National Restaurant Chain Poised To Make Pittsburgh Debut

PITTSBURGH, PA — Cava, a fast casual Mediterranean eatery that offers customizable bowls and pitas much like Chipotle's build-your-own model, is about to open its first location in the city with a second one coming soon.

Cava will open at a former Chipoltle site on Forbes Avenue in Oakland on the University of Pittsburgh campus, on Friday. Another location will open soon at the Meridian, a new retail-housing complex currently under construction on the East Liberty-Shadyside border 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.

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.

In addition to its restaurants, Cava dips, spreads and sauces are available at Whole Foods and other grocery retailers nationwide.