A Mediterranean fast-casual chain that people are obsessed with is planning to take over America — here's what it's like

• Cava Grill, a popular Mediterranean chain, is expanding at breakneck speed.
• The chain is opening two new locations in Midtown Manhattan and continuing to expand on the West Coast. 
• We visited a nearby location and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. 

Washington, DC-based fast-casual chain Cava Grill is expanding its delicious empire.

After raising $30 million in Series C funding from a venture-capital firm backed by AOL cofounder Steve Case in 2017, the chain has set its sights on rapid-fire expansion. The chain now has 46 locations open across the US, and it has plans to open many more in the coming months.

Two new locations will open in New York City this summer, bringing the city's total to five. According to Eater, the new locations will be tailored to the local neighborhoods — same menus, but different atmospheres to help it fit in. The Mediterranean-focused restaurant has also gained a substantial following with its seven outposts in Los Angeles, and there's another new location for the city coming soon. 

We visited one of the New York locations to see if the much-hyped chain has what it takes to expand across the nation.

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The chain's first location in the Big Apple is on a bustling stretch at Fourth Avenue and 14th Street, right off Union Square.

The glass front lets in ample light, making the space feel bright and open. The decor is quintessential fast-casual — blond wood, industrial metals, fluorescent lighting, and cement floors. Chipotle-chic, as it were. It's bright, it's clean, and there's isn't all that much personality.

Taking a page straight out of Fast Casual 101, Cava Grill's set-up is ultimately the same as Chipotle's. You go along the assembly line, picking what you want in your meal. You can choose to have a pita wrap, a grain bowl, a salad, a "greens and grains," mini pitas, or mini pitas and soup. The prices aren't displayed but can be found in handout menus you can grab.