Viva La Vietnamese

Viva Restaurant has always rated highly on Urbanspoon's top Vietnamese. Vietnamese cuisine, specifically pho, is my dictionary definition of winter soul food. Thus after a few particularly grueling days of work it was an easy pick for my daily search for sustenance. As we approach the holidays I cannot help but get lopped up in the holiday spirit. Everyday in clinic brings a new bundle of fatty and refreshing goodies. Every night usually means a fun place to try or an older friend to catch up with. It truly is refreshing to see and work with such amazing colleagues and have such incredible friends.

Viva Restaurant lies within a few minutes drive of the Health Sciences Center. Residing on Sargent Street, the neon sign is not difficult to miss. The restaurant itself is inside a small professional complex with a few office buildings. Brightly lit, sparsely decorated, it exudes a certain class and elegance. Like its namesake, the restaurant has a certain life inside it: a cacophony of noise, a rush of brilliant aromas, the wondrous smile from the shop owners. Smiling to myself, this was going to be a good meal.

Viva has a nicely decorated menu featuring the staples of Vietnamese cuisine. I have always thought that the hallmark of a good Vietnamese restaurant lies within their broth and pho. To put it into context, the recipe for ones' pho broth is often a well kept family secret. Being the base of almost all of their soups it becomes crucial to do ones' broth correctly, and Viva's does a fine job.

The Rare Beef and Beef Ball Rice Noodle Soup (pho) was well done. Flavourful and deep, the broth brought together the entire dish. Thinly sliced beef and spongy beef balls, Viva does not disappoint in their serving size nor the amount of ingredients. The bean sprouts could have been a little fresher and a touch more cilantro could be used to spruce up the savoury-ness of the dish, but overall this was a mean bowl of pho.

I went off map a little today and got the Sizzling Spicy Beef & Onions. Served on a hot plate, this dish featured tender slices of beef mixed in a spicy marinate fried with onions and peppers. The serving size was a bit small but the dish rocked in umami flavour. Featuring spicy, sweet and a hint of bitterness, the fatty slices of beef contrasted well with the sharp vegetables. Make sure you eat this with a bowl of rice (included).

Viva Restaurant does not disappoint for quality pho in Winnipeg. Good for those in the area of the hospital or on Sargent it should be included for anyone with some Vietnamese cravings.