty. Surprising find in the department store. Also great cookbooks for sale.

My husband and I stopped here for a late lunch this afternoon and were seated window side for a great view of the city. The lemonade was fresh-squeezed and the iced tea refreshing. I had the lime cilantro shrimp salad and it was delicious. My husband's grilled ham and cheese was also good. He especially liked the thin-cut fries, not quite matchstick size.

Five of us had a lovely lunch here with wine and a fantastic chocolate cake for dessert. I loved my salad. Our server was utterly delightful!

The top of Nordstrom San Francisco is the perfect place to take a break over a glass of wine and a meal. Lot's of menu options, but a personal favorite is the pizza and salads. The cafe is comfortable with wonderful wait-staff and a place to re-charge before more shopping.

A bit over-priced but good food and a beautiful view

Cafe Bistro is located on the fourth floor of Nordstrom's department store on Market Street in San Francisco. The restaurant stretches the length of the store overlooking Market Street thus allowing diners to view the upper portions of buildings across the street. One can see the length of Powell Street all the way to California from certain tables. Overall it's a pleasant environment for dinning.However, service does go down hill during the lunch hours. We ordered a chicken salad and specifically requested to leave out the sesame seed garnish on the chicken. Someone who was seated after us received their order first and when it did come, there were sesame seeds. On the second attempt, there were sesame seeds. The other order was a turkey pastrami sandwich and what came to the table was just a plain sliced turkey sandwich. Also, one could hear apologies from the staff to nearby tables for reasons unknown.

I made a 5:30 reservation requesting a booth that they considered to be in a quieter location of the restaurant. I timed our arrival to be in front of the San Francisco Center at 5:25, but I forgot that Café Bistro was on the eighth floor, so we ended up being 10 minutes late. The two other people in our party of four ended up arriving even later, but the host assured us it wasn't a problem. He even offered to seat us despite being an incomplete party. The booth we were seated in was exactly as requested and, to top it off, provided a nice view overlooking Market St. Cumulatively, we had two orders of Salmon with Risotto, one Roast Chicken, and a Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich. Each dish was delicious. The Roasted Salmon with Herbed Risotto and Seasonal Mushrooms was spot on; seared perfectly on top, yet moist and tender with an even cook throughout the fillet. The risotto was tasty and paired nicely with the fish. I should note that the 'sautéed mushrooms' listed as part of this dish is literally one mushroom sliced super thin. Nonetheless, the overall composition of the entrée was excellent, and I would recommend ordering it. While the Roast Chicken Pommes Frites sounds like a simple preparation, this particular rendition is quite clever. A half-chicken is deboned and formed into two patties, somehow preserving a single layer of skin on top. The meat is juicy, the skin is crisp, and the pesto-based seasoning is to die for. The Prime Rib French Dip is exactly as described: a slice of rib roast in a bread roll. Overall an excellent dining experience. Why the missing dot, you ask? Let me explain... After being seated, our server greeted us and went over the chef's daily specials which were also listed on a sheet of paper slipped into the menu. Then she told us one of the specials wasn't available because they 'ran out.' How the hell do you run out of a dinner special at 5:30 on a Saturday? This is unacceptable, especially for a weekend. Fix this.

Breakfast menu is limited but had fresh items. Great views from top floor.

Wow, did not expect what we found when deciding to eat lunch while shopping. Excellent quality food, fantastic menu selection. Great prices, good sized meals. Fresh and healthy. Good coffee, wine and drinks. Comfortable seating with beautiful views. Well worth the stop whilst shopping 10/10

I can't think of anything bad I could say about this place. Maybe the only thing was that it was really hard to choose from the many tempting offering on the menu! Ended up with a great herb chicken sandwich, which was cooked to perfection. Will return here.

Excellent food, with great city views. A nice break from a day of shopping in the city.

I like this place, have been here three times, quite happy with the decor and ambiance. I liked their crab meat sandwich. Their signature desert: bread-pudding is excellent, may be share it with someone, might be too much after a hearty meal. I find the service quite good, always friendly and attentive. The price is reasonable for San Francisco. All in all a pleasant experience.

The food here is generally pretty good. With the exception of inedible asparagus (it was very thick and needed a few more minutes on the grill) we enjoyed everything we ate. The fresh lemonade, salmon risotto and french onion soup deserve special praise. However, the service is what caused the lower rating. Our server acted like we were a bit of an imposition. The main course (not delivered by our server) arrived after we'd had only 5 bites of our first courses. When the busser cleared dishes from our table, he stood in one place and reached across the table instead of walking around, which there was plenty of room to do. We've eaten here many times in the past and this is the first time we had such poor service. I'd like to see them bring the service up to the same level as the food and that fabulous view!

We always try the in house cafes at Nordstrom's whenever we travel and are not disappointed. The Cafe Bistro in San Francisco is no exeption. We had a cup of crap bisque and shared a bistro club, both excellent. We were seated in the window and had a nice view of the city and our service was very good.

Staying at the Pickwick on 5th & Mission and looking for a quick place to eat after checking into the hotel. On Google maps we settled on a place called Cafe Bistro. Little did we know, it was in a mall, in a Nordstrom's, and on the top floor! Nevertheless, we were there so we stepped in for lunch and were seated at a table near a window overlooking Market St. Not a scenic view but pleasant, nonetheless. Not sure if Nordstrom's owns the bistro, but as you would expect, the service was excellent as well as the food. It got a salad with seared tuna, and my dining companion had a tuna poke appetizer. The only downside is lunch was a bit pricey ($48 with tip) but I suppose that's big city prices. Probably would not go out of my way to eat here again unless I was already in Nordstrom's as there is a decent food court in the basement of the mall. But if you want table service, good food, and a little bit of peace and quiet, Cafe Bistro inside the Nordstrom fits the bill.

We were seated by the window and had a nice view of the city. Service was very good by both the hostess and our waiter. Yum! Our Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salads were SO delicious. We’ve ordered this salad at other Nordstrom restaurants and the shrimp here was more flavorful. Our friend’s pizza was very large and she seemed to like it. The Cilantro Lime Tacos were so-so. They seemed a little off in flavor compared to Nordstrom’s other restaurants. You have to ask for rolls and butter at Nordstrom restaurants because they won’t just offer it to you. Thanks for a very nice lunch, Nordstrom!

Having learned after a longish walk the place we planned to eat wasn't open contrary to what their phone message told us, I did a quick search (love that TA iPhone ap) for other nearby upscale lunch spots, and Cafe Bistro came up. Being a very short walk, we decided to give it a try. I seldom complain about service being too quick, but our mains came when we were half way through our shared calamari (excellent) starter. Not a problem, but certainly a surprise... I guess they want people back out in the store shopping. Either way the food was very good, the service was fine, and the prices were decent. If I'm ever in a Nordstrom's at lunchtime I wouldn't hesitate a minute to dine there again. My sis-in-law, the shopper, says she regularly eats at her local Nordstrom's.

Who would have known there was a bistro located at the top of Nordstroms. Been here over 12 times in past year; for lunch and dinners and we have referred others here and brought many friends for dinner as well. The food is simple and consistent every time. Great gourmet soups as well and they change constantly. Service is excellent and the atmosphere is very casual. Lunch is usually busy time and dinner is less busy but on occasion good idea to have reservations, which can be made through Open Table,

We ate here two days running. I have a lot of dietary restrictions and the bistro was able to accomodation them for us. The service was second to none and the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed. The food was very well cooked and presented and tasted delicious. The bistro offers great views over the city and is very handily positioned. Highly recommended.

This is our first choice among the casual restaurants when visiting or shopping in Westfield SF Centre. You get a decent meal, quite affordable and good value. During our last visit, we ordered the cioppino and Shrimp/Asparagus risotto; very good. We also had the calamari for appetizer and it was also very good - tender and breaded well. Our young waitress seemed inexperienced as I had to help her open our wine bottle, but she was pleasant. The place can get busy, so ideal to reserve or come early for lunch or dinner. Parking is not a challenge but the best alternative is BART. Get off Powell station, and you're there!

Having had prior excellent lunch experiences at the Cafe Bistro in the Nordstrom's on Market, we decided to enjoy a bite for lunch during a recent visit. Got there early, which is advisable even during the week. Our waitress apparently was in training and she obviously needs a lot of training to embrace the concept of respecting the customer, following up on orders and being polite. We ordered several items off the menu including wine and and a pot of hot tea to drink. My wine took forever to arrive, in fact, I had to flag down the waitress' shadow in order to finally get the glass of wine. Then, orders for tables around us, which had placed their orders AFTER we did, started appearing, but not ours! When we asked about the delay, our waitress became very defensive and indicated that SHE had no control over the kitchen and was downright rude over how she addressed our concern. Fortunately, within minutes, a manager miraculously appeared, offered to go check on our order, and shortly thereafter, it appeared. The food was good, as usual, but the experience was tainted by a very nasty and rude waitress who could have salvaged it all by being polite and just saying that she would check on things rather than becoming defensive and ugly. She must have known she was in error as she only spoke to us once after that outburst, never making eye contact during that brief pass by. The intervening manager attempted to salvage the experience, to some extent, by spending time explaining her intervention including not charging us for our entrees. Nordstrom's has an overall high level of commitment to customers, which made the interaction with this waitress even more upsetting. The 'save' by the manager did help and will encourage a return visit despite this negative experience. Frankly, I hope the waitress, Sarah, is not there the next time and hopefully it was discovered that she was not a good fit for this organization's high commitment to customers.

We went to lunch here on a Sunday during a birthday shopping outing. We've been here a few times. The food was good, especially the wild salmon and club sandwich. The calamari appetizer was tasty. Staff was friendly and didn't rush us through our meal. Better than average store fare. We'll be back. Reservations suggested.

I was served someone else's partially eaten shrimp in my teapot. How it got there, I may never know. I'm also allergic to shrimp. If I hadn't found the shrimp in the teapot before I drank my tea, I would have gotten sick and potentially have to go to the hospital. But that's not all. There's also how the restaurant staff handled the situation. When I tried to get a waiter's attention, about 5 different waiters deliberately ignored me before the bartender, who was on the other side of the room, took notice and came over to see what was going on. He gagged when he saw the lump of shrimp floating in the teapot. He brought the manager over, who apologized, and upon me asking what they could do about the situation, told me that they'd "help me get to the hospital" if I get sick. What about the fact that they also put someone else's partially eaten food in my drink? I would have left then and there, but unfortunately I was with a group of friends who I rarely see, we had already waited over half an hour for a table, and it would have been difficult start over and find another place, so I begrudgingly stayed to spend time sitting down with friends. I was never informed during the meal, but in the end I found on the receipt that they deducted the full $10 for my food. The waiter told us that "if we all had shrimp in our drinks, we would have had a free meal." Har har. Thanks for treating us like a bunch of cheapskates after you served me something that could have sent me to the hospital. All in all, I never thought this would be possible, but this was the absolute worst meal and experience I ever had. I wouldn't even recommend my worst enemy to dine here. Nordstrom and its restaurant management team should be ashamed of themselves for their health violations, poor customer service, and for at worst, for potentially killing me. Avoid this place like the plague. They really don't care about you.

We had dinner at Cafe Bistro and ordered an Asian salad, the Cioppino soup, and salmon. The food was quite good, however, the service was lacking. From the time we put our name down on the list to be seated to having to flag down the waitress to order, then for water, then for a spoon (for the soup), and then for the wonton crisps that were supposed to come with the salad. Customer service at the Cafe just needs to improve drastically, but the food was good.