California Pizza Kitchen
Reviews and Complaints

My family dined at California Pizza Kitchen in the Geneva commons at 6:30 PM on March 10th, 2023. Diego was our server and we brought two young children. My husband ate fettuccine Alfredo and one of my daughters had Mac and cheese. A few hours after our meal they were vomiting violently and needed medical attention. We were told the contents of their stomach had poisoned them. They are still sick over a day later and my young child is struggling with fluids. We are so dismayed as this is a restaurant we enjoy. I would caution any and all patrons to avoid this location at all costs!

Dear Sirs,

I offer the following observations.

The taste of your pasta bulougnese comes up short. At first, I thought it might have been some kind of wine, but was informed this is not used. Possibly a spice of some sort. However, I sense the most likely culprit is olive oil.

While the restaurant industry is in love olive oil, I find it repulsive. It makes anything it touches taste rancid. I therefore plead with you to reevaluate. Try the pasta bulougnese with and without olive oil and let your taste buds decide. I have found that pouring your smashed pea barley soup over the pasta bulougnese gives it a far better taste. Maybe in part because it masks the olive oil.

Besides this, there is very little ground beef.

Second observation. The taste of your chicken pacata is somthing akin to solvent or gasoline. The chicken itself tends to be a little overcooked. I also suggest you eliminate the capers.

Finally the dessert items. The key lime pie and velvet cake are less than appealing. I suggest adding something like berry pie or yellow cocoanut cake.

Sincerely,

Bob Holden

Chris the manager at CPK Mission Viejo is the rudest person I have ever encountered at a restaurant.

He’s arrogant, rude, rolled his eyes when I told him the bathroom was filthy (papers everywhere), and never came back to check on our table, but sent another waiter over to our table. Thank goodness for our waiter Stefan, he was amazing. Friendly, cordial, prompt. He is a perfect example of what your manager should be. Perhaps he could teach Chris a few things, or Chris should have more management training. If it hadn’t been for Stefan, we would have left.

5/4/2022 at 6:30 pm I had the worst experience at a restaurant in my life. The CPK on 136 Boardwalk place Gaithersburg has the worst service ever. I had dinner with my family and when we got the bill we gave them two gift cards for a total of $100 for a bill of $81.76 or so the sever comes back and says their gift card system doesn’t work I was upset that they didn’t tell us when we walked in . The manager (tall dark skin guy comes to my table and says yea the system doesn’t work I need a different form of payment I was surprised that he didn’t even apologize and kept going back and forth putting words in my mouth saying ok, so you don't want to pay? I said I do but you should have notified your customers , he looked agitated and was making facial expression like he was annoyed and would cut me off when I talked he than seats down at my table not invited and he kept acting unprofessional, rude and making it sound like it’s my issue that the gift card didn’t work and not the company that issued them. As far as I know we paid $100 to use them at CPK and that’s the only place they can be use at anyways. He was getting personal with me asking if you had a business how would you know the system doesn’t work I said in fact I have a business and I would have known and he wouldn’t stop and kept escalating the situation and upsetting me. He goes to the back to try again and comes back saying the system isn’t working once again no apology or anything of that sort in fact he was more rude and was getting me more irritated. I said give me back my 2 gift cards back and I’ll use this card instead to pay I pull out my Visa card and he refuses to give me my two gift cards and said how do I know if you are not gonna walk out I was like what? I asked him several times to hand me my 2 gift cards and to take my CC he refused. He said give me your other card and I will give the gift cards back when I ring up the payment. I was really angry at this point I got up up from the table I asked him not to ring me up and I’ll pay someone else he said no I’ll walk you to the register and he gives my two gift cards to the cashier he tells her don’t give her these cards until she pays I was so upset at this point because my second form of payment was inserted on the credit card machine ( shown on the video) and him and the cashier were holding my gifts cards at this point I told him I was gonna record what they were doing. You can see for proof of their unprofessionalism and misconduct. The cashier felt encouraged by her manager to be disrespectful saying you need to come down. The manager asked me what the order was I said you have the receipt charge me accordingly he kept saying if you don’t wanna tell me what you ordered than you don’t wanna leave you can stay here and started asking the person behind me what they need while my card is still inserted on the CC machine and the cashier holding on to my two gift cards . At this point I knew I was dealing with not only unprofessional person but a delinquent street person that shouldn’t be hired as a manager. I walked out and he kept both of my$100 gift cards . My husband and my son were outside and I asked him to go deal with this jerk and my husband went back and paid the bill with a different card and he finally gave us the gift card with no apology . Wow never in my life I experienced this . We always go to this location at least twice a month and sometimes more or I would order to go for my employees but I will never step a foot at this location or any other CPK when it’s ran by unprofessional street gangsters . I will for sure write several reviews and file a compliant with BBB and consumer protection agency . Training is key and not anyone can be a manager it only takes one person like this manager to ruin a business reputation.

I just waited at the front of your entrance for 8 minutes without a single acknowledgment. The restaurant was not busy yet. When I went over to sit at the bar, I was given a drink and then told to wait. The server proceeded to put free bread on numerous plates and go to each table while making me wait to order food I was PAYING for. They were not friendly and looked unhappy. It is expensive to eat out now. People have choices because all restaurants are open. With tips, servers can still make a very, good living. My choice was to eat someplace else.

Entering Burbank CPK around 3:45pm
The place is almost empty. Maybe five tables occupied. I wait at reception. Nobody showing.
I step a bit forward into the restaurant and inquire to a server behind bar if I could just seat myself since no one is approaching and the place is basically empty. No. I can't. I should wait.
I wait.
I decide to seat myself bc none of the employees in the entire place make any attempt to acknowledge my presence. Once sitting - I do get attention - namely a server from across the room asking me loudly to go back to the reception area and wait.
Please note - the place is empty! With no one at the reception area.

I would expect someone to come to my table at this point with a menu and greet me. And - if the table I sat down was not to their liking - escort me to a different table. Instead I was asked to walk back through a basically empty restaurant to wait at an empty reception area. Zero flexibility. Militant style procedures.

I decided to leave. Drove to the Glendale CPK - which is also pretty empty and I'm currently receiving very courteous and friendly and professional treatment here.

Dear Team,
Today, 27.11.21,
We have visited California Model colony, Karachi.
The quality of food was not good with negligible amount of cheese and a very bad presentation.
Moreover, they served Pizza on broken and dirty wooden board.
I have also attached pictures of wooden board. Also attached bill for your ready reference.
Hope your service will improve and quality of food will also be better in comparison.
Thanks & regards,
Sohail Uddin
C.+[protected]

I placed an order for take-out by Miguel on 4/14/21.I asked to be able to sit down somewhere in the restaurant while I waited and was refused. I explained to Miguel that I was in my feet all day and simply need to get off my feet while I wait for my order. He again refused. I told this person who identified himself as the manager that upon getting his name I will be reporting him.He then asked very sarcastically what my name was.I said I am the customer that would not be his business to know but I can see he was reluctant to make peace with me and that I would be reporting him.I will not be returning to this very unfriendly and unaccommodating individual and business nor will I ever recommend.

I went to have lunch on Monday March 22, 2021... Around 12p.m. I observed the waiter let the two families ahead know he would help them I saw two servers helping everyone so I was patient...I live in Long Beach I've been to this location at the pike outlet a couple of times...he seated them and I was by myself the crowd was small so I figured wait was not that long... I stood for like 30 minutes no greeting no ill be back...I politely asked can somebody please help me I see your busy is there anyone else a available ...I waited more time just to be seated at a dirty table debris on floor and waiter had a sarcastic attitude I tried to be more patient at this point I lost my appetite and just left as I walk by and see everyone else politely being served I actually do not want to come back at all

I drive for Favor, a delivery service. In the Favor business model, drivers simply call in orders, pick them up and deliver them to customers. We are not authorized to tip when we pay.

The girl who does the takeout has been rude to me every time I go in for a pickup. One time I heard her tell her manager, "There needs to be a minimum tip for this" loud enough so I could hear it. She was also rude to me, which I believe is related to the lack of a tip.

Although I understand her frustration, I believe there is no reason for her to "shoot the messenger." I am also considering no longer accepting orders at California Kitchen, simply because I don't want to deal with her attitude.

The name listed on the receipt is Olo.

Store ID: SANCPK04
Server: Josephine

Very rude and abrupt treatment from Josephine as I tried to order my food. I asked her to explain the difference between two pizzas to which she rudely said "READ THE BOARD". She then took the wrong order before giggling in chinese with the lady cooking the pizza.

Immature, rude and insulting behaviour. Terrible service from this branch.

Back in 2008, my co-worker called in an order to the local CPK in Riverside, CA for the whole office on that floor. I'd never had CPK's before and decided to buy into it too. At the time they were selling a Fettuccini dish with the option of adding a protein. I paid extra for chicken. My order came out to around $11 and some change. I opened my tray to about 1 cup of pasta and WHOOPING GRAND TOTAL OF 4 little 1 1/2 inch slivers of chicken. Did I really just pay $4 dollars extra for this? Yes I did.

My colleagues were much angrier than I was and encouraged me to call and complain. I was disappointed but not mad enough to start yelling at people over it. However my co-workers weren't having it and giving me the "if you don't call, I will" speech. Peer pressured, I kindly asked them why I received so little chicken on my entree. After being put on hold a few times I was finally connected to a woman whom was the manager.

I could hear the wide taunting smile on her face over the phone. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. In between snickers she "apologized" to me for being disappointed with my meal. There was more giggling in the background as she said this. With humor dancing on her tongue she told me those are the correct portions and if I wanted more chicken, then "really just ask for more chicken." To clarify, I asked her if I'd have to pay another $4 for 4 more inches of chicken which earned another chuckle from her as she confirmed. She told me I'd receive a coupon in the mail and we hung up.

At first I wasn't upset by the whole ordeal until I witnessed the sheer lack of professionalism from the MANAGER of all people. She turned a minor incident into a customer-losing bombshell. It took months for the coupon to show up but by then I'd already decided there would be no more business between CPK and I and gave it away. What a horrible first experience. I've never been back.

I recently purchased a "caramelized peach salad" as advertised as a featured new product on their website to be picked up for carry out. In addition to the salad I also ordered a side of "free range chicken breasts, " for which I paid $4.50 not included tax. When I arrived at the restaurant I paid $16.54 for just the salad and optional meat. Much to my chagrin, when I took the salad out of it's packaging to eat I found a salad little bigger than a small side salad and six small strips of "free range" chicken. I have never been so outrageously overcharged for a food item in my life. I intend never to frequent California Pizza Kitchen or pay this amount of money for so little in return at a restaurant again!

I will NEVER, EVER EVER eat at california pizza kitchen ever again. The entire company is made of complete ###s. They had the GALL to take one of there most popular items off the menu, never to return. The f*cking Cheeseburger pizza. I loved it when I had it that one time it was AMAZING! And with no god damned warning, THEY DISCONTINUED IT! for "reasons unkown" I went in there today for lunch and as soon as the waitress told me they took it off the menu, I asked her RESPECTFULLY, "What happened? Why dont you have it anymore?" All she could say was "uuuuhhhhh I Dont know." like a damn ###. It took a MAXIMUM effort not to flip out on her. I just got up and stormed out of that resturaunt. And also, that waitress I swear to God gave me dirty looks as I walked out of there.

I will never eat there ever again, unless they bring back that delicious cheesburger pizza, They PERMENANTLY lost a customer.

California Pizza Kitchen is currently in negotiation to be sold to new owners. Over the past couple months many new policies have been put into place to try to drive revenue for the company. There is so much pressure on the management of the stores that this trickles down to the employees, primarily the servers.

I have worked for Cpk for about four years and it went from a good place to work to absolutely terrible over this time. Some examples of this are the management is setting dessert sales goals at the beginning of the shift that you must reach. These goals are so unrealistic (they want you to sell 6 desserts even if you only have 3 tables during your shift) and if not reached you will be written up. If you do not reach these goals you are put on suspension and up for termination. Five people in the past week have been fired for this, not working enough hours per week (even if they are not scheduled) and various other bogus claims.

The same thing is happening at other stores in the area. Does anyone know the rights of these servers?

This past Friday night on my way to see a friend's band play over in Fullerton, I stopped by the Brea CPK to watch the end of the Laker game and have a drink; that's right one drink. 45 minutes later after I was done with my drink, I asked the waitress for my check and she sweetly asks, "Are you sure you don't want another one?" Being a push-over I said OK and she brought me another. She was sweet (so I thought) and this is a good reason to tip her better. After about five or ten minutes, realizing I was too full to drink the second one completely, I asked again for my check and this time she and her manager decide I am too impaired to drive and that I take a cab they will call for me. I refused and proceeded to walk out to my car. As I opened the door, I am greeted by mall security who also tried to persuade me to get in the cab. I still refused and offered him and the rest of the CPK staff who followed me out a few kind words. Just then, the Brea Police show up. This all happened within two minutes after I said I refused to take their cab. If you research blood and alcohol content levels you will find that a person my weight 155 lbs. and the drink I had within an hour time frame, my blood alcohol content would be .06. Remember, I barely drank the second drink she persuaded me to get. How could I get that much more impaired in that 5 or 10 minute period from the time she offered me a drink. I am also suprised to see that the cab pulled up right when everybody else did. It normally takes 30 to 45 minutes to get a cab after you call them around here. Needless to say after the cops showed up I had no choice according to them but take the cab or they will pull me over if I get in my car and drive. This is proposterous! I believe CPK may have a deal worked out with the cabby and police department since they managed to show up so quick. I live in a condominium complex and it takes this same police department an hour to respond to a residential call. Could they be in cahoots with the Brea Police department offering up DUIs on a silver platter? Again, they had no reason to suspect I was too impaired. Oh yeah, I had to leave my car in the parking lot and when I went to retrieve it the next day my passenger side mirror was hanging off the door. I set out for a casual night of fun and look what CPK brings me after patronizing them for so long. I will never set foot in there accept to use their crapper.

A few months ago, I went into the local CPK. This was the one in Bellevue Square mall. We were seated with a bery rude attitude, and the waitress asked what we wanted to drink. We ordered 3 drinks. Before that, we asked to move seats, and she said, "Fine!...". Then, since there are free refills, we asked for differnt flavors this time. She replied with an angry voice, and we felt she was having a bad day. But then, when the food arrived, she set it down with a huff and left.

This leaves me to tell you, CPK may have good food, but the overpriced items and bad service lead to a big no-no to consumers.

I will never again return to CPK.