Nu-Cavu — Restaurant in Town of Shawangunk

Let me start by saying the only reason I even gave two stars was because the food was very good. Everything else, unfortunately, was horrible. Will not be back anytime soon. When we arrived, and admittedly were walk-ins without a reservation, we stood in the hallway for a few minutes before we were even greeted. There was a shower going on in the main dining room, so that area was completely full and very loud. The bar area to the right looked fairly busy. All fine. Everyone seemed to be confused as to what to do with us…but we were eventually ushered in to a small “back room” dining area to the left. No one was seated in there and the decor looked like it was thrown together in 5 minutes, a ladder set up near our table and it was very cold. We thought we may have been forgotten but after 5 minutes or so a waitress finally arrived. We ordered drinks and heat. Our waitress asked what type of whiskey I would like in my amaretto sour, I said “none” since a amaretto sour doesn’t have whiskey. The drinks came (without whiskey) but the heat never did. We asked at least 5 times for the heat to be turned on. Here were the responses: I’ll ask the manager, I haven’t had a chance to ask the manager but I will, I think the heat is on, do you want to move to a high top at the bar, it will never warm up in here because we have to keep the doors closed because of the shower. We ordered an appetizer (the Reuben egg rolls) our salads (one regular and one Caesar) and our entrees. Our salad came immediately (of course, we were thinking we would get our appetizers first) and of course we got two regular salads and no Caesar. This was happily corrected and the Caesar salad (with no whiskey) came out with our appetizer. The egg rolls were very greasy…but we bravely ate them anyway. Still no heat (and by the way my wife never removed her coat) and still no one else in our cozy back room. Now as we waited for our entrees (and any possible chance we would ever get heat) the shower had apparently come to end and clean up began by the loud popping of 450 balloons , maybe more. Our entrees came and were actually very good. Risotto and flounder francese, both delicious. We did warm our hands over our hot entrees so we were able to use our silverware with our frostbitten fingers. Being we were passed the point of no return, we shared a dessert of frozen chocolate cake. It was warm when our waitress brought it out but it never had a chance with the cold. Got our check and paid $113 for a two star experience (and I’m being generous). When we finally escaped our igloo we were greeted with the warmth of the main dining room. And on the way out, noticed another dining room adjacent to the bar with many warm diners. Maybe another party? Would be hard pressed to return….perhaps on a very hot summer day in hopes of our favorite freezing...

Groovy place! Went to see a band (Eagles, Neil Young, Pure Prairie League, America, etc.). Was a Saturday nite and the seemed busy, although there were empty tables. We were a party of 5 with a reservation. BUT, (and thIs is a BUG BUT) due to TERRIBLE understaffing, we were almost turned away at the door!! Others with reservations were turned away. This place is HUGE, divided up into several rooms with the main dining room set up for this great band. We were seated there, and that's what made it fun. 2 servers. We saw only 2 servers for over 60+ people. People were dancing, too. I had a salad (mixed with greens other than Arugula) cause they ran out. I want even tike this b4 I ordered and she just served the salad to me anyway. She was kind and very sweet, but soooooo overwhelmed.... She DIDN'T COME BACK TO CHECK ON THE TABLE ONCE! Never got a chance to put my main course in! One friend said with us kept having to go to the bar herself when anyone at out table got thirsty. Thank goodness for the band and the incredibly fun people I was with. Who knows the reason for the lack of staff. But in this case, do the reasons really matter?

There are so many people who need work. Whatta shame. Maybe the place was having an unusually difficult time finding staff on that particular nite. Sorry, everyone. Can't tell you anything about the food. Only had that salad with goat cheese and that was short on Arugula....

But we still somehow managed to have lots of fun!! (Felt like I was sitting in a big barn adorned very nicely, though. And it did have a VERY VERY high, peaked ceiling. 'A' plus for Atmosphere.

My take away? FUN is wayyyy more important than food.

Nu-Cavo,...

I And my family have been a Nu Cavu customer since the opening and it used to be great but was very dissatisfied/disappointed with my recent take out. Called to place an order for take out and tried to order 2 items off the menu “gnocchi Louisa and Zuppa di clams” and were told both are discontinued off the menu and they didn’t have the ingredients . So we end up ordering the lasagna special and chicken parm and other items. I go to pick up my meal and am told it’s not ready a really big table just got their orders pushed out. Ok fine I understand short staffing and prioritizing eat in customers. I pay and tell the girl to call me when it’s ready since I literally live 2 minutes walking distance. Drive back to get the food the minute the girl calls me and back home within a 5 minute time frame. So why is my chicken parm cold? Also why was I charged $32 on my receipt for chicken parm when it’s on their Facebook for $26 and $29 on their website. Also 4 days ago gnocchi Louisa is now featured as a special? And as of time of writing this review (9/3 4:30pm) both those items are still listed on their menu. And to top it off the lasagna special for some reason had the most bitter eggplant I have ever tasted in it that basically made it inedible. If this was my first time eating here this would be a one star review but because I know this place was such an amazing spot I can’t bring myself to leave it a 1. It was also a Sunday and it was empty. I truly feel like the heyday of the Nu Cavu is over and we’ll be needing to find a new place in Wallkill to have...