California Pizza Kitchen at Pentagon — Restaurant in Arlington

My first time visiting this place was not a pleasant experience. An older black male was my waiter and he was extremely rude to me. I went to pay for my food after dining in and the treatment I received was very unprofessional. The waiter proceeded to engage in an inappropriate conversation about me.

I paid for my food and asked for a receipt and he became angry. I over heard him telling a female employee that I didn’t write a tip on the receipt and that he will make sure that I never eat there again. He went on to say that I was new that and that I have never been there before. When he went to hand me my receipt he said that there’s no need for him to keep the receipts and that he only keeps the receipts if a tip is provided on the receipt but he said it so aggressively in an angry tone.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and how I was poorly treated because I never write tips out on a receipt. I normally provide a separate tip but because of his negative attitude and negative comments, I decided not to provide a tip.

I decided to visit again for the second time thinking that maybe I had misunderstood the situation but to my surprise I was treated poorly again by the same waiter. This time he begin to asked me questions and never greeted me in a polite manner. He asked me if I was the person that sat at the booth in the corner last week and pointed to the booth. I told him yes. He then asked me if someone tried to seat me at a different table and I said No. He then said that he would go and find out if someone tried to sit me at a different table and he walked away.

I sat there waiting for him to return. He did return after a few minutes and had an attitude and acted as if he didn’t want to serve me by saying in a rude manner that he would go ahead and serve me this time. The entire time I was polite by saying Thank you. I almost asked him if there was an issue with me being there but I decided that I just wanted to enjoy my day.

The second visit confirmed that I was right about how I was treated my first visit because I was being treated the same way on my second visit. Poor customer service over a tip. I felt that I didn’t need to provide a tip for poor customer service and that I am only responsible for paying for my food. I just can’t reward bad behavior. Throughout this entire visit, I remained calm and polite even though I didn’t receive the same treatment in return. I hope that the waiter provides better customer service for my future visit because I would never return if this is how they...

As a veteran visiting California Pizza Kitchen for their Veterans Day appreciation offer, I was deeply impressed by what turned into a memorable dining experience that went far beyond a complimentary meal. The restaurant's atmosphere was welcoming from the moment we stepped in, with warm lighting and comfortable seating that set the stage for a lovely evening.

Our server, Gucci, truly elevated the entire experience. Her professionalism and genuine warmth stood out immediately - she struck that perfect balance between being attentive and giving us space to enjoy our meal. When we mentioned we were unfamiliar with the event's menu items, she provided thoughtful recommendations tailored to our preferences, demonstrating an impressive knowledge of the menu. We appreciate the additional pizza. Her timing was impeccable, checking on us just when we needed something, and she maintained a friendly, engaging presence throughout our visit.

The drinks menu was a pleasant surprise. Their craft cocktails were well-balanced and beautifully presented, and the wine selection offered some excellent pairings for our meals. We couldn't resist ending our meal on a sweet note, and the butter cake ampler dessert proved to be a highlight. Much different from the Applebee's visit earlier in the day!

What started as a simple visit to enjoy their Veterans Day offer turned into a memorable evening of exceptional service and delicious food. Gucci's outstanding service, combined with the quality of both food and drinks, has definitely earned CPK a spot on our regular dining rotation. It's refreshing to see a restaurant not only honor veterans but also deliver such a high-quality dining experience...

Our waiter was Eric. Around 9:00 on July 15, 2023. He was very rude to use. First, we asked for bread and oil - which is standard - and he just rolled his eyes at us and said "it takes time." Keep in mind, this was the first time we asked for the bread. Second, we ordered TWO chipotle pizzas, but we only got one. So we inquired what happened to the other, then in an angry manner, he said "you guys only ordered one but I'll add another" and walked away from us. Third, we asked for the smoky salsa that we usually get, and he, again, rolled his eyes at us and said I don't know but I'll check with the chef. He comes back, and tells us "we don't have the smoke or whatever" and just walked away. We honestly feel this was partially due to racism as the rest of the people around us were getting (from what it looked like) awesome service with him smiling and laughing with them. We were the only Indian family there. We weren't difficult either and only asked once for things and followed up only after 10-15 minutes had passed just to get an update on our food. Other than that, the food was mediocre - at best. We talked to a manager and he voiced to us that they were short staffed and had last minute cancellations. I get that it could be stressful, but it just seemed as we were an isolated incident of receiving poor and rude service whereas the others seemed as though they were getting good service. The manager was, at least, nice to us and understanding. He took 15% off our bill - which we greatly appreciate. We hope you can take the necessary disciplinary action with Eric to ensure that we, or any other family, for that matter, receive service like...