CAVA

Reviews

• AF

  Amy Fulwiler

  Feb 22, 2026
  1.0
  My husband and I tried this for the first time today (roughly 10 minutes ago to be exact) and we will not be back. I made my own grains bowl and was the “lucky” guest who got the end of the containers. My rice was so hard I’m amazed I didn’t break a tooth. I got MAYBE 1/8 of a spoonful of the broccoli, she literally scraped it around the empty metal container - didn’t offer to have me wait or say it was gone and literally shook the spoon to get it off onto my bowl. My chicken was HARD and almost unchewable. I will say the only good thing about it was the garlic dressing on the pita. My husband got a steak bowl and ate 2 bites and asked me if I was ready to leave. Which is shocking because he normally eats what he pays for and he simply said “this is a never again, let’s go get something else…” I hope everyone else has a better experience because I wanted to like this place.
• JZ

  Jaxon Zangwill

  Feb 21, 2026
  1.0
  We walked into the store around 6:20pm on a Saturday and were immediately hit with an unpleasant smell. There was overflowing garbage near the entrance, which likely explained it, but we assumed they were just busy and stayed. Although there were only about seven people in line and four employees working, service was very slow. We also noticed poor food handling practices. The staff were touching equipment and then the inside of bowls and pitas with the same gloves. One employee spilled rice, pushed it onto the floor with their hands, and continued serving without properly cleaning. The food didn’t look fresh or well-maintained. Many containers were nearly empty, the counter was messy, hot food looked cold, and cold food looked warm. Sauce containers were scraped nearly empty despite full bottles visible in the fridge behind them. Protein options were mostly out, and what was available didn’t look fresh. By 6:45pm, between the cleanliness concerns and limited food availability, we decided to leave. It was disappointing to see the store so dirty and understocked so early in the dinner rush.
• ML

  Michelle Lepp

  Feb 21, 2026
  2.0
  I give Viv 5/5 for comping my chicken n rice bowl and being pleasant and professional after seeing how long we waited. Initial Server looked disinterested, 3 of 8 trays of food were empty, person in front of me waiting on honey chicken to be cooked. FULL trash with empty trays n bowls stacked up. Turns out not charging me was the right move…got to the table and realized the CHICKEN was NOT in the bowl. We will stick with Wilmington, it’s topnotch all the way. Too bad Jacksonville .
• AW

  Amanda Wilson

  Feb 16, 2026
  3.0
  It was my first time ever coming to a Cava so I knew nothing. The first employee helped me with no problem but each person my bowl got passed to I’d tell them I don’t know what I want because I’ve never been here and instead of telling me I was directed to look at the list and in my opinion I feel like it should of been explained rather than hold up the line and make me read every ingredient. Then when I go to pay instead of the of $11.35 build your bowl price (plus tax of course) it came out to almost $17 and I said why is it so high? She said you got steak and chicken, I said yes, and she steak is more; that’s something that needs to be on the menu or told to a customer who may or may not be on a budget. Food was great but customer service sucked!
• DM

  Derek Mickler

  Feb 15, 2026
  5.0
  CAVA in Jacksonville, NC is one of those places that just gets it right every time. From the moment you walk in, the place feels clean, bright, and organized. The team behind the counter is welcoming and efficient without rushing you. They’re patient while you build your bowl and actually seem to care that it turns out the way you want it. The food is consistently fresh. The greens are crisp, the rice is cooked right, and the proteins are flavorful without being heavy. The toppings are well stocked and vibrant. Everything tastes clean and balanced. You can tell the ingredients aren’t just sitting around. Portions are generous, and the value is solid for what you’re getting. It’s quick enough for lunch but good enough that it doesn’t feel like fast food. I appreciate being able to get something filling that still feels healthy. This location stands out because of the staff and consistency. I’ve been multiple times and it’s been the same experience each visit. Definitely one of the better spots in Jacksonville for a reliable, quality meal.