CAVA has become one of the most popular Mediterranean-inspired fast-casual dining choices in the United States. Known for its fresh ingredients, customizable bowls, wraps, pitas, and flavorful dips, CAVA continues to grow rapidly as people embrace healthier and more balanced meal options. While many customers know CAVA for its individual grain bowls and salads, the brand also offers excellent solutions for families, small gatherings, office lunches, parties, and group events. The CAVA Food Menu for family meals and group orders delivers variety, flexibility, and convenience—especially for people needing larger portions without compromising freshness or taste.
In this detailed guide, you’ll discover everything about CAVA’s family-style bundles, catering trays, build-your-own packages, and group meal combinations. Whether you’re planning a family dinner, a weekend gathering, a workplace meeting, or a celebration, CAVA offers versatile options that make ordering easy.
Why CAVA Is Ideal for Family Meals & Group Dining
CAVA stands out because of its Mediterranean flavors and balanced meals. Family diners appreciate the large portion sizes, while groups love the flexibility of mixing proteins, dips, spreads, greens, and grains. Unlike heavy fast foods, CAVA meals feel lighter and more energizing, making them a great choice for gatherings.
Some key reasons families prefer CAVA include:
- Customization makes everyone happy—kids, adults, vegetarians, and meat lovers
- Healthier choices compared to traditional fast-food chains
- Balanced meals featuring grains, lean proteins, veggies, and fresh toppings
- Mediterranean dips and spreads that appeal to diverse tastes
- Convenient, ready-to-share catering bowls and trays
Compared to competitors like Chipotle, Sweetgreen, Zoe’s Kitchen, and Panera Bread, CAVA offers a richer flavor experience rooted in Mediterranean cuisine, with bold sauces such as Harissa, Skhug, Tzatziki, Tahini, and Crazy Feta.
CAVA Catering – A Perfect Fit for Groups & Events
CAVA’s catering menu is designed to simplify large meal orders for groups of 10 to 100+ people. It includes several options such as:
- Full catering packages
- Build-Your-Own Bowl bars
- Fire-Grilled Protein trays
- Dip & Spread platters
- Salad bowls
- Pita and toppings assortments
These options provide flexibility, allowing groups to assemble their own bowls, wraps, and plates. This self-serve style is especially popular in offices, schools, and events where people have dietary differences.
CAVA’s catering system is similar to Chipotle’s Build-Your-Own Burrito Bowl Bar, but with a Mediterranean twist, offering dips like Hummus, Crazy Feta, Red Pepper Hummus, Roasted Eggplant Dip, and Tzatziki.
Build-Your-Own Bowl Bar – The Most Popular Group Option
The Build-Your-Own Bowl Bar is CAVA’s signature group order choice. It allows guests to assemble their meals with their preferred bases, proteins, dips, veggies, and toppings.
A standard Bowl Bar includes:
- Greens (Arugula, Romaine, SuperGreens Mix)
- Grains (Brown Rice, Black Lentils, RightRice, Quinoa blend)
- Proteins (Grilled Chicken, Falafel, Roasted Veggies, Spicy Lamb Meatballs)
- Dips & Spreads (Hummus, Crazy Feta, Roasted Eggplant Dip, Tzatziki)
- Veggies (Cucumber, Tomato, Pickled Onion, Kalamata Olives, Cabbage Slaw)
- Dressings (Lemon Herb Tahini, Skhug, Greek Vinaigrette, Harissa)
- Pita Crisps or Pita Bread
Each ingredient comes packed separately, letting guests mix and match however they like. This setup works well for gatherings because it accommodates:
- Vegans
- Vegetarians
- Low-carb or high-protein eaters
- People avoiding gluten
- Kids wanting simpler meals
For example, a vegan guest can build a bowl with falafel, grains, chickpeas, hummus, tomato, cucumber, and vinaigrette, while a meat lover can choose grilled chicken, lamb meatballs, rice, tzatziki, and olives.
This level of personalization makes the Bowl Bar among the most requested family and group options.
Family Feast Packages – Large, Ready-to-Share Meals
CAVA also offers ready-made Family Feast Packs designed to feed 4–6 people. These bundles include:
- A choice of protein (Chicken, Falafel, Lamb Meatballs, or Grilled Steak where available)
- Two dips from the signature dips menu
- Salads or greens
- Grains (like rice or lentils)
- Warm pita bread
- Fresh toppings and sauces
Families choose this option because:
- It eliminates individual ordering
- Portions are generous
- It suits both dine-in and take-home meals
- It’s balanced and nutritious
A typical Family Feast may include:
- 2 proteins
- 2 dips
- 3 toppings
- Grains + greens
- 6 pieces of pita bread
- A dressing of choice
CAVA’s family packs are comparable to Zoe’s Kitchen Family Meals and Sweetgreen’s Large Greens Bowls, but CAVA wins in flavor diversity thanks to its spreads and spice-driven Mediterranean ingredients.
Protein Trays – Perfect for Heavy Eaters & Meat Lovers
For groups where protein is the main attraction, CAVA offers Protein Trays with generous servings of:
- Grilled Chicken
- Spicy Lamb Meatballs
- Falafel
- Roasted Vegetables
- Grilled Steak (limited locations)
- Harissa Honey Chicken (seasonal)
Protein Trays pair well with:
- Pita trays
- Rice or grain bowls
- Veggie trays
- Dip platters
They are especially popular for:
- Office lunches
- Small parties
- Sports gatherings
- Family celebrations
Many customers mix Chicken + Falafel trays to offer both vegetarian and meat options, ensuring everyone finds something suitable.
Dip & Spread Platters – A Crowd Favourite for Any Event
CAVA’s signature dips and spreads are among the brand’s biggest highlights. For family meals and larger gatherings, CAVA provides assorted platters with:
- Classic Hummus
- Roasted Eggplant Dip
- Spicy Hummus or Red Pepper Hummus
- Crazy Feta
- Tzatziki
- Harissa spreads
- Skhug
- Garlic Dressing
These platters typically include pita crisps or warm pita bread. They work perfectly as:
- Party appetizers
- Lunch meeting starters
- Add-ons to family meals
- Snack-sharing items
Compared to competitors like Sabra or restaurant chains like Zoe’s Kitchen, CAVA’s Crazy Feta and Harissa-spiked dips stand out for their bold, unique flavors.
Salad & Grain Bowls for Large Groups
CAVA offers large catering bowls of premixed salads and grains for a more traditional family meal approach. These bowls include:
- Greek Salad Bowl
- SuperGreens & Quinoa Bowl
- Lentil & Rice Bowl
- Chopped Salad Bowl
- Seasonal Mediterranean Bowls
These are lighter, healthier choices for families who want greens-forward meals. They pair well with protein trays and dip platters.
Pita, Toppings & Extra Sides for Family Style Meals
Most customers ordering for groups include extra sides such as:
- Pita Bread Packs
- Pita Chips
- Cucumber & Tomato Topping Trays
- Pickled Veggie Packs
- Cabbage Slaw Bowls
- Kalamata Olive Trays
These allow guests to assemble their own wraps or add freshness to bowls.
The variety makes CAVA perfect for people who enjoy building plates with many small components—a Mediterranean tradition similar to mezze-style dining.
Best Combinations for Family Meals
Here are some of the most popular CAVA family meal combinations:
1. The Classic Mediterranean Set
- Chicken + Falafel proteins
- Hummus + Crazy Feta dips
- Rice + SuperGreens
- Cucumber, tomato, olives, pickled onion
- Pita bread + Crisps
- Lemon Herb Tahini dressing
2. The High-Protein Family Combo
- Grilled Chicken + Lamb Meatballs
- Tzatziki + Roasted Eggplant Dip
- Brown rice + Quinoa
- Tomato, cabbage slaw, corn
- Pita on the side
3. The Vegetarian/Vegan Family Feast
- Falafel + Roasted Veggies
- Hummus + Harissa Red Pepper Dip
- Lentils + SuperGreens
- Tomato, cucumber, olives, pickled veggies
- Pita + vegan-friendly dressing
These combinations are flexible, satisfying, and well-balanced for group meals.
Best Events to Order CAVA for
CAVA is commonly used for:
- Office meetings
- Staff lunches
- Family gatherings
- Birthday parties
- School events
- Sports team meals
- Weekend dinners
- Holiday get-togethers
Its freshness, bold flavor, and balanced ingredients make it suitable for all age groups.
Portions and Serving Sizes for Families
CAVA’s catering is designed with generous portions. A standard catering bowl or protein tray typically feeds:
- 8–10 people (large bowls)
- 4–6 people (family feast)
- 10–12 people (Protein Platters)
- 12–15 people (Dip Platters)
This helps families and groups plan meals easily without worrying about running short.
Why CAVA Stands Out for Group Orders
Several things make CAVA one of the strongest choices for family and group meals:
- Fresh ingredients prepared daily
- Wide customization for dietary needs
- Mediterranean flavors with global appeal
- Generous serving sizes
- Competitive pricing compared to Chipotle, Sweetgreen, or Panera catering
- Healthier alternatives to heavy fast food
Families love the flavor variety, while groups enjoy the interactive bowl-building experience.
Final Thoughts – A Perfect Choice for Families & Groups
CAVA’s Family Meals and Group Order menu is a fantastic solution for anyone who wants flavorful, nutritious food that appeals to everyone at the table. Whether you’re hosting a family dinner, planning a team lunch, or organizing a gathering, CAVA provides convenient, flexible, and delicious options that let everyone customize their plate.
From build-your-own bowl bars to protein trays, dip platters, salad bowls, and family feasts, CAVA brings Mediterranean freshness into group dining with ease. For those wanting a flavorful, balanced, and crowd-friendly meal, CAVA remains one of the best choices in the fast-casual category.