Restaurant review: Vapiano
4401 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, Va.
703-528-3113

Vapiano, a pizza/pasta/bar combo, recently opened its doors in Ballston. The capital region will boast three locations, the first group in North America for this German chain.

Vapiano is a hybrid fast-food joint with a lounge-like feel. Upon entering, you receive what appears to be a gift card (in fact, that's what it is in Europe, worth 50 euros) that records purchases. Swipe the card when ordering food or drink, then present the card as you leave to pay.

Food stations include pasta, salads, and a pizza/appetizer post. There is also a bar with a variety of drinks. Food is made-to-order, and the quality of ingredients generally high.

It will take some time to work out the kinks. Ordering pizza was especially slow, and the combination of pizza and appetizer station curious. The salad and pasta stations could also get dangerously long during the lunch rush.

There were a few snafus with the food. The pizza crust was especially bad, clearly not mixed properly with large chunks of dry dough falling off the bottom. A salad with turkey was quite tasty, though a bit oversauced.

With a proper crust, the pizza would be a steal at $6.75; the salad is a bit overpriced, $8.75 with the meat. More expensive pizzas are on the menu with a variety of toppings, including one curious combo of veal, "tuna cream," and capers.

The design feels quite Euro, with trendy tables and chairs that look straight out of Ikea. Near the bar there is a lounge area decked out in red, including some comfy easy chairs. Outdoor seating is also available.

The Ballston location has some fixers on the scene, clearly cooks from overseas locations. It will be interesting to see how the eatery evolves when turned over to local hands.

The casual/trendy mix is an interesting setup. If they can get the service and quality issues straightened out, this chain might have some real promise.