The Creek & The Cave

Subterranean entertainment!
This venue located in Long Island City can be a beehive of activity depending on the time of day. I visited solely for the purpose of playing their pinball tables, which are located next to the downstairs bar. They had Wizard of Oz LE, Twilight Zone, The Walking Dead, The Sopranos, Medieval Madness and a couple that were switched off (Star Trek and The Hobbit). All games were $ 1.00 per play (or $ 2 for 3 credits) and accepted bills. The pinballs were in fairly good condition.
When I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon, Creek & Cave was promoting a $ 5 AYCE mac-​n-​cheese buffet, with no less than 10 varieties to choose from. I passed, opting to obtain my daily nutrients from half a dozen pints of beer (beer’s got nutrients in it, right? Just say yes), but the general consensus seemed to be that all of the macaroni tasted great.
The biggest issue I encountered was that the macaroni smörgåsbord was setup in the pinball area, and with a bunch of people already hovering around the food, it got crazy hot downstairs. What’s more, the chafing dishes/​pans of hot cheesy noodles were placed **dangerously** close to those of us shooting silver ball trick shots. I was seriously worried that my ass was going to catch on fire, given the proximity of my butt to the buffet table. Then again, I’ve got a rather large derrière (for a white guy)…
C&C features a separate room for standup comedy, which I think is an awesome feature. There appeared to be only one downstairs bathroom for both guys and girls, so expect a wait during busy hours. But the female bartender was cute, the pinballs in mostly terrific shape, and the replay values set lower than expected on many tables, which meant a great return on investment.
Yep, I’d recommend.

I love the podcasts that come from this place on
! Also the pinball, outdoor patio, strong drinks, sexy bartenders, free or inexpensive comedy from top NYC comics as well as up-​and-​comers. Often very alternative and experimental comedy; a real beacon of the underground scene. A great place to bring groups of friends!
Favorite shows: See You In Hell, Dark Spots, and Tom & Keele’s show (all listed on the calendar
)

If you’re a hungry aspiring comic or improviser in your 20s/​30s, this place might be a second home to you. Overall, this place is doing the good work of giving folks a shot at stage time without much hassle.
Can’t really speak to the food but the drinks are potent and they have a respectable beer lineup at the downstairs bar.
The fishbowl open mic stage downstairs is a pretty precarious zone, so if you’re performing, hope you have health insurance (watch you head if you’re tall, there are lighting fixtures swinging above your noggin’).

Chose this place on a whim after visiting some breweries around queens and it was really good! Had the tacos al carbon platter with slow roasted pork and the meat was flavorful and succulent. Tortillas and rice and beans were spot on. Chips and guac were perfect. The others in my party seemed to enjoy their food too. Would definitely recommend.

I had dinner here with some family on Thursday, April 21. I was visiting NYC from south Florida, and my cousin (who lives in the area) recommended we go here for Mexican food. I was very disappointed. Chipotle is 10 times better.
I ordered a burrito bowl with ground beef. I asked them to add sautéed peppers and onions. The food that arrived was not worth the $ 10 price tag.
The food was not seasoned well. It was very bland — from the rice to the meat. There was very little beef on top, very little peppers/​onions, and very little rice in comparison to an exorbitant amount of black beans. Seriously, the beans were overwhelming and made the dish taste disgusting. The picture I took is what was left — it all is black beans with a sparse amount of rice grains sticking around them. And this was after I already ate some of the beans. I did not enjoy the the meal at all.
If you’re looking for a Mexican burrito bowl, don’t come here. Save your money and go to Chipotle — you’ll get more food for less money, and food that is seasoned properly and that actually tastes good.

This review is strictly for Brunch. This was my first time here and the major selling point was the $ 2 mimosas. Those were great, and surprisingly strong for 2 bucks! It was not particularly busy so I’m guessing it is not that popular for brunch. Service was ok and not particularly warm. I liked the salsa and chips that they give you to start. The menu is mostly Latin/​Mexican inspired. Have to say we didn’t really care for the food at all. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing. My friend and I had the biscuits, sausage and gravy, which tends to be a solid pick anywhere else, but here not so much.
I would possibly try it for lunch or dinner. Maybe brunch is just not their thing. My roommate said it’s a good spot for drinks so I will have to come back for that and a comedy show. Will update at that point.

First time here, and I must say, what a wonderful time I had! My boyfriend and I stopped by here a Monday afternoon, around 3pm. There were only two other tables occupied other than ours.
FOOD: I got the Veracruz burger, well done; and it was delicious! It had pickled jalapeños and some sort of chipotle sauce that made it taste out of this world! The burger was nice and juicy and it came with a side of thick, hand cut fries that were amazing! My boyfriend had the burrito bowl with shredded beef. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, however it looked like a small portion to me. He also wished it had some colors in it, like for example some corn, tomatoes or guac on top. Regardless of that he really liked the burrito bowl.
DRINKS: We happened to go during happy hour so we got some large glasses of margaritas for $ 4! And let me tell you, they were worth every penny! I had the pineapple margarita and my boyfriend had the orange margarita and they were both great! They were strong yet flavorful, we enjoyed the drinks so much, we ended up ordering another pineapple margarita to share! Definitely recommend it!
AMBIENCE/​SERVICE: The restaurant is nice and cozy. Theres a nice cozy little space to sit on the first floor and I believe there’s something downstairs, not sure what it is. The service was pretty good, our server was very nice and friendly and she definitely made my experience there better!
Definitely recommend everyone go give it a try!

My girlfriend and I went to The Creek & The Cave last Friday night for an 8pm comedy show. It was not a good experience. We ordered a few beers and overpriced Mexican appetizers, and sat three tables from the stage on the first floor. The skits were crude and distasteful, many «jokes» aggressively pushed their own political views onto the audience. None of it was funny.
At one point, my friend leaned over to whisper in my ear that she was going to the restroom — and the performer walked right up to us mid-​routine to rudely say into the mic: ‘You ladies are louder than you think you are, and you’re in the front row.’ Completely unnecessary.
After sitting through thirty grueling minutes of lackluster entertainment, we made our way downstairs. It was open mic for amateurs, and the atmosphere was a lot more laidback. Beside the bar area, there’s also a photo booth and a few pinball machines.
Please do yourself a favor and go to The Standing Room a few blocks away instead.

Hands down the best value anywhere in Long Island city. We came for brunch and crushed $ 2 mimosas and $ 3 canned beer, chips and guac, and chilaquiles. We were filled to capacity and drunk for around 45 bucks. The food was solid, the service was friendly. The place was pretty cool as well. They have a pinball room downstairs that you can get sucked in for hours. Overall a solid spot to get affordable food and drinks.

Was immediately greeted by the friendly staff/​owner. Very welcoming.
Started off with a delicious winter ale. Had the creek salad burrito «dipped» in smoked Chipotle sauce. Fantastic! Not to spicy with nice smoke. Fresh ingredients on the inside.
Hope to make it back sometime to try some of the vegan options, eg vegan enchiladas!

The food was bland. Had no flavor. Thought I was eating styrofoam mixed with wood. Wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone. Only good thing here was the PBR. Btw I’m kind of drunk but this food really sucks, I’d rather go to Taco Bell or Taco King. I can’t eat this hipster food, I think my steak taco was vegan or something. Terribleeeee. Never again. Never. Ever. Ever. Ever.

I love giving new place a try and when it comes to trying something new in my hood ‘Long Island City’, I am all in.
I went here for lunch with a friend this afternoon and it was a big disappointment. The 7 dollar Guacamole was nothing but a flavorless paste, the salsa had some flavors but barely a kick. The Chicken in the Enchilada that i ordered with Salsa verde was hard as a rock and tortillas were barely cooked. The Fish tacos has nothing but the batter and cabbage in the name of fish.
Trust me, I really wanted to like this place and it hurts me to leave bad reviews, but there are so many good and upcoming joints in LIC now, I just don’t want a place like this to ruin the reputation of this neighborhood. You have a lot to learn and improve!

Very friendly staff. Been here a few times and they never let me down. Getting into the main comedy hall is kind of confusing to me though. But that’s just because I’m too shy to ask and I’m usually (read, always) by myself. I have stayed several hours for the amateur stand up comedy shows though. That’s in an easy to find location in the basement by the restrooms. The bar is located there too but again, I’m too shy to go there because I’m a loser who don’t know what drinks to order aside from rum and coke. Because it sounds cool lol.
I usually order their pineapple margaritas, which by the way always tastes like it’s made with dirty faucet water. I think it’s the ice they use. But I won’t fault them for that because their margaritas are really strong! Their food is also superb, whatever you order. Beware! They have $ 10+ burgers. Lol. FYI I’m typing this as I’m getting buzzed by their pineapple Margarita. I feel nice! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. Now I’ll see if I decide to go to their naked comedy show.

It has taken me too long to check out this neighborhood spot, but I am glad I finally did! My friend and I decided to check it out on Sunday for a late brunch. They offer sangria Sunday, which is $ 3 red or white sangria. They also offer $ 1 mimosas! These are amazing deals and also makes it a great brunch spot for friends.
When first walking in, we were a bit confused. There were no servers or hostesses to be found and the only employee was a cook visible from the open kitchen, who looked at us and didn’t say anything. Since it was our first time there, we were not sure if we were supposed to seat ourselves or order from the counter. This is the only reason I am giving this place four stars, because once the waitress returned from getting her table’s drinks from downstairs, we were taken care of.
Once seated we ordered drinks and looked at the menu. They give you chips and salsa as soon as you sit, which is nice while you wait. Since it was around 2pm we did not end up ordering from the brunch menu and decided to order items from the regular menu. I had the burrito bowl with chicken and grilled vegetables and my friend had the vegan enchiladas. It was amazing that they offer vegan options and she said everything was delicious. My burrito bowl was also terrific. The chicken was cooked well and able to be cut with a fork. Their vegetables added another layer of flavor and really made the bowl.
I really enjoyed how we never felt rushed. Even after finishing our meals the waitress didn’t bring the check until we had asked. She let us finish our drinks and chat, which I enjoyed since it was a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. It is very typical during brunch to feel rushed, especially when they offer such great drink specials. I definitely look forward to returning and bringing more friends!

I came here for dinner.
I arrived at this place during my quest to go to every restaurant in Hunters Point. Frankly from the looks of it I really wasn’t expecting much. But I must say that the place came as a pleasant surprise.
I had the enchilada which was good for what it was, simple and well made. I feel that the point of the place is the entertainment rather than the food (bar below, pinball machines, screen, the comedy club).
Same goes for the chili con carne, good, nothing spectacular.
I will be coming again to try their other amenities. It seems like a nice place

We had such a great time at The Creek & The Cave! What a weird, house-​like, multi-​function space! My boyfriend and I went to check out their monthly, free, late-​night comedy show, Dark Spots. Even though it had a 10 PM start time, the show didn’t actually start until 10:40, which would have been disappointing… EXCEPT for the fact that this place has plenty of eats AND drinks AND snacks AND arcade games AND a patio AND a lounge-​ish kind of thing. WOW. Such a cool space.
The beer deals were great. Saturday night, for example, features a $ 3 Magic Hat. And there are tons of beer + shot combos, which I’m alllllll about. They also have a great list of house cocktails (for $ 9 I think, which is great). The bartender was really nice. Also, they played tons of RHCP, and there’s nothing like a playlist to make you feel weird for singing along.
The show itself was HILARIOUS. I feel like an idiot for never checking this place out before, especially because the show was free. We were laughing so hard throughout the whole thing.
Also, if you can get to Grand Central, you have no excuse not to check this place out. It’s next to the first stop in Queens on the 7. Super quick ride, super awesome time. CHECK IT OUT.

This place was a fine stop for lunch. Reasonably-​priced menu with lots of options. Had a steak burrito and it was filling but a bit bland. Not the most exciting lunch: was kind of hoping for a bit more kick or spice mixed in. The steak itself was solid and their was a good balance of ingredients. The chips and salsa were fine, got the job done but the salsa wasn’t very memorable.

It’s 4 stars because there have been a few times the food service was a bit slow, and once the waiter forgot to put my order in, because a bunch of people came in from outside after I ordered, and he got swamped… and I had to wait about an hour and a half for my food.
I’ve had friends perform Comedy here, and it’s always been great. I love the drinks, I love the food, I love the pinball machines downstairs (which generally work pretty well), and the wait staff are generally pretty friendly and awesome.
I miss living a few minutes away from here, but I’m sure I’ll be back to watch some Comedy, again.

I can only comment on the food, not the comedy, but I can’t imagine I’ll come back for either. The service was fairly friendly but soooooo slow and haphazard. Both times I’ve been here have been after the NY Art Book Fair at PS1, so I’ll assume that this was a byproduct of increased business, but it was clear they were extremely understaffed. The burrito bowls my friend and I ordered were completely devoid of any seasoning; my «marinated» tofu was white and completely flavlorless, and the veggies in her bowl were just red and green peppers. They were also served in what appeared to be small cereal bowls, making it difficult to mix up the bowl at all without food spilling over the edges. I’ve had better Mexican food in the middle of Pennsylvania – in my own kitchen, even. Not worth the stop unless you’re patient and desperate for vegan offerings, as they do have vegan enchiladas.

I really like this spot if you want some what healthy versions of Mexican food. I always end up with the salad with goat cheese or the yogi wrap. Both really good. I like how the chicken is shredded and the margaritas are buy one get one for happy hour. They have a cute outdoor patio outback that is a nice area to relax and enjoy your food. Definitely a cute little spot to check out.

I love Mexican style food. Really any place with a solid salsa and chips is awesome. That being said, their salsa is pretty epic!
I had the creek burger, which was a well seasoned beef patty with grilled pineapple. Added a bit of hot sauce on it and it was absolutely delicious. Typically any place that offers a burger where I don’t need to smother it in ketchup is pretty epic.
Burritos are a good size, and just as delicious. They half price margaritas on Monday, and a fair selection of beer. This place is a must after a hard day of climbing a at The Cliffs.

If you’re hungry in LIC and you’re curious about this place. Stay curious. I wouldn’t eat the tacos here that’s for sure. Everything was incredibly bland.
Haven’t seen the comedy club so maybe that’s worth a visit.
I had to drown my tacos in hot sauce to produce any kind of flavor in it.
The servers are cool but too bad the food sucked.

This lil gem in LIC is my friends go to brunch spot. We have been coming to this spot for years. The food is great, cali mex. The food is fresh and the drinks are strong. Great way to spend brunch or an evening before hitting the next spot. Their chips and guac are delish. I love fish tacos and thats what I order here. They offer either beer battered or grilled. Both are delish. The seafood is fresh. My friends and I always order the pineapple margarita. Omg are they awesome and strong. We order on a good day 3. So you know they are great. My best friend usually orders the chicken enchilladas. She loves it and is her favorite entrée. Yesterday after an event, we came to Creek and Cave and ordered pineapple margaritas. We also ordered seafood tacos/​beef taco and a chicken taco salad. The food was great. Omg we were done. Ha. Great place and restaurant. Creek and Cave also has stand up and shows downstairs. So definitely check this place.

Went here for lunch yesterday. I may have found another gem.
The wait staff was quick, the food delicious. And, they have live comedy and other shows in this venue.
I happen to love stand up comedy and can’t wait to stop by again and bring friends.
For lunch, I had the taco salad. All fresh ingredients, even added some guac. The salsa was damned decent, too.
Great $ 11 lunch!

Been meaning to check this place out for quite sometime now. After having these cravings for Mexican food (again), I decided it’d be a good idea to stop by. It wasn’t busy at all during dinner compared to the amount of deliveries they had to make as it was a rainy day.
Staff were really nice, but service was a little too slow when it comes to us wanting to order food, waiting for drinks & dishes. I decided to get pomegranate margarita, but when I finally had the chance to drink, my compliant on slow service disappeared as the margarita was really strong.
For the food, the Chicken Nachos were decent. I would still however prefer getting it at other local bar else where. The Bean & Cheese burrito was delicious and I loved it! However, not until I saw a strain of hair in it. I took it out, brushed it off … Assumed that it was mine. Later to discover after a few more bites that it may have not been as I pulled the second hair strain out. I have to admit, I lose my appetite after and I won’t be eating burritos in general for another while.

Love this little place! The vegan enchiladas are TO. DIE. FOR. I am not a vegan. not even a vegetarian. 100% carnivore, actually. But my coworker swore by these and convinced me to get them, and she was right. Make sure you get them with tofu and zesty salsa verde — YUM.
The staff here is friendly and helpful. Chips and delicious salsa are brought out to the table once you sit down. The enchiladas come with a side of rice and beans, and the only drawback for me is the rice — it seems like it’s some kind of white rice seasoned from a packet as opposed to the authentic yellow rice that you usually see with rice and beans at a Mexican restaurant. It’s good though, doesn’t stop me from eating it :)
Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Free chips & salsa.
And I’m not just talking about at the start of your meal. I’m saying that this is like the free flowing fountain of chips and salsa. Our waitress (who was super friendly) quickly refilled our chips and salsa after we devoured it in a span of 5 minutes.
My SO and I giggled like school children when we got our refill cause we probably knew that they thought we were Fatty McFatties for eating the chips so quickly.
We ordered the breakfast burrito with chorizo, chilaquiles, side of Homefries and the BLT taco. And a coffee that’s supplied by Sweetleaf, the café next door. Plus, they have $ 1 mimosas! How could you go wrong with that?
The meal was super satisfying and well worth it. For all that we ordered, it came out to about $ 32.
The Creek and Cave is a kitschy hodgepodge of restaurant + comedy club + old school pinball arcade + weekend patio drinking. It seems like a great place to waste any day of your weekend on.
I’ll be back to check out the free comedy shows on the weekend nights. Might be the next best thing on my list.

Awesome Mexican food (fantastic shrimp taco -$ 4 and awesome pork taco $ 3). Great cocktails (I went with The Agent, a tequila, grapefruit soda drink, which wasn’t too sweet and perfectly alcoholic.
Friendly and efficient service.
Came for «See You In Hell» night which is apparently every month, this time with guest hosts, and wow was it a great time. Comedians doing standup routines while being interrupted by hilarious third party comedians providing absurd, ridiculous, often crude distractions. It felt like your funniest high school friends giving each other hell in the basement of your craziest friend’s house, or a chill session at the frat house, gone to a side-​splitting level of hysterics.
Looking forward to returning!