Guilt-Free Eats At Nordstrom’s Ruscello

There’s a new restaurant in town, and this one won’t have you wishing you didn’t skip the gym. Enter recently-opened Ruscello (pronounced roo-shehl’-loh), Nordstrom’s restaurant located at Perimeter Mall here in Atlanta. One of a few locations in the country, Atlanta’s Ruscello carries ingredients that are all locally sourced and organic, so you’re supporting local farmers as well as your own health. Everyone wins here!

I recently had the joy of taste-testing my way through some of the menu at Ruscello. The cuisine is inspired by traditionally Italian and Mediterranean dishes, but without the calories you’d expect from, say, a heaping plate of Fettuccine Alfredo. So if you restarted your diet, dining out at Ruscello won’t kill your calorie count.

Now, to be honest, I’m always a bit skeptical of these “calorie-conscious” eateries. Sometimes it seems every bit of flavor disappears when they cut the calories (go figure, right!). And besides, I’d never experienced Department Store dining before, so I wasn’t sure what was “in-store.” 😛 But… dare I say it… I was delightfully surprised with what I tried at Ruscello.

So, being that I’m always up for a great meal (after a full day of shopping at Nordstrom of course)… hubby and I decided to embark on an eating adventure at Ruscello. We started with a light and fresh Grilled Shrimp and Arugula Salad with Sweet Corn. For only 609 calories, this dish blew me away! Complete with petite tomatoes, polenta croutons, Parmesan cheese crisp and creamy garlic vinaigrette, this shrimp and arugula salad was the best I have ever had! After beginning the meal on such a high note, I had a good feeling about the dishes to come.

Next up was the Chicken Gnocchi Carbonara, and at 1127 calories, it’s probably one of the healthiest gnocchi meals you can find. A delicious combination of potato dumplings, pancetta and sweet peas, the dish was topped with creamy carbonara sauce and pecorino Romano cheese.

I really enjoyed the ambiance at Ruscello; it stayed true to the cuisine, offering an authentic yet unique Mediterranean and Italian-inspired experience. Perhaps what I like the most is that you can take a much-needed break from shopping (hey, it’s hard work!) and enjoy a guilt-free meal right on the premises. Talk about convenience!

After the Chicken Gnocchi, we enjoyed an interesting addition to the menu: Grilled Skirt Steak Chimichurri. Chimichurri is predominantly a South American dish, but we weren’t complaining… especially once we had a taste! Grilled skirt steak, roasted asparagus, carrots, Yukon gold potatoes and cilantro lime vinaigrette all came together for a satiable flavor for only about 871 calories. It was the perfect topper for a delicious dining experience in a comfortable setting.

Ruscello showed me that organic ingredients definitely make a difference. Not only do they execute fresh flavor, but they also help you watch your waistline. And with a savory selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, soups, brick-oven pizzas, pastas, entrées and housemade desserts, you can treat your taste buds to a tasting adventure and leave the guilt at the door. After my experience, I can’t wait to go back and try more of their menu. Next time I head to Nordstrom, Ruscello will definitely be on my shopping list, that’s for sure!

Hey Atlanta, if you’re in the mood for a haute-r eating experience while shopping at Perimeter Mall, skip the Food Court and scoot on over to Ruscello inside Nordstrom and enjoy more fabulously flavorful fare.

Ruscello is located in Nordstrom at Perimeter Mall at 4390 Ashford Dunwoody Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30346.