Cavern Restaurant Turns One With A New Menu And After-Dark Cave Experience

We recently dropped by Cavern Restaurant at Rainforest Wild Adventure West, which is marking its first anniversary with a new menu helmed by Head Chef Sheng Lim.

I had seen the photos of the cave-inspired restaurant before, but being there in person is quite different. The space is dark, dramatic and slightly moody, with rocky textures and crystalline lights hanging overhead to mimic droplets inside a cave. It feels immersive, and makes for a dining experience that is a little different from the usual.

The restaurant draws inspiration from the Mulu Caves of Sarawak, and the setting works particularly well after dark. From 6.30pm onwards, diners can make their way in through the Oculus at Rainforest Wild Adventure West, which adds a bit of drama before the meal even begins.

For its first anniversary, the menu has also been refreshed by Chef Sheng, who has more than a decade of experience at restaurants including JAAN, CURE Concepts and CÉ LA VI Singapore. The focus is on casual contemporary Western food with Asian influences, with plenty of dishes designed for sharing and a strong emphasis on meats cooked over an open flame.

We started with the Stone Hearth Loaf, served warm with green onion butter. The bread was soft and fluffy inside with a slightly crisp crust, and the savoury, fragrant butter melted nicely over the warm loaf.

The Fried Fish Tacos ($18) came with crispy fish, mango strawberry salsa and lime mayo, giving each bite a nice mix of spice, tang and freshness.

The Jerk-Spiced Lamb Chop Pane ($40), inspired by Chef Susur Lee’s creation from the ‘Cavern After Dark’ collaboration, paired the spiced lamb with Jerusalem artichoke puree, potato cheese croquettes and spiced pineapple for a more complex combination of savoury, creamy and sweet flavours.

The Confit Pork Belly ($30) was slow-cooked until tender, with the rich, savoury pork balanced by the bright citrusy notes of the yuzu chicken jus, while the fennel salad and parsley added a fresh, slightly herbaceous contrast.

For something a little more substantial to share, the Pardoo Wagyu Beef Tomahawk Steak MB4/5 comes as an impressive centrepiece with a nicely caramelised exterior and juicy, savoury meat.

We ended with What a Banana! ($16), which combines banana chutney, spiced cream and crispy crumble for a fairly indulgent finish.

For more information, visit Cavern Restaurant’s website here.

Cavern Restaurant
Address: Rainforest Wild Adventure West, #02-32, 20 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729825

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 11am–3pm, 5pm–9pm
Saturday, Sunday, eve of PH & PH: 11am–4.30pm, 5pm–9pm