On our list of trusted comfort food joints, Pizza Hut is definitely a top-tier option; which is why we were so thrilled when the fast food chain decided to launch its 16th outlet at the heart of the city in Park Street. Located bang opposite Peter Cat, the newest Pizza Hut has a relaxed and accommodating fast casual ‘delco’ set-up, a format that Pizza Hut introduced in the Indian dining milieu. It basically refers to a layout featuring an open kitchen, where customers can opt for takeaway or delivery options or can choose to dine-in.
The best part about the 1,645 sq ft, 52-seater eatery is definitely its versatility — it has two floors, and can oscillate between a cool hangout spot to a lively family-style dining zone. We dropped in on a crisp Saturday evening to pick up the vibes of our friendly neighbourhood pizza haven. But the new Pizza Hut is so much more than that; not only does it focus on easy dining, but the menu consists of some brand new Italian specialty entrées, and some very convenient discounts that spell value-for-money. We sat down with a wonderful and refreshing glass of Jamuntini, which sent a much-needed blast of fruity coolness down our throats; the Jamuntini is a new addition to the menu, and is basically a jamun soda, ideal for you if you like flavoured coolers. We were starving quite a bit, so we ordered some garlic bread sticks and the Triple Chicken Feast, which is a raging hit, and is curiously assorted.
The pizza features Schezwan chicken meatballs, chunks of Lebanese chicken, and chicken sausages, paired with green capsicum, onions and red paprika. As we took a bite, for a moment, we forgot we were in the bustling Park Street, and were transported to a parallel dimension of cheesy heaven. The Triple Chicken Feast is also one of the few pizzas that features a generous melange of veggies and meat, so you really don’t have to choose between the two. The Chicken Exotica made with chicken pepperoni, pieces of smoked chicken and green and yellow zucchini and, jalapenos is very interesting.
The newer Italian entrées also caught our eye; we’re talking about the range of pastas Pizza Hut is offering as a part of the menu, which makes our dining experience that much better. The Arrabbiata pasta was the biggest show-stealer — the Pizza Hut rendition, of course, uses the Arrabbiata as a classic herb-infused, sauce-based topping, paired with black olives. We were also thrilled to find the Classic Alfredo Pasta on their menu, which was just as creamy as promised, and was topped with onions, red and green capsicum and black olives.
Since the brand is gearing towards a healthy eating millennial customer base, it makes sense to retain some of the smarter, well-balanced numbers on the menu, that too at economical rates. The younger crowd is obviously very particular about how much they want to invest in their dine-out experience, whether they’re there for the food or the ambience. But with Pizza Hut’s inviting and relaxed set-up and everyday value offers (like medium pizzas starting from `199), there’s really not much to dither about.
Price for two at around Rs 500.