Savor the selections at Nordstrom’s Cafe Bistro

Stroll down the glistening aisles, past the shoes, jewelry and cosmetics.

Head up the escalator, and through clothes and more clothes.

It’s difficult not to get distracted by the dazzle of Nordstrom at Alderwood mall. But focus, a gem awaits.

A cafe is hidden in the wing of the merchandise mecca.

Tucked somewhere between the junior and petite sections, Cafe Bistro is a stylish and soothing retreat, with comfortable booths and filtered light from big windows. On top of that, it also serves up some great fare.

Who knew?

Unless you know it’s there, you probably wouldn’t know it’s there.

“I used to think this was a bathroom,” said my daughter, Megan.

“It’s like a speakeasy,” observed my son Ian.

It was our first time there. His wife, Ayako, discovered the bistro within a few months after moving here from Japan. After sushi bars, it’s her favorite place to eat.

“The food is delicious,” Ayako said, “and I like that I can stay there with my friends and chat.”

Ian made a reservation for four (and a baby) before we went on a recent Tuesday before noon.

A reservation?

I thought he was joking. Who comes here on a random Tuesday?

Apparently a lot of people. The place was packed. Ian was smart to reserve a table.

“When I came the first time I waited 45 minutes,” Ayako said.

The dining room was filled with mainly the over 50 and under 5 crowd as well as friends grabbing lunch on a shopping break.

People were talking, not staring at their cell phones. That was refreshing, even though I am typically one of those staring at my cell phone.

The chatter level was inviting, not distracting. It even drowned out the fussy baby in the stroller parked at our table. Baby Momo’s cranky wail was absorbed by the happy hum. I don’t think anybody even heard her cry. She gave up after a few minutes and dozed.

Ayako came here before Momo was born and continues to come because it is baby friendly.

Our server, Jeremy, was attentive and clever. He showed up with drink refills saying, “My empty sensor was going off. I knew I was needed.”

The menu balances casual and gourmet.

There were plenty of choices for Megan, the vegetarian. She had crimini mushroom flatbread ($10.75), with grilled green onions, garlic oil, herbs, taleggio, parmesan, mozzarella and provolone cheeses.

“A cheesy delight, bursting with flavor,” she said.

Ayako and Ian are total carnivores.

Ian ordered Ayako’s favorite dish: flat iron steak frites ($19.75), a 10-ounce slab of beef, herb butter, arugula salad and the bistro french fries.

It became his favorite dish as well.

“You don’t think of Nordstrom as a place to get a great steak,” Ian said. “Nordstrom is where you go to get a great suit, not a great steak. It had an amazing sauce on it, not sure what it was. Didn’t even need A.1.”

Megan snagged some of his fries that came with an aioli dipping sauce. “The fries tasted fresh and home cooked. They’re worth bragging about,” she said.

Ayako tried something new, the prime rib french dip ($16.50), with white cheddar cheese on a toasted parmesan baguette, with au jus.

“You can eat it different ways and it’s all good,” Ayako said. “First, just bite the sandwich without dipping. Second, dip the sandwich. Third, finish the dipping sauce as a soup. It’s all good.”

I went for the roasted chicken and goat cheese panini ($11.50), with provolone, roasted tomatoes, arugula, dijon balsamic vinaigrette.

I polished off half of it. Only half, because I couldn’t stop eating the fries.

The food is portioned generously enough to share or take home.

Top it off with white chocolate bread pudding or creme brulee.

You’ll be back, now that you know where it’s hidden.

You might want to make a reservation, even on a Tuesday.

Also, you might want to try on clothes before you eat.

Andrea Brown at 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.

Cafe Bistro

Nordstrom at Alderwood mall, 3200 184th St. SW, Lynnwood; 425-329-2108; shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-alderwood-mall#restaurants.

Specialty: Contemporary American fare.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.