CAVA — Restaurant in Encinitas

Last time i left a review here I got amazing staff and it was honestly great in every way. This time… not so much. So basically there are two people in line… and these workers i believe named ivan and irma were going slow motion! I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was insane. I waited 20 minutes for 1 person! Ivan didn’t seem to understand what was going on or anything and irma wasn’t doing anything. Next was the annoying part. So i ordered 2 kids pitas, and she tells me i can only get two toppings which is fine. Then as i wait there with my food sitting there getting cold i finally go up to pay and get the drinks that come with the meal. I was planning on a chocolate milk and a lemonade, but there was no chocolate milk there. I moved on and decided to get a water and a lemonade. I ask if they have any chocolate milk and irma gives me a weird look like she doesnt know what im talking about. She tells me whats there is all they have. Then as im about to pay the price says 19.23. I’m confused cause the kids pitas are suppose to be 7:25 or smthn. I ask, did they change the prices? Then some older lady walks across and goes “yea they changed them months ago” in a snooty way like I was asking a weird question. I go ok, and I pay for it thinking nothing of it. Then as Im about to leave i see the price is still 7:25 or 7:45 im not sure it was one of the two. I ask why my price was 19:23. She goes well the pitas are actually 8 dollars and something now it just hasnt been changed. And im like you guys should put smthn up then, and she doesnt really reply and says u ordered a water too. I only grabbed the water cause they were out of milk! Its just bad service and i wasted like 3-4 dollars which isnt much but its more the dumbness of the workers that annoys me. Food was the same old, but the chips were over cooked and the meet was kinda mid. Idk it was annoying. This group of staff is definitely this cavas weakest cause ive had some great experiences here but holy these people were horrible...

I have been to this cava many times and never had an issue but after my experience today I will never return. They were extremely busy which isn’t a prob because they are usually busy. They were out of so much stuff. To the point where another lady started taking the guys order behind me when the other girl put my food down to refill all while my husband is at the register waiting to pay. The girl was wearing gloves but put her hands in her back pocket rubbed her face etc then continued to use her hands to refill the items that need them when I say she used her hands she used the same gloves she was wiping all her her body with. Clothes face etc then stuck her hand right down in whatever she was refilling. I mentioned to the manager that that was disgusting and we probably should only be touching food items with gloves on. He just smiled and brought a handful of desserts to our table. Also when requesting items for my bowl I asked for feta. I’m assuming she didn’t feel like refilling that because she already refilled everything else so she told me they were out but after I got my bowl I saw another guy leave with feta on his bowl. Not a big deal but you just told me you were out. Btw same girl that was refilling the bowls I also saw her sweeping with the same gloves on. If the health department saw that they would be shut down. CAVA do something about this if you look at your reviews there is alot that say the same thing. Maybe your employees need better training. Also come up with a back up plan of keeping things stocked because I’m sure I’m not the first customer that you have lost and I’m sure I won’t be the last. We were with friends and we were all so disgusted. I also want to mention the girl that did this was training another girl. Sad sight. Save your money and your time. Not worth going to a place and possibly getting sick from improper...

I love Cava but this location not so much! l always order online due to my lunch schedule and I always customize my Harissa Avocado Bowl and these last two times my order was not made how I placed it online. I don’t understand, they place the receipt on the bowl so how do they not double check to see that items were added on, removed or replaced?! The bowls were literally made how they advertise it even though I requested to customize it. For the amount we pay it would be nice to have a correct order on top of the missing items (utensils & pita bread) that I always have to ask for! I will definitely be going to a different location instead of this one!

12/11: I tried to give this location another try but no thanks, same customer service given! Had placed an order for pick-up at 1pm and I know during lunch hour they get busy so I always try to give them time before picking-up. Well, I get there at 1:17pm and there are 2 ppl ahead of me also waiting for their 1pm pick-up. A nice gentlemen offered us drinks while waiting however, the woman taking on my order seemed like she was annoyed! When I asked for my 1pm pick-up order she just said “oh let me get started on it, I didn’t realize there were was 2 bowls.” Well it’s 1:29pm and she hands me my order as if it was too much for her, I “still” thanked her very much and yet no response or apology nothing, not to mention my order had no utensils or the pita bread to go with both bowls. Lastly the avocado wasn’t even cut up she literally cut a full one in half and just tossed it in the bowls like she was over it smh! So with that being said I will definitely never return to this location or my coworkers as well. This location definitely needs new management because the customer service here for some is...