We loved the ambiance, but unfortunately the rest of the experience fell short. We chose to sit at the bar and told the bartender it was our first time dining there. We were hoping for a little guidance or enthusiasm about the menu, but she never really talked about the food. When we asked what she recommended, her response was simply, "Snapper." Every question we asked was met with very short, one word answers. She wasn't busy. She just seemed completely uninterested. Having worked in restaurants for most of my life, I know hospitality is about creating an experience. Bartenders are representing the restaurant and helping guests feel excited about the menu. If this were my restaurant, I would be disappointed by that level of service. The food itself was just okay. The presentation was beautiful and definitely deserving of five stars, but the flavor did not live up to how impressive it looked. After reading other Yelp reviews, we also realized a 20% gratuity had already been added for our party of two. We did not notice it at the time and tipped on top of it. While that was our oversight, it made the experience even more disappointing given the lackluster service. This was our first meal on our first visit to Madison, and we were really looking forward to it. Sadly, the overall experience did not meet our expectations. I will say that our first encounter was with the hostess, and she was very friendly. She welcomed us warmly, thanked us for coming, and even made a point to tell us goodbye on our way out. She was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing experience. Great dining is about more than just the food. It is about the entire experience, and this one missed the mark. read more

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I am from out of town and was recommended this restaurant by two different sets of people. It did not disappoint! I made a reservation on a Thursday evening but it ended up not being too busy. My server was amazing and she explained that they have a mandatory service fee of 20% added on to the total, to ensure their staff gets a fair wage. They split it between front-of-house and back-of-house, and anything extra you choose to tip goes straight to your server. I ordered the beef bourguignon, and it was divine. Hearty without being too heavy. Highly recommend! read more

Cadre Restaurant - Beef Bourguignon - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I'm floored by how inventive and delicious my experience was here. Their winter menu had a lovely comforting spice to everything. I had their white sangria, cacao agnolotti, and creme brulee with cappuccino. I was especially amazed by the creme brulee. The deconstruction of the old fashioned was so fun and the candied orange so crispy! My only gripe would be that my cappuccino had no crema to it, tasted more like potted coffee. Otherwise, everything else blew my taste buds away! read more

The food was good. The atmosphere was friendly (a lot like a bistro). The service was excellent. *We ordered a variety of dishes from apps to dessert. The bread was wonderful (7 to 8 pieces on the plate, we needed to order 2 to cover the table). Overall the dishes were well-cooked, not overcooked. The plating was beautiful. Some of the dishes were a mix (the duck was great but the kale was not as good as expected). The spring vegetables tasted great but there were only 2 types of veggies on the plate. The creme brulee was fantastic, what you'd expect. read more

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Upgrading my last review to 5 stars. Recently we stopped in and grabbed seats at the bar. Since we weren't that hungry, we opted for a few shared plates-beef carpaccio, the jambon-beurre, and the perpetual bone broth. All were wonderful. The simplicity yet complexity of the bone broth was noteworthy-so good we also got one to go for the next day. The jambon-beurre was well constructed with the only complaint that the baguette was a little too crispy on the outside leading to my rood of my mouth being scraped. Service from bartender was on point. While the interior of the dining room wont blow you away, it is warm and inviting. We live bot too far away....I need to visit more. read more

Cadre Restaurant - Amazing omelette du jour-duck confit for the win! - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Oh my goodness, so good! Everything was delicious and the service was great. My husband loved the escargot, Lyonaisse salad, and the duck. We both loved their Old Fashioneds, mussels and frites. I could eat the mussels and frites for every meal! Crème Brule was very good as well! We'll be back!! read more

Amazing French food here! We've been multiple times and each time the menu really shines. Staff are super friendly and attentive, cocktails are really good also! Only gripe is I wish they had more French wines by the glass! read more

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I wanted to love Cadre but it just felt a bit flat for me! We were seated promptly and had very attentive service. The interior is pretty standard and had a sort of rustic Midwest vibe. It was not particularly full the night we were there but it seemed like it could get quite loud quickly. As far as food, the bread and butter were delicious! The citrus apple butter was a highlight for me, but I wish we had salt for the regular butter. The goat cheese curds were just okay - I felt the portions were small for the price and the breading wasn't that impressive. The hot honey was a great addition, but I still would have wanted some ranch for dipping. I really enjoyed my duck entree - it was very slightly overcooked but the sauces and veggies were delicious. Another member of our table had the cassoulet (the other menu special that night) and found it pretty flavorless, unfortunately. For dessert, I got the apple galette which was a bit dry and would have been much better paired with some ice cream, but my husband's chocolate cake was delicious! I'd probably give it another try but this wasn't a standout restaurant for me. read more

Hands down my favorite restaurant in Madison. The food is fresh, packed with flavor, and presentation is always 10/10. We ordered the camomile infused martini, beef carpaccio, cheese curds, bread & butter, and gateau basque. Our favorite of the night was the gateau basque - it was crunchy on the outside with a creamy pumpkin flavored inside. read more

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Go support this wonderful local restaurant! The food is outstanding--and with a menu that rotates every few months to showcase flavors from different regions of France, there's always something new to enjoy. Every dish is beautifully presented, and the staff are warm and welcoming. The chef, who owns the restaurant with his wife (the gracious hostess), is a genuinely kind person and was named Madison Magazine's 2025 Chef of the Year--a well-deserved honor. As a bonus, the restaurant is fully handicap accessible. The only thing to keep in mind is parking: there's a free lot at the end of the building, but it's small and can fill up quickly. If that happens, just look for a spot on the street or in a nearby neighborhood. read more

I stopped for a dinner on a week day. I beat the crowd by going early and got a seat right away. Beef bourguignon was my entree. The dish was flavorful. For dessert, I went with ricotta rhubarb strawberry pacojet. I guess pacojet means dessert made using Swiss made Pacojet machine. The dessert was good. It was less creamy than a normal ice cream, but more fruitty and smooth. A 20% service charge was added by default to the bill. I dont remember that being mentioned in the menu. Service was all good, so not a big deal. read more

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When friends come to visit and I want to showcase one of my favorite dining spots in Madison, WI, Cadre Restaurant is always my top choice. The atmosphere, cuisine, and overall experience at Cadre never fail to impress. One of my favorite menu items is the château Blanc sliders, which I believe is the best burger in Madison. The staff at Cadre are exceptional and add to the enjoyment of the dining experience. I highly recommend Cadre Restaurant for a memorable dining experience in Madison read more

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Beautiful, romantic atmosphere and excellent service. This French inspired restaurant is delicious. I recommend their cheese curds, creme brulee, and ravioles. I tried them for restaurant week in Madison and want to go back again. read more

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Great dinner of small plates, and happy hour wine! Granted this was a Tuesday and early dinner so it's hard to tell what this would be with a packed house, but the service was attentive without being annoying. The food was delicious. We split several items like the beets, the salad, the oysters, and each was fresh and beautifully plated. The house wine was a cab for the red and a zippy dry German white. Quite delicious for trusting their house selection. We will return to try the changing menu. read more

Cadre Restaurant - Oysters - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Service was FAB!! Love going early before it gets too loud. Food was Deelish! Cadre has a terrific staff who are all very helpful in answering menu questions. read more

My girlfriend and I went her for her birthday dinner and really enjoyed the food. We are younger, so the vibe was a little weird because it's mainly older people, however the ambiance and staff were very nice and we got a free dessert because they messed up one of our orders. Highly recommend for a date night or just want some good food read more

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Wonderful. That's it in a nutshell. I had escargot and mussels. The escargot was seasoned very delicately and it complemented the snails wonderfully. They were cooked perfectly, juicy and delicious. The mussels were fresh as well and also delicious. They were served in a white wine sauce. Oh- make sure you ask for bread to soak up some of that delicious sauce! We loved this place! It's great! read more

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Excellent meal, the food is always top notch. The service left some to be desired this time, we were left alone for a long stretch before we could get something sorted out, while our food was getting cold. It wouldn't have bothered me as much had we not also been hit with an auto gratuity of 20% for a four person table, which I wasn't expecting. Pricey night. But tasty. read more

Having read the good reviews for this place and having spotted it last summer when we were dining outside at the tavern across the street we made reservations for a Friday night. Just a heads up to leave enough time to find parking since you will likely have to park a few blocks away on a residential side street. We got there before six and were able to take advantage of their happy hour prices. The $6 glass of house wine was a good deal. But let me back up. Our waiter, Gabe, was a real gem. He steered us to good choices all night and his laid back and warm personality really made the dining experience memorable. Ok back to the wine - he steered us to that night's house red which was very nice (we even snuck in another glass just after the hh time passed). The French influenced menu is pretty small so you may want to take a look before making a reservation. We started with their version of cheese curds made with goat cheese in a cayenne and honey drizzle. They were excellent. For our main we both ordered the bouef bourguignon - it was tender with a deep rich sauce and amazingly smooth potatoes. Delicious. Usually we skip dessert but we tried what we called a deconstructed creme brûlée (see the picture) that was very good with cherries, angostura bitter's meringue, and a cherry gelato. It was a different presentation. A delightful evening - we will return. read more

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My experience at Cadre wasn't ideal, but I wouldn't discourage others from going. I came in with a large group (8 people) without a reservation, and we told them it was okay if they didn't have any tables considering we didn't make a reservation. They told us we were welcome to sit at the bar, so we did. We were then rushed through our entire meal. Some of our food came out earlier than the rest of our group, so we were waiting for everyone to get their food when the bartender and server told us (passive-aggressively) "You're so kind to wait, but you should really start eating". Reluctantly, we all started eating and continued to hear the servers talk about our group, thinking that we couldn't hear them. The second we took our last bites we were handed our checks and rushed out of the restaurant. I felt we were very polite, and perhaps they just wanted us gone because we were taking up a lot of the bar space. We did not feel welcome here at all. Our food however, was pretty good. My sandwich was delightful, with prosciutto, radish, and admittedly, a cheese I can't remember the name of right now, but the flavors mixed wonderfully. I would gladly recommend eating here if our service wasn't so rude. read more

Cadre Restaurant - Jambon-Beurre Sandwich - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This restaurant is located on the west side of Madison, conveniently across the street from UW's hospital, med, and vet school. During my walk to vet school I found myself passing by this place quite a bit and wanted to check it out! I thought this would be a more casual spot due to its smaller size, but I was mistaken. We stopped by for a couple quick appetizers and I got the vibe after walking in and taking a look at their menu that Cadre is versatile and offers a more fine dining experience. Although, you could come here and eat at their bar or in the outdoor patio and keep it casual with a few of their bar snacks like we did! Cadre would be a perfect spot for date night with dinner and drinks! They offer a variety of french cuisine as well as wine and craft cocktails. I had heard good things about their Chevre Cheese Curds and was dying to try them (goat cheese is my fav)! They were definitely on the sweeter side which can be a bit of a surprise if you're expecting more of a classic Wisconsin fried cheese curd, but I still thoroughly enjoyed them. We also ordered the frites and aoli to split. This was a huge serving of fries; definitely large enough to keep a group full. One thing that I really appreciate about Cadre is that they are constantly updating their menu to match what is available locally in order to keep their ingredients fresh! I will be returning to Cadre at some point to try out some of their dinner options and drinks; will update my review then! read more

Cadre Restaurant - Chevre Cheese Curds - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Every aspect of my experience at Cadre was outstanding! I can't stop thinking about several components of the meal and how expertly crafted they were. I truly can't wait to eat there again! The service was phenomenal and it is refreshing to see a restaurant pay their staff a living wage by implementing a service fee. This staff and every restaurant staff deserves to be paid fairly for their hard work. Eat at Cadre! read more

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For entrees we had the lamb and arrabiata. The lamb was tender, and the pomegranate had a great texture and sweetness that balanced great with the lamb. The lamb, unfortunately was mostly bone but the meat that was there was great. The arrabiata was effectively a pappardelle with a very light sauce and a variety of vegetables. The noodle itself was delicious and incredibly fresh with great texture. Overall the meal was great, and we had great service as well! read more

Cadre Restaurant - Lamb - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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We went here for a lovely birthday dinner. We started at the bar with a couple of cocktails; the water lily (pictured) and the paper plane. Both drinks were on the sweeter side but still perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail. Appetizers were solid, although the oyster plate was arguably below average. My red snapper was fantastic, and the beef daube fell off the fork (perfect texture). Overall, very solid and delicious French fare with an American twist, definitely great for a special night out. read more

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Overall notes - the service was AMAZING, the food was very good! Nothing that necessarily blew us away but I always love a restaurant using local ingredients. We went at 5pm on a Saturday so it seemed to be before the busy rush. Megan our server was extremely attentive, and the wine sommelier was also great. The house cab was delicious and we got it corked so we could take it home which is always a plus. I cannot say enough about the moules frites - the portion was HUGE, definitely enough for two people. The ramp carbonara was also delicious - my only note is the smoked beets just tasted a bit like liquid smoke to me. The gateau basque was so light and a great end to the meal. The menu is limited but it's very French - forward and I honestly appreciated it. We will be back! read more

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Fabulous French Cuisine Got a chance to explore @cadremadison as part of the #ecfoodiemeetup and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Ordered from the prix fixe menu. Dinner started with Amuse bouche which is more like a cold soup to wake up your palate. For the first course I got the Salade Nicose , second courses was Bouillabaisse (seafood) and the third course was Verinne (dessert.) The plating of each of the dishes was beautiful and the food was fresh and cooked to perfection. The staff was so friendly and accommodating and took time to explain the dishes to Excellent service and delicious food. Go check out @cadremadison ! read more

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Cadre was a lovely place tucked away on University. I had the roast chicken quarter from their special menu and found it to be such a well-balanced meal & hearty portion size. The price felt appropriate too. Would recommend, and will definitely be back to try other menu items. read more

Went to Cadre for a cute girls night with some fellow foodies and it was perfect! The vibe inside is so lovely! The restaurant is dimly lit and has an elegant feel to it. We sat at a table but the bar and outdoor seating were really nice to. Is love to go back and sit outside but it was way to hot when we went. The staff is super friendly and helpful. They sat us right away and the waiter was quick and efficient. Our waiter had a very calming presence and was good about checking back with us to see if we wanted any more food or drinks. We ordered several small plates to share so that we could try a bit of everything. Everything was delicious and super high quality. My favorites were definitely the cheese curds, bread, the cheese plate, The chef here is phenomenal! I ordered the honeysuckle cocktail which was good also. The perfect cocktail for a girls night! After our small plates, the chef brought out a bunch of ice cream for us to try. I was in heaven! They brought out sweet corn, dark chocolate, pineapple with toasted coconut, blueberry, and rhubarb with pie crust crumble. They were all soo good but my favorites were the dark chocolate and sweet corn. Thank you so much to Cadre for a delicious night! I will definitely be back. :) read more

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Unique menu with well prepared dishes. Extensive spirit and wine list. Make sure to also check the bar menu for snacks. I loved the sliders and the crispy fries. read more

Cadre Restaurant - Sliders and fromage plate - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I came in for brunch and it did not disappoint! I was definitely eating with my eyes. The space has so much natural lighting with the bar as the focal point of the space. Food came out fast and staff was knowledgeable about the menu. I enjoyed everything we ordered and would recommend this brunch spot (plus plenty of street parking around!). Lemon ricotta pancakes - the pancakes were crepe size and super light like a cloud. Perfect amount of lemon/ricotta so you only slightly puckered your lips from the sourness. Fruits & mascarpone - the mascarpone is a nice, denser twist to the classic fruit/oats/yogurt. Was pretty sweet, I believe the mascarpone was vanilla flavor and in combination with the honey drizzle and the fruit. Serving size was a little on the smaller size. Blue mont omelette - very delicious and lots of various elements of taste for a really nice bite! The savory omelette with the salty bacon and cheese, then smacked with the crunch and juiciness of apple pieces was amazing! Everything blended so well. Highly recommend. Fries (side) - they were perfectly fried. Thin and crunchy as I prefer. The aioli had a lighter taste (close to mayo), but mix with the classic ketchup was winner winner. read more

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A beautiful, aesthetic date night spot. The dishes are so well plated, very photogenic, and delicious!! I expected bigger portion sizes in the entree, but there was less substance than expected, so appetizers are definitely necessary for this spot. The wine menu is great, and the outdoor seating is very cute. I recommend! read more

Cadre Restaurant - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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My wife and I ate here for the first time the other day after passing by this restaurant regularly on our way downtown. First the good news: the atmosphere was great, and the food was delicious and tastefully presented (we shared the beef bourguignon and frites), along with kind and attentive staff-zero complaints on these matters. The less positive thing: Cadre literally charges a mandatory 20% "service charge" on all food and drinks. At first, I assumed this included the tip, which although I'm not a fan of forced gratuity, I can understand and appreciate with the cost of everything (FYI, I'm a strong believer in tipping well). However, I was informed that this service charge is to "make sure staff receive fair and equitable compensation". Huh? This feels like Cadre knows they are cheating their staff financially, and instead of paying fairly, they sneak a hidden charge to the customer to cover their discrepancy. This does not sit well with me. Just be transparent and charge more up front in the cost of the food so the customer can decide if the cost is reasonable or not. I of course still tipped the wonderful waitstaff well as they did an amazing job, but I probably won't go back here again. Again, the food was great, but this policy is not good, and there are lots of great restaurants in the Madison area that don't charge a mandatory service fee just to eat or drink. read more

Delicious food and cute atmosphere. On the upscale side without feeling pretentious. Perfect for date night.

Our first visit to Cadre since 2019. It seems to have gone downhill a bit (as have many restaurants post-Covid - a tough business). The service was fine, but the menu is quite limited and the food was blah. Softshell crab totally tasteless. Gave it a 3 in 2019; would have given it a 2 this time, but dropped that to a 1 because the check arrived with a "PLEASE READ" card attached that said, "Please note that the dine-in service charge includes a 20% mandatory service charge to ensure every employee earns a living wage. Any additional tips to your server are optional." I have two problems with that. First, the diner is not advised of the charge in advance, so that an informed decision can be made. And second, the responsibility for paying a living wage rests with the employer, not the customer. read more

Cadre is becoming a new favorite in my Sunday brunch rotation. Their patio is super cute for the warmer days! On my last visit, my dining companion and I started out with some oysters they had on special. I've never had oysters for breakfast, and these were so good! They topped them with a special medley of peppers and corn, along with mignonette on the side. For the main course I had steak and eggs, made to your liking. The steak was cooked medium rare as I requested & eggs sunny side up. The potatoes were amazing and completely unlike any other I've tried before. I usually find breakfast potatoes pretty basic- often times they seem dried out as if sitting in a pan for hours under a heat lamp. These potatoes were cut unusually small, full of flavor and cooked to perfection! So good. The cheese curds were such a delight that we ordered a second. Definitely some of the best in town... Our server was super nice and even sent us complimentary sorbet at the end of our meal, ending on a perfectly sweet note. 10/10 would recommend. read more

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Cadre is a must for happy hour or dinner. Chef Evan has creates a delightful French inspired representation of Wisconsin farm fresh ingredients. His goat cheese curds are inspiring! Bar manager Colton creates cool cocktails while simultaneously having new rotations of draft beer and wine. read more

Cadre Restaurant - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great experience! Cons: the oysters although fresh and sweet, were masked by the relish. I really miss the bloody Mary's from the last establishment-it was Smokey!! This Bloody Mary however, was still delicious and not a boring run of the mill. Full of flavor! Pros: everything. It was all good!! I don't think you could make a poor choice here, honestly. Pro tip: If you order the quinoa bowl, be sure to cut up all the toppings and mix it into the top half of the quinoa before eating. It's a lot of quinoa, and the flavor burst is all in the toppings. I will return and I will order a ton of other goodies!! read more

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Great food! Great service! Great people! What more can you ask for? The beef carpaccio is Devine. The oysters were fresh and tasty. Cary (the bartender) was very attentive and friendly. #TheBestofMadison! See you soon friends. read more

Highly recommend Cadre restaurant for a high-end dining experience with authentic Alsatian flavors in a fun atmosphere. We met up here last night for a girl's dinner and Cadre did not disappoint. Our server was a gem - super friendly and attentive. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and led us through a flavor journey of French wines, recommending delightful wines that perfectly complimented each course. We shared appetizers, small plates, large plates and desserts and all had different favorites, including the buttery escargot, beautiful oysters with a blood orange mignonette, to-die-for beef bourguignon, and a brown butter ravioli that makes me want to go back to cadre tonight for more. Grab your friends and go to Cadre for a beautiful evening of flavorful French cuisine! Also, kudos to Cadre for ensuring their staff is well taken care of with the service charge. It makes sense to take care of the people that take care of us! read more

Cadre Restaurant - Delicious dessert! - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

First, consider this a 3.5 review. We arrived about 30 min early for our reservation and although there were only 4 tables seated we were asked to wait at the bar (?) because they were 'so booked this evening.' Although I don't have a problem having a drink at the bar before dinner I simply found this perplexing. After we finished a drink we were show to a table - place still maybe half full (scratches head). Our server was absolutely wonderful: attentive and helpful in all the right ways. We shared the pumpkin white bean soup and the "restorative" broth and loved both. We each had the beet goat cheese salad and that was fantastic. I ordered the Beef Bourguignon and my friend the bouillabaisse. Both were perfect comfort foods for a cold and slippery, sloppy evening. Being a cold and slippery sloppy evening with freezing rain on the sidewalks be aware parking for Cadre can be a real challenge. I'm looking forward to my next dinner at Cadre. read more