A Night at The Cavern
- Rayki Goh, MSc
- May 25
- 2 min read
– Dining in Singapore’s First Cave Restaurant at Mandai Wildlife Reserve
When the sun is blazing and the city feels a little too familiar, there’s something refreshing about escaping to Mandai Wildlife Reserve (Singapore) for a day out with friends.
Recently, I decided to pair my afternoon stroll (*crying under 37'C) with something a bit more adventurous: dinner at The Cavern, the wildlife park’s joint concept with the TungLok group and, as they proudly proclaim, Singapore’s first and only cave-themed dining experience.
The venue itself delivers a strong first impression. Designed to evoke the hidden world beneath the park, The Cavern is genuinely immersive, complete with dramatic rock walls and dim, atmospheric lighting—perfect for post-adventure winding down.
The ambience definitely leans into the “experience” side of experiential dining.
To kick things off, we ordered the beef bone marrow, which arrived elegantly plated with sourdough toast and a sprinkle of chives.
The marrow itself was lightly salted and rich, boasting that deep umami hit you hope for, especially when scooped onto the crisp sourdough.
For mains, we decided to sample a bit of everything. The mushroom ragout fettuccine was cooked just right—al dente, with the pasta ribbons slicked in a creamy, earthy sauce that was surprisingly light yet satisfying.
The cave smoked pork ribs, a clear highlight of the meal, were beautifully charred and smoky, leaving a lingering aroma that kept me reaching for another bite. Each ribs were tender, moist, and well-cooked to perfection.
In comparison, the Stone Age beef burger fell a bit flat.
The patty had a pronounced beefiness but lacked the finesse or quality that would justify its setting or price; honestly, I’d stick to Shake Shack or Five Guys if I were craving a burger fix.
On the side, we had the roasted vegetables and a generous serving of forest mushrooms. Both were well-executed and rounded out the meal nicely—no complaints there.
Service was friendly and attentive, and the whole experience felt thoughtfully curated. That said, at $152.60 for the meal, I did feel the ingredients could have been a notch more premium to match the bill.
All things considered, I’d rate The Cavern a solid 4 out of 5 for ambience and interior design, and 4 out of 5 for food quality and service.
Value for money sits at a 3 out of 5 for me—it’s a fun, novel experience but not quite the culinary revelation the price suggests.
Would I return? For the cave vibes and a unique date night, absolutely. For the burger—probably not.
But if you’re looking for something a little different to round out your next day-out at Mandai, or a special date with your bestie, The Cavern is worth a visit.
Location: 20 Mandai Lake Rd, #02-32 Rainforest Wild ASIA, Singapore 729825
Opens from 5pm for dinner service.
