CAVA — Restaurant in Knoxville

Cava - Farragut-Knoxville: Fresh Mediterranean Flavors with a Modern Twist (and Great for Vegans!)

Cava in Farragut-Knoxville is a fantastic spot for anyone seeking fresh, flavorful Mediterranean cuisine, and it’s particularly great for vegans. The restaurant’s bright, modern ambiance matches the vibrant and customizable menu that caters to a wide range of dietary preferences.

One of the best things about Cava is its build-your-own meal concept, which makes it incredibly easy to enjoy a delicious and satisfying vegan meal. I created a grain bowl with saffron basmati rice, roasted vegetables, falafel, and a variety of vegan-friendly toppings like pickled onions, cucumbers, and hummus. The tahini dressing and harissa sauce added a wonderful burst of flavor, perfectly complementing the fresh ingredients.

The falafel, a vegan staple, was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned to perfection. The roasted vegetables were a highlight, offering a rich, savory depth that made the bowl hearty and filling.

Service is quick and the staff is knowledgeable, making it easy to navigate the menu if you have specific dietary needs. They’re happy to point out all the vegan options, and there are plenty to choose from, including grains, greens, legumes, and a variety of delicious sauces.

I also tried their seasonal watermelon mint juice, which was refreshing and light—a great match for the warm weather and the flavors of the meal.

Overall, Cava is an excellent choice for vegans in Farragut-Knoxville. The combination of fresh ingredients, customizable options, and friendly service makes it a go-to spot for a quick and healthy meal. I’ll definitely be returning to try more of their...

The employee in the picture (girl with short hair and gauged ears) was super rude to me the evening before last- 8.18.25. I paid nearly $3 extra to get avocado added to my bowl. I come here often and I know exactly how much they typically put in. The guy making my bowl only added a tiny amount of avocado and I didn’t notice until I brought my bowl to the table. I returned to ask for more because I was clearly given 1/3rd what they should have given me.

After I was made to just stand there and wait for a while I said they could just hand it to me still in the peel and I could do it myself. I was super kind but this employee (girl pictured) shot back this really cutting remark that honestly shocked me and shamed me in front of all the employees and the people in line. She had such an edge to her voice when she asked if I could just WAIT A MOMENT and she proceeded to just keep doing different things and made me stand there. Then she finally got the avocado and took quite some time to cut it up for me even though I had already said it wasn’t necessary.

And when I finally got it I saw that it wasn’t even slightly ripe. Really almost not edible. Would never have chosen to pay extra for that. They should have said they were out of avocado. She knew it wasn’t ripe. No apology from anyone for not being given the right amount to begin with, being made to wait, being spoken to so rudely, and being given avocado that was...

😬 I'm so disappointed in the to-go meal we got! I'd overheard some friends talking about going there after a yoga class with such enthusiasm that I went into the order expecting to be super impressed. Unfortunately, I should have read the reviews before deciding to order online. Since this was likely to be our first and last visit, I'll never know if ordering in person makes a difference, but I do know what we ordered and what we received was vastly different. My husband's order included a scoop of harissa instead of hummus which he innocently tried, to his dismay, thinking it must have been red pepper hummus (which would have still been wrong, but acceptable-ish), and got a nasty surprise. Plus, the meal was absolutely drowning in dressing to the point that it resembled soup. Mine was equally swimming in dressing with only tzatziki identifiable as an included dip (I'd also asked for crazy feta and roasted eggplant, but they either melted into the dressing soup or were not included). We were further disappointed to see the pitas were placed into the bowls instead of on the side and, after being covered in the contents of the meal and soaked in dressing, they were left unappetizing, as well, to say the least.

The atmosphere of the restaurant looked quite nice, though. Clean, well lit, and laid out in a way that implied what you'll be served there will be top notch. It's too bad the food didn't live up to that...