CAVA — Restaurant in Wake Forest

I just had the most bizarre experience at your wake forest location. When I first walked in, a male employee was standing there behind the counter, slowly putting on his gloves. There was no greeting, no “hello,” no “how are you,” or “how can I help you?”This went on for what felt like 30 seconds, maybe more.

Then, I ordered a harissa chicken+avocado and sat down to eat, only to find that the lentils were severely undercooked or maybe they were hard from sitting out. I’m not sure why, but they weren’t fit to eat. I brought my bowl to the counter to inform an employee, and the encounter was just as strange. I told her the lentils were undercooked, and she responded by saying they were about to cook more. There was no apology, no communication about whether I’d like a refund or another bowl once the new batch of lentils was ready—just a blank, indifferent stare. I didn’t know if she thought I just came up to the counter with my bowl to offer her constructive criticism and that she expected me to take my bowl back to my table and continue eating it, but that’s what it seemed like.

It was getting awkward, so I asked, “Can I get another bowl when they’re ready?” Honestly, I’m not even sure if she replied or acknowledged my request at all. I ended up throwing away the bowl with the undercooked lentils, sitting back down, and I’m still here waiting—without any idea of how long it will take for the lentils to be done. I wasn’t given a time estimate or any further information.

At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m forced to pay for the replacement. The entire experience made me feel like I was the problem, like I was an inconvenience to them, and that they resented me for it. The cold blank stare, no solutions offered. You’d think I fed them undercooked food by their demeanor… I’m still here about 30 mins later, no one has approached me, a manager, no one. No one has told me that the lentils are done and I’m not even sure they will at this point. It’s super awkward… I live across the street, come here 1-2 times a week and honestly, I’m not sure if I even feel welcome here anymore. This has left such a horrible taste in my mouth. No pun intended.

Update: 4:20PM, I got another bowl… and the lentils are still undercooked. I don’t even care anymore. I’m going to start...

I really hate doing this, but I have already expressed my concerns with the manager on duty, more than once now.

I mean this is the most positive and constructive way possible, this store is always a really bad experience and waste of hard earned money.

The drinks are always empty, or mixed to the wrong flavor, and can't be trusted. It kills the dining experience.

Sometimes the portions of anything other than chicken cannot be more than 3oz, one night I paid $4 extra on top of the $11 base price for lamb, and left starving.

Another visit there was a smoke or fire in the kitchen and they had all the doors open in the heat. We had to sit there and eat in a smoke filled heat chamber in august, and the drinks weren't available to cool off.

The final straw was I got a piece of plastic or severely hardened olive pit in my olives, we told the manager, they took forever to re make my bowl, but she did eventually apologize and offer a gift card.

We agree to give a second (or fifth chance) and come back, but when we did the new staff gave us an attitude for using the gift card, and then, our chicken was cold and undercooked.

So we had to ask them to re make the bowls of undercooked chicken that we paid for with a gift card from me choking on an olive plastic piece originally, and get this. After waiting for them to recook a new batch of chicken it was still undercooked. We sat there eating cold rubbery chicken hoping we didn't get ill. It reaches a point where it's not worth making a scene during the dinner rush, but this must be corrected.

Again I hate to bash a new business, but we have been there at-least 10-15 times now and we have issues every visit. Either no drinks, no napkins, portions are pathetic, food is undercooked, plastic in the olives, nowhere to sit, tables are dirty or the smoke is filled in the room with no A/C.

This store needs some help. For $15 a head, the quality needs to be better than this. Right now we drive to the other location because this one can't be trusted so spend $30-40 on...

First one star review I’ve ever had to write and I’d never thought it’d be for Cava buuuut… Who ever was running the show this evening (3/1/24) is slacking and letting their team drag. I order in the app, show up at my time with my meal not being ready. No issue I get it but after waiting ten minutes I go to the counter (no new customers since I arrived) and ask about the order as one employee straight up ignores me. After telling me the order will be “checked on” I was never communicated with for the entire time I’m waiting there. I watched the dude making app orders (SSSLLOOOWWWLLLYYY) make three orders after being told I’m waiting on mine. Eventually he walks my order past me to the shelves for me to figure out if it was mine or not as the receipt was not on the bag like the others. To no surprise by now I find my order is wrong. I stood in line to address this but was blatantly ignored some more leaving me to realize if it wasn’t done properly after all this they’re simply not competent. In the whole time only one other patron goes through the line. I get it, it’s just another faceless order coming down the line but to me I spend money and more so time (as I placed this order with my time planned out) on one of two chances I get to eat today just for it to still be unrecognizable to what I ordered. Bad optics on Cava and that...