Having lived in Spain, I'm always looking for a place to give me a little taste of one of my favorite countries! Cava was beyond incredible. The ambience was great and the service was even better. It exceeded my expectations. A friend and I ordered the tasting menu and the seven courses were equally awesome. The tapas were flavorful and fresh. The other people we were with ordered different tapas and I was able to try some of them. My all-time favorite were the patatas bravas with the alioli. They reminded me so much of Spain. The Paella was okay. It was definitely my least favorite. The Sangria was good but a bit too dry for my taste. (This didn't affect my review) When my friend and I were brought the dessert portion of our tasting menu, the waiter was kind enough to bring some Churros & Chocolate for our friends who were ordering individual tapas. I highly recommend this place! read more

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Fabulous! Portsmouth restaurants have lots to offer. Cava was recommended and did not disappoint. Creative menu, delish flavors and super staff and service made for a wonderful memory making event. Just go and enjoy!! read more

This place is by far my absolute favorite restaurant. I've been coming now for 4-5 years and not once have I had a bad meal. Service is always top notch, and prices are great for what you get. They are tapas style, but for each course the portion is well sized. The paella is huge! I really appreciate the option for "coppa" glasses of wine so you can taste many options. The pri fixe menu is rotated, which is awesome for trying new stuff each time. I admittedly miss their larger menu (especially the escargot and mushrooms, almonds and olives, and the patatas bravas) but totally understand that times are hard with Covid. The owners always swing by the table which is a nice touch and makes you feel at home. My must have items- Short ribs Stuffed piquillo peppers Gazpacho/corn chowder soup Butternut squash soup Homemade churros!!! Do yourself a favor and go here. Perfect for a romantic night with amazing ambiance. You won't regret it! read more

We picked this restaurant for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. Cute restaurant and great staff! We had wine along with the manchego cheese, duck and mushrooms. Nice tapas items to choose from. Dessert was churros with a hot chocolate sauce and finished with Port. read more

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Two friends and I went for dinner on a Friday night and ate outside. The food, service and atmosphere were exceptional! They were serving a summer, four-course, price-fixed menu that was really outstanding. Since there were three of us we were able to try most of the plates being offered for each course. The variety of dishes, flavors and presentations was amazing. The service was excellent - friendly and attentive (without being overly present), with a perfect amount of time between the courses. We all felt it was certainly the best restaurant experience we have had in Portsmouth and one of the best in general. read more

The food is delicious and the table service staff is lovely. The baby octopus was absolutely delicious. Crunchy with a lovely taste. I had a glass of Californian Chardonay. Very well done. read more

The food is great and the service is great. I am removing stars because they don't offer a high chair or booster seat and seemed indignant when I asked. I know that kids can a pain in a restaurant. I still think that be able accommodate a well-behaved kid would be good. We have taken her to much fancier restaurants and they have been great. My child was quiet and enjoyed the food. In fact, the noisy and drunken adults at the bar were significantly noisier than my kid. I would recommend the soup and the pineapple dessert. They have some vegetarian options, but my meat eating friends say that the best food has meat. read more

Cava - Chickpea fries are tasty - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Came here for my last night in portsmouth. Was not disappointed. We sat at the chefs table and was greeted by chef Chris, he was amazing and explained the dishes to us. 15/10 recommend the croquettes! This place was unreal! read more

Cava - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Cava is fantastic! It is a beautiful building with a patio that you can eat at in warmer months. It is located in a picturesque alleyway that gives it a hidden gem sort of feeling... and a hidden gem IT IS. Date number two it was... with a kind gentleman who held the door, my coat and the check. Bonus points for him... but I digress. Saturday night dinner reservations were at the Chef's table. We did not wait for a minute, which was nice because there is nowhere to wait at the entrance without being in someones way. One of the owner's, Gregg, is also the head chef and we watched him prepare food for the entire restaurant before our eyes with gentle grace and warm conversation. One would think it hot and messy watching the chef cook for so many; but it wasn't at all. It was fascinating and I felt honored to be there. We chose an eight course tapas meal that is pre-chosen for you. Most items were separate, one for each of us, but a few were shared. I enjoyed that. It was romantic. The food is artwork and tasted as good as it looked. I loved every bite. Shrimp, butternut squash soup, papas bravadas of course, and an apple tart/tirimisu like dessert. I cannot remember it all, but I did not turn anything away. I would have liked a pairing with wines as I do not choose them well to compliment a meal. I am sure they offer that, just not with this menu option. Reasonable prices. Hip, classy restaurant that attracts similar clientele. They are careful to give you time to enjoy your company and beverages between courses. The staff was kind and efficient. There is a downstairs that I did not see. I am told the bar is down there. I would have liked to see it... maybe we'll be back here for date number three. read more

Cava - Chef Gregg making magic happen! - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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My friend and I chose this restaurant as part of our moms' weekend away and were excited when we saw Cava's rave reviews. However, neither of us could understand why it had such good reviews once we had eaten there. Every dish we had off the 4 course prix fixe menu was lacking in flavor and/or had ingredients that didn't pair well (that's 8 dishes total), the cocktails were not worth drinking, and the ambience was pretty lackluster with decor from the 90s. $130 for what felt like a $50 experience at best. Supremely mediocre restaurant. read more

This is a good restaurant with a cute view and lovely food. The duck breast, short rib, and tuna cruda were ou favorites. the pastry in the empanadas is fantastic, and i reccomend getting them. read more

My wife and I stopped in here while exploring Portsmouth. We tried a variety of tapas from the Winter Citrus Salad to Yellow Tuna Cruda and finished it off with the Churros. But the Empanada deserve a major shout out. Everything was delicious and the service was wonderful. We'll certainly return. read more

Cava is a great restaurant with a good wine selection but in this occasion the service was terrible. Today We had gone out for a dinner earlier in the night and where out walking the city when we decided it would be nice to end by sitting outside with a glass of wine before the rain came. That idea got shot down immediately by the waiter who greeted us at the door who said we only serve dinner outdoors. There were 3 open tables so I thought it was ridiculous but my wife and I said that makes no since being a wine bar but we just left. Hope for better service the next visit read more

Vegetarian options. Delicious! My favorite tapa on the menu is Cava's Mezze. Quaint & charming location. Street or parking garage parking near by. Love it here! Please add more vegetarian options so I can come back for more!! read more

I'm not sure why Cava still has high reviews? We went a few years ago and raved about it however, something has changed for the worse!! We went last night and were so disappointed! The octopus wasn't edible, it was previously frozen, fishy and rubbery. The Serrano ham was ruined over the dates- served burnt! The paella tasted like it came from a box mix of Spanish rice. Four people leaving half of almost every little tapas plate and saying no to "wrapping up" the rest, you would think there's a problem. The pulled pork empanadas were dry and flavorless and forgive me for not knowing churros are supposed to be raw in the middle? We asked the server since they were inedible too (unless you enjoy raw dough) and she said yes, they're supposed to be raw in the middle. The beets (very difficult not to serve good beets), the short rib cubes were fine and the chocolate pudding dessert was good. However, there were 4 if us and all agreed the food was absolutely horrible and after a $300.00 dinner - we went for pizza somewhere else. I would not recommend Cava not will any of us return. read more

Fantastic. Food is awesome. Price rather steep. I spent $120 here alone. Service is awesome. I will come again, despite the high price, because the food is FANTASTIC and the service is great. read more

Tapas are great because you can try lots of little dishes and split them. We happened upon this place while wandering the streets of Portsmouth on a Wednesday evening after a dinner of lobster rolls (good and comforting, but not particularly filling). This place was just too adorable not to stop in. It is in the cutest winding alley lit up by old-style streetlamps. There are tables outside next to heatlamps but it was drizzling so we went inside. The dark candlelit interior makes the ambience energetic and romantic. Open kitchen. Very attentive and conversational waitstaff. A bit too nosy as they sometimes butt in on our conversation but I guess we were sitting at the bar. There are two bars-- one upstairs and one downstairs. We shared an app and dessert because we weren't too hungry, and we felt a little bad but the waitstaff seemed okay with that. The mussels and the flan were both delicious. read more

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We decided to come for our anniversary and got a reservation at the kitchen counter. What a great spot. The chef was fantastic answering questions and making suggestions. The food was phenomenal. read more

Oh my gosh darn quaint adorable cuteness of a place. The gazpacho and white corn soup shooter, recommended by a fellow passionate patron, was sooo delicious. The cheese plate I got was to die for - queso de valdeon (a blue cheese), cherries, cherry sauce, walnuts, and agave nectar were. Great friendly staff told us all about the town. Awesome. One of the bartenders was entering a drink competition the following day, and we got to try his concoction. I am looking forward to coming back! read more

Cava - Cava, Portsmouth NH - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Wow this place was amazing. Great location. Outdoor seating super cute. Service was awesome and the food was an 11 easily. Don't miss this place if you're around Portsmouth!! read more

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Every single thing that came out of the kitchen was absolutely divine. At some restaurants, there are some good dishes and some that are just ok. The sign of a truly fabulous restaurant that you can recommend without reservation is when you can eat anything on the menu and know it will be delicious. The leek soup was simple, but savory with good textures. The Brussel sprout dish was colorful, the sprouts were perfectly cooked and the pomegranate sauce was heavenly. The short rib was also very good, beautifully presented with a lovely blend of flavors. The pot au creme made me smile with every bite. read more

Cava - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

I enjoyed a lovely warm spring evening on Cava's outdoor patio last night. Its located down a quiet alley off the main drag. The menu is small plates and tapas, eclectic and adventurous. Portions are smallish, but proportional to the prices. Plates are in general not garnished, so as to let the food speak for itself. Wine is served in Riedel glasses, even on the patio! My favorites were: *roasted medjool dates stuffed with manchego & wrapped in ham *chick pea "fries" *dark chocolate, sea salt & pistachio oil Go with a group so you can try EVERYTHING! read more

Cava - chick pea "fries" - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Absolutely wonderful in every way. Luckily the weather was not too chilly and we sat outside - comfortable and safe. Awesome service and wonderful meal. Will return. read more

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We are from New York and let's face it: Fine dining is hard to come by in Portsmouth. This is the real deal. We have been coming here for almost all 11 years Cava has been open and the consistency of the quality here is notable. I'm quite certain this is because the owners are there frequently. It's also because they have managed to hang on to much of their core origInal staff which results in seamless professional and courteous service. And did I mention the wine program ? Hands down the best in Portsmouth. Cava is a real gem. read more

Five stars are definitely well deserved for this superb restaurant The tasting menu is an absolute bargain and we enjoyed every morsel of the meal from start to finish Every dish was innovative and creative and the wine selection was unusually vast with every wine available by the glass or half glass The only thing we regret is that it is not located in Los Angeles because we would be there all the time The service by Danny was excellent and he did not skip a proverbial beat, We will return! read more

Cava - First course was this beautiful salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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A little slice of heaven. My wife and stumbled upon this place looking for a quiet place to enjoy some dinner. They had a prefixed menu with excellent selections and reasonably priced. Great staff and amazing food in all four course. We will be back. Thank you. read more

Cosy downstairs bar area with rock walls and amazing smells from the kitchen. The paella for 2 is small, but that's their style with the expectation that you do a few tapas to go with it. Nice cocktail selection and range of pricing for snack and tastes of any budget. read more

Yum! Yum! Yum! Creative and tasty cocktails with inventive dishes that are delicious. The Vallrona dessert ranks as probably best dessert I have ever had. That good. Sat at the bar- wonderful service. They also have another bar that over looks the kitchen. Could probably learn by watching. Next time... read more

Cava - Vallrona chocolate dessert - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

This place is amazing! Food is fresh, has a delicious taste! My favorite was stuffed piquillo peppers worth visiting 100% read more

Cava - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The outside of the restaurant was very inviting, located in a shady alley off one of the main streets in Portsmouth.  The menu looked really good, so we asked the maitre d' to make a reservation for the following week.  He said yes, but informed us that only the $48 prix fixe menu was available. OK, we thought, everything on it looks delicious, so let's do it.  Then he said that they would require our credit card number to hold a table.  Not the most inviting way to start a dining experience, but I know that people can be rude and "no-show" on reservations, so I get it.  The dealbreaker, though, was when he told us that if we cancelled FOR ANY REASON, AT ANY TIME after making the reservation, we would be charged 50% the price of the meal!!!  This is an unreasonable and unfriendly policy.  Most restaurants allow cancellation within several hours of the reserved time, or at most 24 hours.  We were booking a full week in advance, and it doesn't make any sense to charge customers if something changes for them and they need to cancel in advance of their booking.  It's too bad because it looked great. read more

Owners are extremely rude. Food is highly overpriced for simple ingredients and tasteless combinations. Paella was burnt to a crisp. Staff seems tired and overworked. Would not recommend. read more

One of my favorite places in Portsmouth! The service is stellar, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly and the food is outstanding! To top it off our waiter chased us 2 blocks to hand me my forgotten sweatshirt! A+! read more

These reviews must be from people who have no idea what good food is. The service was meh and after two dishes did not turn out well. The general manager or owner at the time was horrible to my company and acting like it was our fault. Worst customer service I've ever experienced when we told him how we felt he acted in such a condescending tone. Completely unprofessional. Not to mention a random individual eating at the restaurant was leaving and said to our table that "the award for the most annoying table goes to" and the only way that customer who was sitting downstairs would have known was because an employee was talking about us. He also went outside and wanted to fight our table. Embarrassing and would never go back! read more

Fantastic food, service, and ambience! A little challenging to get reservations salvations but the owner the owner was very accommodating. He even remembered that it was our this our 21st year anniversary when we arrived! I only Mention this at the very end of my call when booking the reservation - he obviously cares about his customers. read more

Stumbled upon Cava walking aimlessly around Portsmouth on evening and very glad we did. Upon walking in we were immediately greeted by the host wondering if we had a reservation, obviously we did not, and were promptly seated at the last two bar seats available down stairs. As described in other reviews, this is the perfect date spot. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Over all food was very good but one has to realize it greatly depends on what you order. For example... -Charcuterie combined with their cheese board - good but not out of this world. proportions were off on this. It was a served with a mountain of chorizo, then a few slices of serrano ham. Would have liked more of a balance between the two or at least way less chorizo and another meat to balance out the dish. Mustard/chili were great but again odd portions of each which made you feel like you had to concentrate on properly portioning each bite instead of having fun and exploring each bite with different quantities of each item. - Foie gras meatballs were good. Would skip next time and substitute for another item that may be outstanding. -Medjool Dates - out of this world delicious. I would come back again and again for this dish alone. - Croquetas - another outstanding item. As you can see each item is kind of a gamble from good to outstanding. Choose wisely. Oh and one last word of advice. We saw everyone ordering the churros which looked delcious but took a small gamble (every gamble here we believe will be small due to the fact every item will delicious to say the least) with the Valrhona almond chocolate torta. This was amazing and after the first bite, new we made the right decision. read more

Cava - VALRHONA ALMOND CHOCOLATE TORTA - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Went in at 6:15 for tapas after calling three days prior. Was told that we could walk in or call 30 mins ahead of time for a reservation and that there was no other way to reserve in advance. Came in without calling thinking we could just get on the wait list for 30 minutes later but was told we could not make a reservation unless it was for a full dinner. The process was confusing, unfriendly (the host literally waved my wife off), and we were very disappointed as we really wanted to to try Cava as we wanted to try many different dishes. Probably won't be back. read more

Cava is absolutely amazing. I went to Cava with my family last night and as we ate their incredible dishes, we were reminded how much we missed this gem of a restaurant during COVID-19 closures. The staff is always welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable (and everyone is definitely taking the necessary precautions for social distancing to make your experience as stress-free as possible) Their new select menu and wine/beverage list provides you an experience that you cannot find anywhere else in the greater Portsmouth area. We ordered the following: Gazpacho with lobster (Had an amazing kick for those who like a bit of spice) Burrata salad with tomatoes (crazy good!) Stuffed piquillo peppers (packed with flavor and texture) Ham croquettes (the saffron is rich and beautiful) Sirloin (cooked to perfection) Paella (always a delicious staple at Cava and has only gotten better with added summer veggies) And lastly, we got all three desserts and they all rocked. read more

This place was great. The service was spectacular. I suggest the sirloin. Super friendly!!

Went for dinner here with an old friend, so we were very caught up in our conversation and our server picked that up and proceeded to take care of us accordingly. We had a bottle of wine (Black Slate $60), these amazing chickpea fries, olives, spanish cheeses, octopus, artichoke hearts, and the mezze. total was $135, $165 after tip. We sat at a cosy corner table with plants and bright sunlight (this is not a large establishment but was more like a cafe in terms of seating). Intimate dining, excellent spot to catch up and be well taken care of. I will come back. read more

Cava - Le menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

No doubt about it: I lived in Spain, and this is the best Spanish food I've had outside of Spain. And I go to a Spanish restaurant in every city/country I travel to that has one. Everything was outstanding and the service was great, too. read more