Toni, was amazing! It was my daughters first time and even though my daughters took a while in deciding what they wanted inside their bowls, Toni was so patient and she also suggested items which helped my daughters decide what they wanted on their bowls. Thank you Toni because of you we will be back! Also, Cava I believe in tipping and I would have loved to give a tip to Toni for her amazing customer service but unfortunately there was no tipping jar. Definitely recommend it. read more

Hi Cava , I visited your Santa Monica location this evening around 8pm . I was accompanied by my boyfriend whom witness with me the disgusting behavior the employees had . The African American girl had no hair net or hat and this location food already has much to desire you end up finding hair or raw food you can't get luckier then that . The woman had her behind on the counter where their rice is being made . The tall man and guy with dreads were stalling , laughing and mumbling things to each other and the girl sat on the counter using her phone. The worse is she stuck her phone behind her buttcrack and proceeded to come take our order disgusting without washing her hands. This is so unsanitary this place couldn't get more disgusting the spicy lamb was not well cooked and my boyfriend's chicken was pink and slobby . Definitely will be driving to another Cava or replace these workers ! Restrooms were disgusting as well toilet paper traces all over the lobby . read more

CAVA has the best food and the best vibe. Everything on the menu is uniquely delicious. You can taste the freshness and love in every bite. The staff is genuinely friendly. Everything about this place feels inspired, uplifting, and vibrant. I highly recommend!! read more

Today I was serviced by Jasmine at the Santa Monica Location, she went ABOVE AND BEYOND and i simply cannot express my gratitude with how she assisted us. We only had brought cash without knowing cash was not accepted. So she allowed us to eat our food by using her money to pay for our meal. Ive never experienced such a charitable act in my life. This employee really deserves the acknowledgment of an incredible employee. I hope her act of kindness is repaid 10 fold for what she did for us. Again, her name was jasmine and i will forever be grateful for her service. Definitely salary raise worthy!!!! read more

Yumm, i still like going to Cava. Mediterranean food that you can customize to be as healthy or unhealthy as you want. Not a place for a picky eater but if you like Mediterranean flavors, youll love this. I highly recommend splitting a bowl because they are pretty big. Already the price is fair but split it and its even better! Quick bite to eat without the fast food feeling. I think i usually spend about 9-12 here. Also its downtown and not far from the beach so thats really nice. You should try it! read more

The salad is really worth the money, it's very nutritious. The chicken tastes amazing and the tzatziki sauce is the bomb. I got it with pita. The only reason why I gave it 4 starts, not 5, is because the pita bread looks smaller than the one pictured on Yelp. read more

This place is ok. The pluses are the copious vegetable and meat options. The comparisons to Chipotle are fairly apt. Honestly I think it's better to describe it as a far better execution of Shop House. So why am I ambivalent about this place? I think there's just better Mediterranean to be found two blocks in any direction. The overall flavors are good but lack either punch or balance. A generous tablespoon of Harissa is a poor house mate to a messily tablespoon of Hummus. The dressings are just ok. Probably the biggest disappointment we're the Falafel. They're similar in concept to the veggie balls at IKEA. Tasty, but just not what you really expect when you ask for Falafel. Next up was the kind of mushy under-proofed French bread they call Pita. It's better than the limp leathery "pita" other places nearby provide (which, as an aside, when catered at work is willingly consumed by no one) but not as good as Hummus Bar, Panini Caffe, etc. Anywho, you can do worse in Santa Monica, you can do a lot better. If the line is short and you want an uninspiring but healthy meal, give this place a go. read more

A roll-your-own Mediterranean food place with fresh ingredients, lots of choices, and some unique sodas as well. Two complaints: the "large pita" wasn't all that large and once filled with falafel and toppings still ended up being mostly bread. I would have preferred something larger in diameter and thinner so same amount of bread but more room for filling. More like a lavash-type thing. Second complaint: the servers seemed a bit disorganized. Maybe because this place looks like it just opened recently. There were no pitas ready to go, they ran out of falafel and had to make more while I waited, and the servers were basically bumping into each other constantly so the line at one point got quite backed up. read more

Is it just me or does the chicken get saltier and saltier each time? I ordered online for the first time and it took longer than it would have had i ordered in person. I think its relatively healthy food for 10 bux and ita so filling. They just really need to go easy on the salt in all of their sauces, dressings and even the cucumber lemon piece of it. read more

This place is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! It's like a Chipotle but for Mediterranean food, and I can honestly not say enough good things about it. This is my new go-to lunch spot. There are so many options to add to your bowl or pita and they are all so delicious, not to mention healthy(ish). The portions are just right for the price, I was full and satisfied. There is a nice seating area that is very welcoming and clean. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Rebecca and Eddie made my day! Thank you for great service, little things make a big difference.

Ok so I think maybe they offer too many options because my bowl didn't end up being well balanced so next time, I'll have to be more thoughtful about what items I put together All in all most items are great but unfortunately they use brown meat chicken (yuck) instead of breast meat (I"m a chicken racist as it would appear) and the spice is seriously heartburn inducing (and tastes weird honestly). Normally I would try the falafel but it looked overcooked so I opted for the chicken so bad choice. Thats said, hummus, rice, carrots and many of the other items are really tasty and delicious. read more

Excellent little coffee shop. The prices are a little extravagant, but the quality is there. I had a chai latte, and I must say that it was among the best I've ever had. It was topped with cinnamon and had something else mixed in with the milk and chai (tasted a little like turmeric), and the most perfect consistency of steamed milk foam I've had. I will warn, the chai tasted a little on the weaker side, though I didn't mind. Needed a warm drink on a cold day, AND: there is a restroom in back with outlets. A pretty quiet little place on the day that we went, but quite nice! read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We were greeted by Noah and his customer service was fantastic. Especially these days, good people make a dining experience that much more enjoyable. read more

Cava's menu is tastefully crafted and everything I tried was flavorful. The staff is very friendly and even offered me a free drink (and more!) as they were launching their summer flavors. I will definitely come back. More people should know about this place that makes up for its off-3rd-street location by having great food. read more

The food is always great but the gentleman with the glasses is beyond rude and unpleasant every time we go in (2-3 nights a week). It's like we hit the jackpot when we go in on his days off, everybody else is so lovely and happy to be there. read more

First time here. Was very excited to try it. Every step to the cashier got me more excited and happier until they pour load of dressing on the whole thing! I was like please stop it's enough but she kept going!! That ruined it all for me! The staff should start with a moderate amount of dressing and if someone asks for more then add more! There is no way to undo all that dressing on my bowl! Lesson learned! Next time I'll ask for a little dressing on the side. read more

First off, Rebecca provides 5 star service and walked me through the entire menu and how everything works. She explained all the ingredients and made some really good recommendations. The food is amazing and it's not too busy so seating is available for your entire group. Check them out! read more

CAVA - Chicken and falafel bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Awesome food. Great service, they told me my meal was card only. I didn't have a card, left and came back with a card. The worker told me my meal was free, because I waited and came back, awesome service and the food regardless of location is consistent, healthy and most of all delicious. read more

I have ordered from this Cava a multiple times and it's always a disappointment. My order is always missing toppings and sometimes the protein I paid extra for. They never add the pita and the ingredients don't really seem that fresh as sometimes tastes.....off. Such a disappointment especially having visited the Cava's in DC which are amazing and rarely mess an order up. read more

Usually I love this place but today was definitely a bad day for them. Not only was my order not ready when I got there, but the dressing wasn't packaged properly so it spilled all over the bag on my walk back to the office and the bowl wasn't even full when I got back to my office. Totally disappointed and ruined my lunch today. read more

CAVA - This is what it looked like when I opened it - definitely not a full bowl! - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

It's like Chipotle (minus the E. coli) but for Mediterranean food. I loved it! We stumbled on this gem when we were looking for something quick and healthy and we're BLOWN away. We couldn't believe it was so delicious and inexpensive!! We'll be back. read more

Great food and not expensive. Brian the server was super nice. I'll be back for sure :-)

This place is great if you want something healthy that's unique. You can ask for either a grain or salad bowl and they add on toppings similar to how chipolte works. They have all sorts of yummy hummus, feta and veggie options to put on top of the bowl. You can mix and match different options and they are pretty generous with the serving portions...the bowl is so big it's almost good for two meals! I really like the lamb proteins and the beef meatballs area also pretty tasty- you can even ask for 50/50 which is pretty cool. My only complaint is that some of the toppings and dressings seem pretty salty ...maybe they can have a low salt dressing option? Also, they never ask if I want pita bread on the side....I think that's an option but you will have to ask as they usually forget. read more

Delicious, healthy option for a quick lunch or dinner! The hubs and I tried Cava for lunch today and were really happy and full bellied after our meal :) The portions are generous and the food is really fresh and tasty. We both chose chicken as our protein (we also tried the lamb meatballs which were delicious!), and did the grain and greens (super salad and lentils) bowl. My favorite dips were the tzatziki, eggplant and red pepper, and harissa. I also loved how they let you choose unlimited toppings to top off your bowl. And all for around $10...definitely a great deal! read more

Healthy delicious bowls on a budget! Cava is my ultimate favorite in Westwood. The food here tastes great. You can make your own bowls and pitas so there's very little room for going wrong. Their ingredients are amazing and very fresh. I personally recommend the bowls over the pitas here! The ambience is great too. It's a causal place with nice light interiors. There is enough seating inside and some outside as well! The average amount you'll spend here is about $9 which is so worth the big portion of food you're going to eat here! read more

Love this place! Get all your veggies first (kale, mixed greens, spinach) and pile everything else on top!

horrible service, worker was giving attitude while serving the costumer. we asked some questions because it was our first time here and the employees where bothered by that. We also asked for some toppings and the names he didn't even bother explaining he just said "toppings are there" . Definitely not coming here again , there where very rue. read more

If i could leave 0 stars i would. I found an insect in my plate! Did not notice it until I took a few bites, therefore when I saw the 4legged bug I was mortified almost puked. After spending $14 for a meal, the last thing you expect is an insect inside your food! Stay away from this place! The way the staff treats you is another turn off. They never acknowledged the problem or gave me an apologetic answer, they offered to make me another salad! I immediately said no and asked for my money back. It was a huge cricket by the way. The grossest thing I have ever experienced. Please do your wallet and your stomach a favor and stay away. read more

Ugh SO GOOD. It's like a better version of Chipotle-style-served-food for Mediterranean food lovers, and it's only 2 blocks away from the beach. Plus healthy fruit drinks to top it off... why yes I will help myself to huge, healthy and hearty bowl with all the things I love and eat it while basking in the LA sun just steps away from the ocean... read more

CAVA - Some drink options - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

O-M-G!!! *Insert heart eyes emoji* I work directly across the street, and I've never been to a CAVA before, so naturally when this place opened, my lazy, Mediterranean-loving butt walked over the first chance I had. I'm not gonna lie, I'm eating my bowl now, actually. Anyway, the food is EXCELLENT! I really do love Mediterranean and pay $20 to get Crimson delivered to me, but today I paid $10.50 (a freakin' steal in Santa Monica) to have even tastier and more food! Seriously, that's a robbery in SM. I love this place, BUT - and the only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 - my only gripe is that they are soooo sloooowwwww. I understand growing pains, so hopefully they will work on this and I will happily come back and write many more 5-star reviews! So happy to have CAVA in my back... or I guess front... yard! read more

I enjoy the food here, but on my last visit the portions were a lot smaller than usual. They should try to do a better job of keeping the portions consistent. read more

CAVA is a godsend! I'm so happy they opened one right by my office in Santa Monica. This place gets pretty packed during the lunch rush so I usually use their app to order for pick up to skip the line. You also get rewards as you spend more. As the other reviews have mentioned, this is a Chipotle-styled Greek/Mediterranean restaurant. You create your own bowl/salad/pita with your choice of base, sauces/dips, protein, dressing and UNLIMITED TOPPINGS! I usually do a greens and grains bowl with all the toppings. The red harrissa and tzaziki are my fave dips. Not a big fan of their lamb meatballs but their chicken is nicely seasoned and yummy. You also get a small side pita on the side. Their portions are pretty hefty so one bowl usually lasts me two meals. No complaints here! Definitely will be a regular for lunch! read more

Oh my gosh everything here is bomb! All the meats are good. Although it's like a chipotle style wrap build, it's all tasty. The prices are reasonable as well. A nice unique option if you're nearby and hungry! read more

Quickly becoming my favorite place for Mediterranean food! Think Chipotle, but with decent protein and better toppings! Salads, pitas, and unique mix n match lemonades. Tiny location on 2nd street, but never crowded. Perfect for hearty lunch to grab and take the 4 minute walk to the sand and sea. read more

CAVA - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Very friendly staff, efficient lines and all around great food. Some items are a bit on the salty side for me and some of the textures are a bit too similar but overall I have yet to go wrong with a custom bowl here. Way better experience at this new Santa Monica location than I have experienced at the other LA locations. Highly recommend CAVA for a quick lunch and/or dinner. The supergreens base is always my go-to and very hearty, filling and healthy. The chicken is usually my default protein as it is almost always cooked great with little fat. I love the eggplant dip and for the toppings I always load up on the tomatoes, which are just killer. In the evenings the seasonal radish toppings are usually gone but just goes to show how good they are. Looking forward to the Summer menu! Also, the CAVA app is fantastic. read more

Slow service, eta's for pickup are generally wrong by 15 minutes. Anything to go order sauce on the side unless you like a messy meal. Some good service, depending on the cashier. read more

Harold and jonathan and alice were so nice I got here with 4 mins left before closing and they did not make me feel rushed at all. I was starving and they were so nice and respectful and explained all the options. The food is so fresh and they cooked me fresh falafel as well. Great place for vegetarians very good customer service highly recommend this place and I definitely will be back and bring all my friends. I wish i could give ten stars! read more

Food was pretty good and well priced for the area. What made it 5 stars for me was the excellent service. It was our first time trying this build your own (Mediterranean) bowl and the person helping us was very friendly, helpful, patient, etc. Attitudes were great, everyone was pleasant. But yes, definitely check it out. Excellent options with flexibility - you can choose half and half (greens and/or grains as well as protein and/or vegetables). And they're generous with the protein. Great topping options as well. So a generous portion of a fairly healthy meal for $10, how can you say no to that? read more

The food is really delicious! Very fresh ingredients and interesting combinations! The personal is friendly too! The only thing that could be better is the ambiance of the location. read more