The Caves (formerly Archetypus) — Restaurant in Edgewater

Went here with a friend after seeing all the rave reviews online. I was expecting the best experience ever in a cool atmosphere but it ended up being one of the worst, which is dad because the really do have a cool ambiance inside. We walked in and were told it would be 20-30 min wait probably sooner and we ended up waiting 1 hour and 15 minutes. During this wait, two parties next to us said the host sat people before us and then saw a party of clearly people who were his friends get sat within ten min of waiting. It was so clear to everyone waiting that there was no method to the seating, after a few angry parties went up to him they started to get seated and then we finally got sat as well. Our waiter didn't come to us for 15-20 minutes and we brought our own liquor that we literally started drinking warm bc we figured a buzz would help with the annoyance of having to wait. When we finally got someone to take our order it he was quick and didn't acknowledge making us wait or not bringing drinks after we'd been waiting to just finally eat for an hour and thirty minutes now. We got the truffle chips app which is literally fried ridge potato chips with sauce on the side for $9... Lol. Then we got the chicken pesto pizza and chicken gyro which were very mediocre and dry. Same chicken on pizza was used for the chicken gyro which was funny. We also ordered our dessert with our main course in the beginning because we afraid of having to wait a long time for someone to come back to us. Regardless the dessert never came out, we had been done our meal for 20 minutes and multiple servers walked by looked at us and kept walking. Finally flagged down a server and cancelled our dessert order and asked for the check. The waiter didn't ask or say anything just "I'll get the check". Someone else came over and gave us a free dessert to take home which was a courtesy I guess of a night waiting to be blown away by the dessert that we're known for. Overall just disappointed that an establishment with so many face reviews didn't even come close to matching them. Hoping they figure out a better system of seating and assigned servers bc this was my absolute worst customer service experience ever. If you want to go for just the cave...

Came to dine for my birthday, and it was a great disappointment.

First, it took over 35 minutes for one salad to arrive at the table. We informed the server that the salad didn't arrive, and his response was that the delay was due to the kitchen being overwhelmed. A few minutes after the server left, the salad arrived. It appeared as though the server simply didn't put in the order because 1) it could not logically have taken 35 minutes to make the basic salad, and 2) other tables that ordered after us were getting their food.

For my birthday, I reminded the server that I wanted the brownie cake dessert, and the server tried to suggest something else, reasoning that the chef was forced to do desserts and doesn't want to make brownie desserts. I informed the server that I don't mind waiting to receive the dessert I ordered. The server left and returned too soon after with the item he suggested, not the item that I requested. Clearly, either the server or the aggressive, back-of-house chef was under the false belief that I could be coerced into accepting an item that I did not order. I told the server that I would taste the dessert that he presented, but I would wait for the dessert that I ordered.

Moreover, I reminded the server that it was my birthday. Other guests had candles and birthday songs, whereas I was without them.

When I finally received the correct dessert, the servers that were gathered to sing were mostly interested in 'getting it over with' and moving on to cleaning tables.

The evening was a spiral downward as my guest and I became the receiving end of toxic, passive-aggressive, back-of-house feuds that made their way to our table and diluted my evening.

I spoke with the manager, a bald, older, white male, and he wanted to play word / semantics games with me by making long-winded philosophical statements about the word "manager" in a failed attempt to confuse me. I directly informed the manager about the evening, and he made the discussion about himself, and essentially said, in a long-winded way, that he doesn't care.

Disgusting service, lack of proper food handler safety, and unprofessional management and staff. This restaurant's service is akin to a fast-food...

Absolutely incredible experience from start to finish!

I’ve been eagerly waiting for The Caves to reopen. This has always been one of my go-to spots, and I’d dine here at least 2-3 times a month before. Walking in, I was greeted by the stunning cave-like walls, lush greenery, 🪴and a cozy, candlelit🕯️ atmosphere, it felt like being transported to another world🌎.

The restaurant exceeded all expectations with its outstanding service, knowledgeable staff, and impeccable cleanliness, as always. From the moment my friend and I arrived, the team was attentive, warm, and extremely professional. They knew the menu inside and out, offering excellent recommendations tailored to our dietary preferences, ‼️including options for vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free diets. ‼️As a vegan with a dairy allergy, I’ve always found it difficult to dine out, but The Caves has never disappointed me.‼️

The food? Simply phenomenal! Every dish was perfectly prepared, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. I ordered the Houston Burger, without the cheese and mayo. It came with a side salad and chips and was absolutely delicious. I also had the hummus, which was served with warm, zaatar-topped pita. Hands down one of the best plates of hummus you’ll find in North Jersey.

My friend had the Chicken Caesar Salad, which she raved about, especially the juicy, flavorful chicken and perfectly dressed greens. We shared the Falafel Platter, which included a fresh side salad, tabbouleh, hummus, tzatziki, and pita bread. Every bite was a delight, and we completely devoured it! To end off our meal my friend ordered the Caramel Apple Walnut Pie and I ordered the Strawberry Banana Smoothie. My favorite smoothie that i’ve missed for months and my friend always orders the Apple Pie.

The atmosphere was clean, cozy, and magical. The attention to detail in the cave-like sculpting and the private booth seating make this restaurant feel whimsical yet inviting, a perfect spot to enjoy a meal.

It’s rare to find a place that delivers on exceptional food, outstanding service, and spotless cleanliness all at once, but The Caves does it effortlessly. I can’t recommend this place enough to anyone looking for an unforgettable...