National Restaurant Chain To Open First 2 Pittsburgh Locations

PITTSBURGH, PA — A national restaurant chain is planning to open its first two Pittsburgh locations.

Cava, a fast casual Mediterranean eatery that offers customizable bowls and pitas much like Chipotle's build-your-own model, will open in the East End and Oakland. In addition to its restaurants, Cava dips, spreads and sauces are available at Whole Foods and other grocery retailers nationwide.

Cava's East End location will be a 2,800-square foot restaurant in The Meridian development currently under construction, according to a site plan on the Echo Realty website. Echo is developing the massive apartment, retail and grocery store complex being built on the site of a former shopping center at the intersection of Shady and Penn avenues.

At the Meridian, Cava will join Shake Shack, Sushi chain Sushi Atarashi and Taiwanese tea chain Wushiland Boba.

Cava also confirmed to The Pitt News that it will open a location on Forbes Avenue later this year. Opening dates for either restaurant have yet to be announced.

Based in Rockville, Maryland, Cava says on its website that it opens dozens of new restaurants across the country every year. The chain has eight Pennsylvania locations, all on the eastern side of the state.