CAVA — Restaurant in Virginia

One would think that an upscale CAVA experience would be amazing...but it very much wasn't.

For a fast casual chain that prides itself on super flavorful, relatively guilt-free food, the strange changes to the menu and lack of flavor/seasoning at CAVA Table was genuinely surprising.

I started with the lamb chili, since it's something new I've never seen at the regular CAVA and it sounded interesting. Upon cracking open the to-go container that it was served in (strange since we dined in), I was greeted by a thin, watery, flavorless chili that had a literal puddle of grease on top. The first half inch of chili was just grease. The chili, itself, tasted mostly of tomato. It should have been called tomato lamb soup since it lacked the flavor, robustness, and spiciness one would expect from chili.

The proteins in both of the bowls and plates that we ordered (salmon and chicken kabob) were downright bland and flavorless. It was as if they hadn't been seasoned at all. Basic salt and pepper were lacking, as well as any of the signature seasoning and flavors we've come to expect from CAVA's food. The roasted vegetables served with my wife's "curated plate" were also unseasoned and flavorless.

Also, many of the topping options that guests are used to at CAVA aren't available at CAVA Table despite them still allowing you to "build your own bowl." And not being able to see it get made robs the guest of being able to ask for more of one item, or less of another.

The result was a bowl with a completely incorrect proportion of ingredients, bland chicken, giant pieces of lettuce everywhere and absolutely zero flavor.

Since you order at a register, the food is brought out to you, and nobody is there to check to see if everything is acceptable, there's nobody to ask for assistance or for anything you might need...like additional dressing or seasoning.

Ultimately, we spent $35 to pick at tasteless food while looking around for someone that could maybe help us make it somewhat palatable. We never found them...so we tossed much of it out - uneaten - and swore to only eat at regular CAVA restaurants...

First and last time at this location in Woodbridge, I love the Fredericksburg location. The young lady that made my two bowls talked over the bowls the entire time she made them, holding the bowl higher than chest level to read the ticket and still talking over the food. She wore no gloves which didn’t bother me because she washed her hand when she started. However, while talking she scratched her head and then proceeded to dig her fingers into the container that had the chick peas to find the spoon to scoop the chick peas with; this is when I asked if that was my bowl and when they said yes I asked for it to be remade. I was asked why it needed to be remade and I explained to them everything I wrote about, the young lady put gloves on and remade my food minus the chick peas because I told them I didn’t want them since they hadn’t thrown that container out. I thought this was the worst of it until I got home and realized my remade bowl was missing my extra meat I paid for and my sons bowl had a dressing on it that wasn’t suppose to be there. I would have called instead of a review but they are already closed for the night and honestly a review was needed with some many things wrong. Love cava but I definitely won’t give this location...

As someone who was a big fan of the CAVA Grills in Tysons, I was obviously a little surprised when I went in to find a different menu (which made sense after realized that it's called CAVA Table), but my husband and I loved it anyways and were actually quite impressed with all the new, unique options! We still ordered our own customized bowls, but also got soups and milkshakes. Everything was fresh and delicious, the staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere was amazing. It made me feel like I was in the PNW or LA with its decor and vegan-friendly, dairy-free options, but without the ridiculous prices. I don't think it's fair that so many people are leaving bad reviews just because it's not what they expected, as if that is a legitimate way to review a restaurant with a different name and style of serving. We'll definitely be back and might actually start missing the extra options that are available here when we go to the...