Informal, fresh and delicious. A casual Italian restaurant must be something special to stand out these days & Vapiano does just that. The word I’ll keep coming back to is fresh as it what they really believe in & deliver. A few minutes’ walk from the Tate Modern, the building is big, modern & impressive, with floor to ceiling windows so you can watch the world go by seated on long wooden canteen tables plus there’s a large lounge at the back with red comfy chairs and a relaxed feel. Fresh basil & rosemary plants are dotted about the place to evoke the feeling of fresh produce Vapiano are so passionate about.
The concept is explained to you when you arrive & you get given a card when you start. Now I’m old school & think a card equals unnecessary messing about but it is incredibly simple & I was converted in a second; everything you order is put onto the card & you pay at the end. It really is great for groups & makes life simple if you want to bow out early after having a little freshly made bruschetta & glass of the superb Domenico De Beritol Prosecco (which is also served in Harry’s Bar in Venice no less!) …but don’t you must try the pasta!
They offer 11 types of pasta, freshly (sorry I said I’d keep using it!) made on the premises, you can watch if you like. Choose your pasta & sauce from the menu and the chef will make the sauce & cook it all in front of you, asking if you’d like various added ingredients that suit the dish, like chilli & garlic. You are offered complimentary fresh bread & have various home-infused oils at your table. I wanted to try a few things so planned to have just a few mouthfuls of the pesto rosso with fusilli & the day’s special caprese with the chef recommended tagliatelle, but it really was too good to leave. You forget just how wonderful a freshly made pasta dish can be! For the price & the equivalent you get elsewhere the standard really is fantastic & the bread is a great extra.
There are fresh anti-pasti, pizzas, salads, soups made daily (chestnut sounded interesting) & desserts in two sizes. I do love it when I can buy a mini dessert that isn’t so mini! The tiramisu looked delicious but I had the special of blueberry cheesecake which was topped with the fresh blueberry sauce as I waited & tasted authentically homemade & surprisingly light. They serve illy coffee & that’s usually all you need to say but wow what a good coffee that was, the beans are freshly ground that second! There’s a great wine list where every single wine is available by the glass, if you like a delicious, smooth red go for a glass (or two) of ‘Passion Has Red Lips’. by Aussie winemakers Some Young Punks.
What impressed me about professional, friendly staff was how they managed to get the balance of being attentive, informed & helpful whilst leaving you to just relax & enjoy just right. Whether you’re with a big group for lunch or dinner or want to just pop in for a coffee & light bite mid-afternoon give Vapiano a go, you’ll be hooked! Get the small print such as opening hours and address of Vapiano.
By Ruth Haviland
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