Pizza Hut

Developer: Pizza Hut
Price: Free
Version Reviewed: 1.0

Functionality/Usefulness [rating:4/5]
User Interface [rating:4/5]
iPhone Integration [rating:4/5]

Overall Rating:

**Update 2:Just finished the press confrenece call with Pizza Hut themselves and amongst other things they assured me that support for their full menu is in the works and should be released in the near future.

*Update: At the original time of this writing the app was known as iHut and has since changed to Pizza Hut

We’ve finally done it! First it was the wheel, then sliced bread, and then we even landed on the moon, but now man has taken his next big step in evolution. Finally we can order a pizza by phone...wait, what?! Thats right, we’ve apparently come full circle from walking down to the corner to order a pizza, calling in an order, to typing in a web order and now we’re back to phones again. However thanks to Pizza Hut’s new app ‘iHut’ we’re seeing it done in a whole new fashion.

iHut is the iPhone’s version of online ordering and not only does it work but I think it’s quicker and easier then either calling in or ordering online. Using your online account you log in and it already knows your favorite locations or you it will use location services to find the closest Pizza Hut to you.

iHut then takes you through the steps of choosing an ordering method (Delivery, Carry-out, or Dine In) and what types of food you’d like to order (Pizza, Pasta, or Wings). You’re given all of your normal choices of sauces, toppings, and quantities that you’d see on the website. To keep things entertaining though they’ve also worked in some accelerometer gestures when choosing toppings and sauces, an effort I highly applaud the developer for, it’s these little things that really escalate a good app to being a great one.

Wait there’s more! From the main menu your also given the choices of iFaves where you can save your favorite meals for 1-click re-orders, Deals where you can view virtual coupons on your virtual fridge, and Hut Racer. Hut Racer is iHut’s attempt at a game within the app where you are a pizza delivery truck driving down the street weaving in and out of giant pizza, wing, and pasta boxes in an effort to make a delivery as quickily as possible. While the game is nothing but a time waster that you’d get bored with after 1 or 2 plays, I do appreciate the effort with putting it in. Although I have yet to see it, it does claim that if you are either quick enough or race enough times you may receive extra coupons on your fridge to be used on your order.

While there are some drawbacks that I found, i.e. not all normal menu items are available in the app, but overall if you order pizza even semi-regularly then having this guy on your phone is worth it. It makes ordering so easy, even if your at a friends’ house, it will find you and tell you what the best location is to order from instead of the other way around. Oh and let’s not forget the best part, at least as of now it’s free to download so what do you have to lose? Now go get some wings!
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