California Pizza Kitchen at Encino — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Mediocre experience. I arrived with a part of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) after 5pm. The restaurant was fairly empty. The hostess attempted to seat us at tables in front of the bar / open kitchen, when there were other open booths deeper into the restaurant, but readily agreed to a move on request. Wait-staff was adequate, friendly and polite. Checked in once or twice to see how things were going, but did forget water when it was specifically requested. The wait for food was long, even though there weren't many other diners at the time our order went in. Bread was provided for the table during the wait, but only enough for a small piece per person and nobody stopped by to see if we wanted more when it was (very quickly) eaten. There was a guy wandering around making balloon animals who was entertaining, wearing a button that stated he makes balloon animals for tips.

The food was disappointing. The children at the table ate pizza from the kid's menu and seemed to like them okay. I had the chicken piccata. It was a hot mess. The chicken was incorrectly prepared and not consistent. The seasoning was off, and the sauce was weird. The pasta wasn't sauced and arrived somewhat clumpy and a tad on the hard side. I ate it all, but it's not something that I would ever order again and would have sent back if I were at a place where I had higher expectations for the food quality. For a family style chain restaurant, par for the (slighly overpriced) course.

This was my first visit to a CPK in at least 15 years, so I don't anything reasonably recent to compare it to. That said, the overall experience was worse than a Chili's or Black Angus. I won't be returning to this location and would not recommend...

I recently had the most incredible dining experience at California Pizza Kitchen, and I can't stop raving about it! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, setting the stage for an unforgettable meal.

Our waiter, Xander, was nothing short of exceptional. He greeted us with a bright smile and an enthusiasm that was infectious. Throughout the meal, Xander was attentive without being overbearing, always anticipating our needs before we even had to ask. His knowledge of the menu was impressive, and his recommendations were spot on! We tried a few dishes based on his suggestions, and every bite was pure perfection. Xander’s professionalism and friendly demeanor made us feel like we were the only guests in the restaurant.

Equally impressive was the manager, Jack, who came by our table to check on us. Jack’s passion for providing top-notch service was evident in every interaction. He made sure everything was just right and even took the time to chat with us about the history of California Pizza Kitchen and the inspiration behind some of their signature dishes. It’s clear that Jack runs a tight ship, and his leadership shines through in every aspect of the dining experience.

The food, of course, was outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. But it was the exceptional service from Xander and the warm hospitality from Jack that truly made our visit special. I can’t recommend this location enough! We’ll definitely be returning soon, and I hope we’re lucky enough to be served by Xander and...

This review is coming from a regular who goes to CPK atleast twice a month with friends - I do not particularly care for their food. My friends are elite members - meaning they spend more than $1k/year & the perks seem to serve us well when they use it for expedient seating. The food ordered for this specific visit was Shrimp Scampi pizza, Artichoke salad, 1/2 Cobb Salad, Cucumber Revivers (1 was made "fun") & a Sangria. The scampi pizza was absolutely the worst thing I've eaten at CPK - the shrimp tasted so unclean/frostbitten. The salads were good, but we all noticed our drinks didn't taste right. The fresca had run out, but this was corrected quickly without issue. Although its my first visit to this location, I was so pleased with the customer service & care. PRESTON was a WONDERFUL server. As someone who's worked in service previously, his energy & candor was EXCELLENT. He was attentive, intuitive, expedient & personable. I normally go to the Tarzana location, but would happily drive the extra mileage for a great experience here. 4 stars because I dislike the food, but Preston...