CAVA — Restaurant in Fairfax

CAVA used to be a staple. I remember one of their first locations over at Tyson's Corner Mall when they were still a younger company. The food was always fresh, the dips were unlimited, and the toppings were plentiful. Today, definitely not the case.

The short version: the food still tastes good, but in order to get a full, complete, and proper order of it - you must be in person so you can ensure the line actually gives you a full order of everything. They lately cheap out on mobile order takeaway by default, I think knowing that many folks just grab the bag and leave.

This is the third time recently that I've gotten takeaway from this location and consistently I have found the following: They will pile on rice. If you order rice, you'll get rice. Loads of it. This isn't bad or good just an observation. It makes the bowl look full for sure. They will "forget" dips. If you order up to the current policy maximum of 3x included dips, they will consistently "forget" 1x of them. It has happened every time I've done mobile order takeaway over the last 6 months. They will use as little toppings as possible from what you select. Tomatoes & Cucumbers? Sure, they will make sure you get at least 2 small pieces (not scoops) of each right on top. It is almost kind of funny, as if they are lawyers being as literal to the order as possible. This last one isn't new but the side pita is a joke. Whoever thought it was a brilliant idea to claim a side pita could be defined as an old fifth or quarter cut of a full pita they made earlier in the day, if not the day before? You guys fell really far from where you started on even just this alone.

I get that someone with their MBA is trying to help maximize profits. I also get that you guys are essentially a publicly traded company now and have to answer to shareholders. Yes, you can probably save 5c per bowl by not putting in that extra dip scoop. Yes, you can make more money by charging more for bowls because you include a pita but then only give people a small cut of a pita. Does any of this mean you really should?

I'm sitting here looking at this bowl of rice and my old stale cut of a pita wondering, dang, why did I even pay $14 for this?

Is that really worth an extra...

Yes, the food is fresh and healthy. It's "everything-free," and sourced from non-denominational magic elves (who live locally, of course) and only cook in between yoga festivals. Yes, they have lots of variety. That's where my praise ends.

Individually, the food items are great. But Cava trusts you to know how to put them together. I realize that's their business model. But the underlying assumption of the build-your-own model is that no matter what you pick, you get something good. Not so here.

I felt like I needed a degree in culinary arts to figure out what to order.

"Pick one of six bases? Cool, Lots of choices!

"Choose up to three of six dips? Um sure. Now what?"

"Pick one of seven 'proteins?' Uh, do you mean MEAT?" Okay.

"Add unlimited toppings? Are you saying that mixing Tzatziki sauce with Hummus and Harissa is going to go good with the cayenne-flavored braised lamb topped with Kalamata Olives and Cauliflower Quinoa Tabbouleh? Yes?"

No. There was too much going on in one bowl. I paid a LOT of money to throw foods I normally love into a blender to create a bowl of warm mess.

Can you get GREAT food at Cava? Yes, if you know what you're doing. This is not the place to rush in to grab a bite. The line (and there WILL be a long line) will be full of first timers who don't know what the hell they're doing and people who enjoy the "Cava experience." They want to take their time to "ooh and awe" about how good the food looks, while using lots of descriptors to place their order. Then they'll use those descriptors in their Instagram captions before they actually eat it. (Laugh now, but check for how many people Instagram their food the next time you go in.)

Kudos for the variety and the healthy, eco-friendly options. But seriously, food shouldn't be...

My friend and I have been coming here for the past month and a half after attending our classes.(Regularly coming in about twice a week) The first few times we came here, the portions were great and the food was great. The food is still good but the workers became EXTREMELY stingy with portions. At this point its insulting especially when the person behind you asks for the exact same thing as you and is given more without having to ask for extra. Today was the final straw as my friend got half chicken and half braised lamb. As usual the server was extremely stingy when she asked her to add more of the chicken and lamb she gave her literal threads of the lamb and 5 pieces of chicken. How she did that with a straight face, idk?

Along with being stingy in the proteins section they are stingy with the toppings too. Too many time I've seen the servers give heaping portions of the toppings to online orders and in-person orders but when they get to us, all of a suddenly there is a restriction on how much they can give you.

Hate to be this person but, I'm starting to think its discrimination at this point, as there is zero reason my friend and I are consistently given toddler portions and customers both in front and behind us are given generous king sized ones.

There have also been many times I have felt rushed when ordering, I understand rushing when there is multiple people in line, but the times this has happened my friend and I were the only ones in line.

Highly suggest you go to other CAVA locations in the DMV as they give better portion sizes and you get your money's worth.

P.S. The saffron rice needs to be renamed to white rice as the is NO trace of saffron being in it. Saffron rice is a yellow-orange color...