Review of Vapiano

Would not recommend for severe allergy sufferers due to shared kitchen space; otherwise tasteful Italian dishes, but nothing extraordinary.They offer pasta, pizza and risotto dishes that are typical for the Italian cuisine, including vegetarian, meat and seafood options. At an additional cost one can have gluten free pasta or pizza as well; note, that there is no dedicated gf kitchen space (as is declared on the menu as well); especially not at the pizza station. For pasta, the zoodles are prepared in the pan only and before cooking the gf pasta, the water will be drained and refilled, however, someone with severe gluten intolerance might not be able to eat here due to cross-contamination.I had a gluten free Hemp Fettuccini Ratatouille and it was flavoursome and satisfying. It doesn’t look like it at first, but portion sizes are very filling; I ordered my dish with chilies to be medium-hot and the chef absolutely hit the mark. The pasta was cooked through (typically gluten free pasta is not prepared “al dente”) and does not have a strong additional flavour, so they might work with any sauce or topping. The ratatouille had a well-balanced yet not too intense flavour, mainly from the veggies. To my taste, it could’ve had a bit more tomato-sauce and Italian herbs to it, as gluten free pasta tends to soak up liquids stronger than regular pasta and is very plain in taste, after some time texture was quite thick and dull.When I first ordered my dish, I informed the waitress about my food allergies, and she seemed to have been a bit overwhelmed by it. She double checked with one of kitchen staff if the dish I was about to order suits my dietary requirements. I appreciate her effort for double checking with kitchen staff, however, I think service staff at the counter should know about ingredients & allergens, as during busy times it might not be possible to go and check everything with kitchen staff; it would unnecessarily take up time.All in all, VaPiano is a good place to go to if one wanted Italian food that is fresh & quickly done and affordable; booking advisable when in larger groups or planning to go during main dinner times.