To intrepid shoppers, the name "Nordstrom" is synonymous with elegance and good living.

Visitors to the West Coast-based department store’s Providence Place department store have come to expect nothing but the very best, whether it is chic clothing, trendy handcrafted shoes, fine home décor or Godiva chocolates.

While this elegant store has many sparkling jewels in its crown, perhaps its most dazzling gem is Café Nordstrom, a cozy getaway neatly tucked into the northeast corner of the third floor.

Don’t expect to find the noisy, maddening crowds that hover on the food court: Café Nordstrom is quiet, tastefully appointed and offers breathtaking views of the State House, Waterplace Park and the downtown skyline. This self-service restaurant was planned with families and shoppers in mind, offering a relaxing respite in a comfortable atmosphere while serving excellent food at some of the most affordable prices you’ll find on the capital city’s star-studded culinary map. Who could want more?

Visiting Café Nordstrom on a cold, windy day, my luncheon companion could not get past the large simmering kettles of soup that greeted us at the door. My mother, chilled to the bone, chose a bowl of chicken rice soup ($3.95), which she proclaimed to be "very nice." Chock full of large chunks of white chicken, the soups golden broth was nicely seasoned and filled with orzo, bright orange carrots, and leafy green spinach.

Note: One of the mainstays of Café Nordstrom is the "She Crab Soup" ($3.95 cup; $5.95 bowl). This delightful soup is a seafood lover’s "wildest dream come true" – smooth and creamy, delicately seasoned and brimming with large pieces of crab meat.

The generous serving was accompanied by two large sesame crackers, which proved to be a nice, homey addition to the comforting soup. Finishing her lunch with a hot cup of mango tea, my mother was fortified and while she was ready to confront "Old Man Winter," she spent the remainder of the afternoon hunting for post-holiday bargains.

While many colorful and creatively presented entrées caught my eye and tempted my palate, I finally settled on the BBQ chicken pizza ($6.95). As a pizza aficionado, I must admit that this is one of the finest "pies" I have ever tasted. A fresh-baked, somewhat chewy (just right by my standards) pizza shell was slathered with a zesty barbeque sauce, and topped with bits of roasted chicken, red onion, cilantro and tangy provolone cheese.

This unusual take on the classic pie was not only delicious and extremely satisfying, but the portion was most generous. I was only able to eat half of my "individual-sized" pie and was able to enjoy three ample slices for lunch the next day. I finished my delicious lunch with an aromatic cup of coffee.

Café Nordstrom offers a bountiful selection of fresh and healthy salads; the bleu cheese and pear salad ($7.50) being one offering that I am looking forward to enjoying on a future visit. This salad combines romaine lettuce and baby greens with candied walnuts, bleu cheese, and pear slices – all tossed in a delicate champagne vinaigrette dressing.

If heavier fare is your calling, I’d recommend the beef tenderloin sandwich ($9.50) – tender slices of succulent beef tenderloin, topped with roasted red pepper, arugula, red onion, horseradish aioli – all served on a French baguette. Talk about an exciting combination of ingredients and a zesty new take on tenderloin. This sandwich should not be missed!

Another tempting selection that appears on the Café Nordstrom menu is the grilled salmon sandwich ($8.50), combining fresh salmon, applewood smoked bacon, romaine lettuce, sliced tomato and garlic aioli, all served on freshly-baked country bread. (Wouldn’t this go nicely with a cup of She Crab Soup?)

For those desiring a complete dinner, Café Nordstrom offers three "café specialties"; herb roasted chicken ($8.50); grilled Atlantic salmon - topped with a mouthwatering sun-dried tomato tapenade ($8.95); and seasoned, oven-roasted black tiger shrimp ($9.95). All entrées are served with a choice of creamy polenta or mashed potatoes and a generous serving of roasted vegetables.

In addition, Café Nordstrom offers several pasta and panini selections, as well as to fresh-from-the-oven muffins, cookies, bars and cakes – for those who just might want a light snack while shopping in this beautiful store – well known for its prompt, courteous customer service and high-end merchandise. On the day I visited the Café, there were many young families with children enjoying a delightful lunch and most likely taking advantage of the restaurant’s pleasing kids’ menu. Café Nordstrom - elegant yet comfortable, with good food at affordable prices – who ever thought that dining in a department store could be so much fun?

Café Nordstrom is located at 6 Providence Place Mall, Providence.  They can be reached at (401) 621-3111, ext. 1610.  Open for lunch daily.

Brian J. Lowney is a reporter for the Providence Visitor and the pet columnist for the Herald News (Fall River). He enjoys the wonderful Rhode Island restaurant scene and writing about the cornucopia of outstanding dining and retail food establishments we have been blessed with throughout the region.