Cava in Portsmouth - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Can't say enough good things about Cava. Amazing atmosphere and wonderfully balanced menu with incredible flavor profiles. I'm excited to see what the Fall and Winter menu brings.

Great place. Special summer fixed price 4 course meal. There were 6 of us, so 24 plates of food. All were exceptional, except for one.....the Paella! Sorry, but everyone tasted, and no one really liked it. Anyway, 1/24 is pretty good. Otherwise, the service was great. We sat on the patio, which was wonderful.

Our neighbors gave us a gift certificate to Cava. When I called to make the reservation, the owner explained how the process at his restaurant worked. Patrons with reservations would be expected to order items from a four course menu, which we were familiar with having done the same at a favorite German type restaurant we used to go to in south central NH. Plus he explained his policy of wanting us to be finished in an hour and 45 minutes. Again, sounded reasonable given that we have a favorite restaurant in West Kennebunk, ME that does the same, minus the four course requirement. Time is money and I thought his request was reasonable. On the day of our reservation, the owner called to confirm our still coming. Quite kind of him, and also understanding that a reservation not fulfilled is not good for business. Upon our arrival, my wife thanked him for his attentiveness, which he appreciated. Great service staff. We placed our four course orders with drinks. It was a pleasure to have portions that were appropriate in size. Each course was nicely presented and delicious. The timing between the delivery of portions was spot on; not too long, not to quick. All in all, we finished with plenty of time to spare, while enjoying the hospitality of the owner and staff.

They make this place seem more desirable than it actually is by making it more difficult to get a table there than it needs to be. They don't treat you like they are excited to get your business, they treat you like you'd be lucky to get to eat there. Very fake exclusive vibe. Unfortunately this tactic has worked for them and they've maintained much more hype than they deserve.

Found this place while looking for a small plate and a memorable drink. The haddock was fantastic and a shout out to Danny who curated our drinks. It is intimate, elevated and an excellent experience.

Perfect slow paced dining! The ambience was great, service was excellent, and there was not a single miss on the 80% of the entire seasonal menu we tried. The dishes took a bit longer to prepare but were all delicious and thoughtful even to scrutinizing connoisseurs. The food is modernistic and lighter compared to traditional Spanish/Mediterranean food, not the greatest fit for someone needing something very heavy and hearty with *a lot* of calories.

We’ve been dining annually at Cava for 13 years and this last visit did not disappoint. The food was delicious, the service exceptional and our outdoor table was perfect. John (the owner) was very personal and ensured we had another special visit. We will visit every time we’re in Portsmouth.

Did the 4 course meal with Spring menu. All the food was excellent and my favorites were the carrots and churros. Service was great, good atmosphere sitting outside and sparkling clean bathrooms. Reason for 4 stars is we paid $24 for 2 mocktails ($12 each)!! Been to lots of nice restaurants in Portsmouth and never been charged that much for a mocktail..and these were just soda with a little juice mixed in, nothing fancy.

Really sublime restaurant and a wonderful find! We tried the four-course meal and loved every bite of every dish. I got the garlic & saffron soup, the artichoke hearts, the Parisian gnocchi, and the churros, while my husband got the roasted carrots, the patatas bravas, the haddock stew, and the bread pudding. The meals were artfully arranged and deliciously prepared, so our whole dining experience was superb from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, the staff were prompt and attentive, and our overall experience was fantastic.

Cava never disappoints with their beautifully curated wine list and fine section of tapas The food is always so flavorful and adventurous and the presentation is artistic. The owner John is friendly and accommodating with dietary restrictions. The restaurant has the feeling of a small Spanish cafe restaurant with outdoor seating surrounded by plantings and an antique brick building. Located in a quiet alley away from the crowds It’s a. Perfect place to wind down at the end of the day in Portsmouth

So exceptional! I had a giftcard here and went for my birthday, is a cozy little restaurant and bar in Portsmouth. The owner and servers were friendly, helpful, fast, made great suggestions, and repeatedly asked if everything was tasting okay. We did the $60 per person 4 course meal for the Spring Menu. You have 3 options to choose from for each course. I had the beet salad, cauliflower, gnocchi, and churros. Everything was so fresh, flavorful and clearly cooked with love. Was insanely good the drinks were really fun and creative too. Would absolutely go back for their summer menu and recommend to anyone in the area. Definitely make a reservation!

Nous avons opté pour la formule dégustation avec quatre services. Chaque plat était parfaitement réussi, nous avons tous apprécié. Saveurs originales et raffinées. Le premier service de poissons marinés a été mon coup de cœur. Service très attentionné et sympathique.

This review is a little delayed as we ate their last summer but we had such a great meal that I when I came across their website while seeking dinner options I had to take pause and drop this 5 star review. Excellent meal and we enjoyed eating in the outdoor seating area!

When making the reservation and h aving endured the patronizing Co/Owner John infamous speel about how we had to be out in an hour and 45 minutes because our table would be needed I supposed we should have been prepared for what amounted to a Speed dating 4 course dining experience , Our waitstaff could not have been nicer , but insisted we order all 4 courses at once and also checked to see if the steak i ordered for my entree was OK medium rare' which was odd, 'more on that later'. We ordered drinks which were very excellent , then all 4 courses within 5 minutes our first course arrived , a salad with oranges, and mussels ceviche, 'both were good'. Within seconds of putting down our cutlery our plates were cleared and presto the second course arrived , Spanish Fried potatoes and Brussels Sprouts again both fine, again after a swift swap of plates came our entrees a shrimp dish which was well executed and tasty, and my steak medium rare as promised and quite good, but for the fact that both these plates of food were luke warm 'at best. Given the speedy turnaround of the courses I have to assume that the steak was pre cooked reheated for a minute, it bore no evidence of much charring was on the tough side and tepid. Our deserts were both excellent and my churos were fantastic. We had a 4 course meal and 2 rounds of drinks and were out of there in just under 55 minutes . With tip our check was south of $200 . I dont consider this money well spent. The food at Cava overall is good the service was friendly but way too fast and the kitchen which apparently produces food at lightning speed needs to ease up a bit, also there is no reason to pre cook steak in advance . No reason for us to return as there are numerous far better places to eat in Portsmouth and across the bridge in Southern Maine where you are not given the bums rush out the door and the owners recognize they are in the service industry and need to work just a bit on their bedside manner

Cozy space & filled with excellence!

We enjoyed the 4 course winter dinner (call for reservations) on a Thursday night. The place was busy but not loud. Every single bite was perfection. My starter was a blood orange salad with pomegranate and goat cheese. My husband had the leek soup. Both were outstanding. For our second course we both opted for the Brussels sprouts, which were perfectly cooked and a delightful balance of sweet and spicy. We also picked the same entree - the gnocchi with mushrooms and garlic. *chefs kiss* I have never had anything like it my life. Homemade gnocchi, mushrooms, roasted garlic gloves, onions, mushrooms, peas, crispy kale, black garlic paste. Every bite was magical. Dessert was also lovely, and not too sweet. (I had the cheesecake and my husband the pound cake.) Service was excellent. But I’ll be dreaming of that gnocchi.

Reserved upstairs bar seats at 5PM for two where all the lively action was. Despite seats being available, my wife and I were exiled to the empty downstairs bar. We felt like this was due to our being senior citizens Wait staff service was fine despite the constant shuffling from upstairs to downstairs. Hit or miss with the food. Potato and Leek soup was tasty but portion size was at best one cup. Char- Grilled Baby Octopus was overcooked and dry. Parisian Gnocchi was a hit. Very light and flavorful. Huge miss with the Cava so called "Paella". Traditional paella is cooked and served in the pan with the rice al dente. Ours was a gummy mess. Seafood of some sort is traditional as well. There was none to be found. Portion size was lacking. Clearly the Almond Pound Cake was days old and had been refrigerated. Sad. All in all a mediocre dining experience.

I had dined here years ago and was put off by the prices. You know, tapas priced like full-sized entrees. So I was a little put off when they told me they now had a prix fixe menu and you'd be charged 50% of your meal if you cancelled. But it was my son's birthday and he wanted to go. We sat at the bar and the service there was superb. Quick, friendly and attentive. Well made drinks. The prix fixe menu had some good choices with something for everyone. We all ordered different items and shared and everything was hot, tasty and fresh. Good portions (not too big, not too small) for a fixed menu. Even the desserts were good. They overheard that it my son's birthday and put a little candle in his dessert. Nice touch. A really nice experience

Thank you Cava team for accommodating our party and letting us celebrate a great 2023 year! Bridgette was attentive, friendly, knowledgeable and ensured our satisfaction. We had a group of allergies and food preferences and you did a great job! Thank you!

Love this place! Sometimes I forget it's there, but every time I go I'm happy I did. Great food, really nice service. Adorable atmosphere.

Experienced the 4 course fixed menu 12/5/2023 and it was fantastic. You are given 3 choices from each serving which our party all did something different. We all enjoyed our choices!! Service was attentive but not rushed. Wine selections were broad. At 65$ per head I felt it was very fairly priced for the quality of the evening. We will return!

Went for restaurant week, and it was amazing as always! My martini was incredible.

Cava was lovely. The food was great, and the wait staff was attentive.

I love this place! Food was sooooo good!!! Drinks were perfectly crafted and the vibe was intimate. Will be back!

We arrived prior to posted opening time during Restaurant Week, spur of the moment, no reservation. We were greeted by the Owner, who lead us downstairs to an intimate little room. Although we were in first, the room quickly filled up( always a good sign!). Service was excellent, prompt, and professional. Since it was Restaurant Week, the menu featured varied selections, each one magnificent! We were impressed by the chef and team effort! We will be sure to return! Thanks for getting us in!!

It’s not very often I experience the service at a restaurant as amazing as the food.

Incredibly below average tapas place. Not authentic Spanish cuisine. Music ranged from Heart Barracuda to Alicia keys. Cheesecake much closer to NY style than Basque. Paella dish was not cooked in the paella that it was served in. Would not recommend.

Everything from the food and atmosphere was absolutely amazing! We sat at the cozy downstairs bar and Bridget the bartender was very accommodating and sweet. Danny was a pleasure we didn’t see him for long but I could barely pay attention because the food was so good. The squash marshmallow cacao soup was literally so surprisingly mouth watering. I’m typing this review as I enjoy my cocktails but this place is 10/10

The food was good (like 8 out of 10), service was just ok for a prix-fixe 4-course menu. It was a little odd that most of the upstairs bar was being used for company use (notes, service items) rather than paying customers. We would have loved to be seated at the upstairs bar but were instead downstairs away from the fun of the restaurant. All the servers were nice, just not very engaging, especially given the type of meal we were having and would have expected. We expected a bit more overall although we had a lovely experience. Wine was good (Spanish blend $42 for a bottle) and the food was good (soup, bravas, cod, chocolate cake) but not amazing for the price and expectation that sets.

Rolled up on a Sunday night with my family around 7:15pm. The look on the owners face appeared as though we had two Ferrell pigs with us . Said they weren’t seating anymore ahd directed us to another restaurant (*bigger). Our boutique hotel recommended the place . Maybe they need to highlight no children instead of lying and turning people away like they have a Michelin star .

With four family members, we had the full, four-course menu. The various dishes were beautifully plated, very-well prepared, and creative. The paella, which I have had in many restaurants including in Valencia, was well-seasoned but very light on the protein. Too light, it tasted like a delicious almost-vegetarian rice dish. The service was rushed with dishes from one of us being cleared away under the nose of another who was still eating. Finally (literally) the coffee was horrible, a throwback to the days when a cup of coffee in the US was tea-colored water. Conclusion: Go to Cava for a delicious dinner but eat quickly and avoid the coffee.

Food was mediocre, the setup in the restaurant is bizarre and the ambience is a little off. Staff is friendly and service is fine. The other thing I found odd is that not only did they require a credit card to make a reservation, their policy is to charge you 50% of the price fix cost if you cancel for any reason. Pretty distasteful in my opinion. Would not go back.

Only have been there twice but each time was amazing! I recommend doing the menu 4 course for $48 PER PERSON (they've updated the price to be $59 Per Person). The plates seem small at first but most of the time you might not be able to make it to dessert. The downstairs bar is amazing if you're going on a date! Everyone is very nice and knowledgeable about the menu and also the drink selections.

Three choices for each course. Food quite unusual and delicious. Service was excellent. A very small place with both indoor and outdoor seating. Indoors only a few tables in a bar which can be noisy. Outdoors picnic style in a small alley with several other restaurants. Overall , an unusual and nice experience

Great spot. Very reasonable and food was amazing

Wow. Wow. Wow. Just had my Husband’s Birthday dinner here. Just incredible. We did the four course tasting with some amazing wines. Everything was so delicious and the staff there are just the best. Best of the best!

Average spot with very acceptable food but not nearly worth the price. Service was great but food was only okay.

Not as good as I expected. The tuna starter was obviously excellent fish, but not a very flavorful final result. The bacon wrapped figs were overdone and dry. The steak was excellent, as were the churros. The pumpkin cake was tiny and nothing to be enthusiastic about. Ended up going again a year or so later, and the bacon wrapped figs were our favorite. Go figure.

Food was phenomenal, great wine pairing suggestions. If you don’t want to do the full price fixe menu, you can sit at the bar and order a la carte. Incredibly celiac aware and so amazingly accommodating. Quality food and service. Thank you so much!!!! Update: went a second time while in Portsmouth. Ordered a few different items and one repeat. Just as fabulous! Owners were lovely and really care about what they’re serving. Daniel was awesome yet again at the bar.

Patatas Bravas, Gespacho and Corn soups, Tomato Esdebache, Ground Lamb and Hummus, Falafel, paella and Cod entree were all of our choices and all were fantastic!! Great wine parings from an extensive list plus a great wait staff (yay Dany) made for a great evening! Highly recommended.

Food and service was amazing! They do a fantastic job and had great gluten free options for my girlfriend. Highly recommend.

One of the best meals I’ve had! Attentive and friendly service, perfect portions, delicious small plates with incredible creativity, beautiful location- all make the experience that much better, and well worth the price. Excellent accommodations for allergens, too, truly going above and beyond!

Delicious! The presentation was so pretty and everything was yummy-started with strawberry salad, then empanadas, then gnocchis and finished with choc cake. From drinks to dessert. So good!

Nuestra visita correspondió a una necesidad de comer algo más parecido a lo que estamos acostumbrados habitualmente luego de haber pasado mas de 10 días en Estados Unidos comiendo comida americana. El gazpacho estuvo muy bien, las papas bravas algo picantes también, pero la paella parecía hacer sido cocinada por un chef mexicano de lo tremendamente picante que estaba. Es como si hubieran americanizado la comida española. La atención muy buena.

First time visiting Portsmouth in 30 years, but trucked up there from Ct. Scoped out Cava and spoke with John several times per his request. The menu on the website didn't match the dinner menu which John let me know. The first course the pickled tomatoes was very tart/bitter- borderline uneatable. Secord course was spiced lamb on hummus. The lamb lacked spice and the hummus was overwhelming lemoning. Easy up on the lemon. Third dish was the fish on the toastodes which was the best course overall. The dessert was underwhelming. Didn't mind the $59 per plate but wasn't impressed. Staff and John were attentive and polite. I was downstairs with wife and we liked the vibe. Good luck John.

Great food and service every time we have been.

I came here with my mom and it was great food, great ambiance, great service!

Great experience, everything was great from the food to the wine pairing!

Cava is a restaurant that is near and dear to me. Since it opened its doors, my husband and I have enjoyed Cava for every occasion. We've celebrated many a date night without kids, New Year's Eve, Valentines Day, even our twentieth anniversary at Cava. Tucked away from the crowds of Portsmouth, the small, quaint tapas restaurant can be found on Commercial Alley. It is a gem full of amazing food and great wine, not to mention the staff. Most of the staff at Cava have been there since the beginning, and they are all so attentive and knowledgeable! John, the owner, can be found working alongside his staff most nights. I've never had a bad experience at Cava, and I hope it will be there for many more dinners and celebrations to come! Cava is one of Portsmouth's hidden jewells, enjoy!

Although it’s expensive, I think this is the best food in Portsmouth. Everything we ate here was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant for special occasions.

Great tapas bar!! Food, wine and service were excellent!! Always try to go there when in Portsmouth.

Owner and staff exceptional. There is nothing but perfection always..a must go to in portsmouth never been disappointed..

Really lovely meal in a cozy restaurant. Service was excellent, and food was above average, probably more fancy on the plate than tasty on the palate but still very good.

I had the tuna, empanadas, and gambas off the pre-fix menu. The empanadas was good but the gambas was the best. Overall I think food was good but as a solo diner my experience could have been better from when I made the reservation to where I was sat so I wouldn’t select this spot for solo dining, more of a date spot.

I'm a foodie and this is my favorite place to eat in Portsmouth!!

Every one of us in our party of 4 loved Cava, from the food, to the atmosphere, to the amazing staff (who answered many questions to help guide our party to decide what to choose during this restaurant week meal). The drinks were unique and delicious, and we are already dreaming of when we can go back. We all ordered the empanadas and they were so exceptional, we ordered some to take home. I had the gnocchi, and again, just exceptional with the black garlic sauce!

The food and drink were excellent. Was nice to try new foods that were well-executed!

Fantastic food and people. Always a good time.

This place definitely had its hay day in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. All the furniture and decor is painfully stuck in that era. As is, perhaps their menu and ideas of presentation of food. Speaking of the food, it’s good, but nothing spectacular. It isn’t very memorable. It felt like the things put on the plate sometimes didn’t really go together from a complimentary flavor perspective, but rather, items were placed there for color. I also believe canned fish was put on our plate and served up as a high end appetizer. The wait staff was absolutely great though. It’s just a shame the food is only good and not great.

What an amazing experience! If you want to be transported to an amazing Epicurean experience come to Cava! I should have taken pictures of my food but everything was so yummy we just dug in!

An excellent and creative menu on paper; execution falls short at Cava. We had dinner for two on one of the first cold winter evenings last week-end. The menu is exciting and we looked forward to some new tastes and combinations. Regrettably every plate save one (excluding salads) was served in a cold dish. Tapas sized servings cool quickly in any environment but putting a black squid ink sofrito on top of baby grilled octopus creates just an unappealing gummy cold mess. The edges of the sofrito were downright cold and it was only the residual heat from the octopus and potatoes that made the rest of the sofrito palatable. Ditto for the shrimp dish. Serving it in an enameled metal pan that is cold to the touch is not a good idea except maybe in August. On the positive side, temperature-wise, the tuna cruda was perfectly chilled. Desserts were spectacular; my churros were more like a warm cinnamon donut served with a great chocolate sauce. My partner had an apple cake construction that was equally grand. The wine list and serving size choices are superb. You'll have a chance to try wines not regularly available in most retail stores. Go back? There are too many other choices in Portsmouth.

My husband and I went to CAVA tonight for dinner. Words could not possibly describe this dinner. It was AMAZING, OUTSTANDING & 5 stars for sure!! We had the prefixed 4 course dinner. It was utter perfection along with the heads above the rest STAFF....from one of the owners greeting us at the door to the friendly bartender to the very attentive waitress. We also had the best sangria and the best red wine! We highly highly recommend CAVA on every single level. Treat yourself to a romantic date night and experience this culinary dream! The executive chef and team are culinary visionaries! RUN don't walk to CAVA the next time you're in Portsmouth. If you live in Portsmouth or you live near by....well...you're very very lucky!! Can't wait to come back next year. Best wishes & Happy Holidays. The Berlieds, CONCORD, MA

Beautiful fall night sitting outside. Best piece of cod ever!

My wife made dinner reservations for my birthday at Cava. We had dined there in the past and always had a great experience ...this was no different! We had Dany as our waiter, in addition to being a super nice and funny guy, he really knows his wines and Cave has the wine list to back him up! I consider myself an amateur wine connoisseur so you can imagine my complete delight with Dany's selections..each wine paired perfectly with each course...Cava's location, excellent food and wine, and of course the amazing waite staff and management makes it an ideal romantic outing for two! well done!

Nice place for date night! Excellent menu. Great service.

Long awaited review! I wanted to write the review right away after the wonderful evening we had at this restaurant! Cava serves course menu Tapas style and every course absolutely so scrumptious! If I have to give numbers it will be hard to choose. Baby octopus was so tender and delicious! Paella so tasty, I decided to go with decadent chocolate tart! I highly recommend this place in Portsmouth.

My husband and I took 13 year old son to have a dinner. We had course meal $54 per person. They were all very good. My 13 year son enjoyed every bite of each dish. Servers were very pleasant and professional. The person took reservation said we will have two hours to finish the meals because other people are booked after that. The speed of getting the order and have dishes ready one by one was just right so we didn’t feel unattended or rushed. We will go back the next time we are in the town.

What a special, and delicious, experience! Everything was prepared so thoughtfully. Portions were perfect, service was attentive and friendly, atmosphere so cozy. Loved everything about it.

I took my friend for his birthday, We had 4 different dishes each, it was a set price. The 8 dishes were excellent and so was the hostess, super gal and very knowledgeable! Will return for another birthday, nice small quaint place.

Ate their two days ago. Still thinking about the food we had, it was unreal. If you get there for summer, make sure you get the Octopus! Best food in Portsmouth & the owner is incredibly accommodating and friendly

Fabulous tapas and wine bar located on a quaint alley in Portsmouth, NH. Service was top notch. The 4 course meal was incredible. You have 4 choices with each course. The drink menu will pair with any taste preferences. We enjoyed a mojito. The paella was perfect as was the gazpacho. Kim had baby octopus and I had patatas. Highly recommend.

Service is excellent and very attentive. Unique selection of fresh gourmet styled food. Large wine list. Would have liked to see more gluten free options.

My wife us still raving about the food a week later.

Been wanting to try Cava since visiting Spain this past Spring - saw it on Phantom. It did not disappoint. Very authentic four course dinner with excellent drinks. But huge shout out to our server Danny who was absolutely outstanding. There were four of us so we tried pretty much everything. Tops in our opinion: burrata, patatas brava, pasta or paella main, chocolate cake. But honestly, everything was really good.

Excellent evening. Wonderful food and location. The manager and staff were very kind and accommodating.

Flavor profile was on point. Cook time on meat/fish was not.

Gorgeous intimate restaurant hiding in an alleyway. Well worth checking out!

2 people in this place needs to work somewhere else but not in the restaurantbusiness: The mid 60 blonde server who is so rude and the manager with dirty white clothes and grassy hair who asked us to eat fast cause another customer is waiting for our table. I feel bad for the owners of this place and the people who works in the kitchen.

How unfortunate that the attitude of a few can sour a dining experience. My dining partner and I loved the courtyard atmosphere, menu, food quality, and presentation (compliments to the chef). Nevertheless, the overtly demeaning and rude attitude of one waitress in particular, from meal start to finish, makes me unable to recommend this restaurant to others. So sad!

One of the best meals of our lives. This was an incredible experience!

Probablement le meilleur restaurant de tapas que je suis aller. Même à partir du Québec ça vaut la peine de faire le détour pour visiter Portsmouth et arrêter dans ce resto de tapas situé dans une charmante petite ruelle.

Very nice little Spanish restaurant with a cute small European vibe. I appreciated the menu style, being able to choose from each category. They were very accommodating to my gluten free needs. My favorite dishes were the gazpacho soup and the patatas bravas. My cocktail was also perfect. I'd love to come back if we visited town again.

Wow. What an awful experience. Myself and two friends decided to have a quick night away and my friend was dying to try this restaurant out based on what she had heard. She booked a reservation in advance and we were excited to try a new place. I would say the evening started out fine but it only takes one rude person to ruin the experience. Our waitress towards the end seemed to pass us off to her manager or maybe he jumped in to help I am not sure but my friend asked him for a recommendation for a dessert wine. When she asked for his recommendation he said “ok” not “ok give me a minute or I am not sure let me ask the bartender” just “ok” in a tone that led us to believe it was burden for us to ask what he recommended. After a minute or so if him just clearing plates and fiddling around I asked in a nice non confrontational way “do you have a suggestion”. He did not like that and was appalled and immediately went on the defense. He told me to wait and be patient because he needed a minute to look at the menu. I am not going to be able to explain this well but overall his tone, attitude and aggressiveness towards me was very uncomfortable. Based on his behavior giving this place one ⭐️ . It is important to note one of the friends I was with had been a server for years and we are always very understanding and respectful. We know it is not an easy job especially dealing with the public but I did not deserve to be spoken to in that manner. We we work hard as well and wanted to enjoy a nice dinner together and did not go there to be scolded or given attitude. Everyone can have a bad day…. I get that but this was beyond. The other server who was bringing our plates to the table was very sweet and I feel bad he works there.

Cava is the perfect place for your date night, anniversary or even just a Wednesday night out of the house. The food is inspired, the wine list expansive and the atmosphere is amazing. A must try destination in Portsmouth!

Waitstaff was super attentive, always checking with us. Food, drinks, and atmosphere were great. The 4 course menu was wonderfully priced and the food did not disappoint.

Still my favorite restaurant in Portsmouth! Food is still delicious. I always suggest getting the port with dessert.

Food and wine were amazing, along with the service and ambience. Was cool enough to eat outside and the outdoor dining was great!

Great food and vibe at this place. We all loved our fixed price multi-course service. Sharing these delicious small plates with friends is so much fun! The bar service offered excellent selections of wine and cocktails that we really enjoyed. Both are server and bartender were friendly and helpful. John "The Host" helped get us the table and time we needed on a busy Saturday night. Highly recommended.

Can't beat the atmosphere. Food is next level

Spring 2022 menu does not disappoint! The chefs take it to the next level with inventive dishes executed beautifully. We were a large group and end up covering all the menu options (with a bit of sharing) and every single item was great. Excellent service tool Thank you!

Went here last night with friends and wife. Multi course meal was superb. Atmosphere had me settled, cozy and excited for everything that I ate. I left feeling nothing but virtuous. 🙂

Excellent. We returned here after a two-year pandemic break for in-door dining. We were happy that the food was as good as we remembered. We had scallop cruda, grilled baby octopus, and prawns. All stellar. The desert was the least memorable part of the meal. I was also surprised the did not have earl grey tea, my only black tea option was Lipton tea. Overall, an excellent experience and we will be back.

It's been many years since we've last been here, it was always good but now it's excellent. They switched to a four course prix fixe menu. We both started with the scallop cruda, followed by the grilled octopus. For the third course we had the steak and the prawns. Everything was first rate although I'd say the prawns we're more flavorful then the steak. For desert I had the tiramisu. The tiramisu was the only disappointing part of the meal.

Unbelievably delicious and creative food. Excellent staff. The churros the Best. EVER. Follow up: we went back for a family meal around Thanksgiving. Another spectacular meal. I remembered to get pictures before we started eating. Cannot say enough good things about the staff and owners. From the initial call for reservations with the owner through the last cheerful farewell as we leave, it is a perfect dining experience. Thanks again, Cava!

Awesome experience! The staff was super friendly and inviting. The holiday menu was delicious and perfectly articulated and when you factor in the wine pairing, it was a completely satisfying experience. Ten out of ten would recommend!

Cava is an extremely special restaurant that has incomparable food, atmosphere, service, and wine. Their staff is knowledgeable and efficient, and more than a few have been there for years and will recognize you even if you don’t come often. The menu is creative, balanced, and always a surprise in the best way. The small menu is thoughtfully crafted every season and has yet to disappoint. Make sure to order churros!!!

Amazing little spot off the beaten path. My wife and I went her before a comedy show and it was amazing. The wine list was wonderful and the food was absolutely superb. We enjoyed their for course menu and everything was perfectly proportioned and full of complex flavors. The staff was wonderful and attentive and worked with us on our tight turn around time for the show. I can't wait to come back here.

Hidden treasure for sure. The food was simply outstanding. The bartender took great care of us and was very personable. Overall a great experience.

Service - 5 stars (friendly, prompt, knowledgeable) Price - 5 stars (incredible value for their 4 course pre-fixe menu, and wine is only marked up 2x from retail vs typically 3x) Atmosphere - 5 stars (vibe is excellent both up and down stairs, wide open kitchen) Food - 4 stars (it was great, but maybe I had my expectations too high because of all the incredible reviews on trip advisor, google, and friends - however we struggled with a few things: the seasonality of the dishes didn’t necessarily match the timing of the year and the tuna appetizer left a lot to be desired. Scallops however were over the top delicious, great sauce.) Would we go back? It would be an honor - of course we would!

Went there for New Years and enjoyed our experience and - more importantly - our food.