Make your trip to the mall complete with a delicious meal from Vivante
A fairly recent addition to Cavendish Square, Vivante has taken up residence at a familiar spot in the mall – where JB Rivers used to be. Despite the several restaurants that have come and gone in this spot, Vivante makes it its own; the stylish yet understated decor and the wonderful smells wafting out make the restaurant particularly inviting.
I visited for lunch on a busy Saturday; after a long morning of trawling the mall and crossing off things on my to-do list, a hearty meal is just what I needed. My partner and I sat in the “outside” section: the cordoned-off area that’s in the middle of the mall’s walkway. While Cavendish was quite lively, I still felt fairly private in this open area, the position providing a great opportunity for people-watching.
I started my meal with a cafe latte, which came on an attractive, wooden, Vivante-branded board, complete with an impression for the long teaspoon that comes with it. The menu was also quite appealing, the pages encased in a soft brown leather cover. I really like these details and I find that these are the things that, aside from the food, make a restaurant memorable.
I had a tough time choosing my meal as there were so many options. The newly launched menu is very eclectic, offering everything from burgers to flatbreads, sushi and classic Mexican dishes. After much deliberation, I settled on The Ultimate Sandwich: a closed sandwich with 150g rump steak, mixed cheese, onion marmalade, grilled peppers, mustard mayo and rocket. I chose sourdough bread and the hand-cut chips over the side salad. My partner went for the Juicy Vivante Burger: 200g pure beef mince patty with rocket, onion marmalade, fresh tomato and lettuce. Naturally, she also opted for the chips. We were not disappointed; both meals lived up to their names – the meat was tasty, succulent and cooked well. We both cleared our boards and felt pleasantly satisfied, although the cake display table was very tempting.
Vivante is the perfect place to refuel after a day of running errands, or to have a bite to eat before going to see a movie. Either way, Vivante deserves a visit – it may be difficult to settle on just one meal to eat, but there’s always next time.
Trading hours are 8am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 8am to 5pm on Sundays.
Vivante
021 671 7116
Words: Molly Fitz-Patrick | Images: Supplied
