California Pizza Kitchen: C/D?

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FOR FUCK'S SAKE DUD DUD DUD DUD WHO THE FUCK THINKS THIS SHIT IS CLASSIC WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING IN EVEN STARTING THIS THREAD??

― ((((((DOPplur)))n)))u))))tttt (donut), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:11 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, I miss @d@m... this is the only reason I started this thread really... it's his mating call.

― ((((((DOPplur)))n)))u))))tttt (donut), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:14 (nineteen years ago)

absolutely dud, even if they have cheap lunch specials.

i miss adam too.
i want him to love me.

― electro-acoustic lycanthrope (orion), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:15 (nineteen years ago)

Was tempted to eat at one in China, but judging by this thread, I should be glad I didn't.

― ALLAH FROG (Mingus Dew), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:17 (nineteen years ago)

their frozen pizza are good and infinately preferable to their nasty ass restaurant pizza places where they also serve shit like chicken wings. WHO THE FUCK HAS EVER WANTED TO EAT PIZZA AND CHICKEN WINGS AT THE SAME TIME? also their pizzas in the restaurant are always cold. their frozen take-home pizzas at least see the inside of your oven.

adam is never returning

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:19 (nineteen years ago)

adam is never returning

:(:(:(:(

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:21 (nineteen years ago)

At an old job, California Pizza Kitchen was the default place for office birthday and going-away parties. I quickly discovered that the most tolerable dish there isn't the pizza but the walnut, bacon, and gorgonzola salad.

Fuck their pizza, it is ass.

― LOL Thomas (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:35 (nineteen years ago)

Also, people who refer to California Pizza Kitchen as "CPK" = dud dud dud. They're eating it WAY to often if they're using a acronym.

― LOL Thomas (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:36 (nineteen years ago)

they used to have bbq chicken egg rolls those were classic but they got rid of them so dud

― chaki (chaki), Thursday, 8 June 2006 05:40 (nineteen years ago)

the BBQ chicken pizza used to be classic but it tastes like shit now, they changed the cheese or something. The frozen ones are too puffy, haven't eaten one in years.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Thursday, 8 June 2006 06:01 (nineteen years ago)

On the defend the indefensible tip, the frozen pizza called the Classic White (or some such) makes a good base for adding your own toppings. I like shrimp on it, or Sicilian olives and ham, etc.

― nickn (nickn), Thursday, 8 June 2006 06:52 (nineteen years ago)

Alright, I'll step up, I'm a fan. Certainly can't compare to most good local pizza places, but if you're on the road and want casual sit-down dining, you could do a lot worse. And the ASAP stands are easily the best thing in the airport at both MSP and IND.

My main complaint with them is that their site selection folks are way too enamored of the faux-downtown locations (see the recent 'suburbs' thread).

The walnut/bacon/gorgonzola salad Chris mentions above is a goodie.

― Jeff Wright (JeffW1858), Thursday, 8 June 2006 12:23 (nineteen years ago)

this stuff is not so good

― and what (ooo), Thursday, 8 June 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

I like pizza and chicken wings together!

― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 12:39 (nineteen years ago)

I hate their dough.

― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 12:40 (nineteen years ago)

this stuff is not so good
-- and what (an...), June 8th, 2006.

HYPERBOLE, e... Hyberbole! You need to express that this food is worse than the war on Iraq!

― ((((((DOPplur)))n)))u))))tttt (donut), Thursday, 8 June 2006 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

I like that they have some Mexican pizza with beans and carne asada on it, but I haven't tried it. I did have a chicken fajita pizza there once which was pretty edible, and their humus is ok.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 8 June 2006 13:20 (nineteen years ago)

I don't care for it. I don't eat there. But good god, it's only half as horrible as Papa John's, and people eat that shit up.

― DAVE, for #1 Hits of yesterday and today! (dave225.3), Thursday, 8 June 2006 13:36 (nineteen years ago)

they make a new "thin crust" frozen pizza that is very good and has none of that puffiness you may not enjoy

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 8 June 2006 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

WHO THE FUCK HAS EVER WANTED TO EAT PIZZA AND CHICKEN WINGS AT THE SAME TIME?

I can't relate to this statement in the least.

― mike h. (mike h.), Thursday, 8 June 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

I love California Pizza Kitchen! OK, so I've only been once, but I had chicken and GUAC on my pizza, which was a revelation. Now I put guac on my pizzas at home. It is Wrong and also Delish. Guilty and also Great.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

Just to check, since we don't yet have one near here (but it may be at the new huge mall, which is a telling aspect), but is this one of those places that has expanded rapidly and people obnoxiously go nuts over at a level disproportionate to quality? I've had their frozen stuff and some other similar pizza places and think it's decent pizza, if a little high on the novelty factor. I can definitely see thinking that it's crap if people were wandering around talking about how it's the best. thing. ever.

Speaking of crap that builds around large suburban sprawl malls, if I ever have to hear anything good about the Cheesecake Factory or P.F. Chang's, I'll choke.

― mike h. (mike h.), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:09 (nineteen years ago)

Around here, the annoyingly-popular-up-and-coming chain to beat is Panera.

― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:10 (nineteen years ago)

the crust at CPK is enough to make all their other crimes insignificant in comparison. people enjoying that crust is also a crime. it's horrendous. it's some of the worst pizza crust I've ever encountered, period.

and I personally will indulge in a buffalo chicken pizza once in a while from our sodexho cafeteria service downstairs here at the office, it's not so bad.

― TOMBOT (TOMBOT), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:13 (nineteen years ago)

P.F. Chang's food is pretty good, but the atmosphere and service is horrible. at least from my one experience.

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:15 (nineteen years ago)

Around here, the annoyingly-popular-up-and-coming chain to beat is Panera.

i think panera is decent. annoying, yes, but decent -- i haven't been for a while, but they used to have a turkey/artichoke sandwich that was good. and their french onion soup was kinda nice.

― sometimes it takes an earthquake to know where the fault lies (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:24 (nineteen years ago)

Don't get me wrong - I actually really love their food. It's just that they have built like 4 new locations here in the past month, and are building at least 2 more right now.

― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:26 (nineteen years ago)

D'oh! "past month" should be "past THREE months"

― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:26 (nineteen years ago)

it's some of the worst pizza crust I've ever encountered, period.

I've only eaten there once, but I don't remember the crust at all - it seemed completely harmless.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:26 (nineteen years ago)

I've had pizzas with really bad crust before (too tough, too chewy, overcooked, undercooked), but the crust at CPK was fine.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 8 June 2006 15:28 (nineteen years ago)

There should be some thread for the battle of the viral restaurant chains. We've had Panera for a number of years since I think they're St. Louis-based and I'm one state north. I'm amused because Quiznos is huge now even though the first set of franchises for the chain failed horribly around town because they put one in the cheapest shopping mall and another nearby near a Wal-Mart.

― mike h. (mike h.), Thursday, 8 June 2006 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

Oh man Cheesecake Factory. Even the decor is terrifying, like Vegas without any of the things that make Vegas remotely worthwhile.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Thursday, 8 June 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

quizno's is big around college campuses.

― sometimes it takes an earthquake to know where the fault lies (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 8 June 2006 16:23 (nineteen years ago)

That makes no sense to me, since Quiznos is so much more expensive than a lot of cheapass sandwich shops and college students are, in theory, cheap.

Ally completely OTM about the decor. Pseudo-roman columns and pastels combined with the marble surfaces in the restroom made me wonder if any sort of designer was ever within miles of the design.

― mike h. (mike h.), Thursday, 8 June 2006 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

While I did start this thread in hoping to delurk Adam, I do dislike California Pizza Kitchen quite a bit... mainly because of its presentation and setting moreso than the food itself. The pizza is about as C+/B- as it gets... not inedible/not memorable... But it is sad that a chain marketed to slightly-above-middle-class people has worse pizza than Sbarro.

― ((((((DOPplur)))n)))u))))tttt (donut), Thursday, 8 June 2006 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

Although I thought the food there was okay, it's certainly not great pizza (like, for instance, the Hoboken Grimaldi's makes). I'd put it roughly on par with Numero Uno or Sbarros, in terms of the quality of the basic elements of crust/sauce/cheese. But on the other hand, if you're jonesing for chicken fajita pizza with guac on it, there's not too many other places you could go.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 8 June 2006 16:39 (nineteen years ago)

Has anyone every had tortellini pizza? Some of the local pizzerias offer it, and it sort of scares me.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 8 June 2006 16:52 (nineteen years ago)

No but at Cici's you can get Mac-N-Cheese pizza.

― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 17:15 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, and pretty much all the local pizzerias sell buffalo chicken pizza.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 8 June 2006 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

Their Tandoori Chicken pizza was good, but they don't make it anymore, so fuck them in their stupid asses, dud.

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 8 June 2006 17:36 (nineteen years ago)

There should be some thread for the battle of the viral restaurant chains.

I started one!

― LOL Thomas (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 8 June 2006 17:42 (nineteen years ago)

pizza with ziti on it is pretty common in nyc. total carb overkill.

the cheesecake factory is DISGUSTING.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:16 (nineteen years ago)

heh, one of my coworkers recently told me "Oh you know what place is good? The Cheesecake Factory!"

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:17 (nineteen years ago)

oh, man. maybe i was scarred by an atypically bad experience, but...

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:18 (nineteen years ago)

We all felt like we were going into a trance there. Totally creepy as hell.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:20 (nineteen years ago)

my co-workers always make me eat at cheesecake factory.

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:21 (nineteen years ago)

I've never been to one, but I get the feeling it's not really a cheesecake factory, right? Cuz that would be kinda kickass.

― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:22 (nineteen years ago)

no. its pseudo-fancy for suburbanites. there are a few cheesecakes hanging around.

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:23 (nineteen years ago)

well lauren, this was the same girl who suggested my date take me to Applebee's, so I am taking her culinary suggestions with a grain of salt.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:23 (nineteen years ago)

I didn't see even one Cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory. That was definitely disappointing.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

man i would love for someone to take me on a date to applebees

― jewess harvell (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:30 (nineteen years ago)

that's where they have the giant fried onion, right?

― jewess harvell (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:30 (nineteen years ago)

That's everywhere -- the best is at Outback Grill where it's called a "Bloomin' Onion." I have a friend who has parents that never took him to any chain restaurants. As a result, we had to go to ALL of them and I can now classify them by economic status, specialties, and differences in the stupid crap stuck (or not stuck) on the walls.

― mike h. (mike h.), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:34 (nineteen years ago)

Every Cheesecake Factory I've ever tried to go to has had a one-hour-plus wait, so I've never been.

That mac-n-cheese pizza at Cici's looks pretty dire. My 6yo son's favorite foods are (a) mac-n-cheese and (b) pizza, and he wouldn't touch it.

― Jeff Wright (JeffW1858), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:46 (nineteen years ago)

applebee's is riblets, i think.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:49 (nineteen years ago)

word

― jewess harvell (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:50 (nineteen years ago)

i'm a fan of any food that comes in "-let" form

― jewess harvell (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:51 (nineteen years ago)

imho the tony roma's onion loaf is better than the bloomin' onion, but i wouldn't kick either out of bed.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:51 (nineteen years ago)

actually, is the tony roma's franchise still around?

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

I stole one of their Big Brewtus beer glasses.

― mummy wrapped in bacon (nickalicious), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

i want someone to take me on a date to steak 'n shake

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:53 (nineteen years ago)

All the Tony Roma's in Cle are kaput.

― Jeff Wright (JeffW1858), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:59 (nineteen years ago)

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