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    The Caves

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

    Order The Caves Takeout or Delivery

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    THE CAVES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Intimate
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - The Caves

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    Reviews With Photos

    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.

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    1 year ago

    Great food, great dessert, cool dim cave like ambiance, and great service. The dessert is definitely the best here.

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    1 year ago

    I visit this place often. It's Always a great date night spot and the food is delicious! Will be returning soon!

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    Page 2 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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    The bread displays at Milano have always drawn my attention. On one afternoon, my husband and I…read morefinally decided to try something from this market, namely, an item from the deli that we could pack for our Central Park picnic. There was a line, of course, there always is, and the wait was longer than what we were willing to endure for fare as simple and as common as a sandwich. It was worth the 20-minute wait. We ordered the Milano special, packed with cold meats, tomatoes, pickled peppers, cheese, and lettuce between two soft sesame rolls. It looked magnificent. It tasted magnificent. It was a sandwich to rule all sandwiches. I'd brave the line for that any day.

    wow wow wow. We went today on mother's day around noon and only waited 30 min. We got two…read moresandwiches and a few cookies, OH and tried the cheesy pasta shells (the sauce and melted cheese was everything) Also, the feel of the market is cozy and special. The staff is super nice and eager to help. It feels like a special neighborhood gem and you can really feel the family owned vibe. 1. Proscuitto burtata (amore) - fresh fresh fresh and quality ingredients. The proscuitto was perfect along with the burrata, arugula and balsamic glaze on ciabatta which was sweet mix. We were deciding on this one and the proscuitto tomato but we are glad we got this one! 2. Chicken caesar salad wrap- I think I could easily say this is the best caesar salad wrap i've had. The dressing was light and not overpowering with the mix of the chicken, croutons and outside wrap was a truly stellar combination. Very fresh and wasnt soggy one bit. the cookies: small black n white cookie, rainbow cookie and chocolate sprinkle and all were hits! my favorite was the black n white because the icing melts right off the soft cookie texture and tastes more like a cake than a cookie. All were amazing and is a must try when visiting. absolutely rec when you're on the east side!

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    Green Kitchen

    Green Kitchen

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    I've wanted to go fresh kitchen for such a long time after seeing it on instagram and now that I'm…read morein the city I have absolutely no regrets! Nicks service was fantastic! The food was absolutely delicious, and the vibe felt great being such a simple restaurant. Next time I come here I'd love to get breakfast! Service [5/5] Nick was a great server! He made sure we enjoyed our meal, and he was a very friendly and funny person! He's very welcoming and I would love to have him as a server again. He's a great guy! The food came out really fast as well and our host let us sit wherever we wanted which was great because my phone was low and allowed us to sit next to an outlet. Fantastic service from Nick & the crew! Food [5/5] The food was fantastic! I mean extremely good! I was starving after coming from the MET and I'm so grateful I came here because the food was to die for. Literally. Chipotle Steak Quesadillas w/ Onion rings [5/5]: From the cheese pull to the size to the sauce used I'm not sure which was the best! The quesadillas are sooooo delicious the meat was so tender and it was like we got it fresh off the stove. It was hot, and the cheese pull was phenomenal it was so delicious and it cut into four humongous slices, I loved it! I would 110% order this again! The onion rings were also really crispy as well! Buffalo chicken wrap w/ sweet potato fries [5/5]: I was originally going to get this but I changed my mind last minute but thankfully my aunt did so I had some of hers. The buffalo chicken was really good not too spicy, she got it with blue cheese dressing but ranch is also an option. She also got a whole wheat wrap which is something that's offered as well! She loved the sweet potato fries as well. Honestly this meal was really good as well! Ambiance [5/5]: Green kitchen has a really sinple diner like look to it, while still being up to date with modern restaurants. I really enjoy the floral theme they have going on outside, if I didn't have to charge my phone I would've definitely sat outside. This place is extremely spacious so you wouldn't have a hard time getting sat unless it's ridiculously busy. Tldr: Great food, fantastic service, and nice interior. Would highly recommend! Thanks Nick for the service!

    Try: Chicken & Pancakes, Corned Beef Hash, and Chicken Noodle Soup!…read more Why: Took my parents to an early brunch and we enjoyed Chicken & Pancakes, Corned Beef Hash, and Chicken Noodle Soup! They were able to sub the waffles for pancakes, which was a huge stack of 3 fluffy pancakes topped with juicy fried chicken and maple syrup. Very filling and easily shareable. My dad got the Corned Beef Hash with eggs sunny side up. It also came with lots of sliced potatoes, which had slightly crispy edges. We dipped them in genie house sauce that was flavorful. Mom was craving soup to settle her tummy and she really liked the broth of Chicken Noodle Soup. Everything was flavorful and delicious. I washed down my food with mimosas that was nicely filled to the brim. Notes: Hostess and Waiter were welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Waiter gave good recs too and kept the mimosa flowing. Clean spacious diner with large booths and table inside, and outside seating. We came at 11am before the brunch crowd so restaurant was about 1/2 capacity, by the time we left it was packed. Lots of families and strollers. We had a corner booth near front window, great location for people watching while enjoying a meal. Overall, good service, good brunch atmosphere, and good food.

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    Mimosa

    The Caves - coffee - Updated August 2026

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