LOS ANGELES Following a growing trend in casual dining, California Pizza Kitchen has debuted a new “Small Cravings” menu featuring smaller dishes at a lower price range.
The new small cravings range in price from $4 to $7 and are designed to be smaller portions than the chain’s appetizers, which range in price from $5 to $11.
In addition, the Los Angeles-based CPK is also rolling out a “Wine Cravings” menu, featuring half-glasses of wine from the recently revamp wine list. Most are available for less than $5 and include bottles hand-picked by CPK co-founders and co-chief executives Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax.
“With the new Small Cravings menu, we are offering the innovative and bold flavors we are known for, but in smaller portions,” Rosenfield said. “We are encouraging guests to explore the many tastes of CPK, one small plate at a time.”
The Cheesecake Factory last year also debuted a new Small Plates & Snacks category to its menu, which officials at the Calabasas Hills, Calif.-based chain credited with boosting traffic in the fourth quarter.
Dishes on CPK’s Small Cravings menu include an asparagus and arugula salad with sun-dried tomatoes, toasted almonds and shaved Parmesan in a lemon-herb vinaigrette; Buffalo chicken with celery and blue cheese dressing; and sweet corn tamale ravioli filled with poblano peppers and cheese in a roasted pepper cream sauce with sweet corn and cilantro.
Other dishes include crispy artichoke hearts with Parmesan and a remoulade sauce; a Mediterranean plate with hummus, feta, a Greek salad, olives and pizza-pita bread; an iceberg lettuce wedge salad with blue cheese dressing, bacon, chopped egg and tomatoes; and white corn guacamole made with avocado, sweet white corn, black beans, jicama, green onions, red pepper, cilantro, Serrano peppers and corn tortilla chips.
The smaller plates menu is available for dine in or takeout. CPK operates, franchises or licenses 251 restaurants, including its namesake brand and two locations of LA Food Show Grill & Bar.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].