Vegan
Organic
Raw
Western
Buffet
Juice bar
British
Re-opened Nov 2013 after brief closure. May also use the name Vantra. Vegan organic cafe offering a buffet of salads and hot dishes, or choose from the extensive menu. Vegetarian, vegan, and raw food. They now charge by weight of food taken from buffet. Moved from 74 Wardour St, Soho. Note: Vitao London has now teamed up with Vantra London. Reported closed Nov 2017.
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Last update on 05 Nov 2017 by Meaks
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149 Reviews
First Review by chaval
BecksterBoo
Points +112
Vantra Visits - Edit
I have been back to this restaurant quite a few times.
Read moreOk so I am not a Buffet Fan so we always go at the times that you can order off the menu (check this as there are buffet only times). This is the only 'con' I have put down as if you go at the wrong time you can only eat the buffet unless they have changed.
We have always ordered Raw foods and have had lovely meals with fantastic drinks to accompany them.
We have had some really lovely times, some better than others.
Pros: Friendly, Good Food, Interesting Drinks
Cons: Sometimes only Buffet Service
Guest
JohnS
Points +52
heavenly - Edit
Kind, patient and very friendly staff. The food is out of this world! So delicious. On our way out we got a takeaway for tonight's dinner : )
Read moreGuest
SG213
Points +820
Good, but buffet food could be better - Edit
The location of this place is quite central, just a short distance from Tottenham Court rd. tube station.
Read moreThe vegan buffet selection wasn't too bad, but I felt it lacked something like tofu or seitan, there was perhaps a little too much emphasis for my taste on vegetable dishes instead of pulses or anything cooked with oil like falafel.
Maybe it was just the selection available on the day, but given that it doesn't advertise as exclusively raw, I was hoping for a little more variety in preparation style.
The serving setup felt confusing. You could either go for the buffet and pay by weight (but may be a flat price at times?), or order from the set menu. But if you served yourself from the buffet, you still get served the bill at the end by the waiting staff, which might leave some feeling a bit short-changed if they feel compelled to tip for minimal service.
Having said all that, the food was reasonably tasty, and it did indeed feel quite healthy. I would go back here to try the desserts and set menu dishes to get a better idea of the place.
Also, why not label the dressings instead of having the cashier explain each time?
It would also benefit from more clearly explaining the different charging/serving regimes.
Pros: Good location, Offers both buffet and set menu
Cons: Buffet dishes hit and miss, Confusing table service system, Not much cheaper than Tibits
Guest
HappyKau
Points +29
the best vegan restaurant I have ever been to - Edit
I go there often when I visit London. Defenitely the best vegan restaurant I have ever been to- healthy, tasty, even with no onion and garlic, which suits me. Also no sugar, no fried stuff, no white flour...
Read moreThe price is OK, considering good quality of food and very good central location. They don't have all the same dishes everyday, which is nice- some variety is also attractive.
Pros: tasty, good price, healthy
Guest
Adriana Greif
Points +32
Restaurant with an excellent atmosphere - Edit
It's a very nice restaurant, with a good atmosphere!
Read moreThe food is really good and tasty!
We do recommend!
Guest
missmanda
Points +119
Cozy vegan refuge on busy oxford street - Edit
This place is a small but comfortable tribal themed restaurant with a great vegan buffet and raw desserts and juices. The buffet offers a delicious selection of choices, from more western options like mashed potatoes and gravy to Asian or Indian options like curries. Everything is warm, rich and soulful and suits whatever you are in the mood for. A great place to stop for a bite to eat after a busy day of shopping!
Read morePros: variety of options, raw desserts and juices, cozy decor
Cons: not a lot of seating, only buffet available for most of the day
Guest
tomeri.or
Points +44
Good - Edit
We had the lunch buffet, varied options, good food.
Read moreGuest
NickWalker
Points +41
Very diverse vegan buffet - Edit
I visited Vantra 3 or 4 times when I was in London. It's a great spot because you can really go there anytime - the buffet style works for a snack, a big lunch, or dinner. Entering into the restaurant feels like ducking into a little corner of a forest - the ambience is great and the chairs are all made of tree stumps (very comfortable but heavy).
Read moreThere's a whole array of dishes set along the counter, freshly made. All of them are vegan, and have lables to let you know what's in them. If you go to Vantra before 6 pm, you pay a flat rate to get a small or large box with which you can pile in the healthy delights. After 6pm they have a wider selection on the menu, and the buffet dinners end up being pay by weight (which costs more generally). It's 7 pounds for a large box, which was always what I wanted.
The food is tasty and varied, with lots of cool spices and tons of vegetables, varying from colder potato mixes to spicy middle eastern chick peas and roasted veggies to spinach salads. All of it mixes together really well.
On top of that there are a large selection of drinks (the kombucha was very nice) and desserts. Defnitely reccomend the visit!
Pros: Huge selection, Tasty and varied, Nice atmosphere
Cons: A little chilly (open-air)
Guest
LinaBrooks
Points +442
Great place to eat - Edit
Central easy to get, not keen on the interior and it gets pretty busy but cosy environment nevertheless. Love the paying per food weight , unique idea and gives freedom to pick anything. I find some food it's too flavours I prefer simpler things but that's just me. I am all a bit high carb low fat, indication to fat level would be useful
Read moreAll in all I think it's a great place to eat and easy to get to
Pros: Tasty food , Central, organic food
Cons: interior / crowded place , some food has too much flavour
Guest
thisplaceisheaven
Points +154
Average - Edit
I'm surprised about all those superpositive reviews about this place. It is really average.
Read moreThere is a buffet so you can choose how much you can and try every option. But out of 10 I liked only 2, the rest was just not tasty at all. The prices might be little bit lower too.
Plus for location and healthy approach.
I won't visit it again soon.
Pros: location, healthy food, all vegan
Cons: not very tasty food, prices, crowded
Guest
Marianne1967
Points +2022
Great place to eat between shopping :-) - Edit
The location of the restaurant is just opposite Primarks, this will help people to find it because Oxford Street is very long and streetnumbers are not commonly mentioned. It is a small long place and very nice decorated with a very friendly atmosphere. Everything is vegan and glutenfree which is very impressive I think. I loved the things I tried and yes they are a bit expensive but hé they are on a very expensive location too! I am very glad with this location on the high street and will come back as soon as I am in the neighborhood!
Read morePros: excellent food, good value, friendly staff
Cons: not much seats
Guest
Kyttiara
Points +1160
Pricey but SO good! - Edit
We went there on our last night in London and I wasn't disappointed at all.
Read moreThe Menu is clearly explained, but careful, they don't always have everything. My advice? If there is a buffet, go for it! It's a pay-by-weight selfservice, pretty expensive but SO DAMN GOOD! Everything was vegan and almost everything was glutenfree. I ate so much I couldn't budge anymore!! The food is absolutely divinely cooked. Just go for it!!!
Plus: On the menu: you have lots of allergies description and they explain very well the concept etc. love it!
Pros: raw food, GF, great care of allergies, food is perfectly cooked (indian side), great loc
Cons: expensive
Guest
Anyaaa
Points +60
Vantra Vitao - Edit
Out of all the restaurants, we liked Vantra Vitao best. The food selection is awesome and you can mix different foods on your plate, so I tried almost everything and I couldn`t believe that every dish had so much taste in it, it was amazing. I could eat there every day. They also have a lot of treats (mostly raw) and different smoothies and juices. Also the ambience was very pleasant.
Read morePros: Inexpensive , very tasty food
Guest
szeevster
Points +40
Vantra Vitao - ultimate healthy - Edit
Looking for raw, non-gluten, organic, no sugar added, no night shades, no GMO, etc etc etc? Vantra Vitao is for you. Not all the offerings meet all of these criteria, but all are vegan, organic and healthy. Oh, they are also quite flavorful. Vantra has a primo location on Oxford St in the West End part of central London. The tables are not immediately visible from the street, but once inside, the decor is stylish and attractive, the ambience pleasant with interesting to excellent. Food is purchased both traditionally via menu and server or via a buffet by weight. We chose the former and ordered one main course called Oasis which featured a wrap made from flax and sesame seeds and avocado, surrounding diced cucumbers, squash humous and brazil nut falafel. I also ordered steamed rice, which I flavored with their 'sauces' provided free if requested. These were highly seasoned olive oil with black beans, lemon or red pepper. My partner ordered Super Green something or other, consisting of zuchini halves atop green beans and stuffed with a basil sauce and covered by broccoli, asparagus and a few black beans. Both meals were quite good. Portions are appropriate. Not overly large or insufficient. The main dishes were each about 13 GBP. I also ordered a smoothie made from orange, ginger and other things which was a bit disappointing, I must admit. Our server, a 20-something local woman of Indian descent was helpful without hovering., and others there were extremely nice and helpful as well - I arrived in a wheelchair and with their help, I managed well.
Read morePros: Healthy food for every need, Imaginative offerings, Great location, great staff
Cons: A bit pricey, Good not great flavors
Guest
vegan_mum
Points +305
wonderful perfectly spiced vegan buffet & takeaway - Edit
A mere two minutes' walk from Tottenham Court tube station, this mellow little restaurant has terrific organic vegan food for fair prices. (They even show you a comparison of their prices vs local competitors including Ottolenghi and Tibits, and they cost the least at £1.80 for 100g of delicious food.) We got the huge metal plates and filled them up, then paid by weight (mine was £10). I loved everything. The mashed potatoes had a lovely horseradish flavor without being overly spicy. Other flavors included saffron and cardamom. Excellent lentils and chickpeas. The salad was very lightly dressed. We splurged on a raw almond block which was dense and chocolatey with lucuma, coconut and carob. Friendly staff.
Read morePros: Vegan, Delicious, Fair prices
Guest
Tiggy
Points +13690
Ethical food, decent buffet and nice smoothies - Edit
My partner and I have been here a couple of times during our London visit, once for a quick snack and once for lunch with a local friend. I think the buffet is good for the price. I had the chance to sample a good number that looked appetising: mushroom and radish stroganoff, red pepper moussaka, chickpea curry, and a couple of other spicy dishes. Some were better than others but all OK for a buffet. I tried the Berry Blue smoothie (£2) and it was rich and fruity with plenty of body and so I had it again when I went back. The counter area is a bit of a bottleneck and can get a little cramped if there are other people queuing. The ethical and environmental practices espoused by this place are another attractive quality that would make this a regular spot for me.
Read morePros: Vegan and ethical, Delicious smoothies
Cons: Cramped around counter when ordering
Guest
nojvegan
Points +82
happy vegan - Edit
We arrived a bit late in London and weren't sure exactly where the place was. I thought it would be off |Oxford St. but it is right bank on Oxford St. (Tottenham Ct. rd. end) so saw it from the bus. Very dark and no open sign so we thought it was closed but tried door and it was open (about 10:30pm.) Had a nice meal , Friendly unobtrusive staff. Menu a bit of a muddle. No idea what I ate but was delicious and filling as was the other party.
Read moreWill go again . Believe they are expanding.
Pros: great location, staf helpful (water topped up), Yummy
Guest
thetofutravellers
Points +4427
Very good restaurant - Edit
The all vegan buffet consisted of several salads, vegetable mixes, baked and fried food, mushrooms and several sauces, a lot of it Asian meals from different countries. I must say, though, that I liked several kinds a lot and others not so much - some of it was a little tasteless. However, I really liked the style of the interior.
Read moreI think it is a bit expensive, but considering that a lot of it is raw food, it's justified.
Pros: All vegan buffet, Great interior, Raw food
Cons: Maybe a bit expensive
Guest
Ajolote
Points +1331
it is now called "Vantra" and relocated - Edit
This place is right next to the Tottenham Court Rd Underground. If you are planning to have dinner here, make a reservation or arrive before 6 pm. Cash only!
Read moreThe lunch buffet has a large variety of foods and dinner is a la carte unless they have leftovers from the lunch buffet. I ordered the raw nachos - three little scoops of of toppings (one guacamole, one tomato and one pineapple). The green chips were tasty and the topics were ok, but I was expecting something cheesy. I mean, they are nachos after all!
The lassies are made with coconut milk. The Wow Cacao is delicious and it tastes like dessert.
I ordered this fabulous raw dish called Oasis of the Sahara (I think). It is like three raw tacos. Yum!
Prices are decent for what you get - remember that raw food is always on the pricey side.
In an area with so many restaurant choices, they must be doing something right because they are always crowded.
Guest
Ezekiel
Points +40
Perhaps might've been different? - Edit
This is one of the few London restaurants which offers raw cooking, and this was the reason why, on our recent visit, we planned to visit the said restaurant. A table was duly reserved a few weeks in advance.
Read moreWhen we arrived, we were shown to what looked like a first available table. After we have studied the menus for a little while, we were informed that nothing from a la carte menu was available, and we could only have what was on offer in the buffet (which was not raw). As described elsewhere, you collect your own plate and pay by weight.
Something to keep in mind for your visit:
1) you have to pay cash, which is not a huge problem since there's a cash point just across the road
2) reserving a table doesn't seem to make a difference (e.g. guarantee a table)
3) if you are looking for a raw food dinner, make sure it is served on the night
Pros: Location, It's all vegan!
Cons: Disinterested stuff, Not a very nice atmosphere, Pricey side of moderate
Guest
elrujo
Points +236
GO THERE BEFORE U DIE - Edit
This is it!!!I mean this is the vegan place to go!!!
Read moreAmazing tasty and nutritious food.
Also great atmosphere and interior design.
This place is under my top 3 vegan places in Europe.
Go there you will love it.
Pros: amazing tasty and nutritious food, great relaxed vibe
Cons: variety can be bigger, sisters & brothers vitao have to exist
Guest
Nikki1801
Points +963
Vantra/Vitao - Edit
Unless I am wildly off the mark here (as no one else has mentioned it) Vitao is now called Vantra where two restaurants merged and moved into one place on oxford street. It is a couple of doors down from Tottenham Court tube station.
Read moreIt's a nice little place- cosy (if a little too cramped) and the buffet was pretty decent. Boyfriend got an iced coffee which was nice, and the staff seemed friendly even though it was busy lunch rush hour.
Downsides- the layout unfortunately does this place no favours.
The queue was out the door and we nearly left, when in fact there were plenty of free seats at the back, but due to the layout the front door is totally blocked by people paying for their food, and is a logistical nightmare. And they've put polished tiles on the floor- I slipped and nearly busted my neck. Having designed bathrooms for a living, I know polished floors is a foolish design error,especially in spaces like that with liquids.
Anyway, I'd go back and try some other stuff like juices and cakes etc because i'm not a massive buffet fan (and this one isn't cheap). I'd only go back if it was a quiet time of day too as I got knocked by people's bags on the head a few times whilst eating!
Pros: interior design (except flooring), friendly staff
Cons: cramped space, terrible layout, unsafe flooring
Guest
Tasha1993
Points +74
lovely - Edit
The set out is really nice and has
Read morea nice atmosphere. The chocolate raspberry cake was devine and so was my smoothie.
Guest
JonJon
Points +20452
Give it a try for their exotism - Edit
Vitao offers an exotic food with a lots of flavour and spices. The food is of good quality but their buffet is not offered ad libitum which is relatively frustrating considering the price paid for only one plate. However their juices are good and fresh and the atmosphere is nice. Overall, this restaurant is relatively fair but not exceptionnal in comparison of others vegan/vegetarian restaurants of the area.
Read morePros: nice flavours, pleasant atmosphere
Cons: a bit pricey for the portion size, limited buffet
Guest
Obsessed
Points +41
Good Spot - Edit
The food is pretty good, and if you spend at least £10 you get a free drink or soup. It's mostly a serve yourself style place but they have drinks to be made as well. It's per 100mg of food so I suggest bringing £20 if you go big, just to be sure you have enough. Nice restaurant setting, though some of the tables are a bit close together for comfort.. I kept knocking into tables going to/fro.
Read moreGuest
robz
Points +514
Highly recommended for consciously created food - Edit
I marked Winter Solstice with a visit to Vantra Vitao, at their new location on Oxford Street.
Read moreThe new venue looks great, feeling like a wooded glade hideaway from the hustle and bustle of London's busiest street, and a bit bigger than their previous cafe in Soho, but with the same relaxed atmosphere.
The food format is the same, buffet on display for you to choose from and load onto your plate, but this time you pay by weight, rather than by plate size. There is a wide choice, with cooked and raw dishes, all expertly prepared, organic where possible but with no soya, no sugar, no harmful fats, but still full of taste, thanks to the owners extensive research into cooking techniques and ingredients. Some of the dishes are spicy, some are spice free, the staff can advise if you are unsure.
Those in the know would seen out their a la carte menu for another level of healthy innovation, but sadly, they are not quite ready to resume this service yet at their new venue (they've only been there 3 weeks) - but it should be in place soon after Christmas, along with some new offerings such as healthy wraps as an alternative to the buffet.
However, they did have a selection of their raw desserts, two raw "cheese" cakes and two raw chocolate cakes. And they still have a mind-boggling choice of drinks, hot, cold, nut mylk based, or fruit based, including "vocktails" - alcohol free mixes of healthy and exotic ingredients.
So, I opted for a buffet mix, a rich raw cacao dessert and a "Virgin Orjasm" vocktail on recommendation of the staff - a jasmine-based concoction that is cheekily meant to remind you of "that first-time excitement, in a drink". This came to just under £15, which when you consider the organic ingredients, the careful preparation, and, as it turns out, the amazing taste sensations, I thought this was good value.
The buffet was as I expected from previous visits, each selection taste-full and often with subtle flavours that keep you guessing as to the ingredients.
The raw cacao dessert was satisfyingly rich and sweet despite not containing any processed sugar, and served with a of portion of mixed berries in juice.
But for me the real star was the vocktail! I would normally have chosen a dark berry based drink, but was so glad I went with their recommendation. It really danced on my tongue with an exquisite mix of exotic flavours, better than any "real" cocktail I have tasted, despite me being a buff in a previous life. And this one was healthy
Pros: Friendly and relaxed, A pinnacle of healthy vegan food
Cons: I can't visit everyday
Guest
saramarshall
Points +397
Delicious! - Edit
One of the best vegan buffets I have seen including 15-20 dishes to choose from: Thai red curry, creamy mushrooms, chickpea & tomato stew, dahl, noodles, broccoli, carrot salad, potato salad, rice, pumpkin, and every dish I tried tasted amazing and obviously had high quality ingredients. The only bad thing is you pay by weight so it can turn out pretty expensive and the heaviest foods aren't always the most expensive to put together. They have a huge menu of different juices and mocktails, one of which comes in a coconut shell. They have a cabinet of raw desserts. I tried the chocolate & raspberry cream pie. Delicious.
Read morePros: Food, Variety, Ingredients
Cons: Expensive
Guest
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