Use to love this place!!!! Worked in the mall and would eat lunch/dinner here about 3 times a week! Sometime twice in one day. Loved their pastas n salads. But not like it use to be. Hadn't been back in a while. They changed up their menu a bit but still had some of my favorites still on the menu. Kung pao spaghetti with shrimp is my faves. Noodles are always al dente just the way I like it (so they get that third star) with just the right amount of heat! (Too many peanuts tho) Chicken potstickers were pretty good. Our kids loved them. Tried their strawberry basil martini. I don't do fruity drinks but wanted to try it cuz it's new. Too sweet n not enough booze for me. You wanna feel a little something after you drink a "-tini"of any sort but this was just like sipping on juice...(not "sipping on GIN n juice). I'll stick with wine, beer or a real martini (belvedere up with a twist) from now on.
(3)
Judy E.
Visiting a friend who just moved across the street from Old Orchard, she suggested I bring California Pizza Kitchen Thai Chicken pizza. We had been big fans years ago when CPK opened on Orleans St. in Chicago, often going several times a month. I hadn't had anything but the frozen, grocery store CPK pizza for many, many years so I was excited to have the real thing again. Entering the restaurant I immediately noticed the visible grease and dirt covering the menus at the hostess stand, but I ignored it and stepped inside to a dark restaurant whose only lights were from the take-out sign and the kitchen. It was gorgeous and sunny outside, but there was no sunlight filtering through the windows, and it gave a sense of dinginess rather than the typical darker ambiance of a restaurant. I knew what I wanted and was grateful I didn't have to touch the menu laid out on the take-out counter, and the staff was fast, friendly, and efficient and I had my order to go in less than 10 minutes. Another 10 minutes and I was sitting down to eat in my friend's kitchen, disappointed to see that the julienne veggies were just piled on top, not cooked into the pizza. And when I picked up a slice they fell off - not a few, nearly all of them. Perhaps it is unfair to compare today's pizza with its predecessor, but I was very disappointed. From the loose raw veggies that never touched the peanut sauce to the crust that tasted like the freezer version, there was nothing there to make a happy memory. Given the dirt, dark, and lackluster pizza, I would not recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Alan H.
Don't bother going here if your party is larger than 4! Ours was 7! We were told they don't like to combine tables. We were seated. They brought our appetizer order. We had to ask for place settings and napkins. Not going back here!
(1)
Kristine R.
I came here for my birthday on a Saturday night and the wait time was ridiculously long! I actually was looking forward to going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner but I think it was prom night or something because there were a million teenagers in prom dresses waiting for tables there.. So my brother suggested California Pizza Kitchen. I think we waited about an hour and a half for a table for 12. I don't blame them though, we didn't have reservations, and we had a pretty big party. This was my first time at this restaurant and was surprised that they had a lot to offer on their menu. I ended up ordering everything on the appetizer list and loved it all! My favorite ones were the chips and spinach artichoke dip and the avocado egg rolls. The avocado egg rolls were the best I've ever had! I am a huge fan of chicken alfredo, I get it every time I go to any italian restaurant, so that's what I ordered here. They call it the Garlic Cream Fettuccine. I ordered extra broccoli and portabello mushrooms with it. So, I was blown away when I tasted this dish! I almost never finish my meals at restaurants because I eat so much appetizers but I cleaned this plate off fast! This by far was the best Alfredo I've ever had in my life. Thinking about it makes me want to order it right now. My husband got the Hawaiian Pizza. Everyone else seemed pretty happy with everything they ordered. I can't say too much about how the pizza tasted because I didn't have any but my husband loved it. By the end of the night, they brought me out a huge ice cream sundae for my birthday with a candle. That sundae didn't have a chance. I inhaled it so fast.
(5)
Sarah C.
Ate here today, our server, Abe was a gem. He not only signed us up for the rewards program, he was very patient with our special requests. We had the white corn guacamole was untraditional and delicious. The poblano sausage flat bread was alright and the Mac and cheese bites were pretty good too. Overall the service(hostess and manager too) and Abe was awesome! A small critique is the cheap coaster kept sticking to the glasses and then falling to our laps crumbs and all.
(5)
William L.
Dinner was great and service was awesome. Why three star. The GM talked a customer threw our entire dinner at the bar. TMI please other customers.
(3)
Sarah P.
Surprisingly this place, as busy as it was, seemed to be very understaffed. It took a while for our server to help us when we needed. On the bright side the food we ordered, which was the original bbq chicken pizza with pineapples, came out really fast and it was delish! We also ordered the new fruit salad which was alright but don't recommend ordering. We were going to order another pizza since it was so small but the waiter barely came so lost that order.
(3)
Angela S.
There was a time a million years ago when I lived in Chicago that this place used to be a destination for me. Now, like Cait K mentions in her review, it's purely out of convenience. I don't particularly like going to chains, and it seems like when CPK expanded my interest became even less. But, nevertheless, I have yet to have a bad meal. So far so good... knock on wood. I love their veggie salad. It's kind of like a garbage salad, except there is nothing bad about it... it's good for you garbage! Eggplant, mushrooms, lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, red and yellow peppers and asparagus. Add the California veggie pizza, a bowl of split pea soup, and you've got the ultimate tasty lunch. My kiddos each had a personal pan pizza, which comes with a drink. I think each of their meals was $5.95 each! A great bargain! Ooh, how I love the bread they bring out to the table with the herbed olive oil. Yum! Outdoor seating here (yes it is at parking lot level), and a nice spacious interior.
(4)
Chicago F.
Service slow, food mediocre. Went way downhill.
(2)
Hamza S.
Ordered the BBQ Chicken pizza and it is fresh as always, and the server was very attentive to our needs. Will definitely be back!!
(5)
Will T.
You pretty much know what you'll get at this corporate pizza chain. Known for their original barbeque chicken pizza, they also have other innovative combinations of pizza plus delicious salads. We passed on pizza, knowing we'd live another day to try some iconic deep dish Chicago style pizza. I mean, when in Rome...you know? CPK is a nice alternative to those who may not like deep dish. I got a half Moroccan Spiced Chicken salad that included roasted butter nut squash, dates, avocado, toasted almonds, beets, red pepper, chopped egg and cranberries. Yum! Everyone else got the half original chicken barbeque salad. I enjoyed my salad and loved the taste of the cranberries, but it needed a little more kick, maybe in the dressing, which was champagne vinaigrette. Service showed the results of good corporate training and along with consistently good food explains why the place was packed at lunch. If you're looking for this kind of food, CPK is a good bet.
(3)
Peter S.
Our server Eloise was very attentive and made requested, informed reccomendations that were very satisfying. Her careful ability to listen and transform that information to dining choices was remarkable. In addition, the new roasted chicken, with heirloom carrots was delicious. My special needs regarding my wild mushroom pizza being well done, with extra truffle oil were executed perfectly. The music is too loud in this restaurant. The general quality of food is well done. Management is very attentive to complaints and will quickly fix most problem. On a great day like today (great server and new menu items) it can be special. On an average day, it is consistently "good." The spaghetti Bolognese is always great comfort food and unexpectedly delicious here.
(4)
Jaclyn W.
The pizza we had basically looked like a pizza with salad on top. I would not say it was disgusting but it was not my kind of pizza. I did not care for the crust either. We also ordered two fruit smoothies and they completely ran out of strawberries so they brought us mango fruit smoothies for free. I thought that was nice of them and the smoothies are very good. The atmosphere is nice and the staff is friendly. If I was to go back I would try a pizza with more meat and cheese
(3)
Stephen M.
No grade inflation--this reliable pizza place is 3 1/2 stars, but I can't round up. I am a fan of their whole menu--I'd recommend getting a pizza and appetizer to split for 2 people. The pizzas are individual, but on the large size for that. They're working hard to please their clientele--the current menu has additions and subtractions from the past but you can see the effort at different crusts (very thin, thin and medium) and creative combinations. I favor the Thai chicken, but I'd say there will be something you can find which pleases your taste ideas. On a not so serious note: my last time here, I sat at the bar. It is not pleasant to have the manager bumping my chair as he walked down the aisle. No bumping!
(3)
MQ Q.
What a poor experience at this location. They were out of the food i ordered, something ok for a local diner, not for a national chain. Waiter overcharged us for the kids meals and then had to get a manager involved to sort out the issue. And my wife's salad had about a teaspoon full of chicken, and the waiter tried to act like that's the actual amount the salad is supposed to have. Ridiculous.
(2)
Caitlin B.
I've been to CPK a handful of times in the past, and it's always out of convenience. This has never been a destination for me. I don't mind going to chain restaurants sometimes, but I've always found the pizza to be on the doughy side, and we have better options closer to home. Yesterday I found myself at Old Orchard at lunchtime, and there was no wait. My friend and I both ordered half salads- she had a salad that came with peaches (canned), and I had a Chinese chicken salad. Her salad seemed to have fresher greens than mine, but the toppings were pretty lacking. My Chinese chicken salad was chopped, but it contained rotten greens. When I was clearly picking around them, the waiter asked if there was an issue. I pointed out the gross greens, and he told me that the dressing was just really dark "if that made me feel better". Um, no, it does not. I would expect him to check with the kitchen or offer me something else, but not to tell me that the item is fine the way it is. I won't return.
(2)
Tricia D.
While the waiter was peppy, this was not reflected in the (unnecessarily long) time it took for him to bring us 2 waters. Put some pep into that step, boy! I was in a half-roasted-veggie-salad-no-corn-add-grilled-Âshrimp-dressing-on-the-side mood, and the $14.25 price tag (pre-tax and tip) could only be summarized in 3 syllables, or rather letters... WTF. It was enough food to hold me over for a couple hours, but I definitely needed an afternoon snack. My piggy bank remains disgruntled. Snort.
(2)
Lucas W.
I've been coming to this CPK for over a decade now and in that time I think I've sampled basically their entire menu. The food is absolutely delicious, always has been and always will be. There is such a wide variety of options to choose from that there's something for everyone and more than one pizza for everyone. I generally go with one of: Thai Chicken Pizza, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Chipotle Chicken Pizza or Carnitas Habanero Pizza. They're all fantastic with a lot of unique flavors. The atmosphere at this CPK is great, they used to be up on the second floor of the building next to their current one and that area with the massive mirrors and tall ceilings just felt rather stale so I was excited to see the new place which is very homey although maybe a bit dimly lit. The staff has always been attentive and responsive including honoring a few expired coupons. The only downside to CPK is the price, meals can get a bit expensive (solid $$, definitely not $$$). But I think of it this way, I get my pizza for roughly $14 (+tax/tip) but that gets me two meals so I'm paying only $7+change for two meals which is easily justifiable. Highly recommend CPK, enjoy!
(5)
Jimmy J.
Want a great Pizza & Salad? You WONT find that here or any California pizza kitchen. Getting good pie here is like saying you re gonna get a great haircut at Supercuts.
(2)
Vikki Y.
CPK has new "adventurous" menu options (as they like to market it). My friend and I had the quinoa (keen-nuahh) or (kin-noah) as she calls it- and arugula salad. It was delicious- asparagus, pine nuts and a light dressing. The salad was light, crisp, and really tasty. We both had the salmon which was kind of dry (I've had better salmon) but the spinach corn succotash it came with was tasty. Butttt what made it phenom was the dessert. Salted Caramel Pudding. OMG. It came in the cutest jar- see images- and was extremely rich and decadent! Will def. return for this dessert. Waitress was really nice and really knew her stuff! Minus one star for waiting in line to eat, and waiting in line for the bathroom.
(4)
Grace C.
I usually dine with my best friend who is very hard to please.. Hats off to our waiter Scott--not only was he patient and pretty funny but he tossed us some snickers prior to our food coming out!! The split pea and barely soup was delicious. Based on the service we received and soup I'm a happy camper..and our entrees are yet to arrive! If CPK has one thing right it's having someone like Scott on board!
(5)
Angelica D.
The menu was confusing but everything we ordered was really good. We had the Tuscan hummus, fish tacos, margarita pizza & veggie sandwich. They didn't have many sides either. Mostly it was all entrees.
(3)
Abel A.
Went to this restaurant for the first time for a get together with my coworkers. Everyone else got pizzas, but I opted for the pesto cream penne. According to the other reviews, I guess I lucked out since most people don't seem to be fans of the pizzas. My coworkers loved theirs though. The pesto cream penne was delicious. I would definitely recommend it. It may be because I love sun dried tomatoes and pesto.. I also ordered the tiramisu for desert which looked gorgeous and tasted almost as good as it looked. My coworkers and I devoured that. Someone else ordered the chocolate cake which was too "chocolate-y" for me. A few of us also ordered drinks (martinis and mojitos), but it seems like they mixed the cups up because after getting second drinks, my coworker noticed that his drink tasted eerily similar to another. The service was a bit poor. He rarely ever checked up on us even though we were a group of 9 and the restaurant wasn't even that busy.
(3)
Zach L.
Been a long time since I went to a CPK. WAS very very impressed. Selections were impressive. I missed the curry pizza but we had the Margherita pizza and a half Moroccan chicken salad. Overall a great experience. Taste was fantastic. Really enjoyed the salad.
(5)
Michael H.
The managers are incompetent. Don't go here if you plan on having a drink I don't think they have ever seen an out of state ID before. They will deny you even if you are obviously old enough with an obvious real ID. California pizza kitchen has never seen a California ID before...how ironic.
(1)
Hannah H.
About a 2.5: My friends and I came here for some lunch. We usually get the Thai Chicken pizza (contains peanut sauce, chicken chunks, and Thai veggies such as bean sprouts, carrots, lemon grass, cilantro, etc.) and the Buffalo Chicken pizza (bbq sauce, smoked gouda, red onions, and cilantro). I'm not a fan of cilantro, so it would be nice to customize that - the pizza usually comes hot and right out of the oven, and the taste is okay - it's an interesting combination of flavors; the Thai pizza has a good amount of chicken (may even be too much - I'd rather have more veggies and the peanut sauce), and the BBQ chicken pizza has a sweeter bbq sauce flavor to big chunks of chicken. The crust itself is too thick for my taste and chewy. Some friends even ordered the Jambalaya pasta, and they thought it was okay with the noodles and the cajun seasoning. A chain, but a restaurant option in the Old Orchard shopping center. +Thai Chicken Pizza (sans cilantro)
(3)
Karen M.
I keep giving my local CPK (at Old Orchard) a chance. I'm not sure why... 1. We almost left before ordering last night -- it was SOOOO noisy, with loud music blasting from the speaker above our heads. They blamed the kids but that wasn't the main problem. (I don't mind active kids, and having a restaurant blame the customers is not a good thing to do.) We were moved to another area of the restaurant. They eventually turned the volume down a bit (not enough but a bit), and the type of music changed and was MUCH better. In the first seating area the waiter couldn't even hear us and we couldn't hear him. 2. Even though the patio was not open (we ate inside), they have new furniture -- that is a GREAT improvement. The chairs they've had the past 2-3 years have been incredibly uncomfortable. The patio is one of the--perhaps the only--good part of this CPK. It is covered and so one can eat then in rainy weather. 3. I've been going to CPK since they opened in California -- they were great then. They have sold out. They now have another new menu, with a reduced selection of pizza, and many more that sounds like very traditional pizzas. Their whole "reason to be" seems gone. They haven't had the Tandoori Chicken Pizza for years -- it was my favorite. The Thai Chicken Pizza -- my other favorite -- now is rather tasteless and has almost no chicken. The peanut sauce is so sparce I could hardly taste it last night. And, there are too many bean sprouts and shredded carrots--both good to have, but not as the major part of the pizza. The original intention of CPK was to blend influences from different parts of the world. They seem to now be a sausage, pepperoni pizza place. I don't need to go there to spend double or triple for what I can get elsewhere. I'm disappointed in the "new" CPK menu choices. (I do like the Moroccan salad, which I got last week from another CPK--it now has more lettuce than in the past which I don't appreciate--the seem to give more cheap ingredients and less of the real substance of their dishes. It used to be mostly vegetables; not it is mostly lettuce.) 4. The staff were nice and attentive last night.
(2)
Maggie M.
Don't go to California Kitchen in Skokie. The gluten free pizza is the worst I ever had and the service is not that great either. The pizza has absolutely no flavor and it comes overbaked. It was a complete waste of money. I will never go back. I give it 0 stars.
(1)
Christy B.
Dirty, horrible service and poor management lead to a very up satisfying evening
(1)
Ide C.
Good chain food. Always fresh. The soups are my favorite. I always hv one of these and the small salad for a fast meal. Today I broadened my choice to include a flatbread. I know all the pizzas are tasty and so are the salads. When I worked at Bloomingdales I ate here three times a week. Prices are reasonable; servers are very nice; good value food and always fresh. Plus if u work at the mall they gv u a discount. It all adds up!
(4)
Zara K.
As a follow-up of my previous review I wanted to share my experience with the manager of this location. I was contacted by the manager, Trista, who wanted to apologize for the terrible experience and wanted me to give them another try. I was offered a gift certificate so I can go visit them again and hopefully everything will be fine this time. Unfortunately, I would like to share that the management and the staff are at the same level. It has been more than 2 months and I have not received anything promised from them. They continued bothering me by sending me emails asking them to explain the situation. I have done that here and I don't want to continue repeating myself. If you really cared, you were going to read the reviews here and try to fix the situation. Trista asked me twice what is my contact information so she can send me a certificate. I provided her with this information and now 2 months later I have not received anything. Even if you have send it using a dove, I was going to receive it by now.Thank you very much, now for sure I am not coming back. You are extremely disrespectful to your customers. Now I understand why the staff is at such level, simply because the management cannot do their job!!!
(1)
Reda K.
Pizza was great. Drinks I had a ultimate maragrita and didn't feel it at all. Well where do I start. This was my first time here. First of all we waited for a while before the waiter came to take off order.We asked for water and the manager had to go get it so that means the waiter forgot. While we were wsiying why did I look over and sern our waiter drinking somethingThen while we were waiting for our pizza I seem a waitress in a purple shirt (no name tag on any of the workers) wipe plates with her hands then give them to a family waiting for them I was scared to ask for plates after I seen that. So are waiter seen I was getting upset then he's going to start coming making sure we were ok. The pizza was really great.the staff SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't know about going back
(2)
Sarah P.
Was there with friends on Saturday. The food was good. The wait was not too long. The waitress was very helpful and friendly.
(4)
Emily H.
The food is just okay. It's SUPER overpriced for what it is. There are plenty of other good, non chain, less expensive places. Unfortunately it's one of the few options when eating at a shopping mall.
(2)
Michael S.
Meh. We've been to several CPK's throughout the area. This one ranks low. I don't know what it is about a lot of restaurants these days, but when the waiter/waitress finds out you're coming in for dessert, or a meal that isn't going to mean a huge, gigantic tip, they give up...and don't care. That's what happened to us. We were here on a Monday afternoon. It was busy, yes, but there were plenty of wait staff around. We weren't in the mood for pizza, as there are other menu items here that are also typically terrific. But as soon as our waiter found out we weren't ordering alcohol, and then when we placed our order for an appetizer to share and a large salad, a "...hhmmmmph" attitude ensued. Great way to keep happy customers coming back! (/sarcasm) Firstly, the sesame chicken dumplings are a rip off. It's like $7.99, and they give you...6? Maybe? So $8 bucks for so little food? Ugh. The "Italian Chopped Salad" or whatever it's been changed to in the last year or so is also a huge disappointment. They added garbanzo beans (which they remembered to hold after we asked this time), made the portion smaller, and cut WAY BACK on the normally-awesome mustard/parmesan viniagarette. This is the 2nd or 3rd time now we've ordered this salad & could barely taste the dressing. So lesson learned: don't go to CPK unless you plan on ordering food that's going to mean a large tip for the waiter/waitress. Possibly pass on some of the appetizers unless you're the type with money to burn; and if you're going to order their formerly-stellar chopped salad with that viniagarette to die for, ask for extra dressing on the side. Maybe it was just a bad day for our waiter; I dunno. It was a Monday, not a holiday, and the place was buzzing but not stressed. All I know this is the second time in a row we've gone to a CPK & have left unsatisfied and disappointed.
(2)
Nichole F.
I have been here several times. The time was great. It was a weekend evening for an early dinner and the service was great and fast. I had the bbq chicken pizza and it was soooo good! The most recent time I was there I was having lunch and sitting outside. Our server was so arrogant and not interested in being there. We both ordered half cobb salads. There wasn't a lot of chicken or avocado on it. Very disappointing.
(3)
Colleen H.
I hate the service here. We came and ask for the table for 8 and they won't seat us in til everyone show up. Which we have to wait so we just leave.
(1)
Valerie W.
This review is for curbside pickup, which, as I work down the street, I frequent. I always order ahead of time online for a future time (usually an hour in advance, go out to lunch, run my errands, pick up on the way back.) No matter what I order, it is ready and at my car door within 2 minutes of me calling to say I'm there. The curbside runners are always friendly. About the food... I have some favorites, and I generally stick to them: 1. Sedona tortilla soup. Not a traditional tortilla soup by any stretch of the imagination, but delicious. It is thick and hearty, and also vegetarian for you meat-o-phobes. 2. Chicken tinga quesadillas. These are on the small plates menu, and paired with a cup of said soup, create the perfect lunch. The flavors go well together, and the quesadillas are perfectly spicy. 3. Pear/Gorgonzola pizza. For the adventurers. People look at me funny when I eat this in the office, until I let them taste a bite. It is the perfect combo of sweet and savory. 4. BLT or California Club pizza, for when you're craving bacon on your pizza, and really, who wouldn't? 5. Thai Crunch salad. Crunchy. peanut-y. I sub avocado for chicken. and, what I ordered today... which I think will be giving the Thai Crunch the boot... Caramelized Peach salad. This is so delicious. I'm eating it as I write. The peaches are sweet, and the gorgonzola is savory. The red onions are sliced very thin, giving it just the right amount of bite. The almonds add crunch. A word of caution to those ordering take-out, go with the cup v. bowl of soup, and the 1/2 v. whole salad. It seems in my experience that the sizes are actually pretty much the same, and you are just paying more.
(4)
Benya C.
I had cpk today for lunch with a friend. The staff was great but I ordered buffalo chicken pizza or something along those line. It was very salty to say the least. The BBQ sauce was very good but the pizza it self was salty and very dry. Maybe I will give it another chance and try the pasta next time?
(3)
Anton A.
So this was my first time here at CPK and I have to admit I was pretty impressed. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant, our waiter was very excited to be working and very in tune with our requests. One of the people at our table did not even like a meal, but it was okay he sent it back to the kitchen and delivered them something else with no extra charge and no problems. I have to say one thing I was a bit disappointed with is portion size of the pizza. I ordered a wild mushroom pizza for about 12-13 dollars and I have to say they need to make that a bit bigger. I was not full afterwards but I loved the taste. I will come back but maybe try something else.
(4)
Jennifer L.
Mom and I came here while out shopping one day. We were seated immediately by a friendly face. Our waiter came to introduce himself within like 2 minutes, and get our drink orders. Service was great! The food was really good, too! The only thing I missed was the bread.... Didn't they used to serve hot bread? Maybe they only do that at dinner now...I dunno I'm a fan. I'll be back!
(4)
Yiyin Y.
This was a place we decided to give it a try for Sunday brunch after at least 20 mins' driving around. I'm not really sure why they got only 3 stars. Actually the food is quite good. And our waitress is so sweet. We ordered chicken tinga quesadilla, tortilla spring roll, Hawaiian BBQ chicken pizza and CPK salad by following the reviews on yelp. And they all turned out to b right choice! Except..the salad. It's not bad, actually. Just the taste is a bit weird to me I guess they put some herb in.
(4)
Rebekka L.
CPK has never failed me. I do usually order the same thing almost everytime, but who doesnt order their favorite thing on the menu? No matter which location I go to, the Avocado Club Egg Rolls are unlike anywhere else. I can back that up by saying I have tried this same variety at, at least, 5 other restaurants. None can measure up. Their newly inspired dish, Fire-Roasted Chile Relleno was amazing. Filled with flavors, low-cal and delicious. And of course, I can't forget the California Club, pizza with lettuce on top. Yes, lettuce. Also, highly recommended.
(4)
Aggie S.
Really good food! Love their arugula salad! The Sedona tortilla soup is also delicious. Great variety of pizzas.. The dough is always perfect. This location has always worked well for me no problems.. Sometimes there's a long wait.. Usually on the weekend. But overall great!
(4)
Kris G.
The food is great. I love the unique salads. I do think it is overpriced. I have been there three times in the past month and the service is fair at best. Servers seems to disappear and never return. I often see the servers hanging out together in the corners talking while I sit with an empty soda glass and empty water glass. For the money you pay for a salad; the service should be fantastic.
(2)
Robert M.
Food was nice. BBQ-Chicken pizza. Service however, sucked. Never had a bad server confront me at the front door asking about a lousy tip ... and then argue with me about it in front of other folks when I explain the four of five events that led to my decision. That's a new one on me.
(3)
Diana W.
We asked to dine indoors and not on their patio but I'm such a pushover that we ended up sitting on the patio and probably gave our waitress her first table of the day. She was very sweet and helpful even as it got busier in her section. Great service is expected of CPK franchises but the way the food is cooked is inconsistent with each location. Ck Tequila Fettuccine was overcooked and didn't have enough sauce and my bf's Bbq Ck Salad didn't have bbq sauce on it. Now we've had both dishes before at another location and this place just didn't satisfy. Maybe we came on an off day.
(2)
Tara M.
Service was ok, but I have to say that I was unimpressed with the food. I've only been to CPK once, other than today, and that was out at Oak Brook, but I really wasn't all that impressed with my experience. My kids each got a pizza, which was fine, but we've had much better from our local pizzerias. Both hubby and I had salads, and for $8.99, I swear I got more when I went to the CPK at Oak Brook, they barely put any BBQ Chicken salad in my bowl. Hubby had a decent portion of Chicken Ceasar, but both of us would have liked more dressing. And why exactly do you have to ask for bread when you ordered a salad? That I didn't like at all. Anyway, we might go there again, but there's plenty of other places to eat at Old Orchard, so we'll see.
(3)
Jennifer Q.
Had a date night with my boyfriend here last weekend. You know, I had fond memories of the food here, but I have to say, this time around I wasn't impressed. I ordered the macaroni and cheese "balls" and my boyfriend ordered the chicken something-or-other pizza. It was disappointing, because the food came out luke warm ( I think they may have rushed the prep time) and it was just "ok". The server was a real sweetheart and was very accommodating. I guess I was really, really surprised because, like I said, I remember the food being really unique and delicious the last time I had eaten at a CPK. I took it home and heated it up the next day, thinking it was a temperature issue. It was still sorta "blah." I would consider giving them another chance since I like the mall and the area. Maybe I would try something different to see if I just made a bad choice for my taste.
(3)
Matt B.
Nice enough place. After giving my friend the wrong crust on her pizza, they promptly replaced it. They also took the pizza off the bill (after she asked). I like the crust they use, but their toppings always leave me feeling dissatisfied, like there's not much flavor or freshness. The sauces in particular always seem thin and weak. You can do worse for lunch on a trip to the mall, but then again, you could just not eat at malls.
(3)
Melissa F.
I was debating between giving this place 3 stars ("A-OK") or 4 ("Yay! I'm a fan!"). I am a fan, but it doesn't wow me enough for 4 stars. It's been a while since I've been here, but I really like the variety of pizzas they have. The pizza crust is a jumping-off point for all sorts of creative varieties, ensuring there's something for everyone. But even if you don't want pizza and want a salad, you won't be disappointed. The BBQ chicken salad, for instance, is delicious. Restaurants usually leave salads as afterthoughts, but not at this place. You don't need to come here out of your way, but it's a great place to eat while taking a break from shopping.
(3)
Food Junkie S.
I always felt CPK was a decent chain. In many ways, even better than Cheesecake, only because the waits are shorter and the food is always consistent. However, the service has always been a hit or miss. This time, the service was fantastic. My wife and I felt like we were at a fine dining establishment and not the CPK we know. Generally, the staff here is always slow and not very responsive until its time to pay. Glasses are always left empty and I can never seem to waive down my server, instead its always someone else's. Our server Max was phenomenal. Very attentive and the way he responded made you feel welcomed. Only if every establishment could train people to be more like Max from Rockford. So for that reason alone, I give this place 4 stars. Otherwise, the average I would give is 3.
(4)
Ania R.
Great variety of pizzas. The best is the California club pizza. I suggest finding a good pizza and sticking with it.
(4)
Leyla A.
Shopping with my BFF today at Old Orchard, after blowing wads of cash, we both were craving some Cobb Salads. I have never eaten at CPK before, but have had their frozen pizza's from the grocery store freezer section. I was expecting an okay salad, from a chain restaurant. I actually would have preferred Cheesecake Factory, but my BFF knows I am on Weight Watchers, so she won't let me eat there. My very expensive $15 Cobb Salad (minus bacon, add ranch on the side) was enormous! Our waitress, Frannie, was adorable, and attentive, and read my mind about needing more ranch dressing! I love it when my salad is all chopped up into little bits and I don't have to use my knife at all to cut anything. Bonus star for the outdoor seating, on a beautiful, sunny day, in The Skokie.
(3)
Diana T.
Best pizza place ever. We ordered a steak taco pizza and it tasted soo good. I know what your thinking, taco and pizza? But yes, they are very creative and mastered pizza making and flavor.
(4)
Dee W.
We haven't been to a CPK in about 5 years but decided to make use of a gift card that we received here during one of our pre-baby dates. Our server was truly amazing and really went above and beyond. The food is decent and filling - I had this salmon special which was really flavorful and done just perfect. My husband opted for the Thai Chicken pizza which hit the spot for him and he even had leftovers to bring home. I was surprised to try the peanut sauce on the pizza which brought out the flavor of the chicken. Overall, a good dining experience, good food and a nice time out.
(3)
Terrence C.
I try not to review chains too much, but I think CPK is a pretty decent spot. The most ironic thing about my admiration for CPK, is that I don't even think the pizza is the best thing on the menu. The prices are fairly moderate, and portions are plenty. The atmosphere is fun. The place is nice enough to go on a casual date, but laid back to the point where you can wear gym shoes and just chill. My server was a bit slow considering the place was not too busy (saturday night at 10pm) but he was very nice and polite. With all that said. LET'S EAT! So, like I mentioned earlier, the pizzas are ok. Nothing too special to me. The margarita pizza is nice and light, and I think I've tried a thai chicken one before too which was not too bad. Is this how they do pizza in California? Cause in Chicago, we demand a bit more. There are some other hidden gems on the menu that I would like to point out... Chopped BBQ chicken salad is pretty freakin good. Its an awesome blend of a lot of good things. Lime, chicken, bbq sauce, black beans, light salad dressing. Its good! Chicken tequila pasta is really good too. Its a different taste than what I would expect. Hard to describe. Just try it. My last visit I tried the fish tacos. This dish had a lot of potenial, but they killed it with the red cabbage or whatever the veggies they added. Maybe order this w/o the cabbage and you'll love it.
(4)
Bruce S.
I had a bug in my drink. Manager makes light of it and says he will "take it off my bill". I get a bug-free replacement but when the bill comes the drink is still charged. Food was good but the manager sucks. Stay away from this place! (No charge for bugs)
(1)
Syretta H.
Went here with my friend after church one Sunday when she discovered that I had never been...it's was a Sunday that the Bears played so we thought it would be pretty quiet. In fact, it turned out to be quite the opposite- it was packed.... Anywho, we ordered some of the Spinach Dip and when it came out it was barely warm, so we had to send it back. Our server was great, until about a day after we left the restaurant, but I'll get back to that...so when we got our reheated dip, we decided it was mediocre at best. I ordered the white pizza, which I though was pretty good. I think my friend had the shrimp scampi pizza, which she also enjoyed. We had seen someone else order this dessert that we wanted, so we checked the dessert menu, and it was the chocolate souffle cake- which was fine, until we saw that the little piece of cake was almost $6.00 by itself, and if you wanted a scoop of Haagen Daz, that was almost an extra $3!!! We ordered it anyway, and I have to say it was good (although no one can beat Wildfire Chocolate cake YET.....) Overall we were satisfied with the food and the service. Now here's the kicker...so I had cash and my friend didn't. We split the bill down the middle. There was $26 in cash in the leather bill holder thingy that they bring to the table. My friend put her debit card in there and said to one said server "There is cash in there, please put the remaining balance on the card".....waitress comes back WAY TOO FAST...and we both said to her, wow you are quick! We were so busy yapping and laughing that it was not until the next day that my friend noticed that our waitress put the entire balance on the debit card and got a $26 tip...and then some, cause we had left the tip on the table....really waitress? You really thought that $26 was your tip???!!!!! My friends fault for not checking the receipt before she signed..... I would go back...if for nothing else, the Cherry Limeade and some of that high priced chocolate souffle cake!
(2)
Olivia M.
Great service and food!
(5)
D. M.
Excellent service, clean and calm environment. Seated immediately and loved the variety on the menu. My dinner was a tasty multigrain penne chicken pasta dish with a tequila lime sauce in it. My friend ordered the fish tacos which were phenomenal and we both enjoyed the red velvet cake a little too much;)
(5)
Diablo L.
Glad we had lunch here, started off with tortilla spring rolls, came with great dipping sauces, then had a very tasty and perfectly baked Margherita pizza...nice wait staff
(4)
J P.
I go to CPK like once a week (I'm going through a phase). Always delicious. I ALWAYS get the traditional cheese (used to always get the tostada) or margherita pizza (I was watching eat pray love and the scene where they are in naples italy chomping away at that amazing looking pizza, my mouth watered and over I went to CPK and it certainly hit the spot!). I love the sweet-tasting..ness? of the traditional cheese pizza, Man...I don't know..so good. I love the asian dumplings appetizers too and lettuce wraps are scrumptious. Service is average. I also love that i got 50% off one of my meals with those scratch cards!!!
(5)
Mark D.
Surprisingly good place to have lunch and watch football on a Sunday afternoon. Good service. Good food. Typical CPK.
(3)
Jacob J.
They moved! Now located on the first floor. A smidgen smaller, but still quaint. I could see the space used for throwing a party, definitely. Outside seating available. Previously, did staff sit at tables nearby customers??? I don't remember that... they do now. Tacky! Our waitress was paying more attention to talking with her co-workers than doing a good job serving. I won't put her name here. Never refilled our glasses unless we asked. We had to ask for new plates and napkins! When she brought the appetizers and main course, she waited till we moved items the table items around! WTF is that?? Pay some friggin attention. Food: BBQ Chicken pizza is a must. Classic fav of CPK. The Hummus, always bangin', try it with Chohula hot sauce for more kick. Lettuce wraps, eh.. order it at a Thai or Chinese restaurant. This time changed it up a little and ordered Garlic chicken something pizza. Garlic, chicken, cheese and some sort of wine butter shallot sauce. It was aiiight.
(3)
Lisa G.
Wait for a table - 20 minutes, not bad for a Friday night at 7pm. Restaurant packed, noisy. Waitress Lily was charming and wonderful. Top shelf Margartini definitely lacking: not anywhere near cold enough and fairly weak. Bean hummus with wholewheat pita- tasty. Portabella ravioli delish. A bit pricey, but good.
(3)
Virginia T.
I used to frequent this location when in the area for a quick and tasty lunch. However, after my last experience, I WON'T be back. They tried to seat us right by the staircase, then I asked to be moved. We got a waiter (Cliffery) who never offered us bread EVER, never brought us napkins or silverware (until we asked him). He only refilled our water once. Someone (the kitchen or him) screwed up my order and made it with onions when I said no onions, and by the time I got an onion free pizza to me, my husband was almost done eating. The only compensation he offered was free soda (which we didn't even want, we were drinking water!) My husband said the bathroom was dirty and there was a bug crawling on the wall...and then when he finally brought the check, there was no pen, I had to ask him twice for a pen to sign the damn check! HORRID!!!!
(1)
Maya P.
This was the worst pizza place I have ever been to. I took a carry-out order for the Sicilian Pizza (thin crust). The box was so small it only fit 6 slices. I am never coming here again. I would never recommend this restaraunt to ANYBODY.
(1)
Julie G.
Terrible treatment! We stopped in at Old Orchard with my disabled sister in a wheelchair and my two elderly parents...not good to us. When we got there, it was half empty and they said it will be a wait for the 6 of us. After seating the next 5-6 groups, the hostess said it will be 25-30 minutes before we could be seated. Again mostly empty still, and yet they continued to seat other groups. My father has Parkinson's and my Mom has a bad hip...we parked the wheelchair and all sat down. I saw a huge booth and asked if we might take that and put the wheelchair tucked in on the end. The hostess curtly stated that they do not allow for chairs on the end- As another waitress slid a chair at the end of that exact table for yet another group to now take the last large table. They were not helpful, professional or considerate to our group and we left to find another restaurant. They did not apologize or try to help us in any way, even after we told them we were leaving now. I have never walked out of a restaurant before, and will NEVER return to this place because of this horrible treatment we received.
(1)
Patricia K.
I was shocked to see such low reviews for this place. Fortunately, I did not share the same experience at CPK. I had been to this chain about 10 years ago and have had some of their frozen pizzas for home but this was my first visit to the one in Skokie. It was a Monday night so the place wasn't terribly busy, nor was it empty. We were quickly seated and the waiter arrived within moments to take our drink order. His service to us was very attentive but not overdone. He knew all the right times to check in on us. I had the BBQ Chicken salad. I thought it was very tasty and I liked having the option to add fresh avocado. I must admit I found myself eating the bbq chicken on top and the salad below separately. I was a bit afraid to mix it all together. However, the tastes complimented each other in individual bites. Once I got to the bottom, I felt that the salad had a bit too much ranch but otherwise, 75% of the salad was mixed perfectly. The half salad is PLENTY for an entree. Despite my attempt, I was unable to finish. I cannot imagine a full order! I highly recommend the Carmel Apple Martini. I waited to order/drink it until after I completed the salad. I was glad as it was a great dessert.
(4)
Victoria h.
Yuck. A friend and I went there for lunch and both got 1/2 portion of salads. I got their cobb salad (that comes with beets) and she got their bbq chicken salad. 1. $7.95 for a half portion. Really? Full portion is $11. 2. My salad had a variety of veggies (tomatoes, beets, lettuce). My friend's salad was all lettuce. She had some chicken that was lightly covered in bbq sauce and a chopped up tomato (half a tomato?). That's all. 3. Herbed Ranch = Ranch w/ Garlic
(1)
Leon B.
Never too crowded, waiters are always nice, plus, Wild mushroom pizza is awesome !
(5)
Christine P.
I don't know if it was because of the beginning of the semester or what, but while our server was great, it was evident that some of the servers definitely had other places they'd rather be. Our food came out quickly, and was just how I like it!
(3)
Chris W.
It's a pizza chain but it's a little bit different than your pizza hut or any of those. Instead they make you more individual pizzas with out of the ordinary flavors. My boyfriend likes the tandoori chicken pizza a lot. Personally I like the actual chicken a lot better than I do the pizza but it definably has an Indian spiced taste. I lie the garlic chicken pizza a LOT! If you don't like garlic stay the hell away from this guy. It's very strongly flavored. Saving the best for last, the thai chicken pizza is one of the most fantastic flavored pizzas not only on the menu but that Ive had in general. It's got a wonderful peanut sauce that is SO perfect and NOT overpowering at all.
(3)
Britni W.
Just moving to Chicago I was informed that I *much* try CPK and it was interesting. When we walked in the front door I was expecting something different than what I found. It was set up kind of like an applebee's or TGIFridays or any of those chain restaurants, which makes sense due to the fact that it is a chain. It had a bit more of a jazzy feel to it than I was expecting though. The waitress was sweet but only offered things I would never eat, but I'm a picky eater admittedly. We ended up with the pesto chicken and the white pizza with bacon. We had an appetizer that was basically bruschetta mix in a bowl with cheese garlic bread on the side. The appetizer was easily my favorite thing of the night. The pizza wasn't bad but not amazing either. The dessert we ended up with was an apple crumble that needed a little more work. The taste was there but with the peels still on the slices of apples it made it tricky at times to get a piece out without making a huge mess. The crumble on top was easily the best part of the dessert since the apples were tricky to get out of the dish. All in all, it's worth a try but more of one of those places you have to eat at least once just to say you've been there and got the t-shirt. (t-shirt purchase optional)
(3)
Leslie H.
me and my bf went here today for lunch, just a random place to eat. It ended up being quite delicious! We were both very impressed with the food and the service! We sat outside on the patio and we ordered the avacado club egg rolls and we also shared "the white" pizza. Egg rolls were AMAZING and the pizza was pretty good too! My bf LOVED the pizza along with the egg rolls too! Waitress was very nice and quick! I would def recommend eating here!!
(4)
Alan R.
Not the typical pizza, especially for Chicago. I wouldn't go here with a group planning on sharing one either. Each Pizza is more like an entree that you would order for yourself. I love the BBQ chicken Pizza, and also really like the Thai. They also have great salads and excellent deserts. The club egg rolls are also a great appetizer.
(3)
Karla M.
* Yes it's a chain but I still think it's very good. I go there for one specific plate and that's the Chicken Tequila Fettuccini. The first time I was there that's what I ordered and it has been my favorite for about 9yrs. For appetizer I love the Focaccia with checca or the spinach artichoke dip with warm white and blue tortilla chips. What I love about it being a chain is that I can go anywhere and still be able to enjoy the place. Service here is always excellent my husband once ordered the jambalaya pasta, to try something different, we all know how that turns out. He hated it so much that he just out it to the side. The waitress came to see if we needed something else and noticed he was not eating. She asked him if he was unhappy with it and when he said yes she asked him to order whatever else he wanted because it's their policy to allow you to change your plate if you are unhappy with it. Great policy.
(4)
Jonathan F.
New space was nice. Clean and inviting. Food was delicious, but the value will preclude me from going back with any regularity.
(3)
John F.
This chain has wonderful individual pizzas with all kinds of topping ranging in inspiration from Cajun to Thai. All have really nice crusts. Good salads. As one can tell from its high-rent locations, it is not the cheapest place in the world for pizza, but its not really overpriced either. Lots of pasta offerings too. Busy but pleasant atmosphere and large enough to generally avoid long waits. They have a party room at this location too.
(4)
Laura R.
Whenever my boyfriend and I go here, we start out with the herb-onion focaccia...mmm! I mostly get their pizzas (the Hawaiian pizza is great) because once I tried the bolognese linguini and didn't like it - it was practically just meat, no sauce. But they have lots of good pizzas with all kinds of unique toppings. The service is usually good, although they get busy, on weekends especially, but I don't think I've ever had to wait longer than 5-10 minutes.
(4)
AJ M.
Came here for the first time in years. The place looks so much different. It's bigger cleaner and more modern. The menu also took on a whole new look with alot of different options now. They got the classic pizzas, new options for entrees. We then started with the Baja and Mediterranean spring rolls. These were nothing special, pretty much tortillas wrapped some ingredients, deff not worth it. Finally we ended with kung pao spaghetti and a tostada pizza. The noodles weren't bad, not as spicy as i would like, really rich and filling. The toastada pizza is a classic. Along with the bbq pizza one of my favorite items. Although the pizza is not the same as it used to be. First off, its a thin crust pizza now, I swear the crust was thicker before. Also somethings a little off, its not as good as it used to be. Overall the food was pretty solid, drinks refreshing and the place looks great. And service might be the highlight. We were helped this really nice girl Alexandra who was really nice and helpful!!
(4)
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Address :4999 Old Orchard Road,Suite G-2
Skokie, IL, 60077
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 : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Gin G.
Use to love this place!!!! Worked in the mall and would eat lunch/dinner here about 3 times a week! Sometime twice in one day. Loved their pastas n salads. But not like it use to be. Hadn't been back in a while. They changed up their menu a bit but still had some of my favorites still on the menu. Kung pao spaghetti with shrimp is my faves. Noodles are always al dente just the way I like it (so they get that third star) with just the right amount of heat! (Too many peanuts tho) Chicken potstickers were pretty good. Our kids loved them. Tried their strawberry basil martini. I don't do fruity drinks but wanted to try it cuz it's new. Too sweet n not enough booze for me. You wanna feel a little something after you drink a "-tini"of any sort but this was just like sipping on juice...(not "sipping on GIN n juice). I'll stick with wine, beer or a real martini (belvedere up with a twist) from now on.
(3)Judy E.
Visiting a friend who just moved across the street from Old Orchard, she suggested I bring California Pizza Kitchen Thai Chicken pizza. We had been big fans years ago when CPK opened on Orleans St. in Chicago, often going several times a month. I hadn't had anything but the frozen, grocery store CPK pizza for many, many years so I was excited to have the real thing again. Entering the restaurant I immediately noticed the visible grease and dirt covering the menus at the hostess stand, but I ignored it and stepped inside to a dark restaurant whose only lights were from the take-out sign and the kitchen. It was gorgeous and sunny outside, but there was no sunlight filtering through the windows, and it gave a sense of dinginess rather than the typical darker ambiance of a restaurant. I knew what I wanted and was grateful I didn't have to touch the menu laid out on the take-out counter, and the staff was fast, friendly, and efficient and I had my order to go in less than 10 minutes. Another 10 minutes and I was sitting down to eat in my friend's kitchen, disappointed to see that the julienne veggies were just piled on top, not cooked into the pizza. And when I picked up a slice they fell off - not a few, nearly all of them. Perhaps it is unfair to compare today's pizza with its predecessor, but I was very disappointed. From the loose raw veggies that never touched the peanut sauce to the crust that tasted like the freezer version, there was nothing there to make a happy memory. Given the dirt, dark, and lackluster pizza, I would not recommend this restaurant.
(2)Alan H.
Don't bother going here if your party is larger than 4! Ours was 7! We were told they don't like to combine tables. We were seated. They brought our appetizer order. We had to ask for place settings and napkins. Not going back here!
(1)Kristine R.
I came here for my birthday on a Saturday night and the wait time was ridiculously long! I actually was looking forward to going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner but I think it was prom night or something because there were a million teenagers in prom dresses waiting for tables there.. So my brother suggested California Pizza Kitchen. I think we waited about an hour and a half for a table for 12. I don't blame them though, we didn't have reservations, and we had a pretty big party. This was my first time at this restaurant and was surprised that they had a lot to offer on their menu. I ended up ordering everything on the appetizer list and loved it all! My favorite ones were the chips and spinach artichoke dip and the avocado egg rolls. The avocado egg rolls were the best I've ever had! I am a huge fan of chicken alfredo, I get it every time I go to any italian restaurant, so that's what I ordered here. They call it the Garlic Cream Fettuccine. I ordered extra broccoli and portabello mushrooms with it. So, I was blown away when I tasted this dish! I almost never finish my meals at restaurants because I eat so much appetizers but I cleaned this plate off fast! This by far was the best Alfredo I've ever had in my life. Thinking about it makes me want to order it right now. My husband got the Hawaiian Pizza. Everyone else seemed pretty happy with everything they ordered. I can't say too much about how the pizza tasted because I didn't have any but my husband loved it. By the end of the night, they brought me out a huge ice cream sundae for my birthday with a candle. That sundae didn't have a chance. I inhaled it so fast.
(5)Sarah C.
Ate here today, our server, Abe was a gem. He not only signed us up for the rewards program, he was very patient with our special requests. We had the white corn guacamole was untraditional and delicious. The poblano sausage flat bread was alright and the Mac and cheese bites were pretty good too. Overall the service(hostess and manager too) and Abe was awesome! A small critique is the cheap coaster kept sticking to the glasses and then falling to our laps crumbs and all.
(5)William L.
Dinner was great and service was awesome. Why three star. The GM talked a customer threw our entire dinner at the bar. TMI please other customers.
(3)Sarah P.
Surprisingly this place, as busy as it was, seemed to be very understaffed. It took a while for our server to help us when we needed. On the bright side the food we ordered, which was the original bbq chicken pizza with pineapples, came out really fast and it was delish! We also ordered the new fruit salad which was alright but don't recommend ordering. We were going to order another pizza since it was so small but the waiter barely came so lost that order.
(3)Angela S.
There was a time a million years ago when I lived in Chicago that this place used to be a destination for me. Now, like Cait K mentions in her review, it's purely out of convenience. I don't particularly like going to chains, and it seems like when CPK expanded my interest became even less. But, nevertheless, I have yet to have a bad meal. So far so good... knock on wood. I love their veggie salad. It's kind of like a garbage salad, except there is nothing bad about it... it's good for you garbage! Eggplant, mushrooms, lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, red and yellow peppers and asparagus. Add the California veggie pizza, a bowl of split pea soup, and you've got the ultimate tasty lunch. My kiddos each had a personal pan pizza, which comes with a drink. I think each of their meals was $5.95 each! A great bargain! Ooh, how I love the bread they bring out to the table with the herbed olive oil. Yum! Outdoor seating here (yes it is at parking lot level), and a nice spacious interior.
(4)Chicago F.
Service slow, food mediocre. Went way downhill.
(2)Hamza S.
Ordered the BBQ Chicken pizza and it is fresh as always, and the server was very attentive to our needs. Will definitely be back!!
(5)Will T.
You pretty much know what you'll get at this corporate pizza chain. Known for their original barbeque chicken pizza, they also have other innovative combinations of pizza plus delicious salads. We passed on pizza, knowing we'd live another day to try some iconic deep dish Chicago style pizza. I mean, when in Rome...you know? CPK is a nice alternative to those who may not like deep dish. I got a half Moroccan Spiced Chicken salad that included roasted butter nut squash, dates, avocado, toasted almonds, beets, red pepper, chopped egg and cranberries. Yum! Everyone else got the half original chicken barbeque salad. I enjoyed my salad and loved the taste of the cranberries, but it needed a little more kick, maybe in the dressing, which was champagne vinaigrette. Service showed the results of good corporate training and along with consistently good food explains why the place was packed at lunch. If you're looking for this kind of food, CPK is a good bet.
(3)Peter S.
Our server Eloise was very attentive and made requested, informed reccomendations that were very satisfying. Her careful ability to listen and transform that information to dining choices was remarkable. In addition, the new roasted chicken, with heirloom carrots was delicious. My special needs regarding my wild mushroom pizza being well done, with extra truffle oil were executed perfectly. The music is too loud in this restaurant. The general quality of food is well done. Management is very attentive to complaints and will quickly fix most problem. On a great day like today (great server and new menu items) it can be special. On an average day, it is consistently "good." The spaghetti Bolognese is always great comfort food and unexpectedly delicious here.
(4)Jaclyn W.
The pizza we had basically looked like a pizza with salad on top. I would not say it was disgusting but it was not my kind of pizza. I did not care for the crust either. We also ordered two fruit smoothies and they completely ran out of strawberries so they brought us mango fruit smoothies for free. I thought that was nice of them and the smoothies are very good. The atmosphere is nice and the staff is friendly. If I was to go back I would try a pizza with more meat and cheese
(3)Stephen M.
No grade inflation--this reliable pizza place is 3 1/2 stars, but I can't round up. I am a fan of their whole menu--I'd recommend getting a pizza and appetizer to split for 2 people. The pizzas are individual, but on the large size for that. They're working hard to please their clientele--the current menu has additions and subtractions from the past but you can see the effort at different crusts (very thin, thin and medium) and creative combinations. I favor the Thai chicken, but I'd say there will be something you can find which pleases your taste ideas. On a not so serious note: my last time here, I sat at the bar. It is not pleasant to have the manager bumping my chair as he walked down the aisle. No bumping!
(3)MQ Q.
What a poor experience at this location. They were out of the food i ordered, something ok for a local diner, not for a national chain. Waiter overcharged us for the kids meals and then had to get a manager involved to sort out the issue. And my wife's salad had about a teaspoon full of chicken, and the waiter tried to act like that's the actual amount the salad is supposed to have. Ridiculous.
(2)Caitlin B.
I've been to CPK a handful of times in the past, and it's always out of convenience. This has never been a destination for me. I don't mind going to chain restaurants sometimes, but I've always found the pizza to be on the doughy side, and we have better options closer to home. Yesterday I found myself at Old Orchard at lunchtime, and there was no wait. My friend and I both ordered half salads- she had a salad that came with peaches (canned), and I had a Chinese chicken salad. Her salad seemed to have fresher greens than mine, but the toppings were pretty lacking. My Chinese chicken salad was chopped, but it contained rotten greens. When I was clearly picking around them, the waiter asked if there was an issue. I pointed out the gross greens, and he told me that the dressing was just really dark "if that made me feel better". Um, no, it does not. I would expect him to check with the kitchen or offer me something else, but not to tell me that the item is fine the way it is. I won't return.
(2)Tricia D.
While the waiter was peppy, this was not reflected in the (unnecessarily long) time it took for him to bring us 2 waters. Put some pep into that step, boy! I was in a half-roasted-veggie-salad-no-corn-add-grilled-Âshrimp-dressing-on-the-side mood, and the $14.25 price tag (pre-tax and tip) could only be summarized in 3 syllables, or rather letters... WTF. It was enough food to hold me over for a couple hours, but I definitely needed an afternoon snack. My piggy bank remains disgruntled. Snort.
(2)Lucas W.
I've been coming to this CPK for over a decade now and in that time I think I've sampled basically their entire menu. The food is absolutely delicious, always has been and always will be. There is such a wide variety of options to choose from that there's something for everyone and more than one pizza for everyone. I generally go with one of: Thai Chicken Pizza, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Chipotle Chicken Pizza or Carnitas Habanero Pizza. They're all fantastic with a lot of unique flavors. The atmosphere at this CPK is great, they used to be up on the second floor of the building next to their current one and that area with the massive mirrors and tall ceilings just felt rather stale so I was excited to see the new place which is very homey although maybe a bit dimly lit. The staff has always been attentive and responsive including honoring a few expired coupons. The only downside to CPK is the price, meals can get a bit expensive (solid $$, definitely not $$$). But I think of it this way, I get my pizza for roughly $14 (+tax/tip) but that gets me two meals so I'm paying only $7+change for two meals which is easily justifiable. Highly recommend CPK, enjoy!
(5)Jimmy J.
Want a great Pizza & Salad? You WONT find that here or any California pizza kitchen. Getting good pie here is like saying you re gonna get a great haircut at Supercuts.
(2)Vikki Y.
CPK has new "adventurous" menu options (as they like to market it). My friend and I had the quinoa (keen-nuahh) or (kin-noah) as she calls it- and arugula salad. It was delicious- asparagus, pine nuts and a light dressing. The salad was light, crisp, and really tasty. We both had the salmon which was kind of dry (I've had better salmon) but the spinach corn succotash it came with was tasty. Butttt what made it phenom was the dessert. Salted Caramel Pudding. OMG. It came in the cutest jar- see images- and was extremely rich and decadent! Will def. return for this dessert. Waitress was really nice and really knew her stuff! Minus one star for waiting in line to eat, and waiting in line for the bathroom.
(4)Grace C.
I usually dine with my best friend who is very hard to please.. Hats off to our waiter Scott--not only was he patient and pretty funny but he tossed us some snickers prior to our food coming out!! The split pea and barely soup was delicious. Based on the service we received and soup I'm a happy camper..and our entrees are yet to arrive! If CPK has one thing right it's having someone like Scott on board!
(5)Angelica D.
The menu was confusing but everything we ordered was really good. We had the Tuscan hummus, fish tacos, margarita pizza & veggie sandwich. They didn't have many sides either. Mostly it was all entrees.
(3)Abel A.
Went to this restaurant for the first time for a get together with my coworkers. Everyone else got pizzas, but I opted for the pesto cream penne. According to the other reviews, I guess I lucked out since most people don't seem to be fans of the pizzas. My coworkers loved theirs though. The pesto cream penne was delicious. I would definitely recommend it. It may be because I love sun dried tomatoes and pesto.. I also ordered the tiramisu for desert which looked gorgeous and tasted almost as good as it looked. My coworkers and I devoured that. Someone else ordered the chocolate cake which was too "chocolate-y" for me. A few of us also ordered drinks (martinis and mojitos), but it seems like they mixed the cups up because after getting second drinks, my coworker noticed that his drink tasted eerily similar to another. The service was a bit poor. He rarely ever checked up on us even though we were a group of 9 and the restaurant wasn't even that busy.
(3)Zach L.
Been a long time since I went to a CPK. WAS very very impressed. Selections were impressive. I missed the curry pizza but we had the Margherita pizza and a half Moroccan chicken salad. Overall a great experience. Taste was fantastic. Really enjoyed the salad.
(5)Michael H.
The managers are incompetent. Don't go here if you plan on having a drink I don't think they have ever seen an out of state ID before. They will deny you even if you are obviously old enough with an obvious real ID. California pizza kitchen has never seen a California ID before...how ironic.
(1)Hannah H.
About a 2.5: My friends and I came here for some lunch. We usually get the Thai Chicken pizza (contains peanut sauce, chicken chunks, and Thai veggies such as bean sprouts, carrots, lemon grass, cilantro, etc.) and the Buffalo Chicken pizza (bbq sauce, smoked gouda, red onions, and cilantro). I'm not a fan of cilantro, so it would be nice to customize that - the pizza usually comes hot and right out of the oven, and the taste is okay - it's an interesting combination of flavors; the Thai pizza has a good amount of chicken (may even be too much - I'd rather have more veggies and the peanut sauce), and the BBQ chicken pizza has a sweeter bbq sauce flavor to big chunks of chicken. The crust itself is too thick for my taste and chewy. Some friends even ordered the Jambalaya pasta, and they thought it was okay with the noodles and the cajun seasoning. A chain, but a restaurant option in the Old Orchard shopping center. +Thai Chicken Pizza (sans cilantro)
(3)Karen M.
I keep giving my local CPK (at Old Orchard) a chance. I'm not sure why... 1. We almost left before ordering last night -- it was SOOOO noisy, with loud music blasting from the speaker above our heads. They blamed the kids but that wasn't the main problem. (I don't mind active kids, and having a restaurant blame the customers is not a good thing to do.) We were moved to another area of the restaurant. They eventually turned the volume down a bit (not enough but a bit), and the type of music changed and was MUCH better. In the first seating area the waiter couldn't even hear us and we couldn't hear him. 2. Even though the patio was not open (we ate inside), they have new furniture -- that is a GREAT improvement. The chairs they've had the past 2-3 years have been incredibly uncomfortable. The patio is one of the--perhaps the only--good part of this CPK. It is covered and so one can eat then in rainy weather. 3. I've been going to CPK since they opened in California -- they were great then. They have sold out. They now have another new menu, with a reduced selection of pizza, and many more that sounds like very traditional pizzas. Their whole "reason to be" seems gone. They haven't had the Tandoori Chicken Pizza for years -- it was my favorite. The Thai Chicken Pizza -- my other favorite -- now is rather tasteless and has almost no chicken. The peanut sauce is so sparce I could hardly taste it last night. And, there are too many bean sprouts and shredded carrots--both good to have, but not as the major part of the pizza. The original intention of CPK was to blend influences from different parts of the world. They seem to now be a sausage, pepperoni pizza place. I don't need to go there to spend double or triple for what I can get elsewhere. I'm disappointed in the "new" CPK menu choices. (I do like the Moroccan salad, which I got last week from another CPK--it now has more lettuce than in the past which I don't appreciate--the seem to give more cheap ingredients and less of the real substance of their dishes. It used to be mostly vegetables; not it is mostly lettuce.) 4. The staff were nice and attentive last night.
(2)Maggie M.
Don't go to California Kitchen in Skokie. The gluten free pizza is the worst I ever had and the service is not that great either. The pizza has absolutely no flavor and it comes overbaked. It was a complete waste of money. I will never go back. I give it 0 stars.
(1)Christy B.
Dirty, horrible service and poor management lead to a very up satisfying evening
(1)Ide C.
Good chain food. Always fresh. The soups are my favorite. I always hv one of these and the small salad for a fast meal. Today I broadened my choice to include a flatbread. I know all the pizzas are tasty and so are the salads. When I worked at Bloomingdales I ate here three times a week. Prices are reasonable; servers are very nice; good value food and always fresh. Plus if u work at the mall they gv u a discount. It all adds up!
(4)Zara K.
As a follow-up of my previous review I wanted to share my experience with the manager of this location. I was contacted by the manager, Trista, who wanted to apologize for the terrible experience and wanted me to give them another try. I was offered a gift certificate so I can go visit them again and hopefully everything will be fine this time. Unfortunately, I would like to share that the management and the staff are at the same level. It has been more than 2 months and I have not received anything promised from them. They continued bothering me by sending me emails asking them to explain the situation. I have done that here and I don't want to continue repeating myself. If you really cared, you were going to read the reviews here and try to fix the situation. Trista asked me twice what is my contact information so she can send me a certificate. I provided her with this information and now 2 months later I have not received anything. Even if you have send it using a dove, I was going to receive it by now.Thank you very much, now for sure I am not coming back. You are extremely disrespectful to your customers. Now I understand why the staff is at such level, simply because the management cannot do their job!!!
(1)Reda K.
Pizza was great. Drinks I had a ultimate maragrita and didn't feel it at all. Well where do I start. This was my first time here. First of all we waited for a while before the waiter came to take off order.We asked for water and the manager had to go get it so that means the waiter forgot. While we were wsiying why did I look over and sern our waiter drinking somethingThen while we were waiting for our pizza I seem a waitress in a purple shirt (no name tag on any of the workers) wipe plates with her hands then give them to a family waiting for them I was scared to ask for plates after I seen that. So are waiter seen I was getting upset then he's going to start coming making sure we were ok. The pizza was really great.the staff SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't know about going back
(2)Sarah P.
Was there with friends on Saturday. The food was good. The wait was not too long. The waitress was very helpful and friendly.
(4)Emily H.
The food is just okay. It's SUPER overpriced for what it is. There are plenty of other good, non chain, less expensive places. Unfortunately it's one of the few options when eating at a shopping mall.
(2)Michael S.
Meh. We've been to several CPK's throughout the area. This one ranks low. I don't know what it is about a lot of restaurants these days, but when the waiter/waitress finds out you're coming in for dessert, or a meal that isn't going to mean a huge, gigantic tip, they give up...and don't care. That's what happened to us. We were here on a Monday afternoon. It was busy, yes, but there were plenty of wait staff around. We weren't in the mood for pizza, as there are other menu items here that are also typically terrific. But as soon as our waiter found out we weren't ordering alcohol, and then when we placed our order for an appetizer to share and a large salad, a "...hhmmmmph" attitude ensued. Great way to keep happy customers coming back! (/sarcasm) Firstly, the sesame chicken dumplings are a rip off. It's like $7.99, and they give you...6? Maybe? So $8 bucks for so little food? Ugh. The "Italian Chopped Salad" or whatever it's been changed to in the last year or so is also a huge disappointment. They added garbanzo beans (which they remembered to hold after we asked this time), made the portion smaller, and cut WAY BACK on the normally-awesome mustard/parmesan viniagarette. This is the 2nd or 3rd time now we've ordered this salad & could barely taste the dressing. So lesson learned: don't go to CPK unless you plan on ordering food that's going to mean a large tip for the waiter/waitress. Possibly pass on some of the appetizers unless you're the type with money to burn; and if you're going to order their formerly-stellar chopped salad with that viniagarette to die for, ask for extra dressing on the side. Maybe it was just a bad day for our waiter; I dunno. It was a Monday, not a holiday, and the place was buzzing but not stressed. All I know this is the second time in a row we've gone to a CPK & have left unsatisfied and disappointed.
(2)Nichole F.
I have been here several times. The time was great. It was a weekend evening for an early dinner and the service was great and fast. I had the bbq chicken pizza and it was soooo good! The most recent time I was there I was having lunch and sitting outside. Our server was so arrogant and not interested in being there. We both ordered half cobb salads. There wasn't a lot of chicken or avocado on it. Very disappointing.
(3)Colleen H.
I hate the service here. We came and ask for the table for 8 and they won't seat us in til everyone show up. Which we have to wait so we just leave.
(1)Valerie W.
This review is for curbside pickup, which, as I work down the street, I frequent. I always order ahead of time online for a future time (usually an hour in advance, go out to lunch, run my errands, pick up on the way back.) No matter what I order, it is ready and at my car door within 2 minutes of me calling to say I'm there. The curbside runners are always friendly. About the food... I have some favorites, and I generally stick to them: 1. Sedona tortilla soup. Not a traditional tortilla soup by any stretch of the imagination, but delicious. It is thick and hearty, and also vegetarian for you meat-o-phobes. 2. Chicken tinga quesadillas. These are on the small plates menu, and paired with a cup of said soup, create the perfect lunch. The flavors go well together, and the quesadillas are perfectly spicy. 3. Pear/Gorgonzola pizza. For the adventurers. People look at me funny when I eat this in the office, until I let them taste a bite. It is the perfect combo of sweet and savory. 4. BLT or California Club pizza, for when you're craving bacon on your pizza, and really, who wouldn't? 5. Thai Crunch salad. Crunchy. peanut-y. I sub avocado for chicken. and, what I ordered today... which I think will be giving the Thai Crunch the boot... Caramelized Peach salad. This is so delicious. I'm eating it as I write. The peaches are sweet, and the gorgonzola is savory. The red onions are sliced very thin, giving it just the right amount of bite. The almonds add crunch. A word of caution to those ordering take-out, go with the cup v. bowl of soup, and the 1/2 v. whole salad. It seems in my experience that the sizes are actually pretty much the same, and you are just paying more.
(4)Benya C.
I had cpk today for lunch with a friend. The staff was great but I ordered buffalo chicken pizza or something along those line. It was very salty to say the least. The BBQ sauce was very good but the pizza it self was salty and very dry. Maybe I will give it another chance and try the pasta next time?
(3)Anton A.
So this was my first time here at CPK and I have to admit I was pretty impressed. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant, our waiter was very excited to be working and very in tune with our requests. One of the people at our table did not even like a meal, but it was okay he sent it back to the kitchen and delivered them something else with no extra charge and no problems. I have to say one thing I was a bit disappointed with is portion size of the pizza. I ordered a wild mushroom pizza for about 12-13 dollars and I have to say they need to make that a bit bigger. I was not full afterwards but I loved the taste. I will come back but maybe try something else.
(4)Jennifer L.
Mom and I came here while out shopping one day. We were seated immediately by a friendly face. Our waiter came to introduce himself within like 2 minutes, and get our drink orders. Service was great! The food was really good, too! The only thing I missed was the bread.... Didn't they used to serve hot bread? Maybe they only do that at dinner now...I dunno I'm a fan. I'll be back!
(4)Yiyin Y.
This was a place we decided to give it a try for Sunday brunch after at least 20 mins' driving around. I'm not really sure why they got only 3 stars. Actually the food is quite good. And our waitress is so sweet. We ordered chicken tinga quesadilla, tortilla spring roll, Hawaiian BBQ chicken pizza and CPK salad by following the reviews on yelp. And they all turned out to b right choice! Except..the salad. It's not bad, actually. Just the taste is a bit weird to me I guess they put some herb in.
(4)Rebekka L.
CPK has never failed me. I do usually order the same thing almost everytime, but who doesnt order their favorite thing on the menu? No matter which location I go to, the Avocado Club Egg Rolls are unlike anywhere else. I can back that up by saying I have tried this same variety at, at least, 5 other restaurants. None can measure up. Their newly inspired dish, Fire-Roasted Chile Relleno was amazing. Filled with flavors, low-cal and delicious. And of course, I can't forget the California Club, pizza with lettuce on top. Yes, lettuce. Also, highly recommended.
(4)Aggie S.
Really good food! Love their arugula salad! The Sedona tortilla soup is also delicious. Great variety of pizzas.. The dough is always perfect. This location has always worked well for me no problems.. Sometimes there's a long wait.. Usually on the weekend. But overall great!
(4)Kris G.
The food is great. I love the unique salads. I do think it is overpriced. I have been there three times in the past month and the service is fair at best. Servers seems to disappear and never return. I often see the servers hanging out together in the corners talking while I sit with an empty soda glass and empty water glass. For the money you pay for a salad; the service should be fantastic.
(2)Robert M.
Food was nice. BBQ-Chicken pizza. Service however, sucked. Never had a bad server confront me at the front door asking about a lousy tip ... and then argue with me about it in front of other folks when I explain the four of five events that led to my decision. That's a new one on me.
(3)Diana W.
We asked to dine indoors and not on their patio but I'm such a pushover that we ended up sitting on the patio and probably gave our waitress her first table of the day. She was very sweet and helpful even as it got busier in her section. Great service is expected of CPK franchises but the way the food is cooked is inconsistent with each location. Ck Tequila Fettuccine was overcooked and didn't have enough sauce and my bf's Bbq Ck Salad didn't have bbq sauce on it. Now we've had both dishes before at another location and this place just didn't satisfy. Maybe we came on an off day.
(2)Tara M.
Service was ok, but I have to say that I was unimpressed with the food. I've only been to CPK once, other than today, and that was out at Oak Brook, but I really wasn't all that impressed with my experience. My kids each got a pizza, which was fine, but we've had much better from our local pizzerias. Both hubby and I had salads, and for $8.99, I swear I got more when I went to the CPK at Oak Brook, they barely put any BBQ Chicken salad in my bowl. Hubby had a decent portion of Chicken Ceasar, but both of us would have liked more dressing. And why exactly do you have to ask for bread when you ordered a salad? That I didn't like at all. Anyway, we might go there again, but there's plenty of other places to eat at Old Orchard, so we'll see.
(3)Jennifer Q.
Had a date night with my boyfriend here last weekend. You know, I had fond memories of the food here, but I have to say, this time around I wasn't impressed. I ordered the macaroni and cheese "balls" and my boyfriend ordered the chicken something-or-other pizza. It was disappointing, because the food came out luke warm ( I think they may have rushed the prep time) and it was just "ok". The server was a real sweetheart and was very accommodating. I guess I was really, really surprised because, like I said, I remember the food being really unique and delicious the last time I had eaten at a CPK. I took it home and heated it up the next day, thinking it was a temperature issue. It was still sorta "blah." I would consider giving them another chance since I like the mall and the area. Maybe I would try something different to see if I just made a bad choice for my taste.
(3)Matt B.
Nice enough place. After giving my friend the wrong crust on her pizza, they promptly replaced it. They also took the pizza off the bill (after she asked). I like the crust they use, but their toppings always leave me feeling dissatisfied, like there's not much flavor or freshness. The sauces in particular always seem thin and weak. You can do worse for lunch on a trip to the mall, but then again, you could just not eat at malls.
(3)Melissa F.
I was debating between giving this place 3 stars ("A-OK") or 4 ("Yay! I'm a fan!"). I am a fan, but it doesn't wow me enough for 4 stars. It's been a while since I've been here, but I really like the variety of pizzas they have. The pizza crust is a jumping-off point for all sorts of creative varieties, ensuring there's something for everyone. But even if you don't want pizza and want a salad, you won't be disappointed. The BBQ chicken salad, for instance, is delicious. Restaurants usually leave salads as afterthoughts, but not at this place. You don't need to come here out of your way, but it's a great place to eat while taking a break from shopping.
(3)Food Junkie S.
I always felt CPK was a decent chain. In many ways, even better than Cheesecake, only because the waits are shorter and the food is always consistent. However, the service has always been a hit or miss. This time, the service was fantastic. My wife and I felt like we were at a fine dining establishment and not the CPK we know. Generally, the staff here is always slow and not very responsive until its time to pay. Glasses are always left empty and I can never seem to waive down my server, instead its always someone else's. Our server Max was phenomenal. Very attentive and the way he responded made you feel welcomed. Only if every establishment could train people to be more like Max from Rockford. So for that reason alone, I give this place 4 stars. Otherwise, the average I would give is 3.
(4)Ania R.
Great variety of pizzas. The best is the California club pizza. I suggest finding a good pizza and sticking with it.
(4)Leyla A.
Shopping with my BFF today at Old Orchard, after blowing wads of cash, we both were craving some Cobb Salads. I have never eaten at CPK before, but have had their frozen pizza's from the grocery store freezer section. I was expecting an okay salad, from a chain restaurant. I actually would have preferred Cheesecake Factory, but my BFF knows I am on Weight Watchers, so she won't let me eat there. My very expensive $15 Cobb Salad (minus bacon, add ranch on the side) was enormous! Our waitress, Frannie, was adorable, and attentive, and read my mind about needing more ranch dressing! I love it when my salad is all chopped up into little bits and I don't have to use my knife at all to cut anything. Bonus star for the outdoor seating, on a beautiful, sunny day, in The Skokie.
(3)Diana T.
Best pizza place ever. We ordered a steak taco pizza and it tasted soo good. I know what your thinking, taco and pizza? But yes, they are very creative and mastered pizza making and flavor.
(4)Dee W.
We haven't been to a CPK in about 5 years but decided to make use of a gift card that we received here during one of our pre-baby dates. Our server was truly amazing and really went above and beyond. The food is decent and filling - I had this salmon special which was really flavorful and done just perfect. My husband opted for the Thai Chicken pizza which hit the spot for him and he even had leftovers to bring home. I was surprised to try the peanut sauce on the pizza which brought out the flavor of the chicken. Overall, a good dining experience, good food and a nice time out.
(3)Terrence C.
I try not to review chains too much, but I think CPK is a pretty decent spot. The most ironic thing about my admiration for CPK, is that I don't even think the pizza is the best thing on the menu. The prices are fairly moderate, and portions are plenty. The atmosphere is fun. The place is nice enough to go on a casual date, but laid back to the point where you can wear gym shoes and just chill. My server was a bit slow considering the place was not too busy (saturday night at 10pm) but he was very nice and polite. With all that said. LET'S EAT! So, like I mentioned earlier, the pizzas are ok. Nothing too special to me. The margarita pizza is nice and light, and I think I've tried a thai chicken one before too which was not too bad. Is this how they do pizza in California? Cause in Chicago, we demand a bit more. There are some other hidden gems on the menu that I would like to point out... Chopped BBQ chicken salad is pretty freakin good. Its an awesome blend of a lot of good things. Lime, chicken, bbq sauce, black beans, light salad dressing. Its good! Chicken tequila pasta is really good too. Its a different taste than what I would expect. Hard to describe. Just try it. My last visit I tried the fish tacos. This dish had a lot of potenial, but they killed it with the red cabbage or whatever the veggies they added. Maybe order this w/o the cabbage and you'll love it.
(4)Bruce S.
I had a bug in my drink. Manager makes light of it and says he will "take it off my bill". I get a bug-free replacement but when the bill comes the drink is still charged. Food was good but the manager sucks. Stay away from this place! (No charge for bugs)
(1)Syretta H.
Went here with my friend after church one Sunday when she discovered that I had never been...it's was a Sunday that the Bears played so we thought it would be pretty quiet. In fact, it turned out to be quite the opposite- it was packed.... Anywho, we ordered some of the Spinach Dip and when it came out it was barely warm, so we had to send it back. Our server was great, until about a day after we left the restaurant, but I'll get back to that...so when we got our reheated dip, we decided it was mediocre at best. I ordered the white pizza, which I though was pretty good. I think my friend had the shrimp scampi pizza, which she also enjoyed. We had seen someone else order this dessert that we wanted, so we checked the dessert menu, and it was the chocolate souffle cake- which was fine, until we saw that the little piece of cake was almost $6.00 by itself, and if you wanted a scoop of Haagen Daz, that was almost an extra $3!!! We ordered it anyway, and I have to say it was good (although no one can beat Wildfire Chocolate cake YET.....) Overall we were satisfied with the food and the service. Now here's the kicker...so I had cash and my friend didn't. We split the bill down the middle. There was $26 in cash in the leather bill holder thingy that they bring to the table. My friend put her debit card in there and said to one said server "There is cash in there, please put the remaining balance on the card".....waitress comes back WAY TOO FAST...and we both said to her, wow you are quick! We were so busy yapping and laughing that it was not until the next day that my friend noticed that our waitress put the entire balance on the debit card and got a $26 tip...and then some, cause we had left the tip on the table....really waitress? You really thought that $26 was your tip???!!!!! My friends fault for not checking the receipt before she signed..... I would go back...if for nothing else, the Cherry Limeade and some of that high priced chocolate souffle cake!
(2)Olivia M.
Great service and food!
(5)D. M.
Excellent service, clean and calm environment. Seated immediately and loved the variety on the menu. My dinner was a tasty multigrain penne chicken pasta dish with a tequila lime sauce in it. My friend ordered the fish tacos which were phenomenal and we both enjoyed the red velvet cake a little too much;)
(5)Diablo L.
Glad we had lunch here, started off with tortilla spring rolls, came with great dipping sauces, then had a very tasty and perfectly baked Margherita pizza...nice wait staff
(4)J P.
I go to CPK like once a week (I'm going through a phase). Always delicious. I ALWAYS get the traditional cheese (used to always get the tostada) or margherita pizza (I was watching eat pray love and the scene where they are in naples italy chomping away at that amazing looking pizza, my mouth watered and over I went to CPK and it certainly hit the spot!). I love the sweet-tasting..ness? of the traditional cheese pizza, Man...I don't know..so good. I love the asian dumplings appetizers too and lettuce wraps are scrumptious. Service is average. I also love that i got 50% off one of my meals with those scratch cards!!!
(5)Mark D.
Surprisingly good place to have lunch and watch football on a Sunday afternoon. Good service. Good food. Typical CPK.
(3)Jacob J.
They moved! Now located on the first floor. A smidgen smaller, but still quaint. I could see the space used for throwing a party, definitely. Outside seating available. Previously, did staff sit at tables nearby customers??? I don't remember that... they do now. Tacky! Our waitress was paying more attention to talking with her co-workers than doing a good job serving. I won't put her name here. Never refilled our glasses unless we asked. We had to ask for new plates and napkins! When she brought the appetizers and main course, she waited till we moved items the table items around! WTF is that?? Pay some friggin attention. Food: BBQ Chicken pizza is a must. Classic fav of CPK. The Hummus, always bangin', try it with Chohula hot sauce for more kick. Lettuce wraps, eh.. order it at a Thai or Chinese restaurant. This time changed it up a little and ordered Garlic chicken something pizza. Garlic, chicken, cheese and some sort of wine butter shallot sauce. It was aiiight.
(3)Lisa G.
Wait for a table - 20 minutes, not bad for a Friday night at 7pm. Restaurant packed, noisy. Waitress Lily was charming and wonderful. Top shelf Margartini definitely lacking: not anywhere near cold enough and fairly weak. Bean hummus with wholewheat pita- tasty. Portabella ravioli delish. A bit pricey, but good.
(3)Virginia T.
I used to frequent this location when in the area for a quick and tasty lunch. However, after my last experience, I WON'T be back. They tried to seat us right by the staircase, then I asked to be moved. We got a waiter (Cliffery) who never offered us bread EVER, never brought us napkins or silverware (until we asked him). He only refilled our water once. Someone (the kitchen or him) screwed up my order and made it with onions when I said no onions, and by the time I got an onion free pizza to me, my husband was almost done eating. The only compensation he offered was free soda (which we didn't even want, we were drinking water!) My husband said the bathroom was dirty and there was a bug crawling on the wall...and then when he finally brought the check, there was no pen, I had to ask him twice for a pen to sign the damn check! HORRID!!!!
(1)Maya P.
This was the worst pizza place I have ever been to. I took a carry-out order for the Sicilian Pizza (thin crust). The box was so small it only fit 6 slices. I am never coming here again. I would never recommend this restaraunt to ANYBODY.
(1)Julie G.
Terrible treatment! We stopped in at Old Orchard with my disabled sister in a wheelchair and my two elderly parents...not good to us. When we got there, it was half empty and they said it will be a wait for the 6 of us. After seating the next 5-6 groups, the hostess said it will be 25-30 minutes before we could be seated. Again mostly empty still, and yet they continued to seat other groups. My father has Parkinson's and my Mom has a bad hip...we parked the wheelchair and all sat down. I saw a huge booth and asked if we might take that and put the wheelchair tucked in on the end. The hostess curtly stated that they do not allow for chairs on the end- As another waitress slid a chair at the end of that exact table for yet another group to now take the last large table. They were not helpful, professional or considerate to our group and we left to find another restaurant. They did not apologize or try to help us in any way, even after we told them we were leaving now. I have never walked out of a restaurant before, and will NEVER return to this place because of this horrible treatment we received.
(1)Patricia K.
I was shocked to see such low reviews for this place. Fortunately, I did not share the same experience at CPK. I had been to this chain about 10 years ago and have had some of their frozen pizzas for home but this was my first visit to the one in Skokie. It was a Monday night so the place wasn't terribly busy, nor was it empty. We were quickly seated and the waiter arrived within moments to take our drink order. His service to us was very attentive but not overdone. He knew all the right times to check in on us. I had the BBQ Chicken salad. I thought it was very tasty and I liked having the option to add fresh avocado. I must admit I found myself eating the bbq chicken on top and the salad below separately. I was a bit afraid to mix it all together. However, the tastes complimented each other in individual bites. Once I got to the bottom, I felt that the salad had a bit too much ranch but otherwise, 75% of the salad was mixed perfectly. The half salad is PLENTY for an entree. Despite my attempt, I was unable to finish. I cannot imagine a full order! I highly recommend the Carmel Apple Martini. I waited to order/drink it until after I completed the salad. I was glad as it was a great dessert.
(4)Victoria h.
Yuck. A friend and I went there for lunch and both got 1/2 portion of salads. I got their cobb salad (that comes with beets) and she got their bbq chicken salad. 1. $7.95 for a half portion. Really? Full portion is $11. 2. My salad had a variety of veggies (tomatoes, beets, lettuce). My friend's salad was all lettuce. She had some chicken that was lightly covered in bbq sauce and a chopped up tomato (half a tomato?). That's all. 3. Herbed Ranch = Ranch w/ Garlic
(1)Leon B.
Never too crowded, waiters are always nice, plus, Wild mushroom pizza is awesome !
(5)Christine P.
I don't know if it was because of the beginning of the semester or what, but while our server was great, it was evident that some of the servers definitely had other places they'd rather be. Our food came out quickly, and was just how I like it!
(3)Chris W.
It's a pizza chain but it's a little bit different than your pizza hut or any of those. Instead they make you more individual pizzas with out of the ordinary flavors. My boyfriend likes the tandoori chicken pizza a lot. Personally I like the actual chicken a lot better than I do the pizza but it definably has an Indian spiced taste. I lie the garlic chicken pizza a LOT! If you don't like garlic stay the hell away from this guy. It's very strongly flavored. Saving the best for last, the thai chicken pizza is one of the most fantastic flavored pizzas not only on the menu but that Ive had in general. It's got a wonderful peanut sauce that is SO perfect and NOT overpowering at all.
(3)Britni W.
Just moving to Chicago I was informed that I *much* try CPK and it was interesting. When we walked in the front door I was expecting something different than what I found. It was set up kind of like an applebee's or TGIFridays or any of those chain restaurants, which makes sense due to the fact that it is a chain. It had a bit more of a jazzy feel to it than I was expecting though. The waitress was sweet but only offered things I would never eat, but I'm a picky eater admittedly. We ended up with the pesto chicken and the white pizza with bacon. We had an appetizer that was basically bruschetta mix in a bowl with cheese garlic bread on the side. The appetizer was easily my favorite thing of the night. The pizza wasn't bad but not amazing either. The dessert we ended up with was an apple crumble that needed a little more work. The taste was there but with the peels still on the slices of apples it made it tricky at times to get a piece out without making a huge mess. The crumble on top was easily the best part of the dessert since the apples were tricky to get out of the dish. All in all, it's worth a try but more of one of those places you have to eat at least once just to say you've been there and got the t-shirt. (t-shirt purchase optional)
(3)Leslie H.
me and my bf went here today for lunch, just a random place to eat. It ended up being quite delicious! We were both very impressed with the food and the service! We sat outside on the patio and we ordered the avacado club egg rolls and we also shared "the white" pizza. Egg rolls were AMAZING and the pizza was pretty good too! My bf LOVED the pizza along with the egg rolls too! Waitress was very nice and quick! I would def recommend eating here!!
(4)Alan R.
Not the typical pizza, especially for Chicago. I wouldn't go here with a group planning on sharing one either. Each Pizza is more like an entree that you would order for yourself. I love the BBQ chicken Pizza, and also really like the Thai. They also have great salads and excellent deserts. The club egg rolls are also a great appetizer.
(3)Karla M.
* Yes it's a chain but I still think it's very good. I go there for one specific plate and that's the Chicken Tequila Fettuccini. The first time I was there that's what I ordered and it has been my favorite for about 9yrs. For appetizer I love the Focaccia with checca or the spinach artichoke dip with warm white and blue tortilla chips. What I love about it being a chain is that I can go anywhere and still be able to enjoy the place. Service here is always excellent my husband once ordered the jambalaya pasta, to try something different, we all know how that turns out. He hated it so much that he just out it to the side. The waitress came to see if we needed something else and noticed he was not eating. She asked him if he was unhappy with it and when he said yes she asked him to order whatever else he wanted because it's their policy to allow you to change your plate if you are unhappy with it. Great policy.
(4)Jonathan F.
New space was nice. Clean and inviting. Food was delicious, but the value will preclude me from going back with any regularity.
(3)John F.
This chain has wonderful individual pizzas with all kinds of topping ranging in inspiration from Cajun to Thai. All have really nice crusts. Good salads. As one can tell from its high-rent locations, it is not the cheapest place in the world for pizza, but its not really overpriced either. Lots of pasta offerings too. Busy but pleasant atmosphere and large enough to generally avoid long waits. They have a party room at this location too.
(4)Laura R.
Whenever my boyfriend and I go here, we start out with the herb-onion focaccia...mmm! I mostly get their pizzas (the Hawaiian pizza is great) because once I tried the bolognese linguini and didn't like it - it was practically just meat, no sauce. But they have lots of good pizzas with all kinds of unique toppings. The service is usually good, although they get busy, on weekends especially, but I don't think I've ever had to wait longer than 5-10 minutes.
(4)AJ M.
Came here for the first time in years. The place looks so much different. It's bigger cleaner and more modern. The menu also took on a whole new look with alot of different options now. They got the classic pizzas, new options for entrees. We then started with the Baja and Mediterranean spring rolls. These were nothing special, pretty much tortillas wrapped some ingredients, deff not worth it. Finally we ended with kung pao spaghetti and a tostada pizza. The noodles weren't bad, not as spicy as i would like, really rich and filling. The toastada pizza is a classic. Along with the bbq pizza one of my favorite items. Although the pizza is not the same as it used to be. First off, its a thin crust pizza now, I swear the crust was thicker before. Also somethings a little off, its not as good as it used to be. Overall the food was pretty solid, drinks refreshing and the place looks great. And service might be the highlight. We were helped this really nice girl Alexandra who was really nice and helpful!!
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