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    The Caves

    4.0 (748 reviews)
    Open 6:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Order The Caves Takeout or Delivery

    The Caves Photos

    THE CAVES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Intimate
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - The Caves

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    Cilantro Chicken Quesadilla
    Yuna C.

    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.

    Briana F.

    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.

    She A.

    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.

    Dessert and beverage menu as of 06.23.2023
    David Y.

    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

    Chicken Gyro Platter
    Shurida L.

    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.

    Cheesecake
    Bea R.

    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.

    Late night cravings.
    Jose P.

    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.

    Lava Chocolate
    Maria C.

    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.

    Cave rules

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    7 months ago

    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

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    6 months ago

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

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    8 months ago

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

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    Page 1 of 19

    Ask the Community - The Caves

    Do I jusy show up with a small cooler with beer and wine or no small cooler allowed?

    Would you say this is a place one could do some work on a laptop on a friday evening?

    I wouldn't suggest working on a laptop here. The lighting is super dim - it's not your typical cafe.

    Do they have vegan desserts?

    I dont remember seeing any vegan dessert on the menu but you can always call and make sure because i could be wrong

    Where is parking? is it free?

    Theres a parking lot across the st and you can park there for free its probably like a block away or so from the restaurant

    Maybe 25 years ago I went to a place called Cafe Enigma? Is this the same place or location?

    I think the old name was The Cave

    BYOB?? Do they sell alcohol?

    It is a BYOB, wines. No hard liquor like vodka, or tequila.

    Hi I would like to take my girlfriend out tonight? Do you have any openings for a 7 or 730 reservation?

    I dont think they do reservations

    Can someone please help me out , 1st can i get my own champagne , 2nd will the worker in cafe help…

    Yes and yes

    Is this BYOB?

    Hello Deanna, Yes, we are BYOB... NJ recognizes Wine & Beer as acceptable bottle, no hard liquor...

    Do I need to call to make reservations for a party of 4? For tonight like 830pm?

    I don't think they do reservations. It's first come first serve is what u was told

    Do they serve any halal meat here?

    I dont remember seeing that on the menu but you can always call and ask i could be wrong

    How is the food here if I take my 15 year old daughter and a couple of friends for her birthday?

    The food is great for teens. I recommend the quesadilla and their desserts.

    Hi, I'm trying to plan a birthday night out with some of my friends. I was thinking about coming here right when it opens to avoid waiting. I was wondering if this place would be ok for a group of 7 or 8? Thank you in advance for answers. :)

    Probably not, unless they have a separate area for parties! The whole place is meant more for dates I would say. Everyone is quiet and the ambience isn't exactly friendly for people to talk across the table or be super loud at all. The lighting is… 

    View All 14 Questions

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    Holy Burger

    Holy Burger

    3.9
    (21 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…read more Oh wait. You mean, you weren't joking? Okay. Let's recap. I got a sponsored ad for Holy Burger. One of our burger go-to's recently closed, and I was willing to give it a shot. Though they seem to have a few outposts, I'm always one to support a mom-and-pop as opposed to larger names. This was my first time ordering. It will be my only time. This review is based on delivery. For over $60 (before tip), I was expecting something... else I guess. Mediocre burger? Check Slightly better than okay fries? Check Small Chopped chicken with cheese? Check Combo with like five or six fries? Check A shot glass of "cola" that comes with the combo? Check. Nothing memorable, and I'm still hungry. Also I ordered a double smash burger, not only have I had better, their "onion smash" had like one sliver of onions on it. Guess I was expecting an Oklahoma style onion burger, so massively disappointing. Save your money and go anywhere else. I seriously have no idea how this place has 4 stars and above all, is still in business. Nothing like pricing out the neighborhood and any decent places for the residents,

    Walking home from my occasional Columbus Ave errands I saw Holy Cow and wondered what it was…read morebecause as far as I could tell, they were a newcomer on that block. Immediately did an online search as I rounded the corner onto CPW and yes, holy cow! Burgers, chicken, hot dogs, fries! And the kicker is it's all Halal. We ordered all of those things. They did get one thing wrong: we ordered wings but they sent tenders (or boneless wings...which taste the same to me). We did order the wings a couple weeks later on our second try. They're very spicy. Burgers were fine, fries were fantastic (crispy, well seasoned). Fine choice when you're hankering for standard American grill foods and some delicious fries. Prices are good but delivery and other fees are outrageous. Our recent order of two burgers, wings, one small fries came to $69 after taxes, fees, and tip.

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    BEST GLUTEN-FREE HOLY CHICKEN - 100% HALAL & PURE BY HOLY COW BURGERS
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    The Wolfe

    The Wolfe

    4.2
    (123 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Some of the best fries in the city, after 7th street and mcdonalds…read more Cold crispy Kona Big Wave. Great meal.

    My friend and I came here for appetizers and drinks before dinner, and we asked to be seated…read moreinside. Usually that would mean that service is faster as the staff are walking out of the kitchen, but the service here was unbearably slow. We had to crane our heads to get our orders taken, to find someone to give us our bill, and to ask about our order. We ordered a drink (the second drink was sold out and my friend was uninterested in other options) and two appetizers and the drink came first, followed by a twenty minute wait for calamari. The calamari was probably the thinnest squid in the ocean and looked like shoestring fries, but the sauce it came in was delicious. There were approximately three zucchini sticks and four peppers in the calamari, which is on par with many restaurants, but less bang for your buck. It eventually became clear after another 10 min wait that our truffle fries were nowhere to be seen, and since we had to leave for our dinner reservation soon we struggled to flag a server, who then told us that they never put in our fries order. We obviously did not ask them to start making it for us, instead asking for the bill and then leaving. I wish I liked this place more than I did, but the service and staff here were so slow and hard to flag down it felt like we spent our entire meal looking around.

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    Spicy Margarita
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    Jacob's Pickles

    Jacob's Pickles

    4.2
    (6k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    This place was absolutely AMAZING! It hit 5 stars on all aspects from the service to the food to…read morethe ambiance! I will definitely be patronizing again in the near future. A friend and I chose to experience the Restaurant Week lunch special since neither of us had been to this restaurant before. We sat at the bar and decided to go for the $19 lunch special they serve Monday - Friday instead. We had alot of staff servicing us. Even though we sat at the actual bar, we had a floor server attending to us as well as the bar staff. We even met the manager, Tiffany, as she introduced herself to us and made sure we were taken care of properly. The UWS location is huge. It is about 2/3rds of a North/South block with an enclosed patio built in the front of the restaurant. The bar is simply beautiful. It is half inside and half on the sidewalk also semi enclosed. I did not walk around the inside of the restaurant but I did see there were alot of mirrors and a darker interior. Bar was filled with liquor on the walls and gave it a modern day saloon feel. Very comfortable and inviting. We ordered drinks initially. They were carefully crafted and tasty on a hot summer day. I ordered the Waldorf Salad lunch special and my friend had the Spicy Chicken Sandwich. I must say the portions are large. They make sure you do not leave hungry! :) Both entrees came with soup and a second side. I had the biscuit and honey/maple butter. Oh my was it heavenly. My friend was super satisfied with her sandwich. It looked like a meal fit for a Queen! All of the food was seasoned well. While we were still enjoying our meal the bar changed from lunch to happy hour service. My friend decided to order the Margarita flight. It came with three flavored margaritas for a mere $12. I tried the Spicy Brine Margarita and it will now be the only drink I have for future visits. So delicious and flavorful. We were having such a great time as the bar filled with patrons and we spoke with our neighbors. At this time one of our servers brought us a complimentary pretzel. It was the star of the show from presentation to taste I would recommend anyone to try it. The bathrooms are unisex. By the time I needed to use it the restaurant was crowded and so it needed to be serviced. The stall I utilized had a strong urine smell and needed a proper cleaning. Management might consider placing air fresheners in each stall to at least give the illusion of cleanliness. This restaurant raised the bar for hospitality! The service was top notch as well as the food and atmosphere. If you have not tried this place I highly suggest that you do. It is a 100 out of 10 establishment for NYC! My gratitude goes out to all of the wait staff and bartenders that made our experience so wonderful.

    I stumbled upon this gem during a Sunday stroll. I had only planned to stop in for a drink, but one…read morelook at the menu convinced me to order brunch; and I'm so glad I did. Brunch at Jacob's Pickles is a real treat. I ordered the coleslaw with pickles as a side, it was delicious. The breakfast platter was absolutely massive and overall good, a bit salty for me, and the biscuit was a bit soft. But the grits were delightful. I sat at the bar, so the service was fine, though not particularly memorable. What I loved most was the patio: it's partially open and partially enclosed, letting you enjoy plenty of natural light while staying cool in the air conditioning. It gives you the feeling of dining outdoors without the noise or wind from the street. The interior design is beautiful and adds so much to the experience. I definitely recommend checking this place out. I'll certainly be back to try more of the menu!

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    Inside
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    7th Street Burger Upper East Side

    7th Street Burger Upper East Side

    4.4
    (219 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    Hands down the best fast food burger spot. I usually ditch one bun when I eat burgers, but not…read morehere--the buns are unbelievably soft, fresh, and actually worth keeping intact. The spicy jalapeño sauce is a standout: flavorful with just the right level of heat that doesn't overpower the burger. I always go for the double Impossible burger, and it hits every time--juicy, satisfying, and honestly, sometimes one still isn't enough. Yes, it's that good.

    Accessible by the 4/5/6/Q trains and then a short walking distance of 5-10 min to get there. The…read moreglass storefront has the signature 7th Street Burger sign as usual. Ambiance wise is your typical red-and-white checkered background. Several metal tables and stools are seen inside the limited space. Staff greets customers once you walk in through the door. A simple and straightforward menu with burgers + fries + soda/water. Everyone orders at the front counter. Either cash or credit card is getting accepted as payment. Friendly staff and very quick service except sometimes behind schedule on the weekends. When all the seats get taken, then I will take my food to go and eat at a nearby park or open space. Burger is usually on the oilier side and fries are tad bit salty too. Mexican Coke/Sprite tastes good down the throat on a hot summer day like today.

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    Spicy loaded fries topped with fresh jalapeños, seasoned beef, and signature ghost pepper sauce from 7th Street Burger...
    Spicy loaded fries topped with fresh jalapeños, seasoned beef, and signature ghost pepper sauce from 7th Street Burger...
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    Maison Pickle

    Maison Pickle

    4.2
    (2.2k reviews)
    1.7 mi
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    So fun! I researched a lot before we went here to make sure I ordered the right things, and I did!…read moreHere's what we had for dinner: Apps we shared: - sweet/spicy french toast w/ fried chicken. SO good! Perfectly balanced and just so yummy! - honey butter pull apart bread. Yummy but I could have skipped this one - pickled veggies - I love veggies and these were great! Not too salty and the dip it came with was delicious Main meal: roast beef on homemade bread with mushrooms, au jus, and coleslaw - yaaaas. Absolutely delicious and huge! I only ate half. Loved this! Dessert: Oreo ice box pie was perfection! So great to share a few bites each. We loved it. Very pretty inside and for a Saturday night, we weren't rushed at all. Server was very nice. I can't wait to go back!

    Booked a Reservation for noon on a Thursday. While it wasn't empty it wasn't packed either…read more Restaurant was about 1/3 full which is a good thing since they open at 11 AM. I just knew the food was going to be good! The portions are big and the pull apart bread, tuna tartare and TIRAMUSU French toast was to die for! While the food was great the service was lacking. Our servers was nice but did not check on us nor did we get what we asked for for ex. Sauces, straws etc. It wasn't just my table it was ALL the tables. I'm not sure if the waiters had too much tables to cater too at once but the service was truly lacking. We even waited 40 mins for the check alone. I could understand if it was the weekend and it was packed but I feel like it was enough servers to provide adequate service. I will be back. Maison Pickle is worth a visit whether you are a native NYer or visiting!

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    Pull Apart Honey and Butter Bread was the Beyoncé at the table.
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    The Caves - coffee - Updated August 2026

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