Cava Mezze Grill

Don’t go to this location during lunch rush if you are Celiac. While the menu is clear, the options are plentiful, and the staff is knowledgeable, when it gets busy they just shout at you and send you down an assembly line. In other build your own style restaurants (Chipotle etc) one person will take your order down the line to prevent cross contamination. I was lucky to hit the place right after a staff switch, so everyone has fresh gloves but there was no good way to ensure my food was safe. Other Cava experiences in less busy atmosphere make me still want to come back when it is not quite as busy.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Lots of choices - I didn’t feel like I was missing bread. 3 Stars for good food; they lose two for poor staff. This was our first time here and they were not very helpful with what was included with what option (ie, one lettuce? Three? Rice and lentils or just one?) It’s very loud (lots of hard surfaces and sound just bounces) so hard to ask questions and I just decided to order what I wanted and if there were extra charges for two kinds of lettuce, then oh well. I’d eat here again because the food was good.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Really delicious gf food and the menu is reply clear on what is gf. As to cross-contamination, a couple of hours after the meal and no sign of a reaction.

Great options, almost everything is with the exception of a few items and they know their stuff

Cross contamination

Delish and great service - the menu easily told me what was GF

Incredible at avoiding cross contamination. There’s pretty minimal gluten in their restaurant at all and even with that they are very careful. Changed gloves and washed their hands without me even asking and packaged my food separately from my family. Could not say enough good things I’ve gotten this many times and not once gotten sick! I have only ordered in person so I cannot speak to how online orders are done!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Love CAVA and other locations are great, but this location is notoriously bad about cross contact. They don’t wash hands when changing gloves, they don’t clean prep space, and they use gloved hands that just touched pita to grab salad instead of using tongs.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegan options
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating

Not safe. The salads are served with gloves that handle wheat. The spreads/dips have knives in them that are used to spread on pita. I ask the server to change gloves and serve me from a fresh bag of lettuce. I no longer get the dips (eg hummus) due to the cross-contamination. Despite these precautions, my dishes have tested positive for gluten (Nima sensor) on my last 3 visits. I give up.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

Informed the employee of a “severe gluten allergy” and asked him to change gloves and he took care of my whole order down the line. Cava’s allergen labeling on their website is very helpful to look at what’s gluten (and dairy) free. Delicious, fast, and reasonably priced meal. I’ll go back again but only order in person to watch that there is no blatant cross contamination

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Offers delivery
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating

Was told they do not offer gluten free options

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None