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Cava Mezze
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
9713 Traville Gateway DrRockville, MD 20850
(301) 309-9090
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 2 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Jb B. said: "I love their pizza. It has now become my "go-to" place for pizza night. They also have a good selection of fresh made, frozen, Italian food, like homemade ravioli and manicoti. I would give them 5 stars, but they refuse to…" read more »
229 reviews for Cava Mezze
Review Highlights
"the lollipop chicken was very good as well."
(in 25 reviews)
"The baby lamb chops are amazing."
(in 11 reviews)
"The Scallop Risotto is absolutely delicious."
(in 18 reviews)
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229 reviews in English
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Review from Melanie Y.
Gaithersburg, MD
2/8/2012
Ok, not sure why it took me so long to come here for lunch, but it definitely will not be the last time. Upon walking in, I really like the atmosphere. It's like a classier bar setting but definitely cleaner.
We were seated pretty quickly, but the wait for the food was a bit long IMO. Again, when waiting too long, I always expect the food to be amazing. And why wouldn't I? If it took that long to make the food, then that would mean the chef took special care in preparing the food.
I ordered the crab sliders and my coworker got his chicken wrap first. I ate some of his fries, which was pretty darn good, I must say. Few minutes later, my sliders came and presentation was nice. Two decent-sized sliders with a bed of fries. So far so good. I bit into my first slider and turned to my coworker and said "ok, now this was good enough to wait". The crab sliders had big chunks of crabs packed nicely together among bed of greens with some type of mayo sauce and onions. It was so good. Next time though, I'll be sure to ask them to hold the onions. Definitely will come back here again. -
Review from Veronica S.
Rockville, MD
1/8/2012
I went here for the first time last night. The place was PACKED at first. I was unsure if I would be able to enjoy myself with my date at this seemingly overcrowded place. We placed our name for a table and the wait was 40 minutes. (It was a Saturday night and we did not have a reservation so that is to be expected.) The hostess somehow thought we were a party of 5 even though it was just the 2 of us so that may have had something to do with it too. Regardless, we were just happy to be seated and the place was seemly much less crowded at the time we were sat which was GREAT. :-)
I had a peach martini which I thought was pretty nice. We ordered the dip tasting, spicy mussels, grape leaves, spicy lamb sliders, cauliflower, and baby octopus. I like how they give you pita and some dips at the beginning. We were starving by the time we were sat so that was good. I think the waitstaff was mostly very attentive. I think they tried to not put too much on the table at one time which was greatly appreciated. Too much on a table for two would have been too cumbersome and annoying. So thank you great waitstaff! :-)
I think I am giving this place 4/5 versus 5/5 stars because I really like Greek tapas. I thought it was interesting and creative that they put an American spin on some Greek tapas. However, I could have done without it. Another place worth trying for Greek tapas is Zaytinya in China town, DC.
All in all, I could definitely go back to Cava Mezze. I will probably stick to the less Americanized tapas though. I really liked the baby octopus and the spicy mussels (the broth was so excellent that I took it home to dip with bread). The grape leaves and most of the dips on the dip tasting platter were fantastic too.
Thank you Cava Mezze for adding to my wonderful evening! :-) -
Review from Jason I.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/7/2012
I've eaten at the Cava Mezze in Rockville probably about 5 or 6 times in the past year and it's one of my favorite dining options in the area.
The food is great and served Tapas style. After sampling most of the menu over these last visits I recommend the 72 hour braised short ribs (very tender and delicious), grilled octopus, lollipop chicken and my favorite, their scallop risotto (incredibly creamy, perfectly seasoned and really satisfying). Pretty much all of their meat dishes are superb. I often find myself craving their risotto. Their desserts are also great (my favorite is their chocolate truffles with sour cherries).
Service is always decent. As other reviewers pointed out, the place is cramped and gets filled quickly on nights. If you're searching for an amazing tapas-style restaurant in Gaithersburg / Rockville with awesome braised and slow-cooked meat dishes and spectacular grilled options you should visit here. -
Review from Kristin M.
Washington, DC
1/2/2012
Cava Mezze is a rockstar of Rockville! (See what I did there?) It's definitely a lot trendier and sexier than I expected upon driving into a shopping center that also houses a Giant. This corner spot is dim and laid back with brick walls, drapey curtains, and a small dining space that follows along the perimeter of the bar in an L shape. I was initially surprised by the young, attractive waitstaff who all seemed to be texting while working. Tsk tsk, kids today! Then I realized that's how they were putting in orders. I was amazed! The wonders of technology! And I've apparently become an old person.
Anyway, Cava's a tapas place, and they recommend about 2 dishes per person, with prices falling around $8-$13. However, by filling up on their fabulous version of the bread basket, you can definitely cut down on that...leaving more room in the budget for drinks! We wolfed the little tray of olives, olive oil, and hot pepper paste that got served with warm pita triangles when we sat down, and were pleasantly surprised that both the tray and pitas were refreshed, even as we started working on our meal (the food came out really fast). As a result, we only ended up needing three dishes for the two of us.
The chicken lollipops were indeed awesome (thanks, yelpers!): three small but meaty, fall-off-the-bone fried drumsticks served on little piles of yogurt in a generous pool of honey. They reminded me of chicken and waffles with their mix of savory and sweet plus a healthy dose of fried goodness. And when I say healthy, I obviously mean wildly unhealthy. Yum!
Chickpeas three ways I'd also order again, though they weren't as standout as the chicken. This dish was three chickpea balls, each served in a thick dollop of hummus with a kind of chickpea paste on top. The last thing we had was the lamb chops, which the hubs was a big fan of, and I was unimpressed by. That may have had something to do with the fact that the two chops we were served included a big, hearty one, and a small one that was mostly bone and gristle - you can guess who got which! ;)
If it hadn't been 9pm on a Monday, I'd have been up for trying some dessert, and/or several of their martinis (on special for $5...every Monday I'm guessing?), but as it is, I'm looking forward to returning for another date night next time I'm out this way! -
Review from Monkee C.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/3/2012
Not too much to add, have stopped in here several times now and easily 5/5.
Food: In a word, great. Lots of variety too - so it's a good bet that even picky eaters can find something they'll like.
Misc Notes: Best if you come in a group of threes, since most orders come that way. Restaurant itself is pretty small so come early or be prepared to wait during peak hours. Make sure your phone is charged, especially for dinner - it's pretty much "Cave Mezze" during those times. You'll be using your device to illuminate the menu. -
Review from Donna Y.
12/29/2011
Perhaps I don't order the right items on the menu but I'm always underwhelmed by the place. I come often for lunch so I order off the lunch menu... gyro, lamb sandwich, spicy lamb sliders..etc. For appetizer, we'd order the hummus (sometimes spicy) which comes with pita. The hummus is good but I have yet to have bad hummus. The entree items are pretty average/standard and I'd find myself always wanting the kababs from Caspian instead.
The servers all have itouch(s) to take the order right when you arrive to the table but it takes forever for the food to come out. Be aware especially when you have one hour lunches to keep that in mind and order right when the server comes by for drinks. This is not an especially large restaurant so keep crowds to a maximum of 6. -
Review from Dirk P.
Gaithersburg, MD
Updated - 1/24/2012
Lollipop chicken and fresh made pasta dishes are the highlights, tho to be fair, the whole menu is good and the service friendly. The venue is small so I recommend afternoon meals there as it fill up at night!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/27/2011
This was an excellent find due to Yelp! The food is excellent and the service good. Think of this… Read more »
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Review from Jess Y.
1/2/2012
Food: If not immediate obvious, this is a tapas restaurant. That is, plates are meant to be shared and are appetizer-size generally. The waiter recommended ordering about 2 tapas per person but some plates are larger/smaller than others. So, I guess it depends. For three not-so-hungry ladies, we ordered four plates total and left fully satisfied.
So I had to order the lollipop chicken after reading all of the recommendations here and I have to admit that it truly is delicious. You get 3 fried chicken legs that are super juicy and crisp. Each of the chicken pieces are placed atop its personal yogurt and honey complement. This was definitely the highlight of the night and I wish we had more because I would have easily eaten the entire plate by myself. We also ordered the spicy lamb sliders which were good as were the spanakopita (flaky pocket filled with spinach and other goodies like feta, I think). It was light and crisp and perfect for sharing for 3 people. To round things out, we ordered the asparagus plate which was delicious...about 8 perfectly cooked spears...for $9. So, overall, the food is delicious and you won't be disappointed, but the prices seem sometimes ridiculous. 8 asparagus spears for $9!? I can buy two whole pounds of asparagus for less and still have a dollar to spare.
I hear that the flaming cheese is also delicious. I couldn't convince my non-lactose-friendly friends to order it, but it definitely gave us a scare as we unknowningly sat next to a table that ordered the flaming cheese. We were obliviously discussing what we were going to order when all of a sudden, a gigantic fire erupted right next to my friend's seat. I nearly jumped out of my seat.
Service: Service was always prompt and friendly. Our waiter was happy to explain the menu and the structure of Cava Mezze's dining options. He also seemed very knowledgeable about how many plates would fill the average diner and which plates were more filling than others.
Ambiance: It really is quite loud. As you enter, it looks like a small hallway and then opens into a chaos of tables in the back. It gives off the appearance of relative chill and quiet from the front of the restaurant and through the bar/side tables, but once you get to the back it is quite noisy. Poor acoustics because it seems like every single table conversation is being constantly amplified. Don't take your soft-spoken friends here--you won't hear a word. Overall though, the place is fun and hip. Would be great for a small group of friends to catch up with (although, beware, they don't take reservations and they can get pretty crowded) -
Review from Joanna N.
Olney, MD
1/20/2012
YUM! a lil pricey for me at times but still I say YUM!
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Review from Jojo S.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/20/2012
Despite some of the "bumps" i've experienced in my numerous visits to Cava, it remains my favorite place in the area. The food has always been stellar, and i don't know where you can do better short of going to Bethesda.
I would say some dishes stand above others, like the chicken lollipops ( they fall off the bone and the sauce is amazing), braised lamb ( juicy and tender) and french toast for dessert (huge surprise of how delicious it is, as i'm usually not a big fan of toasts). A few other things worth mentioning:
- Yes, it can get very obnoxiously loud. Occasionally i had to yell so I could be heard. I try to avoid coming on Friday night at all costs because of this.
- Yes, I too was charged twice on one occasion. Was i happy about it? No. But I deemed this too small of a reason to abandon Cava (at least for now)
- Yes, service will vary some (depending on who you get and which night of the week that is), but it is more often good then not.
Cava, we'll be coming back! -
Review from Jim K.
Rockville, MD
1/17/2012
Cava Mezze was one of my favorite restaurants until last week.
Poor service. .Food sub-par..
The lamb souvlaki (made with fattier meat - and far less of it) and the scallops risotto were disappointingly not in the same class as previously....
All the while, we had six noisy drunk bar patrons with their butts in our faces as we ate.
We had the impression that there had been major staff changes.. -
Review from Susan C.
11/7/2011
2.5 stars, maybe 2.75 .
I agree with Ali S - This place was underwhelming, based on the amount of solid reviews. My boyfriend and I went last weekend and while we enjoyed the ambiance and service, we were not impressed with most of our food selections.
Warm pita + olive oil & spicy tapenade: Tasty. I had to force myself to stop eating the bread.
Spanakopita: Decent but not better than what you can get from your grocer's freezer.
Braised Beef: Very disappointing. The sauce lacked flavor (think sloppy joe sauce from a can) and the beef was low-grade in taste and texture. The meaty mess sat on top of a bed of overcooked french fries.
Chicken Souvlaki: Dehydrated chicken on a stick. Ick.
Spicy Lamb Meatballs: Delicious - the highlight of our sub par meal. -
Review from Kristin D.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/16/2012
So yummy, great atmosphere, and some of the best tzatziki sauce that I have had in years. short ribs are great, and gyros are my standby!!! I don't know if it was the night or not, but I was not impressed with the fritters they were quite dry, and heavy. but that is not enough to stop me from going back, I think I can eat buckets of tzatziki!!
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Review from Meana k.
10/24/2011
Full Disclosure: I write this with absolute bias as I have known the owners long before this successful chain of restaurants was conceived.
Okay, bias over. The food is DAMN GOOD. This review applies to the Rockville and Capitol Hill locations, specifically.
Dimly lit ambiance, tables close enough together to keep a steady volume of laughter and conversation buzzing through the place but far enough apart that you can have an intimate conversation in private, and decor that's simple and homey and not overly trendy. Attractive waitstaff who are attentive to your requests, fill up your drinks, and serve your dishes with a very understanding look as you're wowed by presentation.
The food... mmmm. So freaking good. Some of my favs:
Saganaki -- flaming cheese. 'nuff said.
Lollipop Chicken -- fried chicken drumsticks with a touch of greek yogurt and honey. Incredible.
Cava Mac & Cheese -- simple but perfect for that carb & cheese fix.
Grilled Baby Octopus -- somehow they flavor this so nicely and get that texture so perfectly tender that you forget you're eating octopus which tends to be chewy and tough at most establishments.
Wilted Greens -- just to balance out the meal with something light and healthy.
Whole Fish -- if they have Branzino available, order it. You won't regret it.
Gyro -- a classic but stuffed with fries. I wish I had one right now.
Everything else is good as well. If your party isn't having a good time here, you're not doing it right. This is the perfect place to entertain clients, impress a date, have a romantic night out, have a blast with the girls, or bring your family. Yup, family friendly. But don't bring your kids if they're going to ruin MY dining experience. :) -
Review from Stephany T.
Silver Spring, MD
11/7/2011
This place is absolutely amazing. I heard great reviews from friends and I'm so glad I finally had a chance to dine here.
I came here on a Sunday night with the boo. They were relatively busy at 8pm, but service was great and the food arrived much sooner than I anticipated, given the crowd. We had a small table for two by the bar - I think that would be my only complaint. Our table wasn't ideal as it was a bit noisier than I would've preferred and the servers coming in and out of the kitchen was kind of distracting. I figure we'll ask for a table out of the bar area next time.
We ordered one of the white wines - Dr L Riesling. I liked it - it wasn't too sweet.
Before we even ordered, they brought out pita bread and a tray of dipping sauces. The pita was so soft and fresh.
We ordered:
- Lollipop Chicken. You must try this. The yogurt(?) and honey sauce with the chicken is delicious.
- Sauted Zuchinni. We needed a vegetable dish. It was pretty good but nothing outstanding. But still good. Will probably try a different vegetable dish next time though.
- Scallop Risotto. THE BEST. The flavor of the rice was mmmmmm. And the scallops were cooked just perfect. So tender and flavorful.
- Lamb Chops. Let me make it clear that I do not like eating lamb. But I figured we might as well give it a try and I might actually have enjoyed it more if I wasn't so full from all the other amazing dishes. The bf seemed to enjoy it though.
The food here was great and I will definitely be coming back again. It's a perfect date night restaurant, especially for those nights you rather not venture into DC :) -
Review from Amber G.
Montgomery Village, MD
1/3/2012
The food has never been anything short of spectacular! Authentic Greek dishes ordered in small plates (Mezze) offer a great opportunity to sample a lot of different tastes. The lamb chops and Saganaki are always ordered when we are here. The harissa is also really something to mention and can be purchased at DMV area Whole Foods' stores. It's a regularly purchased condiment at our house.
The atmosphere is dark and dimly lit, the tables are close together but its casual and energetic. While this location doesn't take reservations (the Capital Hill loc does) the wait for a table isn't long and made enjoyable with an Espresso or Chocolate Martini at the bar. Great for a date, girls night out or even entertaining out-of-town guests. The only caveat, entrees are not served and mezzes are usually best shared by three (3-shrimps, 3-lamb chops etc.) Or in my daughter's case, she orders a plate of the lamb chops for herself. -
Review from Nirav P.
Bethesda, MD
12/31/2011
Food was good but they are getting one star because they charged me twice. If i did not check my credit card statement, I would have been screwed!
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Review from Ali S.
Bethesda, MD
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Kind of underwhelming based on the amount of positive reviews. Had a pretty decent sampling of what this place has to offer and I was left feeling that it was wholly overpriced for the small portions. This place is a cross between Jaleo and the Levantes.
Appetizer:
Very promising bundle of hot pita bread and olive oil, olives, and a spicy red tapenade. I feel like we deserved at least two of these for the three of us. The olives and tapenade were destroyed in minutes, so all that was left was dipping pita bread in plain olive oil for the rest of the night.
Drinks:
Ouzu: Culturally enlightening but aside from cleansing your palate I really feel there is no place for such a strong liquorice spirit in my life.
Entrees:
Lollipop Chicken: The best tasting of all the entrees, but due to the good taste you are left wanting more. I would have liked a KFC bucket worth of these with the dipping sauce on the side, but at 3 dollars a pop these little drumsticks are freaking expensive.
Haloumi: Very plain, like a grilled wedge of mozzarella. I'd pass on this one for something else if there is a next time, though I wasn't about to get the "flaming cheese" because I'm very cautious about meals that emphasize the spectacle of preparation and not so much the ingredients or taste.
Lamb Chops: 15 bucks for 2 small chops is not cheap, but these were also well seasoned and cooked. Quite delicious but also left me hungry for more. There are a few french fries on the dish, but the fries were even more plain than the haloumi.
Spicy Lamb Sliders: These are a miniature version of the Adana sandwich at Levantes, dish comes with two of them. Much more filling than any of the previous offerings.
Chicken Souvlaki: Very poor, perhaps this was just our stroke of luck. They weren't dry but they were too salty. Also would pass on this entree.
All that plus a beer and a gin martini was about 80 bucks without tip. We were hungry but not exactly starving. Jaleo had better economical value with the pricing and portions, and the only entree that was really special of the bunch was the lollipop chicken.
Atmosphere and everything was fine, there's ample parking in front of giant and this place is pretty cozy. If you're really wanting something filling and delicious, then you may want to look for somewhere with more substantial entrees or cheaper tapas. -
Review from Maz W.
Clarksburg, MD
11/10/2011
What can I say? If you have money to spare, keep the kids at home and come enjoy their near-perfect dishes. From their lollipop chicken to really everything else on the menu, the food just screams perfection. Someone paid close attention to this menu, and to every dish on the menu, and you can tell.
The service is friendly, though sometimes it feels like there are too many people roaming around you, waiting for you to finish. It's a small (but cozy) setting, and I think some of the servers get nervous when people stay long at the table. But this could be my imagination because, at this place, you just want to stay and eat till you drop.
Our second time there, just me and the wife, we ordered too much food and they gladly packed it for us, and gave us some extra bread and spicy dip, which my wife loves. Their meats heat up well, which to me means it's good stuff.
Best suited for a date, or a group outing where you want to share your food and try different things. Their servings are slightly more generous than Jaleo's in Bethesda (which I think serves mediocre and bland food).
They don't take reservations, but if you're like us and like to dine early, show up at 5 and you can probably get a table. -
Review from michael c.
Rockville, MD
9/2/2011
Fantastic customer service and great food.
My girlfriend and i got here at 6:45 on a thursday night and were seated right away. We ordered the lollipop chicken, flaming cheese, spanikopita, lamb chops, and scallops risotto. All were fantastic.
The flaming cheese eaten w/ the complimentary pita and spicy sauce was a very nice combination. This has to be eaten before it cools too much though, as the cheese gets a bit hard when it's cool. The spanikopita was also excellent with a warm cheesy middle and perfecly flaky filo. The lollipop chicken was my gf's favorite and was a nice surprise with the yogurt + honey making an excellent combination. It reminds me of honey fried chicken with some blue cheese (but much better). The lamb chops were fantastic altho one was slightly overcooked. The one that wasn't literally melted in your mouth. The scallops risotto was also excellent.
To top it all off the service was attentive and friendly from the hostesses to the waitress and runners. The price was even a nice surprise coming out cheaper than i expected. I've been here a few times and would definitely keep going back.
BTW - It's very loud and tables are very close together, but it still feels cozy and private, not sure how they managed that.... but it might just be because we had a great meal and night. -
Review from Ted W.
Damascus, MD
11/6/2011
My wife and I checked Cava out last month and were VERY happy with our meal! Everything was amazing, plus we found a new favourite wine. Only reason I'm not giving 5 stars yet is because I need to try out more of the dishes first. Promise next time I'll get to the review before I forget what we ordered!
All in all if you're looking for some great food and atmosphere check this place out. -
Review from Lina B.
Columbia, MD
9/6/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Tuesday = half priced bottle of wine. If you don't finish it, they will cork it and let you take it home. But who doesn't finish their wine? :)
Delicious. I love mezze because I love sharing and I hate ordering the same thing as someone else.
Lollipop chicken = outer fried shell around a chicken leg, with honey and yogurt on the plate. mmm mmm.
Braised beef is my favorite dish. Served atop french fries and feta. A delightful cinnamon taste to match. Absolutely love it :)
Saganaki = flaming cheese. A little too salty for my taste here, but it's still delicious. Be forewarned, its a lot of cheese.
Souvlaki is good. Green beans are very tasty. Scallops risotto was yummy too. Grape leaves are good. Braised lamb is very tender.
Macaroni and cheese is really good. Used to be better but they changed it up. Don't be scared to order it, it's absolutely delicious.
Greek Doughnuts are good too, if you have room for dessert that is. Which normally, you don't.
I honestly don't have anything negative to say about this place. It's a little dark and a little crowded on busy nights, but worth the wait.
They have a lunch menu during the week with pita sandwiches and also offer the full menu.
Don't fill up too much on bread and the dips: I love the spicy eggplant one. I just can't get enough. -
Review from sylvia c.
Silver Spring, MD
12/9/2011
Cava is my favorite restaurant of all time. Anyone who knows me thinks I work for them because I recommend it to everyone and anyone i know. My boyfriend and I have been going there pretty much since it opened years ago. Every Tuesday night is half price wine bottle so it gets hectic in there. Every Monday is $5 margarita. The only down side is that you can't make reservations except on Sundays. And you won't be seated until your party is all present. The way cava works is that the plates are small so you order a lot of food to share with the table. Each place is anywhere from $7-$16 (most of them are about $10 a plate). Okay now here is the important part. If you have never been here before, let me tell you exactly what to order and I promise you will be going there weekly like I do.
Every table is served pita bread, olive oil, and olives and with harissa which is a spicy dip- be careful not to get full off this.
Start off with tzatziki its the best you'll ever have. (for those who don't know what it is its basically a dip made of Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill and other seasonings) eat it with the pita bread they give you. SO GOOD! and soo healthy!
Then order the zucchini fritters
Spicy lamb sliders
The opa opa shrimp
Order the lamb or chicken kapama (make sure to tell them instead of the cheese on top you want to replace it with Greek yogurt- this is how they used to sell it when it first opened if you don't request this you will not have an enjoyable kapama) This dish is orzo based and my FAVORITE!
and to end the night order the french toast, but instead of the whip cream tell them to replace it with ice cream.
Honestly everything on their menu is heavenly and yes in the last 3-4 years of business I have tried everything. The items listed above are my favorite and its what I get for people who has never had it before and they fall in love instantly.
Everything is so much healthier there too. Their chicken orzo soup is good too I forgot what the Greeks call it. My last advice- this is a Greek restaurant. Don't try to be American and get mac and cheese, chicken drumstick or mussels. Those are American food and doesn't taste so good at a Greek restaurant. ENJOY! -
Review from Dana R.
Washington, DC
7/5/2011
After a short stint as a food reviewer in college I have decided to share my impromptu (yet constant) reviews of restaurants with the rest of the Yelp community. As a new restaurant in my repertoire Cava seems like the perfect place to start.
Cava in Rockville is a small restaurant with seats both indoors and out. However, I would suggest sitting indoors regardless of the weather for both the ambiance as well as avoidance of the scenic parking lot view. Indoors is dark and candlelit, and make sure your eyes have time to adjust before scouring the menu. Despite the intimate seating arrangements, Cava does get loud especially during prime happy hour time.
Mezze are small dishes slightly larger than tapas which range in substance. Cava serves salad, soup, vegetarian, and a variety of meat mezze. Our waiter suggested about 2-3 per person. I would recommend ordering two each and maybe one dish to share per every two people. While the plates might be small the prices can add up really fast! Also, the food is very hearty and often high in fat (think lots of olive oil!) and will fill you up quickly.
The FOOD:
Every table gets a bowl of pita and small dishes of a slightly spicy red spread, olive oil, and olives. The pita is delicious - its very flat, smooth, and even better when fresh out of the oven to the table. Don't be frugal, the waiters will keep bringing it out!
Tzatziki - refreshing, crisp, can't get enough of it, great starter!
Haloumi - unsure if the pieces of haloumi cheese are grilled or fried, but regardless is out of this world! Very hearty - suggest sharing with at least one other person, comes in order of three
Spanikopita - some of the best I've ever had, phyllo dough melts in your mouth, does not taste overly fried
Lamb Kapama - extremely hearty dish with large chunks of lamb, orzo, and cheese, meat was so scrumptious it almost melted in your mouth
Bottom Line:
Delicious Mediterranean food! Unsuspecting location, great date, definitely worth the trip/the price. Not a great place to come STARVING, but definitely will leave more than satisfied! -
Review from Anita C.
Rockville, MD
7/3/2011 2 photos
Two words: lollipop chicken.
Hands-down my favorite dish at Cava Mezze. The chicken is tender and sweet, with a glaze on it. Possibly some of the best chicken I've ever had.
Food: The other winner in my book was there warm, fresh pita bread. Whenever they refilled our bowl, it was always warm. They had three dips for it - a spicy eggplant dip (my fave!), olive oil, and a mystery third that I didn't care for. My companions and I also ordered the following dishes: lamb chops, asparagus, white bean ragout, disco fries, pork belly, and green beans. I didn't care too much for the oily asparagus and the mushy ragout, but the lamb chops were pretty good.
Price: About ~$15 for the chicken and lamb and ~8 for the veggies. My boyfriend and I were pretty full with three small dishes and generous servings of pita bread - we definitely ordered too much. With all of the dishes we ordered, the four of us ended up spending ~$96 excluding tip.
Ambiance: It was so dark in the restaurant that I couldn't read my menu. Maybe it's supposed to cast a more romantic glow or something...but I'd like to read my menu and see my food clearly! I wish we had sat outside - it was warm and beautiful.
Service: Just okay. Our waiter was friendly, but the service was nothing special - I thought it was cool that he input our orders onto an iPhone.
Kind of expensive but I'll definitely be back for the chicken and pita bread! I also want to try the scallop risotto that other Yelpers have been raving about :) -
Review from Maria P.
Colesville, MD
8/4/2011
I walk in, and it's like i'm transported to an intimately furnished cave. The scent of the air is phenomenal, and it makes me want to sit down at the nearest served table and dig in...I held back the urge though. I'm sure the owners appreciated that :P
We began with fiery cheese (gooey on the inside, crisp on the outside), lamb kapama (perfectly seasoned lamb with orzo), and the bolognese (this is definitely a favorite...I might have to plant cameras in the kitchen, just to see how it's made :P ). I'm not a big dessert girl, but I'm sure that Cava could deliver if I were.
I've also had the fries (sinful) and the mussels risotto (perfection). In my perfect world, Cava would be down the street so I could have Greek every f*cking night...or maybe 5-6 nights...no...every night.
If you're into red wines (let me rephrase), If you're into EXCELLENT RED WINE, make sure to order a bottle of the Gougenheim Malbec...
Now, go find a date and bring him/her to Cava. Who knows what'll happen after :P -
Review from Jacki W.
Silver Spring, MD
8/7/2011
After several attempts to eat here, I finally got in with a couple of friends and now understand why it was worth the wait! Harissa and Haloumi are my new favorite friends along with a glass of Chenin Blanc! Did I say the flaming Haloumi cheese is out of this world? Seriously, I could have eaten 2 orders of it and walked out a happy woman. However, we also order zucchini puffs, which were delightful tasty balls of fluff -- not heavy or overly fried and the lamb, tasty and rare - not overcooked or tough, but delightful bits of heaven on the palette. I'll be back for sure and I'll wait, oh I'll wait to dine here again.
Note, it's loud, very loud, so make great conversation elsewhere! Afterall, your here to eat! -
Review from Lu H.
Rockville, MD
10/4/2011 4 photos
Finally got to try this place after it being in my "Bookmarks" for so long! Can say that most of it was up to my expectation. The Lollipop chicken was interesting...very tender dark meat fried chicken dipped in this delicious sweet white sauce. The baby lamb chops, however was a bit disappointing, especially considering how much I love lamb meat. Imo it was a bit too oily and had way too much fatty meat rather than meat meat. And the best dish was definitely the scallop risotto for it was absolutely delectable! Three large pieces of o so tender scallops served over tasty yellow rice. Next time, I'd probably order one just for myself hehe :b Overall, a pretty chill, intimate date-friendly restaurant with some awesome Greek food! O not to mention, the complementary warm pita bread + dip was a lovely way to start off the meal.
-
Review from Robert C.
5/25/2011 3 photos
Oh boy, I must say this is the best restaurant around Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown area. The place's actually quite small & very hidden. If I didn't read the great reviews about this place, I would never knew that it existed.
1st off, the portions here are just a little bit bigger than tapas. For you who don't know how big a tapas portion is - it's very small lol. I went with my gf and ordered 3 dishes and I think that barely filled us up. Here are some of the food that we tried there:
*Harissa - tomato paste, hot red pepperwith 30 other ingredients. Spicy, sweet, sour, salty. I think Harissa is officially my favorite dip of all time now. It's spicy, sweet, sour & salty; this dip'll hit all your taste buds. It's 1 of the 3 dips that're served along with pita bread - complimentary; you can ask them to bring out more. Trust me, you'll want more lol.
*Scallops Mushroom Risotto ($16) - Jumbo scallops, risotto, cremini mushrooms; pan fried. Absolutely wonderful; probably my favorite dish from there. The scallops're cooked perfectly; the exterior has caramelized crust but really tender in the inside. The risotto tasted awesome, you have to eat the risotto with the scallops together; they're unbelievable. You'll be fighting your companion for that last bite.
*Lollipop Chicken ($10) - Fried chicken with honey, walnuts & Greek yogurt sauce. I know, I know... why get a fried chicken right? You can just get in Popeyes or KFC. But believe me, you don't want to miss this dish. It's easily the most popular dish from there & I can see why. The chicken's very crunchy in the outside yet so tender in the inside. But the good part is that it's not oily at all; you won't feel gross eating it. The sauce that goes with it is just amazing, you'll be licking the plate off once you're done with it.
*Baby Lamb Chops ($15)- served with crisped potatoes. This dish's great, the lamb's tender and very flavorful. They're able to cover that lamb smell that's usually pretty strong in most dishes.
Conclusion: Probably my favorite restaurant around the area. Even though the portion can be somewhat small, it's worth it. I recommend going for dinner; they have more & better selections than lunch. If you've never been here before, you don't know what you're missing. -
Review from Maria M.
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Charming greek restaurant/tapas place. I ordered the chicken souvlaki sandwich which was pretty good. The chicken wasn't dry and everything inside the souvlaki complemented the taste of the chicken. It came with fries on the side, which were pretty good fries - crispy on the outside, soft on the inside =).
Service was ok... I was a little confused when the server took out his cell phone when we were ordering, but I think that's how they take your orders - through cell phones. Kinda high- techy.
In any case, it's pretty expensive, but the food is pretty good. -
Review from Sandy C.
Washington, DC
8/9/2011
Dark and ardent atmosphere with very attentive service.
I enjoy, small, tapa, sized plates, which is exactly what they serve here! however, their portion is slightly larger.
As an appetizer, my date and I had the Haloumi cheese; crispy outer layer with cheese filling. Our server flared up the cheese in front of us, which was exciting to watch. Good, however, a bit too salty for my taste buds
Entree, we had spicy lamb sliders, which was perfectly grilled and nicely seasoned. Aso had lamb chop; love the crispy skin that and nicely seasoned meat. The meat was marvelously, tender and you can taste the marinated seasoning. As for desserts, we had the Baklava, which was delicious. It's chopped walnuts baked with phyllo and honey, with vanilla ice cream.
Love the environment and food here. The only downside is the excessive amount of salt they use. -
Review from soml a.
Bethesda, MD
10/10/2011
It breaks my heart to give only two stars to a place that serves very good food - but when I go out to eat, I also want to have a good time - and the noise level at Cava Rockville is so unbearable that we did not.
I have been there twice now. The first time, the food was excellent and the noise level very high. So I was a bit hesitant to go again, but since the food was so good and the staff assured me that this noise level was unusual, I decided to give it another try. Went back in a group of 4 people who usually have a great time together. This time, food quality was good (though not at the level of excellence of the previous time), and the noise was so bad that we could not understand each other, even when we screamed. After eating a few dishes, we asked for the check and then went elsewhere for dessert and drinks. We all agreed that we had no desire to stay, or to ever come back.
Looking more closely than the first time, we saw that the place is DESIGNED to be extremely loud. Tiles, glass, metal, you name it - all building materials are noise multipliers, and there is nothing to buffer the noise. This is a trick restaurants use to increase the turnover - get people out fast. So the owners' talk about "not rushing customers" is a bunch of baloney.
Since the food is very good (lollipop chicken, lamb kapama and the dip platter were the best of the dozen or so dishes we tried on two visits) and the prices are reasonable, I'd suggest this place in three circumstances: If you're by yourself, with a boring person, or with a group that doesn't care if they can have a conversation. Or if the weather is nice enough to sit outside, and you don't mind sitting in a parking lot. Just don't go if you actually want to talk to somebody. -
Review from Ramy D.
El Cajon, CA
8/16/2011
Simply Great food A+
Great Customer services A+
Taste and Quality A+
Over all I DO go back if I am in town again. My wife and I were in town for a business trip. We wanted to eat Greek FOOD and that came up right away as our first option. We ordered their, Salad, Greek Gyro plate, and few of their Apptz. All were amazing but small size I think that's their ideal food as a new trend small but amazing. Which I am okay with.
A little high price as well keep in mind dress code because its a classy fun place to be at maybe dinner? or even Lunch.... -
Review from Ashley F.
Montgomery Village, MD
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for my birthday dinner recently with my work BFFs and had a wonderful time. I was really sad to find that they did not take reservations on Friday nights but luckily due to the weather and my persistence to get there early, my friends and I were immediately seated when we walked in. The ambiance was very dark and the entire restaurant was far from spacious, perfect for a romantic date possibly and not groups. However, everyone seemed to make room for the crowded bar and the dining area was filled with mostly groups who seemed thoroughly comfortable and we didn't complain either. Well, the dungeon lighting wasn't favorable but we all managed.
We all tried a cocktail which was all oh so delicious. I believe Pomegranate is my martini for 2011 because it is all I seem to order these days but it was delish! A friend of mind also tried the Cava martini which was nice and strong too. I had to sample! Our server was cool. Like literally, he had an app on his Iphone that took our order. I was in awe! Minor, irrelevant perk but it was impressive. He was attentive and our order came out correct and in perfect timing.
I would give the food 4 out of 5 stars but very impressive. I have to go back and try more and I will tell you why this also doesn't take away from my final rating. Cava is Mezze style, which is small plates, and promotes sharing which is what we did. We had a little bit of everything. My favs were the Haloumi sliders, the chicken souvlaki and their Hummus was DEEEEEELightful! There were other items on the menu that I was dying to try but we would have never finished. The Lamb chops was good but there was a missing element that was needed to set it off. And unfortunately I wasn't a fan of the calamari.
The best part of the night was when manager offered our table FREE Greek donuts for my birthday. (Mine you I thought I could get them free for checking in but I needed 5 to unlock.) They are totally worth it. The were like little sugared knots that were drenched in sweet syrup. It wrapped up the perfect birthday dinner!
I cannot wait to go back~ -
Review from Megan H.
Gaithersburg, MD
5/6/2011 1 photo
After eating at Cava Mezze, I feel like I've been missing out on deliciousness for the past few years of my life. I won't lie, I've always dismissed this restaurant due to its less than attractive location next to Giant. I was completely wrong, and now, I'm overjoyed that I don't live too far away to become a regular here. I will certainly be making up for lost time by eating here much more often.
My friend and I got the lamb chops, lollipop chicken, and pork belly mezze. The lamb chops and lollipop chicken were amazing, to say the least. I favored the lamb chops a little more, only because I enjoy the bolder flavor of the grill. The lollipop chicken came with a greek yogurt and honey sauce which was surprisingly refreshing and provide a nice balance to the overall mezze.
DO NOT SKIP DESSERT. Just don't. We got the challah french toast that was topped with berries, whipped cream, and honey. It sounds simple, but this dish really blew my mind. This may have been my favorite, but then again, I have a major sweet tooth. -
Review from Chris N.
Rockville, MD
11/7/2011
Trendy scene, good food, and decent prices. It's the see and be seen place for this part of town. Just be prepared to wait for a table.
-
Review from Kimberly J.
Potomac, MD
7/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
1. Mark is a great waiter.
2. The cheese dish that they light on fire was unreal.
3. This place turned me into a Greek food lover.
4. Positively eat here. -
Review from Dee B.
4/18/2011
*3.5 stars*
In an area where a good restaurant with pleasant ambiance is hard to come by, I can understand the rave reviews. Based on my inaugural visit, however, I prefer Cava Mezze Grill in downtown Bethesda where I can get a huge meal for all of $6.90. :)
I'd known about Cava forever, but had never really had the chance to try it out. That finally changed on a Tuesday evening when I met a friend here at 6.30pm. We put our names down for a table, got a pager and proceeded to the bar for drinks. Tuesday is 1/2 price wine bottle night, but my friend was drinking beer and I knew that I'd have to keep myself to one glass of wine. Luckily, the Gougenheim Malbec I chose was not too expensive ($7 or $8 for the glass) and it was absolutely delicious. Bonus points for the super friendly bartenders.
Our table was ready more quickly than the promised 30 minutes. When we got down to business, we ordered the chicken souvlaki, the zucchini fritters, the spanakopita and the scallop mushroom risotto. The chicken was dry, the fritters too fritter-y (barely tasted or noticed any zucchini in them), but the spanakopita and risotto were good - although not outstanding. Our server was friendly and made sure we were never without water.
Overall, at this price point I do expect a bit more... -
Review from Cheryl L.
3/18/2011 6 photos
Cava is a huge hit in the Rockville area, and there is always a line and crowds of people when I go!
It's a fun and warm restaurant, but you'll have a order a couple of dishes to get full. I especially like the Lollipop Chicken here.
Everything is generally good on the menu, but halfway throughout my meal, I usually start to feel the heaviness and saltiness of the dishes-- especially that Cheese dish that they light on fire, which I am not a fan of! -
Review from Christine C.
Annapolis, MD
3/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
"Toula, there's two kinds of people, Greeks, and everybody else who wish they was Greeks." ... Eating at Cava made us wish we were...
Having read all of the reviews about the long wait we knew we'd have to take some drastic measures to get in to this joint. So we showed up in our best greek, hipster disguises, and were ushered in to a table right away with no wait. HA - Our plan was working! ... The fact that it was a Wednesday night and there were several open tables was merely coincidental...
Here is why we are giving it 5 stars:
1. The food was out of this world!
We had: the village salad, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), scallops and risotto, the lamb chops.
EXTRA STAR FOR: Serving breakfast for dessert. The challah french toast with honey, berries, and cream dessert was stellar.
2. Our waiter was great. Kyle (I think that was his name) was quite the rock-star tonight. Chef - if you are reading this - give that man a raise! He made our first time there really easy by being helpful and attentive AND our table stayed clean, glasses stayed full, and no one was in the way.
3. Comfy, casual atmosphere. (Don't get me wrong - definitely a good adult, date night place. Tables are cozy (read: small). Our table worked fine for the two of us, but we definitely maxed out the real estate on our tabletop.)
4. The chef's name is Demetri Moshovitis. Perfect amount of Greekness.
Extra things to know: Monday nights = half price Martinis. Tuesday nights = half price wine. Dress code = must wear clothes.
Get your Greek self (or, your wishing you were Greek self) to Cava asap! Opa!
