The Cavern

Mmmm, cheese. In my Unilocal profile I state that my last meal on earth would probably contain cheese. And I wrote that statement long before Cavern opened up. But now that Cavern is firmly established on 104 St., I have a new place for my cheese fix. Wow, do I ever love that place. The cheeses are absolutely exquisite. They are a bit on the pricey side, but I will pay a little more for exceptional quality. I love all the samples they put out during the market days in the summer as it has expanded my palate. I also adore the baguettes at Cavern with their slightly caramelized crust. I’ve been for both brunch and lunch as well as just stopping in for my essential cheese, and I have been impressed with the quality of food and the outstanding service. I will continue to return to Cavern again and again and again and again.

Great little place with a cool bistro feel. It serves sandwiches, great specialty coffees, wine and has a healthy offering of cheeses.
I had the turkey multigrain sandwich and it was delusions. It seems s a it pricey though but it was a very fresh sandwich and the aioli sauce was really tasty
My friend had the special which was a spicy meat baguette sandwich. It was pretty good. We also had some wine they have a good selection of wines by the glass.
I will definitely return. Oh and service was great. It is a small place so very intimate experience.

We went here for a late valentines day dinner on a Wednesday evening. There were only 2 occupied tables so we had no problem getting seated right away. The place is very tiny then what i thought it would be so i could imagine wait times normally can be long. It’s a beautiful, spotless place with a very open feel to it. Almost more café style then restaurant. With a decent drink selection we ordered a craft beer and glass of wine.
First we ordered the duck pâté and smoked salmon. Both were exceptional. Our favorite being the duck, which we were happy to see they sold in their deli as well.
Next we ordered the mixed board of cheeses and meats. I can’t remember the name of the cheese but it was like sweet butter and i want to get it and put on everything i eat till the day i die.
Our server was awesome. So attentive and polite. He was a joy to be around and was very knowledgeable about the menu and suggestions. Since it was so quiet and we were their last table of the night he offered to give me their last apple strudel on the house as he said he hated to see it go to waste. What a treat! It was so delicious. Can’t wait to go back and hopefully bring some friends to share.
They also do made to order picnic baskets which would be so much fun! he said they need about an hr notice to put them together. We definitely want to try that this summer.

It’s easy to miss on 104 street, but just a few steps down, you’ll find a cozy, warm space surrounded by soft lighting and gorgeous brick wall. So suitably named, The Cavern.
You can stop in to grab some cheese to take home, as I’ve done so many times after work, or meet a friend for wine (or espresso) and charcuterie board. Cavern is also open for both breakfast and lunch, which certainly appeals to the downtown working crowd.
What I was most impressed/​surprised with at Cavern was the use of the space for a private wine and cheese reception. For a group of about 25 people, this really is the perfect setting for an intimate reception. The platters that Cavern created for this event were amazing (only wish I took pictures). One platter of mini caprese skewers, made with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Another platter had delicious little bites which consisted of a soft bread, topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and capers. I was popping those into my mouth all evening. And of course there were your classic boards with a vast selection of cheeses (something to please every kind of cheese lover), and sliced meats. These boards were generously garnished with fresh fig and pear slices.
The owner and other staff working here were very friendly. You can tell that the owner loves what she does, and has a great business to be proud of!
Lastly, The Cavern also does picnic baskets! So perfect in the summer to stop by and pick one up, then head over the Legislature grounds. Or hey, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. That would even be a great idea for a night in ;) Oh, and I see they have a cheese club, but I’m not at that level…

The Cavern is such an amazing space. The owner Tricia helped me with a special event for the business I work at, and I could not be any happier. This is such a charming, cozy, yet elegant space. The food was absolutely spectacular. We enjoyed a wonderful selection of cheese, including some drier, sharper varieties which I’m partial to. As well there was nuts, truffle popcorn, delicious smoked salmon and meats. I was particularly impressed by the FRESH FIGS– they were wonderful and I’ve never had the pleasure of having those before. I was under the weather and they were kind enough to make me the best cup of ginger green tea I’ve ever had. However, if wine is your thing, I was well informed by the people attending that they had made some very wonderful choices. The Cavern has that fantastic European feel of old world meets new and modern. We all had so much fun we neglected to take pictures of the art that was the food, however it was just great! Don’t take my word– go check it out for yourself!

My boyfriend and I come here time after time for wine and charcuterie at the end of the week. It’s beautiful sitting outside on the warm summer evenings but it’s cozy inside as well when it starts getting cooler. Very pleasant, knowledgeable staff as well :) And I love the cute bathroom.
I hope this place continues to succeed but not too much so that I’m able to get a spot ;)

A gem of Edmonton for sure!
The server was such a delight and really assisted us with choosing great cheeses and wines to pair. We aren’t experts in that field so having someone do the choosing for us after taking the time to hear what do and don’t like was awesome!
We had a cheese board for 4 and it comes with a small pre-​cut loaf of bread, an array of dried fruits and nuts, 2 different spreads, and some sliced apples and pears. It was lovely and well-​presented. The Cavern supplies cheeses to some restaurants in the city as well, such as Characters.
The wine selection seemed very vast, but most impressive was the wine dispenser, pumping inert gas into the wines while they are not in use. It was beautiful and high tech.
Not much for seating but what they have done is clean and cute.
Expect a little pricey but the quality and service was excellent.
It’s a little difficultly to find with not much signage outside but there is parking right close.

Cavern is a lovely indulgence. Baguette sandwich was incredible. A little on the pricey side, but I’ll be back!

I’ve had several items from Cavern but my favourite is my CHEESE KNIFE! I had no idea how enjoyable slicing cheese was until I bought a cheese knife from Cavern. Thanks guys!
This is a nice little cheese shop that also has a wine bar, and some fresh made sandwiches too. I recommend the veggie sandwich. They are pricy for sure! $ 11 for a sandwich which is insane but they are yummy as long as the bread is fresh. Only once it wasn’t and it cut my mouth all up and I felt like I had eaten ninja stars.
It might seem creepy, but the bathrooms are really nice too. Actually, I don’t care how creepy I sound it’s hard to find a nice bathroom downtown… clean, white, bright… come on ppl. Give a handclap for a clean bathroom! clap clap clap!

Nice little place on 104 Street, have always wanted to come here. Great selection of wines, and other drinks, and cheeses too… Will definitely return in future.

Great little datespot with a nice charcuterie selection. Staff and clearly well trained and can help you with picking items to out together. There are only fourish tables so if you aren’t staying, we can get items to go as well

If you love cheese and wine you can’t go wrong with this place. It’s absolutely lovely. Great quaint little atmosphere and I’ve always had good service.

Cavern is a place to indulge. For people like myself that rank cheese higher than oxygen or water in their necessities for living, Cavern is a great place to try new things, learn from their knowledgeable staff and take people that you feel like impressing or just indulging with.
It’s pretty obvious that they have a wide array of cheeses, olives, fruits and drinks to offer. Each menu item is carefully selected and thoughtfully offered by the friendly staff. While the space is very small, it’s ideal for a party of two to sit down and make the difficult decision of what to try. On my first trip there, a friend and I opted for the cheese board for four which gave us 4 types of cheese to choose from as well as other small bites. You’d think that 4 types of cheese for two people would be enough, but that definitely wasn’t the case as we got another cheese board for two which added three more cheeses. That’s right, seven cheeses for two people. Live on the edge, I say!
The intimacy of the Cavern makes it a great spot for a date or just a small get together. Unfortunately, it’s definitely not somewhere to go with a group bigger than 3 or 4 despite the share-​ability of their cheese boards. The small size also means that you’re sitting very close to others. While this is a minor complaint, it’s the only thing that can interrupt the otherwise fantastic feel of the Caven.
The quality of the selection has been aptly covered by other reviewers but Cavern also operates as a fantastic cheese retailer. They offer artisanal cheeses from all over the world as well as locally produced preserves. When combined with their knowledgeable staff and relatively relaxed atmosphere, the opportunity to shop for something new or find something that’s usually difficult to obtain set the Cavern apart from some other cheese and charcuterie establishments.

Was walking to Mercer last night and saw the sandwich board for Cavern. Went in, no expectations and was very glad we did!
The wine was amazing! We tried a couple meats and cheeses. We are not traditionally «meat and cheese board» people; but, the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable and got us into a couple choices that we absolutely enjoyed!
Will totally go back again!

There isn’t much I don’t love about the cavern. It’s quality in a small package. Inside you’ll find a small place with maybe five tables, a couple of seats at the bar and a few seats by the entrance. This place could be somewhere in Europe. Great wine selection and great cheese selections. And though it isn’t the greatest place to meet for a large party, one or two friend shooting the breeze here is just perfect. The bathrooms here are immaculate! I even love the underground cool this place has. Like a special secret tucked away on 104^th.
This visit was simple. Pomegranate soda (unsweetened) and a lemon tart (under-​sweetened than the Edmonton norm. Total was 8.50 $, but be forewarned that the portions are small. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is a place I’d walk (and have) walked 11 blocks just to hang out. One of my favourite places in the city.

Cavern is a next generation coffee shop. Similar to (the dearly departed) Roast, the café offers not only amazing coffee, but a variety of beautiful food items and lots of liquor. Lovely, lovely liquor.
Found in the basement of Phillips Lofts on 104 street, Cavern is a small (i.e. four 4-​top tables and a small bar) but beautifully well-​kept café that specializes in one of my favourite things in the world: cheese. The restaurant sells retail cheese along with a light menu for brunch and lunch that features some excellent cheese board and charcuterie options.
Featured cheeses include anything from Spanish manchego, to the Cheesiry’s lavender pecorino, to British cheddar. Cheese-​lovers will find much to rejoice in at this particular location — pair your favourite cheese with a hearty latte, a glass of malbec, or mini chorizo. Whatever you like.
It might sound like a regular café/​diner/​cheese shop to you, but there are several things that make Cavern really stand out above the rest.
First, they’ve built a partnership with JACEK Chocolate in Sherwood Park and have utilized this partnership to expand their menu offerings. Guests can order a hot chocolate made from JACEK chocolate, or a mocha — a latte that comes with a chocolate JACEK spoon for you to stir in. You can order a cheese and JACEK Chocolate pairing for nibbles. You can buy JACEK Chocolate bars at the till.
Secondly, I’m a fan of nice bathrooms in restaurants. It’s that small, unexpected touch that can really impress me about a place. Cavern’s individual bathrooms are a work of art in white marble and shiny brilliance. They’re just lovely.
As for food, I’m convinced. I ordered a Charcuterie for One, which included two cheeses or meats. I selected the prosciutto di parma and the brie de meaux, and paired them with the Don Rodolfo malbec. Beautiful.
The charcuterie came served on a lovely slate cheeseboard with a handful of almonds, figs, cranberries, apricots, and pears. On a separate slate board came half of a baguette and a delicious jam, both of which were spectacular when combined with the brie.
The prices are reasonable at Cavern, too — $ 16 for a Charcuterie for One, which is enough for a light lunch, and $ 8 per 6 oz glass of wine. You can get a fresh baguette sandwich for $ 11 and a UK-​inspired brunch of baguette, cheddar, fruit, and accompaniments for the same price.
All in all, Cavern won’t break the bank, but it’ll definitely tantalize those taste buds.

What an adorable idea for a date night or meeting the girls after work! I’m not a huge cheese fanatic but the boyfriend is so we wandered into The Cavern one night after our dinner. The staff are amazing and really knowledgeable and will give you a sample of just about any cheese. We picked up a couple cheeses and the staff gave us a card that paired the cheese with wine which was perfect for someone who doesn’t know a lot about how wines go together with cheese.
The Cavern seem to have a great variety of cheeses so I’d be interested in coming back to try more. I think the next time we’re in we will have to sit down and have a glass of wine and share a cheese board, they look so fantastic!
The Cavern fits in perfectly on 104^th street and it adds something different which I definitely appreciate. This place isonly a couple months old but it’s definitely a gem hidden in the middle of the city! If you like cheese, or even if you don’t I suggest you wander in and talk to the staff, they will probably teach you something you didn’t know!

«Hmmm… I’ll take the amazing wine, some fabulous cheese, oh yes definitely a lovely drawn espresso… On second thought, please just wrap up the entire store and transport it to my kitchen. Yes, I think that will do nicely.» And thus begins and ends my review of Cavern.
The whole place top to bottom is fan-​freaking-​tastic! The owner is as sweet as moscato and elderflower chevre. The tiny space sparkles and is delightful — if you can snag a spot. But if you can not, it is the perfect place to drop into and buy a selection of cheese to take home. All of the wine is kept at the perfect temp. and is spectacular. The cheese selection is dare I say, a bit intimidating. I thought I knew cheese, but here there are cheeses I’ve never seen! The cheese boards come decked out with nuts, fruits, berries, jams and jellies which differ to accompany the cheese selected for the board. It is a bountiful bevy of dairy delights my friends. Be sure to treat yourself soon!

Cavern is a really cool concept: it’s ½ cheese shop and ½ European café. I love when new businesses bring something different to the table (ha!), it really makes Edmonton more vibrant and interesting. I came to Cavern on a weeknight with a small group (4 of us total) and had a fabulous meal. We got a board that let us sample a number of different cheeses, and it came with some assorted nuts, fruit, honey, green jelly and bread that complimented the cheeses beautifully. Remember in my review of Leva where I asked if you were eating enough figs? Cavern has figs, so obviously I’m a fan. The wine was amazing, and our server (who, from browsing Unilocal,I’m pretty sure is also the owner) was fantastic. She was extremely knowledgeable about all the wines and could pronounce the Spanish and French names beautifully, which made Cavern feel even more authentically European. After she left our table one of my friends said «I think I have a crush on her» and I rightfully echoed «I just want to be her». Because who wouldn’t, really? I wish I owned a gourmet food shop on 104^th!
Because the focus is primarily wine and cheese, it’s best not to come here with a big appetite or expecting a big meal. Instead, it’s the perfect stop for before or after dinner, and really is an ideal venue for a special date (boys, pay attention!). I can’t wait until I have the opportunity to come back during the day and sample the sandwiches they serve at lunch. The coffee looks promising too!
Like the other reviews mentioned, Cavern is tiny, but if you’re out and about in Edmonton you already know all the best places are small. I think the size is just right for its purpose: this isn’t a restaurant, it’s a cheese shop where you can sit down for a glass or two of wine if you choose.
I’m particularly excited about the selection of cheese for sale here. Previously I have relied solely on the Sobey’s down the street for blocks of Edam or smoked Gruyère — and the grocery chain doesn’t always come through for me. Cavern is well stocked and offers a much better collection, perfect to enjoy a little bit of the world at home! All around, Cavern is a perfect addition to downtown.

I love my neighbourhood and now there is one more reason: the Cavern! The only drawback as you approach the entrance to the Cavern, you will notice one humongous WeightWatchers sign posted not so conveniently next to the Cavern’s entrance!
And I love my cheese and wine and the Cavern is just the place for picking up some very fine International Cheese and Wine.
Lovely and sublime interior which really suits the warehouse district.