CAVA — Restaurant in Indianapolis

I’ve been a huge fan of Cava ever since I first tried it while traveling in the DC area. It’s like a Mediterranean Chipotle, with fresh, vibrant flavors and the option to customize your meal just the way you want it. I used to eat at Cava practically every day when I was in DC, so when I heard a location was opening in Indy, I was thrilled, even though it’s not super close to me. I made a special trip to check it out for lunch, eager to relive those delicious memories. I love Cava’s build-your-own-bowl option because it lets me mix and match exactly what I’m craving. The food at this Indy location was, for the most part, tasty and true to Cava’s style—fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and that Mediterranean flair I adore. However, I was disappointed to find that the lentils were undercooked. There’s nothing worse than driving 30 minutes home, hyped up for your meal, only to bite into hard, crunchy lentils that could practically chip a tooth. It was such a letdown. On top of that, the portion size felt a bit smaller than what I’m used to from the DC locations, which always leave me satisfied. While the Indy Cava still brought some of that Mediterranean magic, it didn’t quite live up to the consistently amazing experience I’ve had at the DC locations. I’ll probably give it another shot since I love the concept, but I’m hoping they step up their game with the lentils and portions next time. For now, it’s a decent spot, but the DC Cava still holds the crown.

They lost a star for atmosphere because they were boarding up a window or something and it was extremely loud in there. Service was so so, I spent a while waiting for...

Always interested in near-campus offerings, we recently placed a carry-out order for Cava. It was...meh? Amazing website design that made the food look really fresh and exciting, but the food didn't deliver IMO. The pita "chips" were pleasant in texture - crunchy on the edges, soft interiors, but were overly salty. The sauces (s'khug and garlic) had very little flavor; the s'khug was more herbaceous than spicy and flavorful and the garlic was so mild, I couldn't detect the flavor. Portions on the side sauces for prices ($4) for a 4 oz cup seemed a bit high, but the meals were fairly priced with other options (still $2-3 too high). We got the cookie and the dessert bar. Despite looking like they were baked in house on the website, it was pre-packaged and small (maybe 1.5"x1.5"). One bite and it went in the trash - dry, stale, and not a nice bite. We were missing the drink and the cookie, so the accuracy on our order -- despite being all present on the bag sticker and the restaurant not being busy -- was disappointing.

The best thing was the crazy feta -- really flavorful and delicious, but everything else was so mediocre on flavor, not going to be a...

Food is great but the staff lacks customer service to be such a newer establishment. Unless you specifically ask, the staff won’t fill your bowl even halfway. Compared to the Cava in Fishers. I can understand being mindful in waste and portion control, however It’s almost always less than half filled… unless you ask them to fill your bowl to the middle line on the inside of the paper bowls.

When I visited around 1:00 PM, there were 6–7 staff members present, yet several customers (myself included) had to ask someone to come to the register to check us out. Multiple staff members walked past the counter and clearly saw us waiting, but didn’t step in to help. :/

Again, the food is great! However, it is clear that the staff needs sufficient training in customer service in order for them to operate efficiently. With the right improvements, im sure this location could really match the standards set by other Cava...