CAVA Is Coming to the Former Habit Burger at Val Vista and Baseline

A familiar restaurant space at Val Vista Drive and Baseline Road is getting a new flavor.

CAVA is moving into the former Habit Burger on the northeast corner of the intersection, trading charburgers for Mediterranean bowls, pitas, dips, and dressings.

For Gilbert residents who have been hoping for a CAVA closer to home, this is an opening to keep an eye on. While the restaurant will technically be in Mesa, it’s right next to Gilbert, making it a convenient option for residents on both sides of Baseline.

Gilbert still doesn’t have a CAVA of its own, but this upcoming location will bring the restaurant closer to many residents in north Gilbert.

A familiar restaurant space at Val Vista Drive and Baseline Road is getting a new flavor.

CAVA is moving into the former Habit Burger on the northeast corner of the intersection, trading charburgers for Mediterranean bowls, pitas, dips, and dressings.

For Gilbert residents who have been hoping for a CAVA closer to home, this is an opening to keep an eye on. While the restaurant will technically be in Mesa, it’s right next to Gilbert, making it a convenient option for residents on both sides of Baseline.

Gilbert still doesn’t have a CAVA of its own, but this upcoming location will bring the restaurant closer to many residents in north Gilbert.

From Habit Burger to CAVA

The former Habit Burger space sits at a busy intersection familiar to anyone who shops, eats, or runs errands around Dana Park. Now, the northeast corner will welcome a different kind of fast-casual restaurant.

CAVA has also been advertising positions under the name “Baseline and Val Vista Drive,” providing another sign that the location is moving forward. The hiring listing includes team leadership roles for the Mesa restaurant.

For people who regularly travel along Val Vista or Baseline, the change will add another option for a quick lunch, dinner on the way home, or a meal between errands.

What Is CAVA?

If you haven’t visited CAVA before, the restaurant focuses on Mediterranean-inspired food served in customizable bowls and pitas.

The ordering process lets guests choose different combinations of greens, grains, proteins, dips, toppings, and dressings. You can build your own meal or choose one of the restaurant’s featured combinations, making it easy to try something different each time you visit.

Its dips and spreads are a big part of the menu. Options include hummus, tzatziki, harissa, and Crazy Feta, CAVA’s signature feta dip. The menu also offers pita chips and sides for anyone who wants a little extra with their bowl or pita.

For a first visit, the biggest decision might be whether to order a bowl or a pita—and how much heat to add.

Close to Gilbert, Even Though It’s in Mesa

For our Gilbert readers, the location is an important part of the news.

The new CAVA will sit on the Mesa side of Baseline Road, at the northeast corner of Val Vista and Baseline. Although it won’t have a Gilbert address, it will be close to Gilbert neighborhoods just south of the intersection.

With Gilbert still waiting for a CAVA within town limits, this location gives nearby residents another place to visit without heading farther across the East Valley.

It also puts CAVA near an established dining and shopping destination. Dana Park sits across Val Vista on the northwest corner, while the surrounding intersection already attracts people from both Mesa and Gilbert. The former Habit Burger’s northeast-corner location was documented when that restaurant first arrived at the intersection.

Whether you live nearby or regularly pass through the area, the new restaurant could become an easy stop during your usual routine.

A Different Option for Lunch and Dinner

One of the draws of CAVA is the ability to customize your order. Someone looking for a greens-based bowl can build one, while another person can choose grains or a pita with their preferred dips and toppings. Its menu is designed around those combinations rather than a single fixed meal.

That flexibility makes it an option for a group that wants to eat at the same place but order different meals.

The arrival will also change what’s available in this particular restaurant space. For former Habit customers, it means a new concept to try. For existing CAVA fans, it means another nearby location to watch.

When Will the New CAVA Open?

An opening date has not yet been confirmed.

Hiring activity provides a sign of progress, but it doesn’t establish when the restaurant will begin serving customers. Details such as opening-day plans and operating hours will be worth watching as the location gets closer to completion.

For now, the news is that CAVA is headed to the old Habit Burger space at the northeast corner of Val Vista and Baseline—technically Mesa, but close enough to catch the attention of plenty of Gilbert residents.

Stay connected with East Valley NOW for more updates on this location and other restaurant openings around the East Valley.

Are you excited for CAVA to open here—and what’s your go-to order?