I had a good experience at California Pizza Kitchen with my family! We ordered the Thai Crunch Salad, Margherita Pizza, GF Cauliflower Crust Pizza, and Tostada Pizza, and everything was delicious. The Thai Crunch Salad was super fresh and flavorful. The GF cauliflower crust pizza was surprisingly really good, especially with the pesto on the side that tasted like a green chutney. The Margherita pizza was simple but tasty. The Tostada Pizza was the most unique and honestly so good--definitely worth trying at least once. The restaurant itself was clean and had a nice atmosphere, and overall the food was enjoyable and the people working there were kind. read more

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Went to Rio to try a different place, but they were closed for a private holiday event, so we hopped over to CPK on a whim. Our server Jimmy was amazing - good energy and attentive and checked in just enough! 5/5 for service! The food, however, was very disappointing even when not expecting much from a chain restaurant. I tried the California Colada - tasted almost like straight up pineapple juice with a hint of coconut from the rum, needs more flavor profile. Then I tried their new braised short rib ragu - as soon as it hits my mouth, it tastes bitter - too much oregano, and burnt oregano at that! Even the fresh parsley was past its prime, I was taking leaves out of my mouth thinking they were dried herbs but it was the "fresh" parsley. Their pizza was on point - we were debating on 2 and Jimmy said they can do half-half ($2.50 extra not mentioned). Burnt ends pizza was flavorful and carne asada was ok (meats were dry and flavorless but the sauces made up for it). Then we decided to try their popular butter cake with ice cream ($3.50 extra again not mentioned). The cake was very dry, my date literally choked on a piece before we broke it apart to mix with the ice cream and whipped cream to make it palatable. Food was 2/5. For $100+ for 2 people, the value just wasn't there for the food we were served unfortunately. Better food can be had elsewhere. I normally weigh the food more, but this time service carried the weight, so 3/5 overall experience. read more

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We came for happy hour (Mon-Fri 3-6pm) on a weekday and it wasn't crowded. I asked the hostess about happy hour, and we weren't served a happy hour menu (not sure if there is a physical happy hour menu or not). It can be found on their website, with every item being below $10. The best deal is their $9 7" pizza and draft beer. The pizza itself is decent enough, my favorite being the bbq chicken pizza. Service was ok. Because we sat outside, we weren't checked often, and we waited over 15 min for water. They have outdoor patio seating overlooking the water. read more

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The service was great, very attentive and friendly. I really enjoyed my chicken seas at salad it was perfectly mixed and paired really great with the friend which were perfectly crunchy. My son enjoyed his pepperoni pizza. The place was clean and cozy for a nice dinner read more

California Pizza Kitchen - Chicken ceasar salad and fries PEPPERONI PIZZA - New American Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I haven't been here for years (moved from the area and since returned), but I recall the salads and soups were good. We gave it a shot at this location last night. When we sat, Jimmie greeted us and offered us complimentary bread with olive oil for the table. We didn't order any beverages, so he returned with waters and the bread. The bread is really good. Crunchy on the outside and soft, but not doughy, on the inside. The oil is a nice complement. We started with soups. I got a bowl half and half tomato soup and tortilla soup. It's a very large portion. The tortilla soup is terrific as was the tomato. The tomato was a bit too salty for me (it's a matter of taste - don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but would have preferred more tomato focus), but not crazy salty as I've gotten at some restaurants where it's unpleasant to eat. It's a good tomato soup. My partner got a cup of the pea and barley soup, which was a nice size portion and really delicious, I got the Half Thai Crunch Salad and my partner got the Half Crispy Dumpling Salad. Both salads were fresh, crisp and delicious. Mine could have used a bit more peanut dressing (again, a personal choice, not a slam on the entree). Honestly, between the bread and the soup, we were full and took most of our salads home. We sat outside on the patio overlooking the Rio manmade lake and the constant stream of folks walking by. On a pleasant evening, outside is the place to be. I can't speak to the pizzas or other entrees, but for salads and soups, this place is solid. And Jimmie was a terrific and enthusiastic server. read more

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I normally don't leave negative reviews, but this experience was concerning. We found a staple in our food!!! - which is obviously a serious safety issue. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it definitely ruined the meal as we were looking forward to dinner. That said, our waiter and manager were very kind and apologetic, which we appreciated. We didn't end up getting a replacement meal and just asked for our bill after having an appetizer and drinks because our appetite was ruined. Because of that, the manager comped our bill as we didn't get anything else. Which we appreciated, but this shouldn't have happened to begin with. I used to love coming to CPK, esp for their tostada pizza, but I don't think we will be coming here for a good while, or at all anymore. They've lost their touch, which is very disappointing. I really do hope management takes this seriously and improves their kitchen safety procedures. read more

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Tuesday 3/11/25 Surprised I've never written a review until now, but here we go. I used to enjoy my visits to CPK back when I went with the family. The last time I went for a meal was in late 2022 (I believe), and since then I haven't been back unless I had to get my birthday freebies. Some of the items I remember getting were the Alfredo pasta, strawberry lemonade, BBQ chicken pizza, their house bread, and others, but I don't remember them. And the food's not bad or anything, but after a while I realized there's just better food out there so I stopped going for meals. I have gone back to back years to pick up my birthday freebie, which is a free birthday dessert, and I appreciate it every time I redeem it. I've gotten the butter cake both times, and it's good. Looking forward to coming back next year! read more

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We were the only customers when we arrived around 6:30pm and one table of four that were seated. A slow Monday! Not sure how it is other days but the service was fast. Diane was friendly and attentive and took care of our needs consistently. She unrecommended their house lemonade, which I appreciate. If it's not good, it's not good! They serve complimentary bread and oil and more if you ask. The pizza is a shareable size and enough if you eat an appetizer. The pizza is fairly small and the crust is large. We did a split of white onion and red onion. The taste was very good---fresh, piping hot, and really enjoyable! The strawberry mango lemonade was flavorful and had fresh strawberries. There is club soda to make it sparkling. The dessert was a bit of a letdown because the brownie wasn't hot to contrast the cold scoops of ice cream. The bill was $40, which is reasonable. The ambiance is nice. It's good to see staff cleaning when there's down time rather than making reels or laughing into their personal cell phones. read more

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Came for my nieces birthday and had a good time. Food is decent but convenient location in Rio read more

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Honestly, you can't go wrong with CPK. It's free bread and olive oil alone can cure a common cold. As a local, I only go a few times a year but their pizza crust is so crispy and delicious, it's like a warm hug on a winter day. I do wish the carb macros were less but HEY, it's PIZZA...forget about it. Every server I've met is a delight and it overlooks the lake, which makes for a great dinner or lunch view. They give you all the cheese you want. If you're in RIO, please stop by if you're starving, otherwise stay clear because this hearty mid-tier priced pie will fill you up. Lastly, their take and bake deals (if they're still offering it) are insane, it's like pretty much half off. read more

California Pizza Kitchen - New American Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I had great service while visiting CPK. I sat at the bar with two friends. We were immediately greeted and taken care of by the bartender. I thought this bartender had a fantastic personality! She made it feel like a party while sitting at the bar and made a great skinny margarita! I was extremely impressed that Casamigos tequila was the default tequila for this drink on the menu. I would definitely order it again! I ordered the White Corn Guacamole and Chips as my meal. There are not so many vegan options at CPK, and this is one of the few items that is vegan without any modifications. The portion size was extremely generous, and I loved the corn adding texture to the guacamole. The flavor was not the best guacamole I ever had, but was at least good enough to order again. There was definitely a clear lime flavor that came through, the salt level was perfect, and I just wish there was more diced tomato and a few more components of traditional guacamole. Overall my only feedback for CPK is to increase the vegan options. The menu is very limiting for vegans. I would love to come back more often and one day enjoy a pizza with vegan cheese! read more

California Pizza Kitchen - Skinny margarita - New American Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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California Pizza Kitchen used to be the spot where I knew it wouldn't fail me, ever. Until recently... I went to CPK twice in July and both times were mediocre. Since they brought back the tostada pizza, I was very eager to experience the great taste again, but it just didn't hit the same as before. Not just the tostada pizza, but also the Thai crunch salad. I don't recall there being lettuce/leafy greens in the salad, but this time there were. I asked my server if this was the correct order. Is there supposed to be leafy greens in the salad? She responded - "I don't know, probably. Maybe the recipe changed" *rolls eyes* Even on the menu it doesn't list any leafy greens so I was just confused. I like that there are some new items to the menu, but please perfect the old items before introducing new items. The tostada pizza is a fan favorite and I'm so disappointed it doesn't taste the same as before. read more

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Came tonight for a quick bite. Overall the food was pretty good. The restaurant was pretty quiet with only a few other customers there. I will say that our waiter was incredible. He was very attentive and had a great personality. read more

Good food, good service, and good ambience. Mama Mia, itsa pizza time! Yummy yummy pasta too! read more

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Came in for a bite with a friend on a Wednesday evening. There was no wait and we were seating promptly. The inside dining room is clean with bar seating as well as booths and dining tables. The interior design is modern and minimalistic. We ordered the California club chicken pizza, I expected it to look like the picture in the menu but to my surprise it came out looking like a Cesar salad on pizza crust. Unfortunately, the greens were too much for me.. luckily they slid right off the pizza & I enjoyed the chicken, bacon, cheese, and sauce underneath. I also ordered the tropical mule, it was very sweet tasting and did not remind me of a mule. Our server was attentive and checked in with us throughout our meal. She even gave me the drink for the happy hour price even though we were 5-10mins early. Our food came out fast, even faster than my drink! The weather was perfect for sitting out on the patio. Their patio is my favorite in all of Rio since it's so close to the water. It's a great people watching spot as well! We will be back! read more

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Genuinely a dog shit experience. Our salad came out with our togo boxes. We never got water, our drinks got spilled, the waitress was TIRED and got our orders wrong. There was a huge wait for nothing. The managers were no where in sight to help this girl who said it was "her first day" but not her first day ever serving. Either this place doesn't care who they hire or the managers just don't walk around the restaurant helping on a busy friday night. I ordered a glass of wine that came with our togo boxes also. A waste of my friday night, will not be back to this location. read more

Store says 11:00 am and wasn't open. They had a black girl working their watching different people try to open the door after 11am and she just looked at us without giving any excuse is to why it wasn't open, when.. She looked at me as I was walking away with an attitude like "so what". So now I'm in Chipotle (who opened up at the time they advertised) and now I'm spending my 60 bucks there instead.. There was a couple also there waiting with their kid in a stroller and they were frustrated too.. They didn't wanna say anything because I think they feared upsetting me because the lady was black and I am black.. But I felt their frustration over the callousness , or attitude of the worker but I had to get my family something to eat. Get your sht together guys... read more

While I am satisfied with my food and the personal service that I received, I did not appreciate what I heard in regards to how the manager (assuming here because she was dressed out of uniform in a plaid shirt) addressed her employees. While helping me, I felt like she was being very short with employees and not offering any insightful help but rather berating them for "not doing better when it's 4 of you". At one point she went on to say "what the f*** are we doing in here". Speaking to your staff this way is never okay and not the qualities of a good leader. If this continues I wouldn't be surprised by the turnover rate. If this is said in front of customers I can only imagine when there are none. read more

Been here a few times before Covid, but hadn't been since. Went here for dinner a group of 12 this past Sunday. Quickly seated as restaurant was not busy. Let's start with the positive - the waiter, awesome service. Then it went down hill, complimentary bread and olive oil took a while to come. And when it did come, the bread was luke warm, bread very hard to chew. Anyways, drinks ordered - all fine. Ordered the entrees - Margherita Pizza, Veggie Pizza, Garlic Pasta, Spaghetti, and Thai Crunch Salad. Everything came proper, but lacked taste, seasoning. The only decent dish was probably the Thai Crunch Salad, and that too we had to add extra peanut sauce. Overall, not really satisfied with the food. For its menu prices ($14-19 each), they missed the mark. I miss the Tostada Pizza. Until that's back, I don't think I'll be back here unfortunately. read more

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My daughters came here on Sunday for an early dinner because one wanted pasta and one wanted bbq chicken pizza. Located in the Rio, parking can be a bit tricky if it's a super busy weekend - resulting in very full garages. Luckily for us, we snagged a spot pretty easily. Our server was nice, though she didn't really interact with us very much. We asked to sit outside since it was cold inside the restaurant. The view outside is nice because you face the "Boardwalk" and "lake." Food wise, it's kind of hit or miss. The buffalo cauliflower was really good, with a nice balance of heat. However, the smell of the Gorgonzola was very overpowering. My youngest wanted Alfredo, so we ordered the kids fusili. As you can see, it's pretty dry. You can taste the Alfredo flavor but there's barely any sauce there. She wasn't too pleased and certainly didn't even eat it half of it. My eldest ordered the kids bbq chicken pizza. She enjoyed her pizza but not enough food for an 11 year-old. So maybe I need to go for the full size pizza next time. I ordered the bowl of tomato basil soup. I enjoyed the soup but totally not worth $7.99. I also ordered the California fields salad. Now this was the winner. I thought it would be too heavy on the cheese side since it seemed to be covered in it, but it wasn't too bad with everything else. There were ample chunks of watermelon and slices of strawberries. I do wish there was a tad bit more mixed greens. The pistachios add a nice crunch. I'd definitely get this salad again. I also ordered a sangria flight. They did not shy on the liquor. I had to drink slow lol but they tasted great! All in all, CPK is generally a good choice when you want something kinda basic. Just don't get your hopes up too high. read more

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Always a good Time at CPK. Great cauliflower (guilt free ) pizza, great entrees and apps and the cocktails are great. We have had excellent service at CPK. read more

Made a mobile order for pickup before the store opens at 11am. The building seems to have two sides of entrances: the main entrance located at the corner facing to the lake; and there was a pickup door off the Boardwalk Pl. Met up at the time of promise and the bag was ready to go. The staff was warm and friendly. The dishes were tasted good as expected. The kid's meal came with a drink. read more

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I liked the barbecue chicken pizza here. The cocktail was also refreshing and good. The place had a casual vibe with lots of seating available. read more

California Pizza Kitchen - New American Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Came here for lunch- it was a hot spring day and it seemed as though the AC was not turned on, but wait staff was friendly and accommodating to our needs and requests. Food was pretty good-we like their new pizza/salad combo and everything came out fast and fresh. My fave (pictured) were the lettuce wraps! read more

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I've been here a handful of times, and no reviews yet from me? I generally have pleasant visits here. Friendly hostess, as we were celebrating their Veterans Day special. We wanted to seat by a window, however the indoor dining was full. We were offered covered patio seating. That seemed cool, at first however, it was kinda dark. I had to use my cell phone light to see. If they can improve the lighting especially at night, that be great, and maybe clean the clear curtains, because you couldn't see onto the boardwalk However the food was good. No complaints on their signature bbq pizza. I had their Szechaun dumplings were good. I wanted a sweet drink, my awesome waiter Tannyr made me a root beer float. Which put a smile on my face. read more

California Pizza Kitchen - Szechaun dumplings. Yum - New American Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

This California pizza kitchen location is about 50 feet from the front door of my hotel so it's super convenient to where I am staying. After a long day I decided to pop in for a bourbon and a Thai salad for dinner. Great choice. Crisp veggies and fresh cilantro with chicken and the crunch of peanuts, wontons and rice sticks. Served with Thai peanut dressing and I added fresh avocado. Fantastic! read more

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I have given 2 stars for the amazing customer service but the food service was behind and rushed as my order of the Hawaiian ZA came to me cold and chew. May I add there was a fruit fly chillin with me and my app while waiting or eating. Don't recommend for moneys worth honestly make your own At home ya know read more

I stopped in for lunch. Our server was Brianna. She was full of smiles and very attentive. We were able to change our seating from a booth to a table without any issue. She answered questions regarding the menu. She was friendly and just made the visit enjoyable. All of the wait staff were smiling and attentive to their customers. read more

Handled kids and adults well with a variety of pizzas and drinks. Only sad they were out of several beers. BTW Rio parking garage is terrible, even on a Wed nite with several elevators out of service. read more

Instead of getting two Lunch Duos, my husband and I shared two entrees - Wild Mushroom Pizza (without cracked black pepper) and Classic Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken. The Wild Mushroom Pizza consisted of EVOO, fresh garlic, a blend of Romano & Mozzarella, shaved cremini mushrooms, and scallions. We liked how the crust were thin and crispy and how light the pizza was. The Classic Caesar Salad consisted of chopped romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan and smashed garlic butter croutons lighyly tossed in a Caesar dressing topped with sliced grilled chicken. The salad was crisp and fresh. I enjoyed the meal with a Sparkling Berry Lemon Mocktail, which consisted of Perrier Lemon Sparkling Water with a light berry flavor, fresh lemon, blueberries, and thyme. It was bubbly, fruity, and quite refreshing. read more

California Pizza Kitchen - New American Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I love it here. The service is fast and all the staff members are attentive and nice. I really enjoy their BBQ chicken pizza, the chicken dumplings, their salads, and their mac & cheese. Recently at the mall location, they changed their bread which was upsetting, but overall the restaurant is great! Great restaurant for the family. read more

Had a relaxing lunch there when another pizza place in the next shopping complex refused to acknowledged/serve us and then my child went to a birthday party the next weekend there and had an amazing time making pizza. (Yes, they have kids birthday parties here!) read more

Subpar food and amateur service. When my party of 8 arrived at the restaurant, the hostess at the front tried to turn us away (saying that there weren't any tables big enough for us) until her manager intervened and said that they could put two tables together for us or seat us at two tables nearby each other. I also watched the same hostess ask a group after us whether they wanted indoor or outdoor seating. The group said outdoor and she said, "Oh I don't know why I said that--there's no outdoor seating." That pretty much sums up our experience. read more

I'm finding it harder and harder to be satisfied with California pizza kitchen. The prices keep going up and while I like a lot of their menu items, it's getting harder and harder to keep going back. That said, although the pizzas seem smaller than ever, they have some great flavor combinations. I'm a fan of the barbecue chicken, and the California club. read more

My order consisted of the Alfredo fettuccine and a pepperoni pizza. Both were good. Service was prompt and friendly. A great location on the Rio boardwalk with both indoor and patio seating overlooking the lake. The have a lot of kids specials and even though I thought I missed the window to order a kids plate I heard the table next to us receive kids plates. Lesson learned. I guess it always pays to just ask. read more

Came here again for my sister's Birthday and Jimmy's service was still A+ he knows his stuff! He was very attentive and checked in on us periodically throughout the course of our meal. The food was again delicious, as we each tried something different and ended with the delicious butter cake and drinks. The atmosphere was not busy when we first got there but towards the later half of the evening it filled up and was more lively for a Saturday evening. Highly recommend going back! read more

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Great pizza and sangria. The service was also top notch. Chose this as it was close to our hotel - Courtyard Marriott in Gaithersburg, MA. Love that there is so much in walking distance. read more

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We called in a takeout order and it was ready in 25 minutes. We had two cauliflower crust pizzas with BBQ chicken and fresh pineapple. Their gluten-free pizzas are amazing you would not know that they're cauliflower crust. Everybody there was friendly and I got my order and was out in less than 5 minutes. I've eaten inside the restaurant as well (last year) and had good service. read more

Came here on a number of occasions and everyone of them is a 5 star visit. The waiters tell us the specials they have and give us time to choose what we want but also come back at a reasonable time. They executive fast and precisely for all your typical needs. The pizza is always fresh and the drinks were delicious. Pro: -Waiters are all nice and fast at getting menus, refilling water, getting us the check, and always following up/checking in on us -Food came out quick and fresh from the oven -Drinks were delicious -Nice environment. Cool painting on the wall, nice seating. Cons: -They can get busy busy at times so try to make a reservation if you can Tips: -Everyone get different pizzas and share one or two slices so you get to try all their various types of pizza read more

California Pizza Kitchen - Sangeria flight and tropical mule - New American Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

It takes being shocked (bad or good) for me to write a review. Prior to this visit, I've been to this CPK a dozen or so times over the past five years. In that time, I've noticed a steady degradation in the cleanliness of the restaurant and accuracy of service. This is, without question, the dirtiest CPK I've ever been inside! The floors were a mess and the men's bathroom looked like a bomb went off inside! Our server, while pleasant, took our order by memory (vs writing it down) and, not surprisingly, got two aspects of it wrong. The service is fast and friendly but we won't be back until management figured out how to run a MUCH cleaner ship. read more