Please note, Vitao has moved location since this review was written. Time Out Food editors, November 2017.
Punchy, multi-ethnic flavours jostle for attention at this bustling vegan buffet restaurant where the food is fresh and the dishes selection changes daily. Think soups, stews and stroganoffs, grilled vegetables and fresh, zesty salads. There are also fruity smoothies, teas and an appealing range of dairy-free desserts.
Taste-wise it can become a bit confusing if you try to dip into as many dishes as possible, but it soon becomes a game to pick out the flavours from one another. With too many dishes on a plate, cinnamon rubs up against pomegranate, and cumin does battle with lemongrass and coriander. There's more than just a nod to the vegetarian cooking of the past—most of these recipes have been around since at least the 1970s. But there are enough enticing choices to keep things interesting, such as a refreshing dairy-free cheesecake made from mango, coconut and cashew.
Service one our visits has been slightly shambolic, the smiling staff seemingly surprised by the arrival of hungry customers. The pricing is by weight— £1.80 per hundred grams. So although this can be a cheap lunchtime option, loading up your large steel thali plate, all-you-can-eat style, can send the price spiralling up towards the £20 mark (and it's cash-only).
It’s not the most innovative place around, but Vantra Vitao provides a fun, healthy escape from the lunchtime rush of Oxford Street.