Fast food fans traveling along Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park may have noticed that the in New Hyde Park isn’t just upgrading its menu, it’s upgrading to a whole new look.
The dining room, which just reopened Tuesday, has been completely remodeled to have a more modern look.
“It’s a new image for the company,” manager Manuel Torrico said. The dining room now has a combination of tables and booths, as well as tables that have outlets for laptops so customers can utilize the free wi-fi that is now available.
“It’s give it a more at home feeling,” Torrico said.
The dining room was completed during phase one of the two-phase construction period, when the drive through was the only partially open.
“We had some problems with people walking through the drive through,” Torrico said. “It would be difficult because you would have people there with cars all around them.”
That problem will no longer exist once phase two, which will start Thursday, commences.
“During phase two they’re going to close the drive through,” New Hyde Park Building Superintendent Richard Belziti said. “Then they can work on fixing the drive through kitchen as well.”
The exterior renovations will not be limited to the drive-through. According to Torrico, the whole facade of the building is being remodeled, including new lighting and retouching the landscaping. The drive-through will also include a new menu as well as a display screen so people can see their order. The drive-through construction will last about 3 days.
The construction, which started on June 11, is expected to be completed between July 12-15. The dining room portion of the construction was done just in time for the release of the new menu.
“The new Cantina menu, which you’ve probably already seen on TV, officially starts selling on July 5,” Torrico said. “We’re going to be able to put all the signs up for it and everything now.”
Aside from the major differences in the appearance of the dining room, there were also some smaller changes customers may not immediately notice, but will benefit the overall experience and how the restaurant runs.
“They fixed up the kitchens,” Belziti said, “and they cleaned up the bathrooms.”
Torrico, noting the staff is also pleased with the renovations, said “it’s gonna look beautiful; really nice.”
