Former The Hart & the Hunter chef Kris Tominaga will debut his new project this Saturday in Santa Monica, a casual French-California restaurant financed by The Counter co-founder and Freddy Smalls owner Jeff Weinstein.
Cadet, which took over for former sports pub The Shack, will serve a selection of tartines topped with combinations like smoked mussels with potato, beef tartare with Roquefort cheese, and bartlett pear with walnut butter. Also on the menu: tableside raclette cheese with country ham, ember-roasted black bass, wood-grilled pork collar, savory porcini and chestnut bread pudding, and spatchcocked Mary’s chicken with chanterelle butter. The wood-fired grill in the center of the kitchen plays heavily into the cooking at Cadet—expect rotisserie-cooked meats to be a popular fixture.
The restaurant will also offer a full bar with craft cocktails, wine, and beer. Dinner will be available from Sunday to Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., with lunch and brunch service planned for the future.
Cadet is the first project from Tominaga since departing The Hart & the Hunter along with co-chef Brian Dunsmoor in early September. Dunsmoor, who recently left side project Ladies’ Gunboat Society at Flores, is currently planning a new Venice concept dubbed The Hatchet Hall.
Cadet, 2518 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310-828-3300
