Chipotle meets Mediterranean, Cava is an assembly line of pastas and pitas and salads where you pick your base, pick your protein and then pick your toppings as you move down the line of preparation. It's all very fresh and it's quite tasty. I enjoyed mine thoroughly. Nice clean restaurant with high ceilings, lots of glass to see what's going on with the food, and light wood tones that give off a feeling of "fresh" and "clean." The queue can get a little long during the rush hour, but once the rush is over, it's very quick. read more

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I've only been to Cava once, but I love it so much already! It reminds me of a Mediterranean Chipotle, where you can personalize your meal with a variety of toppings. I went for the Grain Bowl with saffron basmati rice and grilled meatballs. It was so good, but I wish they gave more meatballs because I think I only got four. I absolutely love how they have compost bin and compostable utensils too. Such a great way to help our environment! I wish there was another location closer to me because I would definitely go there at least once a week, but I will definitely return whenever I'm in the Columbia area. read more

I only go here because my daughter loves Cava and doesn't have one at school. But after last night's (11/26) experience I don't think I'll be visiting again. We arrived at 815pm and they do not close at 10:30pm. They were already cleaning the stations as if they were closing. As we were ordering the young lady behind the toppings was quite impatient and rolled her eyes as if we were taking to long choosing our toppings. Then as we were sitting trying to eat another employee comes along spraying disinfectant on the tables and chairs on both sides of us. The community table had people sitting at both ends and she went over and started cleaning in between them. Both families looked at her and she just continued to clean. When people are eating in your establishment let them enjoy their meal instead of coming up on them to clean because you want to go home for the day. Other patrons were coming in asking if they were still open because two hours prior to closing they were shutting things down! read more

This was my first time at Cava and it was amazing! I love that they provide little menus at the front because I'm blind and cannot see the itty bitty letters on the boards when ordering. I love that the options are unlimited which means unlimited pairings! I got the greens and grains bowl with arugula and romaine and saffron basmati rice, chicken and roasted seasonal veggies, eggplant and red pepper hummus, as well as cucumber and tomatoes, pickled onions, cauliflower quinoa tabbouleh, and pita crisps. Finally, I topped it with lemon herb tahini dressing. Everything was so fresh which I appreciated. I also tried the watermelon mint drink and I am in love. I literally want a whole gallon for my house, it's that good! read more

CAVA - Greens and grains bowl with watermelon mint drink - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I went here with a friend and was able to get my meal pretty quickly and it was delicious. I went on a Tuesday night so there wasn't a lot of traffic there and I didn't have to wait too long in line. It's very similar to chipotle which I'm used to on the West Coast. The food was very delicious and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. My friend accidentally spilled her drink and someone quickly came over and cleaned it up. And the staff didn't yell at us when we apologized for the mess. Overall, I recommend this place and would come again. read more

Delicious Greek chicken wrap. I was pleasantly surprised by how much flavor it had and the speed at which I was served. Great location and tons of options. The service was great, and there is a nice healthy vibe here. read more

Love Cava! I've been sleeping on this joint but I'm glad I finally got to come here. You customize your order as you walk through the line of buffet fixings. You pay at the end of the line, fill your cup with a drink of your liking at the fountain and select your seat. ORDER: Base - Bowl with Basmati Rice Spread - Tzatkiki Protein- Grilled Meatballs Toppings- Diced cucumbers, Pita Crisps Dressings - Greek Vinaigrette, Yogurt Dill I enjoyed my bowl and asked for extra cucumbers and Tzatkiki sauce. The bowl was pretty heavy so it was full of goodness. Service was good. A customer behind me wanted a "different" meatball so they tossed it in the garbage and gave her another one (clearly they will accommodate picky eaters). Overall the service is good and the food did not disappoint. If you're a newbie, you can glance at the menu before you go to the front of line. There is also a take out spot for food on the go. read more

Great Food! Anyone can eat here due to the options. My significant other is a vegan and so we both were satisfied.

Delicious, fresh, and healthy Mediterranean bowls and other dishes! Don't let the long line deter you from Cava! It generally goes fast and you can also order online to have it ready. There are many ways to mix and match what you like and you're going to want to try all the many different sauces and toppings they offer. My friends also liked it and it's a great place for anyone who is a vegetarian. It works well if you're trying to find a place for your vegetarian friend in your group. You order what you want, starting with a base and choosing a protein/veggie and adding toppings to your liking. The dining area is a large room. It can get loud and crowded but it has a good vibe. I usually get a small cup for water, which they offer. read more

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Love Cava. If you haven't tried their crazy feta, you need to! This time unfortunately my falafel was pretty dry but everything else was fresh. read more

Cava is a great spot to grab some healthy meals. I got a grain bowl with chicken and spicy lamb meatballs--it was all delicious. I'd highly recommend a side of the house made pita chips and tzatziki as they are really good. The only downside is the price; I spent $18 for curbside pickup and it was a small portion. For that price I would have expected more food! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

very nice staff ‼ great drinks and solid quick food, would come again for sure, infact I will be read more

fresh food and the costumer service is the best. fresh food always I highly recommend to visit this place read more

This place was delicious! The staff was very nice and patient. It was my first time there so it took me a few minutes to choose my items to build. The lines were long but moveeee quickly so don't be alarmed. I got brown rice with lots of spicy toppings. It was sooo good. And filling! Everything tastes fresh - I got the lamb meatballs, which had great flavor. They were cooked just right and went well with the rest of the bowl. I'd definitely go back there- great place for lunch and dinner. read more

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This is in a strip mall and has two entrances. What's notable about this particular location is that the dining area is huge. The staff were friendly and efficient and gave appropriately sized portions to the toppings, smiled, made eye contact, and did not rush me in the ordering process, which happens in many other Cava locations. It's like herding cattle. Here, you get a more personalized feel as though they are genuinely interested in enhancing your dining experience. Download and use the LevelUp app for payment and accumulate rewards for eating here! read more

I love Cava, their bowls are delicious and the ingredients are usually fresh. I personally prefer Mezeh but this location is in Columbia and easy to get to, near shopping areas and is convenient. However... the staff at this particular location are the most unfriendly and honestly bizarre group I've ever seen. The customer service at this location is at the level of your typical McDonald's. I go here often and each time it's no better than the last. When I went to order the last time I was there, this past weekend, the woman who puts the greens/grains in your bowl and starts your order just stared at me blankly when I walked up and said "Hi there". It's very bizarre. No matter how polite I am and how many pleases and thank-you's are dolled out you never get anything above basically a grunt. They also can rush you, but that's usually when they're very busy. They used to give you a free pita with your bowl, or at least offer one. This time I didn't even get asked. I don't know. I definitely don't go there for the experience, but the management needs to train their staff on how to greet people. It can feel very awkward when trying to communicate with someone making your food. They also have a lot of side conversations (in Spanish) and you have to wait for them to finish their conversation, which I can partially understand, before they serve you. read more

CAVA is one of my guilty pleasures. I can honestly eat this every day and not get tired of it. I prefer to get the greens and grains bowl with 1/2 chicken and 1/2 falafel. After that, I load on the veggies and build up my mountain of yummm! I prefer a little of the tahini and yogurt dill dressings. The portion is pretty big, and I could split it up into 2 meals (though the second is a bit more soggy). I recommend: pickled onions, pickled banana peppers (if you like them), and the tabbouleh. The great part of the location is that I can hop in here while the bf grabs Chipotle next door :) read more

If you're looking for flavourful and healthy eats then this is for you! I usually get the greens and grains bowl with lamb meat balls an extra 1.43 but totally worth it! I love the garlic sauce/salad dressing it tastes like a garlic lover's dream... I love the fact I'm allowed unlimited toppings which I have a blast with! There are lots of colorful and exotic options to customize any one's taste buds. I have the app to order ahead of time and get curbside service, which is a big time saver and not to mention makes me safe when I'm trying to social distance. The CAVA (Columbia, MD) team always brings me my meal efficiently and always with a warm genuine smile. Which keeps me coming back for my once a week treat! Thank you again and see you guys soon!!! read more

CAVA - Greens (super greens)and grains (half lentils) bowl /lamb meat balls, garlic sauce and fresh pita bread - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I would never have tried this place if it hadn't been picked as the venue for a geocaching event and I'm glad they chose Cava. I love the one-price Build Your Own Bowl concept and would like to see it offered at more restaurants. The order line looked long but I noticed from their website that they have an app. So I quickly installed the app, logged in with my existing LevelUp account, and punched in my order. Then all I needed to do was give them about five minutes and it was ready at the pickup counter. Very efficient! I'm not sure the food was really Mediterranean but nevertheless, there was a good medley of flavors in the grain bowl that I ordered with most of the toppings. I love the beverage bar selection. Aside from the craft soda, there was also a row of mix fruit drinks, which I thought was rather unique. The ambiance was cafeteria-like, a large open area, but I didn't mind it. I definitely would revisit. read more

CAVA - Grain bowl with meatballs and all the toppings - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

amazing food and great service when needed! I always appreciate them fixing things really quickly and it's clean and has a good environment.

Food: say goodbye to chipotle people! CAVA is the place to be! This was the first time I was there and I am forever obsessed! The ingredients seemed fresher than most restaurants with this style of service. The braised lamb was so tender and filled with flavor. The spicy humus was the right amount of spice and added a butt load of flavor to the bowl. The pickled relish was also so good. All the ingredients I added in worked so well together. I absolutely loved my "greens and grains" I highly recommended this place for a nice Sunday lunch. Service: the service was very quick. The line was long when we walked in but the line sped up very quickly. We were only eating for about 5 mins and we started in the back. Other: the style of this place is very hipster, but I absolutely adored it. Everything was so simple and clean. I love the environmentally conscious utensils and organic sodas. If you wanna try this place out don't be surprised if there's a long line! read more

I am a regular Cava customer. The food is good but the Service is repeatedly going down at the Dobbin Rd store. My order has been wrong the past 4 online orders. They put stuff in that shouldn't be there. They leave out stuff that should. Last time, my bowl was only half full. When I complained and asked for more food to be added the alleged manager argued with me. We settled on me going through the regular line to reorder. I got the same exact thing. When I was done I showed the manager the remarkable difference. He shrugged, and then started speaking in Spanish to his coworkers. Clearly about me. What a shame. I may have to find another salad shop. In my area there are plenty to choose from so you would think they would be focusing on Customer Service better. read more

Ambiance: If you're looking for a quick pit stop and a delicious yet healthy lunch option before heading back to work, look no further! However, I wouldn't recommend this place for eating a long lunch to catch up with friends since it gets very busy and loud in there around that time. Customer Service: Every time I have gone to this location, the service is decently quick but I am also under the impression that several of the employees either don't speak English well or simply cannot hear orders because of the way the counters for ordering distance the customer and staff member (which is why I'm giving a 4 instead of 5). Generally, there's some confusion every time I go but I'm willing to look over it... Food: because the food is amazing! There's a lot of variety and the freedom to build what you want is great. Cava for me has honestly ended my chipotle days because they have better variety of flavors and more to choose from. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Wow in a short period of time my view and impression of this CAVA has completely changed or just maybe they staff the "C" team. Not only did we have to ask and wait for new humus and tzatziki since the server was scraping the bottom of the tub that had different items mixed in but we had been served rock hard burned lamb balls and to top it off upon paying i was advised they had ran out of change and asked if I would mind not receiving the full amount back! Uh yes i mind. Its just a few cents but its the principal. But i guess it justified the cashier to turn to her coworker laugh and make a snarky comment about the situation that they caused by not monitoring their cash register ! There are too many options in the area to settle for this type of service read more

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I'm smiling ear to ear rn. Why you ask? Because I just ate here. I probably ate here for the first time 2 years ago and I was skeptical at first. I really wasn't sure which dips, toppings and dressing went together. But really they all just mix together anyway. Cava makes my toes curl and eyes roll into the back of my head. I'm currently looking into investment opportunities. I highly recommend the supergreens and if you want extra heat the harissa is great. P.S. I usually have pics in my reviews but I was too eager to eat this time. Be sure to check out my other reviews to see some high quality pics of mostly high quality food. read more

I was out and about, last Friday and thought I'd stop in at Cava, to purchase one of their amazing beverages, warmed pita and some dips. I wasn't very hungry and wanted a light snack. I thought this order would be a no brainer, but it looks as though little brains were used, in producing this order. I do apologize for the harshness of this review (in advance). When I requested pita and dips, the first employee I encountered, took two small triangles of pita and wrapped them in parchment paper. I was hoping for an entire pita and admittedly, was taken aback with my two small triangles. Now, as I progressed through the line, the triangles' journey was quite astounding and I stood there, astonished. By itself, traveling from employee to employee, it went on top of a customer's meal, underneath a different customer's meal - still traveling, my dips went with other's meals (seriously, wtf) and at last, time to pay. No one cares, employees look perplexed; it's pita and dip, two lonely triangles, at that. I ask for the manager, Oska. I start to complain and she flat out ignores me. Whaat is going on here? She refuses to look at me. It has been a long time, since I have received such poor customer service. read more

Clean and friendly atmosphere, food is delicious! Excellent customer service! The line always moves quickly and there is never a wait on any menu items. This is my go-to CAVA location! read more

This is my first time trying cava bc I got a recommendation from a friend. I loved the food! It is def like a Mediterranean chipotle. I will say it is intimidating ordering for the first time because I had no idea what to order. I looked at the menu online and got recommendations from my friend on what to order I get half grains and half salad bc im on a low carb diet and I get harissa, tzatziki and chicken I also get tomato and cucumber salad, shredded romaine and lots of feta. I also get the green harissa and Greek vinaigrette. It is soo good. Def be eating here all the time. Parking the Columbia location during the day was a little hectic but I ended up finding a spot! A good tip is to get the app to get rewards and you can just pick up your order when it is ready. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Thank you for a wonderful time today. I was totally not expecting a free meal. There has been some bad press about the service at this location. I can testify that things are definitely changing. Well done!! read more

Fairly certain I suffered from food poisoning on 12/21/19 around 4:30pm. I ordered a super greens and white rice bowl. Chicken and beef meatballs, red pepper hummus, most of the vegetables, and the green dressing. I eat the same meal here at least three days a week, today the beef meatballs were much much more tender than usual. I'm not sure if they were undercooked or cooked perfect, but something I ate from here caused severe stomach pain and then vomiting about 10 hours after eating here. This was my only meal of the day, so I don't think it came from anywhere else. I still have half of the bowl in the fridge, not sure if I can have it tested anywhere, I'm for sure not eating it. I've probably eaten here 50 times since the Columbia location opened, this is the first major issue. I usually order off the app, the same meal as above and they have forgotten to add the meatballs on two separate orders. Oh well five star review gets changed to a one star. read more

I am in love! Unfortunately this love will soon end, there is no Cava in Utah and that is terrible news. I am absolutely Blown away at how incredibly flavorful fresh and beautiful the entire dish was. I'm even comfortable saying my new favorite food is in fact Mediterranean. Also I am starting to dream up some ideas of bringing cava to the West and Midwest because the world needs more cava read more

CAVA - Yess! Beautiful food must taste good right?? - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

The customer service was amazing! Everyone was very polite and the food was delicious. I will definitely be returning!

I absolutely loved my first experience at CAVA. The best way for me to describe this (I know this is totally a basic way to phrase it) is a Mediterranean style Chipotle. All of the options are laid out in front of you in a line. I chose to go with the greens & grain mix, which is a bowl consisting of your favorite salad greens mixed with your favorite rice. You can also choose to order a pita wrap, a salad, or a rice bowl with your favorite toppings. I thought the mix of greens and grains was a nice balance. I ordered the falafel and it was cooked perfectly. Thank God, because there's literally nothing worse than subpar falafel. You can also choose spicy lamb, chicken, beef, etc. I tried my coworker's spicy lamb and I believe that will be part of my next order. If you like Mediterranean food and quick service, give CAVA a shot. It's not fancy, but they don't skimp on the food and the selection is vast. read more

CAVA - Greens & Grains bowl with falafel and various toppings - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

This is the Greek version of chipotle but way better imo...The salads are so good, I've never had a pita. But I have gotten pita chips on my salad. I try a different dressing every time I go. I love the green tahini and harissa. The chicken is good, seasoned pretty well. I love how you can mix the greens or just get one type of green. This place is pretty solid. read more

This is one of the best healthier-option-type restaurants I've been to. Like other reviewers said, it's like chipotle where you start with a base of what you want, and then go down the line and add in other stuff. I'm honestly not a huge fan of Mediterranean food, but I am a HUGE fan of this place. Whenever I want to eat out, but also eat healthy I always want to either go here or to Nalley Fresh. My favorite things here are the Falafel, which they give you a generous amount of, tzatziki, and the sriracha greek yogurt sauce. Writing this review just makes me want to eat there again right now. If you're like me, and don't care for Mediterranean food that much, still give this place a try because it will positively surprise you. read more

This place is 5 plus plus stars. A healthy dinner. The staff is so lovely. I dropped a meatball and they gave me a replacement meatball. I literally dropped a single meatball when I was eating my pita wrap. And they replaced it no questions asked. read more

Love everything about this CAVA location! The management and staff are the BEST EVER! The food is always amazing (especially the braised lamb salad bowl made to order) and the pita chips. We go every Sunday...and look forward to seeing your smiling eyes every week. Shout out to Junior and the team! Love you guys! Thank you for treating us like VIP's every time. See you soon. :o) read more

There service was very rushed. They did not give me what I asked for. The guy that was serving the rice gave me not even a spoon of rice! The Lady at the end serving the sauce also did the same but she did not listen to what I wanted on top of the other sauce.I tried to tell them and they just dismissed it. I will not be coming here again. read more

Imagine driving 40 minutes round trip for your favorite cava bowl, there was no line, no long wait, they had just opened - just enough time for the smiling Cava employees to take care in crafting your bowl. You get back to your desk ready to dig in and after the first bite a huge beetle/fly, wings still in tack is taking his last breath and chilling in your bowl next to the delicious black lentil. Appetite ruined, money down the drain! Argggghhh! Do better Cava - my feelings are hurt and my belly is empty! read more

CAVA - Why were his wings so big??? - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Cava is the best fast food place! It's like a chipotle but Mediterranean style. You can get grains or greens or a combo of both. I also like their spreads. You get a choice of 3. I usually order the tzaziki, spicy harissa, and crazy feta. For toppings I like the pickles onions, cucumbers, cabbage, and feta cheese. And on top, I get the yogurt dill. All the dressings are flavorful. On the side, I like to order the pita bread and spicy harissa for dipping! Service is wonderful. Even when there's a long line, it goes by fast. There is ample space for seating. Tables are always clean. It makes a great, quick lunch. Love that it's in the center of Columbia! Will be back again! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland