California Pizza Kitchen

California Pizza Kitchen Restaurant Review:

Every restaurant seems to create gourmet pizzas these days, but this California-based chain was one of the first to offer eclectic pies in an upscale setting. Diners can enjoy a glass of Chianti with their wood-fired Thai chicken and roasted vegetable pie, although the board spans more than a dozen varieties of thin-crusted pizzas. All of the usual suspects are available, but there are also inventive versions like wild mushroom, mango tandoori chicken, and the B.L.T., complete with mayonnaise. Our favorites are the roasted garlic chicken smeared with garlic-shallot butter, and the barbecued chicken, the chain's most popular pizza. Following modern dining trends, pizzas are offered with gluten-free crusts, too. If you can tear yourself away from the pies, try one of the pastas: the Thai linguine with spicy peanut-ginger sauce is particularly compelling, or go for the crisp Chinese chicken salad, keeping in mind that portions are large, and you can get a half-order. Soups, appetizers and sandwiches made with good hearth-baked focaccia, along with filling desserts, round out the menu. Kids are not only welcomed, but championed. To wit: The kids’ menu is nearly as good as the adult menu.