Both east- and west-siders can enjoy the reliably tasty Pizza Hut Italian Bistro.BY DENISE NEILThe Wichita EagleIf Pizza Hut were a person, Pizza Hut Italian Bistro would be his classier cousin.
The restaurant is a Pizza Hut spin-off that's a more upscale version of the original, with additional menu options and a fancier atmosphere.
Several slightly different versions of the Bistro concept have been operating in suburbs like Goddard and Andover, and Wichita has two new ones -- one on the east side and one on the west.
ON THE MENU: In addition to several Pizza Hut "classics" like meat lovers and super-supreme pizzas, the Italian Bistro offers an array of sauteed pastas, 10-inch "bistro" pizzas, tempting salads and toasted Italian sandwiches served on spongy focaccia bread.
DON'T-MISS DISHES: We enjoyed a variety of dishes at the Italian Bistro.
Among the highlights was the bacon Florentine bistro pizza ($7.99), a 10-inch individual pie served on a soft and cheesy crust that was more Boboli than hand-tossed. Topped with Alfredo sauce, smoked bacon, onions, fresh spinach and garlic, it was borderline gourmet.
We also liked the chicken cacciatore ($8.49) from the pasta menu. Where many restaurant spaghetti dishes are boring and flat, this one was rich and herby, made with roasted chicken strips, fresh mushrooms, red onions, peppers and a basil-y marinara.
The many salad offerings also were tempting and high quality. We particularly liked the bistro house salad, a $1.99 side salad coated in a creamy Italian dressing and topped with a tasty mixture of tomatoes marinated in olive oil and basil. It's one of the best starter salads you'll find.
The bistro chopped salad ($6.99) was also top-notch -- attractively presented and piled high with fresh romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, thin-sliced salami, ham, red onions and diced tomatoes.
The only dish we weren't impressed with still was perfectly fine. Though not the least bit offensive, the variety of toasted Italian sandwiches ($6.49 to $6.99) just couldn't compete with the tastiness of the rest of the menu.
AMBIENCE: The attractive dining room features wood paneling, lots of natural light, comfortable booths and tables, and a warm Italian countryside color palette.
PRICE RANGE: Reasonable. All dishes ranged from $6.49 to $8.99.
SERVICE: On separate visits, we had issues with timely food delivery. But they seemed to be kitchen-based rather than server-based.
REVIEW
Three forks out of four
Where: 350 S. Ridge Road (316- 941-9657) and 11747 E. Kellogg (316-686-1485)
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thu., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. A lower-price lunch menu is available 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
Type of food: Pastas, pizzas, sandwiches
Alcohol: Beer, wine and a few mixed drinks
Smoking: Not allowed
Reservations: Not accepted
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/entertainment ...