Viva Pasta - IKEA Meets Organic Goodness

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't get overly excited about good finds, building them up and overselling them to the point that there's no way they could meet expectations.

Oh wait, yes I do. Just ask my BFF Michael, who had to hear for months leading up to Christmas 2001 about how great his Christmas present was. (For the record, it was totally faboo that year: ylang ylang candles from Bath & Body Works. The reason they were perfect? For the third year running, that summer we'd attended our annual taping of "Will & Grace" in Hell-Ay, and in that ep Jack gave Grace a present, to which he said, "It's ylang ylang, yalike yalike?")

So yeah, I could possibly be accused of overhyping things just a smidge. In my defense, though, I usually deliver on the hype (see my rave on Little Britain - I dare you to watch that show and not love it.)

Which is why, with great fanfare, I hereby declare that Viva Pasta, located at 600 University Ave. in Hillcrest (between 6th & 7th Ave.), is the

Best. Thing. Ever.


The sign advertising "organic" caught my eye, so a friend and I entered this fast-casual eatery this afternoon after tooling around downtown San Diego. I should note that ever since we got back to San Diego, we've been incorporating a lot more organic food into our diet. I've noticed many more restaurants advertising it as well, which is exciting for us. Viva Pasta didn't disappoint.

For $6.95, you get your meal and an iced tea (chai or jasmine was today's choice). Upon entering, there's a table with laminated order cards (brilliantly reusable!) and you:

• Pick the base meal: pasta, salad, or a sandwich (which comes with a side salad).
• Customize the base as you see fit, which means pick your pasta and sauce, choose your bread and filling, or tell them what kind of salad you want.
• Add one of seven or so proteins as you see fit (they're cool and will let you do half and half if you're like me and couldn't choose between the turkey meatballs and the rosemary chicken).
• Add unlimited veggies and/or fruit (as appropriate).
• Pay, then wait the short time for your meal to be delivered to your table!
  

The whimsical dining room is a pleasant study in IKEA meets Jamba Juice, and there were signs reminding you that a portion of the cost of your meal supports children and education through their ViVA Foundation. I tried the flavorful chicken curry salad baguette and the whole wheat pasta with turkey meatballs and chicken. I ate half of each and brought the rest home for my husband. My friend got one of the salads and pretty much licked her bowl clean.

The staff was personable, the food delicious, and the atmosphere spot-on. The portions are large for the price, and we both left pleasantly full (as opposed to what I call "fat cow full" - you know, so full that you want to explode and have to undo a button on the way home).

I highly recommend taking the drive to Hillcrest to enjoy the inexpensive organic goodness of Viva Pasta.