Cadence Kitchen is a restaurant that should have the highest hopes of anyone dining at their establishment, and they definitely did not disappoint. Whether that was the superb service, the flavorful food or the seasonal decor around the restaurant, they rose to the occasion.
The menu was short and sweet housing an appetizer, mains, salads and deserts portion to their one sided menu. There are a lot of different options to choose ranging from seafood to steak to classic burgers so that you can choose anything that floats your boat.
The lobster potholes were on the “Small and Shareables” portion of their respectable menu. They come with six small potholes with each one housing a small bite-sized lobster piece and a tiny mushroom submerged in oil and seasonings. On the side there are a couple pieces of crispy bread that, once you are done with the potholes, you can dip into the remaining oil and seasonings.
The lobster had a fresh, garlic-lemony taste that was easy to chew and left a non-overwhelming aftertaste of savory garlic. The bread was a bit too crispy, which makes it hard to dip into the small oil tubs. The lobster potholes were priced at $23 on the menu.
The honey mustard scottish salmon was sectioned off into the “Mains” portion of their menu. The salmon was laid on top of a lemon dijon sauce, pearl couscous and asparagus. The dish was appetizing, but the sauce looked a bit like baby throw up, which made it scary to try, but once you get over the look, it was easy to enjoy.
The lemon sauce paired with the soft salmon creates a flavorful combination that is slightly sour and creamy. The couscous that is engulfed in the sauce was not the best paired with the lemon dijon sauce and the salmon; it muted out the flavor of the sauce, which made what you are eating taste close to nothing. By itself it was slightly bland, but had a good texture that made it enjoyable aside from the salmon and lemon sauce.
The salmon was like a soft, crumbly cookie straight out of the oven; it melted in your mouth and made you want to take another bite, or more or less eat the whole thing. The honey mustard scottish salmon was priced at $29.
Cadence Kitchen had many types of table options ranging from booths to wooden tables to even a high top bar. The lighting was dim with bursts of LED lights scattered throughout the establishment, and with convenient lights hanging above each table that made it easy to see the menu when browsing what to eat.
The service was fast and delightful; there wasn’t a long wait for the server to come and attend to the table, but instead she made sure that everything that was needed such as drinks, small plates and putting in the order. The server was very professional and polite, which makes the dining experience very enjoyable.
The atmosphere in the restaurant was very much like a classic dinner restaurant in a movie. It’s not far from the dinner scene from “Suicide Squad” when talking fancy attire and lighting, but it definitely doesn’t go as far back as a diner in “When Harry Met Sally”. The restaurant much resembles a “jeans and a nice shirt” attire, but you could also get away, and probably more successfully, with a nicer outfit. It’s a mix of both worlds that you love to have on a casual Friday night or for an extravagant dinner party.
Overall, the restaurant’s atmosphere, service, appearance and food was something that keeps people coming back for more. Generally, it is busy on Friday and Saturday nights, which in turn will require a reservation. Cadence Kitchen is located at 5101 Mochel Dr, Downers Grove, IL 60515, at the intersection of Burlington Avenue and Mochel Drive.
Cadence Kitchen is an 8.2/10
