CAVA — Restaurant in Merriam

Edit: I have tried this place another dozen times trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and 75% of the time they mess up my order and forget something in the order. The hard rice issue and skimping portions never resolved. If I order a rice bowl with lettuce the bowl ends up being all lettuce and a few tablespoons of rice. The bowls keep coming 1/2-2/3 full. For 16$ completely unacceptable.

I wanted to love this place after all the hype I heard but it was a let down. The food is good. It’s not monumentally good though. I like the idea of a fast casual healthy place. I’d probably go here if I was out and about and needed an alternative to fried food. The drinks were really good and I applaud the effort to use real fruit agua frescas. But the place fell so short.

I came in about a week ago close to close and it seems the staff had had enough that day. I get it, but no one was there, I was perfectly polite and they still had a ‘tude like it was too hard to throw food in a bowl. My bowl was prepared as an afterthought with the bare minimum like “fine you want pickled onions— here’s 3 onions like I give a poop.”

They lost me with gummy half cooked, boring rice that doesn’t taste like saffron rice whatsoever. Portions were so small it’s sad, and 19$ for a bowl and drink left me in sticker shock. Def not a good alternative to chipotle which is half that price. I can go to a handful of middle eastern restaurants in town for less $, better food, twice the portions and support local if I really want lamb meatballs or a bowl. Or I can make it at my...

I walked in this place thinking they have KAVA tea 😂 they do not. However when I saw the food I was like wow this looks really good! The employee talked me into trying a kids meal (which was expensive price range for a kids meal but honestly quality is 100% worth the price; like $10.50, so $11 with tax). I went with braised lamb and veggie pita with white saffron rice and pita chips. I eat lamb regularly and I am very picky about it. This place had better lamb than most sit down restaurants!! Glad he talked me into trying their food. I wasn’t hungry but I devoured the kids meal! Seriously so good and they are close to home. They also have a pickup window (for pickups only, not drive thru). I will 100% be back!!! I had heard of Cava as a better version or chipotle, but honestly chipotle is trash to me, I would not put them in the same category. This is like a high end, healthy, middle eastern/Mediterranean cuisine. Lots of people were dining in and it seemed like an intimate atmosphere. The smells outside were amazing (and I had no idea they were coming from there 😅). Great for when you want something healthy and filling but don’t want to cook. And I love that they let adults eat the kids meal. I have a big appetite and kids meal was a great...

The store staff are extremely disorganized, there is a lack of communication amongst team members, they all move extremely slow. They were backed up 5 orders and not sure who was managing but there was no manager on the floor keeping the flow going. There was a line nearly out the door because they're not able to move in what is a fast paced environment, Causing customers to suffer and I'm sure sales to dwindle, as people started walking out. My friends order had lettuce literally floating in multiple dressings and I'm actually going all the way back across town to return it and get my money back. I feel the store is in serious need of a corporate visit so that someone can show these poor people how to actually do their jobs effectively and service the customer. I have never had what I can only describe as a terrible disorganized experience in one of these stores I would recommend people do not go to...