CAVA Introduce
In the bustling heart of New York City, finding a quick, delicious, and genuinely healthy meal can sometimes feel like a challenge. Fortunately, CAVA has become a go-to solution for many New Yorkers, offering a fresh take on Mediterranean cuisine. Located in a prime spot near Union Square, CAVA provides a delightful and convenient dining experience that doesn't compromise on flavor or quality. It’s a place where you can build your perfect meal from a wide array of fresh, wholesome ingredients, creating a bowl or pita that is as unique as your own taste. The concept is simple yet effective: provide a fast-casual environment with high-quality, customizable options that cater to a variety of dietary needs and preferences.
CAVA is more than just a place to eat; it's a destination for those seeking a vibrant and healthy meal. The restaurant's atmosphere is casual and trendy, making it a popular spot for a diverse crowd, from college students and busy professionals to families and tourists exploring the city. This welcoming and relaxed environment, combined with the emphasis on healthy and flavorful food, makes it a standout in a city filled with countless dining options. CAVA’s commitment to offering organic and vegan options ensures that everyone can find something to enjoy, whether they are a dedicated vegetarian or simply looking for a light and refreshing meal. The popularity of the restaurant, often indicated by a wait, is a testament to the quality and appeal of its food.
You'll find CAVA at 143 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA. This location is perfectly situated to serve the Union Square and East Village neighborhoods, two of the city’s most dynamic areas. Its accessibility is a major draw for both residents and visitors. The restaurant is just a stone's throw away from Union Square, a major transit hub with numerous subway lines including the L, N, Q, R, 4, 5, and 6 trains. This makes CAVA an incredibly convenient stop for a quick lunch or dinner, whether you're coming from work, school, or a day of shopping. The central location also makes it an easy meeting point for friends and family.
CAVA is designed to be accessible to everyone, with a wheelchair accessible entrance, restroom, and seating. This commitment to inclusivity ensures that all guests can enjoy their meal comfortably. For those who prefer to walk or bike, the surrounding neighborhood is highly walkable, with plenty to see and do. While street parking can be a challenge in this bustling part of the city, the excellent public transportation options make a car unnecessary for most. The vibrant energy of the area perfectly complements the fresh and lively food, creating an overall experience that is both efficient and enjoyable.
CAVA offers a variety of services to accommodate every customer's needs, whether you prefer to dine in or enjoy your meal elsewhere.
- No-contact delivery: A safe and convenient way to get your CAVA favorites delivered to your door.
- Delivery: Enjoy their delicious food without leaving your home or office.
- Takeout: Place your order and pick it up to enjoy at your convenience.
- Dine-in: Enjoy your meal in their casual and trendy setting.
These flexible service options, combined with their counter service model, make CAVA an ideal choice for a quick and satisfying meal. You can get exactly what you want, how you want it, with minimal fuss.
CAVA is known for several key features and highlights that contribute to its widespread popularity.
- Fast Service: The counter service model ensures a quick and efficient experience, perfect for a short lunch break or a fast dinner before an event.
- Healthy and Diverse Offerings: CAVA's menu is packed with healthy options, including organic dishes, vegan and vegetarian choices, catering to a health-conscious crowd.
- Popular for All Occasions: Whether it's lunch, dinner, or a meal for one, CAVA is a popular choice for solo diners and groups alike.
- Kids' Menu and Family-Friendly: The restaurant is good for kids and even has a kids' menu, making it a great option for families.
- Casual and Trendy Atmosphere: The vibe is relaxed yet modern, appealing to a wide range of customers.
- Multiple Payment Options: CAVA accepts credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments, making it easy to pay for your meal.
These features highlight CAVA's focus on efficiency, health, and a welcoming environment, making it a reliable and appealing choice for daily dining.
For more information, or to plan your visit, you can use the following contact information:
Address: 143 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA
Phone: (646) 688-5067
What makes CAVA truly worth choosing is its unwavering commitment to providing a fresh, healthy, and customizable dining experience. As many satisfied customers attest, CAVA is "one of the best healthy lunch bowls you can get around Union Square." The ability to build your own bowl or pita from a wide variety of fresh ingredients, including options like brown rice, lentils, and a range of flavorful sauces like harissa, is a major draw. This level of customization ensures that every meal is exactly what you crave, with options for everyone, from meat-eaters to vegans. The menu is diverse, with delicious options like the Garlicky Chicken Shawarma Bowl, Steak + Harissa, and the Falafel Crunch, all made with high-quality ingredients.
While a customer review noted a minor issue with service, the overarching sentiment is one of enjoyment and a desire to return. The delicious food, with its fresh and robust flavors, is the primary reason people come back. The Blueberry Lavender drink, while not for everyone, is an example of the kind of unique offerings CAVA provides to cater to diverse tastes. The fact that the restaurant is so often busy speaks volumes about its popularity and the quality of the food. For a city that values both speed and quality, CAVA strikes a perfect balance. The combination of a convenient location, fast service, and a menu full of nutritious and flavorful options makes it a top choice for a healthy meal on the go. Whether you're a seasoned CAVA fan or a first-timer, you'll find that the quality of the food and the overall experience make it a consistently reliable and rewarding choice for lunch or dinner.
CAVA Food & drink
Pitas
- Spicy Chicken + Avocado $21.96
Harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta®, hummus, avocado, pickles, feta, corn, pickled onions, hot harissa vinaigrette.
- Greek Chicken $15.93
Grilled chicken, hummus, tzatziki, pickles, tomato + onion, olives, feta, romaine, Greek vinaigrette.
- Chicken Shawarma Pita $18.94
Chicken shawarma with hummus, romaine, pickles, garlic dressing, tahini, and more. Feeling spicy? Add harissa.
- Pita $15.93
Fill our fluffy and perfectly chewy pita with your unique combo of ingredients. Made with sprouted grains.
- Steak + Feta $20.48
Steak, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, feta, pickles, romaine, garlic dressing, Greek vinaigrette.
Desserts
- Greyston Blondie $3.63
A blondie with a super soft, almost-gooey inside. Handcrafted by Greyston Bakery for CAVA.
- Salted Chocolate Oat Cookie $4.37
If an oatmeal cookie and a salted chocolate chip cookie had a baby. Made in partnership with Whisked.
- Greyston Brownie $3.63
Intensely chocolatey brownie, with a fudgy, almost-gooey inside. Handcrafted by Greyston Bakery for CAVA.
Drinks
- Unsweet Tea $0.00
A refreshing pick-me-up of iced black tea. Brewed in-house and unsweetened for a balanced, smooth taste.
- Kids Milk $3.87
Organic 1% milk.
- Kids Apple Juice $3.87
Organic apple juice from Honest Kids. No sugar added.
- Open Water Still $4.00
Open Water still water is made in aluminum cans, the most recycled packaging in the world.
- Pineapple Apple Mint $0.00
This super refreshing juice is made in-house with pineapple, apple cider, fresh mint, and lime juice.
- Classic Lemonade $0.00
A sweet lemonade that's never cloying thanks to the clear fresh lemon taste. Made in-house.
- Cucumber Mint Lime $0.00
A cure to any midday slump. Sweet and refreshing, balanced out with fresh lime juice. Made in-house.
- Blueberry Lavender $0.00
Made in-house from a purée of blueberries and lavender.
- Open Water Sparkling $4.00
Open Water sparkling water is made in aluminum cans, the most recycled packaging in the world.
- Spindrift Lemon $4.00
Sparkling lemon water that tastes like the real thing—because it is! There's real lemon juice in each can.
- Kids Chocolate Milk $3.87
Organic 1% chocolate milk.
- Jasmine Green Tea $0.00
This iced green tea offers just a hint of pleasant floral notes. Made in-house.
- Spindrift Half Tea & Half Lemon $4.00
Real-squeezed lemon juice meets Argentinian black tea in this pitch perfect pairing. Crisp and refreshing.
Sides
- Side Red Pepper Hummus $4.37
Something magical happens when fresh roasted red peppers are puréed with chickpeas, tahini, and garlic.
- Classic Pita Chips $3.63
Made in-house in small batches, our pita chips are meant for big dipping. Crispy outside, soft inside.
- Side Crazy Feta® $5.35
Feta whipped with jalapeño, onion, and olive oil for just that right level of spicy. A CAVA signature.
- Side Hummus $4.37
Chickpeas puréed with tahini, lemon juice, fresh garlic, salt. No oil here! A guest favorite and CAVA classic.
- Side Roasted Eggplant $4.61
Roasted eggplant blended with lemon juice, parsley, onions, and garlic. Sleeper hit!
- Side Harissa $4.37
A Greek spin on a traditional North African spicy chili pepper paste with a vibrant tomato flavor.
- Side Tzatziki $4.37
Made with the best Greek yogurt, fresh shredded cucumber, and dill. Thick, creamy, and brightens everything.
- Side Pita $3.14
Our warm, fluffy, and perfectly chewy pita is made exclusively for CAVA by Brooklyn-based Damascus bakery.
Bowls
- Steak + Harissa $20.48
Steak, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, tomato + onion, cucumber, feta, slaw, brown rice, greens, harissa vinaigrette
- Harissa Avocado $21.96
Harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta®, hummus, fire-roasted corn, avocado, rice, SuperGreens, harissa vinaigrette, more
- Spicy Lamb + Avocado $22.82
Spicy lamb meatballs, avocado, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, pickled onions, lentils, lemon herb tahini, more
- Greek Salad $15.93
Grilled chicken, tzatziki, hummus, feta, cucumber, tomato + onion, Kalamata olives, romaine, arugula, Greek vinaigrette
- Falafel Crunch $15.93
Falafel, roasted veggies, hummus, Crazy Feta®, pickled onions, pita crisps, lentils, rice, greens, skhug, more
- Grains Bowl $15.93
Choose your grain bowl base: saffron basmati rice, brown basmati rice, or black lentils.
- Chicken + Rice $15.93
Grilled chicken, brown rice, tzatziki, hummus, feta, pickled onion, tomato, arugula, Greek vinaigrette, and more.
- Greens + Grains Bowl $15.93
Mix and match your favorite greens and grains to build a bowl just the way you like it.
- Salad Bowl $15.93
Choose your greens: arugula, SuperGreens, baby spinach, romaine, or SplendidGreens®.
- Garlicky Chicken Shawarma Bowl $18.94
Chicken shawarma, red pepper hummus, Crazy Feta®, corn, onions, broccoli, rice, skhug, garlic dressing, more.
Kids Meal
- Kids Pita $12.18
A mini version of our build-your-own pita with a side of pita chips or carrots sticks. Choose milk or juice.
CAVA Details
Service options
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Healthy options
- Organic dishes
- Quick bite
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Counter service
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
Crowd
- College students
- Family-friendly
- Tourists
Planning
- Usually a wait
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- Kids' menu
CAVA Photos










CAVA Location
CAVA Reviews
bowlhealthychipotleproteinmeatballsfast casualgreensharissacombinationsbraised
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1I think this is one of the best healthy lunch bowls you can get around Union Square. Love that they have brown rice and lentils. Variety of Mediterranean favors like harissa that adds a little spice to the bowl. There are vegetarian options as well. Highly recommend this place!
May 14 · Shane S.It was my first time coming here and I was treated by my stepson! He’s a big fan so I decided to finally try it. I enjoyed it so much there weren’t any leftovers! I ordered a bowlwith grilled chicken and it was delish! One thing I didn’t really like was the service. The server was a little unprofessional while serving me. He was too busy talking to his coworkers while serving and I felt rushed while ordering. I also tried their blueberry lavender drink & i was not a fan! I would definitely go back though and try the rest of their options!
December 17 · CrystalThe food was pretty good but they workers need to learn how to move cohesively. It takes way to long for them to service the customers. At first i thought maybe they move so slow because they barely have workers but with 4 workers on the line it shouldn’t be this slow.
September 14 · Grace Guevara202405 Flavorful reliable Mediterranean casual/fast food. (Or Mediterranean chipotle, to use my friend’s coinage) Good nutrition value, high protein, low fat.Lamb meatball is full of energetic spice. Braised lamb is tender and juicy.The veggies are fresh and tasty.The ice cream scoop for the dips is cute. Roasted eggplant and hummus are decent. Spicy Feta is superb.The date balsamic dressing turns out to be white— I thought both vinegar and dates should be brown, but not too sweet.Portion is huge. I hope there can be medium and large options. I appreciate the half and half choice on the other hand :)
May 26 · XYesterday I had such a great experience at CAVA in Union Square! I made a special trip just for the black lentils and braised lamb, but when I arrived, they were out of both. Even though the place was super busy, the staff greeted me with warm smiles and kindly let me know that if I waited a bit, they’d prepare it fresh—and they did! A smile really does make all the difference.To top it off, the cashier gave me the nicest compliment about my accent, asking if I was Latina with a friendly wink. It was such a small moment, but it made me feel seen and appreciated. I left with a happy heart and a delicious meal.Highly recommend—not just for the food, but for the genuinely kind service!
May 11 · Catalina Cadavid
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