Cadence

I was debating between 3 or 4 stars but I’m rounding up because of the friendly and attentive service we received from the moment we walked in. I wish I remembered our servers name but he was really down to earth and friendly. The rest of the wait staff always made sure we had enough water. Another welcoming touch was the complimentary sparkling rose they served us for my friends birthday.
Overall I had an enjoyable dinner but I felt the food was lacking in some finesse that I was expecting from this caliber of a restaurant. I do have to say I enjoyed the unique blend of flavors of Western herbs and eastern spices like curry and Thai chili’s. My friend and I decided not to go with the tasting menu so we could try more dishes in which we were overly ambitious since the portions were bigger than we were expecting and the food was heavier than I was expecting as well. We tried the Indian fry bread which was unique and tasty but pretty heavy. Definitely worth trying but meant for sharing. Next we had the potato and avocado dish with shaved foie Gras. I wish there was more foie Gras just cuz I love it but again the dish was heavy from the avocado and fried potato but I do recommend that dish. I wish we had skipped the gnocchi and green risotto since they were both underwhelming compared to the first 2 dishes. It was missing an element to tie the whole dish together. For the entrees the whole trout was the star of the night. It was stuffed with Thai curry and covered with herbs and deboned at the table. They then fry the whole bone and head and we enjoyed it with a delicious Thai chili sauce. I wish the bone was fried a little longer though. We also ordered the chicken which was moist and tasty.
At the end we were so stuffed we had to box up the chicken and risotto and we didn’t have room for dessert. I would be willing to go back to give it another try but order less food! I think cadence had potential to be an awesome restaurant with a few tweaks.

I had a client dinner here a few weeks back and had a wonderful experience overall. I got there early so I went to the bar and got the First in Flight cocktail. The drink was great and he bartenders were nice and talkative.
We got the olives and arancini to start. We decided to opt out of the chef’s menu because we wanted to try a lot of different things. I’m glad we did because we were able to get the Indian fry bread, trout, chicken, short ribs and seafood. Everything was excellent and prepared perfectly. For dessert we got the chocolate custard and yogurt panna cotta. The desserts were so good looking that we felt guilty for digging into them… but not that guilty. They were really tasty too.
Cadence is a fancy spot with great food and a very cool atmosphere.

We arrived and were seated promptly, but everything went downhill from there. 20% tip is included (not in the prices, but in the final bill), and we felt that our server did not care about the quality service and did not try hard to notice or correct her mistakes.
My friend wanted to order the Chef’s menu ($ 55, four courses) but since the rest of us did not want to participate, they did not allow him to get it due to «timing» concerns. This is after we told them that we did not mind if he ate in between our courses. I guess beware, don’t go here with friends with differing tastes!
We ordered from the a la carte menu. First up, we ordered the Indian Fry bread based on the many Unilocal reviews, and it was a cold, greasy bread with an egg in it and some light cover up. It did not live up to expectations, mostly because it was served cold. Our next appetizers were the gravlax arancini (the only flavorful thing I had), and the rosti. But our server forgot my salad! I wasn’t in a salad mood, so I didn’t make a stink about it (but I forgot to check our bill!)
The main courses were unfortunately all mediocre (we tried trout, chicken, pork cheek).
Back to service… Our server forgot to bring out my friend’s drink order (she delivered 3 drinks for the rest of us and asked my friend what he wanted, and we had to remind her that he did order at the same time as us!).
Also, when I inquired about what ingredient in my cocktail gave it such a strong anise flavor, our server had no idea. She had to go back to the bartender and came back with a «maybe it was…» response. So even the bartender doesn’t know his ingredients?
At that point, we were not interested in eating dessert at Cadence and went to a different restaurant for our last course.
In summary, the food was not impressive for the prices, and the service truly lacked. We will not be back.

Dinner with friends and my 7 yo son with food allergies. Food was impressive, 4 courses: an appetizer made of a panna cotta of peas, puffed barley and shaved foie gras, a ravioli where every bite is a soupy goodness swimming in a thick crawfish broth, then a veal breast that melted in your mouth, finally a milk custard on a sponge cake. the milk custard reminded me so much of the white rabbit candy.
What shined was the meticulous care our server, alex took in ensuring my son had a good experience. Alex first took a list of my son’s food allergies, then he had the head chef come out to make his recommendation for which dishes would be safe for my son to eat. He had the house made Hawaiian rolls and the chicken roulade. then they made this spectacular dessert with coconut tapioca pudding strawberry rick crackers and glazed berries.
the servers were amazing. the restaurant was beautiful and modern. we liked the unisex bathrooms. those were fun.
We will definitely return.

First time to try out this restaurant for my boyfriend’s surprised dinner party. Yeah, I know it was pretty risky. Luckily, it turned out surprisedly nice, the food tasted very good.
We had the $ 55 for 4 courses meals-​Chef special, is an awesome deal, totally worth it. We also had the wine pairing with $ 35 per person. Again, good deal with good quality of wine. I love this place. We will go back definitely.

If you’re like me, who loves to explore new restaurants each week then you gotta bring your friends. How else will you be able to try everything on the menu!!!
We practically ordered everything on the menu and here is the breakdown:
— Indian Fry Bread = six-​minute egg, whipped linguiça & goat cheese. Instagrammable!
— Russet Potato Rosti = smashed avocado, mustard seeds, pickled green tomatoes shaved foie gras. It was mouth-​watering good!
— Hand-​rolled Potato Gnocchi = always a must order item for me. YUM!!!
— Charred Miso-​Braised Short Rib = toasted green onion, fried taro, forbidden rice was probably our least favorite dish of the night. Bland texture.
— Air-​dried Mary’s Chicken Roulade = I really enjoyed the sage & onion stuffing. Felt like Thanksgiving dinner.
–Passmore Ranch Whole Trout = perfectly cooked trout with delicious Vietnamese fish sauce. It had a kick to it as well.
Cocktails:
— Yard Bird = M-​E-​Z-​C-​A-​L!!! THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW!
— High Regard = bourbon, Meyer lemon foam, dry vermouth, cassis
— Nectar = krogstad aquavit, sarsaparilla honey, lime, cava
Ambiance is vast, great for groups or date night. The food is somewhat more of a fusion in my opinion. Overall, our grouped enjoyed the dinner and the friendly service.
I hope you give this place a try. Cheers!

I really wanted to love Cadence, but something seemed a little off. The space and décor is very polished and feels like a furniture showroom, if that makes sense? A bunch of pretty furniture displayed in a showroom and it just so happens to be a restaurant. Anyhoo…
For dinner, we opted for the tasting menu (which both party must get). Service was very attentive. My only grip about the menu was that everything arrived lukewarm and every other dish seemed to have a sprinkling of puffed rice for some reason.
For appetizer, we had to get the Indian fry bread & spread. Loved the dramatic presentation, but the fry bread tasted a little stale and not so fresh. The six-​minute egg inside was decadent.
The tasting menu is a steal at 55 per person and it is A LOT of food. The tasting started off with an amuse bouche then moved on to glazed carrots. I found the glaze too sweet and almost candy like. For the second course, we had an amazing seafood «cioppino» with pasta. My favorite dish, but wished it was served hotter. For the third entrée, we had the most tender veal. For dessert a lovely grapefruit panna cotta.

I wasn’t really that impressed with this place. The décor is half hotel lobby/​fancy church with their candle-​lit walls.
My friends and I opted for the ala carte menu versus the chef’s menu because it had more options. We got everything on the menu (except for a few snack items) and unfortunately nothing really stood out in terms of flavor or wow-​factor. The spare ribs were extremely salty.
We got all their desserts as well and the only one that stood out was their grapefruit panna cotta. It was light and very refreshing.
The presentation of the dishes were nice but I would have rather preferred tastier food over neat presentation. It was a place I was very excited to try, but unfortunately, I was let down.

Small but creative menu and really Really good cocktails. I didn’t realize, but the cocktails are different than Mr. Tipples so I have to try Mr. Tipples as well.
Tried the Indian Fry Bread (awesome crunchy puffed bread that encapsulates an egg and goat cheese inside), a potato and avocado dish that tasted like potato latkes topped with guacamole (delicious), nosh mix (ok but expensive for what it was), and spiced cauliflower (excellent and very spicy).
Tried almost all the drinks. Loved the yard bird (subtle spicy) and finding rhythm (negroni like). The nectar was really interesting but not sure if I’d order it regularly. Very aquavit forward

Not a big fan of the two Twitter restaurants — one practically next door and the other across the street, so what is there to expect but mediocre food? Cadence was a welcoming surprise. The prix fixe menu was lackluster that evening but the a la carte items were quite interesting. Both chicken and fish were flavorful as entrees. The Pinot Noir was very good as well.
Still, the best were the olives and Indian fried bread, which was actually interesting and unusual. Seating was surprisingly spacious and comfortable, the ¾ circle round seating felt a bit of retro and can be really intimate when out on a date. Yes that alone cannot be over-​appreciated. It’s about time that the restaurant scene is set up as a date place.
Unisex bathroom hall is shared with the adjacent bar and jazz /​blues club, which in and of itself a must see (the bathroom and the nightclub next door).
My only fear is that it’s not that crowded, the space is a bit big and I suspect that it is a tad too ambitious of fine dining experience for an area where people often preferred a business meeting place, to see and to be seen. I’m not sure if this fits that bill. So I shall wait to see whether the business picks up or not. Regardless, it’s better than the other two and I’d most certain add it to my rotation of mid market eateries.

The cocktails at Cadence and the attached bar Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio (same owners) are all delicious.
I dined with 3 friends, and we shared the entire menu minus the snacks: 3 appetizers ($ 14 each), 2 «in-​betweens» ($ 18 each), and 3 entrees ($ 28 each). That felt like the right amount of food. Alternatively, we could have ordered one of 2 different 4-​course tasting menu options for $ 55 per person. The whole table must opt for the tasting menu though.
Things we had, ordered from most to least favorite:
* Indian fry bread + spread with 6-​minute egg, whipped linguiça, goat cheese — $ 14
This was probably my favorite dish! The paprika smell was out of control (in a good way). The bread was a giant hollow puff, and we divided it up with the runny egg sandwiched inside.
* Air-​dried Mary’s chicken roulade with sage + onion stuffing, asparagus salad, roasted chicken chicory gravy — $ 28
I don’t always enjoy roulades, but this was stellar. The stuffing was delicious, and the meat was moist.
* Passmore Ranch whole trout — $ 28
Lovely trout. The head and spine were removed at the table, deep fried, and returned to us with an herb dressing.
* Charred miso braised short rib with green onion, fried taro, forbidden rice — $ 28
The tiny pieces of thinly shaven deep fried taro and forbidden rice were delightful additions to a nicely cooked short rib.
I often enjoy appetizers much more than entrees, so props to Cadence for executing well on the entrees.
A few things tied for me. They were all fine and good but not surprising:
* County Line Farms baby lettuces with tangy buttermilk dressing — $ 14
* Roasted spicy cauliflower with smoked harissa — $ 14
* Hand-​rolled gnocchi — $ 18
The only thing I disliked was the mélange of seafood with winter root vegetables ($ 18). This was not suited for sharing with others, although our server didn’t advise against it when we asked if any dishes were not good for sharing among 4 or might require doubling up. I only got a dry clam and some unremarkable root vegetables. There was also fried catfish.
The décor was modern and unique. The tables were spaced comfortably far apart. There were some booth-​like tables in the center of the space. Large sculptural elements that looked like a giant animal’s rib cage loomed over a few of the tables.
Automatic 20% gratuity added.
Bathrooms are unisex.

The service needs some work, the food was exceptional, plateing was beautiful.
I have to echo the reviews below me about the service being frustrating, it took AGES between dishes, and we couldn’t for the life of us get at least some water, despite asking four different people (including our waiter). That being said, it seems that the manager did sense our frustration, and brought us two glasses of champagne at the end. So it seems that they were really trying, you can’t fault them for that, and I feel that in time they’ll nail down the service flaws.
That said, the amuse bouche was delicious, the fish pasta was great, the lamb was tender, and the panna cotta was a highlight for me.
We’ll return next time we’re in town to see how they’ve come along.

Made the reservation for 7pm but arrived early and tired from a long day of shopping. They were nice enough to accommodate us about an hour earlier. We had pre ordered the Chef’s Four Course and wine pairing so we were only given that envelope to select one of the two four-​course tasting menu along with another beverage menu. But knowing me, I want to see the regular menu. #addictedtofood
We selected to have one of each to try the most of what this restaurant can offer. We also ordered the cauliflower appetizer from the regular menu and an extra dessert. (#FAT) Serving started around 30 minutes later after talking to the waiter.
Amuse — Cauliflower cappuccino ginger served in a coffee cup — Yum!
Appepitizer from Regular Menu — Spicy Cauliflower
1^st course — Glazed baby carrots, redeye gelée, pickled walnuts, wild rice aioli
2^nd — Hand cut fettuccine (vegetarian) and seafood broth with angel hair pasta was Amazing!
3^rd — Maitakes with sesame sauce (Vegetarian) and the Veal (baby cow) grilled to perfection
4^th — Strawberry sober along other fresh cream (Vegetarian), this is probably the BEST dessert out of the three that we had. on the regular menu, there was a custer with cream on top.
Dessert from regular menu — Chocolate Custard with Ice Cream — yum!
Overall a nice experience but service can be a bit slow at times. (–1)

4.5 stars!
I love the ambience and décor of this place. It’s modern, mysterious, and gorgeous. There are rows and rows of tall wooden LED candles along the walls and curved wooden posts beside booth seating, giving the feeling of tree branches arching over the table. The space is also surprisingly large for a restaurant on Market.
Service was frustrating. Our waiter seemed to have forgotten to put in our order at the beginning or something, but it took more than 40 minutes for us to even get our amuse-​bouche. Two other couples that were seated way after us even got their food before we did. However, after we finally got our first course, our waiter was more attentive and the other courses came pretty quickly.
The tasting menu changes frequently and is split between one vegetarian and one non-​vegetarian option. Although I’ve heard that the vegetarian tasting is delicious, I love meat /​seafood too much and still ended up choosing the non-​vegetarian option.
1) Cauliflower cappuccino — Served in cute, china cappuccino cups. This was basically a foamy cauliflower soup.
2) Roasted baby carrots with walnuts — Very delicious, almost like a deconstructed salad. The sweetness of the baby carrots balanced well with the walnuts.
3) Angel hair pasta with cured sablefish, mussels, and clams — AMAZING!!! I was almost tempted to give Cadence 5 stars just for this course. There was a good amount of seafood in the pasta, rather than just a few chunks, and the flavor of seafood with parsley and seasoning was delicious. The flavor was even cooked into the noodles themselves, whereas usually the noodles might be a bit bland and you really have to rely on the sauce for any taste.
4) Veal chop — Good, but didn’t stand out to me very much.
5) Grapefruit panna cotta — Tasty, but less creamy and more firm than what I expected for panna cotta.
My friend and I also tried a few of the cocktails and they were all very well-​made!

After seeing the positive reviews from a few respected Unilocalers, I was looking forward to this meal. Perhaps I need to stop visiting restaurants in their infant stages, because the openings this year have been disappointing thus far. Cadence followed that trend. Womp womp.
The tasting menu had hints of greatness, but the overall experience was a jumble of bland flavors, with no cohesiveness. The positives were the cocktails and the over-​the-​top décor, which was somehow gaudy, yet sexy at the same time.
For $ 50 dollars (now $ 55), the four-​course chef’s menu was reasonably price for SF. To reserve the prix fixe menu, you buy tickets online and prepay. My friend tried the veggie side («In the Ground or From a Stem»), the rest of us tried the om nom omnivore side («Above Ground or From the Water»). We got a couple dishes off the different a la carte menu as well.
FOOD:
Cauliflower Cappuccino (amuse bouche) — Creamy blandness.
Indian Fry Bread (a la carte) — This was one of the better ones. Cracking the thin bread and dipping it into the hidden runny egg made for a fun dish. The Indian spices were nice, but I felt like it was missing that extra oomph. It could have benefitted from some acidity.
Roasted Spicy Cauliflower (a la carte) — Nice heat from the harissa. Not bad, but forgettable overall.
Glazed Baby Carrots — Both tasting menus started with the carrots that day… maybe they ran out of the sturgeon caviar? The woodsy presentation was the only highlight. This was the weakest dish — underseasoned, uninspired carrot.
Smoked Sablefish Pasta — The pasta was excellent, and the parsley juice and seafood broth were harmonious. I wish the fish and mussel bits were larger though. It felt like scraps they tossed in as an afterthought. The flavors could have blossomed with more salt. My friend asked for chili paste for the vegetarian fettuccine, and I added some in my dish. Much better.
Vadouvan Veal Breast w/​roasted sunchokes — The sunchokes were the star of this dish. The veal breast was fatty like pork belly. There was a large variation on the amount of fat each diner got. Three of us had way more fat than protein, and it overpowered an otherwise solid dish.
Grapefruit Panna Cotta w/​jasmine rice ice cream — With the savory dishes being too bland, the dessert went in the opposite direction and was too sour. Darn! The citrus was way too tart to accompany a dessert that wasn’t overly sweet.
SERVICE:
The staff were friendly, enthusiastic, and eager to please. Our waiter was quirky and good humored, though hard to flag down. The timing was terrible — we waited 20 – 25 minutes between each course. The vegetarian pasta came out cold and was probably made way before the seafood pasta was ready.
After the meal, we had quite the confusing experience with the bill. Instead of getting a new bill for the add-​ons and drinks, they combined our pre-​paid dinner with the new items. This complicated things and added avoidable mistakes such as being charged more for the tasting menu. The staff tried their best to fix things, but after the weak meal and terrible timing, the check difficulties just soured the experience.

Hmm – I’m not a fatass. Just a major explorer of food!
So when I read about this new joint, I knew we just had to have a taste. I mean, c’mon, the youngest Michelin starred chef, Joey Elenterio?! So what if I’m a stalker?
We visited for dinner and were seated immediately, as this place isn’t swarming with patrons yet. There are two tasting menus – a vegetarian one, and another with meat and fish. Both of us opted for the ‘Above Ground/​From the Water’ chef’s tasting menu:
+ Passmore ranch sturgeon and its caviar, sourdough crème fraiche, soft-​cooked eggs, cilantro
+ Smoked Brussels sprouts, rabbit agnolotti, roasted garlic jus, celery root milk, apple oil
+ Roasted sunchokes, mustard-​braised kale, grass-​fed ribeye, sunflower seed beef jus
+ Milk chocolate cremeux, passion fruit sherbet, crispy chocolate
— amuse bouche: cauliflower cappuccino
Dishes were well executed and timing for each dish was fitting. We were initially fearful of the potentially small portions, but we found ourselves quite satisfied at the end of the meal.
The heartwarming cauliflower cappuccino was a great way to start the meal. The sturgeon dish was unique – you should break the crisp top and use it to scoop up all the good stuff. The rabbit agnolotti was flavorful. We absolutely raved about the ribeye dish (the highlight of the evening), which we recommend you order medium-​rare. It was beautifully tender and delectable. I appreciate how the sunflower seed beef jus enhanced the flavor of the meat, instead of disguising it. Ended the evening with a light and delightful dessert.
Service was sufficient – we were visited by at least 4 different gentleman. Once again, they timed each dish appropriately, so no complaints.
I can’t speak of the drink quality because I ordered a mocktail, called Lunar New Year, which was recommended by a server – it was enjoyable. My husband was pretty disappointed that they didn’t have basic Bulleit rye for his old fashioned.
Overall, an interesting new spot for dinner – worth a try. If you have the chance, visit Mr. Tipples Recording Studio next door before it gets packed.
+ 20% gratuity included
+ You can pre-​order tasting menu tickets online on Tock

After consuming some pre-​dinner drinks at Mr. Tipple’s in the adjoining space, a group of us headed over to Cadence for dinner. I made an OpenTable reservation about a week in advance, after hearing good things about the food. We ended up waiting about 15 minutes past our reservation, but were quickly seated once our table was ready.
The tasting menu is very reasonably priced at $ 55, but we were feeling a little bit adventurous, so we stuck with the a la carte menu. With that, once we realized that we couldn’t decide on a single drink or food item, I innocently suggested that we order the ENTIRE a la carte menu, cocktails included. Doing the math for the 5 of us, including tax and tip, it came out to just a few dollars more than the tasting menu price of $ 55, so we decided to do it. As the kids say these days, YOLO. Ugh, I hate myself for saying that.
Our favorites menu items:
— Indian Fry Bread w/​6-​minute egg: Easily the best dish of the night. A runny yolk sopped up with crispy, spiced fry bread was outrageously good
— Whole Deboned Trout: Tender, flaky, and very flavorful
— Braised beef cheeks: Tender as well, and incredibly rich
— Harissa cauliflower: Spicy, with a really good afterkick
— Gravlax arancini: just enough saltiness to give the fried risotto some good flavor
— Shaddock (cocktail): grapefruit-​alpine cordial, aperol, lillet, lemon
— Under the Covers (cocktail): osocalis brandy, rhum agricole, agave, lime, orange-​vanilla bitters, egg whites
— Yard Bird (cocktail): mezcal, falernum, lime, grenadine, ancho bitters. Super smokey
Everything else on the menu was very good too, although I would likely skip out on the baby lettuces and the chicken roulade. They both had pretty good flavors, but were not terribly unique in any way. The cocktails across the board were fantastic and very unique, but those 3 previously mentioned were just exceptionally delicious.
Service in general was decent, although our initial waiter was incredibly aloof and not very helpful. Thankfully, other waiters came in his stead to make explanations and check up on us. Prices are indeed on the more expensive side, but for the 5 of us, ordering the entire menu, plus a dessert, the value is pretty decent.
Will likely be back to try the tasting menu, or just go for some cocktails. It should be said that we had had quite a bit to drink during this entire meal, so you can take this review with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, the menu is pretty inventive as a whole, the cocktails are primo, and prices aren’t too bad, so if you haven’t given it a try yet, I think Cadence is worth a visit.

Some may balk at their reservation system, pay ahead like show tickets, restaurants in other towns are moving towards this, don’t mind at all, since I like to plan ahead.
Staff are really warm and accommodating, make sure you mention any special occasion and they will discreetly recognize. LOVE. Candles and written chocolate messages are so passé.
Try out both menus, to get a taste of the chef’s vegetarian and meatatarian visions.
Favorites of the evening:
–ask for a more savory mocktail, excellent grapefruit, ginger, kumquat, mint concoction
–amuse bouche: cauliflower soup, the delicate crisped rice put it over the top
–super fragrant maitakes, but some may think this is a bit light for an entrée
–rib eye, cooked to perfection, LOVED the sunchokes
–banana pudding, loved all the subtle flavors and textures: gelatinous, smooth, rich, crunchy, leafy
–loved the sherry cocktail paired with the veggie menu
Detailed: they swap out napkin colors based on your clothing, this is not a practice often incorporated, nice not to have white lint all over after my meal.
Improvements:
–some of the courses were a bit over salted
–pasta courses could have been warmer in temperature
Unique flavor profiles, a bit off for me was the marshmallow taste and look of the sturgeon.
Gratuity is included in the upfront price. So nice to not have to close anything out and just walk away.
Cool bathroom situation — check out for sure.
Very reasonable prices for the type of cuisine in a beautiful space.

The décor/​interior design of the restaurant is gorgeous. Just for this reason, I’d love to go back! Super modern, clean and elegant.
I like that there’s a bar too on the restaurant side (Cadence) as you can also walk over to Mr Tipple’s (Cadence’s full bar, connected by a hallway) for a real bar atmosphere with Jazz every night. Gonna have to go back to check these bands out!
The restaurant had just opened 3 days before we went so we decided to stay on the restaurant side and check out their food by splitting a couple of plates.
We started with drinks (nice selection) and the Nosh mix then had the dumplings with Brussel sprouts, the cauliflower with candied walnuts and harissa, the seafood platter and the roasted pumpkin dessert.
The Nosh mix is good when you’re starving but in the end, it’s just a couple of nuts & Chex Mix, basically. Way overpriced for what it is, it should almost be complimentary (in a smaller size if you want ;-).
The Dumplings and Brussel sprouts were my favorite. Doughy and firm at the same time. The cabbage with the Brussel sprouts tasted great — a bit overpowering though.
The seafood plate wasn’t bad, but the best part was definitely the catfish — it stood out from the other seafood.
The roasted pumpkin was a very interesting dessert, if you’re into eating original combinaison of foods and non-​traditional sweets. I liked it anyway.
I wish there were more entrée options. There are only three and basically if you don’t feel like having beef, chicken or salmon, you can not get a main course and have to settle for the smaller plates.
The staff was SUPER friendly, especially the Manager.
I’m excited to come back soon to try different things on the menu and just to have drinks with friends!

4.5 STARS
I’ve always said, «Restaurants are like men».
Upon meeting, first impressions are everything.
From the outside, Cadence is that basic guy you would never take a second look at… unless he’s obviously packing. Hi, Dad! If you’re reading, I’m k-​i-​d-​d-​i-​n-​g.
But then, there’s something mysterious about him that wheels you in and then, you’re hooked! Well, there’s something in between but let’s keep it PG rated in case my dad is reading this.
Inconspicuous gem, that’s Cadence.
Don’t let the fugly mint green and mustard yellow exterior and the nondescript space with no signage fool you. Follow the faint light onto the ramp and you will enter a seXy oasis serving stiff, artisan cocktails and beautifully prepared Progressive American dishes.
To partake in the 4-​Course Prix-​Fixe Menu ($ 49 + $ 35 optional beverage pairing), you have to purchase tickets beforehand and there’s a 20% automatic gratuity. Do note that if your entire party is not there after the 15 minute mark of your reservations, dinner service will start. No refunds but you can transfer the tickets or get a gift card if you can’t make it. A la carte menu available for walk-​ins only.
My friends and I went on the 4^th opening night and choose the «Above Ground» menu comprised of seafood + meat courses (the other is a vegetarian menu):
. I had my doubts but the food outshined two Michelin starred restaurants that I dined at last month — Lord Stanley and Nico. The chef who was once the youngest chef to hold a Michelin star in the U.S. (Chez TJ) is truly talented. The food at Cadence is creative, refined, and very well-​executed. Oh and not only is the prix-​fixe a great value, you will NOT leave hungry!
P R I X M E N U — «A B O V E G R O U N D» ($ 49)
**Amuse Bouche — Cauliflower Cappuccino:

The soup was velvety smooth with a lush mouthfeel. But it’s cauliflower so it’s heathy yea?
(1) Passmore Ranch Sturgeon, Caviar, Sourdough Crème Fraiche, Soft-​Cooked Quail Eggs, Cilantro:
The sturgeon was meaty and mild in flavor with a pop of saltiness from the caviar that was nicely balanced with the liquid gold from the quail egg yolks.
(2) Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Rabbit Agnolotti, Roasted Garlic Jus, Celery Root Milk:
Table favorite of the night! Perfectly al dente agnolotti generously packed with a flavorful rabbit filling. The celery root milk was poured table side and added a wonderful creamy layer. The broth had an incredible depth of flavor that left us wanting more!
(3) Grass-​Fed Ribeye, Roasted Sunchokes, Mustard-​Braised Kale, Sunflower Seed Beef jus:
A bit disappointing (but not bad) as the grass fed ribeye had no marbling and a slightly tough texture like a sirloin. The roasted sunchokes and kale with cream sauce were utterly delicious though.
(4) Chocolate Cremeux, Passion Fruit Sherbet, Crispy Chocolate:
I don’t care for chocolate or passion fruit but this dessert was surprisingly good. The chocolate cremeux (texture was between a mousse and custard) was lightly rich and the sherbet was intensely tangy, sweet, and sour. Loved the crispy chocolate for a textural contrast.

**Mignardises — Pistachio Nougat, Concord Grape Jelly:
Don’t forget the booze! If you’re looking for something refreshing but nicely stiff, the EDV Sling ($ 13) is it:
. If you like something with a little more punch (read: alcoholic), then get the Vesper ($ 10):
. It’s dangerously smooth and strong!
The staff was cordial and attentive but food service was painfully slow at times. Upon being seated, it took 45 minutes to receive the amuse bouche and the entire meal took over 2.5 hours. Cutting them some slack since its opening week and I was with good company. Not recommend for a pre-​show dinner until they get into their groove.
I once left the MAC makeup store looking like a tranny that got punched in the face with a box of crayola. The makeup artist said, «Don’t worry, hun… it will look much better at night». Judging from the pictures online of Cadence’s interior, at some angles and with the natural lighting, it looked like a generic hotel lobby meet 1970s funk with wooden rib cages and blue tiled half-​moon booths. Oh, how dim lightening transformed this space into one seXy beast! If you want to woo a girl, then Cadence is the place to bring her for a date.
Easy street parking on 11^th street and on Oak street.
Looking for a place after dinner to continue the wooing (or if you’re single and on a prowl)? Walk down the hallway, pass the unisex bathrooms to Mr. Tipple’s for a night cap. My gf always says, «Drink till he’s cute». Not needed. It’s really dark in there so everyone is seemingly cute so beware! You don’t want to wake up to someone next to you that got punched by a box of crayola, do you?