CAVA

Mediterranean restaurant · Area 2/MIT

CAVA

Mediterranean restaurant · Area 2/MIT

3

82 Ames St, Cambridge, MA 02142

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Highlights

Mediterranean bowls with customizable greens, grains, & pitas  

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82 Ames St, Cambridge, MA 02142 Get directions

cava.com
@cava

$10–20 · Menu

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82 Ames St, Cambridge, MA 02142 Get directions

+1 617 202 9396
cava.com
@cava
𝕏
@cava

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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@eater

Blue Bottle Coffee Opens in Kendall Square, Cambridge - Eater Boston

"A year and a half after opening its first Boston-area location, California’s Blue Bottle Coffee opened its fourth area outpost today, June 7, in Cambridge’s Kendall Square. Located at 88 Ames St., it’s inside the Proto apartment building (along with a location of DC-based fast-casual Mediterranean chain Cava) and practically across the street from an existing cafe, Vester." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

https://boston.eater.com/2019/6/7/18656716/blue-bottle-coffee-kendall-square-open
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Bonapita Opens in West Roxbury - Eater Boston

"Out-of-town chain Cava opened in Cambridge’s Kendall Square." - Dana Hatic

https://boston.eater.com/2018/12/12/18137595/bonapita-mediterranean-west-roxbury-open
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@eater

D.C.-Based Cava Opens Tuesday in Kendall Square, Cambridge - Eater Boston

"Cava is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain that is opening a new location in Kendall Square, Cambridge. This will be the fifth Cava restaurant in Massachusetts and the 72nd location nationwide. The restaurant features a customizable menu with seasonal rotations, offering a variety of greens, grains, and pita bases, along with dips, spreads, proteins, and toppings. The fall menu includes items like Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cauliflower, Greek minestrone soup, carrot and currant topping, and red pepper chickpea dressing. The Kendall Square location will also serve house-made juices and teas, Spindrift seltzer, and extras like pita chips, hummus, dips, and cookies. The opening will be celebrated with a community day offering free lunches and accepting donations for the non-profit partner, Future Chefs." - Dana Hatic

https://boston.eater.com/2018/11/21/18106370/cava-mediterranean-kendall-square-cambridge-opening
View Postcard for CAVA

Vivian Shi

Google
I’ve only ordered at this location a few times, but Cava is always a decent lunch or dinner option for me as a vegan. I have had some minor issues with cross contamination here though, so I would just be careful if you have severe food allergies. The staff and manager are always very understanding though, and comped a bowl after they messed up an order previously.

Tatyana Pearson

Google
I ordered Cava as takeout. At first I was indecisive on what to order. Bryan was extremely helpful and friendly! He recommended I try the steak and crazy feta. My bowl is amazing! His customer service is suburb! I hope he stays at this location, def a bonus to your location

yanibel altagracia Perez

Google
I really liked the food at this place, and of course the great service I received from Miss Sheyla Rivera, a very friendly girl, a very pleasant taste and a calm atmosphere.

Jun Simons

Google
I love cava in general, they are very efficient during the lunch rush at this location. Convenient, very close to MIT campus and the red line. Plenty of spots to eat outside too

Dheeraj M

Google
Had a really good experience at CAVA today. The food was fresh and well-prepared, and the service stood out. Maria was friendly and patient while I customized my order, which made the visit smooth and pleasant.

jeneba koroma

Google
Had a great experince and Maria, was super nice and helpful!! Highly recommend and will be coming back!

Katia Cardoso

Google
The food at this restaurant was absolutely delicious, with fresh ingredients and creative flavor combinations. The service was also fantastic, our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a great dining experience.

alice nguyen

Google
The second we walked in, Jahwon and Bryan asked if we’ve ever been here before. When we said no, they gave us a whole run down of EVERYTHING in the most authentic, and charming way. We were on the fence of going to Digg Inn or here, but decided to see what this was about. Is this how every CAVA is??? That’s INSANE. I haven’t even tried the food yet, but I know I’ll be returning to this location for Jahwon and Bryan alone.
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Fantastic H.

Yelp
Cava is good, love that you can do so many different combinations. My normal is the avocado harissa
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Adina S.

Yelp
Cava is always a good spot to grab a quick lunch or dinner. I've been there a handful of times and it's always been an enjoyable experience. This time I ordered through the Too Good To Go app, which allows you to get a bowl for $3.99 in the hour or so before the kitchen closes, in an effort to combat food waste. Love the cause! I find the portion size at Cava to be pretty decent, especially compared to some of the other fast casual type spots in the area. You can choose between greens or grains for your base and there are a bunch of options for toppings and proteins. I usually opt for the lamb meatballs, but the ingredients are pre-selected for Too Good To Go. There are also a few options for sauces as well. I'd happily visit Cava again, especially with that deal!
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Nicole P.

Yelp
The best fast casual restaurant with plenty of options, healthy-ish, and delicious flavors! I love their garlic dressing and the spicy lamb meatballs. Service has also always been great and friendly. Definitely prefer cava over chipotle
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Angelina Z.

Yelp
Cava is my favorite lunch spot food chain--the ingredients taste super fresh, I love the ability to customize bowls, and the serving size is good for the price. This location's pretty large and clean, with a lot of indoor seating options. It's also a few steps away from an outdoor plaza, great to enjoy meals on a nice day.
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Miranda G.

Yelp
Cava is a go-to when I'm in the area! I actually wasn't a fan the first time I went since I kept ordering the pitas and they always came out very soggy. However, after continuing to go and try their bowls, I'm definitely becoming more of a fan. I would especially recommend getting their pita chips!
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Amy F.

Yelp
Ate here 4 times over a 3 day period, no joke. I don't have a CAVA where I'm from so I made sure to take advantage of the one in Cambridge while I could. The sweet potatoes & garlic dressing are *chef's kiss* and the service at this location was great. Was turned off by the long line but it went soooo fast because they were working like a well-oiled machine. They don't skip on the servings either which I appreciate. A little on the high sodium side so I wouldn't recommend doing what I did, but I would definitely have this at least once a week if I lived closer!

Meg N.

Yelp
Great cava location - go to lunch spot when working in Cambridge. Food is consistently good, orders are accurate and love the ease of customizing on the app. Best part is the guy that expedites at lunchtime - he makes sure everyone gets their correct order and is a master of crowd control.
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Stephanie B.

Yelp
Cava is one of the very few lunch options around Kendall square. After months of having Chipotle on the few occasions I don't bring a lunch to work, I decided to give CAVA a try. The good: - easy online ordering via their website - food was ready for pick up at the scheduled time - lots of options - unlimited toppings - friendly staff The bad: - food was cold when I picked it up - same price point as chipotle but much less food - they charge for bags Overall, food was just ok, but it was a nice change. I'd be open to trying them again.
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Grace X.

Yelp
This is always my go to for a quick casual healthy meal. I brought my mom here for lunch and she loved it as well. Prices seem to have gone up since last year but still reasonable for a restaurant. Service is always quick and friendly.
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Dawn L.

Yelp
Yummy !!! It's basically Chipotle but Mediterranean food. Everything is delicious and super fresh. I especially love the harissa honey chicken. Getting an order of their fresh homemade pita chips and a side of tzatziki is a MUST!! I would put their pita chips up against anyone's!!! The people who work there are always super friendly and quick! My go to place for dinner after a long day at work! Prices are definitely reasonable for Cambridge.

Noor H.

Yelp
Delicious! And very good customer service. Definitely coming back for more! The Ambiance is great.
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Jon N.

Yelp
Both the staff and their signage either lie or don't know their own ingredients. After specifically clarifying that a menu item labeled as "plant-based" contains no dairy, which I can't consume, the sauce contained dairy anyway. Can't eat food from those you can't trust.

Armando V.

Yelp
Amazing service and amazing food! I wish I had one closer to home. Food was fresh and the drinks are delicious!
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Mark K.

Yelp
This is a very good place for Mediterranean Build-Your-Own. Part of a chain of over 100 stores stretching from Massachusetts to California, this shop is conveniently located near Kendall Square and very close to MIT. There is limited seating, especially with COVID protocols. But the service is quick and the food is very tasty. When I entered around 1 PM on a Wednesday, I was able to walk right up to the counter and was invited to order by one of the friendly staff members. I chose a Grain Bowl, to which I added several vegetables. For my dips and spreads, I opted for Crazy Feta (jalapeño-infused feta mousse), Tzatziki and Harissa (which was the highlight). My protein choice was chicken and my dressing was Harissa Vinaigrette. It was a great combination, especially with the warm piece of pita added to it. My final bill with food, drink (sparkling water) and tax was just under $14. I thought this was a very good value. I'll look forward to my next chance to visit.
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Jasmine C.

Yelp
Can't really go wrong with the food at CAVA. It can get a bit overwhelming with all of the options presented to you the first time, but usually you can ask about popular combos and study the menu before starting your order.
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Allegra P.

Yelp
It's CAVA! It's healthy foods with flavor. I like the chef curated bowls. Honestly when I'm in a funk or just got back from a trip without time to go to the grocery store for produce, I'll just order cava for lunch and have a light snack dinner. This food never slows me down, it can sit a while and still be good, and I enjoy eating it

Kate G.

Yelp
when I walked into cava, nothing could have prepared me for the journey i was about to go on. the service and eye contact were great! I ordered a spinach, white rice, spicy chicken, feta garlic sauce, roasted veggies, avocado, lemon herb tahini bowl. when I started eating the bowl, I knew one thing: I was going to fuck it up. and fucked it up I did. holy shit. it was just delicious with every bite. yum yum yum. yummy!
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Briana ..

Yelp
Their food makes me feel like I am eating proper food. I ended up eating about two bowls of their food. I am amazed because the way they make it is perfect :) They are so much tastier than competitors like Sweetgreen.

Sabryna J.

Yelp
The food was really good! I did a create your own bowl and the worker was very helpful and patient. The food is really good and not too spicy. The drinks were really good too. Great service from the younger girl who helped me:)
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C P.

Yelp
The bowls are delicious but the service here is atrocious for pick-up. Bowls in wrongs areas, staff who is talking on the phone, and no sense of respect for the customer. I'd choose Sweetgreen any day over this kind of experience.
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Jake M.

Yelp
Just discovered that they have permanently discontinued the grilled meatballs as a protein option (the spicy lamb meatballs are still kicking around, but at a markup). Between this and yet ANOTHER price hike (for what? less options?) I'm done. Cava is (well, WAS) a mostly solid chain, but this location in particular has burned me too many times (bowls missing ingredients, getting ingredients wrong, and now just not even offering basic toppings) for me to even think about going back. Way to lose a loyal customer, guys! Keep it up!
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Valerie Y.

Yelp
I didn't start out as the biggest Cava lover but this place has definitely grown on me the more times I go. I always order the build your own grain bowl with saffron basmati rice, grilled chicken, pita crisps, tomato salad, avocado, and yogurt dill. The best part is definitely the sauces -- I get the roasted eggplant, crazy feta, and hummus. Only downside is I wish they gave more. The food is light and fresh enough that you feel healthy after but also very filling (I always have leftovers that I eat as an afternoon snack).
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Kyle F.

Yelp
Tasty food but very sloppy employees. My pita wrap had so much sauce that when they rolled it up, sauce went everywhere. The employee just smiled at me like it was normal, put it in a bag and charged me for it. What a mess.

Ashley B.

Yelp
I'm not sure what happened. This used to be my favorite place to eat in Kendall square. The last few months it has gotten horrible. I recently ordered a falafel bowl and it came with no falafel. Today I ordered a bowl with sauce on the side. Not only did they put the sauce on, but also it was so much sauce it was basically a soup. Almost couldn't eat it. What happened?
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Vicky Z.

Yelp
10/10 would recommend! It was my first time trying Cava and Mediterranean food, and I absolutely loved it. The experience was comparable to making a bowl at Chipotle, where you could pick and choose what you wanted in the bowl. It was also very simple to order ahead from the Cava app for a quick pickup. I also appreciated that they gave a complementary piece of pita bread. Would definitely go back again for more.

Anthony G.

Yelp
Yesterday I had the spice lamb pita and the service from the woman serving the pita had phenomenal customer service from the service line to the dining in experience. I highly recommend dining here.

Ilya O.

Yelp
I truly amazing place. It quickly became my favorite lunch spot at Kendall square. The food is great - and staff too. Today I didn't pay attention and ordered my food at 10 am even though they open at 11. I could not wait till 11 as I had to drive off. So an employee just prepared my meal for me even though his day hasn't started yet. And he refused to take tip saying that he just wants to help me out.
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Amanda C.

Yelp
Busy lines at lunch. Better to order earlier and come grab it from the shelf but I always forget. I like to get their salads/grains mix with super greens and black lentils, then get half half of falafel + a meat. Great selection of stuff and my favorite lunch spot along with Clover in the kendall area. Bowls come with a pita on the side but only if you ask. The staff are kinda blah and look unhappy but otherwise service is really quick and effective
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Phil P.

Yelp
Displays charges $15 as a cancellation fee for a $14 order. It's difficult to reach them and It's not fair
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Frank T.

Yelp
Saw this on the walk back to the hotel, and noticed Mediterranean. Was craving something different, so I figured why not check it out. Looking through the window, I noticed it was a nice make your own setup. It had two rice options and black lentils as the base. I went with the jasmine rice. Then various humus options. I dabbled in the red pepper and chipotle humus. Next were the protein toppings. I over indulged and chose both the lamb and beef meat balls, and the chopped lamb stew. I finally topped it off with some cucumbers, red cabbage, kalamata olives, and quinoa all drizzled with a sriracha yogurt dressing. It wasn't bad, and was actually really filling. My bowl cost $15 and came with a small pita bread. Normally I would have rated higher, but the taste just wasn't there for me. I enjoyed it, but when comparing to the lamb and beef meatballs, rice, and pita from other Mediterranean restaurants, this was just so-so. The meat was kind of dry and tasteless. I'm used to nice infusion of spices in the meats at the Mediterranean places I go. Then again, it is a franchise bowl establishment, and not really experts in really good Mediterranean, hence the 3 stars. Don't get me wrong, if you are hungry, and like the sound of it, you will enjoy it and get your tummy full for the price, but if you know really good Mediterranean food, don't expect the same here.
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Neha K.

Yelp
GREAT new addition to Kendall. I've already have CAVA 3 times in the past 2 weeks - suffice to say that I'm hooked! I particularly love their vegetarian protein options - you can't go wrong with either the falafel or the harvest vegetable mix. As an added bonus, you can do half and half for the protein to try both. Additionally, their sauces and dips are to DIE FOR (no exaggeration) - some of my favorites so far are the Eggplant + Red Pepper Dip, Crazy Feta, Lemon Herb Tahini, and Sriracha Greek Yogurt, but I'm looking forward to trying them all. You can also get a free pita bread on the side! Pro tip: it gets super crowded during lunch time, so I'd recommend placing an order online for pick-up!

Ben J.

Yelp
Ordered online while in the store. After 15 minutes after the promise time, we found they put our order in the doordash orders, not in the pickup place marked by signage. Good food, kind of aggravating experience.
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Ivanna S.

Yelp
Stopped by CAVA for a quick casual lunch with a friend. The food was quick, tasty and healthy! It reminded me of a Chipotle how it was set up but Mediterranean style. Inside they had markings on the floors, all staff wore masks and it felt very COVID safe. We sat at a table outside for some fresh air and really enjoyed it. I ordered the Greens and Grains Bowl with Cilantro Rice, Supergreens, Falafel and loads of veggies and a few sauces. The best thing about this place is you can put whatever you want in your bowl. So, that means you can mix and match for your taste buds and how hungry you are. The portions sizes are also large so I was able o eat half for lunch and the other half of my meal for dinner. I totally will stop by again and you should check them out!
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Julianne S.

Yelp
Love the food here, but not the best for large orders. I placed a lunch order here for my office and while the order was made in a timely manner, many of the bowls were not packaged or sealed well, leading to 2 of the salads spilling over in my car. When attempting to call the store, there was no answer. I would recommend sealing the lids more securely, especially for larger orders.
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Gianna I.

Yelp
Quick, fresh, delicious Mediterranean bowls! I cam here for lunch with a friend and loved it. You get a lot of food for what you pay for, I saved half of my bowl for dinner! I ordered a salad grain bowl and loved it! The saffron basmati rice was delicious! I especially loved the crazy feta and garlic sauce that was on it. There are a ton of topping options and falafel available if you want to go the vegetarian route! There were markings on the floor that allowed for social distancing, and all the workers were in masks. They had indoor and outdoor seating available! If you're in the area and looking for an easy option, this is a great place to try out.

Valerie M.

Yelp
Ordered lunch 4 hours in advance (15 bowls). They cancelled the order last minute and don't pick up the phone! Terrible service.
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Suuba D.

Yelp
Cava is a really nice DMV based chain with locations in Cambridge. The food is pretty consistent across locations though I don't think the Kendall Square location was as good as other locations I've been too. The staff is nice but some of the toppings taste like they've been sitting out for a while.

PM M.

Yelp
I ordered a takeout with regular chicken with lettuce and white rice. Had the regular hummus and a tiny bit of spicy hummus. WOW.. the food is amazing. I really love their seasoning on the chicken!! Plan to try again soon :)
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Erica C.

Yelp
I ordered via UberEats and I got the wrong items/ order. I'm disappointed and would like a refund. I ordered falafel and I got chicken. I try to avoid meats due to my dietary restrictions.
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Jen F.

Yelp
The BEST dining experience in Boston! Delicious Mediterranean cuisine bursting with flavor and filled with a diverse range of healthy, hearty components. For $10, you get a hefty and hearty bowl packed with sauces and a free warm pita. Also, their Cambridge and Boston locations have excellent outdoor seating options! Stop by and try a bowl; you'll get as hooked as I am with one bite!
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Mario Wayne B.

Yelp
Great food, staff, prices and taste! best place to choose when on the go and you want something healthy and fulfilling!
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Brett M.

Yelp
Really solid food. Excellent quality, vegetables are fresh, and you end up with a reasonably healthy meal at the end of it. The staff at this location was excellent about food allergies, taking special care to prepare mine with new gloves. Honestly the one and only issue I have with Cava is that the food is extremely salty. That's the only negative I can possibly think of.
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Charles M.

Yelp
Dig Inn, Sweetgreen, Chipotle, Pokeworks... the list of quick service make-your-own-bowl places keeps getting longer by the week. CAVA might take the cake for being the best one out of the bunch, across three metrics: flavor, price, and a "feel good" after you eat it. The delicate mix of flavors you can achieve in a CAVA bowl is not something I've been able to replicate elsewhere; there is so much potential for deliciousness here. Prices are very reasonable as well - especially when you take portion sizes into account. They do not skimp here! Finally, the food is fresh as can be and doesn't leave me with the bloatedness I sometimes feel after eating a Chipotle bowl. This place is the king of make-your-own-bowls. Wow. Thank you CAVA.
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Natalie S.

Yelp
4.5 stars! My mom and I ordered salads. The server asked if I wanted a mix so I obliged. It had romaine, spinach, and kale. You can order 3 scoops of cream/sauce, so I ordered hummus, crazy feta, and red pepper sauce/cream (?). I ordered chicken and roasted vegetables as my proteins. However, apparently you can only order one protein, but the server still plopped on a tad of roasted vegetables. I absolutely loved the chicken--it was surprisingly flavorful and moist. The roasted vegetables were great, too. I loved the red pepper cream. Next time I come here I'm just going to order all 3 scoops of that in my bowl. The salad and complimentary pita bread were fine. I wasn't crazy about the crazy feta. My mom also loved the rice she ordered on top of her salad. CAVA exceeded my expectations.
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Urmi M.

Yelp
Got the family meal for my partner and I to enjoy a few meals. It was a pretty good quantity for the price and was quite nutritious as well as tasty! I'd say we comfortably enjoyed 5 servings out of it, with some sauces leftover. It came with a large portion of chicken and salad veggies. We could have maybe used more rice or wish the pita was included. Got assorted veggies and sauces, could have used more hummus as it's a staple for Mediterranean food. Got my friends pretty into this place as well!
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Nancy C.

Yelp
So glad CAVA came to Cambridge (their first location here!) in addition to their Back Bay and Fenway locations. It's right off Main St in Kendall Square, so super convenient for students/people who work in the area. This CAVA is just as good as the others - with build-your-own bowls, seasonal ingredients/specials, drinks, and more. They cater to a wide variety of diets since they have so many options, including Paleo, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, etc. I got a bowl with their greens mix and arugula, roasted veggies (seasonal), braised lamb (SO good - I get this every time), roasted red pepper hummus, hot harissa, tomatoes/cucumbers, olives, red pepper slaw, pickled onions, lemon tahini dressing, and date vinaigrette (seasonal). I also got a side of the tomato harissa soup and the blood orange ginger drink (I mixed that 1/2 and 1/2 with unsweetened jasmine iced tea to cut the sweetness). They definitely don't skimp on the portions here - you can also get a greens bowl or a pita. Their soup is great - I'm going to try and recreate the recipe (yum). I wish they had wifi in their locations, but otherwise, it's a great place to grab and go or sit and chill.

Sharee P.

Yelp
I enjoy Cava (Kendall sq) every day, but especially when I am on my way to an event! Jeff, Luz,&Cris are just a few of the employees that bring charisma and good customer service to the Cava Experience! Thanks for helping my stay healthy. PS the right rice is my fav!
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Chey T.

Yelp
love the options this place offers! currently with some seating indoors and a great outdoor area. can't go wrong with the selection o

Joe B.

Yelp
The Manager Jeff and his crew are unmatched in customer service and working efficiently. I go here for lunch minimum 2 times a week and have never had a bad experience. Highly recommend this location if you're in the city

Hickum L.

Yelp
Quick and tasty! Needed a quick protein packed, vegetarian meal and found what I needed at CAVA.