Long Overdue: Vapiano Comes To Boston

Vapiano, the German-based Italian restaurant that has a huge following among young urban types in Europe has opened its first New England eatery in Boston’s Theater District. Vapiano is the contraction of the Italian for va piano, or go slowly. The Vapiano concept combines self-service with fresh, casual Italian food like house made pastas and wood fired pizzas, gourmet salads and a full bar.

The dramatic space is snappy and stylish and brings a touch of Milan to Boston with red leather banquettes in the lounge area, communal oak tables in the bright dining room and a huge open kitchen. When you enter Vapiano, each person is given a “chip card” which totals your bill as you order your food from the various food stations-pasta, pizza, and salads/panini. You surrender your card and pay when you leave. Value- seeking diners will find the prices at Vapiano pleasant – average checks hover around the $15 mark.

The fresh tomato bruschetta ($3.95) is a good first choice.  The carpaccio ($9.95) of thinly sliced beef  was rather artfully presented with arugula,mushrooms and Parmesan. Vapiano does pasta exceptionally well.At the pasta station you choose from among several sauce and fresh pasta types and can watch one as one of the chefs cook your meal for you.  A simple olive oil, garlic and chili with linguine ($9.95) or tagliatelle with a light spinach and pesto cream sauce  ($10.95) are both perfectly prepared. The wood fired  personal-sized pizzas have a nicely crisp crust. Go for the traditional Margherita ($8.95) or go quirky with the chicken barbecue ($11.95) which features smoked gouda cheese, tomato relish and cilantro. The self-serve concept extends to drinks too- if you want a Peroni draft or a glass of wine,  walk over to the bar and swipe your card.  A dessert shooter of  tiramisu or  crema di fragola ($2.75) is the perfect small finish.

Vapiano,  191 Stuart St., Boston (Map)

Image Credit: Vapiano

PlanetEye Boston received a complimentary meal to review.