The Cave Couple Cafe & Restaurant in SS2 Petaling Jaya

I’d heard about The Cave in SS2 Petaling Jaya recently. Based on a concept of a “couple restaurant” in a pseudo cave setting, the cafe-restaurant serves western and chinese food.

When you approach, this is what greets you.

Not terribly flattering if you ask me. Its actually an arch into the cave if you are facing it direct. However, it must be borne in mind that The Cave is located in the middle of a row of shop houses in the busy SS2 business area. Anyone in their right mind would approach it along the five foot way as right in front of the arch is a busy road; and having this image thrust in your face isn’t exactly a welcome. Well, not unless its meant to be some tongue in cheek joke … that did not quite come out right did it?

Anyway, some swanky gadgetry causes the glass door to slide open and you are inside a “Cave”. The interior of the restaurant is done up to give you the impression that you are in a cave. The downstairs is the waiting and reception area. Then you are directed up a narrow flight of stairs again made to look like you are climbing steps in a cave, to your seating area.

The Cave is a couple restaurant. What this means is that it specialises in seatings for couples and small groups. I spoke to the waiter about this and he told me that the most people they can seat is 8 in a large room, and they also have medium rooms which I reckon should fit 4 persons. The majority however are spaces for 2.

I was there with a friend so it was a space for 2. The space is tiny with a sheer curtain before it. The seating was side by side which is never my choice for seating with someone because you can’t talk properly. That aside, the “cave” was dimly lit (which explains the quality of the photographs) and there was music coming from a speaker.

We were told by the waiter that the music volume could be controlled with the turn of a knob. I promptly turned it off because the music from next door was loud enough without ours adding to the din.

There is also a contraption on the wall to allow you to summon for the bill, water and to call for a waiter. Unlike many other places the contraption here actually works but more on that later. Right in front of you is a little ledge which we discovered was perfect for placing your camera on to take photographs of yourself. That probably explains its use! There are also 3 plug points which I was told by the waiter was for laptops because The Cave is wifi enabled. Though why anyone would need 3 plug points when 1 will do is beyond me!

We were only provided with 1 menu. I guess the couple concept extends also to the menu? Anyway, to make things easy, we opted for the Daily Set Menu B at RM39++ and Set D at RM49++.

For starters, there was Ceaser Salad (Set B) and sauted mushrooms and mushroom soup (Set D).

The Ceaser salad came with half an egg, which was cold. They also used turkey ham instead of bacon. I’d have preferred for the egg and bacon/ham to be warm when served. The sauce came on the side which was fine for me but totally defeats the concept of a ceaser salad.

The mushrooms were not bad as was the mushroom soup, but I found it a tad salty.

Mains were Pan fried Dory in lemon sauce and a pan seared rib-eye steak.

The dory was thick and substantial but bland. The mash potatoes were very soft and were the consistency of plaster but they were quite generous with the vegetables.

The rib-eye steak was ok. Not especially good nor was it terribly bad. It was just middle of the road stuff that you can get at any cafe or hotel coffee house.

For dessert, I had wild berry crumble with ice cream. The ice cream was melting when served but on an overall basis, this was probably one of the better dishes of the night.

The Creme Brulee that came with Set D was rather bland which is a feat considering that it is usually very sweet. The coffee was quite awful though and the tea was strangely sweet smelling but tasteless.

I was rather puzzled that the food and drinks served were warm but not hot. Even the coffee and tea did not have any steam rising from the cups at all. Oh and I asked for a glass of hot water (it came warm) and they charged me RM1 for warm water. I was appalled so for this I docked more points.

On an overall basis, I’d say the food at The Cave is mediocre at best. If you are the sort who enjoys good food, The Cave is not the place to visit.

For novelty factor, I’d give The Cave the thumbs up. They are certainly innovative in the concept although I’d do something about that strange arch at their entrance.

However, for a restaurant touting itself to be a “couple restaurant”, I have a few gripes. For starters, the “cave” you are seated in is quite warm. There is a marked difference in air temperature when you leave the restaurant and its certainly more comfortable outside than in!

It is also very noisy. Simply because everyone is seated in a private enclave they tend to forget that it is still a restaurant. So, I could hear everything that my neighbours were talking about just as if they were right next to me. In fact, when the waiter gave the password for the Wifi I heard it all!

Because the interior is made to look like a cave so too are the acoustics. The waiter station was outside the corridor leading to our enclave and I heard every single order, every single complaint and every single problem they had that night. So, I knew they were having trouble with an order from Room #125 for example, right down to the food switches! Truly, it is very distracting and if I was there on a date or for a couple tete-a-tete, I’d be very irritated.

Now, I said above that the bell contraption works. We were told by the waiter by way of introduction that the concept at The Cave was different. There would be no one hovering around and instead we only had to press the “call” button and someone would attend.

However, when our food was being served, the starters and main courses were served so close to each other that we ended up having both courses together. Then, all throughout the meal, the waiters would surreptitiously walk past outside to see if we were done so they could clear our plates. I knew for a fact they were checking on us because we were the last table at the end of the corridor so there was no excuse. I had the impression that I would call for the waiter once I was done with each course but apparently it is not so. In the present scenario, there is no real difference between being in a conventional restaurant booth and The Cave except that in a conventional restaurant they would be less distracting as they can see from a distance if you are done without having to keep walking by!

Also, if you are sitting on the outside end of the table, you’ll find yourself facing right across at the table opposite. Quite unnerving really.

Would I return? No I will not. The food is unattractive to me and the novelty is nice once but not twice. Oh and if you are claustrophobic, best to avoid the closed spaces.

The Cave is located in SS2 PJ, along the same row of shops as the McDonalds in Jalan SS2/61 and behind Poh Kong jewellers.

Pink Parisian [rating:2/5] for taste.
Pink Parisian [rating:2/5] for price.
Pink Parisian [rating:4/5] for novelty.

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