Vapiano To Open At Reston Town Center June 23

Vapiano, the fast casual restaurant recently voted "Best Italian 2011" by Washington City Paper readers, will open in in two weeks.

The Reston location, the company's sixth DC-area location, will be at 1875 Explorer St., across from Town Square Park.

Vapiano's United States headquarters are in McLean, so expanding in the D.C. are is a natural fit, said company CEO Bill Bessette.

Reston will attract several different types of customers who frequent Vapiano, he said. The town center location will be good for the happy hour crowd as well as families with children, Bessette said.

"We offer an unpretentious, quality atmosphere," he said. He said the contemporary design of the Reston location will be "very dramatic."

Vapiano has a variety of house made pizza, pasta and salads, as well as beer and wine. Customers order on a chip card system, meaning the order what they want at stations and then pay for their selections at the end.

"Sometimes we have to explain the system," said Bessette, "But once you get it, you get it. The customer is involved in the process. This is an interactive experience for them."

Entree prices at Vapiano range from $8.95 to $11.95. Some wine and beer prices will be $3.95 a glass. To see the full menu, click here.

"We are going for a high-end look without high-end prices" said Bessette. "We are sensitive to the economic times and the value people get for their  dollar."