Cava: the menu reviewed
By Olivia Garrett
Picture taken by Olivia Garrett
One of Owasso’s newest additions, Cava, has been added to the array of eateries in the area. The Mediterranean-inspired cuisine offers a wide array of ingredients at their health-rooted business and provides meals approved for a variety of diets and food restrictions. Cava offers a unique and refreshing menu amongst many other fast foods, however how it fares taste wise is yet to be determined.
Picture of Harissa Avocado Bowl taken by Olivia Garrett
Assorted salad and rice bowls are the most popular items the restaurant offers, and upon trying the Harissa Avocado Bowl, I was pleasantly delighted. The bowl offers harissa honey chicken, hot harissa honey vinaigrette, corn, avocado, rice, super greens and more. The bowl itself was dominated by the avocado, kale and rice. While delicious, the harissa honey chicken lacked quantity and usually fell to the bottom and the sides of the bowl in clumps.
The star of the bowl was definitely the pickled onions. Crunchy, tangy and crisp, the onions provided a well-needed acidity in the pungent bowl. The onions, however, overpowered the more hearty ingredients at times. The kale was lost in the mess of flavors and provided little taste or addition, other than nutrition, to the bowl. Pieces of kale were often hard and slightly stale except when drenched in the hot vinaigrette. The crazy feta, a Cava trademark, was another highlight of the bowl: it provided an escape from the heat the vinaigrette so abundantly added. The vinaigrette was generously applied and elevated the dish to a new level of spice that would likely be too high for the average consumer. The avocado served as a nice refuge amongst the spice, cooling and grounding the dish. Overall, the dish provided a nice, spice-filled option for those looking for a healthy, higher-budget meal.
Picture of Spicy Lamb Meatball Pita taken by Olivia Garrett
The next dish I tried was their “Spicy Lamb Meatball Pita.” The pita consisted of lamb meatballs, skhug dressing, hummus, tomato, cucumber, pickled onions, pickles, garlic dressing and more. While spicy in the name, the pita itself had little to no spice. The supposedly spicy skhug dressing was generously poured on the pita and resulted in a soggy wrap. The dressing drenched the wrap entirely and soaked the wrapper the pita came in. It overflowed excessively and was possibly one of the messiest things a person could order.
The large meatballs repeatedly fell out of the pita along with the pickled onions and pickles, making it impossible to assort a bite with all of the ingredients. At the end of the meal, a portion of the pita’s filling was left in a pile outside the wrapper.
The flavors of the pita, however, were delicious. They had strong Mediterranean roots and were a refreshing deviation from Owasso's typical cuisine. The meatballs were perfectly cooked, and the little hummus there was very flavorful and provided a contrast amongst the more acidic ingredients. The pita, while a tasty meal, would likely be too messy and expensive of a venture for the average person to partake.
The last item I tried was the limited-release pineapple apple mint lemonade. More pineapple than anything, the drink lacked any real apple or mint flavor. It resembled a more muted, lightly sweetened, thick pineapple juice. The drink would likely fare better as a replenishing, heartier option than a refreshing and thirst-quenching one. It had small pulp bits of pineapple and mint, changing the texture of the drink drastically. While not every consumer's personal taste, the drink could appeal to some looking for a healthier juice alternative.
This dining establishment fares well in terms of taste and ingredient quality. However, for the average consumer, the price and practicality of the menu might set the restaurant back in its success. The food itself, however, will surely satisfy any customer searching for a unique and delicious Greek-inspired meal to quench their craving.