Although Viva Herbal Pizza is located far downtown in the Village, it is admittedly worth the subway ride due to its varied menu and delicious ingredients. (Photo by Allegra Howard/The Ram)
Viva Herbals Pizzeria is a downright unattractive hole-in-the-wall. The walls are a sickly yellow, the green painted floors are peeling, and the seats, tables, countertops, store refrigerators and out-of-date ATM machine awkwardly cram the tiny space. If I had not seen the obviously displayed “A” on their health and sanitation certificate, I would have stayed clear of the place when I first saw it as a freshman. Instead, I tried one of their vegan pizza slices and have been hooked ever since.
The raving reviewers on Yelp! weren’t kidding. Unlike Slice or Palà, that weakly imitate pizza by substituting the cheese with bland soy alternatives, Viva Herbals Pizzeria offers a variety of substantial and organic vegan pizzas with creative, healthy and extremely generous toppings that would delight vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike. Pretty much any of the vegan flavors are a good choice with perfectly soft crusts and a slight crunch, but the restaurant also offers cheese, kosher and gluten-free options, and you even have the option of creating your own pizza.
One slice is also about twice as large as a slice from the Marketplace and will definitely fill anyone up. More importantly, each slice of pizza only costs about $5 to $6, a steal for vegan pizza in New York the amount they offer, and any food downtown. Though I haven’t yet tried them, the soups and stuffed Portobello mushrooms sound delicious. For the price of certain pizzas or larger orders, I suggest seeing their menu on Yelp! or online at the link below.
Don’t, however, come to Viva Herbal Pizzeria for something sweet. I love the delicious homemade juices like Mango and Super Green, but each measly 15 oz. bottle costs a discouraging $5. The soggy peanut butter and chocolate cake that did not have enough chocolate was too disappointing for $5 and the $8 ice cream is decent, but there are definitely better options elsewhere in New York City. The enormous homemade sandwich cookies are worth the $3, but they are only mildly sweet and sometimes dry.
The Viva Herbals Pizzeria employees are not as friendly as Fordham’s Sodexo employees, but they are still accommodating and quick. Instead, the restaurant’s charm comes from its simple and down-to-earth feel. Though I’ve rarely seen all the seats taken, there are plenty of nearby places to sit and eat if it ever happens.
In fact, Viva Herbals Pizzeria is located just a few blocks away from busy Union Square. There are plenty of restaurants, clothing stores, bookstores (including the famous Strand), bars, cinemas, churches and more, and I especially love visiting Forbidden Planet while I am in the area. The restaurant’s close proximity to Washington Square Park and Union Square is a big plus, particularly if you enjoy people-watching. If you’re particularly lucky, you might see the Float Riders dance group performing in the station on your way home. Admittedly, Viva Herbals Pizzeria is one long 4 train trip away, but I can honestly say it is well worth it.
