Cafeteria-style eatery set below ground in a naturally formed cavern, a popular tourist destination. Based on 36 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 3.9 stars. Price
✔️ Takeout ✔️ No delivery
Address:
727 Carlsbad Cavern Hwy, Carlsbad, NM 88220
Phone: (505) 785-2232
Website: http://nps.gov/cave
Hours
| Tuesday | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Friday | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Saturday | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Sunday | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM |
| Monday | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM |
Reviews
Cory Gallegos
Cool spot to relax and eat either after you’ve come down the natural entrance or right before you leave. Sadly food selection is really lacking. They have ham or turkey sandwiches or salads for main meals. For snacks candy bars, some baked goods, small bags of chips, bottled soda and a few other small things. (At this time of posting 2023 sandwich costed $8.75, chips $1, brownie $4, soda $2.87, candy bar $2.19)
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El Músico
The restaurant closes at 2 and they don’t sirve food at all, the cavern tickets stop selling at 2:30 and Google maps says at 5 so we made a long trip for nothing.
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George Contreras
2 stars on the inconsideration alone. One thing that you hear about Carlsbad Caverns is that there is a lunchroom at the bottom leading you to believe that you can make the hour and a half trek and get something to eat before spending an hour touring the big room. If you take medicine, have blood sugar issues, or some other reason you can’t wait to eat, you better eat before hand. It would be nice if they or the National Parks Service would let you know ahead of time.
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Antoinette Van Wormer
The caverns were amazing! Once in a lifetime experience. Food wasn’t great and over priced and the bottom of the cavern, but we were famished and shared a sandwich. There are places to pull over on the road up to the caverns, we packed a cooler and pulled off for lunch with a view. Such an incredible experience! Highly recommend walking in!
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Addyson Mosley
Absolutely beautiful. The area we stopped had bathrooms(not in the best condition). Kids got to run around and dogs are allowed!
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Susannah Ball
They will stamp and mail your postcards from deep underground. Pretty dope.
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Richard
Back in 1996 the lunch room at the bottom of the cavern had some really good food. But they have since shut it down. The fried chicken and other food being cooked at the bottom attracted wildlife into the cave so now they only serve refrigerated sandwiches, fruit cups and a few other items. I understand why but its just not the same anymore. We skiped the lunch down below and opted for a picnic at the tables near the parking lot. It has the best views.
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Ricky Pike
Originally built in the 1950’s, they used to cook and fry food down here but this began destroying the ecology of the cave. To keep damage to a minimum, food choices now consist of items such as sandwiches, fruit cups, bottled water and items such as breakfast bars and crisp rice treats. There’s not too many tables during the lunch hour you’ll be waiting to snag a table, eating at one of the benches, or just standing and snacking. The small gift shop offers items such as flashlights, toy helmets, toy lanterns and a variety of shirts. Don’t expect too much from this and you’ll recognize it for what it is – a cool, unique place to grab a snack.
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Scott
Unique place to have a snack. Beverages were reasonably priced, given the captive audience. Most people are inspired to eat a meal after descending into the caverns, but if you’ve got a kid that needs a snack, or if you want to sit down and enjoy a Gatorade in an ultra-humid climate, this place is for you.
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Ryan Mathes
People complained that there’s only sandwiches down there now when there used to be fried food. Look at the blackened charring on the ceiling when you’re down there. That’s bacterial growth that was feeding on fried food down there. Bacteria that wasn’t meant to be in the cave.
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