California Pizza Kitchen, known as CPK, is a casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in California-style pizza. This is a place I wanted to have on NoGarlicNoOnions. A yellow logo, some fresh vibes and beautiful photos of food, the California Pizza Kitchen welcomes you in San Jose with a special lunch menu.
Fresh and printed on white, the menu has three icons to look out for (Favorites, Vegetarian and Gluten-free). This menu has four photos that will grab your attention. "Seek the Unique" is the slogan of this pizza place known for its innovative and nontraditional pizzas, such as the "Original BBQ Chicken Pizza", BLT, Thai Chicken, and Jamaican Jerk Chicken pizzas… of course they have other specialties to enjoy. The menu is about small plates and Californian bread, appetizers, soups, salads, main plates, seasonal inspirations and pastas, lunch duos and specialties...
What caught my attention was how the managers helped with the orders. They seemed like the owners of a family business restaurant; they make you feel at home.
Bread is served with a side bowl of olive oil.
I ordered a lot for one person!
- Spinach Artichoke Dip: A large plate loaded with two colors of crispy nachos surrounding a bowl of creamy artichoke and spinach. The cheese dripped around the chips provides an interesting acidity. This is a plate served warm and enjoyable to the last bite.
- Lettuce Wrap: I've rarely enjoyed a lettuce wrap and I'm not sure how I ordered it, but I'm happy I did. Fresh mushrooms, water chestnuts and scallions mixed in a spicy ginger sauce with mini shrimp. The crunchiness and freshness of the lettuce filled with warm tender food, an excellent wrap.
- The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza: Created in 1985, the barbeque chicken is their specialty. They use what they call the legendary BBQ sauce, smoked Gouda, red onions and fresh cilantro transform this original to iconic. It’s a sweet pizza, the chicken is soft... It’s not the pizza I expected for a pizza place but anyway, I enjoyed it.
- Bianco Flatbread: Whipped truffle cream, Gorgonzola, Mozzarella and fresh sag on thin dough. This is a very good plate! The intense cheese flavor, the cream, the rich aromas... Recommended!
An enjoyable lunch.
