Cava Mezze Grill

I enjoy going to Cava Mezze Grill (in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington D.C.) when I get the chance because their food is both scrumptious and gives me energy, especially on my recent trip. The price too was pretty reasonable (I was able to get a decent amount of food and the delectable drink for the $ 13.31 that I paid). Among the ingredients in the delectable food that I ate; Kalamata olives, lemon, feta cheese, basil, half meatball, half lamb, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, tzatziki sauce, hummus, yellow-​colored basmati rice, right blend of olive oil taste and more. The delicious flavors that are available for the fruit juice combos; pineapple apple mint, blueberry rosemary kale, apple cucumber ginger lemon, blood orange green tea and more yummy beverages. There are also some type of what look like lettuce greens for those who prefer them with their meal. I saw a customer in front of me ask the food server for an order of what looked to be lettuce greens to go with her Cava Mezze Grill meal.

I went in for the first time yesterday, and I am now hooked… What the hell have I been waiting for. The food was fresh and delicious. The staff was very patient with me, because I told them it was my first time. I am thinking about my next trip already. This is going to be my chipotle replacement.

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.

My only issue with cava’s in general are the are really stingy with the protein portion… For the price they should give you alittle more without asking for double because the double is alittle too much and not worth the price… Other than that it’s a nice bowl and the grains/​green option is nice and the faffel is tasty along with the chicken

This is next-​level fast casual food. This place blows all those chipotlesque spots straight out of the water. All of the ingredients are fresh and pop in your mouth. There are so many choices, I would recommend going simple over choosing too many options (esp sauces) so the flavors don’t get jumbled. Highly recommend the lamb meatballs and braised lamb. They cost a dollar or so more but they’re well worth it. Also a big fan of the pickled onions. Don’t miss out on the crazy feta spread or the mouthwatering Harissa. Don’t be deterred by long lines during lunch and dinner hours; the staff is pleasant and efficient. Do make sure to come here and stuff your face.

Dudes. Seriously. Go eat you some of this fine, fine food. Mediterranean food in a Chipotle-​like setup, but seriously delicious. And the beverages are exceptional too! Go! Now! Spend not very much money and get full of tastebud paradise!

Imagine Chipotle just with Mediterranian food instead. Really good, tasty and healthy food with a lot of choices — something for everyone. Even vegetarians and vegans. Super friendly staff og good prices. I’ll be back!

We all know that Cava has fabulous food and this location is no different. I am writing this review to say how nice and friendly the workers are at this location. I think this locations’ options differ slightly to the location at L’enfant plaza and they were so nice to go through each topping with me. Thanks guys! :)

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.

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.

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. :)

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.

You’ll a lot of people in line wearing workout clothes, but that doesn’t mean you’ll see people ordering rabbit food an cold pressed juice. This fast casual restaurant allows you to build bowls or sandwiches with fresh Mediterranean inspired ingredients.
We’ve come a long way in a assembly like food chains since Chipotle came on the scene. I kid you not, I remember being impressed that Chipotle used romaine lettuce rather than iceberg! Don’t get me wrong, I still love Chipotle bowl or a Roti rice plate, but Cava is the one that feels the most balanced and nutritious.
In addition to romaine, you can choose arugula, spinach or my favorite, the supergreens. A mix of chopped kale, chicory, cabbage, broccoli and shredded disks of Brussels sprouts. All full of vitamins, folic acid and dietary fiber. Now comes the non-​rabbit food part: scoops of jalapeño stuffed feta dubbed «crazy feta», spicy Harissa, hummus, or tzatziki create a flavorful creamy platform for a delectable serving of braised lamb or beef, lamb or beef meatballs, grilled chicken or falafel. All of their proteins are delicious except I find the falafel a little underwhelming, it’s texture isn’t crunchy enough. Then you get to put on a ton of Greek standards of olives, cucumber tomato salad, and feta but also non-​traditional ingredients like banana peppers from Gordy’s pickle jar (so good), sriricha yogurt or quinoa (more protein!).
The place also has a nice variety of low sugar fruit waters and teas. Though I’d recommend getting a jar of Morningbyrd teas, especially the Montgomery mint. Morningbyrd is a fellow local food business that makes delicious ice teas. The tea is at a premium price, but it tastes great!
Also, Cava always has a clean industrial space that’s comfortable and soothing. Also all of their packaging is compostable.
Affordable, delicious and nourishing food served fresh and quickly in a comfortable space by a responsible company. This is how a food chain should be.

What happens when it’s Cinco de Mayo and the Chipotle line is horrendously long? COME TO CAVA! :)
+ easy and quick process
+ generous size bowl
+ yummy falafel bowls with saffron basmati rice
+ add all the toppings you want!
+ under $ 10
The only downside for me is that if you choose to go with falafels, you get a small serving compared to the chicken serving that is almost double. Overall though it is very good value and even if I’m no longer in college… your girl is still on a budget!

Definitely a fan of Cava! Fast, simple, affordable and delicious! I usually get the salad as the base for a healthier option. I love the «super greens» mix they have! The base can also be rice, pita, or a mix of greens & grains.
For protein there is a variety of meats. but i recommend the FALAFEL! It is vegan per the website. (: The falafel is great. You can choose from a variety of «sauces» such as hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, roasted eggplant, yogurt etc.
I love all the veggies you can add on your salad and they really load it up! From a salad bowl I usually get 2 meals. You can ask for free pita as well, if they don’t offer it.
Website clearly states what is gluten free /​vegan, for those who need this information!
The line goes fast here and service is efficient. One of the cashiers that served me the last time was super friendly and sweet. I love the look/​feel of the store with the large wooden tables.
Overall, I love Cava!!! Great «take out» meal that is reasonably-​priced and can be made really healthy if you choose lots of veggies!
This location is conveniently located right out of the Columbia Heights metro as well.

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…

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/

Como en tantos lugares de USA, se caracteriza por esa sensacion de querer recoger tu comida e irte corriendo. No consiguen que uno se sienta comodo del todo pero lo que si consiguen es darle el toque mediterraneo al sabor de sus comidas. No te chupas los dedos al salir, pero sus bowls tienen un sabor mucho mas autentico que los de otros lugares, por un precio similar

I have no idea why I haven’t visited sooner. I finally came here on Tuesday night and I’ve already made a return visit. The first time I had the braised lamb and this time around I had chicken. They were both seasoned very well.
Both times I got the pita bread, which is great. Fresh ingredients, tasty food, reasonable price, quick service. It’s a bit more expensive than Chipotle, but you get what you pay for. Much prefer Cava Mezze Grill. Happy I live within walking distance. I definitely will be coming here more often in the future.

Not to be confused with Cava Mezze (the sit-​down version), Cava Mezze Grill is fast causal dining at its best. Cava is quickly becoming my go-​to destination for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner when I’m in Columbia Heights.
Resembling a Mediterranean version of Chipotle, walk down the assembly line and pick your base, meat, dips, toppings and dressings. The world is your pickle.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of their «super greens» salad which include kale and shredded brussel sprouts among other delicious greens! Add a little chicken, tzatiki, harissa, hummas and as much toppings as you can load on with a drizzle of the yogurt dill sauce and BAM! you got an incredible salad. I also highly recommend grabbing one of their rotating juices — always fresh and pair nicely with your Mediterranean food.
First timers, don’t be scared. The customer service at Cava is fantastic and they are always more than happy to walk you through your first experience.
Seating can sometime be difficult to grab during high traffic hours but luckily Columbia Heights circle is just down the block and has plenty of space to grab a seat outside.
Now if only Cava would franchise so that they are on every corner like Starbucks and Subway.

Good experience here, but not perfect, hence the four stars.
There were a lot of people here around 1:15 pm today. Most of the seating was spoken for, and I had to wait in line for a couple of minutes.
While waiting, I familiarized myself with the options and after hearing a few people order the bowl, I decided it was ok to pony up the extra $ 1.25 for a bowl vs. a pita. I then opted for brown rice and selected three of the dips and spreads: tzatziki, eggplant and red pepper, and spicy harissa. Then I momentarily struggled between grilled meatballs and falafel and ended up giving the meatballs a chance. Next, I asked for all the toppings except the kalamata olives and feta cheese. Finally, I chose the lemon herb tahini.
It was hard for the workers to hear me with everyone in the store, so I had to repeat myself a couple of times. Then when the two people ahead of me were ready to check out, there was a delay. I think there wasn’t enough lids for people wanting a take out order.
I got home in the next 15 minutes and enjoyed my bowl. Wow, bold flavors, and people are not kidding! The spicy harissa packs a punch! I loved the combination of everything but next time, I will try a different protein and do without the lemon wedge and pickled banana peppers. I might also lay off the harissa.
They don’t really mix your food so if you want a more even spread of the ingredients, you’ll have to do that yourself.
Happy to try another fast casual, customizable place in the DC area. Let’s see that’s Chipotle, ShopHouse, &pizza, Cava Mezze…