CAVA | Order Online
reviews and complaints

I have used this app a lot and like CAVA. I have never written a review before, but the app created all types of problems for me today. I made an order and received a confirmation in the app and my credit card was charged. I went to the store and they did not have the order. They were extremely rude and gave me an email address to contact. I strongly suggest that you don’t order using this app as there is no support if there is a problem. I did email them and the auto response did indicate that there is no phone number and that you should contact the store if there is a problem (and of course the store says that they can’t help and they give you an email). Again I like CAVA and have nothing but good things to say about their employees. But I strongly suggest that you don’t use this app and just order in store.

I’ve had this app downloaded for 4 months and have not once been able to successfully use it. For awhile, we’d get all the way to payment and then get an error asking us to try again. We’d do so and then it would tell us to just call the restaurant. Despite changing credit cards out and trying to shut down the app and restart we had this problem persist.

Today I logged on, added my first meal to the bag, selected that I wanted to add another one, and then got stuck on a screen with with only drinks and sides displaying. Despite trying to exit back to the main menu, I’m stuck on a menu selector page with only some of the menu.

This app is so buggy! It is costing your company money as we’ve had to change restaurants on many occasions when we don’t have time to walk in or access to a computer to order via website.

The user experience (UX) is not intuitive. I wanted to custom order a bowl and the UX displays a selection of standard bowls (e.g., Lentil Avocado, Tahini Caesar, etc.) and be titled “salad”. I selected salad and it wasn’t clear what kind of greens were in the bowl. I then picked Greek salad and saw that some of the greens, toppings, etc were circled, indicating they were included. I didn’t want olives, so I touched the circle, thinking it would remove the olives. Guess what, it doubled the olives. I then saw I could delete items at the top of the screen. There are many other issues with UX, too.

Updated comments to reflect v 3.3.0:
You can now delete items from specific bowls. However, I think having to swipe left to right is an awkward UX when compared to something like Chipotle’s. I’ve upped my review to two stars.

Echoing many others, this used to be a great intuitive app. This new version has become so hard to navigate, I have on multiple occasions abandoned my order entirely and ordered elsewhere. The reorder functionality is all but broken and extremely difficult to make even the slightest revisions. You will be deleting duplicate meals routinely, if you're lucky and the app lets you.

Move away from your cart? You'll probably have to start over, the app doesn't have a simple cart feature to return to.

The order functionality was modeled after a lengthy dictionary definition. One very long sentence but instead of words you have to guess what the tiny pictures mean. If you click on one of the icons to see what's in your order, youre likely to make an unintended edit to your order.

I could go on but you get the point. It's a total mess.

I must be in the minority here, but the app works fine for me 95% of the time. I love the app and use it all the time, whether I order on the app or order inside Cava. I like ordering both ways. When I order inside Cava, I use the app to pay so I can still get the reward dollars. If you have a problem with the app, please contact the developers. They respond back very quickly and are polite. One time, the “quinoa” was missing from the app for WEEKS! I contacted the developers and they fixed it right away.

Note: I see that a lot of reviewers complain the the “reorder” function doesn’t work sometime. This is true when your location is OUT of a particular ingredient in your order. Then the reorder won’t function. A simple notification “Reorder cannot process due to unavailable ingredient” may alleviate a lot of users’ frustration. Thank you.

I used to be able to make an order quickly and know what I was ordering. This new update is frustrating. I don’t want to write a story with my order... it used to give info about what was in each option too and now we’ve got no info, no insight into how many choices before it charges extra (until you’ve clicked enough, but knowing how many you get informs the decision). And, the options/images are tiny. We were also unable to figure out how to add our names to each order.

I understand why they would want to ‘streamline’ it like they did, but this took way longer to place our orders with than it should’ve. I’m sure we’ll eventually get used to using this interface, but it’s not an app we want to spend a lot of time using... it doesn’t serve the user any function in making it look nicer, it should be easy, fast, functional, intuitive, and informative.

This was a frustrating and disappointing experience.

This app is insanely bad.

I had to enter my address 3 times and my order 2 times because I had the audacity to press the wrong button at the wrong point in the flow I guess?

One time I just wanted to double check that I had entered my address correctly since they only display address line 1 on the checkout page (so not my apartment number) and I guess that was the wrong move because poof! My address was gone and so was my order! Time to start it all over.

I hate also hate the order UI. I do not find it to be intuitive. It is hard to deselect something, especially if you have selected other items after the one you want to get rid of. I’m not sure how I keep ending up with a lentil avocado bowl in my bad.

I love, love love Cava and will continue to eat their delicious food, but I prefer ordering through the website, or just about any other way, to ordering this this over designed, over engineered and under tested app.

I’ve been using the Cava app since they first came on the scene. Gave them a lot of credit for creating an app that had the user experience in mind. Don’t know why they had to change it to something that’s not as well designed. First, before they would take you through each step of the build a bowl process. Now, you scroll through all the options at once and often have to go back and forth bc the images are smaller and move too quickly. Fixing it at each step is more appropriate so the user knows what to do at each step. Also, the nonsense at the top is hard to read. Lastly, the calorie counts across the app, the online ordering system (which uses the old UX and is grt) and the nutrition calc are all different so if you are counting calories and sticking to a calorie budget good luck w that. I think the issue is the algorithm for the rice. Bottom line, why mess w something that works. And if you want people to trust you, get the algorithms working.

I must say I am very disappointed with the new update. Takes forever to order now :

1. Map is to dark and cumbersome to navigate. I drive in the region often so I need to order from various locations. The map doesn’t show all locations unless you pick a specific city and you cannot search by Zip. The map should just show all locations so I can pick the one I will be closest too when I arrive in that area.

2. Navigating toppings, proteins and even things like “dressing on side” not intuitive and it takes noticing longer than the previous version.

3. Rewards tracking is weak and current level/status level information not even available to see what progress you are making through each level.

4. If selecting Reorder, you cannot update the pick up location. This should be a simple fix.

Please adjust this app. The user experience alone has deterred me a few times now from wanting to order Cava and I have been ordering Cava for over 9 years now.

Thanks for listening.

Cava,

Since the latest redesign, your app hasn’t worked. It does not add my food choices to cart. Just spins and spins and crashes. This has persisted for a couple of weeks.

UX and Design-wise... ugh. You minimized photos of food choices (which were the only easy way to learn what your lettuce mixes contain) in favor of the text above that I don’t think I’ve ever read it. That’s because when I’m ordering, my focus is on the choices I’m making for my food bowl. I don’t need to see each choice reflected in a summary at the same time. That can probably come at the end. I suggest switching the hierarchy of section for building a bowl with the summary. The summary is much less relevant WHILE someone ordering...

I saw a tiny photo of the eggplant spread today. It was green. But I could see why the eggplant spread would be green because. Was it + ? ‍♀️

I love your food, but some poor design decisions were made. Please revisit your choices. It’s no more fun to order Cava bowls.

Usually love Cava, downloaded the app and ordered a bowl with very few customizations. This was my first online order and was looking forward to picking up food before the location closed for the night. Took my meal with my name and label on it, got home, and the bowl is an entirely different order inside. The only like-elements were corn as a filling and yogurt as a sauce; 5/6 fillings, both proteins, and a sauce were different than I ordered and it was apparent a different order was slapped with my name. I paid extra for ingredients I didn’t receive, and this order contained a protein I’m allergic to and cheese that I can’t eat (lactose intolerant). Was so bummed since I couldn’t eat the bowl a& the location had closed, contacted the help/customer support line twice (with attached photos of the order receipt and bowl in same image) and support has never gotten back to me. Such a terrible representation for a company that preaches phenomenal representation. My usual and I now will not be going back.

I know these reviews are intended for the app but there is no other method of reviewing Cava and I have no desire to look further after the time I wasted on them today.
I tried to order online initially. I got as far as the payment after spending 4-5 min entering my order, but the website wouldn’t let me save after I entered my zip code. After nearly 10 minutes putzing around with the website and encountering the same issue, I gave in and downloaded the app. The app was slow but at least took my payment after a delay long enough to make wonder if my order was submitted. By this time, my wait time went from 5 minutes (when I initially tried to place my order) to 20 minutes. I could have (and should have) just driven to the store.
Once I got there, I found the order line moving quickly. People who got there when I did were walking out before I had my order. I waited nearly 10 min after my expected pick up time.
To add salt to the wound, my salad was severely lacking in greens. I was given about 1/2 cup (or less) of salad greens. I’ve been to Cava many times and have never been shorted on my salad... especially not the greens.
It was an all around disappointing experience. Bad form, Cava. Rethinking future patronage as it’s not worth the frustration or hassle.

Yes, it is beautiful, and visually intuitive only FOR THE PROCESS OF CREATING YOUR MEAL/BOWL. But finding your cart/bag? Knowing what to click when you're finished creating or editing a meal (bowl)? No.

Not to mention, the annoying haptic feedback (buzz) not only every time you add an ingredient to your bowl, but also when you even touch the screen to scroll through meal options in the first place, even when something is NOT being added or even "clicked on" to modify-- basically this app buzzes almost no matter what you touch, without regard to whether you're selecting it.

And adding a credit card causes a glitch-- I entered new card info and got an error message that it wasn't valid. I clicked to dismiss the message in order to fix it (the only option), and was kept in a perpetual loop of "loading" dots. Had to close the app and reopen it several times until I figured out the problem with my info. (My last name is hyphenated, the last name on my card is not-- bank removed the hyphen-- but when I entered the "name on card" it wasn't what they were looking for, even though it was the actual name on the card. That isn't Cava's fault per se, but again-- the whole app froze up when there was an error in entering cc info.)

After all that, I finally went to place my order and it told me-- AFTER I had pressed to pay with my new card-- that I had to select a new time for pickup. Of course, because it had been 13 minutes trying to place literally a repeat order!

Ugh. Really want to like this app but it feels so so clunky in practice.

I ordered a salad bowl which I have done previously as well. I am pregnant and suffering from gestational diabetes and take a specific number of carbs in meals to manage the diabetes. The Cava store at Mansfield first did not prepare the order for pickup even after ordering it 30min ahead. When we reached for pickup they started making orders after a long confusion and the bowl did not have the same amount of salad green and an excessive amount of dressing and dips which led to a very high blood sugar level. I expect cava to at least maintain consistency in terms of how much things they are putting in a bowl.

I ordered Cava on August 24 around 12-1 PM through Doordash. I got the wrong order, but that isn't the main issue I wanted to address. In the order I received, I got half roasted veggies and half lamb meatballs. I noticed the lamb was a little pinker than it normally is, but because I've gotten it before, and I assumed it was fine.

For the rest of the day, I felt extremely sick. I had terrible symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, feeling the need to vomit, headache, etc. I left work early on the 24th and called out of work today because I kept wanting to throw up and constantly use the bathroom. Pretty sure I got food poisoning, because I've never had any problems when I eat Cava. Not sure if it was the pink lamb meatballs or if it was something else, but it was definitely not good to serve.

The prior version of this app worked decently and I was able to power through an order, this version doesn’t work at all. When I attempt to order via the web, I keep just getting the loading image (hand with a peace sign). CAVA has great food but dropped the ball with the website and app. I’ve spent 20+ minutes trying to get an order together and continually get the loading sign or a please try again (at least 5+ times).

The app itself is beautifully designed, however, at no point does it let you know the store is closed and you can’t order. It would make sense to have to pick a delivery time at the start so that you can know if they can actually deliver to you. Instead, the app lets you go through the process of ordering and entering your card information to then give an error that says “we’re having some technical issues” which is vague.

Will not allow order without turning on location services making it useless. If you do turn on location services and start adding things the “Add to bag” is out of the way and “Go to checkout” is the default making you have to repeat things multiple times. Small icons make it difficult to tell what item is in your order unless you frequent often. Reorder option will not allow an edit for something small nor to remove items.

Currently waiting for an order that should have been ready half an hour ago, 45 minutes after placing the order. When I ordered, this app told me a 15 minute wait. Soon as i arrived, there were several dozen people waiting with me. Pretty obvious these estimates never made any sense. I genuinely feel terrible for the staff that have to bear the brunt of unhappy customers. The app developers have clearly let them and customers down big time.

This is the third time I’ve scanned my loyalty QR and didn’t get any points. Come to find out after reading the help page/faqs that if your points don’t appear after 24 hours you must email the team with your purchase information but you only have 6 days to do it.
Ummm what’s the point of having this app?
I won’t place orders on it because I’ve read enough reviews to know not to but I WOULD like to at least get my points for the money I am spending at CAVA.

There is a function to reorder, and you’ll see the items in your cart, but there’s no way to modify them or even to check out. I had to go to the website to place my order. Also, the history of orders when I login via the website is different from the history in the app. They mentioned that in the description in the App Store, but that’s still pretty sloppy. I like their food but this ordering experience is awful. They should fire their software development team!

It lets you do the very basics of ordering. However it doesn’t let you do the following:

1- Use your gift card balance in the store. That makes for a bad experience using the app in the store.

2- Ability to make notes about your order to the preparer. For instance, if I want double feta cheese, I have to hit the icon twice…BUT the preparer almost always thinks a mistake and doesn’t do extra.

If they could fix those items, it would provide a much better experience.

So difficult to use. If you lose your time slot, it does not add the persons order and you have to start all over again. If the new time slot gets filled, rinse and repeat. While I eat my lunch, I am reminded of the difficulty to acquire said lunch. It was hard to find an “on the side” option. We don’t order the office lunch from here much anymore because the app is confusing for new users and wastes time for when we could be ordering somewhere else. I am left with a bad taste in my mouth.

Requiring a scan prior to ordering when phones don’t receive cell service inside buildings is an unworkable process. It holds up the line with people attempting to scan without success. Are you that worried about people scanning extra receipts that you cannot allow a loyalty program that can scan receipts when cell service is available? Other restaurants simply limit one scan per day. People cannot use your program for this reason. If nothing else you need to provide free WiFi as a workaround.

I have tried multiple times to set up an account on the app. Loaded, deleted the app, filled out the information only to get to the end of the page with no option to submit. (I even went through the “terms of use” thinking the submit button would be there!) Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but no error message if I am. I use MOD Pizza, Chik-fil-A apps on a regular basis and would love to add Cava as they are all close to my house. I’m giving up for now. Please fix or let me know what I’m doing wrong.

It is awful. Only takes me round and round to view app features. Tells me I am offline (so cannot select a pickup time for my order) yet that’s not true - I AM online.
Finally had patience and perseverance to get an order ready then realized I needed to make a change. Couldn’t go back and order was lost.
New app didn’t save orders from old app. I did play order in ‘new’ app earlier in January - yet that one isn’t available either.
I like the food a lot. I liked the old app. The new app needs some work.

This was an outstanding app... until they decided to update it for no reason.

Version 3.0 is much slower than the prior iteration. It’s buggier and frequently won’t let you complete an order. It forgets your login or hangs trying to log in, hangs finding the nearest location, or hangs reordering a prior order. It’s much harder to navigate with swipe screens. And to top it off, they created an incredibly confusing ordering system where your order is built like a PARAGRAPH OF TEXT AND TINY PICTURES.

I just don’t understand the thinking here.

This new app is unreasonably difficult to navigate, and it’s not due to server issues. Another person compared it to Mad Libs and that’s exactly what this is! I know it pays to be creative, but when it takes away from the app’s purpose it doesn’t make sense.

Instead of listing out the order it’s added in paragraph form with pictures, like a story book. Also, Order History isn’t available so what normally takes a few clicks took much longer . If I’d been pressed for time I would’ve ordered elsewhere.

Please update this to be user-friendly!

Fire the designer that thought it was a good idea to occupy 2/3 of the screen with the location you are ordering from, while presenting order options 2 at a time in a scroll bar at the bottom. Seriously? What imbecile did this? How are they even employed, much less designing apps for a national chain restaurant? Sure, show me where I am ordering from at the top, but ordering options should be the primary use of screen real estate. Oh, and fire the manager that approved this abomination too.

This app used to work well, but with this update it took a major leap backwards.

The CAVA app has been almost unusable for months, if not well over a year. I don’t know how anyone can reliably, successfully complete an order. With the recent update the app launched one single time. Every operation was unbelievably slow (but looked nice I guess) only for it to detect my device as offline. I force quit the app and now it crashes every time I try to open it.

The CAVA app has been this bad for so long, it makes absolutely no sense to me that it has such high ratings. It’s infuriating. It only gets worse. FIX BASIC BUGS BEFORE FOCUSING ON FANCY UX. I’m so frustrated.

Ordered using the app as directed - requested delivery as they offered it and ended up getting my food 20 minutes later from a CAVA farther I didn’t order from with the doordasher (they route for you I guess?) calling me not once, but twice to tell me that my address was wrong, despite having the correct address everywhere I looked. Went to my doordash account to see if it’s logged there so I can’t complain to them. No history or record to check within the app, so I can’t report this anywhere else. Only way to complain is by EMAIL, which in 2022 delivery standards, is absolutely ancient. App needed to add a record of orders and an internal complaint system before launching. Only use pickup and save yourself the headache. Food’s still not here.