Viva! is the first authentic Portuguese restaurant in Shanghai, Viva! means "Long live alive, it's good to be alive, long live young!" The name reflects the infinite vitality of the restaurant. Owner André is of Portuguese-Chinese origin who moved to Shanghai in 2007 and co-founded the restaurant with chef Bruno Magro, a restaurant that specializes in fine and authentic Portuguese cuisine. André is committed to taking care of the restaurant himself, and many of his diners have become his friends and repeat customers. At Viva!, diners are more relaxed and free to meet at a friend's house, which is the restaurant's biggest feature besides serving Portuguese cuisine.
Before Viva!, there were a lot of Macanese and Portuguese restaurants in Shanghai, but Portuguese cuisine was not authentic. Since its opening, Viva! has been dedicated to serving authentic Portuguese cuisine without changing its cuisine to cater to local tastes. However, in order to make it easier for locals to understand the dishes more clearly, the menu has been adjusted appropriately. The restaurant serves a variety of seafood, and many of the side dishes are served with coriander. Portuguese cuisine is a fusion of flavors, and the restaurant mainly selects dishes that are spicy, sweet, and less salty, so that more diners can better accept authentic Portuguese dishes.
One of the dishes is the red wine gizzard, which is common in bars in China and Portugal, and is also a must-order dish at Viva!. The gizzard is stewed until tender, and the slightly spicy sauce is very appetizing. It can be eaten with bread and sauce, and the flavor is very mellow, but the taste of red wine is slightly masked. Seafood is an indispensable part of Portuguese restaurants. Stir-fried clams in white wine, because of the coriander, although it is different from the fried clams in white wine in regular Western restaurants, the fresh combination of coriander is very wonderful to cover up the fishy smell of seafood, and it has a unique flavor. Piri Piri prawns, shelled shrimp with smooth flesh and a slightly spicy Portuguese secret sauce, immerse diners in the unique flavor of the refreshing shrimp meat.
Among the main dishes, Portuguese seafood risotto is a signature dish with a high order rate. Unlike the dry rice of the risotto, the Portuguese paella has a plump juice and is served with coriander. The prawns, clams and fragrant rice are braised to a delicious and sweet taste, and the seafood ingredients are very clean, and a dish of rice with plenty of seafood is enough to fill your stomach. Don't miss the restaurant's Portuguese roast chicken, which uses a high-temperature oven to instantly lock in the juices of the chicken, and the freshly baked chicken is charred on the outside and tender on the inside, and the smell of the chicken is enough to make people's mouthwatering aroma.
The chaff pudding in dessert is delicately shaped, and after a feast of seafood and meat, it is perfect for a rich and sweet dessert. The original form is a cream mousse, which is very creamy and richly enriched by a thick layer of Oreo chocolate powder. However, the whole dessert is on the large side, and you will feel a little tired halfway through it, so ordering a glass of wine to moisten your mouth is the perfect finish.
The restaurant is located on the quiet Weihai Road, with a simple and tidy interior, small but exquisite. The restaurants in the evening market have a high seating rate, and most of them are foreigners, and the dining atmosphere is lively and relaxed, and the experience is comfortable. André, the owner, is a little shy but very professional in serving diners. The restaurant serves food quickly, and the timing of withdrawal is relatively good, which shows its low-key carefulness. There are also a few open-air seats in front of the restaurant, so you can sit outdoors on a nice night and enjoy the view of the road in the wind.
