This is a an overdue review as it happened a while back. But, it was so refreshing to have a manager accommodate me on a cold and rainy day and allow me to pre-order food and eat the bar with my mom. This is not their policy but he made an exception and it was so much appreciated! Thank you!
(5)
Mike S.
I've eaten at CPK for years. 25 years ago I worked at one (the 3rd store they opened in ATL). The service is good, though very "standardized". You can always tell when corporate has started dictating service standards because they all sound the same and you really don't get personalities anymore. I can't imagine they have the kind of fun working here now as when they first opened stores almost 30 years ago. The food here is always good even though they tend to add/remove dishes alot. They've lost some good dishes - Cajun Pizza, Black Bean Angel Hair. My biggest problem with CPK now is I no longer can afford to eat here as often as I'd like. I used to go once a week but now I just go every few months. Their prices are crazy - $10 for a half salad?? Pasta dishes for $13+. Every thing has gone through the roof. Those tiny little flatbread things are like $5 or $6. Every time owner ship changes the prices go up to feed a new crop of overpaid execs I guess. Started with the founders Rick and Larry and it was a little high, but I didn't see a price hike for years. And then Pepsico got involved, then sold it back to Rick and Larry, and now its been sold a time or two to some restaurant corps. I'm giving 4 stars for really good food and service and not 5 because of their prices.
(4)
Brian B.
I have not been to one of these in probably 15 years. Not sure why, they just are usually not appealing to me being I live in Chicagoland where pizza does not feature things like truffle oil, chicken or BBQ sauce. But for whatever reason, I stop at this CPK today and I admit is was really good. I had a small plate blue cheese wedge with bacon and a hard boiled egg on it which was fantastic along with this great bread they bring you with herb and olive oil for dipping. Then I had the California club pizza which has chicken, bacon, a pile of rocket tossed in dressing along with slices of fresh avocado on their thin crust. Super good and light. Half is plenty for lunch so the other half goes in a box for supper later. Real good service also. I was impressed and will probably make a point to hit these again once in a while.
(4)
Noomi J.
I've eaten here before several times back when I was in high school. The items that I remember trying are the fettucini, mac & cheese, garlic chicken pizza, thai pizza, thai salad, bbq pizza. I remember that they were good, but not great. That was years ago though. Today, we had their chicken & shrimp lettuce wraps ($12.75) and works thin crust pizza ($15.25). Lettuce wraps - 2.5 stars. Good, but not worth $13 Works pizza - 1 star at that price. The crust was crisp on the edges (good), floppy elsewhere. It reminded me of a non-toasted tortilla, in a bad way. Cheese and sauce were a huge letdown. Flavorless cheese and not enough sauce! I only ate a few bites of my slice. The max I would pay is $10, but even then, it'd rate lower than Home Run Inn's frozen pizza that I'd get for $6. Easily can make a better pizza. Can probably buy a better frozen pizza too, which shouldn't be the case for a restaurant that has the word 'pizza' in its name lol. The service was good, but then there were only two other tables at that time.
(2)
Krys A.
Make sure you call for curbside pickup. They don't tell you this when you orderonline, but when you pick up your food they won't come out. I waited for 15 minutes after my pick up time and my food was cold.
(2)
Nic Z.
Amazing hummus dip with warm pita bread. The rest of the menu has gotten better; it went on a little roller coaster ride over the past decade and came back a couple years ago. The lot here is always packed at peak times, so that speaks for it.
(4)
Marcello L.
I'm not to crazy about chain pizza places but they just seem to get it. Service, atmosphere, and food was great. My salmon was perfect. My waiter was awesome. Great for a quick date night with the wife.
(5)
Geoff H.
The pizza was okay, but it wasn't what I expected for never being to one before. I thought it was blan but I do think others may love it.
(3)
Grace C.
I've been to many CPKs, and I have liked every one of them. The service at this one, however, was outstanding. The restrooms were immaculate, the food was delicious, and the service by our waiter (I think his name was Andy) was so kind, patient, and informative. The location was very convenient to the mall, and I would highly recommend this overlooked spot to anyone!
(5)
Venkat R.
Was here with few other friend who were visiting me from out of state. The waiting wasn't so bad. Our waiter was nice and knowledgeable enough and offered us vegetarian options as we were all vegetarians. The only complaint I have is the portion for the pizza seem a little on the smaller side. But the overall taste and freshness was good. The inside ambiance was also nice and rich. None of us ordered any alcohol drinks so no comments on that, but their italian soda was good!
(3)
Prashant C.
So after driving past CPK many times in Schaumburg, me and wife finally on a Saturday evening stopped there, it was busy as expected. We started with Cocktails which were just average and 'expensive' $9 for an average cocktail is not value. I switched to beer for next glass and it was about $6 for a pint.. so you get the idea... Starter was a flat bread with lots of cheese... again very average.. I was thinking probably the visit was first and last and then the main course came and I understood why it was crowded. Pizzas were awesome, I ordered roasted pulled pork with hot herbano salsa... one word 'Awesome'.. Wifey ordered some veggie option.. again it was great, we couldnt finish so got in the pizza boxes.. good quantity and great quality.. price was about $12 each so I can see some value Service was slow but we were not in hurry and wanted to spend some time in lively atmosphere there so no complaints... Waitress did ok service , was probably a bit in hurry... Overall fine experience, will go there again for pizza but will skip starter or cocktails..
(4)
Matt M.
Hey CPK don't lie about your menu on both the menu you hand to people AND your website. Particularly when you get there and they tell you that they dont do that salad anymore. But besides that - we are doing ok CPK. You have mildly tasty food and pretty good service. I dont see your widespread appeal but my dining companion does so I guess thats how you make your money. I do love the location and how bright/clean the place is.
(3)
Nicholas S.
I'm very grateful for this place. I came for a quick lunch bite on Veteran's day. I did eight years in the Navy, and after showing my ID they said go ahead and pick anything you want on the left side of the menu - PIZZA DISHES! It's not like they had a special limited menu to pick four items from. NO. They happily repeated, "Any meal you want, left side, go ahead, its all free." I was so impressed! Now the drink I had to cover. No problem. As I waited for the pizza to finish and reminisce with another veteran I happen to serve with in '06, they refilled my drink with ease until I took off with my pizza, they made sure my drink was full. They thanked me and gave me a generous meal. Would have paid $15. Never had I been taken care of so well for Veteran's day. Of all the different chain restaurant/places I've been to in the past few years, this place is the best! There's no advertising in the windows that says "Veteran's Eat Free" but they put it out there online if you look it up. - Nicholas visited: 11/11/2013, 12:00pm
(5)
Aly L.
Last time we were there we got the Shaved mushroom and Bianco flat breads which were really good. Nice cosy place to grab a bite. Non pretentious and the food is always delicious.
(5)
Michelle F.
My friend and I were craving some pizza, so off to CPK we went! The pizza/other food was great, the service was leaving something to be desired. Anytime we asked for something (like silverware...) we were told, oh yeah, I'll be right back, and then would never come back. This happened with the silverware, plates, parmesan cheese, and my friends' correct pizza (because he got it wrong the first time). In any case, they don't make the amazing Tostada pizza anymore. Super bummer. The fried macaroni and cheese was great, the bang bang shrimp was just OK (Bonefish grill is a million times better!) and our pizzas were good. You know, once they were corrected. I got the pizza with about a million different meats on it, and it was awesome, and my friend got the Hawaiian chicken pizza which was delicious as well. We didn't save enough room for dessert, but they did look awesome. So if I ever go back, I shall order that first!! :)
(3)
Carlos V.
It is a good place for those times that your kid wants cheese pizza and you want something else. The lettuce wraps and the garlic cream fettuccine with shrimps are great choices. Not the best restaurant around, but a trustable option.
(3)
Richard C.
I will no longer go to store #74 (Schaumburg) normally I love this establishment, however after our last experience I am boycotting this location and will be "blasting" them negatively. The on call manager Bruce Marvin needs to be re-educated in customer service. We have been going to this location for over 5 years, & almost every time my wife orders the fish tacos with a simple substitution of their salsa & chips for a side Caesar salad at no extra charge. Bruce is under the impression that this dish priced $10.75 should have a $2 up charge for the salad, when other sandwich dishes offer the salad as a side item already. He stated bluntly & rudely that the up charge had something to do with their price point cost difference. I know from my experience that the salad's ingredients are cheaper than the salsa and chips, when purchased in bulk from the supplier. I have ample experience as a restaurant manager from my days at Denny's, obviously "the customer is always right," does not apply for this restaurant. I refuse to pay their stupid up charge. We simply got up and left. I hope you get retrained or let go Bruce. I put in a call to your corporate office, and will continue to call until something is done to fix this situation. On a side note, my wife visited another location today and they did not even hesitate in the slightest to give her the side salad without even batting an eye.
(1)
Maitri J.
Good food, service was a bit slow, cocktails were ok needs improvement. The staff was ok during busy time felt rushed
(3)
Drew G.
Now I remember why I haven't been back in 4 years. While the genoa salad was good and the tortilla springrolls were okay, totally not worth the $23 takeout bill. The salad was worth about $5 and the springrolls at most $7. This place is another restaurant chain just pushing out uncreative food as fast as possible for the masses.
(2)
Erika M.
The food was good and the server/service was also very good. I took out one star for having annoying music that sounded like being in an elevator and it was too loud.
(4)
Sandra Y.
I would give it 0 stars if that were an option. Went in here at 9pm. Stood in front & waited.... We were never seated. Nobody looked at us or acknowledged us. I thought maybe we came in too late, but I checked the door while we were waiting & it said 10, so I figured we had plenty of time. I guess not... The place wasn't even busy. So.... We left & went to Olive Garden across the street.
(1)
Jeremy C.
I now consider myself the worlds foremost expert critic of cpk's.... In the last year I feel like I've been to more cpk's than the rest of my whole previously combined.. Anyway... This is a super suburban location in the suburbs right across from woodfield. Expect lots of families here doing the post mall shopping eating here. Let me give this place an unusual comment.. Usually at EVERY cpk you get the sourdough bread with some packets for solid cement frozen butter packets.. This place actually had room temp packets. I liked that for once... :) Service here hasn't as good as I've had at other cpk's but I def thought the food quality was very good.. This is a safe one..
(3)
Beth H.
I am not sure how to rate by stars because CPK has always been one of my two favorite restaurants. We have been frequent diners for a long time. However, recently while eating the leftovers of the veggie salad at work (we ate there for lunch), I found a rock, and I mean A ROCK (I still have it in a bag) in my salad. I bit down on it. I feel very fortunate that I did not break a tooth. I'm do not know if it was in my salad originally, or if found its way, (perhaps via the floor), into the takeout container, but it was in my salad. While this is clearly not a good thing, the worst thing about this, is that I alerted the corporate office, and NOTHING was done by the company. I felt this was important for the company to know, for everyone's sake (Safety). Corporate did take my call, and supposedly alerted the store in Schaumburg. I was told by the corporate office that I would hear back "shortly" from the store itself. I have not heard back from the Schaumburg store, and it's been nearly a month. I wrote back to corporate, just to let them know that Schaumburg never bothered to deal with this matter, and I haven't even heard back from them. While I will miss eating at CPK, since the company does not handle matters properly, we will no longer eat at any CPK. We just have too many options. Lettuce Entertain You restaurants would have never handled (or not at all!) a situation like this. We are willing to pay the money to eat at quality, better-run restaurants.
(1)
David K.
Was so happy to hear that CPK offers gluten free pizzas. We ran out and tried the recommended gluten free margarita pizza which had little to no flavor and tasted like a cracker. The others at the table tried a variety of non-gluten free offerings and were not impressed.
(1)
Somchai S.
Came here to celebrate my fiance's birthday. overall the place is generally pleasing. We had: Chicken quesodila (sp chk) from their small plate menu. it was tasty but overpriced for $5 for 4 small triangles. Hawaiian BBQ pizza- the star of the dinner. Ive had it frozen but never fresh and I would definitely go back for more! Im excited to try their other pizzas. Fish tacos - i am a fish taco feen and unfortunately both my favorite locations to get fish tacos are no longer serving it. This was the worst of the items we ordered. The cabbage that came on top was quite bitter and there was just not enough flavor from the fish, coleslaw or ranchito sauce. Broccoli and sundried tomato pasta- our waitress accidentally brought us the tomato basil dish, which looked quite appetizing. She was the one who suggested we get the broccoli and tomato pasta. well she corrected the error. The pasta tasted much better the next day. overall it was good. they are lacking in the sides they offer. There was no sides that came with the pasta or chicken.
(3)
Mary E.
Recently went to this place for the first time and I loved everything my husband is a basic meat and cheese pizza guy so he didn't care for it but if you like experimenting I definitely recommend! My favs are the lettuce wraps and the Jamaican jerk chicken pizza!
(5)
Fred E.
Years ago when I discovered CPK, they had a Peking Duck pizza which I fell in love with. I think it was especially because of the tang of the hoisin sauce. I tried the Thai chicken pizza and it didn't quite have the same kick. The bean sprouts and carrots were excellent - clean and crunchy. I would have liked the thin crust to have been a bit crisper. The strawberry and watermelon fields salad was great - the dressing blending in with the fruit instead of overwhelming it. I would have liked to have seen the waiter a bit more - I didn't get a refill of water until I was almost done with my meal although he was pleasant when he did come by. An extra napkin or two when the meal was served would have been nice since pizza is a finger food. Great atmosphere and enjoyed the background music too. The hostess was very gracious in assisting me with seating. For a "pizza" place, a little on the pricey side but I guess the uniqueness and quality comes with a bit of a premium - the salad (half portion) and pizza (I did order whole grain and thin crust which was extra) and no drinks came up to $32 with tip.
(4)
Jennifer M.
There's a saying that's there's a first time for everything; and tonight, there certainly was! We ordered our food but my boyfriend had such a distaste for it that he called our Server back to our table, gave her a mouthful of opinions (all the while apologizing that it was not her fault), rescinded our orders and we walked out on principle. My boyfriend lived in Santa Cruz, CA for many years. He knows California cuisine. We also dine out a lot (not always worthy of a yelp mention) so we know the value of a meal. You don't tell the guy the chicken is not a full breast but merely chicken strips in a sandwich! Then add insult to injury by not offering a complimentary side dish when he decides to order the Chicken Piccata. I'm not saying he was expecting compensation. Most places you order an entree, it includes a side dish. Here, you get a soup or salad included with a sandwich but you get nothing for ordering an entree like the Chicken Piccata that is comparable in price. It just leaves you with a high brow low brow expression, doesn't it? He felt he was being cheated and that's why we left.
(2)
Irene S.
Order Sedona tortilla soup and four cheese fresh tomatoes with ham. The soup was great and the pizza was delicious. I will definitely come back and recommended.
(4)
Frank A.
It's an A-OK for me. I'm more of a deep dish Giordanos, Pequods, Lous, Ginos East type of guy, but since I've never been here, I decided to give it a shot. Ordered a jerk chicken pizza with bits of bacon, chicken and veggies on it. It was ok, but didn't really blow my socks off. Was a bit lacking with the sauce, but overall, not really sure I'd order it again. It really sort of made me not really want to try any other pizza on the menu. I ordered Korean steak tacos... (who does that at a pizza joint??). Evidently, I was on some weird stuff that day, but I did it anyway. It was actually not bad, however for two small tacos and almost 6 bucks, it's really not worth it. What really surprised me was the garlic cream fettuccine with shrimp and chicken. My wife and I found ourselves chowing down on that more than the pizza, appetizers or anything else. It was actually quite good. Overall, I should have probably just gone somewhere else for pasta, which was really what I didn't come here for. It's ok though. It was a decent meal. Liked the key lime pie...
(3)
Pari S.
Drove by this place many times... and always thought... why would I want California Pizza when I can have Chicago style pizza?? However, lots of people have raved about this place and I had to find out for myself. Went here on a weekday during the dinner hours. It appeared pretty busy but we were seated in less then 5 minutes. This restaurant is located across the streets from Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. So it can get quite busy. Nice clean place... very family style and lots of kids. Lots of booths. We ordered korean steak tacos for appetizer. Which was ok. I don't know if I will order them again. But was something interesting that popped at me when I first read the menu. It was actually $6 for 2 very small tacos. When it was served, I almost wanted to say.. "thats it?" For our main dish, we ordered a jerk chicken pizza and a fettucine with shrimp and chicken. The pizza was thin crust and was ok. Chicken kinda dry and was just missing some sauce. However, the fettucine was awesome. Who would've thunk!!! Was nice and creamy... that gave u that warm homely feeling. The shrimp and chicken was cooked perfect. Made everything melt in your mouth. We also had a dessert here. We chose their key lime pie... and I must say, it was pretty good. I may have to come here and try another pizza and see if I like it. But will definitely give the key lime pie and the pasta a go again.
(3)
Nikki S.
I had planned a small baby shower for a friend of mine and had called over to CPK on a Tuesday for a Saturday reservation. The gentleman that answered the phone informed me they only do same day reservations. I asked if they would be able to accommodate a group of 7 for a small baby shower and that is when the gentleman told me of their party room. He told me he would be putting me down for the party room for that Saturday. I was grateful and happy - until I arrived at the restaurant that Saturday. I walked in the restaurant early to start my small decorating process for their party room. I told the hostess who I was and reservation info. She gave me the "oh crap" face and got the manager. The "manager" first said he didn't have staff for their party room?!?! and then told me he had no information on my event?!? I explained as calmly as I could holding a 20 pound box of baby decorations what the gentleman told me on the phone. The manager then led me back to their "room" and said this isn't how they normally do things yada yada. All of the sudden Mr. Manager comes back with a waiter - so he lied about the no staff. I am giving them 2 stars because the food was excellent, our waiter was fantastic, and the mom-to-be had a great time. To Mr. Manager who could have been way more friendly we dined there on July 21st at lunch.
(2)
Josh D.
Had not had it except frozen for 10 years. Went looking for a good Chicago style pizza joint but could not find one in area. Stopped in and it reminded me of the first time I had it in Los Angeles. Excellent pizza and just the right amount!
(5)
Avi S.
4 Stars. Great Food. Ok Service. But Long Wait Time. I like CPK but the problem this time was that they did not serve us while we were waiting like other restaurants. But other than that I am happy.
(4)
Mark B.
As a rule I don't write reviews for chain restaurants. They have their own advertising engines to get you through the door. However, over the weekend, we were in the Schaumburg/Hoffman area and it's nearly all chains at this point. In deciding where to grab a quick bite for lunch it was burger this, sports bar that.. and so on. We haven't been to CPK in a while and it seemed like it would be a nice change of pace from the typical places we go. Gotta say, they've upped their game since the last time I was there. We split a nice white corn guacamole appetizer and a really tasty roasted artichoke and spinach pizza. Some interesting and unique food, done well. The guac was fresh and the flavors on the pizza were really excellent. Full without being overpowering. I was really pleased with each dish and the meal overall. When we are in the Woodfield area again, we'll definitely have CPK at the top of our list versus the other chain restaurants in the area.
(4)
Ariel W.
Ok. Not a big chain fan. The staff were nice. Have had better pizza elsewhere. Salad was crisp. In no hurry to return.
(3)
G E.
Decent food but nothing to get to excited about. I usually get the the California club, liked it better when they had the Asian slaw as the side instead of soup or salad option they have now. The jambalaya fettuccine is good if you like a little spice. There pizza is decent but this being Chicago there are way to many pizza places out there that are better.
(3)
Megan O.
To start off--- obviously this is a popular CHAIN restaurant- but in my opinion they do a good job. I like their pizza- service is always friendly. They're really great about refilling your drinks without having to ask. If you want bread you'll have to ask, but I like the sourdough that they have there. For starters I like the small portion white corn guac and the spinach artichoke is good as well. they also have a pretty good drink menu-- i like the mojitos. For non alcoholic drinks the strawberry lemonade is a good choice.
(4)
Catndog ..
Does anyone know if their pizza crust recipe has changed??? Went yesterday and it was flavorless and flat. Check out the photo - Christy's pizza vs ours - suppose to be the exact same thing!
(2)
Charlotte T.
Yummy yum yum. Had the mushroom medley or whatever it was called pizza. Amazing! And those avocado egg rolls were awesome. My server was Katie at the bar. Top notch service. Going back soon. Oh and try the peach lemonade, yum.
(5)
Amy X.
This is an okay restaurant. We did felt a bit rushed because they were about to close. Food was decent. Had cedar salmon, a shrimp and zucchini fettuccine, and a salted chocolate pudding. I liked the salmon. It tasted a little like wood. But i thought it was pretty good. All that including tax and tips, we payed $50. I do believe its a bit towards the expensive side.
(3)
Nichole C.
I've been here a million times and I always go for the foccacia appetizer and the buffalo chicken pizza but today BOTH WERE GONE! They obviously got a new menu and I was really bummed out but ordered steak tacos as a stand-in...I know what you are thinking, "Tacos at a PIZZA kitchen? Really?"...but OMMFG they were the most delicious steak tacos I have EVER HAD! CAPITAL LETTERS AND EXCLAMATIONS NECESSARY!! Seriously, the minute I took my first bite I was in love with those freaking tacos. They are perfectly seasoned, have a delicious ranchito sauce on them, come with fresh avocado (NOT GUAC), and slices of lime. They have flour tortillas...meh...but they are still awesome. I don't even care that my original loves left me without notice. They are that good.
(4)
Brian A.
We went there last night for dinner. We went specifically for the fried avocado rolls. Turns out the fryer was broken and we couldn't get them. The manager was very nice and bought us a different app. It wasn't good. Tortilla rolls. We had the BBQ pizza and the pear and Gorgonzola pizza. Both pizzas were very good. We also had the new beet salad app. It was not very good. They smear goat cheese on he bottom of the plate. Why to give a decent amount crumbled on top? 4 stars because we couldn't get what we wanted. Yet kudos to nice management and service!
(4)
Rachel J.
The california club pizza.............yummmmmmmmm. I knew the pizza was going to be tasty, but the service was the real stand out this time. Our server was polite, friendly, and attentive despite her full section. It was appreciated, and really made the night. Thanks for not pissing me off, CPK!
(4)
Katie L.
Why oh why did you get rid of the Cheeseburger pizza? It was definitely a favorite of mine! Settled for the BBQ chicken Hawaiian Pizza instead, it was good. Got an avocado- type appetizer which was delicious- would definitely order that again! Great ambiance, friendly staff
(4)
Div M.
Went here on new year day and had a fab experience .. Service was great .. Rene served our table .. Very friendly and warm person .. Food was excellent ..
(5)
Sarah M.
I'm not generally a fan of CPK in general, but I LOVED their greek pizza. I haven't been in a few years, but one night a really had a craving for it, I was so disappointed when we got there and found out that they took the greek pizza off the menu :( I would have left if I could have. I got a white pizza instead, it was fine, nothing great. The service was a little slow and our waitress was a bit rude. Now that they don't have greek pizza, I don't think I'll be coming back for mediocre pizza and rude service.
(2)
M P.
I've been going to CPK for 15 years and still love it. When it first opened in the midwest, it was a huge deal. I mean who had ever heard of gourmet pizzas? Nowadays, going to CPK is like going to Olive Garden or On the Borders...for the nostalgia. Yes there are more "authentic" places you can go and try gourmet pizzas, but CPK is like an old friend. I know what to expect when I go. My all time favorites: Tostada pizza, 5-Cheese and Fresh Tomato pizza (but only with Cholula sauce added on top), Chicken Tequila Fettuccine, and the Chocolate Souffle Cake a la mode. They used to have this amazing garlic cheese bread which I didn't see on the menu last time I went. I've never been disappointed coming here to eat, but if you're expecting something life altering or even a true pizzeria, then this probably isn't the place for you.
(5)
Linh L.
I like how the food pairs together well and the variety of flavors. Plus, it is very very affordable. I have to give it 5 stars for the quality and price.
(5)
Amy L.
Ah CPK, why are you like old candy? Kinda like you hope it will taste good but it turns out it was rotten. I was going to give you a two star reviews but I recanted because the aftertaste of the food still made me nauseous and that does not deserve a 2 star review. Yesterday was quite a chilly day, about 40s and when I went into the restaurant, it felt like the same temperature. Weird? Everybody must have thought the same thing because they were all wearing their coats while eating. That's a big No No in any establishment, being cold while eating food. I even had hot tea to keep warm. Food: The white bean minestrone soup was pretty good, nice flavor and a hint of tanginess. I also got the white pizza and the garlic chicken pizza. Initially, we have high hopes for this place. Rejoicing in the memory of how good the pizza tasted a couple of years ago. For $12 a pizza, it must taste good right? Wrong!!! The pizza came out unordinary, in a regular dish and it looked unappealing altogether. Like someone else said in their review, seems like reheated frozen pizza. In terms of taste, it was bland and uneatable. After 2 slices I felt rather nauseous and I had to force myself to eat some of it because I'm going to pay for it. Man, it was horrible. I usually don't give bad reviews but this really deserved it. Best part of the experience: We left! Maybe next time, I'll stick to Chicago Pizza type of kitchens!
(1)
Swati B.
Went here on a saturday night with family...it was packed considering it was 9pm. There was a tad bit of a wait (nothing major). I was pleasantly surprised with their service..our server was really on top of it making sure our drinks were topped off and letting us know that our food was on its way. She gave us a generous helping of the dessert as well. It's not my favorite pizza but I welcome the different types of pizza they have. Their new spinach and artichoke thin crust was pretty damn good. Didn't care too much for the crowd..tons of high school kids and really really loud. 1 pizza has 6 slices...we had 3 people and got 2 pizzas and a small appetizers..oh yes the "small plate cravings" are seriously meant for 1 person. and the wine list..meh. I guess this is what happens when you eat in the suburbs..thank goodness I'm a city gal!
(3)
Stefanie K.
I was here on Monday, and I've been here quite a few times. Just about every time my experience has been pretty solid, and I've never ordered something I didn't like. This last visit I tried the Habanero Carnitas pizza, sooooooo good. The sauce is super hot! We also split an order of the hummus, and that too was good. My server, Bobbie, was very attentive which I always appreciate. The servers who show up once to take an order, once to drop food off, and once to get the bill are not the type I've experienced here. All in all, if you're looking for a place to try some different pizzas, and you're in the Woodfield area, I'd say stop by and check them out.
(4)
Hoang L.
This place is a safe bet for those who don't Yelp, but nothing extraordinary. Too cookie cutter for me. If you want real pizza, go to a pizzeria owned by Italians. California is where movies are made, not pizza. BBQ chicken pizza? Interesting, but gets old after a slice.
(3)
Matt R.
Nice place! Pretty consistently good, and they have some unique pizzas. They have a thai pizza that I love to order, but any of them are pretty good. They make mostly the european style flat pizzas. Prices are not too bad, portion sizes are a little small. Overall its consistent and you know that if you want to get a unique pizza at a nice place it's a good fit. They do serve drinks if you want them, although not necessary. Place has a nice little design to it too. In no way is it "OMFG AMAZING" though, so it gets a 4/5.
(4)
Nicole L.
I don't really care for their pizza because I think it's rather bland, but I come here for their delicious BBQ chicken salad. That's all I ever order off the menu. It's a bit pricey for salad, but I split it with the hubby so it's not that bad. Make sure to ask for bread. Apparently they no longer bring it out automatically.
(4)
Shawn F.
Oh, this place is much better than ordering from Pizza Hut. I've been to CPK (not necessarily this CPK) about 10 times and have ordered a traditional cheese pizza every single time. It never gets old (maybe because I only eat here occasionally). And I'm able to finish the entire pizza in one sitting (about an hour in the restaurant), which is pretty impressive since I'm such a slow eater and I get full very easily. I took off one star, because the place is so busy every time I go there. The wait is never too long, maybe 15 minutes tops.
(4)
Victoria h.
Really? $10 for a 1/2 salad. Granted, their 1/2 portions are still incredibly huge, but shouldn't 1/2 portions be 1/2 the price? Apparently. not. This restaurant is, pretty much, one big open space. So the noise level is usually pretty high. Our server was quick and friendly. I haven't tried the pizzas, but the salads are fair. Get the dressing on the side unless you want your salad to have more calories and fat than the pizza.
(3)
Elise M.
CPK is quickly becoming my new favorite restaurant in the area. My food always tastes great and seems like it was prepared well. Service is a little hit-or-miss at lunch, but the place is usually packed so I guess it can't be helped. I guess I should mention I haven't even tried the pizza yet; I have so much fun going down the menu with everything else that I often forget they serve pizza!
(5)
Carrie c.
I left California Pizza Kitchen thinking...I'll just stick with the frozen CPK pizzas. The server kept trying to talk us into multiple appetizers and said the pizzas were too much for one person. Not sure if they were just telling servers to push apps or what. There were only two of us, so we had no need for multiple appetizers. In addition to the one app, we shared a goat cheese/pepper pizza which ended up being really good and the perfect portion size for two people. It wasn't very warm though... We also got the dumplings which weren't cooked all the way and tasted really bland til you dipped them in the sauce that comes with it. The glasses and plates all seemed a bit greasy like they weren't washed very well....this alone grosses me out. We sat down about 15 minutes before the two tables next to us and they were finishing their pizzas by the time we got ours. And both of those tables had apps too...but a different server. So..."meh, I've experienced better" is what I'm sticking to. I have no interest in going back and will just wait for the next time I'm in CA to have these types of pizzas.
(2)
Jeremy L.
Dined here so MANY times! I am not an Italian pizza lover. BUT I love CPK! I love their Thai chicaken pizza and the Jamaican jerk pizza those are my 2 favoraite pizzas from here. I also love thier tortilla soup, which I typically order along with my pizza. Love this place!
(4)
Nick S.
CPK has a nice ambiance. Typically, I'll sit with my wife at the bar and order the Tequila-lime linguine and we get a pear and Gorgonzola pizza. It's all very tasty, but I have problems finding other items on the menu that taste equally good. Lately, we have not had a craving for CPK. I'm getting back into junky, Chicago style pizza.
(3)
Farzana P.
So me my sister and her friend wanted some pizza! And my sis suggested this place. So we started with appetizers and got the crispy fried mac-n-cheese. It didn't take very long and looked pretty good. But there were only 4 on the plate and they were bite size. I took a bite and it was a bit bitter. We also ordered the 5 cheese pizza and it kind of a meaty taste to it. And it didn't have much taste. The last thing was garlic noodles. They smelled WAY too much like garlic. And there wasn't enough sauce. I am not sure if I will come back to this place since I live so far.
(3)
Silky O.
This is a great place to eat. I've found that all CPKs are very consistent in terms of quality and service. I will recommened the CPK Cobb Salad. For around $14 you will find yourself face down in chilled grilled chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, lettuce, and gorgonzola cheese. I will typically pour ALL of my ranch sauce on my salad (sometimes on my hairy chest) so it slides down my throat with ease! I also love their personal pizzas. I cant say I'm a fan those crazy varieties they have, but the pepperoni definetly gets my juices flowing if you know what I mean! Love to the end, Silky
I think CPK is kind of overrated and overpriced, but because they offer items I can't get anywhere else, I do find myself coming here from time to time to bring lunch back to the office. Each time I have been in, it has been uncomfortably hot, and as a person who likes it warm, that's saying something. They do get bonus points for understanding a substitution (keep your chicken, gimme avocado instead.. WITHOUT charging me extra for it, kthx). Good for lunch when you need a break from everything else around here, but not something I hit up every week.
(3)
Apara W.
Good food, plenty options for kids. Our server Ashley was super helpful with suggestions. Clean, great atmosphere, quick service. 1 star off for price. Kid-friendly.
(4)
Robert S.
I've been going here for a while and I just went again this weekend. Its a very solid pizza place. The menu is very diverse and the have some excellent specialty pizzas. The desserts are great too, best red velvet cake I have ever had. Probably my favorite thing about this place is how light the pizza feels. I've been to a lot of places where after ypu eat the pizza all you want to do is take a nap, so its a great place to go if you have plans for afterward. The restaurant itself is clean and tidy, the servers are friendly, and there usually isn't a wait. The prices aren't too bad either, not the cheapest but you definitely get what you pay for. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Inigo M.
A chain's a chain, true in this case, so the only thing worth commenting on is the service, which was fast, attentive, and courteous. Just sucks to get slapped with the automatic group gratuity but oh, well.
(4)
Jef B.
We've eaten here probably a half dozen times, always on trips to Woodfield Mall. The pizza varieties are tasty, the service is good, and the ambience is excellent. This is probably the best restaurant, outside of Cheesecake Factory, in the area.
(4)
Justin W.
The food's pretty good, but the "personal" pizza should be shared. I'm not a fan of bringing the food home from this place and I sure as hell don't want to eat that whole thing myself (not that I can't). The BLT, ham and pineapple, and Chipotle styles kick ass.
(4)
Shirley T.
been here 3 times with people from the office pizza - is not pizza pasta - has no flavor we have now stopped trying this place it is a joke to be in the chicago area
(1)
Tiffany L.
I've been to many CPK's in my life...from California to Illinois but the service here was great. Our server was so on top of it and kept coming by to see if we were low on drinks or needed anything (and this was on a Saturday night when there were uber busy). It's a bit of a trek for me to get up there...but definitely the best service of the ones I've been to since moving to Illinois!
(5)
Sum Fun D.
This place has the BEST Hummus! We order it all the time for a meal. Though last night we decided to try something else on the menu. We used to think of this as a reasonable priced place to eat. We went there last night and for 2 of us we spent $50 plus a tip and it ended up being around $60 for the meal. I was not that pleased as I could have went to Cheesecake Factory across the street at the mall and had a top notch meal and been full for the next 12-15 hours. We both got pasta which ran $12-$14 for a plate. I don't know what made it so special as neither even had any kind of meat with it. I had 7 cheese raviolis (which were really good) for $12. We had dessert which I have never had there and it was by far not special. I got a piece of red velvet cake for $6.29 and was asked of I wanted to add a scoop of ice cream for $1.50 more which would have made this almost an $8 dessert. I passed and could not beleive how off and generic this tasted. For the price, I would have hoped it would have been outstanding. It was not. I will continue to go here to get the hummus and from time to time to share a pizza, but they have been increasing their prices quite a bit which is ok, if it was a little more quality.
(4)
Ed M.
This is where fat gay guys have romantic dinners. I dined here last nite with one of my asian buddys last night...and seated next to us was couple of really fat gay guys apparently on a date. WE COULD HEAR EVERYTHING as they giggled and jollied their dinner away. T'was amusing i may add. After rolfing down appetizers and a pizza each, Fat gay guy #1 ordered a choco cake, while the fat gay guy #2 argued otherwise (presumably "watching his figure") but in the end he digressed to the temptations of the fudge as he dove into the choco cake mouth first.
(5)
Jasmyn K.
Food and service is good, my only complaint is what is wrong with their heating/AC??? I went here in July and it was HOT in the place, the AC was barely turned on. I just went here again on Sunday (Dec 2nd) and it was freezing cold! They need to make the temp in the place more comfortable.
(4)
Halisa V.
This place was really good!! The food was great and i loved the chicken pizza i ordered. I am going there again for sure!!
(4)
Michael W.
So CPK is a franchise, and it's not cool to like franchise restaurants, but if lovin' CPK is wrong, I don't wanna be right. This place gets it, from the food to the service and atmosphere. I love the layout. When you walk in, the restauant appears to expand before you, with the open kitchen occupying the back wall. If you're by yourself or with a couple friends, ask to eat at the bar, which has a prime view of the kitchen. It's fascinating to watch the cooks work (not to mention fun to watch people who are enjoying their job!) I like funky combinations, so CPK's pizzas hit the spot. One of my personal faves is the California Club, with avocado, bacon, grilled chicked and chilled lettuce tossed with a little mayo. It's outstanding. Solid service and a laid back atmosphere rounds out the picture.
(5)
Nancy S.
I'm surprised CPK can flourish in a pizza town like Chicago but it definitely lends a twist to the traditional deep dish. I haven't been to CPK since I left CA but was surprised to see the wonderful new menu! They've added things like steaks and Alaskan Halibut which are some welcomed low carb additions. The seasonal flat bread which is topped with lobster salad, arugula, onions and chives is one of the best dishes I've had in a while!
(4)
Amber S.
Worst service ever by the "greeter." Just came back an hour ago. We came as a party of 11 to celebrate my brother's birthday. As we walked in this short haired blonde woman who was supposed to be the greeter completely ignored us. We approached her to tell her we were here as a party of 11 and she was overall indifferent and seemed to have some complexities and a power struggle because she wanted to seat us at separate tables and refused to push them in together. She didn't e plain why they couldn't be pushed together and claimed that a larger area would be an hour late---keep in mind we were the only ones waiting and this was at 8:30 and the restaurant was not ridiculously busy at all for a Friday night. She then didn't even escort us to the table...she basically just pointed the table out to us. Completely rude and unacceptable. Our server was very kind and another server or manager saw what was going on and he offered to push the two tables together. The food was just fine and very standard for what cpk is. The manager was making rounds to ask everyone how they were enjoying the food and how everything was going. He seemed to completely ignore our table---the huge table of 11. Don't know how he can miss us but he somehow totally did... We tipped very generously as our server was kind. Overall though---I was disgusted by the rude demeanor of the manager and the "greeter."
(1)
Erick M.
They got rid of the HABANERO CARNITAS PIZZA!!! Never eating here again. (The Butter cake is still orgasmic tho)
(1)
Christina M.
Just finished eating and the food was really good!!! Drinks were delicious! But most importantly our server Ashlyn I believe was so sweet and personable. The manager was very nice as well stopped by the table to make sure everything was great. Thank you for a wonderful meal California pizza kitchen! Btw we had: California thin crust pizza, tortilla soup, adobo margarita, strawberry margarita, and sunset Caribbean sangria.
(5)
Amanda O.
While my daughter was at the mall shopping with a friend, I decided to get some work done on my laptop. I saw on Yelp that California Pizza Kitchen had free WiFi, so I decided to have dinner there too. I told the hostess that I would be on my laptop and she, thankfully, put me at the last table in the back. I didn't like that it was right next to the kitchen, but I did like that I was away from other people eating. I can't remember my server's name, but she was super friendly and helpful. I had a couple of questions about things on the menu and she was able to answer them all. I usually order the white pizza, but she recommended the wild mushroom pizza. I still like the white pizza more (with bacon), but the mushroom pizza with truffle oil was good too. It never fails, though, that every time I know I'm going to want dessert at a restaurant, my server fails to ask me if I want to order some. She brought my check before asking if I wanted dessert and had to take it away because I ended up ordering the Butter Cake which was amazing. It was like a cross between a pound cake and a cookie and I loved it with ice cream on top. YUM!
(4)
Vishal B.
New look, new menu with classic favorites. New pasta menu with unique twists on familiar plates like alfredo, but now with a lime cream sauce upgrade made for a very cool dinner. CPK is trying hard to appeal to the young crowd and millennials. The new rewards program (many restaurants are starting these) seems like a good concept so as long as there is no card. I like that we can earn while we eat to one day walk into a free entree.
(4)
Azhar S.
Been here twice and haven't been a huge fan of this place. In my opinion, it's over priced and the quality lacks. They have a decent selection. I ordered a chicken pizza and the pizza crust was so thin and small I felt like I barely ate anything when I left and the bill was pretty hefty for very little food. Surprisingly, the place is packed but I'm just not a fan. I've been to many pizza places in my lifetime and this is not the first place I think of when I'm really craving excellent quality pizza.
(2)
Neel K.
I have to say I've been a fan of CPK since I was a kid. They have a great menu that has changed just slightly since the last 15 years. I do enjoy the new small plates that they have introduced and the best part is that you can personalize the pizzas to make them how ever you would like. Even the salads are very good, especially the roasted veg salad is full of flavor and very filling. As far as the service at Schaumburg, we have been very happy every time we have visited. The Ice Tea is very good, and they never let your glass go empty. The desserts leave a lot to be desired. We tried the brownie Sunday and a caramel dessert, both of which were mediocre.
(4)
Britt C.
Our meal was good - quite pleased with it, however I am still not in a rush to get back or anything. We just had the small guacamole appetizer, which was good - very small, but to be fair it was very inexpensive. We then decided when in Rome - and ordered a pizza. Went with the wild mushroom (no truffle oil topping) and I was pretty happy with it. I liked that the crust was light and that they didn't skimp on the mushroom toppings. We decided that splitting these two items between the two of us was pretty perfect. I'm always looking for that balance of eating enough, but not going over board and feeling too full to do anything the rest of the day. The service was decent, it was pretty quiet at this location. They kept coming around to check if we had the bill ready when we were sitting chatting (even after we had been told by two separate associates there was no rush mind you!) which was a little annoying, especially since it wasn't as though there weren't a ton of table open for other customers.
(3)
Sarah W.
Absolutely love the bbq chicken chopped salad. CPKs ranch dressing is to die for. They should sell it. It is soooo delicious. Whenever I'm craving salad this is my go to place. Schaumburg or Deerpark.
(5)
Melissa H.
We met up with some friends here last night for dinner. Our server named Justin was great. He was patient in waiting for us to order and catching up with our friends. He was also very entertaining and provided great customer service I'm not completely sure of what our friends ordered but for appetizers we split fried mac and cheese and the avocado egg rolls. Both were brought to us warm, fresh, and crispy. My husband ordered their Wild mushroom pizza and added bacon. I ordered their quinoa arugula salad and added chicken. I am obsessed with this salad at CPK and it's the only thing I order from there. To be honest, we were disappointed in our entrees. We frequently go to the CPK closer to our home at Deer Park. The pizza my husband said wasn't nearly as good as Deer Park's CPK and the salad portion seemed smaller then the Deer Park location. Overall we had great customer service and a hilarious waiter that we would come back for as well as the appetizers/drinks, but if we want to have their main entrees we're probably going to stick to their Deer Park location.
(3)
Sarah P.
Had lunch with an old friend and had a really great time. The food was ready in no time! I ordered the Thai salad, which is always good. You can never go wrong! I also had their new white berry sangria which I thought was delicious, but apparently not for everyone! The service was really great and definitely was not rushed at all. I really like the interior, it was really cozy and relaxing.
(5)
Phil P.
So, after visiting the AT&T store nearby, the wife and I suddenly found ourselves having to kill 2 hours for her phone data transfer to complete. After a brief visit to Trader Joe's, we decided to settle for dinner at CPK... best decision of the day! Upon entering, we noticed the renovations in process. But it was still fairly busy for a Thursday night, which is always a good sign. We got seated immediately and were greeted by John, or server for the evening. Great guy, a ball of positive energy! We ordered the tostada pizza and my favorite, the tequila lime chicken fettuccine with extra sauce. We also ordered some of their habanero salsa on the side. When the pizza arrived, the wife noticed the crust was different than in the past. John told us that they changed the crust on the tostada pizza, but he gladly offered to make a new pizza on the crust we favored... awesome! Once the revised pizza arrived, we met the manager, who ensured we were happy with our meal. This location, despite being a chain, personified exemplary customer service. What makes it even better, is their food is deeelish!
(5)
Andrea P.
I used to come here very often. I enjoyed the food and did my kids. Over the years, California pizza kitchen got more and more popular. Now I go in and the service is bad and they are very cheap. I ordered the pasta and they barely give me any sauce. Then I ask for extra sauce and they give me a little spoon. It is also very inconvenient. They always mess up our order. I am very disappointed that my favorite restaurant became one of my least.
(2)
Mireya L.
Before a business event, my sister and I were looking for a place to eat. I had heard this place made wood burning pizzas and it's amazing how it's true. The waitress, Jenni, was enthusiastic and friendly. We got sourdough bread with olive oil as a complimentary belly warmer (appetizer) while we watched our Hawaiian pizza being made and put in the oven. WOW! This is amazing! Generous amounts I pineapple and ham with a thin Han tossed crust. Definitely coming here again. Getting dessert next time.
(5)
S V.
I avoided CPK for years thinking, "what does anyone in CA know about pizza". I was wrong. They have a wonderful menu. They are wonderful all around!!!
(5)
Jenny A.
Great pizza and all but the prices are just ridiculous. If you're willing to spend I recommend the BBQ Chicken Pizza. It's my favorite. Kids love the cheese pizza but really you can't mess up a cheese pizza. Service is nothing to complain about really. If only this place had cheaper prices, it'd be 5 star.
(3)
A K.
This place has good food but they are very expensive for the amount you get. Maybe I am just used to more because I am from the Midwest, but it seems that the portions are lacking. They do have interesting concepts for pizza, but sometimes you just want a deep-dish slice that you are better off being eating with a fork and knife than your hands. The inside is very clean and and the staff is friendly though.
(3)
Rocky B.
I've always loved this place. Too bad they don't have the Peking duck pizza anymore. But it's hard not to get the Thai pizza here. But everything is good.. Everyone always orders the lettuce wraps and in my opinion, it's one of my fav appetizer. Actually here and pf changs has the best lettuce wraps. Thai salad, key lime pie. I can eat here all the time.
(5)
Bob R.
Since for medical reasons I eact have anything with milk products, this was a strange choice for lunch. My daughter just finished her first 1/2 marathon and this is where she wanted to go, so we went. Going to any pizza place and ordering a pizza without cheese is always a fun experience. You sort of feel like everyone in the restaurant turns and looks at you when you order. But, none the less, I ordered their "Works" pizza with no cheese. The service was very slow. We were the first to arrive at the restaurant at 11AM on a Sunday, and five tables received their meals before we did. The server was pleasant enough, but I have no idea why it took so long. Fortunately, their beverage service is free flowing. Right now they serve Pepsi products but the server made a strong point that they were changing to Coke products in two weeks. So, the food experience was not great, but the overall experience was good as we thrilled in our daughter's 1/2 marathon success.
(3)
Joseph M.
A bit pricey, but the food was great! Me and my Wife stopped in for a bbq chicken pizza and a Ceasar salad. Service was great!
(4)
Celine B.
I loved the salad. Went here for lunch with a colleague and she recommended the salads. We couldn't really decide and went with one with roasted veggies and another one with BBQ Chicken and split. Both salads were amazing. All the ingredients were fresh and tasty. The portions were very generous. Lots of chicken and avocado. The dressing was very balanced and the salads didn't drown in it, which was a huge plus. Wait time was fine for lunch and the waiter very attentive and friendly. I don't have anything bad to say about this place. I have no idea how their Pizzas are, but for salads they are perfect.
(5)
Shawn F.
I always like when I come here. I had the lobster flat bread and really enjoyed it. John was a great server, and I look forward to returning.
(5)
Jenny J.
My colleagues and I have been here numerous times. They always seem to get it right! The salads are AMAZING. Everyone can find something absolutely delicious that they love. The manager Brian is incredibly accommodating and always goes above and beyond. I love that they have a good variety of different foods, without overwhelming you with a huge menu. Great food. Great portions, Great service!! A+++
(5)
Brenda V.
attentive service, nice atmosphere and kid friendly, wasn't too thrilled with the menu choices, they seemed limited and over priced for the type of restaurant, the ladies restroom was disgusting. I will not be returning...
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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G. P.
This is a an overdue review as it happened a while back. But, it was so refreshing to have a manager accommodate me on a cold and rainy day and allow me to pre-order food and eat the bar with my mom. This is not their policy but he made an exception and it was so much appreciated! Thank you!
(5)Mike S.
I've eaten at CPK for years. 25 years ago I worked at one (the 3rd store they opened in ATL). The service is good, though very "standardized". You can always tell when corporate has started dictating service standards because they all sound the same and you really don't get personalities anymore. I can't imagine they have the kind of fun working here now as when they first opened stores almost 30 years ago. The food here is always good even though they tend to add/remove dishes alot. They've lost some good dishes - Cajun Pizza, Black Bean Angel Hair. My biggest problem with CPK now is I no longer can afford to eat here as often as I'd like. I used to go once a week but now I just go every few months. Their prices are crazy - $10 for a half salad?? Pasta dishes for $13+. Every thing has gone through the roof. Those tiny little flatbread things are like $5 or $6. Every time owner ship changes the prices go up to feed a new crop of overpaid execs I guess. Started with the founders Rick and Larry and it was a little high, but I didn't see a price hike for years. And then Pepsico got involved, then sold it back to Rick and Larry, and now its been sold a time or two to some restaurant corps. I'm giving 4 stars for really good food and service and not 5 because of their prices.
(4)Brian B.
I have not been to one of these in probably 15 years. Not sure why, they just are usually not appealing to me being I live in Chicagoland where pizza does not feature things like truffle oil, chicken or BBQ sauce. But for whatever reason, I stop at this CPK today and I admit is was really good. I had a small plate blue cheese wedge with bacon and a hard boiled egg on it which was fantastic along with this great bread they bring you with herb and olive oil for dipping. Then I had the California club pizza which has chicken, bacon, a pile of rocket tossed in dressing along with slices of fresh avocado on their thin crust. Super good and light. Half is plenty for lunch so the other half goes in a box for supper later. Real good service also. I was impressed and will probably make a point to hit these again once in a while.
(4)Noomi J.
I've eaten here before several times back when I was in high school. The items that I remember trying are the fettucini, mac & cheese, garlic chicken pizza, thai pizza, thai salad, bbq pizza. I remember that they were good, but not great. That was years ago though. Today, we had their chicken & shrimp lettuce wraps ($12.75) and works thin crust pizza ($15.25). Lettuce wraps - 2.5 stars. Good, but not worth $13 Works pizza - 1 star at that price. The crust was crisp on the edges (good), floppy elsewhere. It reminded me of a non-toasted tortilla, in a bad way. Cheese and sauce were a huge letdown. Flavorless cheese and not enough sauce! I only ate a few bites of my slice. The max I would pay is $10, but even then, it'd rate lower than Home Run Inn's frozen pizza that I'd get for $6. Easily can make a better pizza. Can probably buy a better frozen pizza too, which shouldn't be the case for a restaurant that has the word 'pizza' in its name lol. The service was good, but then there were only two other tables at that time.
(2)Krys A.
Make sure you call for curbside pickup. They don't tell you this when you orderonline, but when you pick up your food they won't come out. I waited for 15 minutes after my pick up time and my food was cold.
(2)Nic Z.
Amazing hummus dip with warm pita bread. The rest of the menu has gotten better; it went on a little roller coaster ride over the past decade and came back a couple years ago. The lot here is always packed at peak times, so that speaks for it.
(4)Marcello L.
I'm not to crazy about chain pizza places but they just seem to get it. Service, atmosphere, and food was great. My salmon was perfect. My waiter was awesome. Great for a quick date night with the wife.
(5)Geoff H.
The pizza was okay, but it wasn't what I expected for never being to one before. I thought it was blan but I do think others may love it.
(3)Grace C.
I've been to many CPKs, and I have liked every one of them. The service at this one, however, was outstanding. The restrooms were immaculate, the food was delicious, and the service by our waiter (I think his name was Andy) was so kind, patient, and informative. The location was very convenient to the mall, and I would highly recommend this overlooked spot to anyone!
(5)Venkat R.
Was here with few other friend who were visiting me from out of state. The waiting wasn't so bad. Our waiter was nice and knowledgeable enough and offered us vegetarian options as we were all vegetarians. The only complaint I have is the portion for the pizza seem a little on the smaller side. But the overall taste and freshness was good. The inside ambiance was also nice and rich. None of us ordered any alcohol drinks so no comments on that, but their italian soda was good!
(3)Prashant C.
So after driving past CPK many times in Schaumburg, me and wife finally on a Saturday evening stopped there, it was busy as expected. We started with Cocktails which were just average and 'expensive' $9 for an average cocktail is not value. I switched to beer for next glass and it was about $6 for a pint.. so you get the idea... Starter was a flat bread with lots of cheese... again very average.. I was thinking probably the visit was first and last and then the main course came and I understood why it was crowded. Pizzas were awesome, I ordered roasted pulled pork with hot herbano salsa... one word 'Awesome'.. Wifey ordered some veggie option.. again it was great, we couldnt finish so got in the pizza boxes.. good quantity and great quality.. price was about $12 each so I can see some value Service was slow but we were not in hurry and wanted to spend some time in lively atmosphere there so no complaints... Waitress did ok service , was probably a bit in hurry... Overall fine experience, will go there again for pizza but will skip starter or cocktails..
(4)Matt M.
Hey CPK don't lie about your menu on both the menu you hand to people AND your website. Particularly when you get there and they tell you that they dont do that salad anymore. But besides that - we are doing ok CPK. You have mildly tasty food and pretty good service. I dont see your widespread appeal but my dining companion does so I guess thats how you make your money. I do love the location and how bright/clean the place is.
(3)Nicholas S.
I'm very grateful for this place. I came for a quick lunch bite on Veteran's day. I did eight years in the Navy, and after showing my ID they said go ahead and pick anything you want on the left side of the menu - PIZZA DISHES! It's not like they had a special limited menu to pick four items from. NO. They happily repeated, "Any meal you want, left side, go ahead, its all free." I was so impressed! Now the drink I had to cover. No problem. As I waited for the pizza to finish and reminisce with another veteran I happen to serve with in '06, they refilled my drink with ease until I took off with my pizza, they made sure my drink was full. They thanked me and gave me a generous meal. Would have paid $15. Never had I been taken care of so well for Veteran's day. Of all the different chain restaurant/places I've been to in the past few years, this place is the best! There's no advertising in the windows that says "Veteran's Eat Free" but they put it out there online if you look it up. - Nicholas visited: 11/11/2013, 12:00pm
(5)Aly L.
Last time we were there we got the Shaved mushroom and Bianco flat breads which were really good. Nice cosy place to grab a bite. Non pretentious and the food is always delicious.
(5)Michelle F.
My friend and I were craving some pizza, so off to CPK we went! The pizza/other food was great, the service was leaving something to be desired. Anytime we asked for something (like silverware...) we were told, oh yeah, I'll be right back, and then would never come back. This happened with the silverware, plates, parmesan cheese, and my friends' correct pizza (because he got it wrong the first time). In any case, they don't make the amazing Tostada pizza anymore. Super bummer. The fried macaroni and cheese was great, the bang bang shrimp was just OK (Bonefish grill is a million times better!) and our pizzas were good. You know, once they were corrected. I got the pizza with about a million different meats on it, and it was awesome, and my friend got the Hawaiian chicken pizza which was delicious as well. We didn't save enough room for dessert, but they did look awesome. So if I ever go back, I shall order that first!! :)
(3)Carlos V.
It is a good place for those times that your kid wants cheese pizza and you want something else. The lettuce wraps and the garlic cream fettuccine with shrimps are great choices. Not the best restaurant around, but a trustable option.
(3)Richard C.
I will no longer go to store #74 (Schaumburg) normally I love this establishment, however after our last experience I am boycotting this location and will be "blasting" them negatively. The on call manager Bruce Marvin needs to be re-educated in customer service. We have been going to this location for over 5 years, & almost every time my wife orders the fish tacos with a simple substitution of their salsa & chips for a side Caesar salad at no extra charge. Bruce is under the impression that this dish priced $10.75 should have a $2 up charge for the salad, when other sandwich dishes offer the salad as a side item already. He stated bluntly & rudely that the up charge had something to do with their price point cost difference. I know from my experience that the salad's ingredients are cheaper than the salsa and chips, when purchased in bulk from the supplier. I have ample experience as a restaurant manager from my days at Denny's, obviously "the customer is always right," does not apply for this restaurant. I refuse to pay their stupid up charge. We simply got up and left. I hope you get retrained or let go Bruce. I put in a call to your corporate office, and will continue to call until something is done to fix this situation. On a side note, my wife visited another location today and they did not even hesitate in the slightest to give her the side salad without even batting an eye.
(1)Maitri J.
Good food, service was a bit slow, cocktails were ok needs improvement. The staff was ok during busy time felt rushed
(3)Drew G.
Now I remember why I haven't been back in 4 years. While the genoa salad was good and the tortilla springrolls were okay, totally not worth the $23 takeout bill. The salad was worth about $5 and the springrolls at most $7. This place is another restaurant chain just pushing out uncreative food as fast as possible for the masses.
(2)Erika M.
The food was good and the server/service was also very good. I took out one star for having annoying music that sounded like being in an elevator and it was too loud.
(4)Sandra Y.
I would give it 0 stars if that were an option. Went in here at 9pm. Stood in front & waited.... We were never seated. Nobody looked at us or acknowledged us. I thought maybe we came in too late, but I checked the door while we were waiting & it said 10, so I figured we had plenty of time. I guess not... The place wasn't even busy. So.... We left & went to Olive Garden across the street.
(1)Jeremy C.
I now consider myself the worlds foremost expert critic of cpk's.... In the last year I feel like I've been to more cpk's than the rest of my whole previously combined.. Anyway... This is a super suburban location in the suburbs right across from woodfield. Expect lots of families here doing the post mall shopping eating here. Let me give this place an unusual comment.. Usually at EVERY cpk you get the sourdough bread with some packets for solid cement frozen butter packets.. This place actually had room temp packets. I liked that for once... :) Service here hasn't as good as I've had at other cpk's but I def thought the food quality was very good.. This is a safe one..
(3)Beth H.
I am not sure how to rate by stars because CPK has always been one of my two favorite restaurants. We have been frequent diners for a long time. However, recently while eating the leftovers of the veggie salad at work (we ate there for lunch), I found a rock, and I mean A ROCK (I still have it in a bag) in my salad. I bit down on it. I feel very fortunate that I did not break a tooth. I'm do not know if it was in my salad originally, or if found its way, (perhaps via the floor), into the takeout container, but it was in my salad. While this is clearly not a good thing, the worst thing about this, is that I alerted the corporate office, and NOTHING was done by the company. I felt this was important for the company to know, for everyone's sake (Safety). Corporate did take my call, and supposedly alerted the store in Schaumburg. I was told by the corporate office that I would hear back "shortly" from the store itself. I have not heard back from the Schaumburg store, and it's been nearly a month. I wrote back to corporate, just to let them know that Schaumburg never bothered to deal with this matter, and I haven't even heard back from them. While I will miss eating at CPK, since the company does not handle matters properly, we will no longer eat at any CPK. We just have too many options. Lettuce Entertain You restaurants would have never handled (or not at all!) a situation like this. We are willing to pay the money to eat at quality, better-run restaurants.
(1)David K.
Was so happy to hear that CPK offers gluten free pizzas. We ran out and tried the recommended gluten free margarita pizza which had little to no flavor and tasted like a cracker. The others at the table tried a variety of non-gluten free offerings and were not impressed.
(1)Somchai S.
Came here to celebrate my fiance's birthday. overall the place is generally pleasing. We had: Chicken quesodila (sp chk) from their small plate menu. it was tasty but overpriced for $5 for 4 small triangles. Hawaiian BBQ pizza- the star of the dinner. Ive had it frozen but never fresh and I would definitely go back for more! Im excited to try their other pizzas. Fish tacos - i am a fish taco feen and unfortunately both my favorite locations to get fish tacos are no longer serving it. This was the worst of the items we ordered. The cabbage that came on top was quite bitter and there was just not enough flavor from the fish, coleslaw or ranchito sauce. Broccoli and sundried tomato pasta- our waitress accidentally brought us the tomato basil dish, which looked quite appetizing. She was the one who suggested we get the broccoli and tomato pasta. well she corrected the error. The pasta tasted much better the next day. overall it was good. they are lacking in the sides they offer. There was no sides that came with the pasta or chicken.
(3)Mary E.
Recently went to this place for the first time and I loved everything my husband is a basic meat and cheese pizza guy so he didn't care for it but if you like experimenting I definitely recommend! My favs are the lettuce wraps and the Jamaican jerk chicken pizza!
(5)Fred E.
Years ago when I discovered CPK, they had a Peking Duck pizza which I fell in love with. I think it was especially because of the tang of the hoisin sauce. I tried the Thai chicken pizza and it didn't quite have the same kick. The bean sprouts and carrots were excellent - clean and crunchy. I would have liked the thin crust to have been a bit crisper. The strawberry and watermelon fields salad was great - the dressing blending in with the fruit instead of overwhelming it. I would have liked to have seen the waiter a bit more - I didn't get a refill of water until I was almost done with my meal although he was pleasant when he did come by. An extra napkin or two when the meal was served would have been nice since pizza is a finger food. Great atmosphere and enjoyed the background music too. The hostess was very gracious in assisting me with seating. For a "pizza" place, a little on the pricey side but I guess the uniqueness and quality comes with a bit of a premium - the salad (half portion) and pizza (I did order whole grain and thin crust which was extra) and no drinks came up to $32 with tip.
(4)Jennifer M.
There's a saying that's there's a first time for everything; and tonight, there certainly was! We ordered our food but my boyfriend had such a distaste for it that he called our Server back to our table, gave her a mouthful of opinions (all the while apologizing that it was not her fault), rescinded our orders and we walked out on principle. My boyfriend lived in Santa Cruz, CA for many years. He knows California cuisine. We also dine out a lot (not always worthy of a yelp mention) so we know the value of a meal. You don't tell the guy the chicken is not a full breast but merely chicken strips in a sandwich! Then add insult to injury by not offering a complimentary side dish when he decides to order the Chicken Piccata. I'm not saying he was expecting compensation. Most places you order an entree, it includes a side dish. Here, you get a soup or salad included with a sandwich but you get nothing for ordering an entree like the Chicken Piccata that is comparable in price. It just leaves you with a high brow low brow expression, doesn't it? He felt he was being cheated and that's why we left.
(2)Irene S.
Order Sedona tortilla soup and four cheese fresh tomatoes with ham. The soup was great and the pizza was delicious. I will definitely come back and recommended.
(4)Frank A.
It's an A-OK for me. I'm more of a deep dish Giordanos, Pequods, Lous, Ginos East type of guy, but since I've never been here, I decided to give it a shot. Ordered a jerk chicken pizza with bits of bacon, chicken and veggies on it. It was ok, but didn't really blow my socks off. Was a bit lacking with the sauce, but overall, not really sure I'd order it again. It really sort of made me not really want to try any other pizza on the menu. I ordered Korean steak tacos... (who does that at a pizza joint??). Evidently, I was on some weird stuff that day, but I did it anyway. It was actually not bad, however for two small tacos and almost 6 bucks, it's really not worth it. What really surprised me was the garlic cream fettuccine with shrimp and chicken. My wife and I found ourselves chowing down on that more than the pizza, appetizers or anything else. It was actually quite good. Overall, I should have probably just gone somewhere else for pasta, which was really what I didn't come here for. It's ok though. It was a decent meal. Liked the key lime pie...
(3)Pari S.
Drove by this place many times... and always thought... why would I want California Pizza when I can have Chicago style pizza?? However, lots of people have raved about this place and I had to find out for myself. Went here on a weekday during the dinner hours. It appeared pretty busy but we were seated in less then 5 minutes. This restaurant is located across the streets from Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. So it can get quite busy. Nice clean place... very family style and lots of kids. Lots of booths. We ordered korean steak tacos for appetizer. Which was ok. I don't know if I will order them again. But was something interesting that popped at me when I first read the menu. It was actually $6 for 2 very small tacos. When it was served, I almost wanted to say.. "thats it?" For our main dish, we ordered a jerk chicken pizza and a fettucine with shrimp and chicken. The pizza was thin crust and was ok. Chicken kinda dry and was just missing some sauce. However, the fettucine was awesome. Who would've thunk!!! Was nice and creamy... that gave u that warm homely feeling. The shrimp and chicken was cooked perfect. Made everything melt in your mouth. We also had a dessert here. We chose their key lime pie... and I must say, it was pretty good. I may have to come here and try another pizza and see if I like it. But will definitely give the key lime pie and the pasta a go again.
(3)Nikki S.
I had planned a small baby shower for a friend of mine and had called over to CPK on a Tuesday for a Saturday reservation. The gentleman that answered the phone informed me they only do same day reservations. I asked if they would be able to accommodate a group of 7 for a small baby shower and that is when the gentleman told me of their party room. He told me he would be putting me down for the party room for that Saturday. I was grateful and happy - until I arrived at the restaurant that Saturday. I walked in the restaurant early to start my small decorating process for their party room. I told the hostess who I was and reservation info. She gave me the "oh crap" face and got the manager. The "manager" first said he didn't have staff for their party room?!?! and then told me he had no information on my event?!? I explained as calmly as I could holding a 20 pound box of baby decorations what the gentleman told me on the phone. The manager then led me back to their "room" and said this isn't how they normally do things yada yada. All of the sudden Mr. Manager comes back with a waiter - so he lied about the no staff. I am giving them 2 stars because the food was excellent, our waiter was fantastic, and the mom-to-be had a great time. To Mr. Manager who could have been way more friendly we dined there on July 21st at lunch.
(2)Josh D.
Had not had it except frozen for 10 years. Went looking for a good Chicago style pizza joint but could not find one in area. Stopped in and it reminded me of the first time I had it in Los Angeles. Excellent pizza and just the right amount!
(5)Avi S.
4 Stars. Great Food. Ok Service. But Long Wait Time. I like CPK but the problem this time was that they did not serve us while we were waiting like other restaurants. But other than that I am happy.
(4)Mark B.
As a rule I don't write reviews for chain restaurants. They have their own advertising engines to get you through the door. However, over the weekend, we were in the Schaumburg/Hoffman area and it's nearly all chains at this point. In deciding where to grab a quick bite for lunch it was burger this, sports bar that.. and so on. We haven't been to CPK in a while and it seemed like it would be a nice change of pace from the typical places we go. Gotta say, they've upped their game since the last time I was there. We split a nice white corn guacamole appetizer and a really tasty roasted artichoke and spinach pizza. Some interesting and unique food, done well. The guac was fresh and the flavors on the pizza were really excellent. Full without being overpowering. I was really pleased with each dish and the meal overall. When we are in the Woodfield area again, we'll definitely have CPK at the top of our list versus the other chain restaurants in the area.
(4)Ariel W.
Ok. Not a big chain fan. The staff were nice. Have had better pizza elsewhere. Salad was crisp. In no hurry to return.
(3)G E.
Decent food but nothing to get to excited about. I usually get the the California club, liked it better when they had the Asian slaw as the side instead of soup or salad option they have now. The jambalaya fettuccine is good if you like a little spice. There pizza is decent but this being Chicago there are way to many pizza places out there that are better.
(3)Megan O.
To start off--- obviously this is a popular CHAIN restaurant- but in my opinion they do a good job. I like their pizza- service is always friendly. They're really great about refilling your drinks without having to ask. If you want bread you'll have to ask, but I like the sourdough that they have there. For starters I like the small portion white corn guac and the spinach artichoke is good as well. they also have a pretty good drink menu-- i like the mojitos. For non alcoholic drinks the strawberry lemonade is a good choice.
(4)Catndog ..
Does anyone know if their pizza crust recipe has changed??? Went yesterday and it was flavorless and flat. Check out the photo - Christy's pizza vs ours - suppose to be the exact same thing!
(2)Charlotte T.
Yummy yum yum. Had the mushroom medley or whatever it was called pizza. Amazing! And those avocado egg rolls were awesome. My server was Katie at the bar. Top notch service. Going back soon. Oh and try the peach lemonade, yum.
(5)Amy X.
This is an okay restaurant. We did felt a bit rushed because they were about to close. Food was decent. Had cedar salmon, a shrimp and zucchini fettuccine, and a salted chocolate pudding. I liked the salmon. It tasted a little like wood. But i thought it was pretty good. All that including tax and tips, we payed $50. I do believe its a bit towards the expensive side.
(3)Nichole C.
I've been here a million times and I always go for the foccacia appetizer and the buffalo chicken pizza but today BOTH WERE GONE! They obviously got a new menu and I was really bummed out but ordered steak tacos as a stand-in...I know what you are thinking, "Tacos at a PIZZA kitchen? Really?"...but OMMFG they were the most delicious steak tacos I have EVER HAD! CAPITAL LETTERS AND EXCLAMATIONS NECESSARY!! Seriously, the minute I took my first bite I was in love with those freaking tacos. They are perfectly seasoned, have a delicious ranchito sauce on them, come with fresh avocado (NOT GUAC), and slices of lime. They have flour tortillas...meh...but they are still awesome. I don't even care that my original loves left me without notice. They are that good.
(4)Brian A.
We went there last night for dinner. We went specifically for the fried avocado rolls. Turns out the fryer was broken and we couldn't get them. The manager was very nice and bought us a different app. It wasn't good. Tortilla rolls. We had the BBQ pizza and the pear and Gorgonzola pizza. Both pizzas were very good. We also had the new beet salad app. It was not very good. They smear goat cheese on he bottom of the plate. Why to give a decent amount crumbled on top? 4 stars because we couldn't get what we wanted. Yet kudos to nice management and service!
(4)Rachel J.
The california club pizza.............yummmmmmmmm. I knew the pizza was going to be tasty, but the service was the real stand out this time. Our server was polite, friendly, and attentive despite her full section. It was appreciated, and really made the night. Thanks for not pissing me off, CPK!
(4)Katie L.
Why oh why did you get rid of the Cheeseburger pizza? It was definitely a favorite of mine! Settled for the BBQ chicken Hawaiian Pizza instead, it was good. Got an avocado- type appetizer which was delicious- would definitely order that again! Great ambiance, friendly staff
(4)Div M.
Went here on new year day and had a fab experience .. Service was great .. Rene served our table .. Very friendly and warm person .. Food was excellent ..
(5)Sarah M.
I'm not generally a fan of CPK in general, but I LOVED their greek pizza. I haven't been in a few years, but one night a really had a craving for it, I was so disappointed when we got there and found out that they took the greek pizza off the menu :( I would have left if I could have. I got a white pizza instead, it was fine, nothing great. The service was a little slow and our waitress was a bit rude. Now that they don't have greek pizza, I don't think I'll be coming back for mediocre pizza and rude service.
(2)M P.
I've been going to CPK for 15 years and still love it. When it first opened in the midwest, it was a huge deal. I mean who had ever heard of gourmet pizzas? Nowadays, going to CPK is like going to Olive Garden or On the Borders...for the nostalgia. Yes there are more "authentic" places you can go and try gourmet pizzas, but CPK is like an old friend. I know what to expect when I go. My all time favorites: Tostada pizza, 5-Cheese and Fresh Tomato pizza (but only with Cholula sauce added on top), Chicken Tequila Fettuccine, and the Chocolate Souffle Cake a la mode. They used to have this amazing garlic cheese bread which I didn't see on the menu last time I went. I've never been disappointed coming here to eat, but if you're expecting something life altering or even a true pizzeria, then this probably isn't the place for you.
(5)Linh L.
I like how the food pairs together well and the variety of flavors. Plus, it is very very affordable. I have to give it 5 stars for the quality and price.
(5)Amy L.
Ah CPK, why are you like old candy? Kinda like you hope it will taste good but it turns out it was rotten. I was going to give you a two star reviews but I recanted because the aftertaste of the food still made me nauseous and that does not deserve a 2 star review. Yesterday was quite a chilly day, about 40s and when I went into the restaurant, it felt like the same temperature. Weird? Everybody must have thought the same thing because they were all wearing their coats while eating. That's a big No No in any establishment, being cold while eating food. I even had hot tea to keep warm. Food: The white bean minestrone soup was pretty good, nice flavor and a hint of tanginess. I also got the white pizza and the garlic chicken pizza. Initially, we have high hopes for this place. Rejoicing in the memory of how good the pizza tasted a couple of years ago. For $12 a pizza, it must taste good right? Wrong!!! The pizza came out unordinary, in a regular dish and it looked unappealing altogether. Like someone else said in their review, seems like reheated frozen pizza. In terms of taste, it was bland and uneatable. After 2 slices I felt rather nauseous and I had to force myself to eat some of it because I'm going to pay for it. Man, it was horrible. I usually don't give bad reviews but this really deserved it. Best part of the experience: We left! Maybe next time, I'll stick to Chicago Pizza type of kitchens!
(1)Swati B.
Went here on a saturday night with family...it was packed considering it was 9pm. There was a tad bit of a wait (nothing major). I was pleasantly surprised with their service..our server was really on top of it making sure our drinks were topped off and letting us know that our food was on its way. She gave us a generous helping of the dessert as well. It's not my favorite pizza but I welcome the different types of pizza they have. Their new spinach and artichoke thin crust was pretty damn good. Didn't care too much for the crowd..tons of high school kids and really really loud. 1 pizza has 6 slices...we had 3 people and got 2 pizzas and a small appetizers..oh yes the "small plate cravings" are seriously meant for 1 person. and the wine list..meh. I guess this is what happens when you eat in the suburbs..thank goodness I'm a city gal!
(3)Stefanie K.
I was here on Monday, and I've been here quite a few times. Just about every time my experience has been pretty solid, and I've never ordered something I didn't like. This last visit I tried the Habanero Carnitas pizza, sooooooo good. The sauce is super hot! We also split an order of the hummus, and that too was good. My server, Bobbie, was very attentive which I always appreciate. The servers who show up once to take an order, once to drop food off, and once to get the bill are not the type I've experienced here. All in all, if you're looking for a place to try some different pizzas, and you're in the Woodfield area, I'd say stop by and check them out.
(4)Hoang L.
This place is a safe bet for those who don't Yelp, but nothing extraordinary. Too cookie cutter for me. If you want real pizza, go to a pizzeria owned by Italians. California is where movies are made, not pizza. BBQ chicken pizza? Interesting, but gets old after a slice.
(3)Matt R.
Nice place! Pretty consistently good, and they have some unique pizzas. They have a thai pizza that I love to order, but any of them are pretty good. They make mostly the european style flat pizzas. Prices are not too bad, portion sizes are a little small. Overall its consistent and you know that if you want to get a unique pizza at a nice place it's a good fit. They do serve drinks if you want them, although not necessary. Place has a nice little design to it too. In no way is it "OMFG AMAZING" though, so it gets a 4/5.
(4)Nicole L.
I don't really care for their pizza because I think it's rather bland, but I come here for their delicious BBQ chicken salad. That's all I ever order off the menu. It's a bit pricey for salad, but I split it with the hubby so it's not that bad. Make sure to ask for bread. Apparently they no longer bring it out automatically.
(4)Shawn F.
Oh, this place is much better than ordering from Pizza Hut. I've been to CPK (not necessarily this CPK) about 10 times and have ordered a traditional cheese pizza every single time. It never gets old (maybe because I only eat here occasionally). And I'm able to finish the entire pizza in one sitting (about an hour in the restaurant), which is pretty impressive since I'm such a slow eater and I get full very easily. I took off one star, because the place is so busy every time I go there. The wait is never too long, maybe 15 minutes tops.
(4)Victoria h.
Really? $10 for a 1/2 salad. Granted, their 1/2 portions are still incredibly huge, but shouldn't 1/2 portions be 1/2 the price? Apparently. not. This restaurant is, pretty much, one big open space. So the noise level is usually pretty high. Our server was quick and friendly. I haven't tried the pizzas, but the salads are fair. Get the dressing on the side unless you want your salad to have more calories and fat than the pizza.
(3)Elise M.
CPK is quickly becoming my new favorite restaurant in the area. My food always tastes great and seems like it was prepared well. Service is a little hit-or-miss at lunch, but the place is usually packed so I guess it can't be helped. I guess I should mention I haven't even tried the pizza yet; I have so much fun going down the menu with everything else that I often forget they serve pizza!
(5)Carrie c.
I left California Pizza Kitchen thinking...I'll just stick with the frozen CPK pizzas. The server kept trying to talk us into multiple appetizers and said the pizzas were too much for one person. Not sure if they were just telling servers to push apps or what. There were only two of us, so we had no need for multiple appetizers. In addition to the one app, we shared a goat cheese/pepper pizza which ended up being really good and the perfect portion size for two people. It wasn't very warm though... We also got the dumplings which weren't cooked all the way and tasted really bland til you dipped them in the sauce that comes with it. The glasses and plates all seemed a bit greasy like they weren't washed very well....this alone grosses me out. We sat down about 15 minutes before the two tables next to us and they were finishing their pizzas by the time we got ours. And both of those tables had apps too...but a different server. So..."meh, I've experienced better" is what I'm sticking to. I have no interest in going back and will just wait for the next time I'm in CA to have these types of pizzas.
(2)Jeremy L.
Dined here so MANY times! I am not an Italian pizza lover. BUT I love CPK! I love their Thai chicaken pizza and the Jamaican jerk pizza those are my 2 favoraite pizzas from here. I also love thier tortilla soup, which I typically order along with my pizza. Love this place!
(4)Nick S.
CPK has a nice ambiance. Typically, I'll sit with my wife at the bar and order the Tequila-lime linguine and we get a pear and Gorgonzola pizza. It's all very tasty, but I have problems finding other items on the menu that taste equally good. Lately, we have not had a craving for CPK. I'm getting back into junky, Chicago style pizza.
(3)Farzana P.
So me my sister and her friend wanted some pizza! And my sis suggested this place. So we started with appetizers and got the crispy fried mac-n-cheese. It didn't take very long and looked pretty good. But there were only 4 on the plate and they were bite size. I took a bite and it was a bit bitter. We also ordered the 5 cheese pizza and it kind of a meaty taste to it. And it didn't have much taste. The last thing was garlic noodles. They smelled WAY too much like garlic. And there wasn't enough sauce. I am not sure if I will come back to this place since I live so far.
(3)Silky O.
This is a great place to eat. I've found that all CPKs are very consistent in terms of quality and service. I will recommened the CPK Cobb Salad. For around $14 you will find yourself face down in chilled grilled chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, lettuce, and gorgonzola cheese. I will typically pour ALL of my ranch sauce on my salad (sometimes on my hairy chest) so it slides down my throat with ease! I also love their personal pizzas. I cant say I'm a fan those crazy varieties they have, but the pepperoni definetly gets my juices flowing if you know what I mean! Love to the end, Silky
(4)Victoria B.
I never thought of eating at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) but I was talked into it by the sister-in-law (Stacy). I figured if she likes it, it couldn't be bad since she's the finicky eater. I ordered the Goat Cheese with Roasted Peppers. It's made with a mild goat cheese, roasted red & yellow peppers, grilled Japanese eggplant, Mozzarella cheese, carmelized onions, Italian parsley and tomato sauce. The crust was very thin but very crispy and tasty. Stacy had the Original Barbecue Chicken Pizza made with barbecue sauce, smoked Gouda and Mozzarella cheeses, BBQ Chicken, sliced red onions and cilantro. Who would have thought that a pizza made with BBQ sauce would have tasted so good, I was truly impressed. I was a bit stuffed from my meal or else I would have ordered dessert. The Chocolate Soufflé Cake was looking good but I had to say no. Until next time my love. CPK also has other items on the menu like pastas, salads, soups, and sandwiches but I couldn't bring myself to order anything but pizza on my first visit. I figured I could get something else next time like the Kung Pao Spaghetti or the BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad. I also noticed that they had a kids menu for those under 10. It had five different varieties of pizza, four pasta dishes, mac n' cheese, a chicken dish and a salad topped with with Cheddar Goldfish. I was actually very pleased with my experience at CPK. I was even more thrilled that they carried Pepsi products with complimentary refills. It's the little things in life that make me the happiest.
(4)Tracy K.
I think CPK is kind of overrated and overpriced, but because they offer items I can't get anywhere else, I do find myself coming here from time to time to bring lunch back to the office. Each time I have been in, it has been uncomfortably hot, and as a person who likes it warm, that's saying something. They do get bonus points for understanding a substitution (keep your chicken, gimme avocado instead.. WITHOUT charging me extra for it, kthx). Good for lunch when you need a break from everything else around here, but not something I hit up every week.
(3)Apara W.
Good food, plenty options for kids. Our server Ashley was super helpful with suggestions. Clean, great atmosphere, quick service. 1 star off for price. Kid-friendly.
(4)Robert S.
I've been going here for a while and I just went again this weekend. Its a very solid pizza place. The menu is very diverse and the have some excellent specialty pizzas. The desserts are great too, best red velvet cake I have ever had. Probably my favorite thing about this place is how light the pizza feels. I've been to a lot of places where after ypu eat the pizza all you want to do is take a nap, so its a great place to go if you have plans for afterward. The restaurant itself is clean and tidy, the servers are friendly, and there usually isn't a wait. The prices aren't too bad either, not the cheapest but you definitely get what you pay for. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Inigo M.
A chain's a chain, true in this case, so the only thing worth commenting on is the service, which was fast, attentive, and courteous. Just sucks to get slapped with the automatic group gratuity but oh, well.
(4)Jef B.
We've eaten here probably a half dozen times, always on trips to Woodfield Mall. The pizza varieties are tasty, the service is good, and the ambience is excellent. This is probably the best restaurant, outside of Cheesecake Factory, in the area.
(4)Justin W.
The food's pretty good, but the "personal" pizza should be shared. I'm not a fan of bringing the food home from this place and I sure as hell don't want to eat that whole thing myself (not that I can't). The BLT, ham and pineapple, and Chipotle styles kick ass.
(4)Shirley T.
been here 3 times with people from the office pizza - is not pizza pasta - has no flavor we have now stopped trying this place it is a joke to be in the chicago area
(1)Tiffany L.
I've been to many CPK's in my life...from California to Illinois but the service here was great. Our server was so on top of it and kept coming by to see if we were low on drinks or needed anything (and this was on a Saturday night when there were uber busy). It's a bit of a trek for me to get up there...but definitely the best service of the ones I've been to since moving to Illinois!
(5)Sum Fun D.
This place has the BEST Hummus! We order it all the time for a meal. Though last night we decided to try something else on the menu. We used to think of this as a reasonable priced place to eat. We went there last night and for 2 of us we spent $50 plus a tip and it ended up being around $60 for the meal. I was not that pleased as I could have went to Cheesecake Factory across the street at the mall and had a top notch meal and been full for the next 12-15 hours. We both got pasta which ran $12-$14 for a plate. I don't know what made it so special as neither even had any kind of meat with it. I had 7 cheese raviolis (which were really good) for $12. We had dessert which I have never had there and it was by far not special. I got a piece of red velvet cake for $6.29 and was asked of I wanted to add a scoop of ice cream for $1.50 more which would have made this almost an $8 dessert. I passed and could not beleive how off and generic this tasted. For the price, I would have hoped it would have been outstanding. It was not. I will continue to go here to get the hummus and from time to time to share a pizza, but they have been increasing their prices quite a bit which is ok, if it was a little more quality.
(4)Ed M.
This is where fat gay guys have romantic dinners. I dined here last nite with one of my asian buddys last night...and seated next to us was couple of really fat gay guys apparently on a date. WE COULD HEAR EVERYTHING as they giggled and jollied their dinner away. T'was amusing i may add. After rolfing down appetizers and a pizza each, Fat gay guy #1 ordered a choco cake, while the fat gay guy #2 argued otherwise (presumably "watching his figure") but in the end he digressed to the temptations of the fudge as he dove into the choco cake mouth first.
(5)Jasmyn K.
Food and service is good, my only complaint is what is wrong with their heating/AC??? I went here in July and it was HOT in the place, the AC was barely turned on. I just went here again on Sunday (Dec 2nd) and it was freezing cold! They need to make the temp in the place more comfortable.
(4)Halisa V.
This place was really good!! The food was great and i loved the chicken pizza i ordered. I am going there again for sure!!
(4)Michael W.
So CPK is a franchise, and it's not cool to like franchise restaurants, but if lovin' CPK is wrong, I don't wanna be right. This place gets it, from the food to the service and atmosphere. I love the layout. When you walk in, the restauant appears to expand before you, with the open kitchen occupying the back wall. If you're by yourself or with a couple friends, ask to eat at the bar, which has a prime view of the kitchen. It's fascinating to watch the cooks work (not to mention fun to watch people who are enjoying their job!) I like funky combinations, so CPK's pizzas hit the spot. One of my personal faves is the California Club, with avocado, bacon, grilled chicked and chilled lettuce tossed with a little mayo. It's outstanding. Solid service and a laid back atmosphere rounds out the picture.
(5)Nancy S.
I'm surprised CPK can flourish in a pizza town like Chicago but it definitely lends a twist to the traditional deep dish. I haven't been to CPK since I left CA but was surprised to see the wonderful new menu! They've added things like steaks and Alaskan Halibut which are some welcomed low carb additions. The seasonal flat bread which is topped with lobster salad, arugula, onions and chives is one of the best dishes I've had in a while!
(4)Amber S.
Worst service ever by the "greeter." Just came back an hour ago. We came as a party of 11 to celebrate my brother's birthday. As we walked in this short haired blonde woman who was supposed to be the greeter completely ignored us. We approached her to tell her we were here as a party of 11 and she was overall indifferent and seemed to have some complexities and a power struggle because she wanted to seat us at separate tables and refused to push them in together. She didn't e plain why they couldn't be pushed together and claimed that a larger area would be an hour late---keep in mind we were the only ones waiting and this was at 8:30 and the restaurant was not ridiculously busy at all for a Friday night. She then didn't even escort us to the table...she basically just pointed the table out to us. Completely rude and unacceptable. Our server was very kind and another server or manager saw what was going on and he offered to push the two tables together. The food was just fine and very standard for what cpk is. The manager was making rounds to ask everyone how they were enjoying the food and how everything was going. He seemed to completely ignore our table---the huge table of 11. Don't know how he can miss us but he somehow totally did... We tipped very generously as our server was kind. Overall though---I was disgusted by the rude demeanor of the manager and the "greeter."
(1)Erick M.
They got rid of the HABANERO CARNITAS PIZZA!!! Never eating here again. (The Butter cake is still orgasmic tho)
(1)Christina M.
Just finished eating and the food was really good!!! Drinks were delicious! But most importantly our server Ashlyn I believe was so sweet and personable. The manager was very nice as well stopped by the table to make sure everything was great. Thank you for a wonderful meal California pizza kitchen! Btw we had: California thin crust pizza, tortilla soup, adobo margarita, strawberry margarita, and sunset Caribbean sangria.
(5)Amanda O.
While my daughter was at the mall shopping with a friend, I decided to get some work done on my laptop. I saw on Yelp that California Pizza Kitchen had free WiFi, so I decided to have dinner there too. I told the hostess that I would be on my laptop and she, thankfully, put me at the last table in the back. I didn't like that it was right next to the kitchen, but I did like that I was away from other people eating. I can't remember my server's name, but she was super friendly and helpful. I had a couple of questions about things on the menu and she was able to answer them all. I usually order the white pizza, but she recommended the wild mushroom pizza. I still like the white pizza more (with bacon), but the mushroom pizza with truffle oil was good too. It never fails, though, that every time I know I'm going to want dessert at a restaurant, my server fails to ask me if I want to order some. She brought my check before asking if I wanted dessert and had to take it away because I ended up ordering the Butter Cake which was amazing. It was like a cross between a pound cake and a cookie and I loved it with ice cream on top. YUM!
(4)Vishal B.
New look, new menu with classic favorites. New pasta menu with unique twists on familiar plates like alfredo, but now with a lime cream sauce upgrade made for a very cool dinner. CPK is trying hard to appeal to the young crowd and millennials. The new rewards program (many restaurants are starting these) seems like a good concept so as long as there is no card. I like that we can earn while we eat to one day walk into a free entree.
(4)Azhar S.
Been here twice and haven't been a huge fan of this place. In my opinion, it's over priced and the quality lacks. They have a decent selection. I ordered a chicken pizza and the pizza crust was so thin and small I felt like I barely ate anything when I left and the bill was pretty hefty for very little food. Surprisingly, the place is packed but I'm just not a fan. I've been to many pizza places in my lifetime and this is not the first place I think of when I'm really craving excellent quality pizza.
(2)Neel K.
I have to say I've been a fan of CPK since I was a kid. They have a great menu that has changed just slightly since the last 15 years. I do enjoy the new small plates that they have introduced and the best part is that you can personalize the pizzas to make them how ever you would like. Even the salads are very good, especially the roasted veg salad is full of flavor and very filling. As far as the service at Schaumburg, we have been very happy every time we have visited. The Ice Tea is very good, and they never let your glass go empty. The desserts leave a lot to be desired. We tried the brownie Sunday and a caramel dessert, both of which were mediocre.
(4)Britt C.
Our meal was good - quite pleased with it, however I am still not in a rush to get back or anything. We just had the small guacamole appetizer, which was good - very small, but to be fair it was very inexpensive. We then decided when in Rome - and ordered a pizza. Went with the wild mushroom (no truffle oil topping) and I was pretty happy with it. I liked that the crust was light and that they didn't skimp on the mushroom toppings. We decided that splitting these two items between the two of us was pretty perfect. I'm always looking for that balance of eating enough, but not going over board and feeling too full to do anything the rest of the day. The service was decent, it was pretty quiet at this location. They kept coming around to check if we had the bill ready when we were sitting chatting (even after we had been told by two separate associates there was no rush mind you!) which was a little annoying, especially since it wasn't as though there weren't a ton of table open for other customers.
(3)Sarah W.
Absolutely love the bbq chicken chopped salad. CPKs ranch dressing is to die for. They should sell it. It is soooo delicious. Whenever I'm craving salad this is my go to place. Schaumburg or Deerpark.
(5)Melissa H.
We met up with some friends here last night for dinner. Our server named Justin was great. He was patient in waiting for us to order and catching up with our friends. He was also very entertaining and provided great customer service I'm not completely sure of what our friends ordered but for appetizers we split fried mac and cheese and the avocado egg rolls. Both were brought to us warm, fresh, and crispy. My husband ordered their Wild mushroom pizza and added bacon. I ordered their quinoa arugula salad and added chicken. I am obsessed with this salad at CPK and it's the only thing I order from there. To be honest, we were disappointed in our entrees. We frequently go to the CPK closer to our home at Deer Park. The pizza my husband said wasn't nearly as good as Deer Park's CPK and the salad portion seemed smaller then the Deer Park location. Overall we had great customer service and a hilarious waiter that we would come back for as well as the appetizers/drinks, but if we want to have their main entrees we're probably going to stick to their Deer Park location.
(3)Sarah P.
Had lunch with an old friend and had a really great time. The food was ready in no time! I ordered the Thai salad, which is always good. You can never go wrong! I also had their new white berry sangria which I thought was delicious, but apparently not for everyone! The service was really great and definitely was not rushed at all. I really like the interior, it was really cozy and relaxing.
(5)Phil P.
So, after visiting the AT&T store nearby, the wife and I suddenly found ourselves having to kill 2 hours for her phone data transfer to complete. After a brief visit to Trader Joe's, we decided to settle for dinner at CPK... best decision of the day! Upon entering, we noticed the renovations in process. But it was still fairly busy for a Thursday night, which is always a good sign. We got seated immediately and were greeted by John, or server for the evening. Great guy, a ball of positive energy! We ordered the tostada pizza and my favorite, the tequila lime chicken fettuccine with extra sauce. We also ordered some of their habanero salsa on the side. When the pizza arrived, the wife noticed the crust was different than in the past. John told us that they changed the crust on the tostada pizza, but he gladly offered to make a new pizza on the crust we favored... awesome! Once the revised pizza arrived, we met the manager, who ensured we were happy with our meal. This location, despite being a chain, personified exemplary customer service. What makes it even better, is their food is deeelish!
(5)Andrea P.
I used to come here very often. I enjoyed the food and did my kids. Over the years, California pizza kitchen got more and more popular. Now I go in and the service is bad and they are very cheap. I ordered the pasta and they barely give me any sauce. Then I ask for extra sauce and they give me a little spoon. It is also very inconvenient. They always mess up our order. I am very disappointed that my favorite restaurant became one of my least.
(2)Mireya L.
Before a business event, my sister and I were looking for a place to eat. I had heard this place made wood burning pizzas and it's amazing how it's true. The waitress, Jenni, was enthusiastic and friendly. We got sourdough bread with olive oil as a complimentary belly warmer (appetizer) while we watched our Hawaiian pizza being made and put in the oven. WOW! This is amazing! Generous amounts I pineapple and ham with a thin Han tossed crust. Definitely coming here again. Getting dessert next time.
(5)S V.
I avoided CPK for years thinking, "what does anyone in CA know about pizza". I was wrong. They have a wonderful menu. They are wonderful all around!!!
(5)Jenny A.
Great pizza and all but the prices are just ridiculous. If you're willing to spend I recommend the BBQ Chicken Pizza. It's my favorite. Kids love the cheese pizza but really you can't mess up a cheese pizza. Service is nothing to complain about really. If only this place had cheaper prices, it'd be 5 star.
(3)A K.
This place has good food but they are very expensive for the amount you get. Maybe I am just used to more because I am from the Midwest, but it seems that the portions are lacking. They do have interesting concepts for pizza, but sometimes you just want a deep-dish slice that you are better off being eating with a fork and knife than your hands. The inside is very clean and and the staff is friendly though.
(3)Rocky B.
I've always loved this place. Too bad they don't have the Peking duck pizza anymore. But it's hard not to get the Thai pizza here. But everything is good.. Everyone always orders the lettuce wraps and in my opinion, it's one of my fav appetizer. Actually here and pf changs has the best lettuce wraps. Thai salad, key lime pie. I can eat here all the time.
(5)Bob R.
Since for medical reasons I eact have anything with milk products, this was a strange choice for lunch. My daughter just finished her first 1/2 marathon and this is where she wanted to go, so we went. Going to any pizza place and ordering a pizza without cheese is always a fun experience. You sort of feel like everyone in the restaurant turns and looks at you when you order. But, none the less, I ordered their "Works" pizza with no cheese. The service was very slow. We were the first to arrive at the restaurant at 11AM on a Sunday, and five tables received their meals before we did. The server was pleasant enough, but I have no idea why it took so long. Fortunately, their beverage service is free flowing. Right now they serve Pepsi products but the server made a strong point that they were changing to Coke products in two weeks. So, the food experience was not great, but the overall experience was good as we thrilled in our daughter's 1/2 marathon success.
(3)Joseph M.
A bit pricey, but the food was great! Me and my Wife stopped in for a bbq chicken pizza and a Ceasar salad. Service was great!
(4)Celine B.
I loved the salad. Went here for lunch with a colleague and she recommended the salads. We couldn't really decide and went with one with roasted veggies and another one with BBQ Chicken and split. Both salads were amazing. All the ingredients were fresh and tasty. The portions were very generous. Lots of chicken and avocado. The dressing was very balanced and the salads didn't drown in it, which was a huge plus. Wait time was fine for lunch and the waiter very attentive and friendly. I don't have anything bad to say about this place. I have no idea how their Pizzas are, but for salads they are perfect.
(5)Shawn F.
I always like when I come here. I had the lobster flat bread and really enjoyed it. John was a great server, and I look forward to returning.
(5)Jenny J.
My colleagues and I have been here numerous times. They always seem to get it right! The salads are AMAZING. Everyone can find something absolutely delicious that they love. The manager Brian is incredibly accommodating and always goes above and beyond. I love that they have a good variety of different foods, without overwhelming you with a huge menu. Great food. Great portions, Great service!! A+++
(5)Brenda V.
attentive service, nice atmosphere and kid friendly, wasn't too thrilled with the menu choices, they seemed limited and over priced for the type of restaurant, the ladies restroom was disgusting. I will not be returning...
(3)