When you walk into the new Nordstrom’s addition to Ridgedale you’re probably overwhelmed by all the clothes and new design. If you walk a little farther past the designer pajamas and workout clothes, a delightful smell will hit you. That means you’ve gotten to Ruscello.

First stepping foot in the restaurant I felt as though I was transported to a high-end eatery downtown. Ruscello had an assortment of different tables including a bar with the full menu available.

I was seated in a booth up against the window with a spectacular view. Looking over the menu I was struggling to decide what to get.  Thier option ranged from Roma Tomato Basil Soup to Chicken Gnocchi Carbonara,  potato dumplings, pancetta, sweet peas, creamy carbonara sauce and pecorino romano.

The menu had a collection of choices. In the end I decided to go with a cup of the tomato soup and the turkey club panini, two of the classics.

Hardly disappointed, within the first bite of the soup my mouth erupted with flavor. The tomato tasted fresh and they added the perfect seasonings to make you crave another bite. This made me feel as though the cooks really took time to prepare each dish with a special sort of care.

Imagine this: bacon, white cheddar cheese, tomato, garlic aioli on crisp country bread. Now you might understand why I chose something so simple, but so complex in its own ways. During the first bite of the panini, all the flavors blended together to make this the best “sandwich” I had ever tasted.

When I decided on these two dishes I was not expecting much but was pleasantly surprised at what I got. However, there were some downsides to Ruscello’s. The prices were a little high so it’s not a good place to go everyday, but would make a great special treat once in awhile.

On one hand I enjoyed the venue. The idea of being able to sit down and enjoy a nice meal after a day of shopping sounds great to me, but the seating arrangement was a little odd. The wall to the restaurant was almost like an open window into Nordstroms while you were eating, so people could stand right next to you waiting for a table as you were trying to eat.

I will definitely be returning to Ruscello’s soon to explore their menu and see what else they have to offer, including their mini store when you first walk in that includes their tomato soup and chocolates that are available for purchase.