Vapiano

We loved this restaurant. Too bad they closed this location. :-(
Dec 29th, 2014

Apr 10th, 2014

It pains to give a low review for Vapiano. We truly heart this chain and are fans of their food. But this location has something missing, especially customer service. Its as if the wait staff truly does not care. The last time we were here, I ordered our usual pasta granchi de fiume and some pizza. Of course we wanted to get some bread to go along with the pasta and we asked the staff for some. Don't know what the reason was but he just waived us off with the excuse that they were all out of bread! We did see other folks after us being offered the same bread that we wanted and were just irked with the treatment meted out to us!
Feb 25th, 2014

This review is for my first ever visit to a vapiano restaurant. I'm from CA, and don't normally live in MD. I went to vapiano in Bethesda, on foot, to get some dinner on Friday night to take back to my hotel room. When I entered, I was given instructions on were to go to order my food. I went down to the Pasta counter. There were 3 Past stations, each with one customer being waited on at the counter. I was waiting behind one woman... so there were really only 2 people in front of me. I waited... and waited, until 15 minutes into it (I only know this because I happen to check my watch), when one of the cooks asked me and the lady in front of me to step behind one of the 3 groups at the counter. By this time there were 4 more parties behind me. I went to the furthest order line... and waited some more. 10 or 15 minutes later, the lady previously in front of me had been served and was gone, and so had the 4 more customers that were behind me. I was still waiting. Apparently I had picked the wrong cook. The party in front of me finally got there stuff and walked away after I'd been standing there for a total of 25 to 30 minutes. When I stepped forward and their cook asked me what I'd like, I ordered the Ravioli Ricotta plate. The cooked said they were out of that (at 6:30pm on a Friday night... really?). Being a disabled vet with some pain issues, I had no interest in standing there for another 20 or 30 minutes while this cook made some garlic or pesto laden dish that I didn't want... I was already hurting enough. I place my "card and menu on the counter and left. On top of having nearly 30 minutes of my time wasted, the customers inside this place were quite rude, and I found the whole stand at the bar while these people cook your food (really slowly) thing to be very uncomfortable and unpleasant. If zero stars were an option, that's what I'd give this place. I even called their headquarters to offer some feedback, as I am a business owner, and I'd want to know if a customer had this bad of an experience at my business. I was told an exec director would call me in a few minutes. That was 2 hours ago. Clearly, they don't care for feedback. I intend to avoid the name Vapiano like the plague... and I recommend anyone considering going there for their 1st time to find somewhere else to spend their money.
Aug 6th, 2014

Vapiano's is an awesome place to go in Bethesda or in Chinatown. They have different stations for different types of food, mainly pasta, pizza, salads, and a wine bar. I love all the different pastas they have there, myself, and everything is reasonably priced. They cook it the way you like to have your food, too, so you can have more or less of the ingredients on the menu. The selling point for me, besides the food, is the diversity of the seating arrangement. Stools, benches, little cube things are all there, and in different lighting areas too. You can choose and open are or a more private one or one with a TV, etc. It's really one of my favorite restaurants as two people can go out for about $20-$25 or so. The Bethesda location is advertising specials on different days of the week also, like with movie tickets and other things. I have to agree with the gentlemanthat gave the 1 star review in one aspect, however. I always order the ravioli and they're ALWAYS out of it. If it's so good that you sell out of it, ...ORDER MORE FOR THE INVENTORY LATER. I've been there maybe around 10-15 times in the past 2 years maybe and ordered the ravioli most times and gotten it...ONCE. The other items are great, but man, that's not exceptable, lol. If you've never been to Vapiano's, ask them for assistance or help if you need it. It's a great place if you get how it's set up. You can pace yourself and don't have to worry about servers, etc. It's a unique business model and sort of a mix of a cafeteria and dine in restaurant.
Jul 31st, 2014