CAVA Introduce
In the bustling landscape of New York City, where convenience often clashes with quality, CAVA stands out as a beacon of healthy, fast-casual Mediterranean dining. This is not your typical sit-down restaurant, but rather a streamlined, modern eatery that prioritizes fresh ingredients and customizable options. It’s a favorite among professionals, tourists, and anyone in search of a quick yet nourishing meal. The concept is simple and effective: you build your own bowl or pita by choosing from a vibrant array of bases, proteins, and toppings, from the signature Spicy Lamb + Avocado to the classic Falafel Crunch. The atmosphere is consistently clean, trendy, and casual, designed for a swift and satisfying experience. While the fast-paced environment can sometimes lead to rushed service during peak hours, as noted by some, the overall consensus is that the food is fresh, flavorful, and a great value. CAVA is more than just a place to grab food; it's a destination for "feel-good food" that brings a taste of the Mediterranean to the heart of Manhattan.
This particular CAVA location is situated at a highly accessible address: 280 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA. Its prime spot in Midtown Manhattan places it at the crossroads of business and tourism, making it a perfect stop for a meal on the go. It’s easily reachable on foot from various subway stations and bus stops, and a short walk from major landmarks and office buildings. While paid street parking is available, as is typical for the area, most people find that public transit or walking is the most efficient way to get there. The restaurant is well-equipped to welcome all guests, offering a wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, and restroom. This commitment to accessibility ensures a comfortable experience for everyone. The location’s cleanliness and ambiance are often highlighted as key positives, providing a pleasant environment to enjoy a quick bite before heading back to the hustle and bustle of the city.
CAVA offers a range of services tailored to a modern, fast-paced urban lifestyle. Their service model is built for speed and convenience, without compromising on quality.
- Dine-in: The restaurant provides a casual and clean space for customers who prefer to eat on-site. The seating arrangements allow you to enjoy your meal right after it's prepared.
- Takeout & Delivery: As a leader in the fast-casual space, CAVA excels at providing efficient takeout and delivery services. Customers can place orders online for seamless pickup or have their food delivered directly to their home or office.
- No-Contact Delivery: In line with modern safety standards, CAVA offers no-contact delivery, providing an extra layer of reassurance for customers.
- Catering: CAVA also offers catering services, including Group Bowl Bars and Build-Your-Own Pita Packs, making it a great option for office lunches or other group events. This allows groups to enjoy their favorite Mediterranean flavors in a customized format.
Several features and highlights make CAVA a popular choice among New Yorkers looking for a delicious and healthy meal. These elements are what define the brand’s appeal.
- Fast and Efficient Service: CAVA is known for its quick service, especially for those who place their orders ahead of time. The assembly-line format ensures that your meal is prepared quickly, which is a major plus during a busy lunch rush.
- Customization and Variety: The ability to build your own bowl or pita with a wide variety of fresh ingredients, proteins, dips, and dressings is a significant draw. This allows for endless combinations and ensures that every customer gets exactly what they want.
- Healthy & Organic Options: The menu is centered around healthy eating, with a focus on fresh, wholesome ingredients. They offer a range of organic dishes and are a great source for vegan and vegetarian options, including the popular Falafel Crunch bowl.
- Fresh and High-Quality Food: Despite its fast-casual nature, CAVA is praised for the freshness of its ingredients. The food is consistently described as flavorful and well-prepared, from the dips like Crazy Feta® to the perfectly cooked proteins.
- Signature Sauces and Dips: The menu features unique and delicious dips and spreads like Spicy Hummus and the popular Crazy Feta®, which add a burst of flavor to any meal.
- Clean and Pleasant Ambiance: The restaurant itself is noted for being clean, with a trendy and casual vibe that makes it a comfortable place to dine. The physical space is well-maintained and enjoyable.
- Kid-Friendly: With a dedicated Kids' Menu and a family-friendly atmosphere, CAVA is a great option for parents looking for a healthy and quick meal for their children.
For more information, to place an order, or to inquire about their catering services, you can reach out to CAVA directly.
- Address: 280 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Phone: (718) 576-1485
When considering what is worth choosing at CAVA, the answer is largely dependent on personal preference due to the customizable nature of the menu. However, based on popularity and customer feedback, a few items stand out. The Greens + Grains Bowl is a top choice, allowing you to combine the best of both worlds. The pre-designed bowls are also excellent starting points, with the Spicy Lamb + Avocado and Steak + Harissa bowls being particularly popular and well-regarded for their bold flavor profiles. For a plant-based option, the Falafel Crunch bowl is a must-try, praised for its taste and satisfying texture. The Pita Chips, particularly the Hot Harissa variety, are a great addition and are highly recommended for dipping into the signature spreads like Crazy Feta® and Red Pepper Hummus. For a quick and easy lunch, the Greek Salad Bowl is a solid choice, with fresh ingredients and a zesty Greek vinaigrette. While the fast-paced service can feel rushed at times, the quality and freshness of the food remain consistently high. The ability to create a meal that is both healthy and incredibly flavorful is what makes CAVA a highly-rated and a consistently chosen spot in the competitive Midtown food scene. It's a place where you can feel good about what you eat, without sacrificing taste or convenience.
CAVA Menu
Bowls
- Spicy Lamb + Avocado $22.82
Spicy lamb meatballs, avocado, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, pickled onions, lentils, lemon herb tahini, more
- Steak + Harissa $20.48
Steak, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, tomato + onion, cucumber, feta, slaw, brown rice, greens, harissa vinaigrette
- 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
- Salad Bowl $15.93
Choose your greens: arugula, SuperGreens, baby spinach, romaine, or SplendidGreens®.
- Grains Bowl $15.93
Choose your grain bowl base: saffron basmati rice, brown basmati rice, or black lentils.
- Harissa Avocado $21.96
Harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta®, hummus, fire-roasted corn, avocado, rice, SuperGreens, harissa vinaigrette, more
- 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.
Saucy Snack™
- Saucy Snack™ $5.17
A limited time snack duo! Your choice of pita chips paired with one of our new, deliciously dippable sauces.
Drinks
- Kids Milk $3.87
Organic 1% milk.
- Open Water Sparkling $4.00
Open Water sparkling water is made in aluminum cans, the most recycled packaging in the world.
- Kids Chocolate Milk $3.87
Organic 1% chocolate milk.
- Classic Lemonade $4.24
A sweet lemonade that's never cloying thanks to the clear fresh lemon taste. Made in-house.
- Spindrift Lemon $4.00
Sparkling lemon water that tastes like the real thing—because it is! There's real lemon juice in each can.
- Spindrift Half Tea & Half Lemon $4.00
Real-squeezed lemon juice meets Argentinian black tea in this pitch perfect pairing. Crisp and refreshing.
- Open Water Still $4.00
Open Water still water is made in aluminum cans, the most recycled packaging in the world.
- Strawberry Citrus $4.24
Made in-house with fresh strawberries and lemon juice.
- Kids Apple Juice $3.87
Organic apple juice from Honest Kids. No sugar added.
- Blueberry Lavender $4.24
Made in-house from a purée of blueberries and lavender.
Sides
- Side Red Pepper Hummus $4.37
Something magical happens when fresh roasted red peppers are puréed with chickpeas, tahini, and garlic.
- Side Harissa $4.37
A Greek spin on a traditional North African spicy chili pepper paste with a vibrant tomato flavor.
- 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 Crazy Feta® $5.35
Feta whipped with jalapeño, onion, and olive oil for just that right level of spicy. A CAVA signature.
- Hot Harissa Pita Chips $3.63
Our fan-favorite pita chips are leveled-up with a coating of bold spices, including sun-dried tomato powder, cayenne, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and ground cumin.
- Side Tzatziki $4.37
Made with the best Greek yogurt, fresh shredded cucumber, and dill. Thick, creamy, and brightens everything.
- Classic Pita Chips $3.63
Made in-house in small batches, our pita chips are meant for big dipping. Crispy outside, soft inside.
- Side Pita $3.14
Our warm, fluffy, and perfectly chewy pita is made exclusively for CAVA by Brooklyn-based Damascus bakery.
Pitas
- Greek Chicken $15.93
Grilled chicken, hummus, tzatziki, pickles, tomato + onion, olives, feta, romaine, Greek vinaigrette.
- Steak + Feta $20.48
Steak, Crazy Feta®, red pepper hummus, feta, pickles, romaine, garlic dressing, Greek vinaigrette.
- Crispy Falafel $15.93
Falafel, hummus, roasted eggplant, pickles, cabbage slaw, tomato + onion, garlic dressing, skhug.
- Pita $15.93
Fill our fluffy and perfectly chewy pita with your unique combo of ingredients. Made with sprouted grains.
- Garlic Chicken + Veggie $15.93
Grilled chicken, roasted veggies, tzatziki, feta, tomato + onion, pickles, cabbage slaw, garlic dressing.
- Spicy Chicken + Avocado $21.96
Harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta®, hummus, avocado, pickles, feta, corn, pickled onions, hot harissa vinaigrette.
Kids Meal
- Kids Pita $9.78
A mini version of our build-your-own pita with a side of pita chips or carrots sticks. Choose milk or juice.
Desserts
- 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 Blondie $3.63
A blondie with a super soft, almost-gooey inside. Handcrafted by Greyston Bakery for CAVA.
- Greyston Brownie $3.63
Intensely chocolatey brownie, with a fudgy, almost-gooey inside. Handcrafted by Greyston Bakery for CAVA.
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
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Tourists
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Paid street parking
CAVA Photos










CAVA Location
CAVA Reviews
bowlpitaenvironmentchipotlemanagementemployeesharissachipshealthyfalafel
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1This is one ofMy favorite Cava locations by far.The service is top notch, the employees go above and beyond to ensure a great experience. The store and ambiance are always clean and the food is fresh. You have the room to sit, eat, and enjoy.
July 29 · Janie RichardsonI come to this Cava often because I really like how they make their food. It’s always fresh and usually I in the evening, but today I came during peak lunch hours. Granted it was busy, but every single staff member was extremely rude and curt and moving so fast to the point where they weren’t even giving service they’re just throwing food at you. One team member asked me what type of protein and sides I want before my salad was even placed in my bowl. The team member at the cash register was trying to ring me up so fast she didn’t let me finish ordering a drink or scan my app code, so she had to repeatedly cancel the transaction because I kept asking for things before she let me finish speaking. Then I asked for a bag and instead of helping me put all of my food in the bag she hands me the bag and expects me to move on while she starts scanning the next person before I can even get my things in the bag. It’s just not good customer service. This is basic customer service 101. I passed another cava to come to this specific location and I felt very disappointed and disrespected and not like a customer who’s paying $30 for a bowl, a drink and pita chips. The overall vibe from every staff member was just rushed and rude. A busy lunch hour that doesn’t mean you don’t give customer service and just throw it out the window. The vibes were bad today.
July 17 · Aminah DantzlerLiterally experienced the worst customer service of my life. I ordered a bowl and pita chips and the pita chips were hard and stale. I asked if I could get a different bag and the manager on site told me “No this is just how the chips are” I explained that I’m a frequent customer and these just weren’t a good batch. The Manager had an attitude and went to grab another hard bag of chips from the very back, when there were fresh chips in the front, gave it to me, and walked off. Needless to say I got treated like an inconvenience and do not recommend this location.
June 26 · Kiona KelseyI loved my experience at CAVA! The service was fast and friendly, and the food was incredibly fresh and tasty. I loved being able to customize my bowl with so many delicious ingredients. The environment is also modern and clean, perfect for a casual but quality meal. I'll definitely be back. Highly recommended!
July 28 · Ashanty AndujarCAVA is the perfect mix of healthy and tasty. Every bowl feels fresh, and you can build it exactly how you like it. Highly recommend for a quick, flavorful meal!
June 04 · Hare Zhita
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