CAVA

"Enjoyed lunch today at this location. Servers were great and line moved pretty quickly. Ate the Balsamic Date Chicken bowl with harrisa chicken instead! Chefs kiss. I will be back!"

"I usually order online from here with no issues; however, today was THE WORST experience I’ve ever had. I picked up dinner for me to eat on my way to work from here on 2/5/23 at 5:15 and unfortunately ended up having an allergic reaction. I ordered a salad bowl with braised lamb and other toppings online and received a hot mess. The Splendid Greens I asked for weren’t even in the bowl, just a handful of romaine lettuce. After digging through and eating majority of the bowl, I noticed a mushed yellow/orange substance at the bottom of the bowl. Something that I did not order and what I’m assuming gave me an allergic reaction. I’m not sure what it was but I broke out in hives and luckily I carry medicine with me to work or it would have been a terrible incident. I really wish I could have took the bowl back but unfortunately, I am stuck at work until midnight. I decided to call to make the store aware of the situation and to my surprise I made 5 phone calls and each went unanswered. I am BEYOND upset with this restaurant and will likely never dine here again. I spent $23 on a headache and an allergic reaction."

"So after mulling over it for a couple of days I’ve decided to review this to save future hungry people. Entering the newly opened Cava of Elmwood my mother and I had no idea what to expect considering I’ve never ate at a Cava before. Nothing to really complain about the decorations or atmosphere. Seemed like a typical average modern restaurant. We waited for a bit in line to be received by the first lady in the line and asked nicely what is popular to immediately be met with what was to come for the rest of my experience. She very quietly almost purposely whispered something we couldn’t make out. After repeating my question she just rolled her eyes and pointed to the menu with zero direction. So I decided to make my own bowl and while doing that I had to repeat myself multiple times for her to actually get what I was asking for and met with constant eye rolls and remarks to all the other employees but nothing coherent towards me. Unfortunately wasn’t able to get her name due to a lack of name tag. Eventually we were passed to the next lady, named Amani, and somehow things got worse. She was doing the toppings portion, I assume, with corn and all those other items. Again met with zero interest in being there or servicing customers. This lady didn’t even acknowledge half of what was said, loudly and multiple times. She then proceeded to ring us up with the rudest attitude I’ve experienced in a long time and begrudgingly pointed us to the drinks. This experience with the employees alone with make me never come back to this establishment. Finally the food part of this review. I’ll keep it short like my time eating it. Rice was so under cooked it crunched and almost hurt to chew. The meat was drier than the Sahara Desert and the rest of the meal was filler and average. Only part of the meal that was slightly enjoyable was the side pita bread I ordered. Not enough to garner a positive review however. I HIGHLY recommend anyone to avoid this place and if you are looking for something similar, go next door the the chipotle. It’s not my first choice but they at least get your order right and have similar stuff with properly cooked rice. This place is a disgrace to Mediterranean food."

"I was so excited when I heard that Cava would be opening in Elmwood. The experience was just okay and I feel like they still need to figure some things out. The cashier had no idea what was going on and was just ringing stuff up. I ordered a Harissa Avocado Bowl and she just started ringing up random ingredients that were in the bowl…weird. You can get complimentary pita bread upon request. Complimentary equals one tiny piece. There were 2 pieces in one small bag and I informed the cashier that the other guest wanted pita. She said they’re both in the bag. That was weird…they should at least make an effort to separate the guests’ food. I asked for the dressing on the side but didn’t get it. I realized it when I checked my bag and asked the cashier for it. They were super stingy and only put a couple of squirts in an already tiny cup. Taste wise, the bowl was bland. I had the same bowl at a Cava location in Georgia and it was delicious. Fast forward to a couple of weeks later, I decided to try this location again. Upon entering, there was a long line that wasn’t moving and everyone behind the counter looked confused. The line with the food was in disarray and needed to be wiped clean. I decided to leave and I’m not really sure if I want to return."

"The vibe of the place is amazing. The staff were super helpful and direct. The food taste really fresh and super tasty. Very fulfilling bowl."