California Pizza Kitchen, All Excellent, Except the Pizza
Written: Jan 20 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Exceptionally clean and comfortable atmosphere with a good selection of non-pizza/pasta items.
Cons: Music being played.
The Bottom Line: I liked this restaurant for its bright open and airy atmosphere that combined with a slow quiet pace. Oh yes, the food was good too.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: California Pizza Kitchen |
I had my first visit to a California Pizza Kitchen in New York. It's a chain restaurant that offers pizza and pasta as I would expect from the name of the place. I was very surprised and eventually pleased to see the rest of their diverse menu. More in a bit.
Atmosphere
This place receives five stars in this category. I was there during the day. It was bright and cheery due to large windows with wood slatted blinds on two sides of the restaurant. Overhead were lofted ceilings with skylights. The sun flooded into the room and I liked that during gloomy winter days.
I also liked the decor that was pleasing to my eye. The designers made use of long gentle curves and sharp angles combining with high gloss wood, glass and chrome to create an appealing setting for dining. Believe me, that's not something I would put in my home but it looked terrific there. Many booths that hugged one wall that were designed to seat six, perhaps even more with small children, were combined with wood tables and chairs that filled the rest of the restaurant. A very long and nicely cushioned banquette helped divide the room from bar/kitchen area. The wooden tables showed no interest in cloths, flowers, candles or such. They were set for efficiency with some condiments including Cholula, a Mexican brand hot sauce. Tableware was brought to the table wrapped in paper napkins after we were seated.
The bar was open to the kitchen on the other side of it so instead of seeing a wall of glass consisting of mirrors and bottles, you could see the staff preparing dishes. The draught taps and bar stools on the long bar were all that is used to define the area.
I liked that the place was spacious. I didn't feel like a sardine and the acoustics were comfortable to the ear. There was no clanging tableware and dishes or echoing chatter. I suppose the shape of the lofted ceilings along with the dark coloured yet very clean carpeting absorbed or deflected the noise. I didn't particularly like the choice of music they played but we can't all agree when it comes to some personal tastes.
The afternoon crowd combined a couple of families with pre-school children, some couples, and mostly small groups that seemed to be there for lunch as a break from the office or nearby malls. It's a very relaxed atmosphere. No getting dressed up for this place but at the same time it's not the neighborhood pizza house. They do maintain an air of sophistication for it's domestic titled name.
Service
Our fellow Nic was a middle aged gentleman. Much of the waitstaff was younger. They all dressed uniformly in black aprons white shirts and red ties. We were brought to our table in a professional way asking if the accommodations suited us. We were a group of six guys. They did.
We were welcomed and asked for drink orders. Most of us ordered draught beer. Aside from Heineken on tap they had mostly domestic choices like Sam Adams, Millers and Buds. I happened on the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale at $5 that I've never experienced before and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED and ENJOYED it!! If I didn't have to leave and do some driving afterward I definitely would have had a second one. I do know I'll be looking for it while out and to bring some home.
Drinks were brought promptly as was some bread. I noticed it's carefully measured as two pieces per person with some butter that was disproportionately served. The more people, the less butter. A single would get two slices of bread and two pats of butter. A couple would receive four slices of bread and three pats. Our group of six received twelve slices of bread and six pats of butter. OK, I suppose I'm micro-mentioning here, but that's what was. Oh, the bread is an Italian style served cold and not worth mentioning.
Nic and staff were polite, friendly enough, businesslike and attentive. All service was just right including asking if all was fine, being nearby for any needs, and bringing our orders in a timely fashion.
Menu
The menu was much more diverse than I expected. I suppose that was the "California" part of the title. Even though they did have quite a few pizza selections, over two dozen of them, along with pasta, there was so much more we could order, and did. Let me mention that the menu states that they now offer Neopolitan Pizza,
Milan style A combination of grilled Italian Sausages and sweet Italian Sausages with sauteed wild mushrooms, carmelized onions, Fontina, Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, Topped with fresh herbs. $12.99
The appetizers consisted of the usual artichoke dip but then expanded to the "California Style" of other staples like Shrimp cocktail that was much more than three shrimp dangling over the side of a tall dish. The cocktail they serve has Shrimp and avocado tossed in our homemade cocktail sauce. Served on shredded Napa cabbage in a martini glass.
This was good stuff and I likes the diverse texture and flavour inside it.
I also tried some of the
Tortilla Spring Rolls
MEDITERRANEAN
Grilled Portobello mushrooms, grilled Japanese eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions, Fontina, Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Served with sun-dried tomato marinara.
BAJA CHICKEN
Grilled chicken breast, Jack and Cheddar cheeses, roasted corn, black beans, fire-roasted mild chilies, red onions, cilantro, and topped with Parmesan cheese. Served with guacamole.
THAI CHICKEN
Grilled chicken breast, spicy peanut sauce, sprouts, scallions, carrots, cilantro and Mozzarella. Served with a Thai peanut sauce.
You get two of these for $7.99. We had the Mediterranean and Thai Chicken. While the first was ordinary except for the crisp shell that was outstanding, I just loved the Thai. It also came with a side of peanut sauce that was heavenly. Ha, I wound up dipping the Mediterranean in it instead of the red sauce and I had the Thai without the accompaniment. It was delicious "as is".
The table shared a number of other items like pizza and pasta. They have choices like Original Barbeque Chicken, California Club, Jamaican Jerk and such. Though they were good, I prefer having those type items on their own and not piled on top of a crust of a pie. The pie dough was good but the combos just weren't what I like.
I did have a half salad order,
the Waldorf Chicken Salad.
A bicoastal rendition of a NYC favorite! Field greens, chilled grilled chicken breast, seedless grapes, Granny Smith apples, candied walnuts, celery and Gorgonzola cheese. Tossed with your choice of Dijon balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing.
I had the blue cheese in mine. The greens were quite cold but a little limp however the tastes of the combined dressing with the chicken, grapes, and apples were wonderful and what a treat the huge candied walnuts were!
They had about a dozen or so salads that can be purchased full at about $12 or half at $7. The half was more than I needed.
The restaurant also offers soups and sandwiches that looked good when I saw them brought to the table.
Pasta was offered in about a dozen different ways. $10.99- $16.99. These are NY prices. I wonder what they are like in other parts of the country.
I will have to try the Jambalaya that is served over linguini someday. $14.95
California Pizza has desserts and a full coffee and tea menu with all kinds of latte , au Lait, Zen and Earl Grey.
Final Thoughts
The presentation of the items were fine but nothing inspired. I thought the prices combined with the food portions made for a good value. The pizza was good but I just prefer to separate pizza from other entrees and not combine them. I never did try any of their pasta but some of the other guys said it was good, whatever that means to me and you., but I do have that eye for the Jambalaya over linguini. The service was excellent in a demure sort of way.
What I really liked about the place was how comfortable I felt in the place both physically, the seats were soft, wide and strong, and mentally in the way the overall decor made me feel so relaxed. There was no "rush" to the spacious room and that, along with an acoustically "sound" atmosphere, gave me the setting I prefer when dining.
I liked the California Pizza Kitchen at first glance. After a meal I felt even better. I'll be taking my wife there to try it too.
More eateries reviewed by popsrocks
Applebee's / Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's / OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / Legal Seafood Boy was I surprised! Five star. / Grand Lux Cafe A lot of show but little substance
Recommended:
Yes
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