Cadence Kitchen & Co

Photo by Regan Baroni

At Cadence Kitchen & Co., people tend to settle in and stay awhile. What starts as cocktails and appetizers on the patio can easily turn into a full evening in downtown Downers Grove. Eight years after opening, the restaurant has settled into a rhythm that feels both energetic and comfortable. Lively enough for a night out, but familiar enough to feel like a neighborhood staple.

For owners Todd Davies and Tim Canning, that atmosphere has always been part of the goal. Their restaurants are built around experience as much as food. Places where guests can relax, celebrate, and genuinely enjoy being out together. That personality carries over into Cadence, from the steady buzz of the dining room to the packed patio on weekends.

“We’ve always wanted Cadence to feel like a place people can come together and enjoy themselves,” Davies says. “Whether it’s dinner on the patio, brunch with friends, or cocktails after work, we want people to feel comfortable staying awhile.”

The menu reflects that same balance. Contemporary American dishes sit alongside comfort-driven favorites, seasonal specials, and playful cocktails like Girls on Fire, Purple Rain, and Tangled Up in Blue, which add to the restaurant’s “good beats, great eats” atmosphere.

The Gochujang-Glazed Baby Carrots are just one example of the creativity found throughout the Cadence menu. For Chef Ian Schlegel, the dish is an exercise in balance.

“This dish is built around the idea that ingredients can make one another more expressive,” he says. “The result is a dish that celebrates depth, balance, and the way thoughtfully paired ingredients can unlock new dimensions of flavor.”

Beyond the dining room, Cadence has continued to expand its reach through wine dinners, private events, catering, and the Wine Spectator’s 2024 and 2025 Awards of Excellence. That combination of energy, top-notch food, and consistency has helped the restaurant remain one of downtown Downers Grove’s most reliable dining destinations eight years after opening.