CAVA

Just had CAVA for the first time. The food, customer service, and atmosphere were impeccable. Definitely better than Chipotle, Sweetgreens, etc.

It's a Cava, and unless you're from out of town, you should know what this is. Everything is at the Cava standards, so 4 stars. They can get a bit crowded at times, so get here early and plan accordingly. Enjoy!

Just ordered two bowls with spicy lamb meatballs, but when I sat down at home to eat, they were hard as stones unfortunately. The customer service was nice, but the food didn’t make up for the 30$ spent here.

Flavorable never miss!!! Always a good tele lunch or dinner place!!!

I recently visited Cava and had an amazing experience. The food was incredibly fresh and full of flavor. I loved being able to customize my bowl with a variety of healthy and delicious ingredients. The staff was friendly especially G and the service was quick, I highly recommend Cava to anyone looking for a tasty and nutritious meal option!

Cava has such an amazing environment all the employees are very friendly served a delicious bowl, Angel one of the managers took my order he was super nice and outgoing, I will be coming back soon for another order! The chicken was well cooked 🙌🏽Everyone is super polite great customer service.

This CAVA location is top tier. The food is freshly prepared each day and the staff always has a smile on their face. This place is the definition of masterclass. Their consistency, attention to detail, and welcoming spirit make for an enjoyable experience every time. My roommate and I have been going to this location every Friday at noon for over a year and we will NEVER going anywhere else! Thank you Ballston CAVA for providing us with a weekly taste of luxury.

Best Cava in the area. Staff is awesome and extremely friendly. Never been disappointed by the food here, always fresh, cut well , always clean surfaces. I eat here practically everyday

My go to cava place whenever I'm working and craving some food. I've always ordered for delivery so I can't say much on service but they've always delivered my food early or on time. Definitely a casual Mediterranean spot so it you're feeling hungry and want something quick and healthy, cava's a good option!

I love this Cava location at Ballston! I'm a regular customer. The employees are all super sweet, and the food always tastes fresh. I highly recommend this Cava location!

Its cava and cava is great. I'm really just here to say that if you're going to order during the lunch rush it's faster to just wait in line because these guys HAUL through the line. Anyway I love cava 10/10 would come again.

First off the food was delicious. This was my first time eating at CAVA so I was a bit overwhelmed at the choices and knowing what to choose. I decided on the pita which was excellent and had the chicken and veggies and dressing which made for a very tasty sandwich. The service on the other had was not the best, luckily it was not busy but the server seemed annoyed that I wasn't quick with saying what I wanted and I had to quickly glance through the options to decide. There was no-one behind me so there was no reason to hurry but she was not helpful or friendly when I asked a few questions. Would I come back, absolutely because my sandwich was divine and I enjoyed every bite. I just hope the next time I get someone a little friendlier to serve me. As far as the ambiance, it is fine, it is like a little nice fast food restaurant.

Man, fast-casuals are so expensive nowadays. $14 for a chicken bowl is a bit much, but at least it was tasty and healthy! Great alternative to Farmbird (literally another healthy fast-casual next door) if you don't feel like eating that for the third time of the week and you want something "different". I love the variety of grains and greens you can choose from here. The "Rightrice" sounds like an interesting option (high protein & fiber) that I would like to give a try next time. Definitely a huge fan of the hummus here (I prefer the regular over red pepper). The grilled chicken is seasoned simply but does its job of being tasty. They give a good amount of protein here, too. The unlimited toppings here are great and I love the fire-roasted corn! The yogurt dill dressing was also a nice enhancement touch on the side if I wanted to add more flavor to my chicken. Overall, a decent fast-casual option that's healthy. Will be back eventually to try different options and be more creative, lol. The interior of this CAVA is pretty spacious with lots of seating and plenty outside if you want to enjoy your Mediterranean BYOB on a nice sunny day!

This chain is winning the "quick food" wars and it shows. Great food, super filling, healthy and dare I say it decadent. Yeah we all feel like a burger or pizza now and then but if you want something that's not going to kill you with salt, fat and bullsh!t, this is it. My main go-to from now on when I need something kind of on the go. Top shelf work guys, well done.

Soooooo good every-time I come here!! Love their chicken and most sauces. Sadly I dont live near one, but I always try and get it when one is around!

The lentils are rock hard which makes me wonder if they are cooking the long enough or they are drying out due to sitting. Undercooked lentils are toxic. The people are nice who work there but management needs to do better.

As far as fast food goes, cava is hard to beat. They are super efficient and the ingredients are always nice and fresh.

I love the Ballston Cava. I was introduced to this location by my boyfriend who is a local. I love the fresh ingredients and large array of healthy options to choose from. We usually go for the bowls which are very filling and I appreciate the compostable containers as well. Definitely check our cava when you're in town and looking for a Greek-inspired healthy food option.

Cava is one of my favorite fast food restaurants to go to. I have a pleasure of having a quick meal without compromising my health. Huge fan of their spicy lamb meatball pita or sometimes over their rice. Harissa is my favorite sauce to add and I am not picky about other items that go in it. I usually order a side falafel. I would prefer if their falafels were crispy. But do not mind it as I go here when I am very hungry and need a quick meal without wasting a lot of time on ordering food and waiting for it. Cost effective option as well.

I am so upset I can't remember our servers name but she was AMAZING! We sat by the front windows on a Wednesday evening - and we're well taken care of. We MISS having this in Capitol Hill ... fresh dips and delicious proteins that are always consistent!

Went here this week for lunch with a friend -- ordered on line in advance to save time. Everything was ready for an easy pickup -- and man was it delicious!!! I did a custom greens/grains bowl with honey harissa chicken, brown rice, arugula and lots of other yummy additions. Everything was spectacular in taste, texture and freshness. I also love that their harissa has a real kick to it. Easy seating indoors and out despite the lunch rush -- as so many people grab and go. Loved the jasmine iced tea too. I will be coming back and probably getting the same everything because it was so great!

PROS: YUMMY salads! I love their chicken! Definitely a great lunch or breakfast spot! Great service and prices! CONS: NOTHING!

I love Cava Ballston This place knocks it out of the park every time. The service is great, the food always hits, and the overall experience is world class for fast casual dining. I love the ability to mix and match fresh quality ingredients. The honey chicken is a personal favorite, and a combination of the dill and garlic sauces hit perfectly

The most kind employees. Maira was so nice, kind and friendly. She is so profesional and sweet. Highly recommend this place. Clean and fast

Shoutout to the manager for being super helpful. I messed up my pickup order time and he helped me sort out the situation super quickly and was professional. Food always good at this location and friendly staff in general!

You can't go wrong with this place!...It's fast, healthy, quality ingredients and most of all...delicious!! I travel quite a bit back and forth from my office in the Arlington VA area to an office in DC for work; and often times in need of "healthy" fast food options while on a limited time window for lunch. CAVA has slowly become one of those places that fits the bill. It's fast food, on the healthy-casual tip. The meals are definitely filling and the portions are more than enough for two to almost share in my opinion.....but, trust, there's no complaints there by me or my inner-fat kid belly! The food at CAVA is very fresh made of high quality ingredients. The meats, sauces and dressings are seasoned and has really good flavor. There are vegetarian options too. The prices is very reasonable for the large portions. The service is fast, friendly and efficient. I have been to several CAVA locations around the city and they all are good....and the consistency is there too! This Potomac Yards location is no exception to this observation too. I typically get the the Splendid Greens & Saffron Rice Bowl with a mix of lentils, hummus-harissa dips, couscous, plethora of veggies...all with the Spicy Lamb Meatballs!....It is nothing but the truth!! A healthy gospel of goodness in a bowl. I opt for the grilled chicken at times with this combination, to change things up every now and then. I will admit though...their braised lamb has truly become my favorite protein of them all. It is so tender, juicy and full of flavor! In all, CAVA is an excellent and tasty meal at a great value --considering its the healthy way to go. I will admit thought that it is a bit pricey when it comes to looking for a economical, cheap lunch options....but for the portion size and healthy option aspect...it is totally worth it! * TIP: I am such a fan....in that I use their app frequently to earn rewards, discounts and free meals! Also, you get a free bowl ($9.00) credit for your Birthday!!

I ordered Uber Eats and when I cut into the lamb meatballs, they were all raw...like really raw. I called the restaurant about this and was told another customer had just called and complained about the same thing. I was also told the manager would call me about the issue, and I never received a call. I've ordered the meatballs at other locations many times before and have never received them undercooked before! Be careful eating here because you might get sick.

i had heard about Cava but never tried it so when was in the area decided to stop by. you can make your own bowl or they have some prepared options available. i choose to make my own with a rice/lettuce combo and lots of toppings - they do give you a variety of choice and offer a nice portion of toppings the food was good, the quality of ingredients great and overall a tasty meal

Really good and fast! Pretty easy ordering setup. Easy to get in and out fast. Tasty food.

I had a great experience with this particular Cava. I ordered my food on the app, everything was accurate. I also ordered the food for a particular time and the order was ready at that designated time. All items i requested on the side were ready with my food, when you get orders to go getting sauces on the side is nice because your food doesn't get soggy. The staff here were very nice, pleasant, and checked in on any customer waiting to determine when their food would be ready. Cavas food is great, delicious and fresh, but i would highly recommend coming to this location for the great staff, efficient food service though busy location, and the cleanliness of the dining area and behind the bar.

Do not spend your money here. I ordered two salads for delivery via UberEats. For protein, one salad was ordered with grilled meatballs. The other with falafel. We also ordered the salads with pita bread and a chocolate chip blonde. When delivered, neither salad contained the ordered proteins -- No meatballs and no falafel. The pita bread for 2 salads consisted of a SINGLE small piece of pita bread amounting to about one-quarter of a slice. The chocolate chip blonde turned out to be 2"x2" and 1/4" high. It weighed a whopping 37 grams. I decided to call Cava to complain about the lack of proteins and pita bread. When I called and asked to speak with the manager, the employee said, "How can I help you?" I said again, I'd like to speak to the manager. He replied, "How can I help you?" So I asked a third time, "Are you the manager?" He said, "How can I help you?" Not yes or no. Tired of playing his game, I explained my complaint of not receiving the proteins I paid for and receiving one small piece of pita bread for two orders. He said that's how their pita bread comes now. As for the lack of proteins in the ordered salads, he said I'd have to take that up with UberEats, not the restaurant! Amazing yet surreal conversation. Pass this place by...it needs to close.

Service - hands down the genuine friendliness and care Angel provided to us was unexpected but appreciated. I hope ownership and staff leadership are able to recognize him. It made our dining experience that much better. Cava is great on its own with quality ingredients and options. When employees go a little above, that makes all the difference.

I love the food there, i remember the day i tried it for the first time, I tried the pita burrito and it was so good. the service there was nice and peaceful

Soo good for a quick lunch or dinner! One of my favorite fast casual places. I got the grain + salad mix and it was super filling. I had the super greens and lentils with falafel and all the toppings. It also came with a pita bread if you'd like. Highly recommend

Lovely new location, with the usual excellent customer service and tasty food. I used the online CAVA app to order a salad today. When the order wasn't ready immediately at 1:30 p.m., the guy behind the counter offered me a free drink. I really love the CAVA drinks and mixing a bit of the low-sugar drink options with the black tea. Today, I mixed the ginger-lime-turmeric tonic with black tea, and it was delicious without too many carbs. Small complaints: I wish the trash and recycling containers were closer to the door. Maybe in better weather there will be some receptacles outside. Also, I ordered my salad without pita, but it came with bread. But that's just the universe trying to tempt me to go off my low-carb diet, lol. The world is full of temptations when you're on a diet. Today I used the CAVA bathroom for the first time, and I have to deduct a star from my review. My advice: use the bathroom somewhere else! The bathrooms are clean, but music is blasting so loudly (~85 dB, according to my NIOSH app) you could damage your hearing if you are exposed to the sound repeatedly. When I mentioned the problem to an employee, she said employees had complained, but the problem has not been fixed yet.

Such a total bummer. Cava used to be incredible! We ate it weekly for a while! But tonight's was the second lame meal our family spent too much money on to be so disappointed. We got two kids meals but were served only one juice and not compensated for the missing one. They were also supposed to have a side of pita chips for each meal, but we received exactly ZERO. Both of our greens and grains bowls were supposed to come with a mini pita, but both were missing. Such a sad experience. We won't be back.

Fresh , fresh , fresh , fresh fresh Fresh , fresh , fresh , fresh fresh Fresh , fresh , fresh , fresh fresh Fresh , fresh , fresh , fresh fresh fresh ! Great experience! Different food for a bbq snob !

So I can see why this cava has some bad reviews. We actually found a live bug in one of the bowls we ordered. We were contemplating if we should go back but there was a huge line so we didn't and just threw out the bowl. This was a big issue for me. We came here a few times before and it was all good experience but the last time was not good. The bug in the bowl was unacceptable and just unsanitary. I don't think we'll come back to this location again even if it's the only cava in the area. I hope the staff get their act together and ensure that all the areas are clean and free of bugs and insects.

I ordered from here on Uber eats twice and both times they forgot the dressings. Seem like the workers don't care.

I like the concept. Mediterranean version of chipotle with Pita, salad or rice bowl combination.

Many thanks to manager Angel for helping me and my family today! We have Celiac disease and any gluten can send us to the hospital. Angel was courteous, professional, and knowledgeable in helping us get delicious food that was safe for us to eat. Angel made sure to use clean gloves and stayed with us through the entire food line. When we wanted lentils (usually a gluten free food), Angel let us know that Cava's lentils are processed with equipment also used to process gluten-containing foods. Definitely saved us from an awful medical emergency. Cava corporate management: please reward Angel and Angel's team for such exemplary professionalism. Thank you Angel for a great experience! Truly our "angel" today :)

Horrible service, literally the shittest service!!! Uncooked food (lentils), and an overall unwelcoming vibe!!

Very generous helpings at this Cava! I ordered to go at the store and I got very generous helpings of toppings that I chose (I pretty much get everything other than the feta and olives). We went on a Saturday afternoon around 6pm. It wasn't super busy during the time which might have been why we got such large helpings. Everything was seasoned well! I have no complaints! A recent addition in the Ballston area so everything's is very nice and clean. The customer service was also very courteous.

I've been here so much that I am embarrassed to say. I just wanted to write a review because my order has always been correct, plentiful, and tasty! Service is quick, no issues, and tactful. My bowl is always filled with fresh ingredients. All these attributes are important especially when you just finished a ten hour day and you are starving.

Ordered the create your own bowl, and it was TO DIE FOR. If you love Greek, you'll for sure love Cava. All the ingredients blended well together and the bowls are massive! It lasted me two meals easily and very well priced. I recommend the falafel and spicy hummus for sure! I will definitely be back for many more bowls. Hits the Greek craving and I can customize it to my liking!

I'm glad I finally got to try cava since this location opened recently near work! As a fast casual option, cava can't be beat with the unlimited options. I ordered a grain bowl with falafel and basically everything else that caught my fancy. We did have to wait for the falafel to come out, so they may still be working out the kinks because my expectations for a fast casual place is basically instant gratification! It was worth the wait because the falafel came out nice and warm, but I would also note that I wish more veggie options were available as the protein. You can add sauce on top but my sauce ended up being quite unnecessary because everything else was already quite flavorful, so in the future I'd forgo it or get it on the side. Other than that, I really enjoyed my bowl and the generous portions I was served and think it's a great addition to the area.

I have eaten/ordered from here probably 20+ times and not sure what was going on today on a Sunday but whoever made my bowl was awful at it. I didn't get two of the specified dips, meaning it was already a bit lack luster on flavor without either hummus. My "roasted" vegetables were raw, to the point I could barely bite into the brussel sprouts or the sweet potato in it. This is so disappointing as their roasted veggies used to be so good at in this case it seemed like someone threw some raw veggies on the grill for 30 seconds then threw them in my bowl. They also didn't deliver the side of dressing so I spent $15 for a dry, boring bowl of rice and wilted lettuce. Oh, and they added lettuce that I didn't ask for as well (wanted romaine but got a mix?). Not sure what happened to this location but ordering Mezah next time.

Pissed. Service was terrible. How don't y'all have chicken available ?? The sad part is that I ordered from here for delivery , the entire bowl was messed up. I paid $30 for one bowl & got refunded to come back in person & get it fixed. When I arrive today they still don't have the damn chicken made ! A whole 24 hours later & then don't even have a estimated time that the chicken is gonna be ready. Please call corporate am I in Virginia or SE DC ????????

I pickup from this location at least biweekly, and today I had such a great experience that I had to write my first Yelp review about it. When I go to order in person it's always perfect and delicious, but on a recent online order through the app they forgot to include some integral ingredients to both my and my friend's bowls. I went into the restaurant today and spoke with the general manager, who's name I unfortunately cannot remember, and he went above and beyond to make the situation right. I hope corporate sees this and understands that the GM working today, august 30, is great at his job! Will definitely be back.

Once again I have my best friend to thank for showing me this gem. I've known about CAVA and heard the rave about it. However I had no one to go with me to show me what's it's all about and to enjoy it with me. So when we were heading home from the mall we decided to eat here for dinner. After my visit here I'm happy to report this place lives up to the hype. The service reminds me of a Mediterranean version of chipotle but with fresher and better tasting food elements. You are able to choice a wide variety of bases, proteins, toppings, dips and dressings that are all Mediterranean inspired. I've always loved the flavors and food that are part of this particular genre of food. I had a grains + green bowl, spicy lamb meatball, hummus, tzatziki, cucumber + tomatoes, tomatoes + onion, feta and green vinaigrette. It was so delicious!! The spicy lamb meatballs had a nice little spice and good flavor. Everything married well together which I appreciated. Another thing I like is the assortment of drinks they offer. In addition the offer some kind of vinaigrette to add to your bowls. Even with the amount of choice you have, you don't feel overwhelmed. The people who work there are open to helping you out with any questions. The atmosphere is very chill and casual if it's off peak hours. I would recommend this place if you're in the mood for quick Mediterranean meal.

This is the most awesome eatery in Balston Exchange! Braised Lamb Jasmine Rice Grain Bowl

I am giving this place five stars for several reason. First. I have been to several similar restaurants and they sucked period. When my friends brought me here I protested. BUT to get along I went along. I ordered jasmine rice, pork and some veggies. Fabulous. Everything was super fresh and delicious. My friends really enjoyed their dishes as well although I could never recall all their ingredients. What a great surprise. Fresh, tasty food in a very clean environment with friendly and patient staff. One block from ballston metro. Worth the trip.

I went here today for the second time ever and I just love it. The first time I came I got a rice bowl and a side of the pita chips. This time I tried the super greens salad with a side of the pita chips. The pita chips are life. I can't get enough of them. I also love how the toppings are unlimited and I can get all the veggies I want. I also like that I can do half protein so half felafel and half roasted veggies. The bowl is always way too much for me to eat in one sitting so I eat half or more for lunch, then the rest for dinner. Get the pita chips though. And eat as is. You're welcome.

I usually don't do yep reviews but this just happened so here we go: Great customer service. The rice I liked was out. I asked how long, they said 10 minutes so I said I'll come back. They asked if I'm sure I said yeah, no prob...then I come back just in time. They spoil me. Big amounts of stuff, even with request for extra chicken. And at the end, a guy (manager maybe) said it's on him since I waited and I came back. I was fine still paying since they really spoiled me this time, but he insisted. At that point I can't complain, so I'll say that awesome customer service, even if I didn't feel it necessary, was absolutely worth the entire 5 stars. I'd give more but max is 5. Thanks folks. Time to eat!

For a recently opened food joint, the employees were decently well trained (it was my first time there and they answered my questions about the ordering process) and the food was tasty. I made my own bowl and chose from many of the toppings and sauces (certain meats and toppings cost extra). Nothing special about the concept or the food, but a solid place to grab a quick, healthy Mediterranean bite.

When in doubt what to eat, and when you don't have time to cook, and you love modern Middle Eastern food -- go to cava. The food is fresh, moderately priced, delicious and healthy. I am sorta addicted to it, despite so many other options in the area.

My smoochies asked for extra everything in her bowl and received less than usual in her pick up order. It's ridiculous that this constantly happens during pick up orders. She may die!