Lake Forest Academy students are forced to balance coursework, sports, clubs, and other extracurriculars. The workload of school is stress-inducing for many teenagers, which is why allocating time to decompress is beneficial. Cava is a local restaurant that has recently opened in Vernon Hills, offering a fresh opportunity for LFA students to socialize with friends while enjoying delicious food.
Often compared to Chipotle, Cava is an informal restaurant that serves Mediterranean-style cuisine in the form of customizable bowls and pitas. Wrapped inside a pita or resting atop mixed greens and grains, flavorful meats – such as grilled chicken, falafel, and lamb meatballs – food is combined with handmade spreads that vary from hummus to feta. Then, fire-roasted corn, pickled onions, avocado, pita crisps, and other such toppings are added to enhance the dish before it is finished with a dressing of choice. While customers have the option to order pre-curated signature items from the menu, countless variations of meals can be created at Cava, which makes it difficult to get tired of the food.
Pricing for Cava’s meals begins at $12.05 and typically does not exceed $20, although many customers accompany their food with the purchase of a fountain drink for $3.50 or a dessert for $3.20. These charges reflect the high-quality meats and produce that the restaurant provides. From Cava’s tender, boldly seasoned grilled steak and perfectly crisp falafel to their creamy diced avocado, every mouthful of a bowl or pita has an exquisite combination of flavors ready to be appreciated.
The Cava in Vernon Hills opened after a long-awaited anticipation on June 28, 2024, marking the introduction of their second Chicago-area location. Since the opening of the first Cava in 2011, their chain has been sited primarily along the East Coast and in California. However, their recent Chicago establishments are a part of the company’s initiative to expand across the nation, with Cava planning to operate 100o stores by 2032.
Many new customers have rushed to Vernon Hills to taste the food, including a new audience: LFA students. Merely ten minutes away from LFA’s campus, Cava’s proximity to the school is appealing to those who want to enjoy a convenient and tasteful meal after school or on the weekend. Zoe Wolfberg ‘26—who visited Cava after her classes—explained, “Cava is somewhere fun to go with friends, and it’s cool to hang out in the outdoor seating area while it’s nice out.” Cava’s chef-designed steak and feta wrap was Wolfberg’s meal of choice, and while she savored the dish, she shared that when she next visits the resturant, she will “probably get a customized bowl.”
Wolfberg isn’t the only one stopping by Cava; in fact, she saw another LFA student while dining there for the first time. With affordable, pleasant, and rapidly prepared food, Cava has easily captivated the interest of LFA’s community, inspiring high schoolers to experience the restaurant for themselves, now that school is back in session. “I like Cava because it is pretty healthy, which is cool. It’s also very varied,” Wolfberg added. She speaks for the many other LFA community members who have taken a liking to Cava and will continue to spend time there throughout the school year.
