Pizza Hut Is Getting A Glow Up, Unveils New Restaurant in Plano

It's official. The days of the Pizza Hut salad bar are long gone after the global icon unveiled its new modern and futuristic design this week in North Plano.

Ar many classic fast-food chains across the U.S. have gotten sleek new makeovers over the past decade, it was only a matter of time before Pizza Hut followed suit. The new restaurant design follows the same modern theme, strikingly similar to many fast-casual restaurants like McDonald's and Chipotle.
Self-serve kiosks, cabinets for contactless pick-up, a guest-facing pizza-making station and a new drive-thru menu were all implemented into the design to amplify the customer experience.

"At Pizza Hut we are laser-focused on amplifying the experience for everyone who engages with our brand, and we understand that guest experience — particularly one that combines delight with digital convenience — can be a key differentiator," said Shannon Garcia, Pizza Hut's president, global franchise markets and global operations. Her statement came in a press release because who would say that in a casual chat?
Long gone are the days of red and white checkered tablecloths, salad bars and personal pan pizzas for a reading log. Domino's and Little Caesar's changed the fast-food pizza game. Pizza Hut has struggled to find its footing since, moving, in part, to small storefronts that rely on delivery drivers and often long delivery times. This new concept modernizes the dine-in experience while also speeding things up.
A key part of the redesign is the introduction of the Hut 'N Go menu, food that is ready-to-go; guests can roll through the drive-thru and select pizzas or wings that are ready. The goal is to get everyone through in three minutes or less, with no need to order ahead. Initially, the restaurant will have the most popular items at the ready, like personal pan pizzas and boneless wings.

Want to order a certain pizza? Guests can also pick up online orders from heated lockers inside the restaurant.

Feels like Pizza Hut executives have been checking out Little Ceasar's.

This is the first such concept in the U.S., but the Hut has been testing the format at about 2,000 locations internationally. The success of the concept will dictate further expansion.

Pizza Hut, 8605 Ohio Drive, Plano. Monday, 9:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Tuesday – Thursday, 10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday  –Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – midnight; Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.