CAVA

Mediterranean restaurant · University Place

CAVA

Mediterranean restaurant · University Place

1

8936 J M Keynes Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262

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Highlights

Mediterranean restaurant for thoughtful food with customizable greens & grains bowls, pitas & salad.  

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8936 J M Keynes Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262 Get directions

cava.com
@cava

$10–20 · Menu

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8936 J M Keynes Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262 Get directions

+1 704 243 5900
cava.com
@cava
𝕏
@cava

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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"Bocado will join other restaurants like Greek and Mediterranean eatery Cava." - Erin Perkins

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Carlos Bell

Google
First time trying this to see what the hype was about and it definitely exceeded my expectations! Fresh quality food and the cleanliness of the restaurant is top tier. I like the fact that you can build your own salad bowl/pita wraps with any fresh veggies and meats you can choose from. My personal favorite is the SuperGreens salad. The lemonade was refreshing. I’ll give it a 10/10 so definitely will be back.

Aspen Andersson

Google
I recently tried a custom bowl from CAVA, and it did not disappoint! I went with a base of spinach, brown rice, topped with grilled chicken, tzatziki and crazy feta, and a mix of corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, feta, and greek vinaigrette and lemon herb tahini dressing. The portion size was decent for the price, and the ingredients tasted fresh. If you’re looking for a healthy yet delicious and fast meal, CAVA is a must-try!

Camila

Google
I always get the same thing from cava no matter which when I go to it’s 10 / 10 recommend! I will always be in the mood to eat here!! Don’t forget to get a complementary side of pita, but still buy the pita chips original flavor! Beyond delicious!

Jelissia Saunders

Google
This location never wants to give you what you pay for and sometimes the food is not seasoned enough. The workers there are not as friendly from my experience. I spend $14-$17 on a bowl and I barely get any toppings. It’s mostly rice half the time. In my experience it’s not a great location to go to spend your money.

Yogananda Thanniru

Google
Wholesome and delicious meal.I have ordered greens + grains bowl with half splendid greens and half brown rice. Coming to dips, harissa was awesome and traditional hummus and eggplant were good. Mains were half grilled chicken and half roasted white sweet potato. Toppings were fiery broccoli, fire roasted corn, pickled onions, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, romaine, crumbled feta and pita crisps with balsamic date vinaigrette and garlic dressing.

Dina Giryes

Google
The bread was very good My husband took Balsamic date chicken and he liked so much I took spicy lamb meatballs but I didn’t like it a lot Attention ⚠️ If you are an allergic person, check carefully before the salad is prepared for you what each salad contains.

Charmaine

Google
My first time and won’t be my last time trying Cava’s Greens & Grains bowl. Everything was delicious and fresh. The crazy feta hummus w/ pita is a delicious, unique and healthy part of each meal which comes with your bowl (optional). I ordered 1/2 harissa chicken (extra $1.50, they also have regular grilled) and 1/2 steak (extra $3.50) w/ basmati saffron rice (you can get w/ or w/o rice), super greens (chopped kale, Brussel sprouts, cabbage), extra fire roasted corn, extra tomato/cucumber, pickled red onions, pita chips dressed with balsamic date vinaigrette. Man, I’m so glad we stopped here because it did not disappoint!!! We had left IKEA and otw home and as I’m driving down I-85 I remember there’s a Cava in University area. I live in Union County and it takes 30-45 mins to get to University. Anyways, it was worth a stop over before heading home. If you love healthy option, definitely try this place out!

T Brazz

Google
I absolutely love this place! We typically go for the build-your-own bowl, and it’s always so delicious. The variety of options for customizing your bowl is just perfect. It’s a great way to enjoy a meal that’s tailored to your taste!

Peter T.

Yelp
Natasha is at the Blakeney location. she is awesome, explained the process and very professional. We come to this Cava exclusively because she is located here and her service is outstanding. Natasha is the reason that we keep coming back!!

Christin N.

Yelp
We eat at Cava about once a month and LOVE IT! We Have been to University one, Birkdale, and South end stores! And also went to a few out of town when traveling. University had been a let down each time we go as this one is the closest to our home. Staff is not friendly and their Falafel is never fresh! As my husband and I are creatures of habit, we get the same thing EVERY TIME! Grains n Greens Super Greens Half the amount of each lentils/brown rice and have been doing it this was since the Birkdale location opened several years ago. The guys that opened that location really sold that place and did such a GREAT JOB getting that one started!!!! Well we were told for the first time EVER we couldn't do half and half by an employee and the manager Heather also backed her up and said we couldn't do it! Huge let down as I understand I couldn't have a full portion of 3 things but just wanted a little rice little lentils. They also make it very quickly and sloppily even though they weren't busy. Felt very rushed and as we we're annoying them by knowing exactly what we wanted as we make it the same EVERY-TIME! Might need a little TLC at this location probably will drive the extra time to get better quality food and nicer service! As $35 for 2 bowls should be up to par to the other locations.

Jennifer E.

Yelp
Met up with a friend at this location for lunch. Normal Cava style establishment. In the university area. There are lots of parking spaces with plenty of seating inside and outside. The food is great and awesome. No complaints from this location at all.

Kimberly C.

Yelp
Pictured is the new steak mezze salad. I was highly anticipating tasting the new grilled steak but was disappointed with the lack of flavor of the steak. Also had my favorite pita chips. However, the pita chips were lacking flavor or seasoning as well. The servers were friendly though.

Smitty S.

Yelp
I'll drive past this location to go to concord. It's an entirely different experience. Customer service is the absolute worst, they ration out portions like they are the kids size , charge their rewards members for every little thing. I wish I could give them 1star.. You build a business one customer at a time and lose it the same way.

Tameka G.

Yelp
Great place for a well balanced meal. I always enjoy my food. They get really busy during the lunch time rush but it hasn't stopped me from going. Great service and clean. They even have outside seating.

Stephanie L.

Yelp
I mean, you "cava" be kidding me!! - See what I did there?!? This gives me Mediterranean chipotle vibes! The set up is reminiscent of chipotle, you fall in line once you walk in and when you get to the counter you let them know what you want, your food is passed down to the cashier where you pay. I ordered two bowls; Balsamic Date Chicken - I ordered it as is with no additions or substitutions (grilled chicken, eggplant dip, red pepper hummus, corn, brown rice, spinach and balsamic date vinaigrette). This bowl was delicious, sweet and savory with a burst of flavor in every bite! - 10/10 Harissa Avocado - Ordered with no additions or substitutions (Harissa honey chicken +hot harissa vinaigrette, crazy feta, hummus, corn, Avocado, rice, super greens) This bowl was yummy as well but a bit too spicy for my liking, it was the one that came up as a favorite in the reviews, but again to spicy for me! - 7/10 The oatmeal cookie with dark chocolate and sea salt - 10/10 Also try their fountain drinks, unique flavors! I'm a fan of CAVA!!

Khadijah M.

Yelp
I like the fact that the place was clean. Although it was busy not one person was nasty or had an attitude while serving me. I created my own bowl and everything in it was delicious. The Strawberry Citrus juice has real strawberries in it and is just the epitome of a good summer drink. It nice that you can eat outside and enjoy the weather.

Kaitlyn H.

Yelp
chicken was great, service was top-notch and fast, very generous. was very clean behind the counters, hygenic.

Vee H.

Yelp
I was in the University area around lunchtime, so I decided to stop at Cava for a lunch bowl. It wasn't crowded when I arrived so that was a plus, but since it was a nice day the outside seating area was crowded. Cava has a nice selection of meats, vegetables sauces, and cheeses to create a very tasty bowl. The vegetables are fresh and chicken was seasoned very well. The only downside to this restaurant was the inside dining area, which needed some TLC; there was food on the floor, napkins and dirty utensils on the floor as well and a sauce spill that was very displeasing to patrons dining inside. There was enough staff working to have someone come and maintain the dining area so it wasn't an eyesore for those dining in. One worker did come out to refill the messy utensil area, however she walked right past the spill on the floor and put a few more utensils in the holders, without wiping the mess around the utensil counter or the floor. Cava has really good food and I would hate to see them go under because of the untidiness of the dining area or the lack of care from the workers.

Kendall C.

Yelp
Suzie at the university Cava in charitte NC was exceptionally helpful! she should be recognized with a raise for her fabulous customer service!

Tanisha A.

Yelp
Cava is soooo good!! I relocated to Charlotte so we never had this place before up north but I absolutely love doing a build your own salad bowl! I get the brown rice as the base then Romain mix and add chicken as my protein then the feta sauce and tazaki sauce with it and some avocado and it's delicious! It's sort of a fast food concept so you order your food in a line and it's prepared as you order. It's not a fancy place but the location I frequent is very clean the staff is friendly and very helpful when guiding you for options. It's a healthier option to fast food and is quite tasty!

Stacey A.

Yelp
Service is always great here, tables clean. Even when there is a long line it moves quickly and plenty of indoor seating as well as outdoor. The options to make your own salad are so plentiful I'm confident I've never made they same salad twice and they have all been delicious.

Reekila T.

Yelp
I order uber eats for lunch asked for double pita crisp and double feta . They barely put one serving of each . I eat cava occasionally , so I was disappointed and it even was on my build of the order my serving size of those items . 1 star Midtown and Southpark are the best locations so far

Cynthia R.

Yelp
It was a complete madhouse when I went in abt 1:30, long line but thankfully it appeared they were fully staffed so there wasn't a long wait to get to placing my order. Staff appeared visibly frustrated and tired but still managed to be friendly in spite of. I have never worked in food service but I can certainly imagine nonstop moments can really wear a person out, but to still maintain a smile thru it all shows a lot abt the culture there. I got the braised lamb bowl with plenty of veggies and it was absolutely delicious. Healthy and fresh food options will always be a win in my book. They also make special drinks in house that you won't find anywhere else. I didn't try any because I am a sweet tea girl, but I saw others seemingly enjoying the various flavors of juices.

Danielle D.

Yelp
Of all the cava locations this one is the WORSE. I went in today and the place was a huge mess. Garbage on the tables. (No one was seated inside to eat.) the space between the toppings and on the line there was just food and sauces everywhere. And I'm able to look past that but what really annoyed me and made me decide to never return to this location was the guy helping me. He would throw everything on my plate. He literally lifted the scooper in the air for the food to drop like if it was entertaining to him. At the end i asked for lemon tahini sauce and the bottle was most empty, instead of getting more, he decided to keep banging and squeezing so sauce was going everywhere. And then when he finished he just looked at me and said "that's it?" He rang me up and walked off to help the next lady. He didn't give me my receipt. Didn't give me my cup. No bag. I literally grabbed everything from the other side of the counter on my own. I could have easily just walked off and not even paid and he would have never known. As i was getting my drink ( which by the way all the lemonades were empty) the lady ordering with him was making him redo her bowl and telling him to not slam her food into the bowl like that. Clearly it's an ongoing issue. No one like to be served as if we're eating slop. This location will never see me again.

Joey E.

Yelp
DO NOT ORDER DELIVERY. $20 Uber eats order. Forgot my Taziki, hummus, red hummus. Just because someone orders delivery doesn't mean that the WORKERS think that they can get away with giving the TINIEST amount of toppings.

Allan A.

Yelp
Got in at 11:30, ordered a lemon chicken bowl, and sat down with no wait. At noon, the line was 20 plus people. The bowl was filling. Good mix of fresh ingredients. Bowl and drink was $18. Charlotte is a bit more expensive than other parts if NC.

Deby J.

Yelp
I get a vegetarian bowl and the employee who made mine wanted to charge me extra for lentils and rice after I asked him to add more since I only get vegetables. I'm a regular at Cava all around Charlotte and this has never happened to me. The result? A smaller portion that left me regretting choosing this store. I prefer the Concord Mills store and won't be coming back here. Plus he had an unfriendly attitude. I think his name tag said Gunner.

Alana G.

Yelp
This Cava never misses for me. It's quick and tasty, though pricier but worth it to me as the service is also good. I've tried other similar places and didn't enjoy them as much so I'll stick to Cava. Favorites/Recommendations: - Mains: grilled chicken, falafel (both are flavorful and I personally think you get a good amount for the price) - Toppings: fire roasted corn, pickled onions, tomato + onion or tomato + cucumber, persian cucumber, pita crisps - Dip: Tzatziki - Dressing: Yogurt dill on the side - Don't forget: Side pita (free) - if ordering on an app, make sure you select the side pita - Sides: Pita chips (great seasoning and cooked to crunchy perfection)

Tanya J.

Yelp
Love Cava!! Their food taste good and is healthy! The service from the manager and crew is always great. My food of choice and my store of choice.

Jason F.

Yelp
I got the market spice. It was ok but the falafels were really salty. I like how you can customize it and not sure if the falafels are always like that or not. I was happy to find a vegan option close by while I was in town but not sure if I'd come back.

Cole C.

Yelp
Some of the best customer service I've seen at a CAVA. Appreciate the cashier being so friendly and welcoming. I went at lunch on 4/4/2024

Joey H.

Yelp
The food is really good and fresh; and for what you get is a good value. Our order for three was placed online and ready within 10 minutes. The restaurant was clean but, had a section with standing water which was cordoned off (it appeared the drink machine was leaking). The bathroom was really clean and the sink was a normal sink that you control - no waving hand around getting the water to run. They also have paper towels. Since we placed our order online we had minimal contact with the staff. However, the little interaction we did have was pleasant. We didn't hear any drama coming from the kitchen. We will definitely be going back for more!

Marie B.

Yelp
Delicious every time! I enjoy that I can customize my bowl the way I want and that all the Ingredients taste really fresh. I love that they have biodegradable utensils.

Amanda M.

Yelp
Stopped in to try a new type of food I don't really usually eat ... but was pleasantly surprised!

Nina B.

Yelp
I frequent this location in person often but today was my first time doing an online pickup order. Got a chicken bowl, $11.15. TO SAY I WAS SUPER DISAPPOINTED WHEN I GOT MY BOWL IS AN UNDERSTATMENT. All the ingredients were there but it looks like they used a teaspoon for everything. The bow wasn't even half full. I called them 3 times and each time got voicemail. Not happy at all. No one wants to pay $11.00 and get nothing in return.

Tamela A.

Yelp
This place is always consistent i got Saffron white rice Harissa Honey Chicken Corn tomato+cumber Garlic Dressing Hot Harissa vinaigrette Don't forget the pita chips! , sometimes i add a small honey drizzle to compliment the chicken

Olivia M.

Yelp
Great option for something healthy in the area ! I love that topics are unlimited ! Will definitely be back for more options ! Bowls are roughly 12-13 a bowl so it could be pricey for a family

Beau B.

Yelp
Friendly & efficient service, fresh ingredients, and healthy portions each time. Can't go wrong with any of the options.

Jamaica K.

Yelp
Really enjoyed this spot! Very light and definitely filling! I would recommend to anyone!

Tasha B.

Yelp
First time ever eating at one of these locations. I absolutely love places where you can create your own meal. Being able to add fresh ingredients is always a plus. I opted to eat in, they have tables blocked off to meet capacity requirements right now. I decided to create a bowl. They are definitely good sized bowls, I ended up taking a little under half home with me for later. It was still tasty later.

K Y.

Yelp
It's like chipotle but Mediterranean style. The chicken was a little burnt overall very healthy. Good for a nice refreshing change from chipotle.

Laurie I.

Yelp
More like 3.5 stars. I tried this place for the first time and enjoyed my food. It was very tasty and pretty filling. The problem I have with it is that it's really salty sometimes. Once it tasted like somebody dropped the salt shaker in it. In one spot of my platter it was ridiculously salty. I think if the preparers put more emphasis on quality control they would be much better. Overall I enjoy Cava but after that salty experience I'm thinking twice before going back.

Maria M.

Yelp
Great staff, super good food! 10/10 recommendations Grilled ChickenSalad BowlLemon Herb Tahini

LK R.

Yelp
I rarely write reviews but I must in this instance. My toddler and I ate a kid's meal from here yesterday for lunch and as I type we are both sick. We ate the regular chicken and black lentils. She and I both have been suffering from sharp stomach pains and diarrhea. It smells just like the food we ate and my poor baby is passing the black lentils in her stool fully in tact. She has a fever and has been crying bent over in pain. Needless to say, we won't ever eat here again. And if I need to take her to the hospital, I will be contacting corporate to pay the bill. Shame on you. Do better.

Jayme O.

Yelp
Justin was so good made my bowl perfectly. I love cava so so much. the service was great such nice people working

Richard T.

Yelp
Great service. Good food. First time here. From out of town. Loved the juice bar especially the lemonade

Ysmari S.

Yelp
The service was spectacular. The food extremely amazing. The location was clean and nice. I definately recommend it. It's the perfect spot for lunch.

Mimi's G.

Yelp
It's really a shame how Cava Locations are giving customers "less food" when ordering online!!! Shame on You!!!

Lauren A.

Yelp
I think I'm addicted lol. This place is literally the Mediterranean chipotle but in my opinion more flavorful. I don't get much in my bowl because I'm a picky eater but i think I get enough. As my base I get a mix of brown rice and mixed greens (I believe it's Brussels sprouts, kale, and cabbage) with grilled chicken. The Hot HarissaSuper Greens Bowl Vinaigrette I get on the side so I can control how much is put in my bowl but it's BOMB! They have tons of other things you can put in the bowl that makes it great! This location usually goes really fast and are nice. Definitely worth a try.

Karissa O.

Yelp
Really good food! Great flavors. Would definitely go again. It was our first time & the servers weren't exactly the most gracious when it came to answering our questions. Also, it's pretty pricey for the amount you get, especially since you have to pay little fees here and there for add-ons. Overall, good experience

Christine M.

Yelp
Great food! I live their Greek Salad. Very pleasantly surprised by the quality! We're coming back for sure. I'm

Keith W.

Yelp
Cava is refreshing take on bowls! I enjoyed having so many options when it come to toppings and also more vegetables to choose from. I especially love the different dressing flavors. All of the options looked & tasted fresh, I'm now a loyal customer.

Madison C.

Yelp
Absolutely horrible service. Placed a mobile order with 1/2 roasted veggies and 1/2 honey Harrisa chicken as the proteins and received a bowl with ZERO proteins at all, primarily just rice, and only about 1/2 of the toppings ordered. Upon discovery of this mistake my husband immediately took the bowl back to be corrected and instead of correcting the issue, the so called "manager" Meca accused him of eating all the missing items out of the bowl and refused to remake it. Receipts proved that the missing items were both ordered and paid for. I highly suggest this location seek better management to fill the position and work on attention to detail and customer service.

Brad S.

Yelp
Cabs has the best flavors and clean Mediterranean bowls. I always get a chicken bowl with spinach and lentils and rice. Get the garlic sauce!

Miranda D.

Yelp
Ben is the best server, love this Cava, Always come! Most reliable one. Always good taste

Cheryl M.

Yelp
This was my 2nd time coming to Cava and it was delicious. It doesn't feel like fast food and it makes you feel good after you eat it. I have the saffron rice, half lamb/half chicken, black lentils, cabbage slaw, pickled onions and dill yogurt dressing with a small piece of pita bread and hummus. This is very good!

Dustin S.

Yelp
First time here 4pm on 10/07/2023 and honestly I get to counter and the employee Grace just stares at me. Doesn't say one word. Didn't ask what I wanted or nothing, did ask if I want toppings, just stood there and looked at me annoyed and major attitude. And the kept aggressively slinging my bowel not passing it down. Not coming back if she works there. Cashier was nice tho.

Chantel B.

Yelp
I love the food here. It's so fresh . I will say that ordering inside is so much better than online. Two times in one week my order was wrong. It was corrected but still an inconvenience. That's my only complaint.