Vapiano

Vapiano is a major Italian restaurant chain with lots of branches across Europe. Glasgow’s first outpost has taken up residence in the former HMV building on Buchanan Street. First time visits can be a trippy experience for anyone who spent their childhood wandering the floors of the massive HMV store, flipping through CDs or attending album signings.

Diners receive a smart-card on arrival that they then use to order food from the various stations – salads, pizza and pasta – and food is cooked up to order in front of the customer by chefs in the open kitchen. Dining at Vapiano is a slick operation with a focus on fresh ingredients. The customer truly is king in this high-end cafeteria-style set up; which pasta shape, how spicy, how much cheese – it’s all up to you.

Fresh basil, oregano and other herbs can also be added your dish by pulling leaves from the plants in the centre of the pale wood dining tables. Drinks can also be purchased from the bar (where Rock/Pop A-Z once was) and include a short but decent list of Italian wines, familiar lagers and seasonal cocktails. You then simply tap your card at the till as you leave and pay for what you ate. No squabbling over the bill.