CAVA - how do you like the place?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Cava.

Just some observations though..

- When we order online and pick up the food, there seems to be a lot less in the plates.
- Their "standard" serving depends on who is scooping. For example, they usually put 2 scoops of rice but sometimes they are heaping scoops and sometimes not. And if you ask for an extra scoop, they'll say it's an extra charge.
- Some places will ask you if you want pita bread with your order. There is no additional charge for this. Some places won't even offer it.

Another reason I like Cava is because I can get 2 meals out of every bowl.

Really? I was charged for it last week at the Potomac Yards store. I was completely surprised. In fact they made it a big deal. The first person went stomping off to get it, dramatically wrapped it in foil and then walked it down the line telling each of the other 3 line people and finally the cashier that I had ordered pita. She put her hand on their shoulder, held the wrapped pita about 3 inches in front of their faces and said "this is pita." Even the other people in line were looking at the woman like 'what is this' and raised eyebrows with me. I think they charged me like $1.75 for it. I love Cava but this time it was totally weird.

That’s odd. I eat at that location all the time. Did you order it at the beginning with your bowl? It sounds like you ordered it at the register and she was probably annoyed and trying to make a point.

It was the greens lady who walked down the line making the big deal out of 1 piece of pita. I asked for the pita when I said that I wanted Greens and Grains ("Hi, I'd like Greens and Grain with pita. The greens should be... Yes, I'd like the xxxx rice. Did I tell you that I would like pita?). I know there was nothing wrong with my tone or attitude and that I was completely polite. But when I asked for the pita again that's when she went stomping off and then made a big drama of wrapping it. After she made her point, whatever it was, 3 workers and 1 cashier later I was ready to leave without getting my order.

The funny thing is that on an experience within the past 6 months I was so happy with service and a particular employee that I searched out the website and filled out their form to compliment an employee.

I haven't gone on to complain because I'm still angry about it.

[Anonymous]

They should do sectional plates so you /your picky kid can eat and try out some things separately.
Plenty of people don’t like stuff all jumbled together.
My son loves different things that we have but it just seems impossible to order for him.

[Anonymous]

i love the idea of Cava but have been burned too many times with cold/ room temperature Cava so I never go anymore. For reference, I live in Navy Yard so I know it's beyond busy and has weird on/off hours thanks to game days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love Cava.

Just some observations though..

- When we order online and pick up the food, there seems to be a lot less in the plates.
- Their "standard" serving depends on who is scooping. For example, they usually put 2 scoops of rice but sometimes they are heaping scoops and sometimes not. And if you ask for an extra scoop, they'll say it's an extra charge.
- Some places will ask you if you want pita bread with your order. There is no additional charge for this. Some places won't even offer it.

Another reason I like Cava is because I can get 2 meals out of every bowl.

Cheap cheap cheap.
And stressful to order under these circumstances. Chipotle is never like this - if you want a little more of something they’ll give it to you.

[Anonymous]

I like cava. But I do feel rushed/ don’t live standing in the line. I order online and I have noticed MUCH smaller portion. Why is that?
As for the meat being room temp. That’s just how it is. Meat at chipotle just barely warm. Probably would taste better
But I like all the items mixed together and online so convenient!

[Anonymous]

Agree with chipotle PP. they will make it way to big if they like you.

[Anonymous]

Love cava, but I get the falafel and thus avoid the cold meat dilemma

[Anonymous]

I think it's expensive, it's usually $13/pp here in Northern Virginia. I don't know where people are getting $10.
It's very salty but I love their 100% nut-free offerings. PP was right, there is something for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I walk by them all the time in DC but have never been. What would be good to try for the first time? (I'd prefer ordering one dish of pre-assembled ingredients rather than pick this and that, which is how I assume it works.)

Have you ever been at Chipotle? The same idea of service.. you go along the countertop and tell them what and how much to put in..
You move along the following and pick or not..

Starters:
either grains like rice or lentil

or letuces all kinds.. you don't need rice

Proteins:
all kinds of things meat or rosted veggies

then you can add meditarenian saladdy things like cucumbers with tomatoes or just cucumbers or just tomatoes,
also olives, feta etc..

and then all kinds of other things..

just take a look here and place with order page, it is fun and look gorageous like their food at the place.
https://order.cava.com/stores/2/menu

Yeah, I've been to Chipotle. I can do that. CAVA seems more complicated and I don't like complicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love Cava.

Just some observations though..

- When we order online and pick up the food, there seems to be a lot less in the plates.
- Their "standard" serving depends on who is scooping. For example, they usually put 2 scoops of rice but sometimes they are heaping scoops and sometimes not. And if you ask for an extra scoop, they'll say it's an extra charge.
- Some places will ask you if you want pita bread with your order. There is no additional charge for this. Some places won't even offer it.

Another reason I like Cava is because I can get 2 meals out of every bowl.

I always ask for a little more rice and have never been charged for it. I don’t eat the pita so I figure it should offset the extra rice. With extra rice I also can get 2 meals out of 1 bowl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overall I like it, it is a great alternative to Chipotle style, as far as the concept of free building a meal and has all Mediterranean foods and is pretty hip, I did not know they are so big in LA area considering they started with one place in Rockville.

However there is few things I would change if I could, what do you think?...
- They should offer smaller bowl to begin with because their starter bowl size and price is almost 10 bucks so once you add proteins you end up paying 12 bucks. So that is spensive. I would love if they would offer small bowl for some bucks that with proteins you would end up somewhere at 8.50 area. That would be more doable and I would eat there more often. I just don't need this bathtub of stuff .. that of course I can put less in however I still pay for the full size.

- I would REALLY appreciate if they could rearrange their order of things. I love their lamb meatballs but the way it works now.. if you start with rice or lettuce and add proteins.. then by the time everything is swamped with cold cucumbers, tomatoes and likes of them.. by the time
you are ready to eat, the meatballs are cold. I think there are few things that taste worse then a cold lamb because any amount of lamb fat that gets cold it gets also immediately granulated and is not as nicely tasting in your mouth. This is wrong. I think they should put the proteins on the top. Again, I know I can request it but in general, eating cold lamb is not that safe because the melting point of the fat is higher then the body temperature so it does not get nicely assimilated by the body. So that would be a big plus.

- Having meat looking like meat would be awesome too.. kind of like Baja fresh does it, their chicken look slike chicken and beef steak cut pieces do also look like steak. I twould be awesome to have that as opposed to some chopped smush… that is some sort of meat.
Of course you have also meatballs and God bless them they are gluten free, that is awesome, except fro Shwarma.. but
considering how sour their beef meatablls are I am only left with the lamb options so mo nice meat would be great.

Other then that great place and awesome options! Great to see CAVAs popping in new places. Love their concept. And they are such a clean modern minimalistic place that one is sure to come back to.

If you eat GF OP you should try Prima. They just opened another location in downtown Bethesda last week. It’s a little pricier than Cava but everything on their menu is gluten free. Similar concept to Cava.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kind of a funny side note. I wanted to go the other night but my parents refused to try it. They thought it was a wine bar because of the name.

It is and it is also a short order place. The owners created a fancy sit down version first and then the "fast food" version a few years later but both restaurants have the same name so it is confusing. I like both, I just wish they'd completely change the name of one of their restaurants - I guess the bar/restaurant version at this point since most people associate the brand with the short order place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kind of a funny side note. I wanted to go the other night but my parents refused to try it. They thought it was a wine bar because of the name.

It is and it is also a short order place. The owners created a fancy sit down version first and then the "fast food" version a few years later but both restaurants have the same name so it is confusing. I like both, I just wish they'd completely change the name of one of their restaurants - I guess the bar/restaurant version at this point since most people associate the brand with the short order place.

I live near Clarendon and wish we had the short order one instead of the sit down one. There is very little takeout here. I don’t want to have to sit down and shell out $100 every time I eat out.

[Anonymous]

Too expensive and I don’t love the flavors. I prefer Roti. I know most people think that’s crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's expensive, it's usually $13/pp here in Northern Virginia. I don't know where people are getting $10.
It's very salty but I love their 100% nut-free offerings. PP was right, there is something for everyone.

+1

PP if I find Cava too salty, is there an item for me?