Vapiano

Perfectly pitched at the chip & pin generation, Vapiano’s USP is ‘swipe & dine’. Pick up an electronic card, then choose what you want from the food stations; everything is logged onto the plastic & you simply pay when you’re done. It may sound like a shopping-mall food court, but the no-fuss Italian menu fits well & ingredients are commendable. Go for some basic antipasti or a salad before choosing your favourite pasta & matching it with one of the sauces on display – say penne carbonara or pappardelle with king prawns & lobster sauce. Pizzas offer a similar range, with margheritas & diavolos alongside less-familiar toppings such as Parma ham with fresh figs. Stylish surrounds, reasonable prices & cheap vino make this a safe bet for express lunches or post-work catch-ups.