Nordstrom Cafe in San Francisco, California: A Review

I would have never found the Nordstrom Cafe in the Stonestown Galleria, or have even known that it existed, were it not for the lady friend undertaking some serious shopping business there. Nordstrom is one of those stores that confuses and intimidates me because even after I walk through it I can't really remember what they sell in there ... lady things, I guess? But anyway, finding this place in the basement of the store was a lucky break because it's actually a decent little sit-down restaurant that stacks up very favorably to the generally crappy food court offerings in the Galleria proper.

The main fare on the menu here is soups, salads, sandwiches and pasta. There's also a few miscellaneous baked goods such as muffins for a sweet snack. The main lunch deal here is a creamy tomato basil soup with grilled cheese and a bottomless drink of your choosing for five dollars. A bit of a light lunch, to be sure, but a tasty and well prepared one, and you can sit and enjoy the semi-upscale dining environs while sipping on your beverage for as long as you please. When it isn't too crowded it actually makes a nice reading spot, and I've seen a few kids from next door San Francisco State University coming over to study here.

You can upgrade to a "real meal" like pasta with chicken, or salmon for something more like ten dollars per place. Portion size is reasonable, but preparation is probably better than you'll expect for some little store diner hidden away in a basement. I've also noticed breakfast and iced coffee on the menu, which we'll venture back to try out next time.

Oh, and one other little nice treat - with every order you finish up with complimentary chocolate mint sticks for a little light dessert. Even if you only get a soup and sandwich for five bucks. In this era of corporate tightwad policy it's nice to see even a little gesture like this at a restaurant. The generally quiet ambience and the piped-in jazz music also make for a more relaxing and pleasant atmosphere than that of the highly hormonal Stonestown Food Court as well.

I think this is easily the best place to sit and eat in the Stonestown Galleria, and given the general lack of restaurants for about almost half a mile in each direction, it also ends up being one of the better ones in the neighborhood by default. In another area it might just be OK but nothing special, but given the lack of viable competition it looks like a real winner and makes for a nice little oasis in the Stonestown area.