Pink Trash Travels 2: Vapiano's in Chicago

Vapiano's is one of our favorite chain restaurants from Europe. It holds a special place in my heart as the pizza and pasta place is where my close friend Patrick and I hung out in Berlin before he ran the marathon. So of course I was excited to give it a try. However, if I would have known it's only been open two days, I would have waited. They have many kinks to iron out. Flatten to death really. I waited almost 30 minutes, standing in two lines, for a petite Mista salad and whole wheat pasta with bolognese. The cooks were slow as molasses - sprinkling on grated parm as if their life depended on it. In Europe, they'd have that pasta cooked, prepped and on my tray in five minutes. So obviously Vapiano's in Chicago has something to learn from their overseas counterparts - especially if they want customers to return.