Cava Grill

Cava Grill
1073 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024
www.cavagrill.com ($$)

Eat. Don't Drink: Finally a worthy Mediterranean addition to the fast casual trend!

Cava Grill - now open in Westwood and Woodland Hills.

Ever since Chipotle exploded onto the fast casual dining scene, there has been a parade of assembly line restaurants.   From farm fresh (Tender Greens), to make your own pizza (800 Degrees, Blaze, etc.), to even a wave of poke bowl restaurants - mix and match meals have been all the craze.   While not a fan of this approach, I was thrilled when Washington DC-based Cava Grill opened up shop in Westwood recently, bringing authentic taste and healthy variations to this craze.   The flavors at Cava rival those of fine dining establishments. 

Assembly line style food with a Mediterranean twist.

As you can see from the menu, there is an over-abundance of options in the 5-step assembly process. Overwhelming as you are shuttled from one station to another.   Visiting during a busy lunch hour soon after the restaurant opened was not the wisest choice on my part!

The protein options are incredibly tasty - with a flavor most chains lack.

Over multiple visits I tried each of the meat options - the lamb meatballs are my favorite.  Cava uses a variety of whole grains, salads, or a mixture as the base, which is a nice alternative to just rice. 

The final product is a memorable treat I look forward to having again.  (Highlighter not included.)

As a lunchtime alternative, Cava is a great change of pace.   At approximately $10-12 a bowl, it is definitely pricier than your Chipotles, but the extra cost is well justified by taste and quality. 

Cava is expanding throughout Southern California with Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, and Irvine locations all in the construction phase.