I can't believe I have lived in Edgewater for so many years and never visited The Caves! Came here on a Wednesday night to celebrate a friend's birthday and everyone loved the vibe. We ordered several appetizers (the hummus was great and the bread served with it was garlicky and crispy). The breadsteaks were yummy and quesadillas were reported to be delicious. Desserts were decadent and the staff put a candle on the cake for our birthday girl! Our server was great, patient and was very gracious to our group. I highly recommend for a unique and fun night out or for a romantic dinner. Used Parkmobile to secure a stress free parking spot. A great time was had by all. read more

The Caves - Great venue for small get togethers! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edgewater, New Jersey

Came here for lunch with my friends. Everything was perfect. Starting with the server. She was a sweetheart very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. We started with the hummus, which was just OK for me. I felt it was a little watery for my taste, but they did serve a very warm pita bread which I like and enjoyed. I had the grilled chicken Caesar salad was delicious and my friend had the Greek salad. They were both very large salad so we took half home. We couldn't finish them my friend had the burger which she liked and we finished it with the caramel apple walnut dessert which was a 10 out of 10. The ambience is very interesting because you feel like you were in a cave. definitely coming back. read more

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It's been 9 years since I came to Cafe Archetypus (former name) and it was and still is popular for their indulgent desserts, but I was pleasantly surprised by the savory/main dish options. The portions are large, so definitely leave room for dessert! As the theme is caves, the interior will be dark but each table has some candles to help with the lighting. read more

The Caves - Cilantro Chicken Quesadilla - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edgewater, New Jersey

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We were traveling from out of town and were running late. The owner was able to accommodate us close to closing time and that's the reason I love this place!! Every time I come to visit NJ I always try to make it out to the caves. The food is great and the service is wonderful. read more

The Caves - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edgewater, New Jersey

Came here on a late Friday night with a friend for dessert and some vibes. We didn't have a reservation so we had to wait twenty minutes or so for a table for 2. We had the option to wait by door or the first room which had tables and chair. There is metered parking on the street. This place is very unique. Its dimly lighted with some nice vibey music. So it would be perfect for a date night. We got seated at a booth-like table that had a had sculpture in the front of the table while the table faced the towards the front of the restaurant. All the tables were very private and you can definitely hold conversations without being drowned out by the music. We only came here for dessert and coffee, We tried to ordered the Scarlet Witch but they ran out, So instead w3e opted for the Dark Desire and cappuccino. OMG.... This desert is so delicious and decadent. it was soo good, The ice cream and cake were both tasty. The service was wonderful and the ambiance was out of this world. Would definitely come back for more. read more

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Came here on a Sunday night, pretty late too. This is the first time I been here since it was formally Archetypus. Same vibes with great dessert and coffee options. Got the zelorella sundae ($15.95) which had Kit Kat in it and was good. Also got the tiramisu delight ($19.95) which comes with ice cream and it was really good. I highly recommend the tiramisu delight. If you want late/date night with good dessert and coffee, I highly recommend this spot. * Open late for dessert * Street parking read more

The Caves - Dessert and beverage menu as of 06.23.2023 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edgewater, New Jersey

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You can bring your own bottle which I love. The hummus was sooo good. I ordered the gyro platter with chicken, very delicious. The service was amazing, the waiter was very attentive. This place is perfect for a date night, lots of privacy, low lights. I would definitely come back. read more

The Caves - Chicken Gyro Platter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edgewater, New Jersey

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Cute concept, poor execution. 1.) It's called Cafe Archetypus, but it's not a traditional cafe environment. This is not the type of place you come to for a coffee or to do work. It operates like a full restaurant. 2.) The romantic, dim, cave-like ambiance realllllllllly carries most of the weight here. It's the main attraction. Honestly? It is too damn dark in there... They have candles on the table, but you're most likely going to have to use the flashlight on your iPhone to even see the menu. 3.) The food is comically overpriced for what they serve you. How can I describe the quality of the food here? It's like high school cafeteria food. Mass produced and most likely bought at your local grocery store to be reheated later... They have Mexican and Mediterranean dishes on their menu, but they lack any type of flavor... Premium prices for poor quality food? Be forreal LOL. $18-$20 for a "deluxe" brownie dessert... $14 for a "truffled potato chips appetizer".... that are actually RUFFLES Original... STOPPPP LOL $7-$10 for non-alcoholic drinks... (it's BYOB) Not even sure if it's worth coming here just for the cave experience. If anything, SKIP the food and just go for drinks. Not worth the $$$ and calories. read more

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Romantic! Walked in with my date on a cozy rainy evening. Immediately walked in and saw it was beautifully candlelit and pretty dark inside. The ambiance is definitely romantic and intimate. The food itself was delicious. We shared a Greek platter, which was just enough food to split between two people without being overly full. We were definitely leaving room for dessert! They had so many options, we ended up going with a decadent chocolate raspberry sin dessert. Everything was beautiful, delicious, and romantic. Would definitely be back for a date night or special occasion! read more

The environment is nice, dark and cozy. The food was good, and the price was reasonable, so I might go there again.

Indeed ate in what looked like a cave, they weren't lying. Caves aside, I love the atmosphere, food, and drinks here a lot. My favorite thing to order here is a cappuccino. Service has always been good in my experience. read more

Love this place! Came on a late Sunday night and parked easily across the street. The desserts were great. I'd definitely come back. 8/10

What a unique ambiance, we love coming back . Food, service and the unique atmosphere is perfection for any day of the week. Portions are big and delicious. read more

Food, ambiwas good..we ordered hummus, lava chocolate and tiramisu dessert.. didn't like the dessert too much but lava chocolate and hummus were good.. felt this was a bit over priced.. they also charge $6 for a small bottle of water.. read more

Interesting experience . . . Please watch your step getting around also tables are lit with huge lamps. Food was confusing in terms of theme. Service was good. Staff was super nice & helpful. If you have trouble seeing in low light areas I would not recommend this location. Seating is in a cave so not comfortable but they did have cushions. Most people come here for the decadent desserts which is must agree was the best part of the night! read more

OMG! Can't say enough about this restaurant. The vibe is original- you get your own little cave-- which is great for dates, proposals and intimate settings. But the real draw is the food!!! The menu may seem unassuming but don't let that fool you. Something as simple as a burger is anything but simple. Made to perfection-- with every bite a firework of taste. And if you don't order dessert than you have missed out. Oh the decadence!!!! But it's not heavy or over done. It's slivers of heaven delicately joined with creams and little cookie surprises. A must!!! The Cave-- it's no hole in the ground. It's a culinary masterpiece! read more

The food is always amazing. I've been here a couple of times and can say that the food is always great. The service is good. The ambiance is nice to go on a date, with friends or just to try something different. Love the setup of the place. read more

The Caves - Lava Chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edgewater, New Jersey

I went for Valentine's night. The ambiance was cool and different. I understand it's a busy night but the service was beyond slow and underprepared. I also thought there was going to be a special menu since I prepaid a large amount but it was the same menu for a massive mark up. For the price I paid the food was not worth it, better off going to a bar for better and cheaper. If you are considering this place I would not go here for the food, but go to a coffe drink, or bring your own bottle of wine with some dessert. read more

This is worth going once for the cool cave atmosphere. They sat us in a cave booth and when we went to leave, we realized the booths next to us were filled (that's how secluded it felt). The desserts were good. We thought it was expensive at first and then realized the portion sizes were humongous (guess shouldn't have ordered a dessert each). read more

Very romantic, clean, low lighting, smooth music, and good food and service. Have been going to this place for years! read more

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Cafe Archetypus was, once again, outstanding. Their unique cave sitting areas are amazing.  The service is very good, every item comes in large portions, and all....delicious..... especially the desserts. We ordered Chicken Quesadillas, The Mediterranean Platter, and the Orion Sundae. The Chai Latte and Mixed Berry Smoothie were just as good as the entrees. If you've never been here.....VISIT, SOON.  You will enjoy their unique environment and great service. read more

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Two stars for the ambiance. The menu seriously needs to improve. The menu has no passion. The ice cream sundae 15 or 16 dollars for $2 worth one scoop of ice cream and a few potato chips with a drizzle of fake fudge and some whip cream. It has really fallen off. If they put some passion into the menu this place would be a destination spot. But not anymore. I prefer to go to dairy queen. read more

Last month I went out to dinner at The Caves for a date. We were super excited to experience the quiet, intimate atmosphere of the restaurant and were greeted kindly by the host who communicated very well about the wait time and seating options. We got to sit in an elevated booth, covered by a beautiful fig tree. It was romantic and really added to the overall experience. Unfortunately, we were left for 25 minutes before being greeted by a server. My date actually had to get up to ask if anyone could come help us, something both of us are very uncomfortable doing. The server came over after another few minutes, and thankfully we finally got some water. We were ready to put our entire order in too (considering we had a half an hour to look at the menu), but it felt as though the server was in a rush to get going and walked away as soon as we ordered our beverages without a chance to order some food. The drinks took another 15 minutes to get to our table and it seemed that none of the servers really had time to serve us. Once we got our food ordered, it came reasonably quickly. They forgot to include sour cream for my wrap so we asked for a side of it, which was forgotten about. As were our requested drink refills. A manager eventually got my date another peach lemonade and the wraps we had were delicious. They were a generous size and I really enjoyed the side salad that came with mine. Of course the dessert menu called out names so we ordered a warm brownie sundae which was delightful. Food gets 5 stars, host service gets 5, but table service gets 1. I would be hesitant to go back after this experience despite the unique and enjoyable ambiance. read more

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Such a cute place to go on a girls night or a date...we only went for dessert and it was amazing! Our server was friendly and worked as best as he could with us, to not fine us when we got too loud, although that is their policy. Yes, you get fined if you are too loud and it's clearly written on the menu. He was friendly and personable. I will be returning with another group that can handle speaking in more of a quiet tone lol. read more

How cool! My friend & I had such a fun time here. The service was pretty good. Our waiter did the Moroccan tea pour with our water which I thought was fun. The food is really good. The portion sizes are huge and I couldn't eat it all. I was underwhelmed by the music & bathroom decor. I think if you're gonna make a statement, it's gotta be complete. I would've loved cave-like music & a dim cave-designed bathroom to match the aesthetic. I needed a Disney effect lol dungeons & dragons, Lord of the Rings music or something lol I guess it's still worth recommending but guys please change the music at least if the bathroom is out of budget. Go, enjoy read more

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Love this place. Super dark and sexy venue. Especially for a date night where you want some seeet treats that dazzle. Great staff and service and the food is so delicious. Snuggled on Old River rd in Edgewater, it's a must try. read more

Reservations are needed for cave dining. Highly recommended as it fills up fast and is necessary for your own private cave. It's a lot bigger than I expected it to be from the exterior. It is overpriced but keep in mind you are paying for the unique atmosphere. I had low expectations for the food as I read reviews before coming but I got to say Santo Jardin my wrap was delicious and better than anticipated. I recommend that! You come here for the desserts. If you're a chocolate fan their dark desire is great. The cake wasn't the best I had but it was really chocolatey. read more

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If there is only one sentence you will read for this review it's this - Go to Cafe Archetypus! Obviously what made me want to visit was all the cool pictures of the indoor caves I saw online. It is such a unique experience and the cafe is way larger than you'd probably expect, but once you're in your nook it becomes very cozy and intimate. As I mentioned, I came for the ambiance...but stayed for the food! At places like this I tend to keep my expectations low because I assume it's just a gimmick, but that was definitely not the case here. The food was outstanding and so flavorful. I ordered the houston burger, not expecting anything spectacular but I was wrong. It was great! The showstopper was the fire chai!!! It's a must if you like spicy drinks! read more

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Amazing food, great guest service, and open late. I had a wrap and I highly recommend it.

Unreasonably cool and interesting. Hidden gem Great food service and especially ambiance read more

The service here was average, I was expecting a different experience from this place that is so beautiful. The food was also disappointing. I feel like the only good thing would be the desserts and coffee read more

This place is amazing, The food, the atmosphere, the music and the staff. Everything was super delicious and the music was relaxing. read more

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I came here with my boyfriend for a date night and it was so nice. The desserts was delicious and the service was quick fast and efficient. This is great for a romantic or even casual night out. I reccomend. read more

The Caves - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edgewater, New Jersey

Imagine entering into a Flintstones age setup and you see peeps chatting inside carved rock like caves over candle lights and desserts. That not in quirky NY but mainstream NJ in a neighborhood of 30 & 40 somethings. Welcome to Cafe Archetypus, a strange yet inviting restaurant serving Mediterranean meals & solid desserts. We decided to stop by on a cool winter night & our eyes were glued to their freshly baked brownie menu. The forbidden brownie seduction was phenomenal- a large slab of warm, perfectly chocolaty aptly sweet brownie, topped with icy vanilla scoop, whipped cream & chocolate sauce. The item is good for 4 people easy & we all gorged over the yumminess of this brownie- indeed it should be forbidden as its so good! The Reddragon sundae was a cute contrast with its vanilla icecream, shortcake & strawberries giving a fruity light kick. If you are serious about desserts, head to Archetypus right now & prepared to be mesmerized over sweet indulgence & long memorable conversations. read more

I was so unexpectedly surprised! My boyfriend and I went more for the cave-like ambiance, so I didn't know if the food would be good, and it was GREAT! Like... seriously. I would go back today if I could and order the same things, it was so yummy! I had: Greek salad with chicken - it was so damn tasty! Simple done right. I loved the marinated shredded chicken on top, super fresh veggies, olives, warm homemade grape leaves, delicious dressing, and spiced toasted warm pita. YUM! And my boyfriend loved the Lahmajun he ordered. Now for dessert.. DR WATSON... just get it! Dulce de leche ice cream with a warm dark chocolatey gooey brownie, with bits of crunchy toffee and dark chocolate on top, and whipped cream. I thought it might be too sweet but it was a perfect balance and We both loved it!! Can't wait to go back. Very nice service too! read more

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Cafe Archetypus is a cute, low-key date spot covered in caves and an intimate vibe. They have great Greek food as well as desserts that are intriguing. I came here one evening with a friend and ordered a Falafel Platter, while he ordered the Breadsticks and Caesar Salad. The breadsticks were alright, better than average, and I loved the platter. It was huge with 6 falafels, pita with za'atar, dish of hummus, tzatziki and tabbouleh, grape leaves, and a Greek salad. At the end I ordered their Iced Vanilla Chai which was perfect. Very satisfying and our server was attentive but not overbearing. Did I mention they are BYOB!? I would definitely return based on this visit. Ambience: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Drinks: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Café Archetypus: 5/5 read more

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So bummed. Talked this place up to a bunch of friends, checked the hours on Yelp and it said they were currently opened, drove out there... and there's a sign on the door saying it's "temporarily closed." Hopefully it'll reopen again soon? But for now, looks like it's closed for renovations or something. read more

Love this place especially for their desserts and ambiance. Definitely can be a romantic date if you please. Service was good and the waitress made great recommendations. Overall this restaurant is a great time with great music. read more

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I love that this restaurant has a great variety of vegan/vegetarian options! Service was great. If you're not coming here for the food, you're coming here for the ambiance. Very intimate and romantic. Would come here again read more

The Caves - Very intimate setting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edgewater, New Jersey

Cafe Archetypus is a tried and true spot for me. I've been visiting this cafe since I was a little one - it was the perfect place to grab a bite after hitting the movie theatre which used to be right across the street. Over the years they've updated their menu a few times, but to be honest they always hit the spot ESPECIALLY if you're looking for dessert. If you're not into dim lit restaurants, this place may not be for you. The cafe is relatively dark overall so if you try to use your phone's flashlight people will be staring at you. The aesthetic of this cafe is pretty unique - I've never seen anything like it especially in bergen county. One thing to note is the service is friendly, but a bit slow. Oddly enough fits the vibe. You're not going to feel rushed here. read more