Department Bento at Nordstrom Bellevue Square – Photo Credit: Mat Hayward

Department Bento, located on the second floor of Nordstrom Bellevue Square, opened earlier this week. The quick-serve restaurant is taking the place of Nordstrom Grill, which closed in early March.

Tom Douglas’ new restaurant allows customers to dine on their own terms, according to Nordstrom vice president of restaurant operations, Vincent Rossetti. Each guest starts by choosing between a bento box, rice bowl or salad, and then adding rice, vegetable and a main like sockeye salmon and seared tofu. The menu also includes beverages and alcohol like Japanese sodas, iced coffees, wine, beer and sake slushies. Meals are priced ranging from $15 for seared tofu to $18 for teriyaki skirt steak.

Seating up to 70 people, Department Bento was designed by Seattle-based Graham Baba Architects. Featured throughout the restaurant are custom watercolor wall graphics by Acrylicize, an international artist group.

Nordstrom Bellevue also has other food and beverage options, such as; Espresso bar, Ebar, Marketplace Cafe and Habitant. The most recent addition, Habitant, a lounge offering cocktails and food, opened back in 2013.

This is the first partnership for Tom Douglas outside of the city of Seattle. Nordstrom has had in-store restaurants for over 35 years, and hopes that this bento-style restaurant is a great addition to their current portfolio of eateries.

BELLEVUE, WA – JUNE 17: Department Bento at Nordstrom Bellevue Square on June 17, 2018 in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Nordstrom)
BELLEVUE, WA – JUNE 17: Department Bento at Nordstrom Bellevue Square on June 17, 2018 in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Nordstrom)
BELLEVUE, WA – JUNE 17: Department Bento at Nordstrom Bellevue Square on June 17, 2018 in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Nordstrom)
BELLEVUE, WA – JUNE 17: Department Bento at Nordstrom Bellevue Square on June 17, 2018 in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Nordstrom)
BELLEVUE, WA – JUNE 17: Department Bento at Nordstrom Bellevue Square on June 17, 2018 in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Nordstrom)

13 Comments

  1. I am so sad that the Nordstrom Grill is no more. The food was always good and it had a comfortable atmosphere for meeting & lunching with friends. Sorry to say the Bento does not appeal to me at all and it is very doubtful I will ever go there. Im sure that it appeals to some – which is what they are gambling on. After all, Bellevue retail now targets and caters to a much younger and totally different clientele.

  2. $15 for seared tofu!!! Seriously Nordstrom you missed this one. The Grill was always packed and usually a wait. Plus the food was amazing. Not sure the logic on this one.

  3. They traded in nice wood interior and comfy booths for that? Seriously, is that a Nordstrom restaurant or a hospital cafeteria? I hope the food is typically Tom Douglas great because it is being served in a space that looks about as inviting as a office kitchen.

  4. I agree with the above comment. The place looks very uninviting, like a sterile, cold, office break room or detention center cafeteria. Awful change from the cozy grill. Will never understand the trend of places looking like sparse, apocalyptic shelters. I’d rather easy at McDonald’s.

  5. Eat at McDonald’s. Oopsie.

  6. Poor food. Priced way too high. This place is JUNK compared to the Grill it replaced. And only 2-3 people dining there at noon now. Someone at Bellevue Nordstrom’s needs to lose their job on this.

  7. This was a huge mistake! The Grill was a warm, inviting restaurant where the food was consistently good and the staff was friendly and professional. It was cooling in summer and comfortable in the winter months. Very disappointed in your decision. Retail is difficult at this time, but some changes are misguided. The store does not have a harmony or flow. A confused approach and concept. This restaurant is adding to that sorry to say.

  8. Horrific!!! The Vice President of Nordstrom should be fired! Replacing Classic Interior and Great food with this “On The Go Garbage ” it’s funny to note other articles mentions bus stations for this type of Bento box crap. It looks like it belongs in a bus station!! A Bankrupt in the making! The Grill was always a wait to get in and well worth it! This is a bad Joke on the pockets of Nordstroms Customer’s! We don’t settle for Bus Station food!!

  9. I agree with all the above. I’ve held a Nordstroms card for nearly 25 year’s and cancelling it this week. I am in disbelief we as good reliable Customers are treated to this absurd place, we can’t even call it a restraunt! The Grill was a wonderful stop after shopping at Nordstroms , this is how we are rewarded? I’ve been Loyal for many year’s, I have no reason to go back. I agree with all the others, Someone needs to lose their Job over this.

  10. All these comments above that someone needs to lose their job over at Nordstrom Bellevue thanks to Department Bento. I agree and I think some have. The great chefs that created great food and staff that made the Grill such a wonderful place to sit down and relax are all gone. Walking by an empty restaurant today, it seems most of the customers are gone too. What a mistake!

  11. Hey Nordstrom – are you reading these comments? Fix it!

  12. Stopped by the Grill today while we finished our shopping at Nordstroms, we noticed this Bento Box and thought we walked the opposite way, we walked the other direction and back again. It wasn’t a mistake, our Beloved Grill is gone, we were starring at a thin paper menue stating how to build or make a Bento Box!
    I will reframe showing utter Anger and outrage, the Grill we visited so many times over the years is gone. Sometimes the wait was long but we waited to experience total Nordstroms. We didn’t see one single person at this very uncomfortable, sterile place. Not sure who would like this very cold environment, but I can say now, I will along with many, not give Nordstroms further business. I can’t imagine the costs involve in creating something so foolish, I agree with all the others here and else where, Nordstroms is 1) pulling the wool over our eyes or 2) they no longer Value their Customers, this will cost Nordstroms a pretty penny and it should. I am completely upset over this and the disregard for your Customers. It’s truly disgusting.

  13. Have to agree with all of the above, terrible mistake! Loved the Grill!!! Will never eat in the new place!