The Cade — Restaurant in Bloomington

I have only been to The Cade twice now, so while I can't speak to the experience every day, I can detail the absolute blast I have had there, even if it the quantity is few.

To start, I think The Cade is clearly intended for a certain audience. In Bloomington, there are more than a fair few bars and social drinking areas. While one could go straight for a more dive-bar vibe with Kilroy's or all in on a more sophisticated venue like The Dunkirk Library, The Cade speaks to nerds, geeks, and those who intend to have a fun time all around.

One of the strongest benefits is that, in my experience, the folks who go tend to be a bit fewer in quantity, and very friendly. Both times I have gone I've come out having made a few friends and having more than a blast with the friend I have gone with.

For those curious, The Cade offers free arcade games. A mix of original arcade cabinets as well as the NeoGeo emulators that have a ton of games on one cabinet. N64 and PSmini games are available at the bar in exchange for an ID. Pinball machines are available too, but require some cash unlike the cabinets and consoles.

The bartenders are always kind. Having objectively little experience in bars, I was nothing but nervous, but anytime I asked for a recommendation or to try something on or off the menu, they did their best to accommodate me. Conversations at least seem to be totally welcome at the bar. It was a lot of fun learning that the gentleman I've had as a bartender both times was a streamer really did make me feel more at home amongst the nerds I mention.

Drinks are wonderful. If I might ponder a bit -- I often wonder whether it is better to enjoy the fruity mixed drinks that mask alcohol or to just get used to a neat drink. My preference is most definitely the former -- I want the effect of a buzz without the harshness of alcohol. If that is what you prefer, then the drinks here are wonderful. Most definitely effective and on the cheaper side. $6 for a single or $12 for a double, $5 for slushes, which are updated daily, and shots, of course.

All of the drinks are themed around games, anime, so on and so forth. A total plus when you go in on the theme of a barcade called "The Cade," but it is nice to see the amount of effort and creativity that goes into them.

Both times I have gone, the opening hours are quite relaxed -- you might see a group or two in from 7 to 8. Around 9:00 or 9:30, things seem to pick up significantly. Both have a benefit, but just a note for the folks who prefer either a relaxed experience or a lively one. Whatever it is worth, even when it is busy, I have never met someone unkind or untoward and have even shared a booth with a stranger because we just hit it off.

There are not enough good things I can say about The Cade. If you're just passing through Bloomington, a student, or a long time resident this is one of the places I would always recommend based on...

The Cade is the place to go! If you love video games, whether it be pinball, old video games or old arcade games... You will definitely have fun. I usually go on a Friday night. There is a cover charge of 5 dollars but you can play all the games for free except for the pinball machines but it's definitely worth the dollar to play because there is no other place in town that is going to offer you pinball machines.

The bathrooms are kept up incredibly well. The place overall is clean, organized and it's well kept. It's nice to walk into a bar and not have it smell like beer and nasty stuff. The staff is wonderful.. Always make me feel welcome. The drinks are original and reasonably priced. The only thing I would change is having...

While I do really enjoy this place, I don't enjoy the retro arcade games. I hope one day they'll get the newer, almost gimmicky arcade games, like the "coin pusher" that uses nickels or tokens that can be turned in for free plays at the pinball machine, or The Cade merch. Crane machines, 'luck' games, etc, would all be fun. Speaking of the pinball machines, they seem a little pricey. If I was the owner of this place, I'd be having video game tournaments a couple of times per month, winners of each round get a free drink. Lots...