Vapiano

3.6 (183 reviews)

ModerateItalian, Cafeteria

Closed • 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

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Vapiano - Beets - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Vapiano - from http://www.vapiano.com/ - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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VAPIANO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

Inside

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Outside

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Casual

Moderate noise

Outdoor seating

Good for kids

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Sze Ting L.

Came again for the GAMBERETTI E SPINACI, and it was just as good as the first time I had it! Their food is standardly good and the service is quick!

Erik B.

It's actually hard for me specify the impact this particular establishment has had on my experience in London, but I'll try: there is no easier nor better place to arrange a large gathering of people, in the heart of downtown, than this place. Without every requiring reservations nor specifying the total table size - this spot provides everything a la carte (and provides you with a card to use for easier check out in the end). E.G. I invited 30+ people to meet me at this location (just a stone throw away from Oxford Circus underground stop) without requiring any RSVPs. It worked out beautifully - people came and left as they pleased, ordering from the bar. Fresh pasta, pizza, salads, desserts and drinks are all offered throughout this location. There's also a delicious appetizer dish (meant for two people) with an array of cheeses, olives, bruschetta and meats that I highly recommend. Guaranteed you'll bring this bad boy to the table and make everyone jealous. Prices are very affordable and you don't have to depend upon waiting staff. Within walking distance of soho and Piccadilly Circus, too. A win all-around..

Layla A.

This is where young whipper snappers go to find other young snappers to mess around with. Definitely a social club where females bat eyelashes and male flash money in hopes of finding someone to match their energy. I was just hungry and a colleague of mine recommended the places as a good for groups dinner spot. The three stars is literally because the servers will do anything to make sure you're in good hands. Including running to the kitchen to get chilly flakes and seasoning salts. The food is blanD. Or maybe just the pasta. With covid, everything is order online and pay and have the food served to your table. Fine. Except by the time you've finished ordering online, you're pretty much ready to say forget it and leave. It's no ones fault as that's the norm now but still, if you don't know what you want ahead of time, be prepared to look at you're phone for 20 minutes trying to decide what to do. Then an additional 40 minutes for you food to be served. Gaberetti was the biggest miss for me. I didn't ask for any substitutes or alternatives. Ordered exactly how it's suppose to come and it had no seasoning. Not even salt. Luckily our server was nice enough to run back and grab a few things to sorta entertain the idea of eating our meal. Lastly, just bring your own big bottle of volvic water because £2.75 for 100ml of water is pathetic. One and done. I was optimistic considering the long lines put the door for people to get inside but cheap food doesn't mean quality.

Ashley D.

I'm a huge Vapiano fan. I had my first experience 2 years ago with a location in Paris and I've been dreaming of the Carbonara since then. When I saw there were locations in London I was ecstatic. So on our first night in London we ventured to Vapiano. We arrived around 9pm. It was packed. We got in line to order our food. The wait was no more than 15 minutes. They were limited on the pasta selections since it was late so I opted for the Carbonara with paparedelle, my sister Carboanara with Prawns with tagliatelle. The cook made my pasta perfectly and asked if I wanted garlic and chilis and confirmed the quantity. It was perfect! A few days later we decided to come back for another visit to make sure we got our Vapiano fill before we departed. This time we were there around 10pm. The line wasn't as long but took much longer to get waited on. When I told the cook what we wanted he just asked what kind of pasta, there were only 3 types left so we chose campanelle. We did not get asked about garlic and chili so we asked the cook and he said he'd already put it in. We also asked about the parsley on top and he said they were out. He had cooked it much faster then it's taken previous times. We had ordered it To-Go since it was late. We looked at our food and saw no chilis. We brought this to the manager's attention when we were paying and he just said "Oh" and didn't care, just asked for payment. When we got back to our hotel to eat, the sauce was watery and not flavorful. There was also no garlic taste or chilis. It was very disappointing and ruined the Vapiano experience for me. No such thing as great customer service here. They didn't care that their cook provided awful service and sub-par food. Had it not been for the last trip there this would have definitely been a 4 or 5 star rating.

Aaron S.

Vapiano has more branches in London than any other UK city, while their growth might not as big in the UK as the rest of Europe, especially in comparison to the likes of Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. This branch is in the good and central location close to Oxford Street on Great Portland Street. Having been impressed with Vapiano back home in Manchester which is the only other UK branch of Vapiano I have visited - I was greatly surprised to see the contrast between the two branches as they are in the same country and the difference was probably much more common as with what you would find with Vapiano stores in different countries. The service sucks. No staff member offered to hand me a menu or even explain a concept of a store which has a very unique concept where you take a card, go up to the kitchen and order and you pay at the end on your way out. Some staff members even struggled to speak English beyond a basic level which was frustrating, especially when I tried to complain about my food. The queueing system was a mess, they only had one counter when it was pretty busy - it could have been so much simpler if they had spaced out the staff with more of them working as the number of people waiting shouldn't have caused trouble for a restauraunt that size - yet it sadly did. I ordered a mushroom risotto with added chicken and actually had to explain that to the chef, he looked at me like he had never added chicken into a dish before. He seemed perplexed. When I got my food, it tasted really really cheesy as for some reason he had put two giant dollops of cheese inside the risotto, I originally thought when he was placing it in the food he was placing it in another customer's dish (they cook two at the same time), only to find out they actually put cheese INSIDE the risotto when speaking to the manager. Considering no other Vapiano store does this including Manchester and in other countries (Sweden, USA etc), I was really surprised and confused. It made little sense and I presume it is just poor knowledge. I have been offered cheese on top of the risotto before but never mixed in. I sent my first risotto back as the rice was hard and it was far too cheesy, the manager offered to push me straight to the queue for another re-made dish without the cheese. It took a little bit more time after a wait which was already pretty long due to mismanagement of the queuing system but I hoped I would finally get a good and tasty risotto however I was wrong. The second risotto was perhaps equally as bad, the mushrooms had no crispiness to them, they were slimy and unseasoned. The risotto was also pretty dark and tasted like they hadn't added other key ingredients such as white wine. To add to its' woes, the chicken was chewy and a little fatty (it tasted like they'd used thigh pieces and bad cuts too), the rice was probably even harder than the first risotto too. The store layout and feel is again much poorer than other stores, it is pretty bad for disabled access too as the tables are so close to each other you can't move out a stool/chair (most of them are high tables too), so you'd have to sit on the end of the table which is uncomfortable enough without blocking people coming in/out/queuing and the pillar in the way. There was a sign which I found interesting especially based on a recent review which said to watch personal belongings as they wouldn't be held accountable in event of any theft, surely instead of having such sign they should be promoting deterrents such as CCTV which they have in order and can and will use to find and prosecute criminals alongside the local police department. Vapiano on Great Portland Street really was a let-down from start to finish, with the only positive being the price isn't any higher than their other branches in the UK but with poor quality food and long wait time, it was barely worth the price they charged anyway and simply not charging more than other stores (which again is a pretty common curtesy at many food chains across London including Nando's), doesn't warrant an extra star by any means.

Vika S.

This place is such a vibe! I came here for a drink with a few friends and we had a great time! My friends ordered pizza and we drank red wine. If you are looking for a quick spot to drink and have a small meal this is the place for you! Great service, even though it was really busy....the atmosphere is full of great vibes. Such a great aesthetic for influencers or any photographers out there! 5 STARS for the wine and vibe!

Yee Gan O.

Vapiano turned out to be a bit of a lifesaver My Yelp Elite friend Lorrie M, who was visiting London from San Jose and I had planned dinner at Savoir Faire that evening to encompass the now sadly-banned-in-California foie gras. Sadly, our original plan was rudely disrupted by some pickpockets and following a visit to the police station, we wandered in search of food, a little shell-shocked at the evening's events We were on our way in search of a drink when we happened upon Vapiano and although our appetites weren't at highest levels, we decided that we needed something to eat On entering, the hostess at the door explained the concept to us - we were given cards to charge stuff at all the cooking stations around the restaurant as well as at the bar. The menu is Italian, so there were live pasta cooking chefs, a pizza oven and a section serving starters, salads and small plates Lorrie chose a pizza and I went with the caprese salad which I had spotted on another customer's table. Despite our initial lack of hunger, the food actually filled a needed spot. The pizza base was crispy and generous with toppings. The caprese salad had genrous amounts of lovely creamy mozzarela, tomatoes and fresh basil that you could replenish from a basil plant at the table! A zingy balsamic dressing brought the salad ingredients to life An interesting concept and it did turn out to be just what we needed to sit down and chill out after the earlier events of the evening

Nida K.

Whoa, this place is kind of amazing. Taking gourmet Italian and turning it into a quick cafeteria type of place is quite impressive. Thankfully I came with someone who has been here before or else I would've been one lost puppy. When you first walk in they give you a card. Then you walk up to one of the stations and order. The chefs make it right in front of you and they scan your card that you were just given. You order, eat, enjoy, and pay when you leave. Very cool, indeed. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi with Spinach pasta and it was fantastic. It was so good, I ate the whole thing! And it is an extremely generous portion for under 10 pounds. Can't wait to go back and try more things!

Shaun P.

Loving this restaurant with a difference and can easily see the appeal for the customer. The ambiance of the place is fresh, clean and vibrant. I was eating on my own so wasn't overalled at having to seat myself after collecting my first course! Not a good call for the solo diner! This cruise ship style dining is perfect for those wanting a little more free reign almost, and seeing it cooked or prepared in front of you. You get given a credit style card upon entry and swipe your card at each order point to rack up your tab. I ordered bruschetta and whilst it was being prepared I placed an order for a calzone pizza and was given a pager for when that would be ready. I also took a drink from the antipasti station where they promptly swiped my card! After I had eaten the starter my pager went off and off I popped (leaving my jacket on my stool with a group of 4 girls on my same bench table). I returned to find my jacket still there and my messy side of the table untouched too! My calzone was not the best ever choice, as I felt it had not been in the oven long enough and the cheese was barely melted and the pizza base only lightly cooked. (On reflection I should have complained). Desert time quickly arrived and I choose the small tiramisu and blueberry cheesecake. (£2.50 each) Both tasted as though they had been prepared fresh but much earlier in the day. Although quality ingredients they both lacked that 'Mmmmmm' taste factor, quite bland in fact to which I was NOT expecting considering their initial appeal to me! I will return but next time ignore the pasta waiting lines and just join up and will come with friends not on my 'Billy'...

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Michelle B.

12 years ago

It was a crazy day on Oxford, as usual. Shopping really worked up my appetite, especially fighting the crowds at Zara during the July sales. Vapiano was the remedy to my "hangry". Lovely place that has a full assortment of wine, beer and spirits. There is also an assortment of pizza, pasta and other Italian inspired dishes. I ordered the Verdura pizza. Just the right amount of sauce and grilled vegetables. Plus the crust was thin enough to waylay my carb guilt. Will definitely be back. read more

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Maha H.

Elite 17

116

304

14 years ago

The food is great and the ambience is too :) the only thing is the wait for the food when it's busy and having to split up with friends while half sit at a table and the others queue for food. But once everyone is settled, the busy atmosphere and great food is worth it :) read more

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Luli G.

9 years ago

Probably one of the worst restaurant systems there is. You have to wait in a long line, depending on the day, probably 20 mins. The cooks have to prepare the pasta in the moment: so you can't order and sit down. So 30 minutes standing to get your food. And if you want to get pasta and a salad per say, you have double the amount of time. Great food. Inefficent system. Very annoying. read more

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Michella L.

Elite 16

170

193

14 years ago

This place is great for big groups because everyone can pay separetely at the end of the meal. When you come in they give you a card and the card holds your menu selection on it- you just bring it up at the end to pay. The pasta I got here was good. I got the penne rosso- it was very flavorsome and the cooking staff was very friendly! Would come back again. I can see this place getting busy though- and on a busy night I can't see this place being that romantic but good for friend groups!! read more

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Anne S.

371

394

18 years ago

You need a bit of imagination if you are shopping in Oxford street and don't feel like eating junk food. Well Vapiano offers Italian, fresh food, and fast. I discovered only later that this is a chain as well, but the first branch in London. I would not go there for a candle light dinner but for lunch the place is great. The idea is that you do it all by your self ( except cooking the food). You get this chip card and you choose what you want to eat and in every food station has machine you that records the price. Oh well, it really is not that complicated and once you have done it the first time, you will know the game. The best part is that the chefs prepare the food in front of you. You get to say exactly how much chili you want etc. It is wicked! And the food, pasta, pizza, salads, antipasto, is great with great prices (mains up to £8.50) if you keep on mind the Oxford Circus location. We visited the place with my work colleagues and it was great when we did not have to go through all that splitting the bill operation. read more

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Amina-Louise J.

Elite 17

160

480

14 years ago

This is a really nice, large, modern Italian venue with rustic tables and chairs. My brother kept raving about how great this place was and how decent the prices were so I tried it out. During my one week stay in London, I went here twice for dinner. Great place to meet up with friends and have lunch or dinner at a reasonable price. I did not give it five stars because finding seats is sometimes a bit of a hassle. read more

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A C.

18 years ago

My first time at Vapiano last week thanks to a recommendation of my German flatmate. I have to admit, I like the concept even if it is a German chain serving up Italian food. Upon entry, they hand you are card to charge all your food and drink to. Upon exit, you pay for the damage. It was really quite busy when we dropped by, considering it was a Thursday evening (not the type of place I imagine people hanging out but clearly I was wrong). The food is made (sort of) fresh in front of you and the service was quite friendly. Overall a good experience, and probably a pretty darn good option for lunch. If you can fit it in, the dessert is worth a splurge. read more

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Qype User (filcha…)

305

829

2778

17 years ago

Great for pizza and pasta and just round the corner from the Qype office.

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Divya Y.

11 years ago

Worst service. Then again I'm from the states . Pizza I had was blah. I forgot what I had already. My friend loves it and is obsessed. Her pizza was pretty good. I already forgot what that was too. I wouldn't go back here read more

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Anastasia S.

10 years ago

Very good fresh food, good prices too. Not a big fan of self service, but i still keep coming back)

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Qype User (izagui…)

18 years ago

I was lucky enough, not long ago to come across the great promotion that kicked off this lovely restaurant: food for free. Can you believe it? Doesn't matter, I will tell you anyway. The restaurant is, to start with, different. As opposed to Carluccios or Strada, in these floor there is room to spare. as soon as I came in The first thing that caught my eye was that in every single table you have got a nice little rosemary and basil plant. cooks dish out your stuff in front of you, organized in various queues for pasta, for pizza and for salads As you may figure out I ate until I dropped. So did my friends. I ordered a orange-twisted pasta, and it did the job for me. Perhaps i have been slighlty put-off by the measuring obsession and the gloves the chefs used that reminds me a fast-food chain, all contributing to an artificial feeling. nevermind. I'm sure if they did not use gloves some fussy dry-capuccinos lady would complain as if in standards kitchens cook worn plastic gloves. Pizza wasn't that kick-asses. Rather bland, but i appreciated the thinness of the base. I also got to try my friend's stuff, and I have to say the Caesar salad was off the hook. desserts were nice but not great. they were served in little airtight containers that clicked on me. prices are reasonable, although as I said i did not pay for the food. upside: space, decor, see your food being cooked, daring recipes downside: slow unexperienced cooks, read more

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Qype User (chewie…)

17 years ago

Nice place, went to the chain a few times in HH and it's a good import from across the North Sea. Fast, good value, fresh food. Recommend to stick to salad and pasta: the pizzas are just about average. Great italian food for lunch. read more

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Qype User (Vince…)

17 years ago

Quite good place to stop by. Once there becareful, a nice lady we'll hand in to you a card to add up all what you'll consume thereafter, which mean that you don't really feel you're buying things. The food is quite nice too, taste, something too greasy but sincerely well cooked. read more

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Kevin S.

14 years ago

OK, the pizza, pasta and wine are good quality and not over priced Italian style with an international flavour and the interior decor offers a good range of eating styles and table sizes. Don't forget there's a less hectic upstairs room. But none of that is as important as this place's USP: Personalised billing. You get given a swipe card and buzzer when you go in and load up your orders on the card, collect them when you get buzzed and pay at the end. Go inside yourself, meet a friend or group there, don't feel guilty about who should have paid, or waste any of your free fun time sorting out the bill! read more

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Hannah S.

141

12 years ago

Fabulous! This is seriously good food. Fresh, affordable and tasty. My lunch break has been transformed. Staff are informed and willing to help with any pasta/pizza picking panics. All toppings on both pizzas and pastas were tasty and well balanced. Seriously singing the praises of this place. Great for a pre theatre dinner or long lunch. Im sure it caters for it all. YUM! read more

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Qype User (buster…)

17 years ago

The pizza is suprisingly good, but I actually find that the pasta is usually undercooked and the cooking is inconsistent depending on your server. I like the upstairs lounge tables, and overall the place is solid, although a bit expensive for what you get. read more

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Qype User (bravob…)

17 years ago

i love this place - its bustling but never too rammed - i really rate their pizza's although i think PArmesan should be just there for anyone - apparently you need to pay extra! rather annoying! i love the basil plants on all the tables - i killed mine yesterday at lunch! yum! great idea, great meeting place, good food for the price too. read more

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Felix U.

13 years ago

This place became one of our favorite places to eat while we stayed in London. Food was great! We had pastas, pizza, calzone.. Very good and fair price. If you come in the middle of lunch que for pasta is nuts! read more

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Qype User (chrism…)

16 years ago

I love the food here, its all cooked in front of you and the restaurant itself is has great lighting. it has a good atmosphere and is quite cheap for what it is. definitely recommend. read more

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Qype User (PaulGa…)

15 years ago

Outstanding pasta, fantastic price.

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Qype User (Het…)

15 years ago

Really tasty food. Not to hot on the dessert thought. Also the food can take a while to come but I don't mind its worth the wait. Or maybe it just feels like its a long time as when you want pasta as you have to wait standing! Anyway I love thier concept of using a swipe card and the staff are always friendly. read more

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Qype User (221163…)

17 years ago

YAY! So glad there a Vapiano in London! The food is so so good. For those who don't know Vapiano: You come in and get a swipe card. Then you go to one of the counters where they freshly cook for you. Pizza, Pasta, Antipasti, Salad. Everything is really fresh, really delicious and not even expensive. When you leave you hand over your card and pay at the end. I don't mind the self-service at all. However it is good to sit upstairs if you want it to be a bit quiet! I recommend Parpadelle Funghi and Bruscetta. And whatever you have ordererd - you can get free slices of bread at teh salad counter!!! read more

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Qype User (hanzib…)

15 years ago

Vapiano was a hideous dining experience, reminded me of all inclusive buffet on holiday or worse the school canteen! The concept is to pick and collect your own food and drink but in a more trendy setting than eating in the restaurant within Debenhams and then pay at the end with a swipe card. You go in, find a nice table and then have to get up and queue for your food, holding onto your coat and bag (coz this is central London), if as in my case you decide to eat Pizza and your friend goes for Pasta you join 2 seperate queues, wait a ridiculous amount of time considering this is supposed to be a convenient/efficient restaurant and then queue again for a drink. You may then find that one of you has your food and drink ready to return to the table and eat while the other is given a pager to wait for their food to be brought over by a waitress. So one of you eats their meal (as you have no way of knowing how long the food will be and no staff to moan to about the delay) and then has to wait for the other to be served and eat theirs. The whole point of this place is it is self service and by paying at the end so you are not delaying starting eating. Perhaps the business plan was that people would buy lots of food and drink without realising how much the cost was, hat would be true if you didn't have to leave your table, posessions and friends to order each time. I would only eat in a Vapiano again if I was alone in a foreign country and on a real budget. The people that have reviewed this place thus far seem to have done so based purely on price, if you think this is worthy of 4 stars try Nandos you'll be blown away! read more

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Deny M.

11 years ago

Awfull pasta, it was so undercooked, and do not confuse with al'dente. It is full of tourist and no tables. Cooks are rushing to serve everyone and undercook everything. Go to the Southwark branch read more

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Dee W.

15 years ago

I came to Vapianos for lunch, really liked the concept of the place, we were given a card and allowed to go around the open kitchen to select which meal we would like, there was a wide variety. I went for a pasta dish, we went to take a seat on one of the tables and after the meal was finished we went to the counter to hand in our card and pay. The food was very good. The only downside to this place is that it gets very busy! and doesnt take you out of the hustle and bustle of London streets! I would recommend if you are on the go! read more

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Amanda O.

14 years ago

When I need a lunch break I come here with co workers and we love Vapiano. Pasta is fantastic and the pizza was delicious. One of my favorite places to eat. The atmosphere is great with comfy places to sit in groups. Does get busy but I don't really mind because I like the food. read more

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Bob C.

13 years ago

Pasta is ok pizza is shyte. Wierd concept with no waiter where you stand in line and order from a counter. They have different counters for different items so noone's food comes out at the same time in a group. Its somewhere between fastfood and a sit down resturant. With all the brilliant resturants in the area avoid this one read more

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Shannon W.

13 years ago

Ive been vapianos about 4 times now. I recently had the scampy with extra chilli, garlic and prawns. food is a beaut x read more

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Rich L.

12 years ago

This place wasn't for me. Atmosphere inside is a bit too hectic (and not a good hectic in the sense that there is a lively buzz). The place is self serve and once you've ordered you then find your own table. I'm sure this system works well most of the time, but even on a Wednesday evening it was chaos. You have the perfect storm of people not knowing what counter to go to to get food, people with too many shopping bags from oxford street, and then probably the worst thing is that it feels like a battle to try and get a table once you've ordered. Luckily for me it was only my girlfriend and i but if you went here with more than two people good luck getting a table together! you'll probably spend 10 mins loitering around tables putting people off their food! The food (I had pizza) is decidedly average. There are a lot better Italian places in London where you don't have to wait in a massive queue to get served, and then fight your fellow diners for a table. Give it a miss. read more

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James F.

12 years ago

The concept seems good...but it's not. I went here with my 10 year old son on a busy Saturday afternoon, his choice as he loves spaghetti bolegnese. We eventually found a seat where I could see him from where I had to queue for the the food....after queuing 40 minutes for the pasta dish I thought I might as well have it too, although I would have preferred a salad, but that queue was just as long and twice as far from my son!! After the 3 or 4 questions about what I want in my meal, your the chef not me, chill? wine? seasoning would have been nice!!! We would have like garlic bread with our meal but that was the pizza queue, are you having a laugh? read more

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Will H.

12 years ago

I feel that the food being prepared infront of you is more of a gimmick than anything, we were asked how we liked our meat but then the chef left it to burn while he went to get some more rubber gloves. He also added chilli to my dish by accident but shrugged it off. The pasta is nice but undercooked which is surprising seeing as it took us about 45 minutes to get two bowls of pasta, thanks but no thanks read more

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Qype User (giorgi…)

17 years ago

Qype must be a joke, with 9 positive reviews about this restaurant! This place is a living oxymoron. Only a German chain could think of applying fast food to Italian dishes. The quality of pasta is not really good, food is made quickly and the pasta is slightly overcooked. And it does not come cheap. I also do not understand the enthusiasm for the swipe card; we are at a restaurant, not in a Tube station. It may be okay if you are on a rush, otherwise avoid it. Especially if you love Italian food. 'nuf said. read more

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Qype User (booksa…)

16 years ago

Best place for pizza in the area hands down. Have been here several times now, and have enjoyed every meal very much. Well worth checking out. read more

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Qype User (jamesb…)

16 years ago

Pretty cool place - food is all really fresh and tasty. They operate on a very modern system where you get a "credit" card when you go in and put everything you have on the card then pay at the end as you walk out. Pasta is cooked right in front of you while pizzas are done in a pizza oven and you are given a buzzer which goes off when it's ready. Only problem with this place is that if it's busy the wait can be bad otherwise it's great place to relax with great food. read more

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Siobhan F.

12 years ago

I'm living in London for over a year, and they do my favourite pasta. It's very very cheap, with no service charge, the quality is absolutely great. There could be a long queue, but it's always quick. The place is tidy and clean. Go there for a mid week dinner , or Saturday afternoon. read more

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M E.

11 years ago

A novelty dining experience which is ultimately disappointing. The food is freshly cooked but my experience wasn't great and on a busy night it's only going to get worse. We ordered our food and choose pizza to avoid the fresh pasta queues which never seem to move and then went to find a seat. This is fairly difficult with coats and bags left at tables like towels on sun loungers at a holiday resort. After a few minutes of wandering we managed to grab a table as someone left but this was a Wednesday night at 8 pm so not exactly peak times. When we tried to get the food the garlic bread was burnt underneath and only one pizza was ready. They took the buzzer and then told us to come back in 2 minutes. I went back to collect the pizza and was interrogated as to where my buzzer was and after arguing with them for about 2 minutes I was given a cold pizza. On paying the staff couldn't have cared less. It's a nice idea to keep the cost down but the reality doesn't really match the novelty. read more

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Kévin L.

12 years ago

Vapiano is a great casual place with a very original concept. The food is great (the pasta are generally better than the pizza). Too crowded Friday and Saturday night, but the rest of the week is a very nice atmosphere. read more

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Kevin S.

11 years ago

One of my favorite restaurants in London. I have a great experience every time I go. The staff are friendly and the food quality is fantastic. No matter what I have, pizza, amazing pastas, and the salads are all terrific. The atmosphere is casual and elegant all at the same time. The only thing I could critique is its a little tough going as a group to have you meals prepared at the same time. I still love it though. read more

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Belle B.

155

15 years ago

great prices, hassle-free, delicious pasta, good ambience. (cute guy cooking your pasta across the counter is also a plus). wanna come back as often as possible read more

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Qype User (umierq…)

14 years ago

Lovely food, great concept, fresh food cooked in front of you with fresh ingredients, I don't see what more you could ask for. Price is reasonable, the atmosphere is great. Definitely recommended. (Well at least the pasta is) read more

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Page 4 of 5

19-21 Great Portland Street
London W1W 8QB
United Kingdom
Fitzrovia
Directions
020 7268 0080
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.vapiano.com/

Full menu

Hours

What time does Vapiano open?

Vapiano opens at 11:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does Vapiano close?

Vapiano closes at 11:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.Vapiano closes at 12:00 AM (Next day) on Friday and Saturday.

Mon-Thu, Sun 11:00 AM - 11:00 PMFri-Sat 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Next day)

Food & Alcohol

Does Vapiano have catering options?

No, Vapiano does not have catering options.

Does Vapiano serve alcohol?

Yes, Vapiano serves alcohol. Full Bar

Indoor Amenities

Does Vapiano have TVs?

Yes, Vapiano has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Vapiano have bike parking?

Yes, Vapiano has bike parking.

Does Vapiano have outdoor seating?

Yes, Vapiano has outdoor seating options.

Does Vapiano have parking?

Yes, Vapiano has parking options.

Other Amenities

Does Vapiano have free WiFi?

No, Vapiano does not have free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Freshly made from scratch Pizza, Pasta, soup & salad

History

Established in 2005.

Started in Germany in 2002, Vapiano is a casual restaurant serving the freshest Italian food. You'll be given a card on arrival, when ordering food, tap the card onto the till so we can register your order -pay on the way out.

Meet the Manager: Rocco b.

Chef who makes incredible pasta and pizza dishes

Vapiano Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Vapiano

“Once you order you slide your RFID card up to the reader and they program in what you ordered.”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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People searched for Italian 4,269 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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Explore benefits

Café 101

4.5(6 reviews)

1.9 mi•Blackfriars

•£

Five stars based on good food at unbeatable prices for the area. Dining area was far larger than I…read moreexpected and is amazingly bright and airy given the basement location. Standard prepared takeaway options are available, but limited hot fresh options were great. Lunch special of meat and two sides were quite good. I got sausage with sautéed Brussels sprouts and cold beet salad. Soup of the day was also quite good.

Great food and service at a cafeteria in the basement of Salvation Army's HQ in London…read more The location was only 250m from our hotel room near the Millennium Bridge, and we dined there 3 times because of the low price and high quality. The coffee was better than our hotel for half the price ---a full English breakfast was only £6.80 (hotel charges £12). The staff was very friendly and we recommend this place to anyone wanting decent food on a budget.

Photos

101 Cafe: clean modern interior with plenty of tables.

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Finnish Church Shop

4.5(6 reviews)

4.0 mi•Canada Water, Rotherhithe, Bermondsey

•££

This place is not for everyone, I know, but in case you are looking for a good rye bread, salt…read morelicorice, gloudberry jam or any other Finnish treat on mind - this is where you will find it. The small shop is hidden inside the Finnish church in London, a well kept secret among the Finnish people. But the shop, as well the church, welcomes anyone and is open like any other shop. The church offers it's sauna for rent for either private or groups, in hourly based, great place to go warm up during the cold and rainy winters. The picture above is taken from the http://www.finnishchurch.org.uk websites.

The Finnish Church is much more a community centre with a church attached to it than the other way…read morearound. There's a sauna, cafe/cafeteria, shop, library, hostel and children's play area. There is a lot of activity - especially on weekdays - for mothers and kids, and weekend activities for families and adults alike. There are two main 4-day events held every year: the Christmas Fair (November) and the Easter Fair (March/April). These attract thousands of visitors, but few know that outside of these times, there's a lot going on - and it's often very delicious! There's a Finnish meal for £6 (£4 veg or £3 soup) on Saturdays, and often on weekdays (contingent on other activities). Then there's always a basic cafe which serves sweet and savoury pastries and filter coffee and tea. Prices are very reasonable for London standards and the atmosphere is relaxing and homely. The church is a welcoming place for people, regardless of their background, and many come out of curiosity to try Finnish foods or to meet Finnish friends.

Photos

Our Christmas Fair in 2013

Cafeteria

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Sauna - please contact reception for information and bookings

Duck & Waffle

4.0(1k reviews)

2.6 mi•Aldgate

•£££

We came here since the big boss was in town. This was my first visit and our seating area wasn't…read morethe best (we sat in the bar area) but the views were great and the food wasn't too bad either. 3/5 Corn ribs - never had a corn rib before. Good, a bit sweet. Messy to eat. 3/5 Truffle fries - good but average 4/5 Polenta - very tasty, a must. 3/5 Duck and waffle - I expected this to be bigger but it was good. I normally prefer chicken but the duck wasn't bad. All the food was decent and the staff were all nice. It's unfortunate that the walk to the restaurant passes by the smelly toilets. Also there was only one lift working that day so it took a little time to get up/down.

I've been looking forward to visiting Duck & Waffle for quite some time. The views are incredible,…read morethe space itself is striking, and on paper it promises that perfect London mix of skyline, late-night energy, and elevated comfort food. Unfortunately, our experience was soured before it even had a chance to begin. My girlfriend and I walked in excited, completely amicable, simply hoping to head upstairs for a bite and drinks. We were greeted by the doorman with an immediate, dismissive "Are you good?" -- not in a welcoming or helpful tone, but in a way that felt skeptical and unnecessarily confrontational. There was no warmth, no "welcome in," no attempt at hospitality. It immediately set an uncomfortable tone. He then proceeded to call upstairs as though he were doing us some sort of favor just by allowing us to go up. The entire interaction felt transactional and judgmental rather than gracious. First impressions matter, especially at a place that positions itself as a premium dining destination. Hospitality begins at the door, not at the table. When we finally made it upstairs, the room was filled with visibly drunk, rowdy groups -- which only made the earlier attitude feel even more misplaced. If that environment is acceptable (and profitable), then two polite guests looking for drinks and food shouldn't be met with suspicion at the entrance. By that point, the damage was done. The initial interaction had already rubbed us the wrong way, and the energy upstairs didn't help. We ultimately decided to leave before even sitting at our table. That's how strongly the first impression impacted us. It's difficult to justify staying somewhere when you don't feel genuinely welcomed from the outset. Duck & Waffle has the potential to be memorable for all the right reasons. But someone representing the brand at the very front needs to understand that hospitality isn't optional -- it's foundational. A simple, respectful welcome would have changed everything. I hope management takes this seriously, because no guest should feel judged or dismissed before they even step inside.

Photos

The dining area with views of the kitchen

Rice Pudding. Really great

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Inside

The Victoria

4.4(347 reviews)

1.3 mi•Paddington

•££

Food/drinks: yum! Loved the fish and chips + sticky toffee pudding and beer selection is standard!…read more Atmosphere: loved the atmosphere in here! Service: okay, they are friendly but forgot our orders several times Price: as expected

Rainy morning in London and I was on a mission for shepherd's pie, which, I've learned, is…read moresurprisingly uncommon at pubs these days. This place doesn't technically have it, but their braised beef & ale shortcrust pie comes very close, and it's one of their specialties. Creamed potato, greens, rich gravy... comfort food done right. £19.50 and honestly worth it, especially on a cold, wet day. The ambiance really welcomed me in: warm, cozy interior with the fireplace going and a charming vintage Christmas aesthetic. Add in friendly people and genuinely warm service. Exactly the kind of pub you hope to stumble into on a rainy London morning. I'm hyped.

Photos

Library. Wow

Chicken liver parfait with figs

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Beer

The Ivy Market Grill

3.9(132 reviews)

0.9 mi•Strand, Covent Garden

•£££

The most average, middle-of-the-road institution in London, and the Covent Garden location is…read moreperhaps the true median of the whole lot. It's fine. Your fish and chips will be fine. Your burger will be fine. The duck will be fine. Coming for breakfast and getting an omelette? Your breakfast will be fine. Just getting some chips and a G&T? They'll be fine. The people attending to your meal? They're fine. The interior? Fine-ish. will you be blown away? Absolutely not. Will you be disappointed like you might be by some of the other nearby tourist traps? Probably not. Will you be left with a vague sense that perhaps you should make better life choices? Guaranteed.

Great place for breakfast with a real British atmosphere! We loved the décor -- it's cozy and…read morecharming. Very pleasant experience overall. We ordered the Royal Eggs with smoked salmon (similar to Eggs Benedict) and an English Breakfast. Everything was delicious, and the egg quality was excellent. I also had a lychee matcha -- the matcha itself was great quality, just a bit too sweet for my taste (I'd ask for less sweetness next time). My husband ordered a coffee pot with milk, which was a very cool experience and great coffee quality too. Our server, a young woman named Tasha, was wonderful -- super friendly and attentive. Highly recommend this spot if you're looking for a great breakfast in the heart of London, not far from Big Ben!

Photos

Interior

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Hoo Hing Cafeteria

4.3(3 reviews)

6.4 mi•Hangar Lane

•£

brilliant traditional food at a fair price. only gripe is the supermarket was pretty cold so had to…read moreeat with jacket on.

This cafe inside the Hoo Hing oriental supermarket serves a selection of dim sum, and simple rice…read moreand noodle dishes such as roast duck and roast pork over rice or as noodle soup. It's fairly hidden away so even on a Saturday lunch time, when the queue at wing yip could be an hour long, there are plenty of tables here.

Photos

So much food for such a fantastic price.

This is the view from the cafe

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A few more tables

Sketch

4.0(1.2k reviews)

0.3 mi•Mayfair

•££££

Service, food, ambience, vibes, sophistication. Consistently just perfect! Best in London by far.read more

Wow -- this spot might take the cake for coolest decor I've ever seen at a restaurant. They're…read moreknown for their Instagrammable 'loo.' I think every American mother/daughter duo was checking this place out for lunch or high tea. Mom and I opted for the lunch experience in the room called "The Glade." 3 courses, for a very reasonable price. Something like 36 pounds if I remember correctly. We did this over the more pricey high tea, but that certainly looked like a good time as well. That dining room was gorgeous. The food was pretty good. Nothing that absolutely blew my socks off, except for the strawberry dessert. Everything was certainly well done, though. I mean, there's a restaurant with 3 Michelin stars upstairs - the food should be good! Would def return with new people that hadn't been before.

Photos

Tea Room

Acia bowl

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Bar underneath restrooms

The White Swan

3.2(12 reviews)

2.6 mi•Islington

•£

4/2/2023 - we found this place after doing an Escape Room about 10 minutes away. It very large…read moreinside and the prices were very inexpensive. You have to find an open table, get the table number and then order at the bar. We ordered 2 fish and chips and one Bangers and Mash with the gravy on the side. The meals were very good. Out the door for $25 pounds. This would have cost $60-$75 near our hotel. See the photos. It seems everyone there except us had beers. This was a family friendly place as well. It was 7pm when we arrived. Lots of different people gathering for a Sunday dinner there. See the photos.

Wetherspoons is like McDonalds. It's clientele spans all demographics and social classes. If you're…read morenot too snobby, you'll appreciate the cheap food and drink, nice staff and clean premises. Whilst I've ever only been to this branch for food, the many students here before a night out is testament to the cheap drink. This particular branch is quite large and spacious, with little trouble finding a table, unless visiting around dinner time during a supper club night of which they have quite a few. Yes, a lot of the food is microwaved and agreed the quality is not top notch, but for he price, what were you expecting!! How many other places get you a Beer, Chips and Burger for £5!

Photos

The bar and where you order

Sign

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Menu 2

Enough to Feed an Elephant

1.9(21 reviews)

1.4 mi•Waterloo, Southwark

•£

We stood near this location. We ate here 3x. The English breakfast was the best! Service was…read moreexcellent! Pricing is reasonable. I'm not a food snob!

The food options surrounding London's main tourist attractions are surprisingly scarce, which is…read morehow I stumbled upon Enough to Feed an Elephant in the first place. Sure, the portion sizes might've been enough to satiate a 4,000 pound mammal as advertised, but could even an elephant get past the easy bake oven sunny side ups? Or the blood pudding that could still test positive for Hep A on its best day? I doubt it. An additional star for the service, it was quite easy to get our waiter's attention being one of 2 patrons in the restaurant during prime brunch hours. For the other individual who spent his meal on FaceTime without headphones, I pray the hockey puck they called canadian bacon smoked you in your sleep that night if you're reading this. Big Ben is overrated. It's a clock. Grow up.

Photos

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Cagney's Restaurant

3.1(9 reviews)

0.9 mi•Bloomsbury

•£

Cagney's is a strange little restaurant. It has walls covered in old musical instruments, and a…read moretheme that seems to be five parts busker to seven parts old films. All the menu items have film-related names, there are Cagney and Lacey film posters everywhere, and the menu itself is essentially Anglified American diner. I don't recommend going there for fine dining. But go there for a cup of tea. Chances are (at the weekends at least) it'll be very quiet, and atmospheric in a weird way. Like E Pellici in Bethnal Green, it's one of those odd little places that just, for some reason you can't quite explain, smells authentic - however strangely so.

My friend, and fellow Qyper, Kristiana and I ate here recently. It's aimed fairly and squarely at…read morethe tourists' tastebuds so don't expect anything revolutionary or value-driven. What you get is standard American burger bar fare jazzed up with daft names. You could have The Time of Your Life no, that's not an over-the-top recommendation it's what the fish and chips option is called (really). Kristiana had a hamburger topped with mushroom. Does Jimmy the Gent come with cheese? she asked the waiter, which startled me. He just nodded nonchalantly. Cagney's website claims that this is London's oldest restaurant established 1978. I don't know about you, but I've eaten in KFCs that are older than that.

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17 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Qype User (Urbani…)

11614

434

149

17 years ago

This place always seems to be buzzing whenever I roam past it at lunch times. It's got great simple decor with a fresh happy little basil plant on every table - and a central basil plant garden upstairs where they all sleep at night. There's the unmissable scrumptious smell of Italian fare cooking wafting through the ground and upper levels and the bathrooms are spotless. I love the fact that you have a little swipe card to pick up your food and drinks at the bar and just pay up at the end. You go to either a pasta man or a pizza man, tell them what you fancy and they'll cook it up right there in front of you. This style's clearly not for everyone but I like it because you can see exactly what goes into your food - both for peace of mind and recipe sake. Try the prawn, spinach and cream pasta - it's lip-smacking good and costs around £8.50 (they start at £5.50) Only niggle I guess is that they assume everyone knows the plan - so when I walked in a card was thrust in my hand and the lady behind the counter disappeared. I then waited around wondering what to do with it before I nabbed a waiter passing by who explained how it all works. Staff are a little rubbish but food is fresh and fun. I've got to return to eat here as we ended up having drinks but from the smell of it, it could be quite tasty. read more

Faith D.

235

8 years ago

BEWARE: DANGER. VAPIANOS ALLOWS CRIMINALS TO STEAL FROM PEOPLE WHO EAT HERE. ITS NOT SAFE. FULL STORY: I ate here this evening with my family, nothing crazy. However, some CRIMINAL dressed as a beggar approached our table begging us for food while we were SITTING DOWN and EATING. this is the wildest thing that's ever happened to me. But that's not the worst thing. So basically this criminal took on the appearance of a beggar to swipe my sister's phone from the table and steal it. HER PHONE GOT STOLEN WHILE WE ATE. This was all caught on CCTV (surveillance in the UK). We spoke to the manager and they couldn't do anything. We filed a police report and did find my iPhone and put the phone on lost mode. When it was time to pay, the manager looked at us as if we were obligated to pay despite the fact that we were put in DANGER while we ate at his establishment. And had the AUDACITY to get rude with us as if we were in the wrong. This place needs to be held accountable and its customers should know what they're getting themselves into. Not even having their belongings taken, but eating at an establishment with a manager that has NO human compassion or an ounce of respect for people who come here. Disgusting place. Pasta isn't worth losing $1000+ and dealing with a DISGUSTING and horrid manager. read more

Qype User (rachel…)

6740

572

510

17 years ago

A little weirded out by the mass basil plants in here they are everywhere! In planter pots, on tables, it feels a bit strange, but it does smell nice! I do love the outdoor tables, it isn't easy to get a space outdoors in this area of the city and it is normally a crush for the best possy. I've eaten one of the pasta dishes here recently and really enjoyed the process. You queue up at a chef bank, and watch them make your dish in front of you. Choose right and you will also get a chatty chef who will tell you about the food, or if you distract him, his life! Perhaps that's just me though? A great concept, clearly still a bit Bambi like on its feet, but I'm expecting great things. read more

Qype User (susana…)

962

439

257

17 years ago

Il Vapiano di Little Titchfield t. è un ristorante londinese di una catena tedesca che fa cibo italiano. Le grida d'orrore di chi legge attraversano la Manica e giungono fino alle mie orecchie. Calma, non è tragico come sembra, anzi è alquanto decente, meglio di molte trappole per turisti del Centro di Roma. Ci sono primi, pizza e insalate da ordinare al bancone, preparati però al momento davanti al cliente, con ingredienti freschi. Come direbbe Frankenstein Jr., "si può fare". read more

Qype User (bexb-…)

8805

138

14 years ago

Interesting mix of take-away, restaurant, canteen type thing. You get given a card when you come in, order your food at a counter, wait until you're buzzed, eat your food, then pay for what you ate on the way out. It was really yummy and quick but not somewhere for a bit group or leisurely meal, it's defiantly a meal in your lunch break kinda place. The food is fresh and good quality so out of all the places you could go for a meal this a good option. read more

Qype User (ahunte…)

11201

981

740

18 years ago

I couldn't believe it when i discovered vapiano in London. Amazing! I've been to the chain a number of times in Hamburg and it was cool to see not much has changed in this London branch. Super cheap salads and great pizzas. Awesome that you don't have to wait for your bill! (everything is done with a little swipey card). A great place for lunch in Soho. read more

Steven A.

16 years ago

Several months ago I went to a Vapiano restaurant in Washington DC. The place there was neat! Nice hostess at the entrance and the service is great. Vapiano in London is not that good. I was given the card to make my order and it took ages to got it... The cooks werent that nice and they gave me COLD pizza! Its incredible. read more

Johnny S.

15 years ago

BORING TOILETS! BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER! TINIE TEMPAH HAS BEEN HERE! not a happy bunny why have a buzzer pizza system and not a buzzer pasta system. bring soap pierregeogio was good go to him and the guy that looks like andy carol is jokes! not keen at the DIY service read more

Ismail M.

9 years ago

My fav pasta place in London. Love the king prawn tagliatelle and i love the buzz and open kitchen feel the restaurant gives. Suggestion: if the restaurant can provide or cater Halal meat that would be awesome. read more

Jenny P.

16 years ago

Great self service style place just round the corner from Oxford Circus. Very fresh ingredients and usually pretty quick. If busy though they can get a bit slow. Would defo recommend though! read more

Anaya S.

11 years ago

Horrible service, chef doesn't know to cook the food and food taste woful. I am a regular customer and I can see the service get bad day by day. read more