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    CAVA

    4.2 (112 reviews)
    ModerateMediterranean, Salad
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order CAVA Takeout or Delivery

    CAVA Photos

    Business Info

    CAVA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Touristy
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - CAVA

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    Reviews With Photos

    Allie K.

    Stopped into cava before my train from Union station. The line was long but they got through it very quickly. Service was also very friendly! I built a couple bowls for those in my party. Everything was fresh and they keep everything clean and separate. Easy to get gluten free here and it not be cross contaminated. I had a bowl with rice and chicken. The dill sauce is delicious and I enjoyed the pickles as well. Plenty of options to build your own bowl, or pick one of their creations. I also love their drinks. Mint cucumber, yum!

    Cass A.

    I now understand the hype. The make-your-own bowl with super fresh ingredients, and a large portion - exactly what we were looking for following a long day along the national mall. The unique flavor profile and amount of opportunities for texture really brought this bowl together. Salty, spicy, fresh, crunchy, and the right amount of acidity. I could not finish it even though I was famished before ordering. It made such an impression on us that we returned to DC later in the year and this was near the top of our list to visit.

    John T.

    This was my first time trying Cava since we don't have it in Hawaii. However, judging by the constant long lines, it seems like it's a very popular, well-known eatery. I was fortunate to go during an off-time so there was no wait. I got a falafel bowl. While I enjoyed parts of my bowl, I was not a fan of the rice/grains. But my biggest complaint was that they only include three falafels in my bowl. I kept digging around in the bowl to see if I was missing something, but sadly I wasn't.

    Grains Bowl

    This is the worst CAVA I've ever been to. But honestly I blame myself more than them for even considering going here. The portion size (pictured here) was a JOKE. The bowl wasn't even 1/4 filled up. They also forgot half the toppings I ordered, and they didn't bother to include the free side pita. NEVER COME TO THIS LOCATION, I've had good cava and had cava, but this location is in a different league of bad.

    Cava Union Station
    Arcadia S.

    Everything with my order was fine. The customer service I received was perfectly acceptable. I don't typically do this but I'm troubled about how the customer in front of me was treated by Sophia (she of the three nose piercings). This young man was so polite, he was gracious and friendly, his manners would make his mother proud. When he got to the protein section where Sophia was, I heard him say, "Hi, how are you doing? May I please have falafel?" She sighed, literally rolled her eyes, stepped to the falafel and put them in his bowl in this exaggerated way employees dealing with a difficult customer might act, yet this guy was nothing but polite . At first I thought she's just a terrible employee all around, but when it was my turn to order along with my daughters. we received completely different treatment. She smiled, was nice, accommodating, normal. However, an item from the guy in front of me's order got left behind, so he had to jump back in and ask for his toasted pita chips. Again, he was extremely polite and did his best, even apologize to her as if it was HIS fault that she had failed to move his entire order along together. She immediately snapped back at him that he already had his pita chips. Her tone was rude, and her facial expression was condescending and unprofessional. He said "no I ordered an extra one I'm sorry thank you thank, thank you so much". Another employee had to step in and hand it to him because it was obvious by Sophia's body language she would not help. This was immediately contrasted with her switching off the hostility and returning to being nice for me and my kids . It was really uncomfortable and I just feel I need to report it so that perhaps somebody reading this can advise. It was fairly obvious that the sole reason this customer received such awful treatment was his trump hat. Or maybe she just hates all men. YES: vegan friendly

    inside
    Dakiesh C.

    Manager on duty had a lot of energy and was very helpful towards the older couple in front of. First time @ the Union location it was clean , the workers were quick and attentive , and of course the food was excellent per usual !

    Unfull Bowl charged full price.
    ALEXandria H.

    Every time I come I charged a different price. I don't get any "protein or veggie" no rice. I only get Arugula, cucumber, olives and feta sometimes it's $4.50 sometimes it's $14.14 which is INSANE!!! Usually they charge me for just sides as they don't even fill the bowl. It's whatever but I can't give more stars because they are inconsistent. Also as a Vegetarian we are sick of the veggies and falafel don't charge us more cause you haven't gotten create in 10 years and we're tired of it. Next time Im gonna get my protein and extra sauces (sides) to the person behind me . If you are going charge me FULL price. I will just bless the people around me. Free extra protein for all!!!!

    The food was very salty! Service was great and they helped me figure out what to order as a first time customer. The place was overall clean and well organized.

    Half falafel, half sweet potato with shoug and harissa
    Vijay N.

    We've often bought cava food in the grocery store, but we had never been to the restaurant until today. Of many many quick bowl options out there for a vegetarians, CAVA stands head and shoulders above the crowd. We split our protein between the falafel, and the sweet potato, both of which were extremely flavorful, soft, and very hearty! The sauces, in particular, the harissa vinaigrette, and the Shoug had many layers of flavor, including sweet and spicy notes, that really elevated the dish. Definitely get the pita crisps, which add a nice crunch element. It was really easy to put a mobile order in ahead of time and the restaurant is perfect situated near the entrance to Union Station, where the circulator drops off, making it easy to grab and go, or to sit in or around the station to admire the beautiful architecture. This was a tremendous introduction to this chain, and I am eager to go more!

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    8 years ago

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    1 year ago

    excellent service by Yesmeira, she was very helpful and polit, I'll definitely go back soon

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Good salads, high price. Sometimes a lot of greens filler. Get dressing on the side always!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    They guest manager and GM Matthew have great customer I highly recommend this location for good and quick customer service

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Sara and Norma were very professional and kind. This location has great service and food.

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    8 years ago

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - CAVA

    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Assortment of Small Plates & Cocktails

    Gypsy Kitchen DC

    4.3(1k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Rooftop seating

    Gypsy kitchen This…read moreplace is quite good. I really love the charcuterie board and the cauliflower was amazing. This was the first time I've been impressed by charcuterie from a restaurant. The Spanish cheese (Mahón) along with the crackers and mustard sauce was superb. All the meats had their own characteristics and unique flavors but the jamón stood out to us the most. It even went well with the sauce that came for our cauliflower dish. It was fun piecing the components together to make unique tasty bites. I would come back just for the charcuterie alone. The drinks we got were Angelli's Ferrari along with the espresso martini-ish. My favorite was definitely the Ferrari one, but the espresso martini was super mild and had a slight coffee flavor. Good for people who like very light coffee. The Ferrari one was very bright and had lots of fruity notes to hide the alcohol. For entrées, we had the shakshouka, crispy, cauliflower, and brunch pork belly. Out of all these the cauliflower was definitely my favorite; super light with good earthy flavors and nuttiness and acidity from the lemon. The brunch pork belly was good too. The meat was perfectly cooked, but I found the beans to be a little bit overwhelming. I'm not a fan of baked beans personally so that might've been my fault for picking the dish, but I still did enjoy it and the pork that was well cooked made up for it; definitely for someone who likes beans. Shakshouka was very hearty with a lot of tomatoes and red vegetables in general. If you like lasagna or any sort of tomato spaghetti dish, you will like this one. I found this to be a bit much though. I was slightly tired of the flavor at the end. Just be aware it is a bit spicy. We had a pear tart for dessert. Honestly, it reminded me of an apple pie and it was good, but I think that some of the other desserts would've been a bit better. Had a lot of sweet cinnamon notes along some crispy flaky dough from the outside. It was an interesting take but it was still good. The atmosphere is great here; we had seating on the second floor, so it was different from the busy first floor. Very relaxed and there's a lot of natural light coming around which made everything feel very welcoming. Our server was also super friendly. I will definitely be back at this place

    We paid $130 with tip for croquettes, lamb skewers, tuna crudo, hummus, and two 50 Shades of Purple…read more(drinks with butterfly pea gin). We sat outside on the patio and it was a gorgeous day. The decor is perfect and I love that they've added plants to cover the staircase. Drinks were delicious and the food came out quickly. Our water glasses were rarely empty. Service was kind. Food wise if I were to stack rank I would say the hummus is the best of what we ordered. The pita bread is thick and garlicky and oily and massive. The croquettes would be at the bottom of my list simply because they're dissimilar from any I've had before and a little bit underwhelming. The tuna was fresh but it's a small dish and not much to write home about. The lamb skewers have a subtle kick to them and they're pretty substantial. I'll definitely be back to try more! Highly recommend on a warm summer day as you're covered by the canopy above, if you're looking for a rooftop vibe.

    Photos
    Gypsy Kitchen DC
    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Hummus, Lebnah, & Flatbread

    Hummus, Lebnah, & Flatbread

    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Rooftop Patio

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    Rooftop Patio

    Agora DC - Cauliflower**

    Agora DC

    4.0(1.8k reviews)
    1.9 miDupont Circle
    $$$

    Was able to do a walk-in on a recent Thursday evening…read more I had been many times before, but it had been a while, so it was great to dine at Agora again. Everyone in my group loved the assortment of small plates that we had. We considered getting the lamb chops, but it only comes with 2, and there were three of us, so we opted against it. The dishes we got instead (an assortment of vegetables, meat, and seafood) were all delicious, and we would all be happy to get them again.

    I've been here twice now and have had a great experience. I recommend getting a spot on the outside…read morepatio if the weather is nice. It is covered and you can watch all the Dupont atmosphere pass by on the street. I'm a big fan of Mediterranean food. And it didn't disappoint. They were also really good with kids as my partner and I have 5 year olds. They not only have kids menus but crayons and unique coloring activities that were perfect for our son and daughter. We ordered the dip sampler, the grilled chicken and manti, which are dumplings stuffed with meat and topped with cream. The kids loved the pita bread, as did their dads. The pita was so delicious and we kept dipping it in the complimentary olive oil with black olive tapenade. The dip sampler was good, but we didn't love all the options as part of that mix like the red pepper dip or the fishy roe. Finally, the wine selection is unique here. It consists of a lot of Greek and Turkish wines. We aren't as familiar with this regions o appreciated our server allowing us to taste the wine before committing. Overall, service was attentive and they did a great job checking in with our family. I'd definitely recommend this spot. It's a higher end place on the strip!

    Photos
    Agora DC - Inside/Bar

    Inside/Bar

    Agora DC - Weekend Bottomless Brunch

    Weekend Bottomless Brunch

    Agora DC - Mocktail çiçek

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    Mocktail çiçek

    Ottoman Taverna - Adana Wrap (beef spiced and grilled) and substituted in vegetables.

    Ottoman Taverna

    4.2(896 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Happy Hour review…read more Amazing happy hour with a great selection of cocktails and small bites from 3-6pm. Service: the bartender lacked personality so I wouldn't call her service good. The host however, was very friendly and warm Ambiance: this place is beautiful and everything you'd love in a restaurant that has earned its Michelin place! We only came for a quick drink and bite because we had somewhere else to go but we will return for dinner. Drinks: I had the Turkish Raki Berry which was really refreshing. Think of a smoothie, non-smoothie, with liquor in it lol I loved it. My boyfriend really enjoyed his whiskey sour Bites: The falafels were delicious! Everything you'd want in a well seasoned falafel. Again, we came here for a quick drink and bite but couldn't help but notice the extensive dinner menu, all of which sparked our desire to visit soon.

    Heard this spot had received some recognition from Michelin, and while I was in DC, I went out of…read moremy way to give it a try. Unfortunately, I felt pretty let down. Stopped by on my way out from DC before heading to the airport. I got to try their ayran, lahmacun, baklava with ice cream. I will first say that the interior of the place is certainly beautiful, and the staff seems to be fairly nice as well. Bit formal. But, in terms of the food, I just wasn't that impressed. The lahmacun just lacked flavor. There was very little spice; in fact, for whatever reason, it almost tasted a bit sweet. The ayran was also a letdown. Usually, I love ayran, but this one just tasted like milk. At least it was served in a cool metal container. They served some complimentary bread too, which was nice, but even that seemed a bit industrial. For dessert, I got to try the baklava with ice cream. It's nothing to write home about, in full honesty. Bit dry, not much flavor. All in all, I was a bit disappointed. It s a gorgeous spot, but the food just fell a bit short for me. Maybe I'll come back to try some kebabs.

    Photos
    Ottoman Taverna - Dining area

    Dining area

    Ottoman Taverna - Sigara Boregi

    Sigara Boregi

    Ottoman Taverna

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    ala - GOLDEN CAULIFLOWER

    ala

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    2.1 miDupont Circle, Downtown
    $$$

    Brunch review ahead!!!!!…read more Ambiance- perfect for a cute date, time with friends, family members, or coworkers. The ambiance welcomes it all. Hospitality- The hostess was incredibly friendly and seated us upon arrival. Waiter- Eric was an AMAZING waiter. Bubbly personality, very polite and personable. His service was definitely a 10/10 Brunch- My friend and I decided to try their Easter Sunday brunch and my only regret was not visiting here sooner and not selecting an earlier time to dine, LOL! The entire experience was phenomenal! Bottomless mimosas- SO worth the extra $ Standout dishes: Adana meatballs Braised lamb Chicken Golden cauliflower Crispy Falafel Desserts: Baklava Brownie Kadayıf Sadly we did not get to experience all of the brunch menu items because brunch ends at 3pm and our reservations were at the heel of this time. Nonetheless, the standout dishes and desserts were enough for me to come back. I've enjoyed their happy hour, cafe area, and now their brunch. Can't wait to return.

    Checked out ala for a weeknight dinner this past week. The restaurant was lively and had a lot of…read morepeople seated at the bar. We came to dinner not overly hungry, so we opted to do a bunch of cold and hot mezze plates - ended up ordering the baba ganoush, duck prosciutto (2 plates because we were so excited about it), salmon kibbeh nayah, tawook shish chicken kebab, and golden cauliflower. Overall, our picks were solid. The duck prosciutto had a nice crunch with the chip(?) underneath and very interesting, lovely salad base and vinaigrette. Can't go wrong with the golden cauliflower with its yummy sauce and pomegranate seeds. Salmon kibbeh was my least favorite but perhaps I'm just not used to the texture/taste of bulghur wheat.. the salmon itself was great tho! I've heard lots of good things about brunch so I would come back for that, and/or try the short ribs or branzino if I'm back in the area for dinner!

    Photos
    ala
    ala - Adana Kebab

    Adana Kebab

    ala

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    Namak - Branzino and Duck Confit in the distance

    Namak

    4.4(84 reviews)
    2.6 miAdams Morgan

    Delicious! My wife…read moreand I shared the sample of dips, mini manti, and lahmacun. Thought we may need to order some more after but we filled up on that. Everything was great, but especially enjoyed the muhammara and the manti. Service was very attentive and polite. Also a nice interior and music at just the right volume to be enjoyable without being overpowering. Will certainly return!

    With its tasteful decor and candle-lit vibe, Namak is a date-worthy destination, or simply a cozy…read moregathering place for good friends. It's one of those places where it just feels good to be out for the evening. As to the food: the vegetable dishes are outstanding. I am not big on dips, usually, but I was won over by the mutabal, made with squash tahini, mushrooms, and shallots. It is served with a delicious sesame crusted bread, that could be addictive if you are not careful. The star of the evening was the crispy brussels, with black garlic caesar and hot honey. My word! This was like no other brussels I've ever tasted. Even the steamed spinach, tucked away on the menu in the "sides" section, was really tasty. The proteins, by contrast, were disappointing. The calamari was ok but nothing special. It came breaded rather than lightly battered - not my preference. The torsh shish - tenderloin shishkebab - was under-seasoned and a bit fatty. I was surprised it didn't have more of a grilled, smoky flavor. But the real disappointment was what was supposed to be the star of the show: the short rib tagine, with apricot, bulgur wheat, and labne. With that description, I was expecting the meat to arrive on a bed of the other delicious ingredients, but instead we got a brick-shaped piece of meat with a dab of something else. It was tender enough, and tasted ok, but really...just ok. For the price I was expecting something a little more special. The desert aficionados among us had praise for the chocolate pot, but the Persian Love Cake did not get a lot of love. For the drinks: for a Turkish/Greek restaurant I was surprised that wines from those countries were not available by the glass. Alas, there was no Greek wine to be had, and the Turkish wine could be had only if you were prepared to cough up $90 for a bottle. As I was the only wine drinker in the group, that was not going to happen. Next time I might go for a mocktail. The fermented carrot juice was funky and mystical and perhaps the best thing we had all night, beating out even those brussels sprouts.

    Photos
    Namak - Bar area

    Bar area

    Namak - Lamb shank

    Lamb shank

    Namak - Eggplant dip

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    Eggplant dip

    Urfa Tomato Kabob

    Urfa Tomato Kabob

    3.7(9 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Some days Urfa is a 3, some days a 4, some days a 5, very inconsistent…read more I really want this place to be 5 stars but they don't make it easy. I typical get the falafel platter with rice, veggies and salad and it's delicious! The falafel are quite good (yes deep fried-some days a little too much but so good). The meal itself with veggies, rice, salad and dressing is a really good meal. And I always get hummus on the side. Their hummus-as a middle easterner I find it weird they have hummus and a hummus dip on the menu. Keep it traditional with the hummus - one of them is super soupy like which is disappointing and when I order I can never remember which one I like. Hummus shouldn't be thin it's not tahini (although made with tahini) :) Also what I dislike is that I always ask for no bread or no sauce and they always give me 3-6 pieces of huge bread when I specify no bread and it just goes to waste EVERY time. I hate wasting food and I can't eat gluten so it's just frustrating-I wish they would read the notes when people order or listen better. I still order from here knowing that my meal will be either mediocre or great, it's a chance I take sometimes when I crave their falafel platter.

    In these times I am doing everything I can to support small business, especially restaurants, so I…read morewas hesitant to even write this review, but decide to based on the food and the subsequent treatment of my request. I ordered a gyro and eggplant salad. I requested the pita for the gyro be separate so it didn't get soggy. That was not done. It's not the biggest deal but it would be nice if customer requests were honored. The bigger issue was the eggplant salad, which was rancid. I literally had to spit out what I had eaten and then throw out the container. When I asked for a refund (just of the eggplant salad) I was told that was not possible, which I do not understand since the food was spoiled and could have made me sick :( Very disappointing experience all around.

    Photos
    Urfa Tomato Kabob
    Urfa Tomato Kabob - Hummus falafel salmon

    Hummus falafel salmon

    Urfa Tomato Kabob

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    CAVA - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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