Cava Mezze Grill

Very healthy fast food. Wish every McDonalds was replaced with one of these. I always get the build your own salad option. They have all kinds of greens, option to add black lentils, then you choose up to 3 «dips» — I’ve had the hummus, crazy feta, eggplant and tzatziki. Then you pick your proteins. My faves are the falafel And spicy lamb meatballs. They also have a wide variety of fruit and vegetable juices from a drink dispenser. They seem to change these up, but the two I’ve had were quite good.

Hiii
I went to cava yestarday (which I will now also)
there were many people waiting, but the waiting line moves very fast. And 2 people working were very friendly. The girl was beautifull
I will be there often.
Thanks guys for your hard work.

I went saturday at 4pm.
there are always many people. but that means that the food is very good…
I like customer service they have in cava.
Saturday was a young girl with glasses. She had a friendly smile and patiently listening to the customer. I felt comfortable from entering the restaurant. Congratulations.

I feel like these Mediterranean «chipotle-​style» places are a dime a dozen these days, but Cava Mezze Grill is one that just has the recipe down right. You get a choice of a base (grain bowl, salad, grain+greens, etc.), up to 3 dips+spreads, protein, and all the toppings your heart can desire, and the whole meal only comes out to around $ 8 – 11 depending on what you put in.
Cava gets it down RIGHT. All the ingredients taste fresh and amazing. There is no overkill when it comes to the seasoning and flavors, and when you find the right balance, all you need is a bowl (or whatever you prefer) and it’ll hit the spot. Definitely delicious, (seems) healthy, and you get great bang for your buck. Only thing I could do without is the absurd lines that amass at Cava during peak lunch and/​or dinner hours… even on WEEKENDS. SERIOUSLY, WEEKENDS? I guess that’s just a testament to how good it is!
Also, for anyone who is health-​centric like myself, there is also a nutrition calculator online that seriously helps a lot when tracking macros and calories (if you’re into that… like me). It’ll take some getting used to, because there are literally so many choices in toppings, dips/​spreads, and protein that you might get mixed up, but it is oh-​so-​good!

Tonight I was looking for a late dinner and saw this leaving the mall. I must say I was very impressed. I had a brown rice bowl with the grilled meatballs and it was great! The crazy feta had a kick to it which I really liked. All of the ingredients were very fresh. The only downfall was they were out of Diet Coke.

Cava is a good option for lunch/​dinner if you’re shopping at Tyson’s Mall. It’s Greek food so keep that in mind. It’s set up like Chipotle where you go through a line as the staff hand craft your Cava bowl. I recommend the half grain and half green bowl with their beef and harisa! It’s so good!

It’s about time I review this place. I basically come here on my lunch hour everyday. Never fails to satisfy me without making me feel gluttonous. I will say, because Mediterranean food isn’t necessarily mainstream, it can take a couple of visits to order the perfect meal. If you are new to this, please go with a friend. The mini menu pamphlets at the beginning of the line will not help you. It is also a bit tricky to order, since the ingredients are not all labeled.
Customer service is hit or miss. One day they will scoop a mound full of protein in your bowl and the next day argue about making you pay extra.

Cava is a Chipotle– style fast casual place that is amazing! The salad with crazy feta and harissa is the best. Please put a location in Georgetown!

Food was good. A bit overpriced but I guess you can’t put a price on «locally grown food» in this day and age. What earned them 2 stars is the service. Absolutely horrendous. The person making my food didn’t give me time to make a choice and treated me like a second class citizen. The person cashiering was incredibly rude and even called me «bro.» Totally unprofessional, will not be back. Which is a shame since the food is pretty good.

This place is amazing. It’s a great way for you to experience exciting Mediterranean flavors in the quick, comfortable Chipotle-​style setting that most of us are used to. However, the ordering process is pretty intimidating, as nothing is labeled. I’ve gone numerous times now and there’s still a lot of pointing involved. So before stepping in line, I strongly suggest you grab one of their menu pamphlets – that way you can just read off what you want. My rice bowl order varies from time to time, but I always get the same spreads (tzatziki, eggplant&red pepper, harissa), super greens, and mint! No matter what I add in between, Cava never fails to be light, flavorful, refreshing, and filling! Though an entrée is slightly more expensive than Chipotle, it’s still a great deal. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Love Cava Grill but can’t stand the service at this location. The flavor of food and the amount of food vary from day to day. Suggestion: use measuring cups like Sweet Green does. The other day they woman with the blue eyes gave me 4 strands of pickled onions. Seriously? And
God forbid you ask for a few more.
Why isn’t ‘Customer Service’ a thing any more?

Great place! Line is out the door during lunch time, but moves quickly enough.
The customer service is also very great and they have a lot of positive energy overall. I regularly come here although I’m from Maryland. So worth!

This place is always so so so crowded, but even with the line and crazy popularity of this location, the service is still super fast and super friendly.
I dread coming during lunch hours because all of the office professionals have caught on that this place is freaking awesome. The line can go out the door and then wrap around more.
If you don’t mind waiting (esp bc this Cava is in Tysons) then go!!!

Food is fresh and delicious and quickly prepared to your liking. Line goes out the door during peak lunch hour on weekdays. Wish I could build and pay my food through the app and just pickup to avoid the line. Why can’t they do that like one of their competitors? Also it would be great to have more than one register to get people in and out quicker.

Friendly staff, quality food, great price. Have gone back multiple times to pick up dinner from here. I love to mix my protein– chicken and spicy meatballs.

You know when you are overseas surrounded by dirt, sand and you eat meals made by military chefs that think Mac n Cheese, mashed potatoes & grilled chicken is Royal food… you sit there and think about the delicious foods you miss back home and you wish that you can have some of that right now… well the first thing that came to my mind was Cava Mezze.
I was intrigued to try this place based on frequent check-​ins and high praise from a fellow Unilocaler and I am glad that I did… Jeez this place is damn good! My mouth is watering just sitting here writing this review and thinking about this place.
Do you guys deliver overseas to ***? Yeah I’ll take 500 pounds of your Salad and chicken bowls please. The ingredients are so fresh, so sensational, you may just get a food orgasm on the first bite, I know I did.
I’m looking forward to getting back to this place asap… it would be nice if this place was open late night! Fellow Unilocalers — Please don’t send me pictures or messages to rub it in my face that you are able to go to this place and I can’t…thanks!

The food here is the bomb! The service «meh» I try not to expect too much for a «fast food» type of place but it can be especially awful here. The serving sizes change depending on the day you go, some of the staff will fill up your bowl and others barely want to give you a pinch of everything.
Also I almost broke my tooth on a piece of rice that had hardened into the consistency of glass (I don’t know how) and when I asked for the manager the staff was pretty nasty about it, rolling their eyes at me (like I put that piece of rice in there), and talking negatively about me in Spanish (I know a little). A Latina woman with beautiful blue eyes was particularly rude, I took a break from going to this location but now I go back occasionally.

This isn’t a review on the food but the customer service… the food is absolutely amaZing but with no signs it is hard to hear what the employed are saying when your asking what Toppings to put.
I left after ordering a bowl and pits, treated like a child. Early Saturday morning, the place is already loud as can be, I was just pointing at toppings since I Couldn’t hear what is what.
The guy rolled his eyes because I wasnt moving fast enough, I felt stressed because I wanted to try new toppings, but finally gave up and told the second employee, the same 2 toppings for the 2^nd item. She said you need to tell me I can’t remember. It was the fact that she can’t remember but her body language was very unpleasant.
Study the menu people! And Cava, label
Your ingredients and have a more friendlier staff! Thanks!

I finally tried this establishment at the insistence of my work colleagues. To be fair, I have always avoided this place due to the enormous lines at lunch time. But, on my first visit the line moved along at a consistent pace. The offerings reminded me a lot of Roti. Pick a carb, meat, veggies and dressing. I got everything to go since seating is pretty limited.
I ordered white rice, beef meatballs, assorted veggies and topped it all off with a spicy red sauce. The rice was clumped together and the beef meatballs were rather dry. I did try some falafel, but it was dry like the beef meatballs. The spicy red sauce, Harissa was the most memorable. I was overzealous and asked the server to pile it on.
In summary, I might visit again. Um, maybe not. =p

Love their Falafel bowls! Better and healthier than chipotle!

I love Cava but it could be soo much better if they cook their chicken right. it is always undercooked and so chewy. Honestly the workers at this location are so rude. You can see it in their faces how annoyed they are. But the overall concept of it is really good. It just needs some tad bit of improvements.

This isn’t a review on cava grill as a whole but just this location. I’ve been here on multiple occasions and the bowls are consistently subpar. I don’t know if it’s because this location is always busy but I’ve been disappointed every time. The greens are dried out, rice is also dry, and the meat is not as juicy. The merrifield location is just as busy but they’ve managed to keep everything fresh and tasty.

This place is awesome. Even though it usually has a mile long line, being its in busy Tyson’s Corner Mall, it’s definitely worth it. The line moves fast anyways.
The menu is outstanding. They have so many choices and everything single item is always fresh and very flavorful. This is my go to place when I’m looking for something healthy but filling.
I love the falafel bowl. Pick your toppings to go along with it, sit down (if you can find a seat) and enjoy!
¹⁰⁄₁₀ I would absolutely recommend to anyone who is in the mood for good, fast, Mediterranean cuisine.

LOVE cava as a chain. But will no longer be coming to this location. Every time I ask for an extra pita they act like I’m INSANE. They say «that costs extra» and I say «yeah, ok, that’s fine» and then they try to take it away. I basically have to have an argument with them about giving me an extra regular sized pita. On top of that, they don’t know what any of the ingredients are. I’m not a «speak English» type of person, but when in ordering food at your establishment I would assume you know what a «pita» is or «cucumbers» — instead we get blank stares and they look at us like we are crazy. Not worth the hassle. We will drive 10 mins down the road to the Merrifield location from now on.
(Food is still great though)

Fresh, filling, and yummy!
Word of advice in case you’re eating here to be healthy, the harrissa has more calories than the rest of the dips

Ok so let me start off by saying these are some of the nicest people I have ever met in the food service industry. I’ve been going to this cava location since it opened, and although I’ve moved from the area and only return on the the holidays, the manager Sam and assistant manager Juan Carlos still remember me by name and always make a point of asking how I am doing when I come by. I want to be clear, they aren’t pushy at all, these people come of as genuinely kind and as if they actually care about the people who’s food they prepare. If I ever start a retail business, I would make sure both of those two guys are involved, true personable salesmen.
Aside from the service the food is very fresh, and appears to meet all of the organic standards cava is known for. For a price that beets chipotle, and a meal that’s taste as good as it healthy, try this cava location out. Just avoid peak times due to Tysons rush. Only suggestion is open a location up in Miami!

Love cava! Great and healthy lunch option and great if you want a quick light lunch. The portion is perfect for me.

The best way to describe Cava Grill’s style is «Mediterannean Chipotle»…minus the E. coli.
This food is so fresh and flavorful. I’m not a huge lamb fan, but I have to get the lamb meatballs EVERY SINGLE TIME. As far as food quality goes, it’s always a 5 out of 5 no matter which location I go to.
This particular location has a guaranteed line wrapped around the store M-​F during lunch. Literally as soon as they open, I’m greeted by a group of people posted up like they’re giving away free 50″ TVs.
The one downside to this location is their online ordering feature. I work across the street with fellow greedy gremlins, so we put orders in all the time. The last two orders I’ve picked up, weren’t ready at the time I selected. I’m a patient lady, so I’m not talking about 5 – 10 minutes. I’ve gone in before and had to re-​order for FIFTEEN people bc they «never» received the order that I received confirmation for. *PRO-​TIP: Just call ahead to make sure they’ve started your online order, then you’re good.

This is one of my favorite places to eat. It gets pretty crowded during lunch hours so be sure to go a bit early. It’s the same concept as Chipotle. You order and they make it right there for you, pay and sit down to eat or take it to go.
I enjoy getting the super greens and then I ask for some grains. You can get either brown rice, white rice or lentil. I really like the lentil or the brown rice option. Then you get to choose your protein and 3 different hummus options. If you want more, then you pay extra. I’ve tried the chicken, braised beef, and their falafel and they are all excellent. Then you choose what side toppings: cucumbers, radish, cabbage, tomatoes, quinoa, feta, etc. Then you can choose a dressing — there are many options.
There are tables to sit at in the inside and outside. It does get pretty crowded but I’ve been able to find seating pretty easily. If you can’t find a place to sit, you can always sit inside the mall towards the entrance of the restaurant.
Be sure to get their phone app. It’s their frequency card. The more you eat there, the more rewards you get.

Dont be intimidated by the line that tends to wrap around the storefront at the mall! I typically wait until 1pm to go, just to let the typical luncher’s see themselves out and it’s nice that it’s across from a parking garage which makes getting in and out much easier.
My typical bowl consists of lamb meatballs, supergreen salad, brown rice and the sauces are yummy!
It’s a guilt free lunch but with so much flavor and freshness!

I will be going to the Merrifield location instead.
Online order, optional toppings clearly listed in writing. Pick up and checked the receipt that it was mine.
Order is missing all toppings, or they were so minuscule that I didn’t realize they were there. Coupled with other location-​based issues, mainly being inside Tysons mall, I will be driving the extra several miles to Merrifield instead: easy parking and got my order correct every time.

I stopped here on a whim expecting the Cava Mezze tapas restaurant that they in Baltimore (amongst other places). I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a different concept and something most easily described as a Mediterranean style chipotle — but better.
I got the pita with the lamb meatballs (+$ 1.50) as my protein, which I would highly recommend, and a bunch of toppings including babaghanoush, cucumber salad, pico de gallo, pickled red onion, olives (good ones) and crispy pita pieces. There are a bunch of sauces too, but I went conservative and choose the dill yogurt sauce.
I will say that the pita, depending on how many toppings you get, can be very difficult to eat without a knife/​fork. It didn’t matter though, the food was honestly so good that I was just eager to eat it. I also sampled some of my wife’s grain bowl, which was very good too.
Furthermore, the staff was well versed in getting customers down the ingredient assembly line quickly — even on a busy Saturday. Prices are also very reasonable given the freshness of ingredients and the quality of the proteins available (again, the lamb meatballs were great). One other bonus is the selection of juices and teas available as all-​you-​can-​drink options including the excellent blackberry sage juice, as well as the cucumber juice.
I’ll be back.

Food is fresh and quickly prepared to your liking. Line goes out the door during peak lunch hour on weekdays. Wish I could build and pay my food through the app and just pickup to avoid the line. Why can’t they do that like one of their competitors? Also it would be great to have more than one register to get people in and out quicker.

This was one of the BEST Mediterranean meals I’ve ever had. The food was so fresh and flavorful. There were so many options which all looked delicious. Since I’m staying at a nearby hotel, I will definitely be trying more on their menu.

Great concept to introduce Mediterranean food to the masses. And yes, the line gets as long as Chipotle’s. Stick it out, even if it seems daunting. It usually moves fast.
Plus, the food is that good. My fave is a brown rice bowl with crazy feta, eggplant, and harissa or tzatziki, then braised lamb, topped off with ALL the veggies and maybe a dressing if I’m in the mood.
I agree that the signs do not help newcomers, but most of the staff is happy to play my game of «I point at something and you tell me what it is.»
They also have an assortment of iced teas in interesting combos. Blueberry mango jalapeño anyone?

I was scared of Cava for the longest time because I’m still not quite accustomed to Mediterranean flavors but it is now one of my FAVORITE places to go, especially when I know I need to inject some fresh veggies into my diet.
I would recommend looking up their menu online before you head over if you’re a first-​timer, if only because it’s a VERY popular spot, especially during lunch, and this can help quell anxiety about ordering because they don’t have the options written out. It’s called «Chipotle for Mediterranean-​style food» and I guess that’s accurate in that it’s a fast-​casual joint and you can point to what you want in your bowl as you walk along the line. Some of the options can look similar or just not quite identifiable at first glance (meatballs? lamb meatballs? which ones cost extra???) so I’d recommend checking out a menu online or one of their paper ones just so you get a feel for what’s what without dealing with impatient people behind you.
Here’s how you build your order:
+ Base: greens, grains, greens + grains, pita
+ Dips: up to 3 including 2 types of hummus, tzatziki, and a nice, spicy harissa
+ Protein: meatballs, braised meats, and falafel are available, although some are at an extra charge
+ Toppings: all kinds of fresh veggies, quinoa, feta, pita chips, fresh mint and lemon wedge, etc.
+ Dressing: to go over allllll of that
The water inhouse is infused with lemon and mint and you get a LOT of food in your bowl by the time you’re filling your cup with water.
My only issues are:
— It gets REALLY crowded during lunch, so you have to REALLY want it then or come early/​late to avoid that rush
— The bowl can be a tad on the pricey side and
— It’s not mixed. For a bowl with dips AND dressings, trying not to make a mess of stirring a heaping bowl of goodness can be challenging.
But I’ll be there next week, most likely. See you there?

I go here all the time for lunch (i drive 20 minutes to get here during work).
Every time I get there the line is out the door, LIKE out of the MALL entrance!
The good thing about it is that their production chain is unbelievably fast. If the line is through the restaurant, out in the mall and OUT the mall entrance, I wont wait longer than an 15 minutes.
Their food is always fresh and they don’t skimp at all.
Love this location!

Middle Eastern Chipotle!
Was I WOWed? No.
Would I go back? Probably.
The staff seemed a little annoyed that I questioned what their line included. The food was good and fresh however, I would probably enjoy it more if the seasoning/​sauces were on the side. There was just soooo much going on in the bowl that I couldn’t really enjoy it much.
Their kale drink was pretty good but a little too sweet in my opinion.
The dinning room is set up very nice and the outside seating seemed comfortable.

Cava grill is insanely delicious. People always compare it to Chipotle and they couldn’t be more right. You get a bowl or pita or some other rice options, 3 sauces, your protein, and toppings and a sauce.
I got a spinach bowl, with falafel (made in house everyday and soo good, worth a try even if your a carnivore) tomato, cucumber salsa, olives, crazy feta (!!), eggplant, red pepper hummus, and a side of spicy Sriracha mayo sauce.
Everything was so fresh. The options were delicious. I love how you can choose 3 sauces. The falafel is to die for. The pita was warm and soft. They even have fresh free refill juices !! I had the green juice which was kale, apple, lemon, cucumber and something else. There was also blueberry rosemary. Apparently it’s a seasonal thing but both were amazing.
I would have cava for dinner every night if I could. It definitely makes healthy eating g convenient. Must try.