Vapiano - Melbourne

I'm unsure about this restaurant. Initially, the unique setup was appealing, but it eventually felt like a fast-food pasta joint. You receive a card to track your purchases before paying. The menu options are standard and the pasta is just okay, not exceptional.

I have visited Vapiano for the sixth time, and I must say that my experience this time was disappointing. While I used to rate it 4 or 5 stars in the past, today I can only give it one star. The food quality and service that Vapiano was known for has declined, possibly due to a change in management. The pasta was claggy and lukewarm, and the lasagne was burnt and resembled more of a mac and cheese dish. Unfortunately, I have decided that this will be my last visit to Vapiano, as I would rather remember its former excellence than experience its current state.

While displaying greenery indoors is quite a popular look these days, Vapiano goes a step further with a tree taking up residence in the centre in addition to the potted herbs/plants of course. Mood wise, it seems to work as a corporate lunch spot, a cocktail bar, and everything in between (they have a kids menu), so I think it attracts a wide demographic. I 've been a couple of times for lunch and once for drinks. Regarding the system of ordering your food by queuing in a designated section is kinda neat, but doesn 't work for everyone. Watching the pasta being cooked in front of you can be fun, if you are not more than the 3rd person in line. Luckily for me, this was the case and I was on my merry way. Gotta admit, the penne was a little too firm for my liking, perhaps they took the 'al dente ' style too far. The tomato based sauce was great though. Ordering pizza was less inconvenient. They gave me a buzzer so at least I was able to take a seat and chill/chat while waiting. The pizza I tried (barbeque pollo) was good overall. Nothing fancy, but worth recommending.

I like Vapiano. It's a crowd pleaser. Ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of people. Reasonably priced Italian food, lots of variety (pizzas, pastas, salads, antipasti, desserts , decent beer and wine options, and a charming albeit somewhat corporate atmosphere. It's located in an office building (hence the corporate atmosphere , but the decor inside makes up for it (tall wooden tables and benches as well as comfy little corner seating areas, cute little herb plants everywhere, art on the walls, pleasant lighting, and a glassed in area where you can watch the chefs at work . There are two balconies outside overlooking Flinders Lane with outdoor heating units for the colder months, so it's pleasant to sit outside and have a few post work drinks (even if you're not eating . Inside, it can get a bit louder in the evenings (the space is somewhat echo y . Lunchtime seems fine though. Food wise, everything is good but not spectacular. They have clearly marked vegan options on the menu (three different kinds of pastas I like the arrabbiata , as well as clearly marked gluten free and vegetarian options. They also have a kids' menu. The set up in terms of ordering and paying for your food is a little different. Basically, when you arrive at the restaurant, you get a little card with a chip in it, and you go to the different sections of the restaurant (the pizza section, the pasta section, the bar section, etc. to order what you want, and your selections get loaded onto your card. Then at the end of your meal, you go to the cashier to pay and your selections are all there, totaled up for you. This might seem like a strange, complicated, or unnecessary system to some people, but I think it's excellent for big groups where you all want to pay separately with minimum hassle. Really great for large work lunches or other functions for this reason. Not the most amazing Italian food in town, but definitely a crowd pleaser. I'd recommend it.

The look of this place is amazing. It has a casual, relaxed feel and everything looks clean. The food is good quality and fresh, however I didn't think there was enough topping on the pizza. We even paid extra for mushroom and olives. The gluten free pasta was cooked beautifully. The meat and the sauce were very tasty. The only thing I don't like about this restaurant is that you have to go get your own pasta and wait in line as it cooks. Personally, I prefer to be served when I'm out. Also, if you wish to watch the chef cook, you need to stand in front of them, and that would be difficult if the restaurant was busy. You would also need to make sure someone doesn't take your table because they don't offer you a table number or a reserved sign. The pizza gets picked up by yourself on those vibrating beepers. All in all, worth trying out for yourself.