ST “ST3 FitNGo” Three
**California Pizza Kitchen - Honolulu, Hawaii: A Surprising Disappointment**
As frequent travelers, California Pizza Kitchen has always been a reliable go-to for us, especially since my wife is gluten-sensitive. Their gluten-free pizza options and fresh, creative salads have consistently made CPK a staple in our dining routine. However, our recent visit to the Honolulu location was the first time we left feeling less than satisfied.
We were initially excited, as this stop at CPK has always been a highlight when traveling. The ambiance was as welcoming as ever, with the familiar open-kitchen vibe and friendly staff. We started with a salad, which was fresh and flavorful, just as we remembered. Unfortunately, the main event—the gluten-free pizza—didn’t live up to our expectations this time around.
The gluten-free crust, usually a reliable choice, was lackluster, bordering on soggy rather than the crisp, light texture we've come to expect. The toppings, which are typically vibrant and full of flavor, seemed unevenly distributed and lacked the usual freshness. The overall experience with the pizza left us disappointed, especially given how consistent CPK has been for us in the past.
To make matters worse, our order of **Buffalo Cauliflower** came out with only two small pieces of cauliflower on the plate. We immediately let our server know, and while she quickly apologized and took the dish back to the kitchen to be fixed, it was concerning that such an obvious mistake wasn’t caught before it reached our table. The dish was corrected, but it left us questioning the attention to detail in the kitchen.
The manager did come by to address the issue, but his explanation was less than satisfying. He mentioned that they portion everything by weight, but when I asked how two tiny pieces could possibly meet their portion standards, he was unable to provide a clear answer. It felt more like an excuse than a genuine attempt to rectify the situation.
It's worth noting that the service remained attentive, and the salad was still a hit, which helped salvage the experience somewhat. However, given how important the gluten-free pizza is for us, this visit fell short of the standard that CPK has set in our minds.
We hope this was just an off night for the kitchen, as we've always held CPK in high regard. We’ll likely give it another chance on future trips, but this visit left us wishing for the consistency and quality we’ve come to associate with California Pizza Kitchen.
Accommodating Gluten-Free