Cava, a popular Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain, is opening Friday in Pittsburgh’s East End.
The chain’s second Pittsburgh location is part of The Meridian, a new development at the border of Shadyside and East Liberty.
Sourcing its food from Greece, Cava serves bowls, pitas, dips, and sides like pita chips and desserts, as described on its menu.
The Meridian, at the corner of Penn and Shady avenues, includes a Barnes & Noble, Market District by Giant Eagle and Shake Shack. Sephora, Sushi Atarashi and Wushiland Boba are among the businesses set to open there this year. The complex include a 231-unit apartment building called Ophelia.
The first Cava location in Pittsburgh opened in Oakland last year at 3619 Forbes Ave.
The East Liberty restaurant will employ 25-40 people, the company said. Located at 151 Shady Ave., it will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Before officially opening, every Cava restaurant invites its neighbors for a free meal and accepts donations to support a local cause. The restaurant matches those donations up to $1,000. This time, funds were raised for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Since 2019, the program has raised more than $600,000 in donations, mostly targeted at improving food security in local communities.
“Our mission is to bring heart, health and humanity to food, and everything we do at Cava is grounded in that spirit,” said Gino Carlin, regional director, in the opening announcement. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be in East Liberty and continue to grow our presence in the Pittsburgh area.”
Founded in 2010, Cava has about 400 locations across the United States and expects to reach 1,000 by 2032.
