Vapiano Coomera — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

We dropped into Vapiano for a quick bite before seeing Superman on Friday 18th July and what started as a casual dinner turned into a food-lust experience.

We went with pasta (duh) because the smell coming from the open kitchen smacked us in the face the moment we walked in—and thank God it did. The vibe was open, warm, and buzzing, even though no one dared sit outside (SEQ cold hits different). You can see everything happening in the kitchen, which I love—gives you that “we’ve got nothing to hide” energy.

We started with the burrata. I’d never tried it before and thought it’d be cooked, but nope—it was chilled, thick on the outside, gooey on the inside, and paired like a love story with warm ciabatta and balsamic. Unexpected? Yes. Divine? Also yes.

Then came my main event: the Pollo Rosso with fettucine. Creamy sun-dried tomato and capsicum pesto with chicken and cherry tomatoes—if I could’ve backed the bowl up like a Tonka Truck and poured it down my throat, I would’ve. It was that good. Flavours were layered, balanced, spicy and comforting all at once. Pasta? Al dente perfection. Firm but springy. Basically edible silk.

My partner had ordered the Aglio e Olio—the garlic, oil, chilli, and parsley classic—and it was basic perfection in the most complimentary way. Glossy, fragrant, and elevated in its simplicity.

We also shared a couple of beers. They were… beers. Not the star of the night, but reliable wingmen.

Shoutout to Gretel—after a slightly bumpy first impression (we were eye-contacted but not greeted a couple of times by a few servers), she gave us the warm, funny, top-tier service we didn’t know we needed. Turns out, the staff were just a little busy, and once she got to us, it was like being hosted by a pasta-slinging goddess with jokes.

A few little things: chairs are a bit high (or maybe we’re just short queens?), and there were some little piles of dishes and paperwork around—but honestly? That’s just the background noise of a busy, thriving hospitality space. Nothing that ruined the vibe.

Pro tips for first-timers: – Ask questions. About the cheese, the pasta, the bowls (yes, the unique shaped ones) thank you for that experience. – Choose table service if you can. Human connection over QR codes any day.

Value? Fantastic for a casual, fresh, made-in-front-of-you pasta place.

And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better…

Enter: Pistachio Papi Panna Cotta. (House-made vanilla panna cotta with Pistachio Papi spread, topped with crushed pistachio.)

This thing came out in a bowl the size of a small galaxy—basically a pasta bowl dressed as dessert. It was silky, creamy, nutty, and indecently smooth. I swear, I almost ascended. Every bite was a love letter to my inner child AND my adult cravings.

By the time we hit the bottom of the bowl, the grief was real. Post-traumatic dessert disorder. No exaggeration: better than sex. And yes, I’m in a mood elevation right now just remembering it.

Wowee.

We aren’t local, but next time we’re anywhere near Upper Coomera, we’re coming back for a second date—with the...

I order 2 pasta, one chicken Alfredo and one vegetarian Alfredo which is I strictly gave instruction to the lady who took my order that I don’t need chicken even though I don’t need plant based chicken and Can I replace chicken with anything else and she said yes and showed me few option and I select extra cream something. When I get my order and I opened that I saw there is plant based chicken in my vegetarian pasta. I called them and asked them to replaced. I went there there is Indian chef who was showing me that it is writing something else in the bottom that’s y he add plant based chicken. The lady who took my order saying that she is manager, I have no clue if she is manager or not or she just making up, because rather then handle that situation, she just walk out. She did a mistake or chef did a mistake in Al off that My time & money was wasted. When I left the store whole staff was laughing near to the food counter. I am from Indian background and the chef I think he is Indian too and was so racist with their own country people , he makes the other food like there is no taste at all. I paid for that stuff, and it doesn’t mean I return the food (which is staff and chef mistake) then you guys make taste less food for the replacement. Thank fully I didn’t eat that food other wise I will sue these people. Rubbish attitude. Anyone can read this receipt will confuse one place you can see with No plant based chicken and no chicken and the bottom you can see with plant based chicken. If the lady had any confusion she can asked me that time but these receipt can confuse any other person who is not working there (customer). with the food instruction they should look into more. Because if people give instruction while ordering food they should listen rather than making faces. Because of there stupid attitude any one can suffer serious problem. And chef have to know that if he gave first food takeaway with good presentation and good quantity then how he gave less quantity and without cheese food in the replacement?? So much...

Happy to see this little restaurant has finally opened to add to the chain of restaurants they have popping up everywhere!! We had a choice of seating and due to ordering a taster of a few things required two small tables to fit everything on!!Minutes into settling the floor manager???wanted to take a table from us to accommodate a big party of people even though half the restaurant wasn't open,being used or overly busy!!I said it wasn't really convenient so they made alternative arrangements with the seating..If they were VIP then a table should have been reserved!! We started with cheesy garlic pizza which was lovely..I had Prawn gamberi fettucine,unfortunately I only had a choice of 2 types of pasta but a choice of two sauces!!my daughter had carbonara,all was enjoyed . The prawns were plentiful and a good serve tasting fresh and well cooked!!a bit on the greasy side but otherwise a tasty meal.The carbonara was plentiful a touch saucy but much preferred than stodgy and dry!!drink choices a touch limited but managed to find a likeable rosé (their only one)to compliment my meal.Due to it being very new opening staff were trying very hard to impress which was good to see,except one particular waiter became a bit of a nuisance asking about the meal every 10minutes,a bit over zealous!!all in all will go back again by then I'm sure the menu will be perfected by then. FOOTNOTE:Have recently returned for a late Lunch/Early dinner..We had the Carbonara,Prawn& Spinach with a cream base this time!! I feel it wasn't as good as the first visit ,hopefully the chefs haven't become complacent!!The choices of pasta for the seafood dish,again limited, would go very well with a angel hair or linguine(a fine pasta)..the pasta wasn't al dente at all, very stodgy,the cream quite gluggy and had thickened to a degree it was a touch sickly!! Not my first preference of this lovely little franchise,never the less a decent meal...