Vapiano!

Today we went to Vapiano and I talked about it with couple of Finnish friends, and surprisingly they didn't know so much about it. I went there the first time in Stockholm and I really liked the concept. Ok, it's still a "fast food" but the package around is much better than a McDonald or PizzaHut.

I took a salad because I wasn't that hungry, but I tried the pizza last time and they are good too. Plus the prices are not too bad.
Here is my salmon salad...

Only one thing missing: seeds! On the table, you can take basil, parsley, and other kind of herbs but no seeds, which would be the minus. But fortunately, we took a great table with a nice olive tree in the middle, which compensated the lack of seeds :)

For the one that never went to Vapiano before, the 'novelty' of the concept (if I may say as it was launched on 2002) is that you get a magnetic card when you get in, sort of credit card and you also get a menu. You then choose your meal (either pasta, pizza or salad) and you go to order to the chef that will cook your meal in front of you. The chef will then put your order on the magnetic card, and when you are done, you go back to the cashier and give that magnetic card, and pay everything you put on it previously!

For people living in Helsinki, Vapiano is just behind the train station, next to the movie theater on Mikonkatu 15. This place has the advantage to be open quite late because they have a bar side (+ terrace)! Check it out on their website: Vapiano

En Fr: Pour mes amis Francais, Vapiano est un resto qui a ouvert ses portes il y a peu a Helsinki. J'y avais ete une premiere fois a Stockholm et j'avais beaucoup aime le concept. C'est un fast food italien ou l'ambiance est beaucoup plus sympa que chez McDo ou PizzaHut!
On vous donne une carte magnetique a l'entree avec un menu, et ensuite vous decidez de votre plat (pates, pizza ou salade) et vous allez vous-meme commander. Le chef prepare votre plat devant vous. Ensuite, une fois que vous avez fini votre repas, vous repartez a la caisse, donnez votre carte magnetique et payez. Le petit truc en plus c'est que vous avez une jolie deco et vous pouvez vous asseoir autour d'un joli olivier plante au milieu de la table, et vous pouvez vous servir en herbes telles que du basilic ou du persil, qui sont elles aussi sur la table!
En France, il a seulement deux restos Vapiano: un a Paris evidemment, et un a Lyon!

La petite anecdote: ce sont nos amis Allemands qui ont lance cette chaine dans le monde entier en commencant par un restaurant a Hambourg en 2002.