Chi va piano va sano e va lontano is an Italian proverb that translates loosely as "People with a relaxed attitude live a long and healthy life."

It’s the inspiration behind the first Vapiano restaurant, which opened in Hamburg, Germany, seven years ago. Since then, Vapiano has grown into a franchise with restaurants in 16 countries.

Vapiano in downtownWiesbaden is nestled in the heart of the city’s vibrant cultural and shopping scene. With its varied clientele — a mixture of conservative business and family lunchtime patrons and a hip crowd at night — the restaurant has the feel of a New York City place-to-be-seen for both young and old.

Seating in corner booths, at the bar and at large tables — complete with a living tree as the centerpiece — provides the perfect atmosphere for a quick meal or a lingering gathering of friends. The glass-walled restaurant offers views of the city from virtually every spot inside.

"Freshness, transparency and beauty of design are the three things I would say draw people here," said Michael Schlarmann, franchisee of the Wiesbaden Vapiano.

The Vapiano works on a chip card system. Upon entering the restaurant, customers get a card that is used to make purchases at stands offering pizza, pasta, appetizers, desserts, salads and drinks, including a selection of 25 wines. The pizza and pasta bars also offer a special dish every day.

When customers are ready to leave, they hand over their card and pay their tab.

I first visited Vapiano on a bustling weekend night and tried the pesto pasta. Being a pesto sauce fanatic, I was skeptical when I saw the dish was only 5.75 euros. Taking a look at the crowd of customers, I thought perhaps it was the kind of place that was all style and no substance.

I found out how wrong I was. A large heaping of pasta covered with basil pesto, olive oil and pine nuts quickly ended my conversation as I savored the dish.

"Every ingredient on the menu is shipped on a daily basis fresh to the premises," said Schlarmann. "People can even watch as the pasta is prepared ... as they sit at their tables."

I revisited Vapiano for lunch a couple of weeks later and was just as impressed as I sat at the bar and enjoyed a seafood pizza, which was the special of the day.

The only caution is, if you don’t like sitting near, or possibly at, the same table with strangers, you might want to go at non-peak hours, as the restaurant is designed with socializing in mind.

Know a restaurant or entertainment spot you’d like to see reviewed in After Hours? E-mail John Taylor at taylorj@estripes.osd.mil.

Vapiano

Location: Wilhelmstrasse 52 e-f, Wiesbaden, GermanyDirections: From Wiesbaden Army Airfield, take the ramp onto B455, then bear left onto B54 near the commissary. Bear right onto Frankfurterstrasse then right onto Wilhelmstrasse. Vapiano is on the left, near the Kurhaus in downtown Wiesbaden. There is limited street parking available behind the restaurant and parking garages nearby.Hours: 11:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. (or longer if busy) Friday and Saturday.Food: ItalianPrices: Pizzas range from 5.75 euros to 8.75 euros; pasta dishes range from 5.75 euros to 8.75 euros.English-language menu: No, but English translations available upon request.Clientele: Mostly German.Dress: Come as you are.Phone: (+49) (0)611-160-8773Web site:www.vapiano.com(Web site in multiple languages, including English)

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