Vivo

Vivo is a vibrant, Italian restaurant, café, pizzeria and bar at the heart of Upper Street, Angel, Islington. Find out more…

Italian Bar & Restaurant on Upper Street, Islington | Vivo

http://www.vivotaste.com

Reviews and related sites

Vivo Bar Restaurant, Soho, London Restaurant Review

Review analysis
value   food   drinks   ambience   menu  

Situated conveniently just off Oxford Street, Vivo has two personalities - upstairs its all about dining in a relaxed atmosphere whilst downstairs is an atmospheric cocktail bar complete with music and dancing till late.

Throughout there is a bone fide Latin American atmosphere, from the Brazilian waitress to the punchy cocktail list.

As this was definitely a place to drink cocktails I began with a Classic Caipirihna which is served sour with a hint of sweetness and plenty of lime - I could have drank several they were so easy to knock back.

We were in the mood for snacky food so Tapas seemed the perfect choice to nibble on with our cocktails.

To finish we shared a rich and moreish pecan pie with cardamom ice cream from a choice of four desserts which were predominately South American influenced including a Peruvian dark chocolate mousse with pistachio ice cream and Crème catalana - a sort of Latin Crème Brule.

Vivo Taste Review, Islington: Eat Here | About Time Magazine

Review analysis
food   staff  

Introducing: VIVO Taste, the latest opening to join a densely concentrated cluster of great restaurants in Islington.

Amidst all the competition, VIVO Taste has sprung up – offering regional, Italian cuisine and its owners certainly aren’t daunted by the task at hand: “Competition is great for us,” says co-owner Ben, “it makes us better and stronger”.

Italian black rice (al dente, of course) is used in the lunchtime favourite, the Salmon and Venere black rice salad, which encapsulates the taste of spring – deliciously soft pink fish covers a bed of squid-ink black rice, with roasted tomatoes and fresh rocket finishing off a simple, winning dish, which is perfect for sharing.

The cosiness of the place encourages some friendly mingling, whether you’re tucking into slices of velvety-rich Buffalo mozzarella and juicy Sicilian tomatoes from the salad Caprese, or tackling a antipasti platter with generous layers of prosciutto and mortadella tucked inside a plethora of creamy Italian cheeses and hearty green olives.

Beating Wahaca (who now sulk from a few doors down) to the premise and building a whole new roof terrace, Will and Ben have injected the Italian eatery with its own air of flair and panache.

Vivo, 57-58 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0NY - Italian ...

Review analysis
drinks  

Cute place and the food looks good, so the potential for something great is there.

I ordered a slice of pizza, a glass of wine and a bottle of beer.

The pizza came quickly enough, but i had to go the bar with a receipt for the drinks.

It literally took 10 minutes to get a bottle of beer and a glass of wine.

This place needs to find competent staff at least until others are trained.

Vivo, Angel & Islington

Vivo knows that in Islington there’s a demographic balancing act.

In the daytime Upper Street is jammed with the designer buggies and Boden mums, but in the evening stressed out workers need relief in the form of buckets of wine and carbs.

Happily Vivo performs day and night.

The granite counter is heaving with salads like wild rice and smoked salmon and baroquely decorated Italian cakes, all very yummy for mummy.

As night falls you can either take a seat on the high counters or head up to their secret roof terrace - complete with a roof for not-so-Italian rain and munch thick and spongy pizza al taglio (by the slice) made with authentic ingredients like spicey nduja sausage and organic flour, washed down with an Aperol spritz, or that bucket of wine.

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