Cava Mezze

Address: 527 Eighth St., SE, Washington, DC 20003

Phone: 202-543-9090

Neighborhood: Capitol Hill, Southeast, Capitol Hill

Cuisines: Greek/Mediterranean

Opening Hours: Open Monday 5 to 10 PM, Tuesday through Thursday 5 to 10:15 PM, Friday 5 to 11:15 PM, Saturday 2:30 to 11:15 PM, and Sunday 3 to 10 PM.

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Kid Friendly: Yes

Nearby Metro Stops: Eastern Market, Capitol South

Price Range: Moderate

Noise Level: Rowdy

Reservations: Not Needed

Website: Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes Spicy lamb sliders; watermelon salad with feta and mint; pork souvlaki; meatballs in tomato sauce; avgolemono soup; “disco fries”; Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts; loukoumades (Greek doughnuts).

Price Details: Mezze, $4.95 to $16.95, shareable platters $21.95 to $44.95.

Special Features:
Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Valet Parking Available

Casual-rustic digs, clever takes on Greek mezze, and gentle prices make these eateries among the buzziest around. Sometimes the kitchen takes liberties with tradition—gyros, for example, are fashioned into sliders—but it’s usually to the good, and chef Dimitri Moshovitis understands that a bit of innovation goes a long way. And though it might seem there’s little reason to stray from the small plates, a whole branzino crisscrossed with char marks convinced us otherwise.

Don’t miss:Feta with jalapeños; zucchini fritters; taramasalata;pork mini-pitas; lamb sliders; Opa Opa Shrimp; Cava Fries with feta and kefalograviera cheese.

DC and Clarendon Open: Monday for dinner, Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday and Sunday for brunch and dinner; Rockville Open: Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner, Sunday for brunch and dinner. Moderate.