Few weeks ago we celebrated Xp’s birthday at ViVetha Bistro in the beaches area of Toronto. We heard about this little gem from our friend, the human Urban Spoon, who always picks the best places to eat both in the GTA and everywhere else.

ViVetha features typical European Bistro menu, designed by executive chef and owner Siva Thambinathan. I for one enjoyed the items on the menu and was having a hard time picking one dish to order. They all sounded so delicious. After much debate at the table we all decided on what we wanted and here are our selections.

Calamari – fried & grilled tender squid rings, served with chipotle aioli… They were so good that I forgot to take a picture of them till we got half way through eating them!

(Left) Seafruit Fusilli – Spaghettini with lobster tail, jumbo scallops, shrimp, leeks, fresh tomato, red onions and a goat cheese vodka cream sauce

(Right) I can’t remember what exactly was the name of this dish but it was following the seafood theme for the night with scallops and shrimps….

Seafood Delight – Linguini with roasted garlic, jumbo sea scallops, shrimp, smoked salmon, spinach & fresh tomatoes in a white wine & lemon sauce (Right) and tomato cream sauce (Left)

The food was freshly made and the portions are generous with just the right amount of pasta, sauce and the “goodies”. It’s a hard job to find the right ratio for these 3 parts and please everyone at the same time, but Chef Siva has managed to do just that.

I can’t wait to go back and try more pasta dishes off the menu, I have my eyes on the Beef Tip Penne with beef sirloin tips, wild mushrooms, red onions, winter mixed greens and a Brandy demi-asiago cream sauce. Thinking about is making me drool…. So if you’re ever in the beaches for a walk by the lake or just because stop by ViVetha and try one of their great dishes!