CAVA — Restaurant in Vernon Hills

I recently had lunch at CAVA in Vernon Hills, and it was a refreshing and satisfying experience. Located right off Milwaukee Avenue near Hawthorn Mall, the place is easy to find and has a clean, modern vibe the moment you walk in. It definitely lives up to the hype I’d heard from friends and online.

As someone who enjoys Mediterranean flavors, I loved the build-your-own bowl concept. It’s kind of like a Mediterranean Chipotle—but with way more color, flavor, and freshness. I went with a bowl that had saffron rice, grilled chicken, harissa hummus, roasted veggies, cucumber-tomato salad, and the garlic dressing on top. Every bite had a great balance of spice, tang, and freshness. The harissa hummus added just the right kick without being overpowering.

My wife went for a pita stuffed with spicy lamb meatballs, tzatziki, pickled onions, and a ton of greens. She was equally impressed—it was hearty but still felt light and healthy. We also tried their house-made juices—the cucumber-mint lime was incredibly refreshing, especially on a warm afternoon.

The staff was super friendly and helpful, especially since it was our first time and we were trying to navigate all the options. They were patient with our questions and even offered some great topping suggestions.

Only small downside? A couple of the warm toppings like the roasted veggies could have been hotter, but honestly, the overall flavor made up for it.

If you’re looking for a fast-casual place that doesn’t skimp on freshness or flavor, CAVA in Vernon Hills is a great lunch spot. I’ll definitely be back to try different combos—and maybe even finally commit to their spicy...

The food was very good and was fresh. The dining area was clean, as was the ladies bathroom. But the customer service was not good - even a little bit. This was my first time at this restaurant and I probably won't go back again.

I stepped to the cash register, which was close to the entrance door. The set up of food goes from the cash register straight toward the back of the restaurant. There were 3 people behind the counter. I wasn't greeted by any of them.

There weren't any other customers in line so I stepped up to the cash register. I waited a couple of minutes and nobody addressed me. I finally asked them if I'm supposed to start there at the register or from the other end. One person replied that I'm supposed to start at the other end. They could have said that to me when I was just standing there waiting for somebody to take my order.

I walked to the other end and the girl there just looked at me without saying a word. A "hello, what can I get for you?" would have been appropriate. The girl who rang up my order did actually say my total. I scanned my card. She asked me if I needed a bag which I did. She handed it to me and then walked away. No "thank you", or "you're all set, have a good day", or "thanks - the forks are on the counter behind you". Nothing. Not one person was friendly or even smiled. It was not a welcoming experience. There are plenty of other restaurants in the area to...

This location needs to get its act together. I know they've only been open a few months, but I've had problems with my order the two times I've gone (excluding their 'soft opening' free lunch day, which was fine). The first time, they left out the avocado on a Harissa Chicken pita wrap... which calls for an entire half of an avocado--not a trivial amount here, should be hard to miss that. Didn't notice until I got home, didn't bother turning around to get it corrected.

Second time I went and got the same thing, but as a rice bowl. The first spoonful I took was mostly rice, just to taste it since I hadn't tried it. PURE SALT. I don't know what happened, whether someone dumped an entire shaker of salt into the rice when seasoning it or there was some other kind of cross-contamination. Either way, bitter, burned my tongue more than doing a salt lick before a shot of tequila. Took it back and politely asked them to remake it--the staff member who handled it all but rolled her eyes at me when I explained what was wrong.

I don't need chirpy, sing-song, customer-service voice. But come on, something was genuinely wrong with the food. Why are you giving me attitude for it? For $16.50+tax on a single item that was 100% standard off-the-menu (no customizations), just pay your staff properly so they get it right and don't mean-mug the...