When I was little, most birthdays were spent bopping along to the beat with the crew at Chuck E. Cheese (although, back in the day, it was known as ShowBiz Pizza complete with animatronic rock stars). I still remember how much I LOVED their birthday cakes, the anticipation of ticket redemption (because there were no automated ticket counting machines- this was done by HAND…imagine that!), and just being a kid.
I was recently invited to sample the new menu at Chuck E. Cheese, which is geared more towards pleasing the adult crowd. I packed the kids up and headed towards the Fullerton location with a bit of nervous anticipation. Would I be able to focus on the presentation? Ask questions of the corporate chef? Or would I be trying to chase my kids around the whole time? I shouldn’t have worried- both of my kids immediately hopped into the rides and participated in the multitude of games available, even Charlotte my 1 year old!
Let’s focus on the food, shall we?
The goal of the new menu is to make the experience as enjoyable for adults as it is for kids (and honestly, if my kids are entertained, happy and safe, I am thrilled).
Starting with the pizza….
They launched a thin & crispy option for ANY pizza on the menu! I have been known to scarf quite a few slices in my day, and I am all for something that is a little lighter on the crust. In a blind taste test, the majority of respondents preferred Chuck E. Cheese’s new Thin & Crispy pizza to Pizza Hut’s thin crust. It is delicious.
They also introduced two new pizzas- the Cali Alfredo made with Alfredo sauce, fresh spinach, shredded mozzarella, chicken breast, sliced mushrooms and sausage. This was my favorite- it wasn’t too rich, and the fact that it is served on the thin crust made it surprisingly light! The BBQ chicken pizza features crispy onions and a BBQ drizzle- a bit sweeter but definitely delish.
If pizza isn’t what you are in the mood for, they also introduced Caesar and Club wraps made with whole wheat tortillas and oven-roasted BBQ Chicken Ciabatta Sandwiches.
For more traditional fare, BBQ and Sweet Chili Boneless and Bone-in Wings are all baked, not fried and make a perfect appetizer. Soft Parmesan breadsticks make a perfect side, while the Buffalo Chicken Cheesy Bread is an unexpected and delicious option.
And how could they forget dessert? The team came up with dessert churros served with salted caramel and white chocolate icing! They also have cinnamon sticks, which reminded me of a dessert pizza- stuffed with cinnamon crunch and topped with white chocolate icing.
My kids and I had a wonderful time- there are activities for every age and enough variety that your littles are entertained for hours. One feature that not everyone knows about is the Kid Check. I have insider knowledge about this feature because in high school, my sister worked the Kid Check booth at our local Chuck E. Cheese….ahhhh gotta love first jobs! Upon arrival, adults and kids are stamped with the same number in black light activated ink. Kids cannot leave unless they match an adult, so no worrying about them escaping.
My sister-in-law actually clued me into the fact that they open at 10am…how perfect would this be on a rainy morning (or any morning) for the kids to get their crazies out? I can’t wait to go back, and yes, I will be planning a date night with our friends to let the kids have the time of their lives together while we enjoy gourmet pizza and gossip.
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Disclosure: My family was provided with complimentary food, beverage and tokens at Chuck E. Cheese for review purposes. As always, all opinions are honest and my own!
Wow, pretty impressive! This makes me very slightly less inclined to avoid this place at all costs!