CAVA — Restaurant in Cambridge

I've passed by plenty of CAVA stores in the past, but this was my first time trying it. It's similar to sweetgreen or DIG, with standard bowls as well as a make-your-own bowl option. You can also opt for pita instead of a bowl.

I chose to make my own. For my base, I picked both saffron basmati rice and black lentils. The rice is generally a plainer choice (though perhaps less so than brown rice would've been), so the black lentils were a nice addition that complimented it well. The lentils also weren't too hard or tough.

I appreciated that you're able to pick up to 3 dips, and I went for the tzatziki, traditional hummus, and red pepper hummus. I knew I would enjoy all 3, though it would've been even better if there was more of each. Though they're called "scoops", the spatula they use is quite small, and it's more like a smear of spread.

For the mains, I was torn between the falafel and roasted white sweet potatoes, so I went for half of each. I generally find falafel to be pretty dry sometimes, though mixing it with the dips helped on that front. The sweet potatoes weren't crispy, but they were still tasty.

Finally, I added most of the toppings and lemon herb tahini as my dressing. Persian cucumber was new to me; it didn't have the same taste of "summer" that cucumber typically brings, but it was quite good. The tahini was also delicious, and clearly popular for a reason.

All in all, this fast-casual chain isn't a bad pick. I'm not sure if it's winning any awards for authenticity, but I generally take it as a positive sign when there are employees of the same culture as the cuisine that a restaurant serves - and CAVA passes that litmus test. A quick Google search about the owners leads me to believe that it's less appropriative than Chipotle, at least (though please correct me if I'm wrong!). There's also an emphasis on environmentalism here, as the utensils and containers are compostable (much like sweetgreen and DIG). It's pretty affordable too, so I'm happy to add CAVA to my list of options for...

Had a bizarre experience ordering food. I wanted a bowl with hummus as the base. The options on the menu are to have rice or greens. I realize I was ordering off menu, but the staff acted like I was crazy.

I asked for this, and the worker was confused. Fair enough. I explained that I wanted hummus, not rice or greens, as the base for the bowl. She asked if I wanted hummus on the side. I said no, I don't mean a side, I mean in the bowl. She called over another worker. The worker was also confused and asked sequentially whether I wanted a side of hummus, or hummus with pita, and each time I explained that I wanted it as the base for the bowl, in the bowl, instead of rice or greens. I offered that if this was not an appropriate order, I'd be happy to just do rice. He understood, and explained to the first worker how to do that. When I asked for a little rice in the bowl, she acted like she thought I was crazy, then put 2 huge scoops of rice in the bowl. I didn't bother explaining that the whole point of what I was asking is that I wanted a larger ratio of hummus to rice, and that now when I went to go eat the bowl I'd have to remove some of the rice, but this would not be easy because the hummus probably stuck to the rice. Overall, if I am not allowed to order a bowl with hummus as the base then fine, that's not a big deal. But if you have ever been to any other meddeterranian restaurant, especially ones that serve food chipotle-style, then you'd know that it is not unreasonable to ask for hummus at the bottom of your food bowl. Plus, it should not have been this difficult to explain that I wanted hummus, not rice or greens, at the bottom of the bowl. At the very least, I wish that I had not been looked at as if I were crazy the whole time I...

It was special encountering a staff member, employee, and amazing person....Edith!!!! Edith's dedication and passion for her work has been nothing short of remarkable. From the moment she greeted me with a warm smile and attentive demeanor, it was evident that she takes great pride in what she does.

Edith's hardworking nature shines through in every interaction. She goes above and beyond to ensure that my needs are not only met but exceeded. Her attention to detail is impressive, carefully listening to my concerns and offering thoughtful solutions. It's clear that she takes personal ownership of her responsibilities, it was incredible to see her motivating the staff and keeping everyone up!

What truly sets Edith apart is her genuine passion for customer service. She approaches her role not just as a job, but as an opportunity to make a positive impact on each customer's experience. Her enthusiasm is contagious, creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes me feel valued and appreciated as a customer.

Beyond her outstanding work ethic, Edith's dedication is evident in her commitment to excellence. She consistently strives to deliver exceptional service, ensuring that every interaction is memorable for all the right reasons. Her ability to anticipate my needs and provide proactive assistance has truly set the bar high for customer service.

CAVA IS EXTREMELY!!! EXTREMELY LUCKY to have her. Cava organization, Cava family please give this women a raise, please just do something to acknowledge her hard work and dedication. Edith gracias por todo y que DTB! GRACIAS...