California Pizza Kitchen

California Pizza Kitchen is an American family style restaurant in Wellesley, Massachusetts. When you walk inside you will notice painted pizza boxes usually painted with ingredients such as scallions, tomatoes, and olives in special glass cases with spotlights beaming down on them. You will also notice the big yellow-tiled pizza hearth in the kitchen. The seating is a combination of booths and tables. Both booths and chairs have comfortable cushions. On the tables you will find salt and pepper shakers, a small stack of little plates for appetizers, and two forks and a knife wrapped in a paper napkin. There are windows in the front, but the blinds are usually down and the view is only across the street. While you eat you might hear talking, soft music, and sometimes even kitchen noises. You can also order take-out on the phone and have it delivered to you in your car.

The food at California Pizza Kitchen is to die for. Starting off with drinks you can go from a fizzy Diet Pepsi to a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade. For appetizers, their soft fresh white bread with cold smooth butter is amazing. So is their warm artichoke dip with crispy large chips.

For main courses you can go from a casual chewy fusilli pasta with tangy warm tomato sauce topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese, to a fancy mouthwatering Portobello mushroom ravioli served with your choice of amazing marinara sauce or creamy fettuccini. My brother usually gets the Hawaiian pizza with delectable pineapple chunks and crispy Canadian bacon. My mom usually gets the half size Chinese Chicken Salad packed with juicy chicken and cold crisp lettuce. For dessert, I enjoy getting the M&M Sundae with a scoop of soft vanilla ice cream served with warm gooey hot fudge with little tasty M&Ms and topped with fluffy light pillowy whipped cream. When you leave, you will be so sad you will want to come back soon for more.

The service at California Pizza Kitchen is amazing. When you first walk in there is a host or hostess dressed in black showing customers to their tables. Usually there is no wait at all so getting to a table is quick. Servers, wearing a white long sleeved polo shirt with a nametag and a pair of black pants, will greet you with a friendly smile and tell you their name. They will also bring over adult and kid menus. They’ll ask you what you would like to drink and then give you some time to look at the menu. They are always on top of what the specials are and will suggest a meal if you are having trouble picking one and you usually only have to wait 10-15 minutes for your food to arrive.

If you like authentic food, friendly service, and a great place for family, the California Pizza Kitchen is the place to go.