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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
If you're making reservations, don't do it through Resy. There's a 17$ reservation fee, which is pretty obnoxious. Not sure if there's Fee in general when you call too. I didn't mind paying it , because I'm not here often and was just visiting family for the weekend. the food is good , and the dessert is amazing (which they're known for.) *Outdoor dining wasn't available, not sure if that's temporary or current. read more
3 years ago
This place wasn't that good very cool concept and the food looked good, but was so bland my salad was very dry and they never brought out my dressing even after I asked for it twice, I was eating dry leaves, the service was horrible. We had to wait on half the food we ordered because the server forgot it and we had to remind her 3 times. We waited an hour for a bowl of fruit lol. Not to mention the servers lost our card and we had to walk around with our phone flashlights around the whole cave looking for it. No help whatsoever, overall a horrible experience and I was really looking forward to it. read more
3 years ago
The service here was pretty disappointing. We had what seemed like 3 or 4 different waiters, all missing most of the time. We ordered the chicken and the bacon vidalia mushroom quesadilla, they were good but came out 2 minutes after the appetizers. For appetizers we ordered the breadsticks and truffle potato chips. The appetizers were the highlight of this experience. After waiting 15 minutes for the bill we realized they overcharged us for drinks but in fear of waiting another 15 minutes for them to correct this we just left it as is. If you're looking to go here for the ambiance make sure to make reservations after the sun has set. The cave seats aren't the same in the day light. They also don't have French bread pizza any longer and don't service alcohol. read more
8 years ago
Finally made a trip to Cafe Archetypus for a dinner date! We both drove to the location on a Wednesday night and found parking right in front of the location. From the outside, you would think it's a regular Mediterranean restaurant but once you open the door you're instantly in a different atmosphere. The menu is filled with tasty dishes especially for vegetarians! We got to sit in a cave like setting! Now be prepared, it is dark. We were using our iPhone lights to read the menu but that's what the restaurant is known for so I didn't mind. This location is definitely recommended for 1 on 1 date nights with your significant other since the cave walls somewhat seclude you in your own section I love it! The food was absolutely delicious and the dessert looked even more amazing. I'm coming back for dessert for sure! read more
8 years ago
A sexy dessert spot perfect for a date or a group of friends. Their interior has cave-like feels with dimly candlelit booths for couples and larger groups. While they offer appetizers, burgers, and salads, my hubs and I focused on their tea and dessert. We shared a yummy Darjeeling Teapot which gave us at least 4 pours. I ordered a pretty good Tiramisu Delight of amaretto ice cream, toffee Kahlua chips, and ladyfingers, but the super dry ladyfingers and too much crunchy toffee threw me. Hubs ordered an impressive Wukong Brownie which came with chocolate and banana ice cream, melted marshmallows, nuts, and chocolate sauce atop a perfectly chewy brownie. Both arrived huge and though we shared what we could, we couldn't finish either. With other friends, we definitely would. At the front of the house, service was a little scant, but once we were seated, it was excellent. Their desserts were a little too sweet for me but if my friends wanted to visit, I'd definitely cave in! **TIPS **Paid street parking in front with a little pay booth down a few stores to the left. **Gender-neutral restrooms. **They don't take reservations so try to arrive early to get a cave booth in the back. read more
I love the idea of cave-like dining, very creative. Of course, lights a dimmed inside but every table is lit with candles. Definitely an attempt to a romantic vibe. The only thing that made me take off a star is the music. The volume was way too loud that you sometimes can't hear what the person next to you is saying. Having someone repeat what they say repeatedly kills off the romantic feel. We did only get desserts here which was well worth it. They have brownies, cakes with ice cream, sundaes and milkshakes. They were absolutely delicious! They have coffee, lattes and teas, as well, if you like to pair those with your dessert. I would definitely come back here and bring some more people with me. It's worth the visit. read more
4 years ago
This is such a cool themed restaurant! Metered parking. At one point we had three different waiters which got confusing. The food was good mostly bites and great desserts. They are pricey. A fun night out read more
Great place to go for a unique dining experience. I appreciate that they are open so late. We've been here a couple times for desserts, and they were delicious although very filling. You have to try this place at least once if you're in the area. Don't get the fire chai - just has excessive chipotle powder added ruining a good chai. read more
4 years ago
I haven't had many things on the menu here. I usually drop by to get away & grab a sweet treat and their hot drinks. It's such a chill vibe. I just love how cozy it is & how great they're service is. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
The hummus was amazing. We went on a fairly busy night and the wait time was not long. The staff were very friendly. It's also BYOB and their drinks are great. I had to take photos of the restaurant itself because it was very moody and dimly lit, perfect for a date night. read more
4 years ago
Great ambiance. Dimly lit. Prompt service. Not an extensive food menu, but more options for desserts. Large portions enough to share. It's a nice date spot. A reservation surcharge on resy I could do without. read more
3 years ago
Man what a surprise for me. You feel like your in a cave back in BC. The coffee portion are pretty big so that's a plus. Very peaceful and great area to chat with friends & chill. Highly recommend read more
4 years ago
Went here for my wedding anniversary and it was a different experience, good kinda different, quite dinner, for some moments it felt like we were completely alone in that restaurant which felt so good. Loved the food, coffees were amazing but didn't like the tiramisu much which is one of the best desserts as per them. My advice always book the booth, you have to pay extra for it but its worth it. read more
Looking for an unique place to dine and chill? Cafe Archetypus does not disappoint. Each booth in the back looks like your own little cave so it's a perfect place for a romantic date. But it's also a fun place to bring friends and families as those desserts are large enough to share. Appetizer: nacho with guacamole was awesome!! So crispy and cheesy. I'm not a cheese person but I could literally finish the plate off by myself (okay obviously I didn't since sharing is caring). Desserts: Caramel apple walnut - loved it as the apple pie paired perfectly with the Vanilla ice cream. Dark Desire - the warm chocolate cake was rich. The hazelnut and vanilla ice cream was delicious. Your tummy and date will thank you for a nice and romantic meal. In my case, everyone left with a big smile on their face. Burp! read more
3 years ago
I went for my friend's birthday last Friday night and we had a great meal and great time! The food was so good. I got the Five cheese quesadilla and boy was it cheesy!! The staff was attentive and the ambiance was awesome. I would definitely go back to try other menu items. read more
Great spot for a date night. Very dim lighting, romantic place. They have tables in a round booth so you can cozy up. They have many hot and cold drink options. I started with a White chocolate latte and the presentation was beautiful. It was a decadent treat! Since it was late night, I was able to get it decaf. I came with a friend who's a vegetarian and there were many vegetarian options. The veggie quesadillas were cheesy and flavorful. The Santa Fe salad was topped with a black bean burger. Everything was delicious. I was not able to try one of their famous desserts but I will definitely will be back! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Loved the ambiance, felt like I am in tulum, Mexico.. so chic.. food was great too, they us chicken quesadillas instead of veg, but were sweet to replace that.. not a great fan of their truffled potato chips, rest everything was great. Great service too read more
4 years ago
Food was amazing , atmosphere was very personal and def a great date night place. Dessert is the go to here !!! read more
Friday night 10 PM - cave seating had a 20-30 min wait and charged $15 min. per person. Make sure to ask if they have a minimum charge that day or they won't tell you. Really dark lighting, not too loud and wasn't too crowded in the front. Dark Desire, Sakura, Valentino were all very rich/creamy/sweet/heavy desserts enough for 5 college students. Dark Desire's hazelnut ice cream tasted like nutella, Sakura's brownies were doughy and sweet, Valentino had a white chocolate-vanilla-y flavor that was different from the other chocolate desserts. I would say Dark Desire was the best dessert if you're looking for something chocolatey but Sakura's green tea ice cream was also good. The pocky and pop rocks were an aberration but a good kick. If you're lactose intolerant obviously stay away ;) read more
4 years ago
Honestly didn't expect much from the food and came more for the experience but we were so impressed with the menu items. Everything was so delicious and we took a lot home, since the portions were huge! Great service and really reasonable prices. There were all types of people, couples dating, families, friends hanging out. Very welcoming. read more
7 years ago
This past week I decided to finish off my sons Winter Recess with a dinner date just for him and I. We typically go to Applebee's for our mommy and son dates, but I was in the mood for dessert and my favorite place nearby has always been Cafe Archetypus. I'll admit, I was hesitant at first because the ambience is more for adults even though I knew he'd love the scenery. And so I was hesitant at first, but then I looked on the Yelp app to see what the wait time was (first time I used that function of the app) and saw that the wait was less than 20 minutes. Of course, I got excited so I got us in the car and headed their for dinner. I thought worst case scenario we'd sit in the tables in front so we don't bother anyone inside if he's loud. WAS I IN FOR A SURPRISE.... The servers were so sweet and so so kind. I mean, one of the staff members (I think he was the manager, I didn't get to catch his name) actually came up to us and said he was so happy to see kids there (I believe their was another mom with her son there too). He made it a point to show us on their menu there's a special note that talks about all ages being welcome to there restaurant. We were able to sit in the back, in one of the caved in areas and my son was over the moon. He was so happy to be there and couldn't get over the scenery. He wanted to take pictures with my phone so bad, lol. Of course, I explained we couldn't do that but I let him take a picture of the new "waterfall" sound machine they have. The service was great and he had an amazing time so that's all that mattered to me. I had the Chicken Quesadilla with the Orange Tangerine drink and he had the House Classic Pizza with a Shirley Temple. They were both equally delicious. He kept saying he wasn't expecting the pizza to be so cheesy. So that's a good sign!! I must say, I'm hoping in the near future they can add more dishes to their menu. To end the night we had the Ariel Signature Sundae with biscottis instead of the walnuts it comes with and I'm glad we went with that one because it was much smaller in size compared to the Deluxe Desserts I've ordered before so it was perfect where it wasn't too much to let him eat. I'm looking forward to coming here again soon. read more
5 years ago
Soooo yummy! Been here about 4 times now and I usually only get dessert but this last time me and my boyfriend decided to get food. It was delicious. This is my go to spot now with all my friends to chat and just spend some time together. Love it here read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Cool vibe and food was good with big portions. Would recommend. There's a municipal lot nearby for parking or street parking. read more
3 years ago
9 years ago
LOVE Archetypus or the Cave or whatever name brings you back to youth and feeling fancy in this catacomb of deliciousness. The setting is dark and dim, very intimate, the walls are carved out to resemble a cavern but artsier as there is a lot of curvature in the way it's carved out. Each table setting is equipped with t-lights to give it that romantic/chill vibe. Food is good but as others said seems a little over priced at first glance, however the portions are certainly shareable and it tastes good! Some of the fare includes quesadillas (my personal fav), salads, garden burgers, hummus platters and more. The dessert menu is where it's at, I've had several things from it, my pick the Oracle (mint chocolate chip, vanilla ice cream, oreos and hot fudge), I'm a sucker for anything mint. Chill spot, parking available outside, great for a date, BYOB and decent food. read more
5 years ago
The restaurant is so beautiful. It's like walking into an ancient cave, super romantic and perfect for dates. The menu is okay, not too creative but the dessert menu is what people go for. They have so many good options that it's hard to choose. The customer service was not that great but they gave us free dessert and a $10 gift card for our long wait. Parking wasn't too bad during the evening but during the day it's pretty limited. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
Great unique ambience and scrumptious food. Ordered falafel eastern platter and ended it with devil love dessert. Everything was spot on in terms of food. Loved the ambience. It had a cool Egyptian vibe. Will be back! read more
7 years ago
Was with a bunch of friends and wanted to go to a nearby cafe. We found Cafe Archetypus. When we first arrived to I thought we were entering some secret club. Once we entered my friends were astonished by the interior decor. The staff was quick to seat us in the "cave" The waitress was very helpful and even suggested to try new add ons to the menu. The hot chocolate was phenomenal and delicious. But let's talk about the dessert. The chocolate sundae was amazing. It wasn't too chocolaty. The Caramel Apple Walnut (hot apple pie and caramel) was by far the best dessert I have had in a while read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
We went right when they opened on a Saturday evening and the place is pretty unique! Walking through what looks like caves and carved structures, we were seated in an elevated area, lit with candle light. It's a cool setting for a date! They promote not using your phones and no flash photography. It was still day light when we went but i can imagine it getting harder to see inside and navigate when it's darker. They drinks were good and cutely served in mason jars! The menu has quite a few vegetarian options which is nice and their very food about substitutions as well! We topped off dinner with the dessert menu which i highly recommend! All the options were really good and I wish we had space to try more than one! O the portions are big though, four of us finished the dessert! read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
What an unique restaurant. What makes this place different than any other places I've been to are the following: the inside looks like a cave and is very romantic, the lighting is very dim and there are candles at each table, and there is a bamboo garden in the outdoor seating area. This place is a BYOB which is always AWESOME! The menu is very inexpensive and the food is delicious. You can't go wrong with the hummus, breadsticks and loaded nachos for appetizers. The best part however is dessert! read more
More info about The Caves
266 Old River Rd
Edgewater, NJ 07020
Directions
(201) 941-0609
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.thecavesnj.com
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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…
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