Pasta was great, perfectly al dente, not soggy like another reviewer found. The pizza, however, is as described below: well crafted but bland. It's still very good by Budapest standards, but you'll need to make use of the many condiments to counteract the lack of flavour. Probably my favourite place to eat Italian in Budapest right now, in terms of quality, price, and convenience.

This place is an example in how Budapest's "restaurant worker culture" can make a good place go sub-standard. The cooks are generally shiftless and every other time I go they claim to be out of items from time to time. (like the commonplace Caesar salad?!)

As for the food itself, it is indeed generally bland. Pastas are not al dente (I realize though that Hungarians like their pastas having the texture of pablum) and the sauces just aren't up to snuff. Pizzas are well-crafted, but the crusts lack flavor (yes, they should taste more than just saltines), the marinara is okay, but the toppings are generally bland. For many of their ingredients a true Italian would be embarrassed to use because of their mediocre quality.

The inside is great, music is always a bit loud for my liking. When I last went, I wanted to put some black pepper on my pasta, and I couldn't find a pepper mill on my table or anywhere within sight. It seems that someone had stolen them all but one! But credit them that they didn't steal any olive oil cruets or salt mills. ;)

They need to get a real general manager to run the place with the proper attention to details.

Sigh, I think I posted too soon! That must be why professional critics go to a place three times before writing about it. I still think the decor is great and like the concept of upmarket fast food, but both the pastas and pizzas that I've tried have been quite bland.

In addition, it seems that there are fairly rigid rules about what you can and cannot have on your salad, and it is the luck of the draw whether your server will bend them for you. For example, there are four salad dressings available. My favorite is the one with capers in it, but the last time I went I was told that the caper dressing is for carpaccio ONLY, and that the staff would be fired for putting it on another salad (I was having the mista). Finally a manager came over and confirmed this rule, but did allow the server to use the dressing that I wanted. However, he only put a little bit on the salad, resulting in rather dry and tasteless lettuce, and a salad that I couldn't finish. Unsatisfied, I ordered a bruschetta. The bread was actually good, but how can garlic and tomatoes be utterly without flavor? I had two bites before I gave up in disappointment.

At this point, the only things Vapiano has going for it in my book are the decor, the fact that they are around the corner from my apartment, and the fact that they are open till midnight. It's too bad. After the first couple of times I went, I really thought I'd want to go a lot!

Finally, a place to get a cheap, fresh, and tasty salad that can be big enough for an entree!

The restaurant is a great concept, with stations for pasta, pizza, salads, and beer/wine/cocktails/coffee/dessert. Service is prompt and friendly, and the space is open, bright, and inviting. The smoking section is upstairs too, so this is a great place to eat for a non-smoker as none of the smell comes downstairs.