I love eating out with friends but I hate that moment at the end of the night when a dozen people try to pay one bill. If we split the cost equally it's not fair to the person who just had the salad, but if we each pay for what we ate it takes forever to do the calculations and work out the change.
Vapiano (
Albert Lane, Brisbane and
Soul Retail, Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise) has anticipated this problem and provided an ingenious solution. Customers at this Italian/Australian restaurant are given an individual chip card, which their food and drink is charged to. At the end of the night, you simply pay the balance on your chip card. Too easy!
So it's convenient, but is it any good?
Vapiano serves the Italian staples – antipasto, salads, pasta, pizza and desserts – made from fresh Australian produce. Pizza bases and pasta dough is made fresh in store and all herbs come from the restaurants kitchen garden. Additionally, Vapiano tries to source all ingredients from within a 150 kilometre radius.
Try the pollo piccante, an Asian fusion style pasta dish containing Vapiano's chilli orange sauce, chicken breast, pad pak and capsicum, or the marina pizza with prawns, calamari, rocket and mozzarella. Those on a gluten free diet can enjoy a selection of gnoochi. All meals are easily customised to suit the customer's preferences and if you really like something here, you should be able to find the recipe on their website.
Also available is a cocktail bar offering a wide range of wines and spirits – try the Red Vespa (mixed berry vodka, grapes, cranberry juice and lime) for an energy kick. Other alcoholic beverage choices include grappa and a selection of liqueurs.
Vapiano's fresh food and easy payment method have proven popular, especially with the younger crowd. Dine in or take away.
