• by Teresa Buyikian , February 12, 2026

While no pizza restaurant or QSR, has ever received a Michelin star, the coveted culinary award of excellence, a behemoth chain thinks it deserves one for its new menu drop.

Papa Johns this week announced its new Pan Pizza with a press release asserting the chain is Michelin-worthy.

“This is a love letter to a food that has shaped moments and memories for decades,” said Jenna Bromberg, CMO at Papa Johns. “That’s why we’re putting our Pan Pizza front and center. If any QSR pizza belongs in a Michelin-level conversation, it’s this one. Years in the making, our Pan Pizza was built to impress.”

As to why the pan pizza should earn the chain a Michelin star, Papa Johns illustrates its qualifications based on the French restaurant guide’s criteria. For “Quality Ingredients,” the chain cites the pan pizza’s garlic parmesan crust, a six-cheese blend with mozzarella, provolone, fontina, asiago, parmesan and Romano, with Italian seasoning and no artificial flavors or colors. For “Mastery of Technique,” the brand points out its “years of testing, iterating, proofing and perfecting its pan pizza. “Harmony of Flavors” is attributed to the “balanced blend of taste and texture,” and “Consistency” is that the “same high standards [are] delivered at every Papa Johns restaurant nationwide.”

In order to bring more Michelin attention to the new offering, Papa Johns has set up a one-night, reservation-only dining experience on Feb. 19 in New York City. To be held at an undisclosed Manhattan location, the event will feature a “three-course, pizza-forward chef-curated menu built around the new Pan Pizza,” Pepsi-Cola pairing flights led by a “Soda Sommelier” and an “elevated, softly lit atmosphere crafted to showcase the artistry behind every slice.”

The NYC experience is only available for Papa Rewards members, who can sign up to attend with availability on a first-come, first-served basis.