Cadre Restaurant — Restaurant in Madison

It's probably best not to think of this as anything other than a casual place, as the food is only average, the service is barely a notch above non-existent, and the atmosphere resembles the love child of a diner and a bar.

My husband and I visited Cadre on the eve of 2/13/25 to celebrate my birthday; we were unimpressed and disappointed.

The food was adequate. We had appetizers (Blood Orange Salad, Chickpea Panisse), entrees (Scallops on lentils, Duck Breast with tart cherries), and dessert (Crème Brûlée, Napoleon in Rags), as well as the sommelier suggested wine. The appetizers were the best, food-wise, of the night--flavorful and a good combination of taste and texture.

The scallops left much to be desired. They needed more sear, were a bit tough, and overly salty. The flavors did not complement each other at all. The duck was better, with less discordant flavors than the scallops, but the dish was was more of a collection of individual flavors and textures (crisp mushrooms, limp spinach, smooth pureed sunchoke), which were fine on their own but did not contribute to a harmonious whole.

Dessert was okay. The brandied crème brûlée tasted mostly of brandy. There was a crunchy layer of sugar on top, as crème brûlée requires, but it was rather thin and the accompaniments did not seem to add anything (other than dressing up the plate). The Napoleon was basically chocolate mousse with freshly diced mango. The puff pastry garnish was more akin to thin, salty cracker pieces and the two herb leaves on top didn't add much. It looked nice, but was basically a deconstructed mango chocolate mousse.

The best part of the meal was the sommelier-suggested wine, a Pinot Meunier. It brought out the nuttiness of the salad and the cherries from the duck. Top-notch pairing despite the so-so food. Food presentation (how the food looked) was also great.

The worst part of our visit was easily the service. (We made reservations well in advance, so it wasn't like a surprise visit.) Food was slow to come out. Our server barely interacted with us and, more importantly, was highly inattentive. She left our water glasses empty for quite a while and my husband had to explicitly ask for more water when she next visited, after which she brought out a water jug to set on our table (she didn't even pour to refill the glass while she was there). I don't think she even gave us her name, much less ask if we were celebrating anything, which would have been an easy conversation starter given that their Valentine's menu was out.

We're believers in waitstaff being able to make a living wage, but if there was ever an argument for why tipping should be a thing, this was it; we would have been better off without a server, even if we had to wait to be called up to get our own food or use a drink dispenser. The automatic 20% service charge was just salt in the wound.

The atmosphere was definitely more on the casual side. Most of the patrons we saw were dressed more casually (or just plain casual). If you're looking for a place to dress up and not feel out of place, this is not it. I was in a knee-length dress with a knit cardigan, black tights, and boots and I felt overdressed.... Parking was not great. There's a little lot to the side that was full when we arrived and full when we left. We parked on the street, which had space due to all the snow piled up there.

All in all, if you're looking for a place to be forgotten about, unacknowledged, and for imitation eye candy that tastes bland (or maybe just for the bar), yeah, this is your place. If you're looking to celebrate a special occasion or to make (good) memories, look elsewhere. There are MANY better options with better food and service at this price point, and we'll be going to one of those for all our future...

Our first visit in October 2023. I had a craving for beef carpaccio and escargot so hubby called ahead to make sure it would be on the menu the night of our reservation. When we arrived and gave our name the sommelier said, "Ah the escargot and beef carpaccio couple"? and took us to our table. I absolutely loved that they either made a note from my husband's call or remembered the two dishes I really wanted. It was such a personal touch that made the experience feel special right from the start. I asked if they were able to make a chocolate martini (not on the menu) and they were not able to as they had no chocolate liqueur. I then asked for my second choice, a lemon drop which they were able to make. My husband was given a small shot glass of a beer that he was contemplating to ensure he would like it. Both drinks were very good. I ended up having three lemon drops throughout the evening. We started with the escargot and chevre cheese curds at the same time, my husband not being fond of escargot and me not being fond at all of fried foods. I was so pleasantly surprised by the cheese curds. I absolutely loved them. I have never had anything quite like them and they are from here on out the only fried food I will eat. The escargot was a nice portion. Plating was beautiful. They were nice and tender. The only thing that would have improved them was a little more flavor (garlic). But still very nice. Next we moved on to the beef carpaccio. It was quite nice. Again, beautiful plating. My husband picked a pork chop, that evenings special, which we then shared. Quite honestly I was disappointed when he chose something to "boring" for us to share. However when it arrived I was again pleasantly surprised. Quite easily the most tender, moist pork chop I've ever had and the sweet potatoes in the side were to die for and honestly I do not like sweet potatoes either. Finally we ended the meal with the gateau basque. Again, extremely delicious. Everything we ate and drank was worthy of the visit. In addition to the wonderful food, the staff were very pleasant. The restrooms were clean and I loved how they were decorated as well. It is worthy of noting that a 20% gratuity is already added to your bill when it comes to the table. (It also states this on the menu you receive when you are seated.) That was perfectly fine by us as 20% is what we "normally" tip. This tip is shared amongst staff I was informed once I inquired. You can choose to tip above and beyond the 20% if you like, or not. Honestly I wish all dining establishments would implement this practice of the gratuity already on the bill. It prevents under tipping (unless you want to speak to someone about a bad experience), it should ensure good service (customers will have to voice complaints if they feel something was sub par) and it eliminates the need for math after multiple drinks lol (if you choose to stay with 20%). I definitely recommend trying this place. Great for date nights, special occasions, etc. We will definitely...

Cadre is one of a few newer fine dining establishments that have been opening on Madison's west side, and I wholeheartedly encourage people to try them out. They're great for a special occasion, an upscale happy hour, and any number of other reasons to dine out for a night.

My wife and I have been able to dine with them a handful of times over the past couple years, and have been tremendously happy with all aspects. The food is French-inspired, well prepared, and visually beautiful. They make great use of fresh herbs and floral ingredients, and you can't help but take a picture before you eat. It's art!

The culinary experience is backed up by an excellent cocktail and beverage menu, and outstanding service. The people who have hosted us have been invariably kind, welcoming, knowledgeable, and fun to interact with. It's been clear to me that Chef Evan inspires and leads a cohesive team from what a number of staff have said. Combine that with great ambience, and a great outdoor patio for warm-weather dining, and it's an unbeatable experience. I consider them to be one of Madison's top restaurants.

Also worth mentioning is that they occasionally do special dinners and events, and I've found those to be particularly great experiences. Some of the special dishes they prepare for those are particularly unique. Whether you're new to Cadre or already a fan, it's worth considering watching for and attending those events as...