In 2010, lifelong friends Chef Dimitri Moshovitis and Ted Xenohristos opened CAVA, a Mediterranean style restaurant with dishes inspired by dishes from Moshovitis’ and Xenohristos childhood. They offer a variety of delicious and healthy dishes, including crispy falafel, fresh tzatziki, and creamy hummus. Think of it like a fresher, more expensive Chipotle.
Today, CAVA has over 375 locations in America, with a goal of opening over 1,000 restaurants. I personally wanted to try CAVA because I was a big fan of Zoës Kitchen, another Mediterranean style restaurant, that was bought by CAVA in 2023. I was excited to see what elements from Zoës Kitchen stayed around, and what changed.
I ordered a make-your-own pita with a scoop of their creamy red pepper hummus, grilled chicken, and fiery broccoli. The red pepper hummus added a nice kick to the grilled chicken, and the broccoli added a refreshing pop of flavor. If you like food that fills you up fast, the pita wrap is the way to go.
In addition to the pita wrap, I also got classic pita chips with a side of red pepper hummus and a roasted eggplant spread. The pita chips were very crispy and well-seasoned, and I found that the eggplant spread was very fresh. I should note that the pita chips and dip was a delicious additional $11.32, so I’d be cautious if your dining on a budget.
In terms of drinks, they have an abundance of fresh sodas, lemonades, and teas available. My personal favorite was the blueberry lavender lemonade, but I don’t recommend getting any of the sodas if you’re a soda fan, as their sodas didn’t seem to hold up to their name. Unless you enjoy birch beer flavored root beer, I suggest you skip the soda fountain.
The disappointment doesn’t end there unfortunately. Although the staff were very patient and kind with the customers, the restaurant itself was nasty and gross. The table I sat at seemed to be the only cleaned off table in the whole dining area, and yet it was as sticky as the other tables. Almost every square foot was covered in crumbs. There was trash on the floors, chairs-seemingly anywhere but the overflowing trashcan.
Looking past the disgusting dining area, the surrounding ambiance of the store and the dining area were very sleek and clean, with white tiles and colorful abstract art on the available walls.
Overall, CAVA’s food is delicious and a healthy alternative to most fast-food restaurants. However, I do not recommend it to be your first option when dining out. Considering the price and the sanitation of CAVA, I’d say that this restaurant exists best as a pickup or delivery restaurant.
