Vapiano
21100 Dulles Town Cir, Sterling, VA, 20166
Vapiano Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Sterling for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Sterling for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Sterling for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
21100 Dulles Town Cir
Sterling, VA, 20166 - Phone (703) 574-4740
- Website https://vapianointernational.com/vapiano/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Mary L.
I think people need to calm down about the "new concept" thing with the card. It's really not that big a deal and it's not that hard. You just go up there and they scan your card and before you leave you pay for it. I don't see what the big fuss is all about. That said, I went to Vapiano for lunch today and it was great. I had the funghi pasta and enjoyed it very much. The cook was incredibly nice and there was another gentleman there watching him make the food who was also very nice. They were conversational and I liked watching my food being cooked. I can't say much about the atmosphere because I got my food to go, but it seems big and contemporary. There weren't too many people there so it seems like a nice place to go for lunch where you can enjoy your company and not feel like you're at a circus. The lady at the checkout counter was very nice. She bagged up my food and gave me extra gummy bears which I thought was a nice touch. I enjoyed the food, and I didn't mind the card swiping thing they do. I will definitely be coming back!
(4)Chris D.
It's no secret that I'm a snob when it comes to Italian food, especially pasta. Growing up in an Italian family, I loathe places like Olive Garden and won't willingly choose places like Macaroni Grill. Needless to say, I had fairly low expectations when we happened upon Vapiano in Dulles Town Center. My expectations were further enforced because not only was it in a mall, it's in a spot that has seen no fewer than 3 other places fail before. Vapiano has an upscale feel, decorated like a night club with long, high cafeteria style tables. They have a full bar set off to the side but the main attraction is a pasta making "booth" as you walk in. Evidently they make their own pasta, which makes the racks of hanging pasta seem a bit less about showmanship. To order, you walk up to pasta or pizza stations and the chef cooks your meal while you watch. You can adjust recipes on the fly and in the process make off-the-menu meals easily. After they give you your food, you swipe a card given to you to record your meal. On your way out you give the card to the cashier and they charge you accordingly. While somewhat gimmicky, this means there is no wait staff and the cooks don't handle cash, so it's actually pretty efficient. So what about the food? Well, I can actually say I was pleased. The ingredients were fresh, the recipes authentic and they tasted like something I would make at home (more on that in a post... eventually). Perhaps most importantly, the pasta was cooked properly. It's a lot easier to cook fresh pasta but far more often than not, pasta in restaurants gets overcooked. They didn't overcook it and it wasn't gummy like fresh pasta can be, but I will say it suffered from lack of salt in the cooking water. You can correct this at the table and is a minor gripe so I guess I really shouldn't complain. We both had pasta but the antipasti, salads and pizzas looked just as good. The best part is our entire meal was less than $25. That's right folks. We had good food that was cooked well and satisfied us for $12 a head. We didn't have to tip wait staff and we didn't have to throw away our own trash, which kinda feels like stealing. Looking at their corporate info, they average $13.50 a guest and that amazes me. They have 30 locations worldwide and are successful on less than $15 a head? If I had the money, I would seriously consider becoming a franchisee.
(3)Rhea D.
I'm not a fan of pizza crust and this place has awesome crust. Their pasta is handmade so I'd like to try that next time. I had the chicken pesto panini. The chicken was a little dry but not a lot. The chestnut soup was superb. It was a bit of a wait though being in a mall but best "mall food" I ever had. Also, it had the best high-chairs I had ever seen in a restaurant. It's padded in the seat and back and some have a foot rest.
(5)Ritu D.
We have been a loyal customer to Vapian's at the Dulles Town Center since it has opened. Love the chef, customer service, food and concept. This is why I like this location over Reston: My son wanted to go to Vapiano for dinner on his birthday. We took him to the Dulles mall since it is less crowded and kids friendly. I wanted to surprise him with a small dessert and sing happy birthday for him. The guy at the bar (where desserts are) we started talking, when he found out I was here to celebrate my son's birthday he asked me to pick the cake in 10mins. I go back ...he has decorate the piece of chocolate cake wrote Happy Birthday added gummy bears. My son was so thrilled to have a special birthday cake. The extra touch made his day so special.
(5)Tommy N.
Food can come out bland but generally the pasta is always cooked perfect. The last time my wife and I came through here her noodles were stuck together meaning they didn't mix them around like they should have. I'm generally a spice whore so I have them toss A LOT of hot peppers in so without that I can imagine some things may taste even blander.. They could definitely work on their consistency as I've had dishes taste amazing one time and dull the next.
(2)M B.
Love, Love, LOVE Vapiano! It's been here for several years and I went for the first time last Friday and I enjoyed it so much! It's such a unique place to get Italian food. You go up to the counter and order your pizza, pasta or salad and then you either wait for it or sit down and they give you a buzzer kind of like what Panera does. Everything is homemade and incredibly fresh. We ordered several items that we all kind of split-- the antipasto salad, the salami pizza (which is just like pepperoni) and some sort of cheesy pasta. SO GOOD! The pizza was an extremely thin crust, which my mom liked since she is on a low-carb diet for health reasons. The pasta was incredible-- cooked al dente with the perfect amount of sauce and cheese and other ingredients. We were very impressed. And for the quality of the food, the prices are extremely reasonable!
(5)Alex P.
Vapiano pasta is really good in my opinion. The food and Service are both great. The pasta is handmade, which is better than than places like olive graden, etc. The pizza is also really good too! All of the cooks are really nice and don't mind adding to your pasta with any ingredient you want, sure it may cost a little more which is annoying, but at least you get what you want. The cool part is that you stand there and watch everything being made and put in while you wait. Also the meal comes with free ciabatta bread, and I've never been charged for asking for more. Also, its in a good location, right next to the front entrance of the mall, so you don't have to get lured by stores or other places on your way in. I suggest this place to anyone who enjoys good pasta and doesn't feel like having a long sit down dinner.
(5)Vishal G.
Expectations met. Consistent quality.
(4)jenn g.
Food= LOVE IT! Freshly made pasta; whole wheat option; cooked al dente, people. That means, no, it will not taste like your Chef Boyardee from the can. The ingredients all taste fresh. I have never been able to get off of the pasta, so I can't speak to pizza, etc. Portions are closer to what we should be consuming, but still generous. This confuses people who are used to a trough of food on a dollar menu. Atmosphere= Awesome. Attractive décor with euro/adult contempo music piped in. The live herbs at the table with the oils and vinegars are a wonderful touch. The water glasses are very small. This is a European thing as Europeans don't traditionally consume 48 ounces of Pepsi at every meal. Buy wine - its reasonably priced and compliments the food. The card system is a little uncomfortable/awkward but maybe it is an attempt for everyone to dine together but not have to feel obligated to pick up everyone's check. Price= REASONABLE. If you want fresh food prepared while you wait in an appealing atmosphere this offers a good value. Gummy bears on your way out. Mad cool.
(4)Brendan B.
I love this place! Especially the crawfish dish. I forget what it's called but its real tasty!! Highly recommend.
(5)Elizabeth D.
OK, fine, I can't eat any of their pizza or pasta. But I love their caprese salad and the bartenders take care of me. The caprese salad is HUGE and really good (they literally give you a fistful of mozzarella). I love their happy hour -- $4 glasses of red or white wine from 5 to 8 p.m. Mon-Sat and all day Sunday (I think it's also all day Saturday but the Web site says otherwise; call to check). Mostly I like this place because it's clean, usually quiet and does not have Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is such a productivity killer. I go here when I need to study or write with no interruptions. It's a great place for groups, though -- lots of large tables. Also, when you settle your bill, they give you gummy bears. What's not to love about that?
(4)Bob W.
Restaurants have one opportunity to get a repeat customer. This restaurant blew it. I ordered spaghetti. It was inedible. The pasta was sticky and almost couldn't be chewed. I actually spit it out. My wife's dish was pretty good. So, perhaps it was just the spaghetti that was pathetic. I won't be going back.
(1)Heather H.
I went here for lunch recently and was immediately impressed by the interior - spacious, clean, good color choices, etc.- pretty good for being on the inside of a mall. The ordering method is a bit odd, but who cares if the food is fresh and delicious? I ordered a Caprese pizza and the ingredients/toppings all looked and tasted fresh.....the crust was quite tasty as well. My co-workers each ordered a different type of pasta, both of which I sampled, and those also tasted pretty damn good. Vapiano was a great place to go for lunch, and I definitely recommend it if you work anywhere in the Dulles area. The seating arrangements look as though they cater to larger parties, so perhaps investigate this a little more if you plan on going in a small group during a busy time.
(4)Devon S.
Wound up here after a late evening craving for Italian. I jokingly offered up the Olive Garden as an alternative... we should have gone there instead. I went with my boyfriend, who had also never been, so I thought it was odd that after they explained the process to us (you get a card, when you order at the counter, they add the item to your card and you "check out" when you're done) they gave us each a card. We were on the same tab, so there was no need to double the cards. We ordered the bruschetta, a cipolle pizza and the funghi pasta. The host tells you that you can watch your food being made, but the cooks behind the counter seemed really nervous, they offered us bread to eat at our table while we waited, and it took about 10-15 minutes for our order, even though the place was pretty empty. Why would I want to stand around a watch that? The bruschetta was okay, but had way too much topping for only two slices of bread. My boyfriend said the pasta was pretty good, The trouble came with the pizza. When the buzzer went off, I went up to the counter to collect my order, only to have the cook tell me that he'd forgotten to put the onions on the pizza. This concerned me as the pizza's ingredients are as follows: olive oil, mozzarella, onions and grilled cherry tomatoes. It should be pretty obvious if an ingredient is missing. The cook was apologetic, but didn't seem to know what to do, so I asked him to put the onions on until they carmelized. Apparently this meant putting a lot of raw onions on top and putting the pizza back in the oven until they warmed up. When I got the pizza, I knew I was in trouble. It looked like a white pizza - hardly any cheese, mostly thin crust bread, tons of just-past-raw onions and TWO warmed up cherry tomatoes. To me "grilled" means it's been put on a grill and has a little char on it. Also, I realize that "tomatoes" means more than one tomato, and two is more than one, but this was a little ridiculous. I took one bite and couldn't eat it - it was bland and whatever flavor existed was off balance. No seasoning whatsoever. When we checked out, the host asked how everything was and I admitted that I hadn't eaten my food. It would have been nicer if there was a server or manager that had come around to check on things/correct the order, but as it was, the host was nice enough to remove the item from our bill, which came in at just under $20 for the bruschetta, pasta and two fountain sodas. That seems a bit much, if you ask me. I can't imagine returning to this place anytime soon. I'd much sooner stop by any local pizza place or yes, even Olive Garden, than go back to Vapiano.
(2)Brenda N.
I love Vapiano. The service was good. I love their classy interiors. I was with my friend and we love the food. They see to it that all foods are fresh. They can customize your meal whatever your taste buds desire. I think that's the best thing in this restaurant. It's amazing how they cook your food in front of you! Not all restaurants do that. I'm definitely coming back to try some other meal.
(5)Charles S.
I have posted scorchingly critical reviews of restaurants online, as you can see. So I want everyone to account for this in judging the credibility of what I am about to say. We have eaten at this Vapiano's location numerous times. In every case, we found this restaurant to be extraordinarily excellent. From the moment we walked in at the entrance until we left for the evening, we were treated like royalty. Vapiano's excels in making you feel welcome and has a festive, light hearted atmosphere; the staff are extremely friendly and responsive and act sincerely like they are glad you are there and really want you to enjoy yourself. Even the music is delightful and set at the right volume. Most recently we had the meat ravioli with a very highly customized sauce that the chef cheerfully made to my exacting specifications. He attentively and cheerfully did everything precisely as he was asked, showing great skill and professional ability. I asked for lots of fresh garlic and onion, tomato sauce, no extra salt or black pepper, a line of parmesan cheese, and lots of their toasted almonds and pine nuts; absolutely delicious. We also ordered the shrimp salad, excellent. The salads are exceptionally fresh and tasty. The hot bread with butter is so delicious it's easy to fill up on it before the rest of the meal is ready. As a connoisseur of cocktails I greatly appreciate their bar. They made up my Cosmopolitans exactly as I asked, and their servings are generous. I love being able to order a cocktail at the bar and then walk it over to the cooking area and enjoy it while they make up my dishes. The establishment is extremely well managed. Everything works splendidly. The manager of this place really knows what he's doing. And contrary to some of the other comments I've seen, the prices are quite reasonable considering the excellent quality of the ingredients, the hyper-customized cooking, and the exciting atmosphere. Overall I think Vapiano's in Dulles Town Center is an extraordinary restaurant that I have very greatly enjoyed.
(5)Nav S.
If you're looking for a relatively quick meal with a nice dim-lit atmosphere, then this is a place you'll enjoy. I personally found the "card scan" system to be extremely cumbersome. When you enter the restaurant you and each members of your party are given a plastic card, which you are to self-scan at each of the stations. Although I think the intent was to make this a fool-proof system, if you scan your card twice - you'll be paying for an extra entrée you didn't order. Make sure to check your receipt before you leave! The first time I went there the cashier didn't provide the receipt and although I should have checked, I found that I was charged for an extra pasta dish I didn't order. I called the restaurant twenty minutes after leaving the restaurant and the manager was more than happy to give me a free pasta dish next time I go. If you order a pizza, be prepared - it will most likely not be the pizza you're used to. We ordered a veggie pizza that didn't have any marinara sauce on it (we thought it would). I found it to be a bit flavorless. I was able to get a small bowl of marinara sauce, which I used to dip each slice and that really made a difference. On the plus side, I liked the fact I could watch my food being prepared and ask for more peppers or more sauce in my pasta. Also, the pasta dish only took a total of 4 minutes to prepare! I ordered a simple linguine pasta with peppers and enjoyed it. The portion size was also suitable.
(3)Fritzi B.
Always a great place for HH or GNO which was the occasion this evening. Tried the salmon & dill special and it was awesome. Between all of us, we enjoyed a salad, the bruschetta, and salmon & dill pasta special. I recommend the sangria if you haven't had it. I love the flavored pitcher of water as it helps when it's busy and all you want is some water. Service was great as always and everyone always greets me with a smile when I come in.
(4)A U.
BEST PLACE EVER! After walking past it, I just thought it looked like an overpriced Noodle and Co. but OMG was I wrong! I absolutely love everything about this place and the food is unbelievably fresh! I mean they pluck the ingredients right from the plant as they make you food! Doesn't get more fresh than that! Price is very reasonable also! OPEN MORE LOCATIONS NEAR FAIRFAX!!!!
(5)HanaDC T.
As soon as i entered this restaurant, I felt that I came to the School cafeteria because they gave me the card to place the order. I was very skeptical about the quality of the food but the food was pretty good. I had RAVIOLI RICOTTA E SPINACI. I liked the tomato sauce. The ravioli was well cooked. This place is better than Noodles and Company. I can't compare this place from other Italian restaurants.
(3)K A.
Shish people. Can't you handle some change? Change is good. The card and the different food stations and watching the cooks makes the food right in front of you is what make Vapiano stand out...in a GREAT way. I've tried many of their different pastas and pizzas. The flavor and seasoning is perfect. They will ask if you want onions, garlic or hot peppers before cooking your food with it (great for those of you that don't like these). The bread they give you with the pasta and fresh crisp salad wonderfully soft in the middle with crunchy edges, is delicioso. The ham and mushroom pizza is my fav. I can't comment on the dessert because I'm not much into sweets.. So what if you have to pick up your food at the counter and carry it over to a seat. OH NO you actually have to do some walking! It's not like you have to tip anyone. Their Happy Hour is good. I believe it's $2/beer and some cocktail specials. I'll always keep going back.
(5)Britt P.
On my trip to Herndon I had a fabulous evening at Vapiano. Those cooking were quite friendly and welcoming, the food was delish, and the cosmos were top notch. I hear they are building one in Miami? Very much looking forward to it!
(3)Tarek H.
Great pasta and cool concept. Little pricey for the pasta but it was fresh which was good. The atmosphere is unique as the concept itself.
(4)Anson P.
Vapiano brings the college dining hall experience to the masses. For me, it brought back nightmares of Newcomb Hall and O-Hill. Oh God, make it stop. All they need is a crossdressing host, and I'm back in college. Everyone else explained the process. You get a card, you go to the station you want, and you say what you want. They make it for you in front of you and you can watch them so that they don't spit in your food. Always a plus. As far as I know, they don't offer trays. So we were stuck bringing each dish and drink to our table individually. I had a spicy tomato sauce pasta dish wish was ok. It reminded me exactly of the pasta stations in college. You then scan your card with each item you ordered. Italian food purists are definitely not going to be satisfied and this place is on par with places like Olive Garden or Fazoli's. However, this place does offer up salads and various pizzas. My friend had a tomato and mozzarella salad which looked pretty good. The main plus for me was that they had Peroni beer on tap. I didn't get to try any desserts. There really is not any service to comment on, because you basically serve yourself. The cooks were all pretty cool and even give you various options regarding your dish. Will I be back? Only if I'm in the area. Not a bad lunch option if you're in the Dulles area.
(3)AL K.
came here for their caffeine to have a midday boost. the interior of the place is cool chic. although we didnt order any main course we were very satisfied with the mousse,espresso,and tea we ordered. the place started out empty and came quite crowded with young people at mid 7pm. great place for meetups and hangouts with friends.they have outside seating too.
(4)C R.
I liked this place, it was fun and unique. Fresh pasta, with lots of fresh yummy ingredients, at very reasonable prices. Who could ask for anything more? I enjoyed every bite of my pasta. Wish they had the names of the dishes displayed phonically for us Italian dummies, thankfully the cook / chef was friendly and helped us with our choices. (it was our first time) The bread was wonderful; I wished they served a few more pieces. Downside - I live pretty far away. Wait that might be a good thing.
(4)Yasser M.
great place to eat, hang out, meet friends , relax. CHI VAPIANO....
(5)Emily K.
I came here with a friend who picked this place. I looked up the place before coming, and was afraid that the price would be a little high, judging by the pictures, but it actually wasn't bad at all! This is one of those restaurants that you swipe your food card every time you order, and then pay the charges at the end. Also, you just leave your plates after you're done, which could be a little awkward if you've never been to this kind of place. But I really liked the atmosphere and services of the restaurant. The food was definitely good, and I was very impressed that the chefs made the dishes right in front of your eyes. The dishes tasted very good. I personally felt that the amount was a little too much (you could share two plates with three people?), but that would honestly depend on your own eating capacities haha I really recommend trying sparkling water if you haven't! It really complements the italian food that they serve, and will truly complete your experience. I'm a little taken aback by the bad reviews of this restaurant. I might have been lucky and have had a rare good experience, but I'll definitely be coming back here again to confirm my first experience.
(5)Mama P.
Bad service. I order pasty and paid for extra spinach. The cook forgot to give me spinach . I told him I paid for it and I expect it to be one pasta. The cook look at me and he asked if I still want it. Heck yes, I want it. I already paid for it then he put raw spinach on top of my plate. I told him that it need to be cook then he recook my food. He made a smart comment to me that I should eat it raw because it will give me vitamin A. WTH! I asked for a manager and it turn out to be that he was one of the cook. I told him what happen and he said my pasta came with raw spinach on top. Ok, if it came with pasta why did they charger extra money and spinach is not one of the ingredients that show on the menu. Btw, they wanted to change me for bread too. No one apologize to me even once. Even the manger. Vapiano need to retrain all the staffs including the Mmg at this location!!! I will tell everyone I know not to come here!
(1)Jason J.
Hit or Miss The concept is great and the quality of the food is good however the end result all depends on the chef for the line you're in. We have gone here countless times and it's either great or not so great. The only measured portions seem to be the pasta, everything else is based on the judgement of the chef. Pizza is very good Greek Salad is excellent Pasta is the "hit or miss"
(3)Steve N.
Ordered two pizzas. A Margherita, and a Hawaiian, which they call Tropicale. Pizzas were not bad at all. The ham was decent and wasn't too thin. Same for the pineapple, it was cut just a little thick, which I liked. The tomato sauce is good. It's not too sweet and tastes of fresh tomatoes. Oddly, only half of our Margherita had slices of mozz on it. The reason for only 3 stars is because both pizzas were undercooked. The slices were floppy and a little pale on the bottom. I don't know if they always cook it that lightly, but both pizzas definitely needed to spend more time in the oven. The pizza here is perfectly decent and worth a trip if you're in the mall and in the mood for pizza. I'll probably be back, but next time I'll ask for the pizza 'crispy'.
(3)Emily K.
I haven't made up my mind about this place entirely. I will have to visit a few more times and try out some different dishes. When I did visit this location for this first time, it was a little crazy. It is a casual dining experience and you have to wait in line in order to place your order. Then you scan this card that tells the cashier what you have to pay when you leave (which you might get stuck in line for again). It's a bit time consuming but I guess it takes the same time as sitting down and ordering food. I was stuck in line behind a group of 12 teenagers. Not so great. They serve fresh made to order pasta, pizza and salad.
(3)Leo B.
Wow, a terrible first impression, we won't be back. We saw the nice looking place, and had the person out front explain the concept to us. You get a little order card and go up to stations to order. It sounds cool and different. The reality? There's a reason no one else does it this way. Your party will get lost at different stations. You'll try and order a salad and an entree at two different ones, and not know where to wait. You'll try and use the stupid card and it won't work as it's upside down. It's just dumb. But I could get past the weird ordering, if the rest of the experience was great. It's not. Let's start with the dirty glasses. After being told they were "scratched" not dirty, we opted for paper cups. I think they are dirty, but if they are that scratched get some new cups. Every other restaurant on the planet can provide me a clean, clear glass cup. My wife got a special, and realized half way through it that it was missing a key advertised ingredient (capers). Both of our pasts were under cooked. Not al-dente, but rather al-crunchy. As we were pondering if we were going to eat any more we noticed others had bread and we did not, so we flagged down a person and asked. Turns out they were supposed to offer it with both entrees, but neither one did. The "caesar" dressing on the salads tasted pretty much like mayonnaise. We both hated our meals. I almost never review a place after a single visit, or vow never to go back, but our first impression here was so bad I'm doing both.
(1)Veena P.
Cons: Although it was not very busy (I had a late lunch), I can see how much of an inconvenience ordering would be if it were busy. You stand at the station you want to order from, swipe a card (so it will know what to charge you for) and then the chef prepares the meal right in front of you (that part is not a con). I ordered the minestrone soup, which came with bread, a bottle of sparkling water, and a caprese salad. When all was said and done, I had 3 plates and a bottle to carry to my seat. I had to make 2 trips. Also, I don't know what I would have had to do if I want a salad and a pasta dish b/c that would be 2 different stations to go to. Like I said, not a problem but only b/c it wasn't very busy at the time I went. So minus a star for that. Pros: they used incredibly fresh ingredients... they were growing an herb garden in the middle of the restaurant! The basil in my caprese salad made the whole dish taste so amazing. The minestrone soup was very light and tasty. I asked for extra bread and was happy I did; they used very fresh, crusty white bread that was delicious. You swipe a card after you order your food and so check out was really easy. The setup is a good idea in general. Oh, and great prices too. I walked out full for less than $10. It was a quick perfect lunch spot for meeting my friends. The ambiance and the food were incredible... I will definitely be back when I'm in the area!
(4)Madeline G.
I've been coming to Vapiano since it opened. I've tried several items on the menu and enjoyed them all. My go to is pomodoro mozzarella with linguine. I've also had the pollo piccante, it's an Asian inspired pasta dish. This dish is very colorful and has a bit of spice to it. The caprese salad is delicious and fresh. The salad is hug, enough for two people. They give you a whole ball of mozzarella, I always have some left over to take home. The ingredients they use are fresh, the people who work their are always friendly, and they have a bowl of gummy bears for after your meal. I've never had a bad experience here and will continue returning.
(4)Amanda G.
My friend got mad when I told her I'd never been, and steered me in here after we were done shopping. She tried explaining how the process worked to me but it's one of those things you have to experience for yourself. I love the way they set it up. I tried a basic pizza for my first time, just a margherita. I added mushrooms to it upon the chefs insisting to fancy it up a bit....it was absolutely wonderful! It may- MAY have been the best pizza I've ever had, but that's an extremely strong statement coming from a pizza lover. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Karan S.
Used to be a great place to eat until they changed the menu and started cutting corners by "flash cooking" the sauces. Ask for the old menu and tell them you want the sauce cooked longer so it gets more flavorful. No more fancy white takeaway containers either. Only cheap styrofoam boxes -- enjoy microwaving that. Ugh. Bring back the classic and original Vapiano!!!
(2)Karisa D.
3 1/2 stars. Vapianos is a chain Italian restaurant, but much nicer than places like Olive Garden. I call it fancy cafeteria dining because that's essentially what it is. There are different stations: pasta, pizza, salad. You make your choices based on their menu and they have seasonal options as well. Chefs make your order at the stations and then you pick it up and bring it your seat. We went to Vapianos for lunch. I'm not sure if the prices are different for dinner but they're average. We both chose the pasta station. Added bonus, they make their pasta in house. I had the oyster and mushroom sauce with tagliatelle pasta. My fiancé also had tagliatelle but had the chicken Alfredo. Our food came out relatively quickly and was delicious. The pasta was well made and our respective sauces were good! Not to heavy on the cream for either of us, which we appreciated. They also provide you with fresh bread to go with your meal. At the tables, they have different olive oils in addition to the standard condiments. Try the spicy olive oil with your bread, it definitely gives it a kick. Another nice touch is that they have fresh herbs which you can add to your meal. One note- they didn't have a lot of chefs on staff during lunch, so the line can form quickly. We just missed the line, so I'll count that as lucky. Overall not a bad alternative for Italian food.
(3)Rachel R.
Never fails! Delicious and fresh! My favorite is the Spinach Scampi! The set up is unique but not hard to understand.
(5)Yaka H.
So the set-up here can be a little confusing, so here's the cheat sheet to Vapiano: - Walk in and get a card from the greeter. This card is similar to a credit card, you're going to charge your orders onto this card. - Walk around to the various stations and place your order (pasta station, salad and appetizer station, and pizza station). You'll swipe after placing each order. - You'll pick up your finished order when it's ready. The pizza station will give you a buzzer, but the other ones will kinda expect you to wait there for it. - Seat yourself and pick up your own utensils. Also, get your own drinks too. - Eat - To pay, give your card to the greeter. That person will check you out and you can pay off your card. The self-serve system is probably the hardest thing to figure out about this place. The food here isn't too bad and is presented in a upscale casual way. I tried the monthly special pasta which was good in flavor, though the fresh pasta clumped up pretty quickly in a bad way. It also comes with bread as well. The pizza was thin crusted and crisp. SX enjoyed the flavor and the texture of the pizza. The salad we tried was the monthly special of tomatoes and was alright. It's not something we would probably try again, as it was relatively flavorless. Also, it would have been nicer to have more basil leaves or something to pick up the flavor component. Overall, it's probably a place we would come back again for a casual dinner.
(3)Shannon P.
Really enjoyed my experience here last night, I had a chef who was very friendly and funny! I love watching them cook the pasta up fresh all from scratch. I've tried a few dishes, Alfredo, pesto and scampi and they are all amazing! The only thing I don't like is how small the portions are of the meat they give you. A little pricey but you get what you pay for, I'm looking forward to finally trying their pizza next time!
(4)Christine U.
The food for the price is well worth it. Whenever I'm at Dulles Town Center I prefer to grab food here then at the food court upstairs. Sorry food court, Vapiano's food and ambiance are a lot nicer then the chaos of the food court. Insalata caprese is my favorite. Try the pastas and pizzas too.. Everything is great.
(5)Heidi S.
The food always turns out well, they're convenient (near the entrance to the mall and open late), and the atmosphere is nice even though they're located in the mall. My main criticism is that there is so much stuff on the menu that either has a cream sauce or cheese in the dish and looks like it can't be made without it, and I can't eat dairy. I've managed to find a few things to eat there anyway that were good, though.
(4)Chris P.
We have been going there since they opened. Food quality is always great. It is easy to see over time that their kitchen staff receives great training. One face stands out .... A guy who has been there since the beginning from pot washer to pizza maker to kitchen manager- we even see him fixing problems in the front of the house. Where else do people value their people so well they stay so long and are now running the place? We will keep going back.
(5)T A.
Food is great. Not really even more expensive than Olive Garden and tastes fresher. This place is great for groups due to the ordering system.
(5)Seth K.
Rip off. Plus I'm stuck in a twilight zone. My first time here. Walked in for lunch. Looked like a buffet style set up so naturally I went straight to the food area. Realized quickly the model that they make the food in front of you. Problem: no menu. Staring at a guy and a wok. Nice wok. What's next? Pick a meat he says. Chicken I say. He dumps a packet with five half inch cubes of chicken into the wok. Each cube about the size of dice. That's it I ask? You want another meat he says? How about shrimp I say? He proceeds to dump another packet this time with four smallish shrimp and stars stirring. I stare. He points to the guy to his left and gives him the wok. The wok has been transferred. I get yelled at, tell him what else you want. I move to my left (his right). I ask the next guy if i can have a salad? He says yes. He then transfers the wok back to the first guy. I slide over following the wok. First guy tells at me again to stay with the second guy. Super confused. Eventually the salad is worked out. I asked for oil and vinegar. The man starts to ladle some grey thickened concoction. I ask what's this? He says vinaigrette. I say I would prefer vinegar. He says that's what I said, vinegar. I say no, you said vinaigrette and while I'm sure there's vinegar in that grey ooze, I just want oil and vinegar - any vinegar will do. He gets a manager. The manager says we won't have vinegar. I ask how that's possible an Italian restaurant with a salad station doesn't have oil or vinegar? A bus boy walks up, steps behind the counter and pulls out two glass flasks one with balsamic vinegar and the other what looks like olive oil. Perfect. Why isn't he running the place? Next I'm told to hold my card up to the reader. I take out my credit card and after a few more seconds strangely trying to figure out this card reader, the salad guy asks if I had a Vapiano card? No I said. I walk to the front and inquire about this card. You didn't get a card I'm asked? No I say. I'm pointed back to the food counter and told they'll use their card. Ok. I walk back. Nothing accomplished. I get my salad with a couple of chicken dice cubes (and four cooked down shrimp) and decide this is all too weird. I head to the bathroom to rewind. I lean over the sink and a blast of poison smelling air freshener is pumped into my eyeball. It's one of those automatic machines that sends a blast of air spray at some regular frequency. Apparently someone on the shorter side must have mounted it because it's camouflaged on the wall aiming directly into my right eye. Feeling blinded to go with confused I stumble out of the bathroom and firmly ask for a manager. I quickly show him the situation in the bathroom and my eye. He pulls out a used bottle of eye drops offering me a squirt. Thoughtful. Disgusting, but thoughtful. I wonder if this happens often which would explain the presence of the eye drops in the first place? No matter. I just want a glass of water and I'll dab my eye. I find the biggest glass I can, about the size of a shot glass. It's the biggest they have. Not surprised. Mini meat portions pair better with mini water and soda portions too I guess. Bottom line, I would never go back to this place. It's booby-trapped and the meat portions are insanely small for what you pay. Cheese is flavorless and no one who works here seems to know what's going on either. As I'm writing this another manager looking person walks up to me and asks how it's going. I say not well. I tell him I was injured in the bathroom and the food is small and flavorless. He genuinely tells me he's sorry. Then he tells me sometimes this stuff happens, again tells me empathetically that he's sorry and walks away. Bye? Thanks for for visiting I guess? For what it's worth, it's very clean here. So they've got that going for them at least. Super weird. Major rip off. Boobytrapped. Stay away.
(1)Xenia D.
Really love this place...i had campanelle pasta with pesto and chicken...the chef did a great job. I really recommend this place , excellent food and great atmosphere .
(5)Brijesh V.
Awesome food but one star for bad service. We were checking out and paying my bill. They have gummy bear at checkout and they ran out if it. We had promised my son to take while checkout if he finishes his food and since the bowl was empty we requested them to see if they had more. Lady at check out said they do have more but they have to open new packet and she doesn't want to do as it was almost end of day. What a lazy excuse. For parents with kid, take all gummy bear you want when you enter.
(1)Michal A.
Love their pastas and pizzas! It's always freshly made, you can play with the menu - add and mix ingredients and the chefs are really nice and funny. And a little secret that I must share: their pastas still taste great after a couple of days in the fridge. Try the tomato pesto pasta and the fungi pasta. This specific location has a nice atmosphere so it's always a relaxing experience.
(5)Sant A.
Nice atmosphere and a wide selection of italian dishes. I had the pizza american, house salad, and chicken soup. We sat by the window and found this was a great place to people watch as shoppers walked in and out of the mall. I'm always a bit hesitant to tip when the customer does all the work (order food, get drinks and silverware, and pick up food). I still tipped 15% for the cook.
(4)Ana C.
I'm a regular at this place since I work directly across the street and I love it! I've been to quite a few Va Pianos and didn't have the attentiveness that I get here. Each station is setup with cooks and during lunch at most places it can get quite busy, however each time I'm in the line the manager or the cooks manage to at least say that they will be right with me. Acknowledgement that I'm there and waiting is a good start. Once I get my food - which is always fresh and cooked to how I order it (unlike most cafeteria-style places) I sit at either the bar area or close to the window of the mall. The workers are friendly and helpful! They manage to comeby and ask how things are and bring condiments if I ask or drinks if I order. Fresh pasta and pizza dough that's made onsite really adds to the taste of your meal. The herb garden & olive oil go great with the fresh bread too!
(5)Alan M.
This is a really good place to eat at the mall. The quality of your meal really depends on you. You pick the ingredients that you want and they combine and cook it up for you. I've been here a few times and have always been pleased with my meals. I also like the live herb garden in the center of the seating area.
(4)Susan H.
We hadn't been to Vapiano in years because first impressions can be lasting ones. What put us off was the whole ordering process. Ordering a meal should be a simple process and I felt that Vapiano unnecessarily complicates things. Well...today we were going to the mall to do some errands. Before going, we were talking about where we could get a vegan meal. I offhandedly said to my husband, "Well...there's Vapiano" and he said, "Lets go there". Even after I reminded him of the whole ordering system, he still wanted to go. We agreed to go for an early dinner to beat the crowds. So...we got there a little before 5 p.m. on a Sunday. Already several tables were occupied but only a couple of people were in line ordering their food. When the hostess gave us our cards, I asked her to refresh our memories as to the ordering system, which she did. Then we headed over to the pasta station. One impressive thing about Vapiano---there are 7 different possibilities for a vegan pasta meal. We each chose to get spaghetti with pomodoro sauce. The nice young woman at the pasta station patiently answered all our questions. It was interesting to see her put together the sauce. First, she put in some olive oil in 2 pans, then she asked if we wanted some garlic and onion. I chose just garlic while my husband chose both. She also added a few cherry tomato halves and basil leaves, and asked if we wanted salt and pepper. We said "yes". The pepper was freshly ground into the sauce. While she was cooking the food, we told her that we each wanted a garden side salad. She told us our dressing choices and yelled down to the guy at the salad station to make 2 garden side salads with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. We also got our soft drinks at the pasta station, with both of us choosing Pellegrino orange soda. My husband actually thought to pick up our silverware and napkins while we were waiting. When the pasta was done, we had to have her show us how to scan the card that records our order. Then we found a place to sit and I went to the salad station to pick up our salads. The tables and the stools aren't very comfortable. I'm sure that's by design to prevent people from lingering too long. The salad was decent with a good variety of ingredients in it---lettuce, shredded carrots, cherry tomato halves and raddichio. However, the plate it was on was too small for the amount of food. That made it difficult to eat without spilling some on the table. The pasta came out okay. Some of my spaghetti was clumped together but surprisingly the clumped up pieces somehow managed to be properly cooked. The pomodoro sauce was okay, if a bit on the bitter side---Not bad but not the best I've had either. We both found the portion size to be good---just enough to feel full but not stuffed. For the 2 of us, dinner cost $25 + change. We would consider eating here again but will make it a point to come for an early dinner. From reading some of the other reviews, it seems that during busy times it can get chaotic and orders sometimes get forgotten and therefore not filled.
(3)Julie M.
In theory, this restaurant should work. Decide what you want - order it - swipe a card - eat - pay when you leave. It doesn't work, though, and here's why: 1. Unorganized. 2. They often forget to make orders. This didn't just happen to me once, btw. 3. The place is WAY overpriced for the quality of the food they serve. 4. The food is mediocre. 5. The small five-cheese pizza that I ordered made me SUPER sick ... like wanna crawl in a hole and just die sick. Bottom line ... Find someplace else to eat.
(1)Chris M.
Great food. Cooked to your specs. So much fun.
(5)Mike F.
It is located in the Dulles Town Center and that is okay with me as one of the best meals I have ever eaten was in a fancy mall in Denver. My tween son and I tried this place since he has been here before and likes it. I think he likes the way it works more than the basic rigatoni with red sauce he orders. I tried the fettuccine carbonara and it was very good. I liked the way the "chef" makes it in front of you and allows you to customize it. The decor is nice and trendy and the quality of the food was much better than the usual Italian chains nearby. I like the casual no waiter atmosphere and find the charge card concept a little gimmicky but hey, 12 year old boys think it's cool. If it is too complicated for you perhaps you should stick with the Sbarro upstairs in the food court. I will repeat if back at the mall and craving pasta.
(3)John K.
I gave them 3, but 2.5 would be more accurate for our past visit. My family has eaten here dozens of times. We like the pasta, bread, and beer/wine. Nice to have a place like this to break up shopping. Generally the pasta is really outstanding. They make if fresh on-site, and the "chefs" at each station usually do a good job preparing individual meals. Last night our pasta was undercooked. My wife sent it back, and I didn't - this morning I am paying the price. This brings up the main gripe others have - logistics. Waiting in line at each station is a HORRIBLE idea. This place would bump up at least a star if it was just a sit down restaurant. The only time I could see this being better is if someone was eating by themselves and cheap and didn't want to tip anyone. If you have a family, shuffling back and forth between the stations (and bar if you are lucky!) is a real downer. And if someone sends something back (like we had to), it only exacerbates the problem. Lots of waiting, everyone eating at different times, and general chaos. We will still come here, because we love the pasta and the different dishes. I just wish the ordering system was better thought out.
(3)Belle D.
Inefficient! I like the look and location which is trendy and spacious. The concept of the restaurant is worthy of people to dine in. Food - pleasantly good. As bad as the non-service goes, the food is the only reason that I would come back. Service - as mentioned, it is do it yourself. You are given a card upon arrival of the restaurant (thought we got a free gift card :( boo..). The card allows you to input your order with the corresponding course with the person behind the course. No one explained to me how this works - I was left to my imagination - and thus the guy at the pizza/antipasti section failed to input my order and we never got out pizza and appz. Terrible! Found out the reason was he had left and gave it to another lady to do, who did not know how to make the food and thus placed the ticket in the 'done' section. Yea - terrible! Luckily, we were in town visiting. I would not go to this location. With the food that was good, I would def scope out other Vapianos.
(3)Kathryn W.
I live in the area and have always walked past this place when I go to the mall. Finally checked it out one afternoon and it was absolutely delicious! Very unique setting and atmosphere! I will be coming back!!
(5)Brooke K.
The food was pretty good, but a bit overpriced. I got the ravioli (which had a $2 upcharge) with bolognese sauce. There's better Italian food to be had.
(2)Ruth C.
I liked the C-town Vapiano better. They included plastic diningware, and I love the reusable Vapiano container. Pickup was prompt, though they left the mini tiramisu in the cooler until I arrived... and mini means mini. Way more mascarpone than anything else, and an awkward dusting of cocoa along the bottom crevice. Soaked ladyfinger was a happy little treat, as was the swirl of espresso chocolate. Cream sauce on my carbonara was very thick, and my perfectly al dente whole wheat spaghetti was sparsely tossed in it. Who puts cilantro in carbonara? My extra sausage was crisped nicely at the edges, but I'll probably change proteins next time since it was pretty greasy. "Mild" chilis were too coarsely chopped, resulting in gross bursts of spiciness. Parmesean dusting was nice, but didn't hide the fact that there was barely any bacon, and no hint of egg. My two slices of bread was okay, chilled but pillowy, and I clearly should've eaten in for olive oil.
(2)Ruben G.
This place is full of itself for absolutely no reason. It almost just expects whatever you eat should taste good. It doesn't. Broke dick paneras is what this is. If you aren't a broke 13yr old girl trying to feel uppity avoid this place.
(1)Kristen H.
The pasta was melt-in-your-mouth tender and the sauces were light, fresh, and flavorful. This was such a great breath of fresh air for me since I hate those ridiculously heavy pasta sauces that make you feel disgusting after you eat them. Everything was simple yet flavorful, much more like the philosophy in real Italian cooking than what you see at, say, Olive Garden. Portions here were just right and prices were what you'd expect. There were some nice small touches, such as the fresh herbs used for decoration and the awesome water. The water had strawberries and mint in the dispenser, so it was extra refreshing and delicious! What a classy touch and a delightful taste. I'm totally using that for a party one day ;). I had some pasta dish that was a special that day, so it was only on the menu at the sandwich station. Whatever it was it was wonderful :). It was some sort of chicken and spinach panini! It was fresh and simple while still being super flavorful. Sorry I forgot what it was :(. The whole idea of this "new concept" and needing an explanation before your first visit wasn't very appealing to me. To be honest, I found it more of an obstacle than anything because there were a number of key details that were left out, such as where the drinks were, where the flatware was, and what to do with our plates after we ate. Also, the idea of separate lines for different dishes seemed a bit silly when I went since it wasn't all that busy. I'm not sure that it would be any less silly if the place was bustling. In short, I'll definitely be happy to be stuck in that area and starving again. For once, being stuck in Ashburn while hungry actually resulted in something good. I guess that makes 2 places with good food in Ashburn.
(4)Leslie J.
This place seems to skew the "self-serve" concept to an extreme kind of level. We walked up and the hostess immediately handed us two cards. Hesitantly taking the cards with confused looks on our faces, she asked "Have you not been here before?" "No" we replied. Then she proceeded to quickly explain on how their establishment works. The whole process really translates to: "We save money by not hiring servers so be prepared to "getchoassup" multiple times and fend for yourself." We sat down with second thoughts on staying, but ultimately decided to just go with it. And so we did. We both lined up at their pasta station and ordered one bolognese pasta with extra sausage and one carbonara with extra chicken. Yes. You do have to pay an "extra" $2.50-$3.00 if you want some type of meat with your pasta dish. $10 (choice of pasta and sauce) + $3.00 (meat option) = $13. They should really just charge $12-$14 for each pasta dish and throw in your choice of meat for free. This to me involves too much strategy and too much thinking. I'm a simple kinda gal. There's too much fuss going on with their menu options to the point where I feel mentally exhausted before I even get to sit down and enjoy my meal. Back to the pasta station -- luckily, our "chef" was friendly, and even asked us if we would like extra peppers to spice up our pasta dishes. He basically flash boils the pasta as he sautees the meat and pasta, mixes it altogether, and tops it with some freshly grated parmesan cheese. Our order came with complimentary sliced bread. We then were asked to "swipe" the cards they gave us upon entering and that is how Vapiano keeps track of your order. Ultimately, you are free to walk up to any of their pasta, salad, and pizza stations and load up on carbs to your hearts desire and as you roll yourself out the door, they swipe your cards at the register once more for payment. I can't knock on the food we ordered because it tasted pretty decent. They also roll and dry their own pasta and even offer whole-wheat pasta options. The bolognese sauce was good, but I have to admit that the dish would've turned out completely boring in taste if I hadn't asked for extra sausage and spices. Plus, I also think that the fact that your meal is "tossed" together detracts from authentic Italian in that the sauces taste heartier and more robust in flavor because they have been marinating and cooking over a hot, labored stove for hours. Capish? Jussayin'!! A couple more things I would also like to mention that are missing from this supposed Italian establishment. All their tables are filled with olive oil & salt and pepper, but nowhere will you find parmesan cheese or crushed red pepper. Aren't those like staples in most Italian restaurants? Not having had either of those on hand, I would've likely fumed if we had ordered pizza. This is the part that will explain the "getchoassup" concept. Vapiano's is set-up like a sit-down, but in reality, you literally have to get up and ask for everything yourself. I had to go back and ask for extra parmesan cheese from our chef. Go back up for extra napkins. Go back up once more in order to obtain a to-go box. Blargh, on the bright side I guess I burned off some carbs while dining at the same time? Strange, strange concept.
(3)Christine K.
I enjoyed the cocktails and salad. But those are the only gluten or wheat free offerings on the menu - rice and quinoa pasta would be a welcome addition... perhaps a gluten free pizza, too.
(3)Chrissy P.
The food was decent but as others have stated, the ordering process can be confusing. The a la carte concept fails in that every station moves at a different pace. While one person wants a salad, a pizza may not be ready until the salad is done. The look of the place is what enticed me to try it out; but the process will keep me from coming back. I felt like I was in an attractive cafeteria.
(2)Rozie T.
The pasta is deliciously fresh which is due to them making the pasta in the restaurant. My favorite is the Chicken Alfredo and BBQ Pizza. They alter the pasta according to how spicy you want it, but you can add in parmesan and red crushed pepper at the pizza bar area. The ambiance is tranquil with low lighting and small potted plants everywhere. Very nice for a relaxing night out. Like many of the reviewers have already mentioned, it is self-served with swiping cards. I love pasta and so I've eaten here a few times this year. On one occasion, they have forgotten to make my friend's order; very aggravating having to wait 15 minutes and finding out that they haven't even started on it. They have also charged me for drinks I never got, finding out only after I had taken a look at my receipt when I've gotten home. Also, the bread is free but sometimes the cook doesn't ask if you want any; this would suck for newbies. Go for the food, but don't count on the service.
(3)Emily N.
If i could i would give Vapiano's a 3 and a half stars . After hearing about this place from a friend, i finally decided to ask my boyfriend on whether or not we could try it. Prior to coming i had already yelped it and found out all the perks of this place. First of, it's located right in Dulles Town Center. Not only is it in the mall but once you enter Vapiano's you definitely feel as if your not in the mall. The atmosphere is awesome. Dimmed lights with accenting lights on certain areas of the restaurant. Such as their mini garden box that was in the middle of the restaurant. Which is up for grabs. Upon entering your greeted by the hostess. She explains to you how the ordering system works and also how there's no wait staff. After that she hands you these cards which are essentially your tab/ dish trackers. Then you follow along to the station you want to order from (Pasta, Salad, Pizza/ Antipasti) . When done deciding what you want to order you just tell them. And also if you wanted a little more of something feel free to ask whoever's preparing it for you. I do admit that i was amazed by the whole concept of cooking in front you with fresh ingredients but there's a downside. I ordered the Pasta Bolognese while my boyfriend ordered their Chicken Alfredo. Also we ordered their antipasti size of Bruschetta. My Bolognese was "alright". The pasta was a bit to aldenti for my taste. Also the sauce was lacking in flavor. My boyfriend's Chicken Alfredo was a bit better though. Very prominent taste of parmesan cheese as well. The Bruschetta on the other hand was clearly mediocre. Even my boyfriend who isn't a foodie at all said that it was really bland. Literally it was just a mix of tomatoes and cilantro on top of toasted bread. I had to throw come more salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar that was available on all the tables. Overall, if you want overpriced Noodles and Company then here's the place for you. I really do love the idea of everything being fresh but at a ball busting $10+? I think i'll just leave that or Macaroni Grill or something.
(3)Michael H.
If it weren't for the clumsy card system I'd give this place four stars. The "card" system means that you get this little credit-card looking thing when you come into the restaurant. Food is served at stations, and your card is what you swipe every time you get food. It keeps track of your tab and makes it easy to split the bill if you're with multiple people. It's a good idea, but I just didn't like it. In fact, at one point I was waving my card over the pesky card reader and it slipped out of my hand, bounced off the counter and went straight into a vat of salad dressing. The staff promptly removed the now-soiled salad dressing and brought out a new tub of it, but it seemed like an awful waste for a point of sale system that is, at best, gimmicky. The food was alright and the service seemed quick and cheerful. Not by any stretch pasta worth going out of your way for, but as an inexpensive local family restaurant it does the trick.
(3)Jenny N.
Dinner for two here cost $40+!!! For that price we could have eaten at Macaroni Grill, Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang's... The pasta dishes were ok, not so sure I would come here again. Service was friendly, though.
(3)Aileen B.
Had lunch here with my sister a few weeks ago. We did not like our experience here at all. We actually wanted to visit this place many months ago, when it first opened, but we always found a reason to go elsewhere, but we've always wanted to try V's and finally we had time. Why did we not enjoy our visit, you ask? First, the "debit" cards used to pay for our food. The host kept pushing for us to take two cards, but I went with one since I was the one who was going to pay for lunch, anyway. Two, we had to visit different stations for salads, pizza, pasta, desserts, and each time we were looking up at the menu boards, or looking at menu signs on the counter for item descriptions and prices- very jarring. We would've been more comfortable doing the same thing at our seats. Third, after finally choosing our selections, I had to swipe , AT EACH STATION, the card so that I could later "check out" at the door with my credit card. Why not just charge my credit card directly? After all this, we had to either wait at the table-counters with counter-seating and then go back to the stations to pick up the food, or stand around and wait for our entrees to finish cooking. As for the food, she had a spiral pasta with bolognese sauce ($8.95), while I had the spinach ricotta ravioli ($9.95). I tried a few bites of her pasta and found the sauce tasty and light on the grease. Wish I could say the same for my pasta's sauce. It was VERY greasy and tasted canned, so I decided to scoop away as much of the sauce as I could. I did find the ravioli to be very good- pillowy in texture, and the filling was so delicious. The atmosphere was actually nice- liked the greenery and glass (decoratory herb pots and wine decanters everywhere) and the cool fixtures, but our overall experience was very poor. We won't be back.
(2)Sam R.
Oh waiter? Waiter?!? Bueller?!? Bueller?!!!! Oh wait. You're eating at Vapiano you silly ass. There are no waiters. Never mind the upscale, trendy euro lounge feel - Armando will not be serving you today. Get your ass in line and wait with the rest of the bourgeoisie. Seriously. Do we really need "concepts" on how to order and pay in dining? When it takes the hostess three minutes to simply EXPLAIN why she's giving you a card, how you order and pay - something ain't right in gastronomy land. And will they really charge you a $100 if you lose the card? I didn't want to test the theory. Pushing aside the fancy chip card payment idea, the food wasn't half bad. The bruschetta was decent - albeit a little on the soggy side. The margherita pizza was good - crispy thin crust, tangy sauce. I only wish they used real buffalo mozzarella. I also noticed they only had Pironi and Pilsner Urquell on tap at the bar. This from a German based chain? Brings a tear to my eye ...
(3)Claudia C.
The service is great and the salads are amazingly good and fresh., I go almost every day to have lunch. :-)
(5)Tuan N.
Yummy pasta and cute place too
(4)Patricia M.
Was not wowed by my dining experience. Maybe I am a snob, or maybe I just enjoy some good conversation, someone that acknowledges me when I walk up to the person. Vapiano is all about do as little as one can for the customer. The cooks did not talk to us when we ordered the food. Probably bc the sound system was turned up to the max. Besides the service, the food was pretty good. I got a bowl of the arriabiata pasta and a caprese salad. Something I could have made at home. Only water to drink. My total was 15$ and some change. If I am paying 15$ and some change for cafeteria style food/atmosphere, I am not a happy camper. All in all, I will not be a repeat customer.
(2)Angela W.
Talking about new age dining - Vapiano is on the cutting edge of dining experiences. Scan your card at each ordering station and then pay at the end - wow, huh? While dining, snip off a piece of basil or rosemary to add to your plate of freshly made pasta to order. Fresh basil and rosemary plants are at every table along with balsalmic vinegar and olive oil and a pepper-infused oil too. In the center of the restaurant is a greenhouse too...growing even more fresh herbs. Now, the selections are definitely different, yet you can create your own from over six different fresh pastas made on premises and over four different sauces with an assortment of proteins and vegetables. There's at least two whole wheat pastas included in the offerings. If you want the lounge feel instead of the bistro-style, high table experience go into the "red room" for low, lounge seating that almost looks like it's the place for children to dine than adults because the seats are so low. I guarantee...you'll enjoy this clean, exciting dining experience. There's three selection areas: pasta, pizza and salads. Add freshly made desserts to that and there's plenty to choose from. Located right in Dulles Town Center on the first level underneath the food court.
(4)Matt T.
Ok. The ordering process is weird. It can actually be a little stressful until you get used to it. For me and my family and friends, it's well worth it. I grew up in an Italian household and I cook quite a bit myself. There really isn't a way to get fresher Italian food than Vapiano unless you were actually cooking in a vegetable garden. It's not fancy, just good, simple and fresh. Salads are all good. Pizza is good. The pasta is nearly perfect. Freshly made pasta all day, prepared in front of you. Nothing from a freezer or any disgusting food service prepared sauces. Its just a guy with a pan surrounded by ingredients. The carbonara is stunning. Pasta con funghi is my fav. Pesto is nice. The aglio e olio can be great depending on who is cooking it. The place may not be for everyone, but if you care about what you eat, you might just love this place.
(5)Bam S.
This restaurant is so cool! When you get there, they give you a card and that is what you hand the chef when they make your food. The chef puts what you order in the system, scans your card and it's on there. When you are ready to pay, you go to the cashier and hand the card to them and you pay! They cook you food fresh right in front of you. It can be kind of hard to decide what to get when there are a lot of people there because you see and smell what everyone is ordering! The staff is very friendly and it is a very clean establishment. The only thing I'm not so crazy about are the seats. Some of them are a little too high and they are a little uncomfortable. But over all, I always have a great dining experience and the food is always amazing!
(4)Johnny C.
I love this place. Great food (cooked infront of you), fantastic selection of beers (mostly European and thats why they are fantastic) with a calm relaxing environment.
(5)Peter H.
A very interesting concept and twist on traditional Italian food. I've primarily stuck with pasta here and have not been disappointed, they make the pasta fresh and build the dish custom to order in front of you (like subway, but with pasta). My favorite part is the fresh herbs around the restaurant ready for picking. mmmm
(4)Alli H.
Vapiano is a weird place. Let me start by saying that the food was pretty darn good, but the whole experience was just kinda weird. Not necessarily in a bad way...More in a "likely to grow on me (or wear on me I suppose) and make me change my rating at a later date" way. The other reviews describe the meal-card-concept, which I won't rehash, but I will comment on. Are you indecisive like me? Of course you are, and your friends are too, especially when trying out a new place. How long does it take you to decide what to order in a new restaurant? Thank goodness you have somewhere to sit and think while you read the menu. If not, you'd be milling around, staring at either a menu card or the board above your head (rather than watching where you're walking), and running into people carrying smooth trays full of slippery foods. They aren't looking at you either, because they're craning their necks, trying to determine which direction to embark on their quest for a table. I will close this rant by noting that no, I did not experience the big crash that is my food falling to the floor, nor did I suffer the embarrassment of being the crash-er...But this is a nightmarish fear for me after years of managing the front of the house: the threat of breaking glass and falling food is enough to make my toes curl. Again, the food was delicious...I had a Bolognese pasta (they even offer whole wheat pasta that didn't taste like cardboard!) that was very nice and meaty, and seasoned well -- did someone already mention that they season everything to your request? And it was fun watching the little machine dunk the basket of pasta into the water and pull it out automatically at just the right moment. Their generic side salad was anything but. Frisee and arugula, some good veggies, and a creamy Italian that even a girl who hates creamy dressings would love. The bread was good, and if you get the right table the olive oil is perfect. If not, steal some from another table when they aren't looking. One disappointment: dessert. I am a compulsive dessertier (I think I made a new word!) and think that Italian desserts are some of the best. They had a sad-looking premade refrigerated somethingorother with whipped cream. And that was it. So I opted for something sweet in the nearby area of food delight and horror known as the food court. I regret that my hand was forced here...I would have ordered some if it were respectable, I swear. I'll go back, and hopefully I'll like it more. If not, it'll certainly be less.
(3)Frank P.
A few months back I received a coupon in the mail alerting me to the fact that Vapiano had opened. I searched for reviews and based on what I read it seemed that ordering food was more difficult than differential equations and I would end up in the Gulag if I lost my card. Adventurer that I am I decided to give it a go one Sat afternoon. Much to my surprise, one does not need to be mental giant to figure the system out. I had a margarita pizza and was quite impressed. A good thin crust pizza is a bit of a rare find here. I've been back several times and tried a number of other pizzas, all of which were very good. The pizzas are always crisp without being overdone and the ingredients are fresh. Two people with smaller appetites would probably be fine with one pizza. It might be a gimmick but I do enjoy the fresh basil too. Yesterday I tried the pasta for the first time, which is made there. I had the tagliatelle with "salsiccia calabrese" (which didn't seem like anything more than pepperoni). But the dish as a whole was better than what you'll get at most chain restaurants and was made to order. This was the first time I got a tray, which was conveniently located under the silverware -- just like it was at the dining halls in college. With the exception of the large Acqua Panna water, which is ~$6, prices are reasonable. You'll pay more than you would at your average fast food place in a mall but the food is certainly better.
(4)Gg K.
i will never , never go back there in my life , they lost me as a customer . my background is from argentina , i went there with mu husband to watch south africa soccer game , worldcup , we were sitting at the bar , and have to listen to this wife of one of the manager , talking very loud , from another table , and having a conversation , saying that argentinians play dirty , and use drugs , in the soccer game , and so many other offending thing about my own country ....the manager , should give her some follow up about , discrimination , and not been rude with other cultures .... she was , very loud, because her husband works in there she thinks , she owns the place ... i love eating pasta , and i used to go there at list every 2 weeks , but after today ,not anymore ...it was really upseting me , i had to pay and leave , telling this ...dummie , so many thing in front of her face , shouldn't go there , next time i will go to the chesecake factory , for watching a soocer game . managers from vapiano...dont have the balls to say i apologize ..they don't have control ,over situations ... don't recomend this place at all , they discriminate , against latinos ....and they are working for them in the kitchen bad , bad you will pay and leave unsatisfied , your digestion .....this lady . wife of an employee, needs to calm down ...or get some anxiety control pills , and stop irritating people ... with her nasty comments .
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