08/09/09

Not what it used to be

by AnonII

I first tried Vespa in 2006. Perfect pasta, heavenly asparagus, lovely presentation, pleasant wait staff. By perfect pasta, I mean that the bite and flavor were perfect, the cream sauce delicate, the 4 or 5 stalks of asparagus perfectly cut and arrayed and shining with flavor, fresh peas. I was impressed and I loved it.

I tried Vespa again in 2009. Pasta was smothered. The plate looked like a heap of garbage. It appeared that the cream sauce had just started to break. My fellow diner's ravioli stuck in the teeth. The desserts (tiramisu and chocolate semifreddo) were scooped out of pans and slapped onto the plates with lakes and globs of sauces that overpowered the desserts themselves. The ladyfingers in the tiramisu were over-soaked in a tasteless coffee syrup. The filling was not grainy but lacked flavor and richness. Between 2006 and 2009 I had stopped into Vespa with friends just for dessert. We had profiteroles - they were good but the pastry cream was still frozen inside.

I had a cappuccino. I thought surely in an Italian restaurant.... Cappuccino should be 1/3 coffee, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 bubbly, frothy foam. This cappuccino was lukewarm, probably 2/3 milk and there was a film of spent foam on top. Even if what I was served was a poorly made latte, the size of the cup suggested that they meant to make a cappuccino.

I feel that I can give an informed review as I have been to culinary school for baking and pastry and have worked in a top-notch coffee shop in a metropolitan city. I can't help but feel insulted by Vespa. I will not go there again. I will be going to Italy in a few weeks from now. I know that once I've been there, my 2009 experience at Vespa will appear to be all the more pathetic.

• Pros: Pasta itself is good, great atmosphere
• Cons: Presentation, cappuccino, desserts

11/16/08

Recommended for atmosphere (romantic) but not the service (pushy) or the food (below average at best).

by steeveo

I've lived in Chapel Hill for over 20 years so I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about the local restaurant scene. My recent experience at Vespa confirmed what I have always felt about the restaurant, and what I have heard others mention as well; that the staff seem somewhat pushy to get you in and then get you out, and that the food itself was not very good.

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Let me preface by saying that my date and I were one of three groups of people seated in the restaurant at about 6:15. Our waiter was great, but when we were given the wine list another manager-type person came over and offered to help us out on our wine selection. He repeatedly told us that they were "out" of many of the items on the per-glass menu and I felt he was a little pushy trying to get us to purchase a bottle. They only had two types of wine from italy by the glass, in an italian restaurant?

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The bread arrived and it was cold, dry, and not tasty whatsoever. Not a big deal, I suppose.

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Then the food arrived; I got the Gnocchi and my date got the Fetuccini Primavera. Mine was almost cold, heavy, and almost tasteless. My date's meal was better (she said she liked it) but I personally thought she was being polite (I thought it was average at best). I didn't think it was worth the price we paid by any means.

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I recommend Vespa for the atmosphere (romantic) but definitely NOT the service (pushy) or the food (below average).

• Pros: Atmosphere, parking
• Cons: Pushy and rude service, tasteless food

09/15/08

Al Dente Pasta!!

by domokun

This is the only reasonably-priced restaurant in the area where I can find the pasta cooked just right at

al dente!! A friend of my recommended this restaurant as one of her Italian friends' favorites.

However, their outdoor dining space is not the best as it's almost on the sidewalk or in the parking lot.

• Pros: Food, Price
• Cons: Outdoor dining area