CAVA Catering Guide 2026: Menu, Prices & How to Order for Any Group
Whether you’re feeding 10 people at an office lunch or 50 people at a company event, CAVA catering is one of the most practical and crowd-pleasing options in the fast-casual space. Fresh Mediterranean food, six scratch-made dips, multiple dietary options, and a build-your-own format that keeps everyone happy, including the one person in every office who has a dietary restriction nobody remembers until the food arrives.
This guide covers everything you need to place a confident catering order, the full menu, exact prices, minimum orders, how far in advance to book, and exactly what to order depending on your group size and budget.
⚡ Quick Answer: CAVA catering starts at a minimum of 10 servings. The Group Bowl Bar is the most popular format at approximately $15–$20 per person. Order at least 24–48 hours in advance. Place orders at catering.cava.com or through the CAVA app.
What Is CAVA Catering?
CAVA catering is a group ordering service that brings CAVA’s Mediterranean menu to your office, event, or gathering. Unlike individual restaurant orders, catering orders are packaged for group service with serving equipment included.
There are four main formats:
| Format | Best For | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Group Bowl Bar | Groups of 10–50+, interactive dining | $15–$20 per person |
| Pita Packs | Smaller meetings, grab-and-go | ~$121 per 10 pitas |
| Individual Curated Bowls | Formal events, pre-selected meals | $12–$17 per person |
| Chips & Dips Platters | Snack breaks, add-ons | $43–$67 per platter |
CAVA Group Bowl Bar, The Most Popular Catering Option
The Group Bowl Bar is CAVA’s signature catering format and by far the most ordered. It’s a build-your-own Mediterranean spread where guests assemble their own bowls from a selection of ingredients laid out buffet-style.
Each Group Bowl Bar station serves approximately 10 people and includes:
- 2 bases of your choice
- 6 toppings of your choice
- 2 dips of your choice
- 2 dressings of your choice
- Serving utensils and equipment
You choose the protein separately. Here’s the full protein pricing per station (serves ~10):
| Protein | Price Per Station |
|---|---|
| Falafel | ~$150 |
| Roasted Vegetables | ~$155 |
| Grilled Chicken | ~$165 |
| Harissa Honey Chicken | ~$185 |
| Spicy Lamb Meatballs | ~$195 |
| Grilled Steak | ~$215 |
Pro tip: For a mixed office group, order Grilled Chicken as your main protein and add Falafel as a second protein station. This covers meat-eaters, health-conscious eaters, and vegetarians in one order without anyone feeling left out.
Best Base Choices for Group Bowl Bar
Choose 2 from:
- SuperGreens, best for light eaters and low-calorie goals
- Saffron Basmati Rice, most popular, crowd-pleasing
- Brown Rice, heartier option, more fiber
- Black Lentils, best for protein-conscious groups
- Romaine, good light option alongside a grain
Recommended combination: Saffron Basmati Rice + SuperGreens. This covers both the people who want a grain base and those who want to keep it light.
Best Topping Choices for Group Bowl Bar
Choose 6 from the full topping list. For a crowd, these 6 work best:
- Tomato + Cucumber : universally loved, no dietary issues
- Pickled Onions : adds brightness and acidity
- Fire-Roasted Corn : sweet, colorful, crowd-pleasing
- Crumbled Feta : adds richness (skip if dairy-free guests present)
- Kalamata Olives : Mediterranean flavor anchor
- Fiery Broccoli : adds a vegetable element with heat
Best Dip Choices for Group Bowl Bar
Choose 2. For a mixed group, always go:
- Hummus: universally safe, vegan, gluten-free, everyone knows it
- Tzatziki: cooling, creamy, pairs with everything (contains dairy)
If you know your group skews health-conscious, swap Tzatziki for Crazy Feta, it’s CAVA’s most talked-about dip and always gets a reaction from people trying it for the first time.
CAVA Pita Packs Best for Smaller Meetings
Pita Packs are pre-assembled pita sandwiches, 10 per pack, at approximately $121 per pack. You can add up to 5 more pitas to any pack.
Available combinations:
| Pita Pack | Contents |
|---|---|
| Garlic Chicken + Veggie | Grilled chicken or roasted veg, garlic sauce, hummus, tomato + onion, pickled onions |
| Steak + Feta | Grilled steak, Crazy Feta, red pepper hummus, pickled onions, feta, romaine, Greek vinaigrette |
| Greek Chicken | Grilled chicken, hummus, tzatziki, tomato + onion, olives, feta, Greek vinaigrette |
| Crispy Falafel | Falafel, hummus, eggplant dip, pickles, sumac slaw, garlic dressing |
| Spicy Chicken + Avocado | Harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta, hummus, avocado, corn, pickled onions, hot harissa vinaigrette |
Best pick for a mixed office group: Order two packs, one Greek Chicken and one Crispy Falafel. This covers meat-eaters and vegetarians cleanly, and both are universally crowd-pleasing.
Important note on Pita Packs: These work best for meetings under 20 people where you want grab-and-go convenience. For larger groups or events where you want people to feel like they’re getting a proper meal, the Group Bowl Bar is a better experience.
CAVA Catering Add-Ons
These can be added to any catering order:
| Add-On | Price |
|---|---|
| Extra Dressings | ~$9.95 |
| Extra Toppings | ~$13.25 |
| Extra Dips | ~$15.75 |
| Avocado | ~$23.95 |
| Side Pitas | ~$23.95 |
| Extra Greens | ~$31.00 |
| Extra Grains | ~$32.00 |
| Roasted Vegetables | ~$43.00 |
| Pita Chips + 1 Dip | ~$43.00 |
| Pita Chips + 3 Dips | ~$67.00 |
| Extra Falafel | ~$63.00 |
| Extra Grilled Chicken | ~$73.00 |
| Extra Harissa Honey Chicken | ~$95.00 |
| Extra Spicy Lamb Meatballs | ~$105.00 |
| Extra Grilled Steak | ~$120.00 |
Always add the Pita Chips + 3 Dips platter to any catering order. At $67 it serves the whole group as a starter and dramatically improves the overall experience, people can snack while the bowl bar is being set up, and it removes the awkward gap between food arriving and everyone sitting down.
CAVA Catering Desserts
| Dessert | Price Each |
|---|---|
| Salted Chocolate Oat Cookie | ~$4.30 |
| Greyston Brownie | ~$3.30 |
| Greyston Blondie | ~$3.30 |
Order one dessert per person. The Salted Chocolate Oat Cookie is CAVA’s top-selling dessert, and the right call for a group; it travels well and is universally liked.
CAVA Catering Prices: Full Cost Breakdown by Group Size
This is what nobody else tells you, the realistic total cost for different group sizes:
| Group Size | Recommended Format | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|
| 10 people | 1 Group Bowl Bar (Grilled Chicken) + Chips & Dips | ~$215–$235 |
| 20 people | 2 Group Bowl Bars (Chicken + Falafel) + Chips & Dips | ~$380–$420 |
| 30 people | 3 Group Bowl Bars (mixed proteins) + Chips & Dips + Desserts | ~$580–$650 |
| 50 people | 5 Group Bowl Bars + Pita Chips Platters + Desserts | ~$950–$1,100 |
| 10 people (budget) | 1 Pita Pack + Chips & Dips | ~$165–$190 |
Per person cost reality check:
- Group Bowl Bar format: $18–$22 per person all-in with add-ons
- Pita Pack format: $12–$16 per person all-in
- Individual curated bowls: $14–$18 per person
How to Order CAVA Catering Step by Step
Option 1 — Online (Recommended)
- Go to catering.cava.com
- Click “Start Your Order”
- Enter your delivery address or select pickup location
- Choose your date and time
- Select your catering format
- Customize proteins, bases, toppings, dips, and dressings
- Add any extras or desserts
- Checkout and confirm
Option 2 — Request a Quote
For large orders (50+ people) or complex events, go to catering.cava.com and click “Request a Quote.” A CAVA catering representative will contact you to build a custom order.
Option 3 — Through ezCater
CAVA is available on ezCater, which is useful if your company uses a corporate catering platform for billing and expense tracking.
How Far in Advance Should You Order?
This is one of the most searched questions about CAVA catering, and the answer matters:
- Minimum: 24 hours in advance for most locations
- Recommended: 48 hours in advance to guarantee your preferred time slot
- Large orders (50+ people): 72 hours or more recommended
- Maximum: CAVA accepts orders up to 3 months in advance
Real talk: If you’re ordering for a Friday office lunch, place your order by Wednesday at the latest. Friday catering slots fill up fast, especially at CAVA locations near office corridors. Don’t leave it until Thursday afternoon.
What Equipment Does CAVA Include With Catering?
CAVA provides serving equipment with catering orders including:
- Serving utensils for each station
- Serving containers for dips and toppings
- Napkins
- Bowls and plates for guests
What CAVA does NOT set up: CAVA delivery drivers drop off and go. They do not set up the buffet for you. Assign one person at your event to arrange the stations before guests arrive; it takes about 5 minutes, but makes a huge difference to how the spread looks.
CAVA Catering for Specific Events
Office Lunch Catering
Best format: Group Bowl Bar with Grilled Chicken + Falafel Why: Covers all dietary needs, interactive format keeps lunch feeling like an event rather than just food delivery, and the build-your-own system means nobody complains about what’s in their meal
Order tip: For a team of 15, order 2 Group Bowl Bars, one protein each, plus the Pita Chips + 3 Dips platter as a starter. Total: ~$380–$420
Birthday or Celebration Catering
Best format: Group Bowl Bar + Desserts + Chips & Dips Why: The variety suits a social gathering better than pre-packaged pitas. Add brownie and cookie desserts for the celebration element.
Order tip: Always order 10–15% more food than you think you need. Running out of food at a party is worse than having leftovers.
Corporate Event Catering
Best format: Individual Curated Bowls or Pita Packs Why: Formal events benefit from pre-plated individual portions rather than a buffet. Pita Packs are also easier to manage at standing events where guests are mingling.
Team Meeting Under 10 People
Best format: Pita Pack (Greek Chicken or mixed) Why: Below 10 people, a Group Bowl Bar is overkill. A single Pita Pack at ~$121 covers a small team cleanly without waste.
Is CAVA Catering Worth It? Honest Assessment
Where CAVA catering excels:
- Dietary variety: simultaneously handles vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, and high-protein needs in one order
- Freshness: ingredients are prepared daily, not shipped in bulk
- The dip system: six scratch-made spreads elevate the experience above typical office catering
- Crowd reaction: people who haven’t tried CAVA are consistently impressed
Where CAVA catering has limitations:
- Portion size per station: a Group Bowl Bar for 10 can feel tight if your team eats large. For big eaters, plan for 8 people per station rather than 10
- Setup is on you: delivery drops off the food, you arrange it
- Pricing: not the cheapest catering option. Chipotle catering runs slightly lower. The quality difference justifies it for most groups but matters for tight budgets
CAVA Catering vs Chipotle Catering
Since many offices are choosing between these two, here’s the direct comparison:
| CAVA Catering | Chipotle Catering | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Group Bowl Bar, Pita Packs | Burritos, Bowls, Tacos |
| Price per person | ~$15–$20 | ~$12–$17 |
| Dietary variety | Excellent | Good |
| Dip/spread options | 6 scratch-made | Salsas only |
| Vegan options | Strong | Moderate |
| Crowd reaction (first-timers) | Very high | High |
| Setup required | Yes | Yes |
Bottom line: Chipotle catering costs slightly less. CAVA catering impresses more, especially for groups who haven’t tried it before. If your office already orders Chipotle regularly, switching to CAVA for a special occasion will generate genuine excitement.