California Pizza Kitchen, Boston, MA USA

Ordered at the California Pizza Kitchen on Stuart Street in Boston's Theater District.

Boylston street was closed in Boston. What a nightmare. We were trying to make it from Brookline to Boston’s Theater District to celebrate Rachel’s grandmother’s 90^th birthday, and all we could find was roadblocks followed by traffic. Make a U turn, find the same thing.

I put my drivers cap on and meandered around Beacon Hill, using my internal GPS and navigating us around what seemed to be a shutdown city that no one was aware was being shut down. Masks of confusion were painted on drivers’ faces city-wide.

Maybe I should watch the local news more? Is that the only incentive?

Nevertheless, we made it to the theater district successfully and found ourselves in California Pizza Kitchen, an easy walk away from the afternoon’s main event: Shear Madness.

I hadn’t been to California Pizza Kitchen in an easy 10 years. I recall at some point getting a takeout salad from one of their airport venues, however that memory has faded. I was entering the restaurant as if I was a new customer, excited to try a new chain.

My original thought was pizza. It is a pizza kitchen, afterall, and although California has never been known for its pizza (right?), it just seemed like a logical choice if they named their restaurant like this.

But as I scanned the menu, one dish stood out with the name “California” and a palm tree logo stamped next to it: The California Club Sandwich. “This Club is jumpin’…” read the description. Did I need more details? I think not. And my order for the California [Pizza Kitchen] Club Sandwich was in the system.

But before the order went through, our waiter had some important questions:

“Do you want cheesy bread or onion bread?” – I asked him to choose, and he replied with a “definitely cheesy bread.” Done.

“Turkey or chicken?” – again, I asked him to choose, and the reply was “They are both cold, so definitely turkey.” Ok then, done.

“Side Caesar salad?” – “YES please!”

Loved the service. And I waited with a smile.

I never would have ever guessed that the California Club Sandwich was a club when it came out… what was California about it? The avocado? Probably, although I tend to think its lack of traditional flare that made it so. Californians, please feel free to chime in here. And what made it “jumpin”? Confusing adjective.

This club lacked flavor, this club lacked standout ingredients, and the whole was not greater than the sum of its parts. Turkey was ok, probably the best ingredient, although it was followed closely by the avocado. And they call that cheesy bread? Maybe in California… The rest, well, let’s just say I ended up filling up on the remaining slices of pizza.

The most disappointing aspect of the California Club Sandwich was the amount of bacon used – each bite seemed to lack any bacon taste, and when I flipped the bread over to reveal the insides, I saw about one piece of bacon broken up into smaller bits. One piece, no joke. Either this was what Californians prefer, or I was getting ripped off.  The menu read “Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon” and I’m pretty certain, whoever/whatever Nueske is, they/it would feel let down.

The Caesar salad, although it had promise, did not fully deliver – and those circular croutons were not crunchy and delicious. I’m glad I didn’t order the chicken Caesar salad as my main; I would have been disappointed.

I finished the California Club Sandwich, but I won’t be back, and while I LOVED spending time with Rachel’s grandmother, hearing hilarious stories of the past 90 years, I don’t think I will be back to California Pizza Kitchen unless someone drags me.

And we were off to Shear Madness….

… which blew me away in such a surprise… just A+. I wasn’t expecting much, but now I know why it’s the longest running off-broadway play in American Theatre History… and I see no reason why it should stop. Nothing but laughs, and everyone enjoyed it. Really couldn’t have been more fun. I’m so glad we went.

Location