Richland, Missouri: Cave Restaurant [formerly Caveman BBQ]

This was the place to go many years ago. The old owner got sick and the place was up for sale. He let it go downhill very fast. We found out that there is a new owner and decided to give it one more try. It was the weekend, great food, fast, friendly, clean. The new owner has re-done the cabins overlooking the river. During the drive up the mountain by their van we were told very detailed information about the past.

We happened to be in the area on vacation and decided to stop in. We were a little concerned because of the bad (old) reviews, but no need to be concerned any more. The food was excellent and the setting was amazing. The new owners have done a great job. It's a fancy meal, plenty of food and not expensive at all. The ride down the hill was a little scary because it was almost dark, but that made it more fun. GPS had difficulty finding the place, but thanks to the signs we made it there and back with no trouble. We highly recommend it to anyone who wants a very unique dinner experience!

You park your vehicle, then ride the restaurant's van up the hill. Then you take an elevator up about 3 stories to the cave. We visited on a Monday. We were told the weekend is the worst time to visit. The restaurant has a new owner, Gary. He and the waitress were very friendly and the food was the greatest! The prices were about the same as Applebee's -- not bad. You get a lot of food, too.

Make sure you take your camera and go out onto the balcony. And yes, there IS a bathroom. There's a gift shop in a small log cabin.

We went to this restaurant as a Saturday motorcycle outing. We thought it was great! The food was good, there was a bit of a wait because I think they might be a little understaffed, but all in all it was a most pleasant experience. We had 11 people with no reservations, but were still seated comfortably and the staff was friendly. All 11 agreed their food was tasty and reasonably priced. The place was nice and clean, and it was awesome eating in a cave!

I would recommend it to anyone that isn't in a big hurry, but just wants to enjoy a unique experience.

Is it worth the experience? We were attending a graduation at Fort Leonardwood, and with limited entertainment options we thought, this was our best bet. Well, it's an experience and YES the food is awful! However, we would go back again but only order a dessert. Everything was over-fried and the bread came fresh out of a plastic bag. We laughed when we were told by the waitress that the place is packed on the weekends and just bring a book. We did not have any trouble with the staff, who were very nice to us (We went mid week and there was only one other group at the time in the restaurant). So go and enjoy a very different experience and hopefully the restaurant attracts a better cook.