Vapiano

Pasta hecha al momento q la pides, cocinan delante de uno. Menú bien variado, y todo el menú se puede pedir en porción de niños a un precio muy asequible. Atención de primera, en inglés y español, y su personal SUPER agradable y atentos, en especial Carolina, Elianna, Daniela, Marciano y Andrew.

I’m surprised that I haven’t reviewed this place already. I’ve been here several times for lunch but came here the day before Snowzilla for HH. So as you probably already know from the other reviewers, Vapianos has a card system where everything you order is added to the card and you return the card to the host/​hostess when you’re ready to leave. Someone always greets you and he/​she will ask if you’ve been to Vapianos before and if you haven’t, someone will explain the card system to you. I like the card system because you don’t have to worry about splitting checks or anything like that. As for food, they have different stations for different types of food such as pizza, pasta, salad, etc. I usually get a margherita pizza. I did get the arancio e finocchio salad once which was pretty tasty. This time I just got a beer and there was a server that was taking drink orders which was nice because she would scan your card and you didn’t have to get up from your seat. However, I think it was too crowded (this place is quite the HH watering hole) and she was really overwhelmed. We asked her if they had hard cider and said that she would check but she never came back. It was easier to just walk up to the bar and order your drink or find out what they have; it was a nice thought though. All in all, I like the vibe of this place and I’ve always had a good time whenever I’m stopped in.

Surprisingly to many, this was my first time at any Vapianos. I was very pleased with the entire experience. It was a new concept to me, but I really enjoyed the entire process.
They begin by giving you a card which you tap on a machine when you get something from any station, to track your purchases. They have a bar, desserts, salad, pastas, and even pizza stations. I got the spiral pasta with pink sauce and some vegetables, topped with a garnish of basil — I forget the technical terms and mean no disrespect by it. I also got bread and butter on the side. Everything is made completely fresh and clean right in front of you. The service is great and very accommodating to everything. I asked for an iced tea and the man told me to go to a bar and switch it with a cold one. I thought this would be a process and I would have to explain but the man at the bar immediately knew what was up. He took it from me and gave me a cold one back. We sat by the window. There’s a very fresh aspect to the ambiance of the place as well. There were basil plants and other herbs on the table you could freshly pick and add to your food (I suppose, if you wanted). They have little cups for water which I thought was so cute. They even have hooks for your jackets/​bags under the table for your convenience!
Anyway, the experience ends when you give the card you scanned at each station to the hostess and since it has a record of everything you bought, you simply pay with whatever method you prefer. It’s a very efficient system IMHO.
There are even gummy bears you can grab when you come in and leave — left like other restaurants would leave breath fresheners which I thought was super cute.
I can’t wait to go back! Also, the food was delicious!

I’m surprised to see that I’ve never reviewed this restaurant — probably because I reviewed the now-​closed Bethesda location and didn’t have anything different to say about this one. I notice that they have added risotti to the menu, but I haven’t tried them, so my review is based entirely on having pasta dishes (and one time a dessert).
The pasta dishes are good and reasonably priced. You choose a kind of pasta (fusilli are my favorite, because they hold more sauce) and a sauce (I usually get the Bolognese, but others are good too). Soft drinks are a it overpriced, but I noticed after I’d had my dinner here last night that they now have one of those multi-​flavor machines that are sprouting up all over, and I need to ask about that.
I love the payment system with the cards, especially when you are with a group and have to leave early. It also means no tipping, which I also appreciate.

Even though you «have to get up and get your own food,» the fact that it’s made in front of you with all the aromas coming at you makes it a one of a kind experience. Great food, great vibe.

Heres why I gave 4 stars. You have to go up and get your own food. Otherwise the food is EXCELLENT, it keeps me coming back. My favorite is the shrimp alfredo. soooo good, and you can tell the cooks extras you want in it etc. I definitely recommend.

It might help if I share a few instructions before you dine here. The whole place is setup with a cool, independent vibe that allows you to order independently at will throughout your meal.
You’ll get a «credit card» at the front register for charging items throughout your meal. Each time you order an item, they’ll ask for your card. When you’ve finished dining, take the card to the front register to check out. *To prevent fraud, each diner must turn in their card at the end of the meal, even if you charge all of your items on the same card. So, don’t discard one card just because you’re not using it.* (I’ve seen people be embarrassed by this situation.)
Menus and water pitchers are placed throughout the restaurant. You’ll seat yourself, get your own place setting, and order drinks and meal courses from staffed counters at your leisure. Bread is served as a free accompaniment with appropriate courses. There are trays under the silverware stations to help carry your order to/​from tables.
I think their food is excellent! The pasta and bread are made in-​house, so the quality is fabulous for the price and ease of dining. The bread isn’t the best you’ve ever had, but the salad dressings and pasta sauces are tangy and fresh, making wonderful accompaniments. I’ve not been disappointed by anything I’ve ordered thus far. A tip… Try the minestrone! It has huge, fresh veggies in a rich tomato base that’s filled with flavor. I definitely enjoy every visit.
I’m deducting a star only because of a few minor inconveniences, none of which stop me from visiting. Examples — It’s rather hard to get dirty dishes removed from your table, the water glasses hold about2 sips, and the tables are either child size or communal.

The food was amazing and the customer service was stellar. It was our first time visiting and the staff made sure our selections were impeccable. Ask for Chris and allow your cook to be George they were amazing. The overall restaurant is a great experience it’s the closet thing to making your food from scratch

Good food, great staff, beautifully decorated but such a poor and pathetic ordering execution that it is a waste of time and money. I go out to eat for good experience not to feel like I am a pedantic drudgion. Boo on the people that thought this horrendous place up.

I like my pasta a certain way. The way where it tastes the least like pasta…
The set up for Vapiano’s is cafeteria style where you get a card when you enter and whatever you drink or eat is charged to the card and you pay at the end. Easy concept, but you might get a bit charge happy.
They have food options for salads, pasta, and pizzas, and a full bar. I got a pasta last time I was here, and it was one of those international pastas with a chili paste — I always need some spice in my life. The concept is pretty customizable. They have set menus but you can always switch things around. I ordered the linguine with chicken and peppers in a spicy chili paste. Turned out really well, I actually enjoyed the pasta! I asked the chef to cook it for a little longer because I have issues with barely cooked pasta (see amuse review).
Portions are big and prices are good! The atmosphere inside is really chill too. They have a couple of large plants/​trees in the middle of tables, so it brings an outdoor feel to the space without it being too jumanji-​esq.

So I work around the corner and have been coming here for a while now. I change up my order from time to time but about once every few weeks I get a Kids’ Bolognese simply to avoid wasting food. I recently came in and they said they no longer offer it if you’re an adult. I explained to them I don’t always eat that much that’s why I get the kid’s portion. The reasoning the manager gave me was… well none. Look if I can go to McDonalds’s, Chick-​Fil-​A and get a kids’ portion you should be able to accommodate. What if (which I have done) ordered for a child but the child was not with me at the time. This will be my last time going to Vapiano’s. They have given me BS service before but tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. Their food is still good but their customer service has gone to Meek Mills territory.

I was in the Washington DC for a political reasons. It was just about lunch time and one of my colleagues said that he knows this great pasta place. I said take me there lets go and try it out! We got über ride and got there. Right by the Friendship Archway. Took some pictures of that also lol
Anyways we walked in and they gave us cards. So basically which ever station you go you let them swipe the card this adds up in to your bill. You pay when you leaving. Kind of self serving stations in there. I went for pasta because my friend was raving about it.
Well he was correct. My food was really good. Made freshly right front of me. All the ingredients I want was in there. Also sitting inside was nicely setup. At the tables they had these herbs you would freshly pick them and eat them or throw them on your food. Overall good experience.

Vapiano’s takes me back to Europe, particularly Germany, where I first discovered it.
Pasta and pizza combos to go for days, and then taking too much time to browse over the menu… yup, that’s Vapi’s.
I like it but I don’t love it at the same time.
Love:
+ Endless combinations
+ Campanelle pasta crema di funghi plz ($ 9.45 + $ 3.50 for chx) plus free bread
+ Nice ambiance with high top tables and an outdoor patio
+ Gummy bears at checkout!
Not so love:
— Seeing the amount of butter and Parmesan that goes into my pasta. Idk if the amount here is more, equal, or less to other restaurants but still… boo.
— Pasta is good, but not great.
— Ravioli dishes aren’t worth it. Not enough raviolis!
Overall, I’d say if you go for the right choice you’ll like Vapiano’s. Otherwise the vibe and still lovely.

Vapiano is great! The food is delicious and the portions are awwwesome, i.e. BIG! It’s an a la carte restaurant where you order at the counter and wait for them to make your food, with delicious, fresh ingredients right in front of your face. The pasta is boiled per order, and the sauce made directly in front of you. The pizza rolled out, etc, and the salads obv, whipped up in yo face. I work close-​ish to this one, and although it is a bit of a walk, I make it because the food is so fresh and good! The staff is always friendly and nice, and the BEST part are the free gummy bears at the register! YUM!

Went there for an early lunch as the place gets packed right around lunch time. I had the ravioli and it was good. Love that they threw in hot, chopped up peppers. Good size portions, though the pricing is a bit steep.
The concept of going in, getting a card and swiping your card as you order is interesting but not the most efficient. I’m glad we weren’t there when it was busy because it took us a while to figure out how it all works.
Tip: keep close tabs on your card because we almost found out the hard way that if you lose the card (between the craziness of ordering, finding a table and eating) you could be charged $ 50 for it.
Overall, good comfort food, confusing process for ordering and paying.

I am a HUGE fan. As big as the portions.
At first I was confused. Why do I have this card? What do I do with it? Am I going to lose it and have to awkwardly recount what I got?
But the food was delicious. I got the carbonara pasta and it was one of the most delicious pastas I’ve had. The pasta is delicious and fresh. The sauce was insanely creamy. I’ve had the alfredo but it doesn’t have the same magic.
The pasta is really the win for me here. I think the linguine is the favorite. While any pasta choice holds — it’s chewy but has structure, there’s something about right sizing the vehicle for the sauce. It holds in the sauce really well.
I would also note to be clear about your add ons. Tell the person ahead of time and be very vocal. There have been situations when someone will forget and it’s always awkward to make the correction.
Best part: the tupperware they provide is so solid. and there’s enough to bring to work the next day.

I came here with a friend visiting on a weekday last week. The whole concept is interesting. They give you a card and they have a variety of food stations. You go around to the stations and order what you want and scan the card they give you. At the end of the night you go to the front to cash out.
It was not too busy on a Wednesday night and my friend and I had no trouble finding some place to sit. There are a few different seating options (table versus like a bar setup) and friendly bussers roam and take your plates when you are done or are able to bring you a box (ps nicest to go boxes I have ever seen!)
Things I like: The concept is cool and nice when dining with friends as it is easy to keep your checks separate. Everything is cooked fresh right in front of you. It has a cool hip vibe and is a fun dining experience.
Things that could be better: The hostess stand is also the cashier stand and it can get congested when you have people cashing out while people are coming in. While fun and hip and cool it is also really loud. When ordering my pasta dish the cook either could not hear me or was too busy talking to his friend to get my whole order.
Overall I like the concept and the food was very delicious. Its nice to see your food being made in front of you and all the ingredients were extremely fresh. I would definitely come back but not necessarily go out of my way unless I was really craving it.

Vapiano is such an amazing idea, but the execution falls flat. The concept, ambiance, and service is so awesome but the actual taste of the food and high price detracts from its appeal.
PROCESS: enter, you get handed a card, find a menu, choose a station, wait in line, order from a chef, give card to chef so your order can get recorded, receive food, hand card to host at the front when you are leaving so you can pay. Pretty simple and interesting. Sometimes there’s a wait.
PESTO SHRIMP PASTA: The pasta is what I would describe as ‘gummy’ and ‘like glue.’ Personally I prefer my pasta al dente, but this pasta had such a strange thick sticky texture and I don’t even think it’s because it was overlooked. I tried my coworkers’ pastas and all their pastas had a similar doughy taste. The sauce was a creamy pesto, and there was a tart finish. I also asked for extra garlic, and it was pretty spicy. The pasta came with a side of bread and you should definitely get some! The bread is crusty outside and soft inside.
CARBONARA: the pasta had the same issue as the pesto dish. The sauce was thick and incredibly smoky and bacony.
PEPPERONI PIZZA: pretty basic, the crust is on the thinner side. They are really generous with pepperonis and how much cheese they add.
MISTA SALAD WITH SALMON: I ordered the arugula mustard dressing and it was so incredibly bland. When I first saw how much dressing he put, I thought it would be too much but even though my salad was drenched, not a lot of flavor. I went back for a side of the balsamic dressing and this one was thicker and more flavorful. It had a hint of blue cheese. The salad itself was underwhelming– all the veggies were cut really small. The salmon was a very skimpy portion– the salmon pieces put together would have been smaller than my palm and I have the palm of a 10 year old child. The salmon also was flavorless.
SERVICE: everyone I encountered was nice and helpful. The chefs are more than happy to personalize whatever you order and checking out at the end is very easy.
VALUE: both times, by adding protein, my meal is close to $ 15. Really a huge ripoff. You can get chipotle for half the price, twice the food, and five times the deliciousness.
OVERALL: if my coworkers didn’t insist on coming here, I wouldn’t have returned after my first time. But now I’m glad I did so I could reaffirm how much I don’t like the food here. Vapiano = gluey pasta, bland salads, tiny portions of proteins, overcharging for proteins, delicious bread, tiniest water cups ever created (I thought they were shot glasses), and high high high prices.

I went to Vapiano’s for the first time for an outing for lunch from work. Walking in, I could tell it was a popular place because it was so crowded, it was a little difficult to find seats for our work group, but we ended up getting a couple tables near each other so it wasn’t too bad.
Vapiano’s has an interesting set up. You are given a card once you come in, decided what food station you want to visit and then at the station after you order your meal, they scan your card. After eating, the cashier scans your card and you pay what you owe based on the card. I’m not really sure why you can’t just get a receipt or pay at the end of the line, but no big deal. It’s a cool concept, but I don’t see it as anything particularly outstanding or beneficial.
Walking in I saw someone with an AMAZING looking Greek salad so I went straight to the salad line (mind you, I had never been here before so I solely went off of the first thing I saw!). I ordered the Insalata Mista which had tomatoes, radish, mushrooms, arugula, carrots, onion, zucchini, cucumbers and cheese. I also got chicken in mine. It was fun to watch the chefs and they were very funny and kind when making the food. They made sure I got the right amount of dressing too and accommodated any changes.
Overall it was a really great experience. I would definitely visit again and would love to try the pizza and the pasta! The card system is a little wonky, but I guess it isn’t much different than receiving a receipt and paying your bill.

This place is a really cool Italian restaurant. I’ve been for lunch but have heard that the offering at dinner is more or less the same, so you can’t go wrong. There aren’t a ton of lunch places around (other than a vegan place across the street and a subway down a block), so there is a crowd around noon on week days, but nothing too crazy. The place is big.
The way it works is that you’re issued a card when you get in, you order food at the stations, and scan your card. Then, when you leave the cashier scans your card and you pay the amount you owe. It’s great for large groups because you don’t have to worry about a waiter having issues splitting up the check– it’s done for you!
The pasta looked amazing so I had to go for it. The chefs are hilarious and nice and they make everything to order. You can make as many modifications to your order as you want! I got the pesto rosso, which has sun dried tomatoes, tomato pesto, ricotta, and pine nuts. Since everything is made to order you can accommodate for food allie those well– could have skipped the bits easily if I was allergic. The star was the carbonara with bacon, onion, and egg Ina cream sauce. Hint– add potatoes to it. The chef will have to get them at the salad bar but of they are cooked enough they really make the dish sing.

Vapiano is pretty much a glorified cafeteria. Sure, the concept is somewhat novel: you get a card and whatever you order gets placed on the card and then you pay your tab as you leave. But, is it at all necessary? It seems superfluous and particularly confusing, especially for first-​time customers like myself.
When you get on line for food, you realize how inefficient the actual process is. Of course it was nice to see my meal freshly prepared right in front of me; but, on the other hand, it was painstakingly frustrating to wait in the pasta line for 15 – 20 minutes before actually ordering because only one persons’s order was taken and completed at a time. To be fair, this was not the case for the pizza station, which takes your order and gives you a buzzer to notify you when the food is ready. Essentially, if you are in the mood for pasta, be prepared to wait a while if you have wait in line!
As for the actual food itself, I ordered the primavera pasta and wasn’t too impressed with it. It was just average and relatively small. I was still decently hungry after finishing it. Moreover, it came with only a modicum of each vegetable that was supposed to be included. Definitely not worth $ 11. I also shared the verdure pizza and that was actually pretty good. Not a bad size for $ 10 and it tasted pretty good. It was a tad on the oily side but not too overwhelming.
Not the most memorable of dinner experiences, but certainly not the worst.