Café Vivant – French
Café Vivant unfolds as a sanctuary of refined indulgence, where the air is thick with the briny scent of fresh Shigoku oysters and the promise of avant-garde coastal fare. Each plate serves as a miniature masterpiece, balancing playful whimsy with decadent ingredients like buttery A5 Miyazaki beef, silky uni panna cotta, and golden Dungeness crab fritters that dance across the palate in a vibrant celebration of land and sea.
720, Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, 94025 https://www.cafevivantca.com/0Cuisine: French
Price range: $$
Dietary options: dairy-free, gluten-free, halal, high-protein, keto, low-carb, nut-free, vegan, vegetarian, heart-healthy, low-sodium, mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, plant-based, whole30, anti-inflammatory, atkins, dash-sodium-reduced, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, south-beach, aip, alkaline, carnivore, low-fodmap, raw-food, tlc, lectin-free, macrobiotic, slow-carb, sesame-free, soy-free
Diet fit at Café Vivant
Dairy-Free at Café Vivant
Café Vivant in Menlo Park has 4 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Heirloom Romanesco, Hamachi Crudo and Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces). Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Gluten-Free at Café Vivant
Café Vivant in Menlo Park has 3 gluten-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Hamachi Crudo, Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces) and Hokkaido Scallops. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Halal at Café Vivant
Café Vivant in Menlo Park has 7 halal-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Butter-Poached Maine Lobster, A5 Miyazaki and Uni Pie Tee and Heirloom Romanesco. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
High-Protein at Café Vivant
Café Vivant in Menlo Park has 2 high-protein-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces) and Root Down Duck. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Keto at Café Vivant
Café Vivant in Menlo Park has 1 keto-tagged dish on its current menu, including Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces). Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Low-Carb at Café Vivant
Café Vivant in Menlo Park has 1 low-carb-tagged dish on its current menu, including Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces). Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Nut-Free at Café Vivant
Café Vivant in Menlo Park has 1 nut-free-tagged dish on its current menu, including Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces). Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegan at Café Vivant
Café Vivant in Menlo Park has 1 vegan-tagged dish on its current menu, including Heirloom Romanesco. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
How tags work: Dish-level menu analysis by Chefi's rule-based diet engine with AI assistance; nutrition values are estimated from ingredients unless marked verified. Allergen and certification claims are never inferred.
What to order at Café Vivant
| Dish | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Bouillabaisse | 87.5 g | 72.8 g |
| Root Down Duck | 7.2 g | 53.6 g |
| Hokkaido Scallops | 30.1 g | 32.4 g |
| Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces) | 1.4 g | 28.5 g |
| Shaved Pear and Frisée Salad | 5.2 g | 19.3 g |
| Sunchoke Agnolotti | 8 g | 18.9 g |
| Butter-Poached Maine Lobster | 0 g | 14.4 g |
| Tomahawk Steak for Two | 7.3 g | 11.2 g |
| Hamachi Crudo | 10.8 g | 10.8 g |
| Uni Panna Cotta | 5.5 g | 2.8 g |
| Dungeness Crab Fritter | 2.6 g | 2.6 g |
Nutrition values are estimated from ingredients.
Currently open
Hours
- Monday - Sunday
- 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Menu
Bites
- Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces): Keluga caviar, yuzu mignonette, toasted pink peppercorn Dietary tags: High-Protein, Keto, Low-Carb, Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Anti-Inflammatory, Atkins, South-Beach, Low-Fodmap, Carnivore, Alkaline, AIP, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free, Soy Free, Sesame Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Heritage Egg Salad: house brioche, black truffle, jamón ibérico, quail egg Available at: brunch, lunch
- Dungeness Crab Fritter: fennel-caper jam, romesco Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Lobster Salad Cannoli: fines herbes, meyer lemon, arare Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Heritage Chicken Nugget: Keluga caviar, dill crème fraîche Available at: dinner, lunch
- A5 Miyazaki and Uni Pie Tee: charred scallion, fresno pepper Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
Firsts
- Sunchoke Agnolotti: beef cheek, black truffle, hedgehog mushrooms, huckleberry Dietary tags: High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Hamachi Crudo: persimmon, avocado, radish, kabosu vinaigrette Dietary tags: Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, Raw-Food, TLC, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Uni Panna Cotta: grilled abalone, charred cucumber, pickled beech mushrooms Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Hokkaido Scallops: rutabaga, apple, delicata squash, black trumpet mushrooms Dietary tags: Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Anti-Inflammatory, Alkaline, AIP, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Shaved Pear and Frisée Salad: endive, haricot verts, Point Reyes blue, sherry-walnut vinaigrette Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
Mains
- Heirloom Romanesco: beluga lentils, pickled vegetables, mint Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Alkaline, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- Bouillabaisse: petrale sole, Hokkaido scallop, tiger prawn, mussels, sauce rouille Dietary tags: Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Root Down Duck: roasted breast, confit pavé, poached pear, celery root purée, huckleberry Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Butter-Poached Maine Lobster: shell bean ragout, bok choy, king oyster mushroom, black truffle fondue Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Tomahawk Steak for Two: potato terrine, wild mushrooms, rapini, bordelaise Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, Atkins, DASH Sodium-Reduced, TLC, Slow-Carb Available at: dinner
- Heritage Delaware Chicken for Two: raised 125 days at Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch, lemon-thyme jus, green farm salad Available at: dinner, lunch
Frequently Asked Questions about Café Vivant
- Is Café Vivant dairy-free-friendly?
- Yes. Café Vivant has 4 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Heirloom Romanesco, Hamachi Crudo and Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces).
- What can I eat at Café Vivant on a dairy-free diet?
- Heirloom Romanesco, Hamachi Crudo and Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell (2 pieces) carry the dairy-free tag, out of 4 tagged dishes on the current menu. Every dish's diet tags are listed in the menu.
- Does Café Vivant have vegan options?
- Yes. 1 dish is tagged vegan on the current menu, including Heirloom Romanesco.
- Is Café Vivant gluten-free?
- 3 dishes are tagged gluten-free on the current menu. Chefi never infers allergen tags from a dish name alone, but a tag is not a certification — confirm preparation with the restaurant if you have celiac disease or a severe sensitivity.
- What is the highest-protein dish at Café Vivant?
- Bouillabaisse, at roughly 72.8g of protein (estimated from ingredients).
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