Vivo Restaurant & Bar

Ole! This is South American cuisine par excellence translated into Soho with all the verve and sassy heart that is associated with anything that comes from that great sub-continent, let alone the marvellous food that transcends most known cuisines to create its own freeloading, uplifting spirit.

By successfully being all things to all people through its combination of late night drinking den with tapas bar and grill it attracts from a wide range of London's multicultural population. Sure, it appeals to the group market but that is at the root of every fun loving crowd you ever saw in Latin America, and it makes for easy living, relaxed fun and good eating.

Without doubt the food that attracts the most attention is the tapas and the steaks. These are no ordinary steaks; they hail from South America, they have been hung long enough to give that special flavour, and they come in two sizes with a selection of imaginative sauces.

Tapas, the acceptable face of variety in dishes that blend with conversation and a healthily down to earth attitude to food that stops well short of gourmet, is very much in evidence, but the a la carte still does it for most, with starters of grilled flatbread with humus, roast aubergine and Harissa red pepper salsa.

No hang-ups about vegetarian tucker here, try the veggie empanidatas filled with spinach, pumpkin and cheese and served with sour cream. The non veg version comes with fillet steak, chilli and onion, but still with that wonderful sour cream that tends to find its way into most South American food.

Most companionable of all is the Spanish plate, a fine dish of jamon Serrano, chorizo, salchichon, lomo embuchado, olives, caper berries, manchego, goat's cheese, all served with grilled flatbread, but make sure you secure your share before your companions intervene.

When deciding on your main course take an early look at the Moqueca-Brasilian casserole of king prawns, calamari, mussels, chicken, peppers, tomatoes, and cashew nuts in coconut milk with Moros y Cristianos, a sort of Latin American jambalaya.

Char-grilled romesco marinated chicken breast with crushed new potato and creamed leeks makes an elegant dish, before moving on to desserts of warm pecan pie with cardamom ice cream, or delicious Peruvian dark chocolate mousse with pistachio ice cream.

The customary fiery range of Latin American drinks and cocktails make a welcome addition to the table. Hardly surprising that Vivo translates as energy. Service in common with everything else about this swinging place is bouncy, good natured and cheerfully efficient.

Amongst their attractive offers is the 2 course for £12.50 deal, available 12-7 Monday to Saturday, a very happy hour from 5-8pm Monday to Saturday and house wine at £8.50 from 5-8pm Monday to Saturday.

For further information including up to date deals just click on their Website to open up a whole South America in London scene.