Since When Are Pizzas Californian? (California Pizza Factory)

Member Name: MGirl

Product:	California Pizza Factory
Date:	03/08/01 (275 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Marginly better than pizza hut or deep pan

Disadvantages: Location, Expensive, Rude Staff

The Californian Pizza factory, hang out of the stars! Well maybe that's pushing it slightly but I did see one of the local newsreaders in there once (I think her name is Kay Alexander.)

Anyway the Californian Pizza Factory is in Harborne which is in the outskirts of the Birmingham University student area and very much considered the posh end of studentville. It's one of the few places in Brum which really isn't accessible by train so if you want to get there wihtout a car it means negotiating the bus system (take correct change) or walking from Selly Oak.

I can say that I have only had bad experiences of The Californian Pizza factory, which was sometimes (but not always) their fault. The first time I went we'd booked a table for 7 people. In the end only 5 of us were able to go. We turned up to the half empty restaurant to be berated by the staff for not letting them know. Look, I know we were in the wrong but the place was nowhere near full! The second time I went one of my friends tried to order an extra topping on her pizza only to learn it would cost an exhorbitant amount to do. The third time I went I ended up having a huge row with my then boyfriend. What can I say? The place must have bad Feng Shui.

The pizzas are passable and aimed to be a bit more genuine than your standard Deep Pan fare but they are so expensive. For this much money you could go into the city centre and have a nicer meal at Pizza Express.

The decor last time I went in was somewhat industrial and not very cosy. I'm sure it's meant to be minimalist but it doesn't really inspire me.

Considering the plethora of good, cheap eating establishments in the Selly Oak area, I'd not bother with this place. If you fancy a nice meal at the more pricey end of the spectrum, go into Broad Street in the city centre.

I think it's about £30 - £35 for two people. You could pay £10 for a balti for two and £5
on the beer for a nicer meal in Selly Oak. I know where I'd go.

Summary: