Aaron S.
Yelp
Vapiano in the Europa Centre is probably one of my favourite branches of the chain from my time in Berlin, Vapiano have really impressed me here with an extensive gluten free selection, especially compared to the UK stores which basically do nothing.
Vapiano is quite an interesting concept, where you queue separately for different foods with pizza and lasagne being one line, pasta being another, risotto and salad is also served, you basically scan one card per visitor at each desk, and you pay as you leave.
This branch is quite large and is basically located on the top floor of the Europa Centre, but there is also another way into it from street level, fairly close to KFC and they do have outdoor seating.
I ordered a Gluten Free Tonno Pizza, and my friend ordered a Chicken Salad, my pizza did take a long time and my friend was able to order her salad, sit down and begin to eat it before mine had even started beeping, and the store was quiet too, but the pizza was worth the wait, as the pizza base was very good especially for gluten free, it did taste fresh. I don't like the fact I have to pay an extra 1.50 euros for a gluten free base however, as I don't choose to order it, yet I'm forced to because of my coeliac disease. You wouldn't see them charging a vegetarian more, for example, would you?
I ordered a tuna and red onion pizza which is classed as a Tonno, the toppings and pizza were good quality, albeit there was slightly too much tuna on the pizza in some parts, yet of course for me this is better than not having enough.
It was frustrating to see they also didn't have a pizza cutter so I was forced to use a knife and fork.
When ordering my food, I was pressured into quickly deciding a drink which I didn't like, I also could have ordered this at the bar, and I ended up getting a flavour i didn't like, he seemed unwilling to read the flavours out so I guessed lemon flavour, only to find out this wasn't sweetened and was frankly dreadful, when I tried to swap this at the bar, all of this was happening of course while still waiting for my pizza, the language barrier got in the way and I ended up buying another drink, without the one I never drunk being knocked off my bill, and I was unable to dispute this at payment because the receipt only seemed to be printed after my card was scanned, and my friend paid while I was using the toilet facilities, which seemed quite clean.
Inside, this place is also quite relaxing with nice views due to the high floor location in the Europa Centre.
This is a nice branch and it does impress me that they have English menus, making it easy for me as a tourist, a better selection of drink than other Vapiano branches I have visited, as well as a good gluten free selection and I ended up getting a good, fresh pizza so I feel Europa Centre's Vapiano does deserve a four star rating, as my favourite Vapiano branch I have visited in either the UK or Germany.