Whether you love your pie with international toppings, or you're a pizza purist, you can't deny that California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) leads the way in casual restaurant chains in the premium pizza category. Attorneys Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield created CPK and the Original BBQ chicken pizza in 1985 in Beverly Hills, and the chain has grown to more than 100 restaurants in more than 25 states, the District of Columbia and three countries internationally. Appetizers and pasta travel around the globe to grace the menu, from Tuscan hummus and sesame ginger chicken dumplings to jambalaya and kung pao spaghetti.

An open kitchen arrangement allows the wonderful aromas to permeate the restaurant and beyond, attracting pizza lovers to the counter, booths or tables. Some of the older CPK's feature a diner look with a shiny yellow and black decor, while the newer spots boast warmer wood accents, but overall the atmosphere casually comfortable. The diners are as diverse as the pizza: business folks, families, groups of teens and couples all nibble on outlandish pies like caramelized pear and gorgonzola pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads and rich desserts. -- Jacky Runice