Restaurant Review: CPK in NYC

Honey, there’s green stuff on my pizza
Hmmm, CPK in NYC? Yep, leave it to my wife to find the one restaurant that should not be out of the state of California. California Pizza Kitchen. Funny enough, I’ve been to CPK in Las Vegas and New York, but never any in California.
We went to Home Depot one lazy Sunday, stumbled across the famous Dylan’s Candy Bar and while sitting down enjoying our ice cream deliciousness she spotted it: the only CPK in New York. So the next Sunday we treked across town just to grab a slice (well a personal pan pizza).
Side note: The wife is a big fan of anything Californian. We’re both from California, but she’s a very proud Californian, kinda like my mom at my little league games proud – a little bit scary. I think it has something to do with her being from Southern California (I’m from Northern California). Must be something in the water down there… 😉
So with California in the name, it had to be good right? I guess so. The wife loved her Jamaican Jerk Pizza (seen below), and I admit, it did taste Caribbean. However, my pizza was not Southwestern. I mean, the pizza tasted sort of Chipotle Chickenish, but frankly I got more heat from the bell peppers they used in the salsa (shudder).
But $14 for a personal pan pizza? I can pay $1.50 for a slice anywhere in the city and get more gastrointestinal pleasure from it then CPK. I guess I’m just not into all that green stuff on my pizza. (It was a cliantro lime sauce).
I’ll go back, but only to try something other then pizza from the menu.

Jamaican Jerk Pizza
WOW, thats a hefty price for a slice of pie. I have only been to NYC once, but that was enough to know that a slice of pie can be gotten just about anywhere for a reasonable price. I hate to admit it, but its the name of the franchise that costs. Famous Daves BBQ can justify 2 or 3 dollars more a pound for their brisket than I can because of their corporate name. I believe in paying for the product, not the name.
Those CPKs have sprung up like a bad rash here in SoCal. I ususally avoid the restaurant but if forced to go I get the Great White pizza.
I would much rather have real pizza than the frou frou “gourmet” pizza of CPK.
I always get the bbq chicken, you just cant go wrong.
I always have the carne asada pizza, it is SOOO good i eat the wholething before the wife is done with 1 piece. Then I have to sit there till she is done….what is up with slow eaters???
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Say what you want about the price, but Carne Asada Pizza?!?! OMG where can I get some! That sounds so delicious right now. I don’t think there’s a CPK within about 500 miles of me, but I’ll track one down. I love all pizza – cheap, expensive, thin, thick, hot, cold, delicious, or nasty – I love it all.
I think the Pizza that your wife has tasted is really good. I think next time I will taste that only. Thnx for that information!
$14 for a personal pizza. Wow. I could justify it if it was the best pizza ever!