CAVA — Restaurant in San Antonio

(Updated post 23 Mar 2025) A year ago I left a 2-star review for this CAVA location due to the okay food, so-so service, and total mess of a restaurant. Since then, we've been to two other CAVA locations (Basse Rd and Hwy 281 N). Both are better than this location. During our original visit we thought that maybe we caught them on a bad day, so we decided to try it again for lunch as a group of 4. The service was a little better, and the food overall was very good, but once again the restaurant dining area, bathrooms, and general environment were a total mess.

We were some of the first ones in for the main Sunday lunch rush, arriving before 12:30 pm. Most of the seating was available at that time, but no one was bussing the dining room prior to our arrival or during our entire time there, other than to remove the washable dishes from the bins by the trashcans. Tables, chairs, floors were trashed from previous (granted, irresponsible) customers who made messes and no one came around to wipe the tables down between customers, despite the sign on the wall that said the dining area was regularly sanitized during open hours. The floor throughout the entire place was one sticky mess that your shoes stuck to as you walked. The bathrooms had not been properly serviced in who knows how long, but they were gross. In our daughter's words, "I need to take a shower after that." There was splatter from drinks or whatever all around the drink and plasticware station--clearly that area had not been properly cleaned in a very long time.

Not sure what is going on with the hygiene of this CAVA location, but we'll lay that directly at the feet of management. You can't just produce a good product and forget about the rest of the operation where your customers are eating and washing up. For us, this is unfortunately the last time we'll eat at this location. From now on, if we go to CAVA, we'll go to the other locations that are consistently clean, friendly, and provide a great product. Highly recommend that corporate take a look at this location, unannounced, during prime rush hour time periods to assess the entire operation.

(Original post a year ago) Well, this was a fairly disappointing first visit to this location. My wife and daughters had been to another new location and found it to be clean and very good. We ate dinner there yesterday (Sunday). In general, the food was good. Not exceptional or standout, but not bad. Fairly expensive for the amount you get, though. The staff was okay friendly. Not overly welcoming, but not unfriendly.

The state of the restaurant itself was a mess, though. Overall, the place looked dirty, there were a ton of stacked dishes that needed to be bussed from the collection station, there was trash on the floor, tables had trash on them or had not been fully cleaned, etc. Some of the soda fountain offerings were out of order. The ice tea deposited a ton of tea leaves into our cups when we got some. There was tons of trash all over the area outside the restaurant where customers park and you walk into the restaurant. It was absolutely frigid inside (we ate outside for that reason). And the table setup inside almost looks like an afterthought, with a random spread, not inviting at all--just very cold.

I know hiring help--especially bussers--most likely continues to be challenge for so many restaurants, but there was a fair amount of staff on hand. This is a management issue, and if there was one on duty he/she was not evident. If other Cavas are like this and the food is not exceptional it will not last as a chain. Zoe's as light years better on all fronts, especially the cleanliness and entree offerings. We might give this location one more shot down the road, but so far between this one and our favorite Zoe's being converted to a Cava Digital Kitchen pickup only location, the new chain is taking steps backward, not forward. Disappointing...

Hello, to whom this may concern thank you for your time and reading my complaint. Today I place an order with this location through Uber. I did not receive the following items Full portion of the Gains. The portion size was a little less than what is normal (at this location) with all selections and this is not the first time I’ve dealt with this. I was missing the half mains of the roasted veggies, missing the side dressings a order of pita chips and order of extra roasted white potatoes. On my half main I did receive half of my chicken, but the roasted vegetables there was only burnt leaves from the brussels sprouts. There is no other veggies that is normally in it when you add that option. I called the manager today as soon as I received, my order, his name is Richard sounds nice but he told me sorry and that he will talk to his team. He did state that they always go over portion sizes and weigh everything out. I paid well over $30 for this order including the delivery tax and tip. This is getting ridiculous and I’m just sick of paying for something I don’t get also sick of companies get away with this. Still not be happy. There is no integrity other than I’m sorry I will talk to my team. I’m not one to like to complain but this is my third time with issues and the first time I had called to report to Cava at this location. I don’t have any issues at other locations but this one. On a different note, I don’t have many options in choices of food due to a major food allergy. I spend a lot of money at Cava because of taste, quality and integrity. If you’re looking for good portion, quality, and integrity go to 281 location off Stone Ridge 281...

I've seen Cava a few times while visiting the shopping plaza. It's a made to order Mediterranean restaurant primarily focusing on grains, salads, and pitas. You start with a base (grains, rice, salad, pita), add spreads (hummus, tzatziki, eggplant), add protein (chicken, falafel, lamb), add toppings (onions, cucumbers, corn avocado, etc...), finish with a dressing (tahini, vinaigrette, dill, etc...).

Came with a party and everyone picked either a salad bowl or grain bowl. There's bowls and pitas that are already designed if you don't want to go fully customized. I opted for the Lentil Avocado bowl with a few customizations. Others started off with a base of either the RightRice or Saffron Rice. I was impressed with the RightRice as it's a mix of lentils, chickpeas, peas, and a small amount of rice flour, but the consistency and flavor tastes just like rice. On all the bowls, there was a very generous amount of ingredients. The greens and all the other toppings were very fresh. All the meats looked great. Like most places, you pay a little more for additional ingredients. For the drinks, there's fountain drinks and teas around the side, so don't think the canned drinks by the register are the only options.

This was great customizable Mediterranean food that was healthy at the same time. Both the salad and grain bowls tasted great, so I'll have to try the...