California Pizza Kitchen

Located, along with P.F. Chang’s, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and BRAVO! Cucina Italiano, at Town Center Virginia Beach, California Pizza Kitchen is a delectable choice when you want pizza, but are looking for something a little more upscale. If you’ve ever had one of California Pizza Kitchen’s frozen pizzas, available at your local grocery store, please know that the real thing is twice as nice. With outdoor seating for the summer and a spacious interior, CPK, as it is referred to on its website, is a great choice if you are feeling adventurous with your taste buds. While CPK serves soups, salads, and sandwiches, its specialty is, of course, pizza. Thirty-three different pizzas are listed on the menu, including such pizzeria norms as Margherita and Sicilian pizza, as well as unusual choices like Mango Tandoori Chicken pizza, with grilled Tandoori chicken, mango, mild onions, red peppers and mozzarella cheese on a spicy golden curry sauce and topped with fresh cilantro and sweet mango-chili sauce; or Carne Asada pizza, with grilled steak, fire-roasted chilies, onions, cilantro pesto, Monterey jack, and mozzarella cheeses, topped with fresh tomato salsa and cilantro, and served with tomatillo salsa. My favorite pizza is the spicy Grilled Chipotle Chicken pizza, which includes fire-roasted chilies, chipotle sauce, mozzarella and enchilada cheeses, topped with roasted corn, black bean salsa, cilantro and a lime cream sauce. CPK also offers vegetarian alternatives to many of the pizzas. California Pizza Kitchen offers 9 very different desserts, including the classic Tiramisu, Chocolate Souffle Cake, and my favorite, Chocolate Banana Royale Cake, which is chocolate cake layered with banana cream, topped with chocolate mousse, and served with drizzles banana cream sauce and hot fudge. CPK also has a call ahead wait list. Like other Town Center restaurants, it is important to make reservations or call ahead, especially on the weekends. Dress is casual. California Pizza Kitchen 200 Central Park Avenue Virginia Beach, VA 23462 (757) 456-2630 http://www.cpk.com