Marketing

Papa Johns makes playful run to become Michelin-starred restaurant

Photo: Papa Johns

February 12, 2026

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No pizzeria has ever earned a Michelin star, and Papa Johns wants to change that.

For one night only, on Feb. 19, the brand will open a fine-dining experience featuring its redefined pan pizza in New York City, according to a press release.

"This is a love letter to a food that has shaped moments and memories for decades," Jenna Bromberg, chief marketing officer at Papa Johns, said in the release. "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."

Papa Johns asserts its pan pizza checks every box of what Michelin looks for in a star-worthy contender: quality ingredients, mastery of technique, harmony of flavors and consistency.

To kick off the Michelin bid, Papa Johns is transforming a Manhattan location into one of the hardest-to-book dining rooms in New York. On Thursday, Feb.19, Papa Rewards members can step into an intimate, reservation-only dining experience. Guests will experience:

A three-course, pizza forward chef-curated menu built around the new Pan Pizza and Papa Johns most premium ingredients.
Pepsi-Cola pairing flights led by a dedicated soda smmelier to intensify, brighten and complement the flavors throughout the entire menu.
An elevated, softly lit atmosphere crafted to showcase the artistry behind every slice.

Seats opened up Feb. 11 and are limited. Reservations are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Papa Johns is co-headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and Louisville, Kentucky, and has approximately 6,000 restaurants in approximately 50 countries and territories.

Marketing