CAVA — Restaurant in Mesa

It must have been the summer of 2016 when I visited my sister in DC. She had brought me to the mall and showed me the glory of CAVA. It has been 8 years and I have never forgotten. Maybe it was how glitzy the mall was, but CAVA was incredible.

I've had CAVA since but there is nothing better than having CAVA in your own area! I am not ashamed to tell you how loudly I gasped a few weeks ago when I saw the sign go up.

My husband took me out to lunch today, and it was amazing. There is plenty of parking even though there's construction going on in the same lot.

The store is bright and clean, and the service is so friendly! We opted to have our lunch dine-in so they gave us the reusable bowls.

I ordered a bowl with half saffron rice and arugula. You can choose 3 dips so I got: Roasted eggplant, Tzatziki, and Red Pepper Hummus. I ordered grilled chicken, but I've had their lamb before and that is also a good option! I also got it with: fire roasted corn, pickled pickles, persian cucumber, kalamata olives and my dressing was yogurt dill.

I love their ice tea selection too, and it's nice to have jasmine tea on tap.

Definitely recommend to download the app to earn your rewards AND to order ahead. While we were seated and eating, the traffic increased and it...

The lamb meatballs at CAVA are nothing short of a culinary gem—deeply flavorful, tender, and infused with a warmth that feels both comforting and elevated. From the very first bite, you can taste the care that goes into their preparation. The lamb itself is juicy and delicately seasoned, carrying a subtle earthiness that sets it apart from any ordinary meatball. Unlike beef or chicken, the lamb has a natural richness that pairs perfectly with Mediterranean spices, making every bite feel layered and robust.

What makes these meatballs truly shine is the way they harmonize with CAVA’s other offerings. When paired with their bright tzatziki, you get a refreshing contrast: the cool tang of yogurt, cucumber, and lemon lifting the savory depth of the lamb. Add in a drizzle of harissa or garlic dressing, and suddenly you have a balance of spice and creaminess that elevates the entire dish. Each element—whether it’s hummus, fresh greens, or warm grains—becomes a stage for the meatballs to shine on.

The texture is worth noting too: they’re tender without falling apart, perfectly seared on the outside for just the right bite, yet soft and juicy within. There’s no heaviness, only satisfaction, which makes them feel like a centerpiece of the meal rather than an...

I am going to be one hundred percent honest. I had Cava for the first and last time yesterday. This particular location gave me very small portions for one thing, even in filling the sauce cups. There is an upcharge for just about everything as well. I was charged 32.00 for my Cava bowl meal and large Blueberry Lavender Tea. It's not even about the money for me as it is the fact that the hype over this place I feel is over exaggerated. The staff could barely answer my questions about the options and the food is pretty bland to me. I will say that the vegetables are fresh, but everything lacks flavor and only one sauce I enjoyed. I will also credit them that the food is healthy, but again very bland, and it's not that I enjoy my food highly seasoned, but Cava isn't for me. The staff could use a little more training on filling the cups up. Cava is too expensive to get cheated out of quantity. I'll try an establishment once, and after a year of waiting to try Cava I'm disappointed. Very...