PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIANestled off Latrobe Terrace in Paddington, Vida certainly has a quaint but surprising essence. The exterior is reminiscent of a small Spanish restaurant while the interior is unexpectedly spacious, spreading over two main dining areas. A private dining room towards the back of the restaurant offers fantastic vistas over Paddington and Mt Cootha which would delight anyone fond of a sunset. The menu embraces a contemporary Spanish cuisine with fifteen tapas dishes to entice the tastebuds. The diversity and character of each small plate leaves a great temptation to simply skip the main and just sample as many tapas items as possible.
The baked gratin scallop with garlic and paprika oil is beautifully fresh and an easy favourite. Also recommended is the venison, pistachio and Jerez terrine served with slices of sage crostini. The mains are all set at a reasonable $24.50 each and offer some tempting dishes including the seafood paella for two; known as the perfect dish to get to know someone over. This dish boasts all the traditional elements with Queensland scallops, tiger prawns, calamari, fresh market fish and mussels, bueno! The menu changes with the seasons keeping it fresh and creative. With this in mind, plus the great authentic flavours, it won’t be long before Vida becomes a hit among the locals and a go to for others seeking tasty morsels and a top glass of wine.
Ben Upton, June 2008