Review: Vapiano
When I go out for dinner, I like to be waited on. Even at the end of the month when I can only afford a Nando's, I like the dining experience.
With that in mind I wasn't sure how I felt about the new Italian self-service cafeteria on Wardour Street.
The large restaurant undeniably looked great. Industrial, modern and really sleek, I couldn't wait to find a table and eat.
But as this is self-service, before we find a table we order. Depending on what you have a fancy for determines what queue you join. Antipasti, there's a queue for that, pasta, there's a queue for that and pizza, you guessed it, there's a queue for that.
My friend and I decided to split up, she would order our mains and I would order the antipasti. But this did mean that the first part of our even was spent standing in a queue, alone. Bit tricky when wanting to indulge in a good old gossip.
Antipasti ready and buzzers collected for our pizzas we headed for a table. First challenge of the evening, get downstairs to a table whilst juggling coat, handbag and tray of starters. We could have left our stuff at a table before we ordered, but as one of life's panickers I would fully expect to find it gone when we got back. So we opted for the juggling act.
Sat down we ordered drinks at the table which were brought over by the waiting staff. When our buzzer sounded only one of the pizzas was ready so whilst my friend made way with her pizza I ploughed on with the starter, which was massive and also yummy. Who doesn't love a board of cheese, meat and bread?
After finishing our pizzas we were asked if we had room for dessert to which was of course we answered 'always!' Desserts then arrived to our table.
I'm not against collecting my own food from the counter in the slightest; I just found the process a bit confusing.
Some meals you wait for whilst they cook. Some you are given a buzzer so you can go to your table and wait for it to buzz before heading back for collection. Some dishes are brought to the table. Some orders are taken at the table like dessert and drinks. I couldn't really work out what the correct process was. Either make every dish and drink a counter service type affair or don't. Happily, the food (and price) are great so you soon forget your confusion.
This would be perfect for a quick office lunch or dinner but for a more intimate evening, with a date or on a girly night out, owing to the fact you spend most of the time in separate queues, Vapiano doesn't hit the spot.
With that in mind I wasn't sure how I felt about the new Italian self-service cafeteria on Wardour Street.
The large restaurant undeniably looked great. Industrial, modern and really sleek, I couldn't wait to find a table and eat.
But as this is self-service, before we find a table we order. Depending on what you have a fancy for determines what queue you join. Antipasti, there's a queue for that, pasta, there's a queue for that and pizza, you guessed it, there's a queue for that.
My friend and I decided to split up, she would order our mains and I would order the antipasti. But this did mean that the first part of our even was spent standing in a queue, alone. Bit tricky when wanting to indulge in a good old gossip.
Antipasti ready and buzzers collected for our pizzas we headed for a table. First challenge of the evening, get downstairs to a table whilst juggling coat, handbag and tray of starters. We could have left our stuff at a table before we ordered, but as one of life's panickers I would fully expect to find it gone when we got back. So we opted for the juggling act.
Sat down we ordered drinks at the table which were brought over by the waiting staff. When our buzzer sounded only one of the pizzas was ready so whilst my friend made way with her pizza I ploughed on with the starter, which was massive and also yummy. Who doesn't love a board of cheese, meat and bread?
After finishing our pizzas we were asked if we had room for dessert to which was of course we answered 'always!' Desserts then arrived to our table.
I'm not against collecting my own food from the counter in the slightest; I just found the process a bit confusing.
Some meals you wait for whilst they cook. Some you are given a buzzer so you can go to your table and wait for it to buzz before heading back for collection. Some dishes are brought to the table. Some orders are taken at the table like dessert and drinks. I couldn't really work out what the correct process was. Either make every dish and drink a counter service type affair or don't. Happily, the food (and price) are great so you soon forget your confusion.
This would be perfect for a quick office lunch or dinner but for a more intimate evening, with a date or on a girly night out, owing to the fact you spend most of the time in separate queues, Vapiano doesn't hit the spot.