California Pizza Kitchen

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Watch your pie bake in a wood-fired oven at this national chain with global culinary influences.. In Short
Founded in Beverly Hills in 1985, these eateries with the trademark yellow, black and white color scheme have spread nationwide. The decor consists of simple wood and glass with roomy black leather booths. The thin-crust pizzas come with innovative toppings from Asia, Latin America and the Southwest; signature pizzas like the Original BBQ Chicken and Jamaican Jerk Chicken compete with old standbys like pepperoni and traditional cheese. Pastas, salads, soups and sandwiches round out the menu.

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danep

Joined 5 years ago

Good food but getting crowded, noisy. This used to be one of my favorite casual date spots, but lately it seems to be drawing a lot of families with kids. That, combined with the mall setting make it pretty noisy. However the food is spectacular if you can afford it, and overall it's still an enjoyable experience.

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hoopsguy

Joined 11 years ago

Decent food, bad atmosphere.. I realize that this is a restaurant in a mall, but it would be nice if you could "leave" the pace and noise of the mall to relax and calm down a bit. The food is good and there is a good variety of selections to choose from. The portions are good sized and the service was quick and friendly.

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sanuginz

Joined 6 years ago

Find a wood fired pizza joint for this price. Better than most franchises, but still could be better for the $20 / head price. The pizza selection is not as good as a wood oven italian restaurant. The environment is rather cramped and overly bright. Neighbors can easily hear your conversation. It seems like a place for kids. The drink menu is better than the pizza menu with a wine list and the chocolate strawberry milkshake a delight.

Doesn't Recommend

tlwdork

Joined 8 years ago

You decide.... Maybe the pizza is better, but the pasta was horrible!! I think Hamburger Helper would have tasted better.

The drinks and desserts were fabulous.

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avatar

Joined 11 years ago

Operative word California. The Pepperoni pizza I had was good but not great. The toppings were not as abundant as you will find on others. Nor was this pizza the best flavored I have ever had.

The appeal of this place is the CALIFORNIA aspect of the pizza. I'm not sure where else you could find a turkey club or philly cheese steak flavor. I recommend getting one these they looked great.

The atmosphere is ok for being in a mall. Everything is clean, but the glass partitions between some booths reminds me of a Perkins. However they do have a wine list and the servers are just as good as you will find at a much fancier place.

If you are looking for a regular guy pizza. Go somewhere else. But if you aren't afraid of an oddly constructed pie, give this place a shot.

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mysticfish

Joined 10 years ago

Better then Papa John's!. ... and that's saying a lot since I'm a big fan of Papa John's pizza. I've eaten there several times, and the crust(s) are wonderful - fresh, light, and warm. The variety of toppings available lead to some great combinations. - But even if you throw noodles and sesame oil on top of it - it's still a *pizza*. Great place for Southdale. Lots of kids and teenagers. This is not where you're going for a business meal or to impress your date. (Unless your 16 like many of the diners...)