What can I say, I'm the Duke here and for the good reason. I used to go the Falls Church one, and now so glad that there's one near my place in Adam's Morgan. It's tasty, affordable, and healthy, it can't get any better than there. Everyone else describes how it's the "Chipotle" of Greek food, so I won't go there, but I do like how they have enough variety that it can stay new and fresh, something Chipotle doesn't have. They have a variety of greens, so sometimes I'll get a super green mix w/ arugula, or mesculin mix with baby spinach, with different dips and proteins you really have a ton of combinations to choose from. They also have salad dressings that really change the flavor, from lemon herb tahini which is one of my faves, or harissa dressing with Greek Vinagrette, a totally different taste. There's so many combinations that you can mix what you are in the mood for and you won't get bored of the place. I get bored of things easily, but I'm have the Cava Mezze Grill app and I full intend on eating here as often as possible! read more

I had a great visit at Cava Columbia Heights. The food was fresh and the portion sizes were very satisfying. The customer service was friendly and efficient. I will definitely be back! Great to have a Cava in the neighborhood. read more

How have I not reviewed the CoHi Cava yet?! This place is a STAPLE of my diet. It's conveniently located right outside the Columbia Heights metro, and you can get in and out very quickly, no matter the day or time. The ingredients are fresh, the portions are generous, and the price is fair. You can get all of the sauces and dips at no extra cost. They will also give you two different proteins (half portions) for a minimal upcharge. If you couldn't already infer this, I order a BIG bowl of goodness when I go to Cava, and the employees don't even give me a second glance. man I really hate when people are like WOW are you sure you want all of that? Or they laugh at your order. Screw you, mean food service people! I am starving and I have a fast metabolism, AND I am paying you!! So please just give me a heaping portion of everything and HOLD the side of judgement. Cava rules. \m/ read more

Cava's got me hooked on harissa! I've yet to venture beyond the pita with spicy lamb meatballs and as many as their delicious toppings - quinoa, cabbage, cucumber, tomato, etc. The brown rice is perfectly cooked and seasoned. Much better than Chipotle by a mile, with similar affordable prices. Great place for a cheap, quick, delicious Mediterranean meal. It can be quite the task to throw out the trash. So many instructions on what goes where! I love that everything is compostable though. read more

Great addition to Columbia Heights. I might recommend that the management order larger "mini" pitas. They are almost comically small. I get that they are supposed to be open-faced but the toppings are so big that they just fall off the pitas when you try to eat them. Also, consider adding some additional menu options for sides: I ordered a side of rice "off-menu" and it was just right to accompany my meal (though it was a bit dry). I'm sure there are people who would pay $1 for a comically small mini-pita if it were listed on the menu. I would, at least. Everything else was great. The meatballs and falafel are especially excellent, though the falafel is a bit more moist than what I have eaten in Israel (some people consider that a good thing). Also a huge thank-you for posting your nutrition info on the website. It is very helpful. Though I think people might surprised to learn that a typical meal at Cava has about the same nutritional value as a typical meal next door at Chipotle. But when I ate at Cava, I did not feel so full. So that's something. I will be back again and again and again and again. And again. read more

Awesomeness on my plate. As a graduate student $7 for a meal and $14 for two is a steal! I mean cummon! Deplorable non-edible McDonald's value meal is like what $5 to $6 for JUNK! Why not spend a dollar more for edible food? Okay now to discuss my meal. Ah, bliss. I got the mini pitas with falafel! AWAW so good. Paired this with pickled cabbage, feta, mint, cucumber & tomato salad, tomato & onion salad, yogurt dill, squeeze of a lemon & tzatziki sauce! OMGoodiness Heaven. This is a veggieheads ultimate dream! Maybe I am a hippie but for such affordable food I WILL and CAN clean up after myself. Maybe it is the DMV, but why leave your crap for someone else to clean? Dude that is just wrong on so many LEVELS! Okay so my #1 Fav place to eat and I do not have many! Enjoy my lovies! read more

I was introduced to this place on a recent trip to Washington D.C to see my sister. The first time I ate here, we got it delivered, but on a more recent trip I made a trip to the restaurant. I've tried both braised lamb & falafel, and being the carnivore I am I was surprised to see that I enjoyed the falafel more than the braised lamb. With the mix of all the other flavors and sauces, it was a perfect and flavorful meal to grab, eat, and go! While they have so many options, I feel like they skimp a little on the portions, but maybe that is just me. I'll definitely be back once I visit DC again. read more

I love this place. It's Chipotle's long lost sibling, but with hummus and pita. Perfect place for grabbing a delicious bite with friends in a casual setting. I really love all their options, especially the grains and greens bowl. Just when I couldn't decide on one, I could have both! Their sauces are where it's at, too - along with their wide variety of mix-ins. The best part is that it's reasonably priced, ESPECIALLY for what you get. One bowl lasted me for two meals. It's a lot of food for very little $ (under $10!). Side note: If you order the grains and greens, it comes with a free pita, unlike all the other bowls which you have to pay extra. :) read more

This place is like middle eastern Chipotle, so healthy and tasty! It was my first time here so I was really excited to try it. The place is clean and the line goes fast so don't be discouraged if you see lots of people waiting. Most people who work there are kind and take their time to explain some things about the menu though you might come across someone who is in a hurry and just wants you to order and leave! I had a rice bowl with chicken and almost couldn't finish because of how big it was. I included pretty much everything and the combination of flavors is just the bomb. Their hummus is phenomenal and I really couldn't pick a favorite topping cause I loved them all. I'd definitely recommend this if you're into this cuisine and enjoy a good and healthy meal. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Are your friends crazy about falafel, yet the thought of eating those deep-fried balls makes your stomach hurt? Are you sick of "white-girl spicy"? Yes, and yes! Fortunately, Cava Mezze Grill wins in both aspects. The falafel balls are really, and I mean REALLY flavorful! Break them open and you'll actually see whole chickpeas inside. Seriously the best falafel I've ever had. (Hear that, Amsterdam?) And a definite win on spiciness as well. Of course, my spice tolerance is off the charts, but a combination of the harissa and the roasted red pepper hummus gives my vegan bowl a nice POP! One word of advice: there's a chart at the front that lists all the menu items, and whether each is gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc etc. Make sure you study that and know exactly what fits your criteria. The staff kept looking at me like I was speaking another language whenever I'd ask something. I'm pretty sure I asked, "Which of these are vegan?" and not "Quels sont vegetaliens?" Apparently, feta cheese is vegan and "tahini" = tzaziki. read more

Here's all your need to know: "Hey, look, a Mediterranean Chipotle." No, really, that's it. As delicious as Chipotle, and more importantly, no line (as opposed to the GIANT LINE always at real Chipotle). I suggest the meatballs. You're welcome for brevity. read more

It was like chipotle but BETTER! I know that sounds crazy to me too but it was delicious. It was so nice being able to customize your order and they had so many options. I got harissa as my dip and it was so spicy and tasty. I got the grains and super greens mix. Highly recommend the super greens. The food was yummy and the staff was helpful read more

CAVA - Grains and greens. Chicken. Harissa sauce. Romaine. Tomato and cucumber. Cabbage slaw. Greek vinaigrette. Salsa. So good! - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Of all the quick, casual lunch spots, Cava Mezze might be my favorite. I've recently taken a strong liking to Mediterranean food though, so that may have something to do with it. Fast ordering can be a little overwhelming, so I'll walk you through the process. You get to choose between a bowl, small pitas, a regular pita or a salad. I'm personally a fan of the salad which comes with an optional mini pita. With the salads, they have several lettuce options from romaine to spinach to my favorite super greens which includes kale, spring mix, shaved Brussels sprouts and more. You then pick up to three spreads. I'm a fan of double tzatziki and one hummus. They also have a few spicy spread options. Next comes your protein. I've only had the chicken, but I'm eager to try their falafel and lamb. The toppings and dressings come last. This is where I always get a little overwhelmed. You can get as many of these toppings as you want. I usually opt for cabbage, tomato/onion salad, feta, and olives with Greek vinaigrette dressing. They also have cucumbers, basmati rice, mint, lemon, and pickled onions in addition to a few other dressing options. In sum, they have a lot of awesome topping choices. Another big plus is that the line is rarely as long as the near by Chipotle line. This specific location doesn't have a ton of tables, but I've always been able to get a spot and people are always happy to share the longer communal tables. This location is also just a convenient hop and skip from the Columbia Heights metro. read more

It's like a medeterranean Chipotle.. I go to Cava about 3 times a week and it's sooo yummy! Could never get over Cava. I usually get a rice and spinach mix, or Arugula bowl... Protein: Fallafel (yum) Dips: Red roasted pepper hummus, spicy harrisa+Taziki Add the toppings, with lots of chips and taziki or lemon herb dressing. It's sooooo heavenly good and such a great value at about 9 bux. read more

An extremely welcome addition to CoHi. I've eaten here twice, both times with a pita but different toppings. First time, I had the meatballs, seasoned with mint and onion and awesome. I was a little nervous because they were so pink on the inside that I was worried about having an upset tummy later, but no worries, apparently the ingredients are quality because it tasted awesome and I was fine. Today I did the falafel pita. I would preferred the falafel a bit crisper, but it'll still scratch my falafel itch without venturing over to Adam's Morgan. I've done just the hummus and harissa spreads (a great combo) and do look forward to trying the crazy feta. Bonus points for compostable supplies. Updating with a rice bowl. Holy freaking awesome. I also really love that they don't limit the number of spreads or toppings. Going to 5. read more

Chipotle has started some sort of trend with the assembly-line food, it seems. And right next door to Chipotle in Columbia Heights is this new Cava. It's the Mediterranean version I guess. It's just in a pita rather than tortilla. Maybe I am just not a huge fan of tziki sauce and cumin powder - but this place was not the bee's knees. It was interesting to be able to order lamb (a Greek staple) but it was very stringy and fatty. I also have no way of knowing how long the meat has been simmering over the steam tray. Certainly could be fresher. For what it is, and the speed in which it is prepared - it is an OK choice if you are on the run. It certainly does not get the same 10 mile line that it's cousin next door gets. Maybe people aren't as enamored with Mediterranean as they are with Mexican? I certainly am not. When it comes to Cava - it's all Greek to me. read more

Everything at this place is delicious - the lamb is awesome and the felafel is easily the best felafel in the neighborhood, but the service has continually gotten poorer the longer they're open, in a really stingy way, so I'm giving it 2 stars. The food is absolutely yummy in every combination, but they used to be very generous with their portioning and allowing you to try things and now they're pretty disappointing for $10. I'd say they're downright stingy in serving the bowls - whatever you get - and when I asked for a little more pickled onion topping, they wanted me to know that they'd have to charge me extra. I hate places that were once totally normal in serving size and then suddenly really stingy, so I stopped going. Even the notoriously expensive Sweetgreen is a better value for a $10 salad. ****Update on 6/12: I feel the need to change my review to four solid stars. After I posted my above review, the management and ownership clearly proved their commitment to hearing their customers' feedback. My most recent visits have had much more consistently enjoyable service experiences, both in friendly service and bang for the buck. Much closer to the Cava I first fell in love with, and I'm beyond impressed at the level of customer service and professionalism involved in those working to make the Cava experience the best it can be. At last, I am a loyal fan again. read more

First and foremost, do NOT make the same mistake as me by avoiding the "Grill" version of Cava thinking that you will not be able to get any of the same Cava-ey goodness that you do in the full-scale restaurant. Just know that the Grill is set-up to get your Cava proteins only in a bowl or pita (sort-of like a Roti, Qdoba, or Chipotle format). With that out of the way, I have dreams about this place. You can stuff your face on the cheap here. I almost feel like I'm stealing from Cava because I am able to enjoy so much amazing goodness, that it's criminal. What makes me love this place even more is that you can still get the dip platter here--so, I can still enjoy their pita chips + Crazy Feta. What more could a girl ask for? read more

Yes, it's like Chipotle, but you know what it's also like? Sweetgreen. Everything is compost-able (cups, utensils, etc), things are locally sourced (with a blackboard to give more info), and you don't feel like crap after eating it. They have gf and veggie options and basically will customize whatever you want. But back to how you feel after eating it: this was one of the few times I've been able to eat somewhere as a vegetarian where I didn't feel overstuffed after eating but still felt full. And that is worth five stars. read more

Really good salad, 10 dolars for this quality salad is one of the best options in this concept, great job guys

Pretty Basic. Great place to go for Vegetarian. What nice about the place is they give you a lot of choices and health depending on what you get. If you want to be healthy make sure to read their nutrition online for each toppings because you can carbo-load on the salad lol. Another great thing about CAVA is their drinks, they are amazing. Positive - They Compost WOO!! Rating - 4.5, 4 for food, .5 for extra effort Tip Best Value - Rice and Salad bowl, half and half everything Healthy, Low Calorie - 2 different kinds of green, add lentils, add toppings, avoid pita side, roasted veggies, no falafel and chips. No sauce, just lemon. read more

There's is a new trend of fast health food in the city and by far this is one of the best spots. Going to Cava for the past two years at least three times a week. If you are health conscious this is the place for you . Great selection of salads and dips, all meats are well cooked and falafel for vegans and vegetarians alike. I was never disappointed from the service or the great food. Sometimes the line is long, but moving on a steady pace. What can you expect? Where the food is good the lines are long. read more

What happened? This was one of my favorite go to spots. It's quick and healthy! However their portions have diminished significantly. It seems like you get 1/3 of the bowl that you used to get? read more

Gerardo and Berta (I think this was her name) were so great. Super nice and helpful service and as always the food is delicious! Thanks!

Tasty food and a nice assortment of toppings, dips, and veggies to choose from to complete your bowl/salad/pita. My favorites are the red pepper hummus, crazy feta, pita crisps and cumumber tomato salad. My go-to protein is the lamb meatball. However, they do have a roasted veggie option that is surprisingly delicious. This location is definitely not as busy as the one near my work in Chinatown, so that's a plus. My only complaint is that the food is not as hot as it could be. This is due to the whole assembly line system, but a tepid lamb meatball ain't the business. Of course, the cold toppings don't help the cause, but would like the grains and meats served a little warmer. Nonetheless, Cava is solid place to fulfill your Mediterranean cravings in CoHi. read more

This location is pretty crowded and sometimes the food seems a little picked over, at least compared to the Tenleytown location. However, it still tastes quite good. Get this: Falafel wrap crazy feta roasted red pepper hummus brown rice chips tomato cucumber more feta Done. read more

This is my go to fast casual place if I'm up in Columbia Heights running errands and need to grab lunch. It's the same concept as Chipotle but mediterranean. They are also on Level Up so you can get free $ once you spend a certain amount which is always nice. I feel like the portions are good not giant like Chipotle, but definitely enough so you feel full. My go to bowl is half brown rice half greens with chicken, hummus, crazy feta and taziki. Yum. There are lots of other options you can add too though such as lamb, meatballs, falafel. I always feel like I should try something different, but then I never do because why mess with what I know I like... read more

I love this cava location, staff are very friendly and the food always taste fresh. If you're in the area and looking for a cava location I recommend stopping by read more

Wow. I am so impressed with the food at this Cava. I work in the city, and I come to this place in Colombia heights all the time. The service is great and the General Manager (Gerardo) is awesome! The cashier was very friendly, I believe his name was pablo. Highly recommend as the food is fresh and healthy. read more

I'm pretty much in a relationship with Cava. Cava has never let me down. I think about Cava way too much and visit Cava way too often, but it's totally worth it. The best part about Cava is that I'm always in the mood for it and it always satisfies any craving I have. Do yourself a favor and go get it. Now. read more

This place is both a blessing and curse to me. I live nearby so it's super convenient to grab food from here. On the other hand, I eat here way too much. Basically the Greek version of chipotle, but more selection of ingredients and better quality too. Good value for your money. You can get arugula as your salad bowl, the different dressings and dips are all delicious. I recommend the harissa and the spicy lamb meatballs. read more

Cava Grill is really good. I've been here countless times and there are a lot of things going for it: - Everything is delicious. I suggest the pickled onions which are lightly sweet, not sour. You can get three dip scoops (even double up on some) and tons of topping options at the end, so you can do all sorts of combos. You can also do your protein half-and-half, which isn't a huge secret I guess, but it's not stated on the menu. - You can be quite healthy here even without having to order a bullshit non-meal - I've never seen them run out of a single thing - Employees have always been friendly, or at least efficient and not rude. There is rarely a long line and when there is, they move quickly enough to handle it - Good seating options, nice ambiance Now all they need to do is add a delivery option and they'd double their business... from me alone. read more

Cava is a great mezze restaurant with seriously delicious offerings. We stopped in for a quick bite and drinks during the summer, and it was excellent. The watermelon and feta salad is the best I've ever had--their feta has none of the unappetizing features I normally associate with the greek staple. This one was pleasantly tangy, without being overbearing, and creamier than the norm. It was well matched with the fresh watermelon, a perfect treat for the summertime. Their hummus, harissa, and baba are all delicious as well. The mojitos we got were perfectly balanced, without being too sweet, so my applause and appreciation to the bar tender. Interestingly enough, you can find some of their dips available at Whole Foods locations. While the plain feta isn't among these packaged offerings, their hummus and harissa are ridiculously delicious and great to have on hand for snacking or entertaining. read more

This fast casual dining experience is perfect for those days when you are tired of eating the same bland food options. I like the fact that you can have grains&greens in one bowl. Genius! The servers are always wonderful about customer service and the assembly line stays clean, which is like a dime a dozen in these sorts of chains. I do realize that the food might be a little salty for some folks, but I highly recommend giving this place a try. The food is fresh and I don't feel bogged down after a meal. On the first visit you MUST try one of their house-made drinks. If you go anytime soon then you should try the Raspberry Ginger drink. The other flavors are a little too adventurous for me. read more

Ok, so if you were curious, just go here. Seriously, GO! It is the Mediterranean version of Chipotle. Greens, grains, sauces, protein option, fun veggie add ons, and a warm mini pita. Plus, homemade juices that are stupid tasty and change seasonally. I cannot get over how flavorful and fresh everything is. GET IN HERE! read more

After working for hours at the hospital, sometimes I just want something delicious to pick up from Columbia Heights and to head home. But when the urges are leaning towards Chipotle and there is a.) a long line b.) my expert burrito roller isn't there (yes, I have one and she can roll anything c.) I'm hangry, CAVA Mezze Grill does the trick. Its also great when you just want something healthy and delicious. I have never tried the pita option, I specifically ask for the bowl. I get a combination of rice and spinach leaves along with tzaiki, roasted red pepper hummus (2 scoops), a combo of 1/2 chicken and 1/2 braised lamb. For toppings, I usually get tomato and cucumber, tomato and onion, feta cheese, quinoa and lemon herb tahini as a dressing. I never really deviate from this creation except to change my protein options. Moreover, when I want something to drink with my salad, the stars of the show at Cava Mezze are their Loukoumades or teas and cold drinks. There are many interesting options to choose from such as the Pineapple Apple Mint or Honey Green Tea. My personal favorite is the Pineapple Apple Mint but I usually grab an Izze Sparkling Clementine drink from another store. Cava Mezze is a great place to eat and I highly recommend it. This location is particularly special because the servers are very friendly, the servings are adequate and it is a great alternative from standing in the long line at Chipotle. read more

I've been to Cava probably 30 times and every meal has been an A+. While I also like &Pizza, I have to go with Cava as dc's best fast casual chain. My go-to dish is the brown rice and super greens bowl with spicy lamb sliders, tzitziki, harissa, and hummus with plenty of cabbage and pickled onions. Delicious, healthy, fresh, and satisfying. Pro tip: the fresh juices are made with locally sourced fruit and are part of a rotating lineup. A great complement to a spicy meal. read more

Great value-- salad bowl with amazing high quality falafel. I love arugula, I love veggies, I got it all here. Moreover, their Harissa is all that and more. Great for takeout. Great service. read more

After my recent review of Cava Mezze Grill, their marketing department immediately contacted me asking if I wouldn't give it another try. Sure, why not. I'm not sure what difference it will make, but I'll take a free meal when I can get it. So they gave me a few tips that I wasn't aware of and I headed back over to Cava Mezze in Columbia Heights for a quick Monday night meal. As I mentioned in my last review, Cava Mezze Grill is a Greek-inspired Mediterranean cafe. What I didn't realize is that there is a salad option for which you can choose from a number of healthy greens including a supergreens mix, romaine, arugula, mesclun, or baby spinach. One of the things I didn't like about my last visit is that they loaded my bowl with way too much rice and there weren't many veggies at all. I didn't even see the lettuces! So this time, I still ordered a bowl, but I asked for only one scoop of brown rice along with the supergreens mix. Then, I added hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, and harissa. For my protein, I chose their delicious falafel. And for the toppings, I loaded it up with tomato & cucumber, cucumbers, pickled onions, quinoa tabbouleh, kalamata olives, and more. This time, they asked me if I wanted a dressing and I chose the lemon herb tahini. Was I pleased this time? Yes! The supergreens mix was chock full of shredded kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and chicory and was really good. That mixed with just the right amount of rice and quinoa and all the veggies I desired made for a delicious bowl. I still think the harissa is a bit too strong of a flavor for the bowl, but there are only three spreads that are vegan so I had to choose that one again. I also loved the lemon herb tahini -- a great dressing! My only recommendation is to start allowing quinoa as a substitution for the rice. Right now, it is just a topping they sprinkle on top. If they had allowed me to sub a scoop of quinoa for the rice, it would have made this meal perfect. I really like the unlimited toppings for just one low price as well. So, Cava Mezze and your marketing team, you have turned me into a fan. Well done. read more

Fine. YOU WIN THIS ROUND, CAVA. After going there 3 times this week, I can't give this place less than 4 stars. read more