CAVA

Delicious build your own Mediterranean bowls. It’s counter service using the same concept as Chipotle. You start with a bed of grains and greens and then add on your protein and toppings. It was delicious - particularly the eggplant and the lamb meatballs. They did seem to be out of a number of options and it felt a little chaotic but overall a really good option for a quick lunch.

Pristine vibes + killer bowl served up by Jaidev & the night crew in Center City. Saffron rice, super greens, braised lamb, corn, cherry tomatoes + pickled onions. Scrumptious!

Delicious food. Decent service. Always healthy option. I love their lemonades.

The food is delicious. Atmosphere was very clean as well. However the workers in the front seem to get rude and snippy when it is busy. I understand a packed house as I work in service but at least keeping a smile and not acting annoyed when people want sauce is the bare minimum.

The team running this location is incredible - they truly exemplify synergy. They’re so efficient without sacrificing kindness and support. Such a great lunch! Also, my partner is gluten-free and dairy-free and had no problem identifying delicious options. Shout out to Lorraine and her team!

Nita gave great service and was very sweet to me, she walked me through everything to create my perfect bowl!

I was so excited to try this place because I love the fresh foods that the choices were. Unfortunately it kind of just tasted like slop. The people were quick and efficient. I was not used to the attitude, they did nothing wrong though. What I mean by attitude is like they were not overly friendly and didn't smile which is okay 😂 My sister raves about this place If someone was to bring me here again Iwould be hopeful because like I said usually I do love foods like this that they offer, the fresh salads. Maybe it was because it was all mixed up together and I like to individually eat my food.. I like my own salads at home overall Although I will say that I love that places like this are an option in America, we need to do better and work on our health :) thank you

I have an allergy to onions, so it's usually pretty hard for me to eat out. I was asking about the proteins and unfortunately all of them had onions or onion powder. I was giving up hope of getting dinner (I'm traveling for work and didn't have many options), but the grill chef Devon very kindly offered to grill me some steak without any of the seasoning. It was such an amazing gesture, I couldn't believe his kindness. He and Lex (I think the manager? it was a bit loud and hard to hear) really did all they could to make sure I got a delicious meal. Heartfelt thanks to you both!

This CAVA location can be inconsistent, but when it is good, it's really good! On my first visit, I felt slightly overwhelmed because I stopped by on a weekday at lunchtime. This is a trendy spot amongst the Center City 9-5 workers. The line can get long but it moves quickly, much like a Chipotle or Saladworks. I have only tried the Greek Salad option so far, but it is good enough that I have stuck with it consistently. I pair it with the Greek dressing, but they do give you the choice to pick any dressing you'd like as well as making any additions or modifications. My favorite part is the pita they give you. It gets stale quickly, so I recommend ordering when you are ready to eat, if you want the pita. The bathroom here requires a code. It can be tricky to get to the counter to ask someone for it once you realize due to the long line. If you think you'll need the bathroom during your visit, ask when you pay!

Like an elevated Mediterranean version of chipotle! You go down the line and pick whatever toppings you'd like to add to your bowl. Quite yummy! The flavors were strong and married together perfectly (for the first few bites). But, it felt like my bowl was swimming in sauce. Love the different textures and how refreshing it tastes, but the flavors do feel a bit too heavy after a couple of bites. Pro tip, ask for less sauce or don't order too many different sauces, as that will reduce the heaviness and make the bowl healthier too. Would definitely try different combinations and less sauce next time!

Their bowls will never leave you hungry! Generous portions of greens, grains, or a mix of both topped with a protein and your choice of an assortment of other delicious offerings like roasted corn, tomato & cucumber salad, pickled onions, broccoli salad, hummuses, pickles, etc. A great assortment of sauces to drizzle on top - with the majority of them being vegan. I could eat this meal every week and not get tired of it. Hoping one opens in the Midwest soon!

Although the lunch rush can be crazy. The crew especially Niya makes the process as efficient as possible.

This restaurant is not only the best eastern cuisine I've had in a long time, but I was overall satisfied and more by how fast and respectful the employees were. It's a calm environment with a wide variety of options and I wish I could have this every day. 5 stars.

Food was so fresh and delicious! Small little sit down area but great for a fast meal. Service was fast and friendly.

Fresh, healthy, flavorful and reasonably priced. Highly recommend, love the variety, especially the black lentil base.

My fav quick grab and go meal! :) Fresh ingredients and amazing dips/sauces! I absolutely love the greens and grains bowls and this location is pretty generous with the toppings.

Really probably more of a three star experience actually inside of this Cava, but the bowl itself was delicious and I feel for the staff here busting their butts during an incredibly busy rush hour. Seems to me like they have the volume to open like...5 more locations in the vicinity and still be plenty busy at all of them. I placed an online order for pickup at 1:30 and walked into a bit of a mess. You essentially had to wait in a blob of fellow online orderers, get up to the front, and tell them your name so they can make your order. It was an equal parts sad and fascinating experience of city dwellers just trying to eat $12 bowls. I think I will simply join the line and have it made in real time next time I go. I will say I was pleasantly surprised by the price. I went with a build your own bowl with supergreens, lentils, eggplant, sweet potato, chicken, and veggies. Yes to pickled onions always! The balsamic date vinaigrette is delish and I could eat this same bowl every single day and probably not get sick of it. Overall big room for improvement in giving staff the support they need to fulfill orders during the lunch rush, but quality is standard and up to the bar of what you'd expect from this chain. Will be back, hopefully during more off-peak hours.

A convenient spot offering good, healthy food options for quick and quality meals on the go.

Food is good. Portions are small especially if you do not eat many of the selections for you to choose from. They charge you extra if you ask for a little extra rice. Mind you they barely put enough to cover the bottom of the bowl. I paid $44.00 for 2 braised lamb rice bowls. I asked for a little more rice extra 1.49. I asked for extra tzizki sauce as that is the only sauce I want, upcharge for this. There is already a damn near $4 upcharge for braised lamb. Should have gone to Chipotle. I cant stand petty nickle and diming.

Have frequented this place a few times and the first few times I'd say my experience was average to good. Had two harissa AVOCADO bowls ($50+) delivered from this shop tonight (through CAVA's website) and both were missing avocados. Bummer, but whatever, I suspect that they may have run out of avocados (this happened to be the case once when I visited in person). So I contact support and let them know that my order was incorrect, assuming that they would give me a refund for at least a portion of my bill. No, they gave me $5 STORE credit for my $50+ incorrect order. I'm fairly certain that they charge $3+ extra for avocado when you make your own bowl, so the $5 credit doesn't even cover the cost of the missing avocado from the two bowls I ordered. This is just bad customer service. Too many other options around (and ones that treat their customers right) to treat your customers this way. EDIT: can't respond to company's reply, so editing original review. See screenshot evidencing $3.20 charge for avocado. Also, a $5 store credit is not a reimbursement...

The food is always delicious but the staff and service have gained a bad reputation. They're slow, running their mouth, and don't have any sense of urgency. It's actually so bad that I started making these bowls at home ever since I found out that they sell the cava dips and dressings in the store--I figured why bother with the hassle! There aren't many in the city unfortunately, maybe if they opened more stores they'd have happier staff and customers; spread the madness out a bit lol but the food is top tier. I had a hard time learning what to get from here but after my trail and error I finally got it down pack so this is what I order--Brown rice, romaine, crazy feta, tzatziki, eggplant dip, red pepper hummus, roasted veggies, pickled onion, red cabbage, corn, pico, falafel, honey harissa dressing, garlic dressing and pita chips on the side... Thank me later

Walking in around 4:45, it was packed but not too much. Looking at the looks of the work area I take it they were swamped with orders at one point in time but cleanliness isn't a strong suit here. We ended up getting Two bowls. My wife had the Chicken and I had half spicy Chicken and the Braised Lamb. Wanted the spicy lamb meatballs at first but nothing was restocked. No romaine lettuce, no feta cheese. This was my first time so I made due with what was available. We're not that picky about certain things but I can see what would frustrate other customers. Most of the staff was attentive but the one dude didn't have the best customer service. Just didn't seem like he wanted to give much help. Can't remember all the toppings I got, but it came together. This is way better than Chipotle. The braised lamb was probably the best lamb I ever tasted. Worth the upcharge. Not a big fan of the crazy feta or the olives. Everything else was on point. If they had a lil more structure in there as far as being presentable this is easily a top place in the city

I would call this Chipotle 2.0, but honestly it's at *least* Chipotle 10.0. Extremely healthy, diverse, and well-seasoned options to choose from at every station: Base: basmati rice & mixed greens are my go to Protein: braised lamb is +$3.15 more but oh my gosh it is melt in your mouth worth it, plus a hefty serving of protein to keep you satiated. Spicy lamb meatballs are also great, and they're gluten-free! "Dips": Harissa & red Pepper hummus are my fave- and they use olive oil in the harissa!! None of that cheap inflammatory vegetable oils (like chipotle, cough cough) Toppings: pickled red onions & juicy cucumbers, cabbage slaw that's actually good, pickles, and olives are my faves. Service is quick and friendly, though when I went at 1pm on a Wednesday the line was at least ten deep, so recommend going slightly off hours if possible (I came back at 2 and only a few people were indoors eating with nobody in line). This is my new favorite casual place for a take-out, filling lunch when I'm in center city, and love biking over to Rittenhouse Park afterwards to kick off my shoes, lay in the grass, and indulge. Bravo, Cava, and please keep up the nutritious options!!

Solid healthy option, with some fixable flaws. Ordered the Green & grains bowl via Uber eats. Opted for two proteins: chicken and falafel and boy do I regret it. The falafel is bad, mushy and borderline inedible. The chicken was a lot better; good spice level. The online ordering system is also flawed; where sauce on the side customization is not allowed. I needed to call the store and make the request by phone which is less than convenient. Lastly, the free and included pita I was supposed to receive, didn't happen. Expo/quality control checks are clearly non existent. Good potential, but missed the mark.

Honestly, I absolutely love Cava so it really breaks my heart that I'm writing this review, but I have to. 2/2 DoorDash orders they have gotten something wrong. I get it, they're probably understaffed but when you're missing ingredients, have feta added when it wasn't even on the list, wrong dressing put, and no pita added, that's where I draw the line. The solution is always to contact cava support but what about my current bowl?! I did not pay $30+ for a bowl that isn't even what I ordered. Hopefully the in store experience is better, but definitely not the delivery

Highly disappointed. This place has gone downhill since the pandemic. I got mixed greens for my salad and as you can see in the photo pieces are large and brown, looks old. Don't recommend and will not be returning!

My first experience at CAVA was here. Service of the woman who made my food was okay. She was talking for a majority of the time, while I was ordering my food. The cashier however, was the BOMB! Wish I could have gotten his name to shout him out.

Long lines but worth the short wait. Terrific custom bowls. Got the Greek salad bowl and it was delicious. Tender chunks of chicken (generous portions) and free warm pita. Highly recommend

Food was fire, service was not so fire. Every single employee in the line was impatient and did not crack a smile at all. My friend and I felt really out of place with the coldness of the employees. In terms of food, I got a green + grains bowl with falafel and I loved all the flavors of the dips and sauces together. Healthy and delicious.

This is a solid healthy lunch, but I was hoping it would be as good as Mezzeh and it isn't. Mezzeh has more options and the flavors are much bolder. They also give you a bigger, hotter pita and don't upcharge you for so many things. Their arugula is a heck of a lot fresher, too. I went later in the afternoon. It wasn't very crowded, but everything seemed completely disorganized. I can't imagine how bad things get during the lunch rush. Edit: As anticipated, this place is an absolute mob scene during the lunch rush. They're consistently 15-20 minutes behind on pickup times. I don't get it. If you can't have my food ready by 12:30 just tell me it will be ready at 1. Edit 2: I'll add a star back as soon as they manage to have my order ready within 10 minutes of my scheduled pickup time.

If I could give zero stars I would. I never seen anything like this going to a place. I ordered online 45 mins ahead of time and my food wasn't ready and proceeded to wait another 25 mins there because they had so many online orders. They took people's orders walking in before I ordered which didn't make sense. There was probably about 30 people just waiting because they were so behind. I didn't even eat my bowl yet and I don't care how good or isn't good it is

Very nice staff and delicious bowl. Drinks good too. And good environment I love this place. Would recommend

Nita had great service and made sure to get my food right and made sure to be nice. Also was very helpful. she was very patient with me and the food was delicious very good work.

Food was a disappointment. You stood in long lines to order. When we got to the front of the line we were rushed to order, we had questions about dishes that didn't get answered. No places to sit that were cleaned off. Never again!

First time trying this place and ordered pickup for lunch. The place was a complete madhouse, with a huge line to order at the counter and a separate huge line for pickup. There were probably 30 or so people waiting to pick up their orders alone. An order would come out maybe once every few minutes. After waiting for 15 minutes after my scheduled pickup time, a guy behind the counter yells out that it will be another 15 to 20 minutes for those with pickups. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time to waste, so I just left at that point. They can keep the food, the $12 I paid for it, and this crappy review. Will not return.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE cava... but this location is awful. The fryer has been down for months so if you want falafel or chips, forget about it. I've ordered delivery several times from here because I love the food so much, but EVERY time the order takes hours to be prepared, they forget items in my order, and replace items in my order without me asking.

I love a good Mediterranean place. This place definitely hits the spot. I liked the portions (2 scoops of hummus). I enjoyed the idea of pickled onions on the dish as well- it added some zest. My coworker got the falafel but there was nothing in the middle of it. He was quite disappointed by the portions.

I have been ordering from the store on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia since the opening. Went there again today. No pita, they don't accept cash, and the service? Ugh the worst. Everyone working there is miserable and don't dare ask for anything. You'll get the dirty looks. Quality of food was poor. I ordered grilled chicken in my salad that was burnt and dry. Where is the management of this store? Do better. Hire people that actually want to work and care about the customers.

I can eat here everyday. Food is tasty and fresh. The place is clean and the staff/service is friendly and quick. Definitely going to be back!

Was excited to try this spot after a food blogger I follow raved about it. My daughter and I happened to be in center city so I treated us to some food. I got the lentil avocado bowl and a falafel pita. She order a chicken bowl. Not sure which one. The falafel pita was good. A little too garlicky for me but still enjoyable. I took the lentil avocado bowl to work for lunch and to my dismay the avocado was moldy! Yes moldy!!!!! It made me skeptical about the rest of the bowl. So essentially that was a waste of money. Glad my daughter got to enjoy hers. If you dare to eat here I would say skip the avocado or at least inspect it beforehand.

I have been going to cava for years the food has yet to disappoint. Everything is always fresh however at the downtown location the service can sometimes suck. Not from the actual workers but management. They always seem to have attitudes and please don't ask them a question.

Nita was vey helpful and had a great tone and attitude while at the register 10/10

So good- so healthy. It was very refreshing to Have a light snack that didn't make me feel heavy. It was flavorful and the bread held up, which is good because no one wants a sloppy sandwich.

Came in this morning for lunch & met Hayley and asked him a recommendation on what to get & he gave a great recommendation. Also is customer service was so great I came back for dinner with my daughter .& then I met Victoria another great employee

This Cava has gone above and beyond every single time I've ever been here. The staff is always incredible, I haven't received customer service like this in years. The food is delicious and always kept fresh.

We happened upon this place on our way back to our hotel. The menu looked good so we decided to give it a try. The create your own bowl was an explosion of flavor ! So many lovely options both spicy and not. Staff was welcoming and efficient; this was truly a tucked away gem!

I have received exceptional service from staff especially Nita ! I will definitely be back again !!

The staff greets me every time I walk in, and even during busy rush hour. Since I'm a regular, Bree knows exactly what I want so I'm usually in and out. Makes me feel valued as a customer and I love the freshness of the food. I am thankful for the staff at CAVA. Bree, you are a superstar and a keeper, thanks for always being so pleasant.

The place is always swamped for lunch but they move thru the line quickly. Staff is friendly and always smiling. Shout out to Nita for keeping the line moving

The food is of excellent quality and reasonably priced, service phenomenal and the ambiance always clean and up to the excellence experienced throughout the chain. My husband and I eat here often because it's health, delicious and reasonable priced. The service 2 weeks ago was above and beyond. The food and service is alway great and evening of March 19th, 2024, did not disappoint. The server went above and beyond to deliver pleasant service with a smile, fresh delicious balsamic date chicken bowl and pita chips with all ingredients at the proper temperature. I entered the store close to closing time and still received excellent service. The server, pleasant and helpful, she was awesome. The service and food were on point. I will definitely be back.

Probably my ninth or tenth Cava location I've been to, and I must say I am still super impressed! First ever Cava not in NYC I am a CAVA regular, primarily at their 42nd street location in Nyc. First time I had Cava and I must say I was very impressed, and after my nth meal I must say this is still my favorite fast, healthy, casual spot! Fresh ingredients, healthy, big portions, and great prices is what comes into mind. You can choose between ~4 types of veggies or grains, choose 3 out of ~6 dips, pick 1 out of ~4 proteins, have unlimited toppings, and top it off with a sauce of your choice. Eggplant dip, chicken are my favorites here! The tzatiki sauce was also great, and the lemon herb tahini taste fantastic and healthy. Unlike the 42nd street location, there are seating options here at the back and front. Lots of tables and high tops, with even power outlets for a quick charge. Would come back here again if I need a quick, healthy, and decently priced meal!

I have ordered from this place multiple times now and received the wrong order. I am not sure whether UberEats or Cava is at fault but I am very frustrated. To a certain extent, it is my fault for ordering from here again. However, I love Cava and was pumped when I saw that they deliver on UberEats to my house. I love their Crazy Feta - it is such a unique Mediterranean dip. I am sure I will be back but will be more careful with my order. It is probably better to stick with their pre-made options that picking something custom that's more complicated.

Absolutely can't believe a chain is this good - I drive well over an hour to get here - so many choices mostly very healthy - hope more of these open!

The greens and grains BYOB with Spinach, Brown Rice, Harissa Honey Chicken, Cucumber, Tomato, Onion, Corn, Kalamata Olives, Feta cheese (Sprinkle), Signature Crazy Feta dip, Garlic Dressing, is always my go to. The service at this location was fast and friendly despite the busy lunch crowd, food was fresh and atmosphere was clean and welcoming. Cava never disappoints for a healthy fast food option.

This is like a Mediterranean Chipotle but even healthier. The staff at the one downtown Philly not too friendly but the food is worth it.

Amazing food! Love their bowls and they have lots of toppings to choose from! Great location that's easy to get to in center city.

tl;dr touted as the Chipotle for Mediterranean food, offering build-your-own bowls and upscale juices on tap My partner has been raving about CAVA since her summer out in DC, and she was fittingly ecstatic upon hearing that the chain would open up an outpost in Philly. CAVA opts for a modern interior, featuring high ceilings, wood tables, and whitewashed brick walls juxtaposed between vertical black slats. Vivid food imagery decorates the walls, and oblique lighting accentuates each picture and table. Two-seater tables scattered among the substantial open space, and the long kitchen in the back leaves plenty of space for potential long lines. Just before the bar is a large take-out area, with several shelves for all your pre-ordering needs. My big gripe is that the restaurant always seems to be teetering toward uncomfortably warm, which is especially problematic when I'm loaded up with winter apparel. My go-to order is the Grilled Meatballs Greens + Grains bowl. The meatballs are always well-cooked and robustly Mediterranean, while the greens offer a light mix-in to the otherwise heavy starch base. The jalapeño-infused Crazy Feta dip is delicious, offering a zing to complement the unique flavor of feta. The Yogurt Dill sauce is reminiscent of tzatziki, serving as a fresh and light dressing to tie together the components of the bowl. On top of all this, you are offered a complimentary pita, giving you the chance to craft a gyro-like wrap using your meats and toppings. Even after eating a whole bowl, your stomach doesn't feel the same heaviness of, say, a burrito (sorry I'm not sorry, Chipotle). This past visit, my partner's bowl was on the watery side, much to her dismay, so I can't give CAVA a 5-stars. That being for under $10, CAVA certainly is a welcome fast-casual option to the Rittenhouse dining scene.