Vegan food makes ya peppy! Or, at least, that’s the conclusion I was coming to as I watched a couple of extra-energetic vegan dancers poppin’ to some dub step at yesterday’s launch of the new Vantra Vitao restaurant on Oxford Street. I had a great time at the launch – and sampled some delicious food and drink. I’m more than happy to recommend a visit to this relaxed and health conscious restaurant just down the street (but seemingly a world away) from the calamitous Tottenham Court Road Tube station.
Even a cursory view of this blog immediately ought to reveal that my diet is hardly vegan. Still, when food is tasty, it’s tasty. And if it’s actually really healthy to boot, well then so much the better! Such is the case at the newly opened Vantra Vitao on Oxford Street (yes, the same veggie-friendly eatery that used to be on Soho Street). The “vocktails” that I sampled were excellent. There was a coconutty shake that really did it for me, and I especially liked the bar’s most popular drink, the cold pressed Green Juice. And man did I feel a fantastic boost after having a glassful of that. There’s a variety of organic spirits, wines and beers too (I didn’t try any). Food wise, I enjoyed everything I tasted, In particular, I loved the live-sprouted buckwheat pizza with tomato sauce. I was invited only to sample a la carte items, but the restaurant’s buffet bar looked like a pretty scrumptious option too.
Despite the glare emitted from the Primark discount department store across the street, visiting Vantra felt like I’d taken an impromptu excursion out of town. A little too hippie for my usual taste (there was someone “playing” a rain stick and much talk of Lord Buddha from one of the performers entertaining the launch party guests), I nonetheless found Vantra to be a welcome retreat – and one I’ll keep in mind when I need a quick escape from the Zone 1 hustle. Folks (staff and guests) were friendly and seemed pleased to be there. Whatever your dietary persuasion or how much you love eating animal flesh, you’ve gotta give it up for an independently owned restaurant making a go of it on a thoroughfare lined with just about every high street brand you can imagine. Go Vantra go!
Vantra Vitao is located at 25-27 Oxford Street, W1D 2DW. Find out more at vitao.co.uk.
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