I love cava, and I didn't use to have issues with this one, but recently it's become unacceptable. The food tastes great, but the portions have become so unbearably small. I paid $12 for my food and it was barely half full. This is very upsetting because I feel they are being stingy and I'm getting scammed. Not sure if all cavas are like this but this one is particularly stingy. Like come on! $12 for a half full bowl is unacceptable. The space is nice and clean and the workers are neutral. Please fix this because I love the food but not the scam! read more

The staff are super friendly and professional and the place is well run. After having a nice conversation with Chris, he decided to give me a free meal and large drink. read more

personally don't exactly like all of the options they provide at cava, and the service has been sub par every time i've gone read more

Wow. I'm not sure what happened with this place but it has gone downhill fast. Seems like management has no control over this store. The rice in my bowl was hard and crunchy. The chicken was very bland like they forgot to put seasoning and the tomatoes were mushy and sour. Also the lobby was super dirty and no tables were clean. Won't be back here again read more

This is the second time i've been to this CAVA location and each time the customer service is terrible. I'm met with indifference, low energy, and unhelpful staff. Particularly the young man working in the front. I will not be returning to this location in the future. They should consider retraining and/or replacing this staff as they are more than likely driving tons of customers away. read more

A great place to go for a quick and filling lunch or dinner! This CAVA is conveniently located in Bethesda Row near Georgetown Cupcake and William Sonoma. There is some street parking right out front and parking garages nearby. The style of this place is comparable to a Chipotle. You can pick from a few starter options such as a grain bowl, salad bowl, or pita. Then, you pick your protein, dips, and toppings. This Grains + Greens bowl definitely fills me up. The food is good - the hummus is amazing! For drinks they have several handcrafted sodas and teas/ juices that are made fresh daily. There is a constant flow of people coming into the restaurant, but they move through the line very quickly. I would make sure you have an idea of what to order before you get in line, as they do not take much time to explain to you your options. They have small menus you can grab when you first walk in and you can take menu with you through the line. Overall, a great spot for a quick, healthy bite to eat when you're in Bethesda. read more

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Can I just say thank goodness for Level Up! My friend and I had just finished a 6 mile run, were starving and found ourselves in this fabulous place. Neither one of us had cash or cc's but we were easily able to pull out our phones and used the Level Up app to pay for our meals. I like how you can choose your base, protein and other toppings. Staff was very friendly and offered great advice as to what items go well together. Food was delicious and their handcraft sodas are very tasty! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I've was so pleasantly surprised by staff member Kimberly, she made sure I got exactly what I wanted in a polite and friendly manner. This is very important to me as me and some of my family have allergies and she went above and beyond to accommodate all of us. Kimberly gave us all outstanding service, CAVA is lucky to have her on their team. read more

Great food and great service. Manuel carrying the restaurant on his back for real! Great people!

Arrived at 9:15 pm and looked like they were closing in 5 minutes. The guy who prepared my salad didn't utter a word in response to my requests. Really surprised at the poor service and disarray. Will not eat at the Bethesda Ave location ever again! read more

I really like CAVA's food. But this locations customer service was horrible. They rushed us super quickly to the point where we didn't get a chance to pick our toppings. They just close our bowls quickly. There wasn't a line behind us. The attitude wasn't great either. This was the team that worked last night 10/11/22. Thank you very much. read more

Obsessed with Cava!!! Healthy, delicious meal for a reasonable price. My favorite go-to after a hard workout.

I always thought all CAVA are the same and they usually are I'd say. They all seem to have good quality ingredient, friendly staff, and quick. This CAVA also the same. The location is good though not great if you're driving and need to park. The street parking may be full. I got the usual bowl mix but the weird thing about this CAVA is that the topping station is kind of narrow and some of the items seemed to have been hidden. But if you ask them, if they have it. I also felt like I forgot to add something that I usually get because of this configuration. But either way, the food was still good with same quality as other CAVA. I'd just say be mindful of what you usually get because it might not be displayed. read more

Great newly renovated location. Food is amazing as always and the staff are very friendly

Food was amazing and restaurant was nice and a clean environment. Service was efficient. Definitely would recommend.

I stopped by this location since we were doing some shopping in downtown Bethesda. There is street parking if you are lucky to find a spot or garage parking across the street. Parking is not free during the weekdays since there are metered parking spots. This particular location is smaller with less seating options. The very first thing I noticed here is that they are not generous with portions. I barely had any rice in my bowl and the toppings were just lightly added on. This was very disappointing to me considering that other locations will pile on the toppings for you. The toppings, bases, and proteins were all fresh and fully stocked. Even as I began to order fresh rice was being added to the rice bin. However, I still did not get a lot of rice for my base as mentioned earlier. Here is an example of what I ordered: Base: white rice Dips: tzatziki and feta Protein: 1/2 lamb meatballs and 1/2 vegetables (if you get all meatballs you will get a total of 4) Toppings: cucumber & tomatoes, cabbage slaw The restaurant itself was generally clean except that the trash up front was piling up. I also observed behind the counter that the staff were quick to clean up spills when they were scooping out dips. read more

CAVA - Main entrance - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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4.5 stars. Greek Chipotle.. - So easy to order and so satisfying to look at your choice and so happy to leave Cava Grill. 1. Choose meat or falafel (comes with 3 falafels. not crispy but tasty falsely) 2. Topping: Just choose everything. Don't need to think. All is tasty and good. Don't be picky. You will love it. 3. Eat. - Lentil soup was good to add on. Especially when it's cold outside. Ask to add some feta cheese on top. It will take it up a notch. - Unless you HAVE TO eat pita, Go for bowl. You get A LOT more toppings and everything. For pita, u get spread of toppings but for the bowl, you get scoop of toppings. - No dessert but you can just grab a cupcake from GT cupcake right next door if needed. PS: Why bother looking for HH places? Just come to Cava grill and grab a beer or wine and bowl/pita filled with greek flavor sensation. read more

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Cava = Greek Chipotle But eco-friendly. And yummier. Their version of guacamole (meaning something you have to pay more for but will not regret) is the lamb. Get the lamb. Vegetarians, you know how I feel about your culture (what do you mean he no eat no meat!?). Give it up for one meal and get the lamb. For under 10 dollars you can have a truly delicious meal. While I like the whole sustainable vibe they have going, I have to keep this at 4 stars. The seating in this place is a little awkward. You'll almost always have to be eat next to a stranger. I wish a little more thought was put into the ambiance/layout. read more

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Cava is right across from my new office so I decided to meet a friend there a give it a try. We only had an hour to catch up and meeting at noon on a weekday was a HUGE mistake. The line was literally out the door. The food was good. You can get a salad, rice, or pita. Not knowing what I was doing, I ordered the pita with all the fixings and it was good (though the pita didn't hold it all so it was super messy to eat). Overall good experience, but two things to note: 1) If it's your first time, it can be an intimidating experience. There weren't any menus or explanation of ordering and the line goes fast not making it friendly to new comers. 2) There aren't many private tables for two and the noise level is not friendly to a private conversation. If you want to catch up with a friend, go to Shophouse next door. read more

You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Ford Motor food assembly line restaurant in Bethesda Row (Cava, Sweetgreens, Chop't, Shophouse, some new Italian place and I'm sure others). They have all latched on to the Chipolte formula of fresh food prepared to order in a bowl. I love it. Cava is the best of them, though. Similar to other franchise locations, you have a selection of greens and grains, several meat choices and plenty of veggies and dressings to choose from. I really like the unique selection at Cava, though, and that they don't limit you on the toppings. You can put as many things on as you want and you can also split your meat into a couple different options if you want to try new things. What I don't like is that nothing is labeled other than the greens. So you really need to pick up one of the small printed menus to know what your options are. They will help if you ask, but being an assembly line you are of course slowing up the people behind you if you ask too many questions! Great food, full bowls, lots of beverage options, and they have beer. Always a winner. read more

This is pretty much a Greek/Mediterranean version of Chipotle, but better! I've been to both the restaurant version and this version and love them both!! It's always the freshest of food, fairly healthy, and mouth-watering food-gasms! I usually just get the falafel bowl and load it up with the harissa, feta, pickled onions, and tzaziki. Something about falafels in a bowl with all these toppings are just SOOOO good! It is fairly cheap and they give you a pretty big sized portion. I absolutely LOVE LOVE this place. Lines are not too long at all. And The staff is usually pretty friendly and helpful and generous with portions. The decor is a modern, industrial, nice feel to it. Anytime I'm near a Cava Mezze, I usually stop by, even if I'm full; I can easily take it to go and eat it for later, aumnomnom. I cans tress how so so soo good this place is. I had some today even. Guilty as charged! read more

CAVA - Falafel bowl....heaven in a bowl! - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

walked into this place was greeted by a friendly "hola!" several times and I was immediately confused. It sounds like a Chipotle, looks like a Chipotle, but doesn't smell like a Chipotle. I hold cava mezze on capital hill in great esteem so this place had a lot to live up to. This was a whole new approach. You walk in and hey have their introductory menu of what to pick first (pita vs. bowl), then a sauce, and what your filling options where. I have to admit when I approached the counter I was still trying to figure out what the prices were and what went with what. I ordered a pita with some tzatziki sauce and a little bit of spicy harissa. Then when it came to the fillings I was a little overwhelmed and asked "what can I have, like one type of meat?". The guy responded with "you can have anything you want (wink, wink)." I requested chicken, and then he started churning this container filled with sausages, and asked if I wanted that too. More confused now, cause I don't think we were talking about the menu anymore. The lamb and other meat looked a little dried out, so I stuck with chicken. I loaded up with cabbage, tomato and cucumber. It looked like a mountain of toppings on top of a tiny pita. It was wrapped up and it came out to $9.92 for an honest tea and pita. Unlike Chipotle, the pita was not wrapped too well and leaked all over my gym bag. The chicken itself was ok, the harissa sauce was what really made the pita palatable. Now a word of caution, although on the surface level it seems like this is a super healthy option, but I would urge you to build your pita/bowl/salad online (http://cavagrill.com/m...). A pita alone with tzatziki and harrissa is 16.5 grams of fat. The bowl is not that far below that (14.5 grams), but less calories. All in all, a good place to go to get a quick bit to eat. I still long for the variety and flavors of their sit down restaurant menu. read more

***Chipotle is the Mexican Cava*** As the other reviews have suggested, if you replaced the "CAVA" sign out front with one that said "Chipotle," and switch a few of the foods like pitas for tortillas, you would never doubt you were in a Chipotle. That being said, this will run you a few more bucks than Chipotle, but it is definitely worth it in terms of what you are getting. The highlight of the show is the burrito bowl, or whatever they call it here. They are basically the same in concept, of course with a Greek twist. Here are the components: 1) Rice -- Big portion of warm rice on the bottom of the bowl. 2) Meat -- Your choice of a variety of meats, the cheapest of which make the bowl cost $8. I really enjoy the chicken. 3) Spreads -- 6 spread options. I think the feta added a lot of flavor to the bowl. If you mix the bowl, these add to its body. 4) Toppings -- Around 15 different topping options, with everything from the standards like lettuce and onions to more Greek style options such as feta and olives. These are complimentary and generally make the bowl healthier, so don't feel bad about going overboard. While I don't doubt with the spreads and cheese Cava isn't as healthy as we might hope to believe, it's probably a step up from Chipotle or most other made to order fast-food joints. And since it certainly doesn't compromise on taste, so that's a win in my book. I have also stopped by to get chips and a pita. The chips were hard and crunchy and while probably being overall healthier and containing a day's less sodium than their counterparts at Chipotle, I did not love them. Ordering a pita was a bit of a debacle...it was listed as a side on the menu for $1, but the staff had a hard time understanding that I just wanted the warm pita and nothing else. I don't blame them since I doubt very many have done this before, but it would be nice if they were more familiar with their menu, considering it's so simple. I haven't had an entree on a pita instead of a bowl, although from looking at the orders of others, I would surmise that you get substantially more food with the bowl. Unless you aren't very hungry, it's worth the extra buck or two to get the bowl. Otherwise, the restaurant was very clean and had a nice wooden Chipotle vibe. If you are looking for more info on its vibe, please visit the Yelp page of your favorite Chipotle. Overall: Solid 4-4.5 stars. Highly recommended for a quick lunch if you're in Bethesda. read more

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I've never heard of this place. But, think of Chipotle (many of you have had the chain Chipotle right?!) with a Mediterranean twist. When its busy, you may feel rushed and overwhelmed because thats how I felt. Jump right in and just do it like Nike! Several different varieties of greens you can choose from, two different grains, several different hummus and sauces, several different other veggie mixes, and multiple meats to choose from. Whew, I got through it and enjoyed what was created. I can't complain that it was busy, its probably busy Because the place is Awesome! I thought I was a genius! Everyone and their mothers commented that this place is like a mediterranean chipotle. My bad for thinking I'm smarter than y'all, clearly I'm just arrogant. -____-' Anyways...Definitely coming back. What I had: *greens+grains bowl - Saw the variety of greens, told the dude to give me a little of everything. Grains, brown rice. *Spicy hummus (I think thats what it was, there were 6 or 8 choices, I went with the one that looked spicy) * double chicken for meat * several different diced veggie toppings to choose from... I chose diced tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. *pickled onion *olives *Quinoa *pita on the side *Stella Artois to drink ~$9 for the bowl + ~$2 for extra meat + ~$5 for the Stella +tax ~$18 read more

CAVA - Awesome. Coming back. greens+grains, spicy sauce (no idea), diced tomato, onion, cucumber, pickled onion, olives, double chicken, pita. - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

want to get full and not pay too much? want a non meat alternative but yet still be fulfilled like you've eaten meat? Want an even healthier substitute to chipotle? Then cava mezze grill is the place to be. First, upon entry, they greeted us with a polite smile and the ambient noise level of the place is much lower than that of chipotle! I can actually talk to the server and hear myself order! I ordered the falafel pita with humus, eggplant/red pepper spreads, topped salsa, 2 orders of the cucumber mix and feta cheese. Taking a large bite while closing my eyes, I tasted all of Greece and the culinary tastes it has to offer! The coldness of the cucumbers complimented the warmth of the chickpea ball! what followed next was the smooth texture of the feta cheese and the spicy kick of the red pepper spread! The pita was warmed to perfection and super soft. The chickpeas was so solid and crunchy that I could have easily mistaken it for meat!!! We sat outside in front of Tara Thai bc the seating in front of CAva was full; they didn't seem to mind it and the tables and seats were great, clean and comfortable! Bethesda is such a great people watching area!!! After inhaling the falafel in a few bites, it was washed down by a bottle of Nantucket orange mango. Since I still have room left in my stomach, I squeezed in some pita chips with humus! I was full and yet I didn't feel sick! SUCCESS! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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The service here is lacking compared to the newer Cabin John Mall store --thus the 3 stars versus 4. People working here just act like they are doing their job, nothing more. No smile or real engagement. I appreciate that the man who served me took off his gloves after operating the cash register. I did a triple-take when I could not help but notice the not 1, not 2 but 3 rat/mouse traps, on top of each other, right at the entrance to the place. So unappetizing. read more

The Cava people delivered yet another awesome restaurant. This time, a more affordable fast food variation compared to the previous two successful Greek tapas restaurants. Cava Mezze Grill had a trendy cafeteria setting, we walked up to assemble our orders: Carb: Pita, mini pita and rice Or you could go with the salad. Proteins: Chicken (very delicious), beef, lamb or falafel Sauces/Condiments: Hummus, eggplant and pepper, tzatziki, crazy feta and Cava's signaure harissa - It tasted exactly the same as at the restaurants. A wonderfully delicious paste though not the authentic moroccan style, it was made with tomato puree, olive oil, crushed red peppers and salt. I love their slightly sweet and spicy harissa. You could have all of the condiments if you want but I just wanted hummus, eggplant and pepper and the harissa. Vegetable Toppings: Cabbage salad, tomato and cucumber salad, tomato and onions, diced cucumber and lettuce. The salads were light and refreshing, the perfect toppings for my bowl with rice, chicken and the condiments. The bowl cost below $10 with a drink, it tasted Mediterranean-healthy but delicious at the same time. Now I wish they will pop up at every corner so it's easily accessible! read more

A copycat of Chipotle but with a Greek twist. I feel like if something is cheap & filling it will get a high rating especially when you can choose the toppings , the food here tastes like rubber the sit down restaurant is by far better! I never understood why people liked Mongolian BBQ that place is over-rated just like this.. If one more person says it's the best or great falafel go to the Middle East because they are not serving falafel I assure you!!! It's a chickpea patty with breadcrumbs. Really falafel=parsley, chickpeas, and spices no bread crumbs at all, and hummus & falafel is not Greek they should stick to their own cuisine! Anyhow if you want to eat a boat load of crappy food at a low price ENJOY I would take chipotle over this place on any given day or Lebanese Taverna Cafe because at least it's somewhat authentic and tasty read more

I am a big fan of Cava. It's a Greek style Chipotle. Must try dips here include the harissa (caution: its very spicy), hummus, tzatziki, and crazy feta. The grilled chicken is my favorite meat topping. All this on top of a half salad- half rice bowl with pita on the side and its heaven! The recently made the portions a bit bigger which is awesome and has me coming here more often. Parking can be a bitch (welcome to Bethesda) so if you are coming here around dinner time you will probably spend more time looking for a spot than it takes to get your food. read more

Like Tiffany, I also call Cava the Greek version of Chipotle. I love Chipotle, but it's nice to have a bit of variety of Chipotle style places. Cava has a lot of choices but it's not too overwhelming. My favorites are the red pepper hummus and tzatziki. There are options for pita, a rice bowl, or a salad bowl just like Chipotle. I've gotten the rice bowl so far and been very happy with that choice. The chicken has also been great. Everything is fresh and delicious. So many great vegetables! Can't go wrong here. read more

Chipot... Wha? Same concept as you would find at chipotle, but the food is FRESH and full of flavor! Recommended to me by a fellow yelper (Val) and I must say, it was a great choice! We enjoyed the chicken and the braised lamb (super yummy!) read more

CAVA - Chicken Bowl with all the goodies! :) - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I love Cava. I've tried all their proteins with my super greens and am a huge fan of their spicy feta and hummus. I've been way too many times to count and I'll be back for more. read more

The ordering process is basically like Chipotle but with Mediterranean food. Overall, they give you a bunch of variety of things to add into your bowl. They let you choose three sauces/hummus, I got the regular and red hummus and tzatziki. For protein, I got chicken and lamb meatballs. The chicken was cut into tiny pieces, the lamb was a bit overcooked and dry and burnt. The rest of it were the usual Mediterranean veggies: pickled cabbage, tomato, cucumber, etc. overall it was pretty good for a quick meal! I would try it again. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I am a big fan of the Cava restaurants so when I found out they had a chipotle fast-food style restaurant in Bethesda I had to go. My expectations were high walking in; afterwards I can safely say that I am adding Cava Grill to my lunch rotation. I would say that they are very similar to Amsterdam Falafel in DC, however, they lack in the variety of toppings. Otherwise, food was very on point and if you are looking for a quick Mediterranean fix than this is the place. Only reason I would not give them five stars is that they seem to be understaffed and some of the tables were a bit dirty. Atmosphere - B+ Service - A- Food - B+ read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This place reminds me of Chipotle. You choose your meal base (pita, rice, or salad bowl) and create your own concoction with all varieties of meats, condiments/dip, and garnishes to top it all off. Very noble concept. Like Chipotle, everything's made fresh. One thing that I give major props to is their falafels. BEST. EVER. I don't know how they keep it moist and flavorful, but it's just awesome. It's not just pureed chickpeas that leaves a monotone texture in your mouth, but they leave a few whole chickpea kernels in each falafel. Please expand the location to the West! :) read more

Really good. With so many dining options it can be tough to choose. Excellent choice. I got the power greens and brown rice base, two types of humus and something dark red(spicy). Chicken for the protein and a whole bunch of toppings. Topped it of with a chipotle yogurt sauce. It is as amazing. Just like chipotle and poki bowl places. All that with a drink for 12.00. Not bad at all. read more

The first time I saw Cava, I was excited there was a Mediterranean version of Chipotle and was hopeful it would hit the nail on the head. Although they have Mediterranean-ish options (feta, mint, harissa, what they call "falafel" and a couple of lamb options) it still doesn't come across as Mediterranean, but that's ok because it still tastes pretty good! It's the same concept as Chipotle - you pick your base, proteins and toppings. However, Cava may have a few more options for you to choose from, including an assortment of dips and dressings. Also worthy of mentioning is their assortment of salad greens to choose from, which means you won't be stuck with romaine lettuce as your only option. It's a great concept, it's highly customizable and for the most part it tastes pretty good, but it's just shy of being great in terms of taste. But then again, taste is a matter of preference so you may just love it. Other than that, I really like what Cava is doing with fresh and quick food options, not to mention their assortment of delicious fountain juices. Definitely give it a try and decide for yourself! read more

CAVA - Super greens salad base with grilled chicken and a collection of toppings. - Mediterranean Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Really dig this place! For starters, the eco-friendly vibe is appealing to me; their cups, plates, etc. are bio-based and fully biodegradable. The bathrooms are eco/modern and the overall decor is earthy and inviting, which I like. The dining area isn't huge so I could see this place getting really packed.. BUT, that's to be expected in any place in downtown Bethesda during dinnertime. Good luck finding a place that's not packed, and if it isn't... I probably don't want to be eating there. So, about the food.....Gave the salad a try with all the toppings + seasoned, grilled chicken. Loved it! Everything tasted fresh and the service was awesome. I actually spoke with the manager (who was really sweet) and told her how much I enjoyed my food. Cave Mezze is simple and I like that. Sometimes it's overwhelming when there are too many menu options. Great beverage choices; I liked their assortment of teas as well. Will definitely be back. read more

Cava is my go to lunch/ dinner place. If I cant figure out what to eat, I will end up at Cava some how. This location is similar to other cava locations, so I really dont have much to add. Except that they refused to let me have my mini pita with the salad bowl I ordered - so mean to my starch-loving, carb-hogging self.. lol!! I would have given them the 4 stars, but now i have to take one off. Also, I did feel like in comparison to other locations their crazy feta dip was a bit too salty for me. Dont get me wrong - Is till polished off my entire bowl, but I could taste the over-saltiness Oh and my sister really liked her falafel pita, so that is a thumbs up! This location is pretty conveneint, so I would not mind coming here again - but they better lemme have my pita next time! O.o read more

Chipotle style with a mediterranean twist .Portions just right although they can be moe generous and I wouldn't mind at all. Would go back to try the other base and proteins next time. I paid $9++ for a bowl of greens with chix and beef meatballs. read more