Vapiano

Being modest, my chef Flo made me shrimp scampi with tomato sauce. It had Extra tomato sauce, I give it a three out of five not bad just saucy. His attitude/​and communication totally wreaked. I asked a simple question being my first time visiting the establishment, and, he wasn’t clear and blew me off when all I did was ask about how the cards worked to purchase food. My friends pasta was and tasted dry, he doesn’t remember her name.

the place is really nice itself. I love it, dim lights, plants on table, cushioned seats. my friends and I got chicken Alfredo pasta, though it didn’t look like much was served it was very satisfying. as in it was more than enough. I actually wish I ate it all. the card system is interesting. I like it. and staff was friendly

Love this place! I usually end up going here with friends whenever I’m in the city.
They give you a card and you can order anything you like and pay when you are done… genius!
The portions are actually the perfect size and the pastas are simple but really tasty.
The pasta carbonara here is really great — like most things on their menu.
The people are are very attentive and nice.
I always make sure to grab a handful of complimentary gummi bears when I finish paying for my food with the Vapiano card and even make my friends grab me some. Shhhhh. don’t tell.

It was a different experience here, the restaurant incorporates a different payment system where you do not pay upfront for your food. When you first walk in, the staff provides every patron with a store card and when you order your food your tab is put on the card. When you are done dining, you pay for your tab on the card at the register. This is the first time I have seen this payment method, and it was definitely a little weird at first, however the idea turned out brilliant and provides a speedier check out process.
I ordered the bruschetta, and the Shrimp scampi E Spinach with red wine. The shrimp scampi was AMAZING! It was very flavorful and there was a sufficient amount of shrimp in the dish. I shared the appetizer and pasta with another friend and we were both decently full, otherwise I would not have been able to finish it myself. I also ordered their beef fillet appetizer with arugula, that I will not be ordering again. The dish was about $ 11, and it tasted like roast beef which left a very heavy after taste for an appetizer.
The layout of the restaurant is like a food court, where there are separate lines to order your pasta, pizza and salad. They cook the food right in front of you! The interior of the place is very charming and I love their herb sections, which are herbs planted and you can bring it over to your table, or to your chef to be added to your meal. Quite exciting!
Also, when you pay they have a big jar of free gummy bears for you take take. Bön appetite!

This place is average at best. Never heard of it but was brought here on a first date. The food was as bland as the date. The lines took forever. The cook kept forgetting items that we wanted added to our food. We had to ask for bread three or four times. Everything was chaotic. My pasta was undercooked and still had a tough texture. Would definitely not return.

Stopped by for a glass of wine. House montepulciano was $ 7.50.
Didn’t try any food, but the pasta looked good. Cafeteria environment where you find your own seating and go to different stations to get your food. They also have a water station but the water glasses are tiny.
Very affordable prices, but I can’t speak to the quality of the food.

Fisrt time at Vapiano and definitely last. Pasta tastes like old grandfather’s socks. Because of that «specific» taste we ordered pizza. Guess what happened? We were waiting for it 30min and when I went to ask what’s going on, they said that we it is ready. 2minutes later I asked :“Where is my pizza”? They said that we have to wait another 5min. We canceled our order and went away.
Worst experience ever!

This is our default (but in a good way) restaurant for pasta. Reasonable price and comfortable seating all around.
I usually… actually, I only order the SCAMPI E SPINACI with Shrimp, basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, spinach, cream sauce… hands down the best pasta dish they have (I’ve tried the others that my husband orders and I always end up liking my own!).
I want to deduct a star because of the wait at the pasta line when it’s busy (and trust me it gets busy during dinner time here)…but I can’t because I love the pasta here so much!

Atmosphere is pretty good. But Not recommend for folks who would like being served and treated well. It is like a Fancy Deli. You gotta order and serve by yourself. And if you are looking for good draft beer, this place is not for you. Only 2 kind of draft beers which wasn’t mine & several kind of bottles they have. And Bolognese… Although I was terribly hungry by then, I couldn’t finish it even half of it. Too greasy, rich, and thick.
Maybe I should try another menus and drinks on next time.

Rien à dire sur ce restaurant ! L’endroit est vraiment super, très grand, confortable et le décor est soigné (on y trouve d’ailleurs des citations de personnalités célèbres à propos de la nourriture assez drôles).
La carte est bien fournie et alléchante avec des prix abordables. On peut également mixer un peu son menu comme on le souhaite comme tout est préparé sur place.
Ce restaurant a aussi mis en place un système pour séparer les additions: nous recevons chacun un carte à l’entrée que l’on scanne avec nos commandes et que l’on présente au moment de payer, ce qui évite de faire des calculs en fin de repas ou de faire du temps au personnel.
Lors de mon passage, j’ai testé la pizza aux légumes qui était excellente et d’une bonne taille.
Si j’y suis allée par hasard la première fois, je né manquerai pas d’y retourner si je repasse par NY :)

Vapiano is a few blocks from my office and I decided to go there for lunch. Bad mistake.
There are no waiters. You have to get a card and wait on a line to order your food with a chef. Call me spoiled, but I like being served at a table. Seating is ok, the ones by the window with the pillows are more cozy.
The chef was very friendly (which is why I’m giving 2 stars), and made the food in front of me, but the ravioli pasta was not fully cooked and too salty. Soda was flat. Now I remember why I stopped going there.
It’s a shame. My first visit a while back was great and then it just went downhill. A previous time I brought friends there and they weren’t happy with the food and service (there were different chefs then and they were not so nice).
I’ll have to make a note not to go to Vapiano anymore… :(

Met an old friend and her family at this place since it came well recommended by fellow Unilocalers. I am dglad that I chose this place just for the pasta itself.
Like others have written here is the deal. You are given a card upon arrival and eat what you want. For every item you choose you have to tap your card. At the end when you are done eating you pay what is due on your card. Note that every time you tap the card it shows the current due so you won’t be in the blind as to the cost. There is a bar cum coffee place, a place where they make appetizers and a place where they make pastas. You choose your own seat, place your own order and carry your own food to your table, including water. As much self service as it can be! On the upside there isn’t a tipping involved.
I tried the bruschetta duo and aglio e olio with shrimp and some Rosso garancha wine. It paired well for my taste. The bruschetta was good esp the ones with salsa toppings. I liked the chunkiness of the tomatoes and they seemed to be steeped in a brine of some sort probably white vinegar which gave it a nice tanginess above that of the tomato. The bruschetta could have been a little crunchier though.
The aglio e olio was the highlight. The hint of red chilli, fresh garlic and parsley did wonders. I would recommend going with shrimp for this one. This being a light dressing I would recommend a thinner pasta — spaghetti or linguine.
I finished my meal without slice of death by chocolate and a cup of original cappuccino. Sadly both were very disappointing. The cappuccino had way too much steamed milk. The chocolate cake had too much flour. I was hoping for a richer, creamier cake with more chocolate and less dough.
Will I return here? For sure, but only for the pasta and the wine.

I like this. Service was good, friendly. Marco the training manager was great, he stepped in when it was busy and helped out (as all managers should).
Food is delicious and was in and out in a jiffy!
Also, some good eye candy, I would have stayed to admire but had to go back to work. Next time FO SHO!

I’m pleased. Portions were spot on. The pasta selection is good and the salads were tasty for sure.
I wanted to be a back seat cook and felt that they can definitely do better in how they marry all the ingredients but in the end, I guess I realized their execution fits perfectly for the potentially high volumes they experience.
Whatever, I’m a sap. It was solid. I just wanted them to wow me but this place isn’t about that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally satisfied and will be coming back. It’s about the great atmosphere & friendly staff not to mention being the perfect spot for large groups looking to fill up and wine down.

Excelente comida y el concepto del restaurant es bien practico y te da la facilidad de ordenar lo que deseas al punto y con los ingredientes que deseas! Ya había estado en el de Chicago y en el de Miami! Ahora NYC merece también 5 estrellas

Such a cute place in Union Square to take advantage of their happy hour specials and just relax after a long productive day.
They have two floors with lots of space. Their red cute comfy sofas were irresistible.
We were surprise that this place is self serve and wasn’t expecting such services at Vapiano. Simply because it’s a high end place that is…
At first, we’d thought the personal touch might not be there. Nevertheless, our waitress did a splendid job by ensuring we didn’t run out of prosecco.
We didn’t have the opportunity to check the buffet out/​bar menu. Although the smell was quite delicious.
Next time around when in the area, we would like to explore their buffet selection.

Vapiano is an interesting place. Its a pizza and pasta joint, but the weird part is that it is ‘self-​service.’ While it is self service, it isn’t fast food and doesn’t feel like it either. The space is nice, with high ceilings and a second floor. Upon entering they give you a card where you pretty much ‘charge’ what you buy at each station, then when you leave they calculate what you paid. (Prices are pretty decent for Manhattan). They have a pizza, pasta and salad station. We went for the pasta and chose from the menu. The cooks then make the dish right in front of you which is nice. They pick a bag of the appropriate pasta, which I am guessing is fresh pasta since it cooked really quickly. After boiling it they toss it with the chosen ingredients and you bring it to the table of your choosing. Some of the seating is communal, so it is all pretty informal. What I like is the basil and rosemary plants that decorate the restaurant and are placed on each table for the addition of fresh herbs to your meal. I think that was a great touch and somewhat increases the ‘classiness’ of this place.
They leave water up at the bar for your taking but give pretty small glasses that will require several refills.
When you leave, if you pay with a credit card the receipt will automatically populate with a line for a tip. To tip, or not to tip? You bring the food to the table yourself but people do come around to bus your table. That made this interaction a bit confusing.
The cool thing is that they leave gummy bears at the exit/​entrance, a nice, if odd touch to the experience.

Vapiano gives the cafeteria setting a fresh new look and feel. Excellent pasta, pizza & drinks for under $ 25. Each patron receives a card and responsible for picking up their food and drinks from each station. Not a huge fan of this aspect but it’s different and saves on labor.
The best way to describe the environment is cozy. You can easily spend hours eating freshly made pizza, drinking wine and chatting with friends. For my garlic lovers, they have garlic oil which is perfect on everything! Bring your friends, family or even a casual date (not for the first date.)
I enjoyed the Pesto Con Spinaci pizza with shrimp toppings. Perfectly made pizza and yes I finished it all in one sitting. Trust me, I had good intentions on sharing with my friends. The portions are generous and prices are reasonable. The staff are helpful in answering questions about the menu and their unique card system. There are two floors of seating but I can see this place easily filling up during prime time hours.
If you are looking for fine casual dining, look no further than Vapiano in the Union Square area.

I am a sucker for restaurants that do their own thing and also have a special place in my Unilocal heart for good service. In Vapiano’s case, they don’t even have waiters working for a tip and they still served our food with a smile and were happy to adjust to our small requests such as a change of cheese or addition of green onions.
I really like that the food is made to order right in front of you by clearly talented chefs. I don’t think it is an inconvenience at all to wait for a bit in line (it moved pretty quickly) to order your food and know that it comes hot off the pan to your plate although it might not be the best as a first date destination.
The individual card scanning system is also convenient and as the reviewer before me mentioned, makes splitting the bill with a large group a non-​issue. Overall, the food was good although not jaw-​dropping. I will definitely be back to try another pasta hot-​off-​the-​presses especially when looking for a nice casual place to meet friends!

No complaints here. Here’s what you get…
Great location
Freshly prepared food
Great staff
Laid back ambience
Great food options
Economical cost $$.
I’ve been coming here since about 2011 when I 1^st went natural and I used to meetup with girls for a forum. I love this place. They’re always changing up the décor to make it seasonally inviting. Never had a bad experience with food or people.
I love that you can watch them prepare your food, the herbs growing all around and I recently noticed some new quotes ans cute photos above the chefs area that adds a lil more pizzazz. Love, love, love.

Very close to Union Sq, Vapiano’s is a great option if you are looking for fresh and delicious Italian food. This place is very famous because beside they have great, delicious, fresh pasta dishes, pizzas, calzone, salad; they prepare it in front of your eyes.
When you arrive to the restaurant, the Hostess will welcomes you with a card to which you will pass to the different station that you want to place the order. You can choose from three different stations. You have a station for pasta, pizzas and salads. They also have a bar if you want to take a few drinks. In the end with this card the hostess, will charged you everything that you have ordered.
I order the Calzone, A calzone is an Italian filled oven pizza, originating in Naples, and shaped as a folded pizza. This calzone was kind of spicy with some pepperoni, Italian ham, also have very fresh mushrooms made with some homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. The calzone was very big and the taste was delicious, I was able to taste all the ingredients use in the calzone…

Select your pasta or meat dish. Select the way you want it cooked. Add meat to the pasta for a little extra. The end result is more or less like the pasta stations at some Corporate cafeteria or lunch time Italian sandwich /​pasta line. Okay… Maybe just slightly better.
The prices are average and the food is okay, but it’s not really a repeatable place where you’ll crave for the mediocre pasta.

Si vous cherchez un italien pas cher et rapide tout en vous offrant des ingrédients de bonne qualité, c’est endroit est pour vous! De plus, ce restaurant est à une rue du cinéma, un bon plat avant d’aller voir un bon film!

Wir als Vapiano-​Fans haben wir vor unserem Urlaub geschaut ob es auch einen in New York gibt. Diesen haben wir dann schnurstracks besucht und waren absolut zufrieden. Endlich ein Fleckchen mit «normalem» Essen das bezahlbar ist :-D Haben uns total gefreut Vapiano auch in New York zu erleben und waren natürlich auch irgendwo stolz drauf. Sind wir heute noch wenn wir Vapiano besuchen. Wo wir das schon überall genießen durften.