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I’m pleased to be able to share a bit of interesting news with the Bethesda Actually community. As you know we have been trying to work out what restaurant will open in the Equinox gym building that is being constructed in downtown Bethesda. It is a terrific space and the Federal Realty folks have a prize on their hands — any restaurant that secures the space should be a success. Well, as the title of this post suggests, Vapiano’s is the new restaurant on tap to fill this slot and I am absolutely delighted.

Vapiano’s is one of my favorite places to eat in downtown DC. The concept is an interesting one — when you head in the door you are given a swipe card and that is what you use to order food and drinks from the various stations around the restaurant. You can get drinks from the bar (they have good prices on wine and Italian beer) and order pizza’s, pastas and salads from an open kitchen where the food is cooked in front of you. The nice thing about the swipe card is that if you are in a large group or if folks are coming and going at different times you do not have to worry about splitting checks at the end of the evening. Everyone uses their swipe card to cash out as they leave the restaurant. The prices are also very reasonable and the atmosphere is super. I am a big fan of their food and drink and do like to check out some of the interesting stuff they use in the kitchen (in particular their pasta cooking machine)….from behind a safe barrier of course.

The only negative I can find in this bit of good news is that Vapiano’s in Bethesda won’t be opening until the fourth quarter of 2010….but as they say good things come to those who wait!