On New Year's day, my sister and dined at the NM Cafe in the Stanford shopping center. What really stood out to us was our waiter. His name is Omar, and oh my goodness! What a wonderful waitperson he is!! He is polite, elegant, and genuine. Omar is soft-spoken, kind and patient. He was generous with his time, answered our questions, and provided us with attentive and superb service. His knowledge of the menu was excellent and his advice was spot on. From the moment you sit down, you are served a beautiful complimentary popover with strawberry butter, accompanied by a small cup of deliciously soothing broth to enjoy. As we perused the menu, we lost count of the number of times Omar refilled the delicious broth in our cups. He also offered us an additional popover which, while tempting, we did not take advantage of for fear of not having room in our grateful stomachs for the rest of our meal. We have dined at the NM Cafe a few times. Everyone from the hostess to the waitstaff have been most welcoming. However, the most memorable part of our experience was our waitperson, Omar. Omar should be recognized for his excellent service. Representing the caliber of employees with whom Neiman Marcus staffs the Cafe, in our opinion, Omar is simply the best. Five stars! We will look forward to experiencing Omar's excellent service the next time we vist. read more

You know how I know when the food and service was exceptional? Because I forget to take any pictures of the dishes lol. This happens every once in awhile. My fav was the lobster club and our waiter was the nicest. read more

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Had a very nice lunch here with Ian serving. Quiet, pleasant place to stop while shopping. My friend and I both had the beet salad with chicken and it was a pleasure to have a beet salad for a change that actually had beets in it!! Sometimes there are so few that it's challenging to find them! The popovers that come at the beginning of the meal were a tasty treat as well. Would definitely come back. read more

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A nice quiet spot to enjoy a tasty meal! We happened upon NM Cafe located on the 3rd level Of Neiman Marcus. We decided to see if tables were available and lucky us-They were! We opted for salmon tacos acid and a soup/salad combo. Our server, Robert, was attentive and friendly. He started us with the biggest popovers I have seen! A side of strawberry butter and warm chicken broth rounded out our pre dining nibbles. The salmon tacos (2) were served with chips and salsa. The salmon was a large meaty piece and the cilantro and jalapeno toppings made for a very flavorful dish. The chicken tortilla soup was full of shredded chicken and cheese. Hearty and tasty! The chicken salad sandwich was perfectly done and a great accompaniment to the soup. read more

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Our reservations at a rooftop restaurant at a local store took too long, so my husband and I decided to dine in at Neiman Marcus (NM) Cafe instead. What a great experience! Our server, Atul, was responsive, kind, and attentive to our needs. Nice job, Atul! I noticed that there are items shown on Yelp that didn't appear on the February 20, 2025 menu. I am not sure how often the menu changes. We started off with an airy popover and strawberry butter--yum! NM Cafe also brings out a delicious chicken broth to sip. What a surprise that was! We shared truffle fries before our main courses. The fries were crispy, salty, and had the right about truffle oil. I am a fan of thin, shoestring French fries, so these were perfect for me. I got the NM sampler which consists of half a sandwich, soup, and a salad. I got chicken tortilla soup, and I thought it was great! The sandwich and salad were also tasty. Perfect portion sizes, too! My husband got a burger which he enjoyed. We skipped dessert this time around, but Atul brought us small milk chocolate candy square to enjoy. I had a great experience here, and I can't wait to come back! read more

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Oh how I miss Neiman Marcus In WC.... Enjoyed brunch at NM Cafe in Palo Alto (SF has the best cafe- the Rotunda). I sat at the bar with no wait (reservations sold out) and had the best service! Treated myself to some and a great meal of blackened Salmon tacos. Huge chunks of fresh seasoned salmon with avocado cabbage jalepeno and crema. Served with chips and salsa! Of course I first enjoyed the complimentary consommé and popover with strawberry butter! Perfection! read more

NM Cafe - Salmon tacos - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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This used to be so good. Stellar service and a small but great menu. What happened? It went downhill. This used to be THE only place we would eat at Stanford shopping center. The broth service at the beginning of meals was my favorite. Couldn't get enough. The little bar was always a good time. Bartenders knew us and treated us like old friends. There wasn't one thing I didn't like to eat because everything was good. Everything changed after Covid. Not sure why. It just lost its luster. Service & food pale in comparison to what it used to be. Last time I went was for a birthday lunch and our server spilled our bottle of Veuve on the floor. It was atrocious, to say the least. The food failed to impress. read more

Great service and great food, but slightly too expensive and quite a limited menu, especially compared to other NM locations. I like the lobster club, but it is better at The Rotunda in San Francisco. The complimentary popovers and chicken consommé, as well as the lovely service, is what keeps me coming back. read more

Quality food with great service. No wait with reservation. The waiter kept adding chicken consume for us (for free) ;) read more

NM Cafe - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I always have a great experience at NM Cafe. Staff are always super friendly and the environment is very comfortable. They're generous with offering more of the chicken broth and popovers; we always end up going home with an extra 3-4. The Portobello Mushroom sandwich, Crab Pasta, Seafood Louie are all delicious. My daughter also really enjoyed her chicken tender and fries and their cookies are delicious. A nice place to rest after a day of shopping. read more

The special bread they serve was really good and the rest of the food is ok nothing special. The service was fast and seated right away. Its nice location while shopping around NM read more

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Haven't got a photo of the truffle fries! Thats 10/10 .. service is good.. u can order more of their pastry for free haha. read more

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Two years running. My sister and I had lunch at the Neiman Marcus cafe to honor our mom for her heavenly birthday on January 4, 2025 (she passed 1 1/2 years ago). It was always very special when mom would take me to Neimans for lunch as a child/teen. The food was delicious back then and is still now. The meal always starts with a cup of consommé and the most delicious popovers. And I mean delicious popovers!!!! I had the tuna melt and my sister had the salmon tacos. Both dishes were very flavorful and very generous portions. The cafe is cute inside. Clean and the tables aren't right on top of each other. Not loud, which is a big problem in many restaurants. The service is always fantastic. From the hostess to buss staff to the wait staff. Highly recommend read more

Excellent location for nice brunch . Good menu selections . Decent portion sizes . Love their signature brioche and consommé. Good servers. Just a nice place . read more

Found a nice, cozy and quiet place to eat at Stanford Mall. It's just a small cafe at the third floor of Neiman Marcus but it's packed with decent food choices from their menu. First time I went there, I got the Scallops Risotto. The scallops were nicely cooked and tasted good, enough saltiness. The risotto rice compliments the salty taste of the scallops too. If you're hungry, this is a decent big enough plate to satisfy your hunger. It is pricey for a plate of meal ($40), but decent price for the quality and type of food. Second time was yesterday and I got the Chicken Paillard. It was a healthy plate of chicken and vegetables, but flavorful and satisfying. I finished the whole plate. This is $27 and it's worth it. They serve warm bread and strawberry butter while waiting for your food. The staff are accommodating and the service is at a decent pace. The chairs are nice and comfy. Tables are seated a bit close to each other so it might feel cramped if it's a busy day. But so far on a Tuesday or Thursday lunch time there are tables and not too packed. Budget is around $40 - $50 per meal including a drink, tax, and tip. read more

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I used to be a big fan. On 12/14, I brought a bunch of relatives in again. During our lunch, one waiter spilled other people's broth soup on my cashmere coat and my husband's jacket. The manager came around after I complained to the MAÎTRE D'. I told him about the incident; he explained that the waiter maybe working two jobs. I explained that I am not blaming the waiter, just want the restaurant to foot my dry-cleaning bills for the coat. He agreed. On 12/31, I emailed the restaurant the dry-cleaning receipt. Other than an acknowledgement of the email, I have not received any resolution. The service is unfortunately not par to what I have come to expect of the restaurant that we loved for many years. I hope the matter is resolved quickly as the manager promised. read more

NM Cafe - The soiled coat - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

The NM cafe is well managed The servants are v welcoming and assist with any menu question. The portion of the seafood pasta for some reason got downsized and price still the same $42 They do have a ritual to serve you once seated Chicken broth and some puffy brioche bread-you can ask for more than one for free- read more

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Love the popovers and the chicken salad and the chicken broth. Also had the fries they were like steak fries and they had a seasoning that was like Red Robin's. The service was slow and took forever to get the check but the server of the popovers and broth was great! The restaurant was nice there is a bar and you can watch the game. read more

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Food was decadent! The strawberry butter + popover combo is classic and hit my childhood memories hard. I really enjoyed the sweetness that the in house focaccia bread brought to my sandwich. It balanced out the savory steak and brie perfectly. Scallops were superbly seared as always. Service was great but a bit slow due to how busy it was which was understandable. Despite being near the shopping area without a window or wall separating us, the ambiance was still cozy and felt quite private. Overall, this place was a little pricey but I'd still come again for special occasions! read more

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Met a friend for lunch. The service was on point. We were able to have a leisurely lunch without being disturbed but still having great service. I had the Seafood Louie which was absolutely delicious - plenty of seafood! My friend had the Lobster Club, equally delicious! So nice! They surprised my friend with a delicious dessert for her birthday! Thank you for a beautiful experience at the Neiman Marcus Cafe in Palo Alto! read more

I didn't know Neiman Marcus had a restaurant! Overall, my team's dining experience here was really memorable. I ordered just their Brussels sprouts, as I wasn't super hungry that day. Admittedly, I was still recovering from overindulging from the holidays, so I wasn't in the mood for a full meal. Before our dishes arrived, our waitress brought our table fresh popovers with whipped strawberry butter and chicken broth. Such a treat! I LOVED the way they prepared the Brussels, too. Nice and crispy with a sweet balsamic glaze and pepitas + dates. I definitely need to bring myself back to try the rest of their menu. read more

Great food. Been here a couple times. Ordered a tuna melt as well as a roasted tomato bisque, sorry no photo. So good. Great prompt service. Friendly bartender. Love the ambiance, clean and modern. read more

NM Cafe - Tuna Melt - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Came here for coffee! Strictly that. I got to sit on the bar and just relax a bit. The cup of plain coffee was $5 which is a bit much lol but of course, it's NM. The cafe itself isn't appealing and I do think they should remodel. It's dim and feels like I'm inside a care home for some reason? lol If you're shopping around NM and need a light bite or sip, come here! read more

We celebrated my godmother's birthday here with their afternoon tea. The three tiers tower of variety of sandwiches, scones and sweets are more than enough for 2 people for sure ! I would probably do less if you're not a big eater. We chose this place mainly because the view. The deco is just amazing and beautiful. I personally love their popovers with their strawberry butter !! And the soup !! Their regular menu is really good too. Definitely recommend this place !! read more

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A great place to celebrate your birthday, as did I! I made a reservation via OpenTable and specified a bday celebration so NM Cafe called a couple days before to confirm if a cake was needed or not. NM Cafe notified me via SMS that my table was ready 12 minutes before our reserved time and was kindly greeted by their host. The other half of my party was 30 minutes late but we were gratefully seated even though they weren't present yet. The waiter was so kind about this and just attentive in general. The best orders were the Chef's Special: Truffle Risotto and almond cake. Dishes like the lemon butter crab pasta, lobster club and NM burger were decent but not mind blowing. I just need to come back for the complimentary popover with strawberry butter and the cute cup of chicken broth. Those were amazing! I may need to try their drinks as well. There is an enticing array of options. The bathroom reminded me of an airport lounge bathroom--chic, clean, classy. Great mirror lights for selfies lol. read more

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I never thought that a one star review would hit Neiman Marcus, but it's 2024 so all expectations are off the table :) My family has been patronizing Neiman's for three generations, and one of my offices is right across the street from their San Francisco location. I've spent a lot of time in the San Francisco Rotunda enjoying their tea service, and it had always been an excellent experience with good service. Unfortunately, the same good experience was not going to happen for my Mother's birthday lunch at the NM Cafe in Palo Alto. Lobster was prominent on the menu and the specials of the day included a lobster club sandwich, lobster bisque, lobster "strudel" (really a lobster eggroll or perhaps even better described as a lobster chimichanga). My mom ordered the lobster strudel, and I went for the lobster bisque and lobster club. The obligatory popovers were served, and this was the first indicator that something was amiss on the food prep. The popovers were stale, hard and cold! I'm sure some folks would roll their eyes at this complaint, but these popovers are one of the reasons people come to the NM cafe. The lobster bisque was a high point in the meal. It wasn't incredible, but it was good. Texture needed improvement; the lobster had been finely ground leaving the bisque lacking any tooth. Then, the main course came. This is where things went downhill faster than a cable car losing its brakes in San Francisco. YELLOW FLAG: this is the LAST TIME we _ever_ saw _any_ server until paying the bill. Then, the first bites. My mom immediately said something was off with the lobster and that it had an odd fishy taste. I told her it couldn't be, and then I took a bite of the club and noted the same w/ rubbery texture. She said she couldn't eat the strudel, so we exchanged plates. I attempted to dig into the strudel. The club has the benefit of its lobster only being cooked once. Based on the texture of the lobster in the strudel, it had been fried at least one more time. Super tough. _Extreme_ fishy taste+smell. I was able to stomach about 1/4 of the dish before giving up. My mom ate about half of the lobster club. After about 45 minutes of gastronomic gymnastics, we flagged the server down for the check. He noted that we hadn't eaten much and if we'd like a box. I told him the food was very bad, and that I'd actually like to give feedback to the manager. He offered to comp one of the meals and I told him emphatically NO, that I never accept comps, but I want the check and then the manager so that he's aware of what's coming out of his kitchen. At this point, we were introduced to Alesando, the manager at the front desk I became aware of earlier in our journey at the NM Cafe. He asked what the problem was. My mom related that she thought the fish was not fresh. At that very moment, Alesandro was triggered. He literally launched into a prepared statement on how "Neiman Marcus is committed to sustaining the freshest seafood on a daily basis" and that he "personally oversees how the seafood is sourced". My mom said that it may not be the freshness, but the prep in that case, but either way, the food was bad and barely edible. He then told my mother that she had no right to tell him that the food was bad, and that he wasn't accepting her feedback, and that maybe her taste was off. At this point, I interjected and told him that since I was paying the full bill, we could absolutely give him feedback and that it was to his benefit if he wanted people to come back to his restaurant. I told him that the fact I was sending back my plate UNEATEN to the kitchen is a huge red flag that the food he sent out was not palatable. I also let him know that the service was way off, and so was his attitude as a manager of a high end restaurant in a high end luxury retailer, serving high end clientele. It was at this point he told me and my 75 year old mother to "get out of his store" if I didn't like his food and that he felt disrespected that we told him the food was bad. I told him that it's not disrespectful to complain about bad food and bad service if we are paying for it. I paid the bill, and I marched right over to the executive offices with my mother (dressed full to the hilt), and spoke with the acting managers of the store. They gave us their card and let us know that the "fastest way out of the store is through the elevator" if we felt uncomfortable. This is how the Palo Alto staff treats my 75 year old mother out on her birthday lunch giving feedback about absolutely terrible food and service. It's also how they treat a customer of 50 years. My mom said that this was the second bad meal in a row at this cafe, and we won't allow there to be a third. From now on, I can hit up the Restoration Hardware in the dog patch for my San Francisco power lunches and Madera at the Rosewood when I'm feeling like the Mid Peninsula scene. I recommend you do too if you value the sanity of the guests you are entertaining. Cheers! read more

NM Cafe - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Had a wonderful meal on New Year's Day but the real stand out was Omar our waiter. We have been going to Neiman Marcus cafés for years between San Francisco and Palo Alto. Never in all the history of these visits have we had such incredible service as we had today. He was amazing, went above and beyond to make our experience first class in every way. What a great start to the year to be treated so well. He masterfully exemplified the wonderful appreciation Neiman Marcus has of their customers. (The lobster bisque was amazing too!) read more

Life is circuitous and circular, isn't it? This Cafe was the interlude to the marathon shopping trips with mom to Stanford Shopping Center starting when I was six and lasting all the way through high school. Academic achievement was the focus in our house unless there was huge sale at Saks, I Magnin, or Wilkes Bashford. Mom would go to each of our bedrooms about once per semester asking " Do you have a test today? There is a huge sale at _____!" It was a ling drive from Carmel to Palo Alto and shopping would commence at 10 . At 1 pm my sisters, mom and I would be seated here with popovers, strawberry butter. Mom taught us to break off small pieces and use butter sparingly. Mom always got the chicken Salad and Mandarin Orange Soufflé. We were encouraged to follow suit, although my youngest sister would get the cheeseburger. Today the lobster club was calling my name and I split a popover with my friend( even though the club and fries were decadent enough to forgo it. Our server was fantastic, checking in, keeping iced tea and water glasses filled, even offering a second popover( which we had the willpower to decline. My club was perfect, perfectly steamed lobster, beautiful tomato and decadent bacon on toast. I bought half to my sister and the three sisters have a date to have a tribute date to mom! read more

NM Cafe - Nm Lobster Club - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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A great lunch date. Haven't been to the NM Cafe in the Stanford Shopping mall yet and though the ambiance is not as pretty as the one in the city, the engage offers a convenient place to rest up and load up on the yummy popover and strawberry butter. To e burger was perfect - brioche buns were nicely toasted and fries completed the meal. Had to take home 1/2 the burger since popover and consumme were filling! Friendly and fast service. Would recommend! Make a reservation because even on a weekday, the place was packed. read more

NM Cafe - Perfect burger! - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Who would think there's a restaurant in a clothing store, especially one this delicious. The chef came out, Chef Niko, and you can tell he cares about the food he makes. Ian was our waiter and was extremely kind. Food, out of this world. Also, instead of giving bread as many nicer restaurants do, they give a fresh (warm) bread pastry with a small broth soup and a social lightly sweet butter. Truly amazing. read more

You'll be delighted by the service and surprisingly good food in this place tucked away in Neumann Marcus. The salmon was tender and crispy, and heavenly delicious. And the complimentary chicken broth is delicious on any day. This place can't go understated! read more

NM Cafe - Airy popover - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Came here for a quick drink before shopping and Eric was such a delight. He made our drinks perfectly! The drinks he made us definitely made us drop $$$ at the mall but I wouldn't have had it any other way! Definitely was a start of an amazing Saturday! read more

Like ALL better restaurants, they DON'T charge a surcharge when using a credit card. This is a fun 4-Star restaurant with terrific food. I've had the salmon, burgers, and salads. They're all great. The best public restrooms on the peninsula. Excellent service. read more

LATE POST - Visited on 11/7/2021. Our server's name was Matthew and he had a good sense of humor and was very attentive. PROS: * Strawberry butter for the popover was just as good as I remember it. (The hawaii restaurant serves theirs with Guava or Lilikoi butter). * The shaved salad was delicious. Presentation and flavor was great, portion was enough for 2. * Surprisingly their cheeseburger with bacon was yummy. The patty was a good size and they did a good job of making sure it was not overcooked (we ordered it medium). CONS: * The popovers which are my absolute favorite, were really dry and hard (sadness). Also, they used to allow you to purchase individually for takeout, that is no longer an option. You have to order a sandwich in order to receive the popover :-( * The complimentary consomme was very bland. * The fries could use some seasoning. Overall, I would be return to NM Cafe for the salad and cheeseburger. Hopefully during my next visit, the popovers will be hot and fresh. read more

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Had a wonderful lunch during the busy holiday season. The delicious broth and bread upon arrival were delightful. Our waiter, Ian, was fantastic. Welcoming, friendly, helpful and attentive. Will definitely be back. read more

We described our problems to the waiter which from our perspective was adequate to identify the issues. Your response is both late and meaningless to regain us as customers. Too bad you don't understand what it takes to keep a life time customer. Your response to this issue demonstrates lack of leadership and training. read more

Don't know why I've never been here. I can't believe how good this place is. Granted we stood there waiting to be seated for about 2 minutes before anyone looked at us, but I'll let that go. hahahaha The hostess was super friendly. Jose our waiter totally fits NM. Super professional and classy. On to the food. Holy cow!!!!!! Jose told us about the specials and we ordered those things. So glad we did, but in looking at others, their food looked pretty good, too. We had the pasta and short ribs. DELICIOUS!!!!!!! We'll be back for sure. read more

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Walked up there today at 11:30am for lunch. There were maybe three other parties there with a lot of empty tables. The Asian guy said they due to reservations, (where were these people who reserved tables???) we could either sit at the bar or communal table. We declined and bought lunch elsewhere. Agree with the snobbiness others have written abut. read more

On a Sunday afternoon I decided to go shopping at Neiman Marcus at Stanford Shopping Center. After browsing through first and second floor, I decided to have lunch NM Cafe located on the 3rd floor. The place is very clean, ambiance is casual and relaxing but tastefully decorated. The host greeted and seated me right away. The host pulled out the chair and seated me which was nice. My server was Robert and he offered the two special. He was knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. I give service 5/5 I was offered complimentary poppers with strawberry spread and broth.i was quite happy because they were delicious. I ordered soup pf the day which was a cup pf clam chowder $8. The clam chowder is one of my favorite soup. It was white and creamy and delicious. For main course I ordered the Lemon Butter Crab Pasta $38. This pasta have jumbo lump crab, linguini pasta, spring onion, chili flakes, spinach, garlic-ginger butter, lemon herbs. This pasta was simple but lush and flavorful. It was pure comfort food because who doesn't find comfort in twirling pasta around the big old clumps of sweetly lush lump crab. This pasta is a shareable dish because I was so full and was only able to eat half. I rate the food here 5/5 The NM Cafe made my shopping experience easy and convenient because I can go here if I get hungry, thirsty, or tired and need a place to rest. This is a great place for lunch. I came here on a Sunday afternoon and parking was easy in front of Neiman Marcus store. Open daily 11am to 3:30pm. read more

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Ask for Sanjeev...he's a terrific waiter! The food is delicious and the service is stellar! Our go to for lunch a minimum of two weeks a month. read more