Cafe Viva

Gourmet vegetarian pizzas & pastas / $

2578 Broadway between W. 97th-98th Sts.
1, 2, 3 trains to 96th & Broadway
(212) 663-VIVA (-8482)

Mon-Sat 11:30 AM-11 PM, Sun noon-11 PM
Limited seating, counter service
Takeout & delivery available
Visa, MC, AmEx

Viva's varied and unusual pizzas bring us back time after time. Crusts include whole wheat, corn meal, and spelt (wheat-free). Viva gives picky eaters a variety of ways to avoid what they'd rather not have on a pizza: You can get a thick Silician slice with no cheese, a tomato, mozzarella, and garlic slice with no sauce, and everything is meat-free—Viva substitutes various kinds of tofu. But if you just want a standard mozzarella cheese pizza, you'll get an extremely good one. Pasta dishes are equally varied and good. Specials change from day to day—check out the garlic-laced Viva Special. Calzones, sandwiches, and fresh salads with a nice balsam vinagraitte are available. The garlic bread is good but the toasted rosemary focaccia is even better. Viva does most of its business via takeout, but there are a few self-serve tables, and we've spent many happy hours at them.

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