kitchen at palladio

Like many people, when I think of Barnes & Noble, I think of books. When it comes to their food, I’ve been known to enjoy a latte or a cookie, but not much more… until now.

Last weekend my husband and I went to the Palladio at Broadstone to check out The Kitchen, a beautiful restaurant inside of Barnes & Noble.

It’s exciting to have The Kitchen at Palladio in Folsom because currently there are only five locations in the U.S. The one at the Palladio is the only one in California.

 

We are definitely lucky to have this gem in the Sacramento region. Because the food was amazing!

 

And we know because we tasted a lot of it…

To maximize our first time there, my husband and I ordered quite a few starter dishes. We enjoyed the hummus plate with crackers and beautiful raw veggies, including multi-colored cauliflower and baby carrots. The hummus also had this amazing spice and olive oil, so the texture was perfect!

We also ordered the charcuterie board. The great thing about this starter is for a vegan like me, there were still a ton of options for me on the board. Dates, nuts, crackers, incredible date jam, and dried cranberries. It was awesome. My husband has the sole job of enjoying the various cheeses that came with the board, and he said they were outstanding.

 

 

He also got the mac and cheese, which is a newer addition to their menu. It’s a side, but it’s really enough for a meal. All the portions are very generous.

We also got a side of delicious sautéed broccoli and their pasta entrée, which includes cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic, and peas. The pasta is also a new addition for spring, as they change out some menu items to feature seasonal dishes.

For dessert, our server recommended the ice cream cookie sandwich, but we were both too full. However, the couple beside us was enjoying one and it did look fabulous.

 

The design of the restaurant is beautiful.

 

It connects the theme of the bookstore to the restaurant. Books are strategically placed throughout the space and your bill even comes in a book (we got The Great Gatsby!). Little touches make the restaurant unique in its own right.

For those looking to work, the space has long community tables with benches, similar to what you would find in many coffee shops. People were working away on their laptops and munching on an avocado toast or sipping a beer.

That’s right, for those who indulge, there is beer, wine, and cider available. They also have all the classic espresso drinks. Everything can be ordered from your server, or at the coffee bar near the entrance of the restaurant. If you like, you can just sit at the bar and enjoy a drink as you flip through a current read.

 

Beyond loving the food at The Kitchen, I loved the experience.

 

 

Nowadays, we often rush in and out of bookstores. We are there to buy a specific book for a specific person.

But not that long ago, before the rise of the Kindle and Nook, we use to hang out at bookstores. When my step kids were little, I have many happy memories of taking them to Barnes & Noble to browse the aisles for an hour or more, until everyone settled on the book of their choice.

The Barnes & Noble at the Palladio had that vibe. We were there on a Sunday afternoon and the store was buzzing with people skimming titles and flipping through pages.

Many worked their way over to a couch, community table, the coffee bar, or a booth at The Kitchen, book in hand. We saw singles, couples, and families. From people typing away on computers to a parent reading to a little one, the mix is something I haven’t seen in a long time.

Needless to say, I’ll be back to the Barnes & Noble at the Palladio to enjoy some tasty dishes at The Kitchen.

Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, and books… Does it get any better??