Imagine our surprise this evening when, in a post-Compass frenzy of hunger, we headed to Eddie’s Lunch for dinner only to find the familiar Eddie’s shining beacon replaced with an oaken cask emblazoned with “Vivas.”

Yes, it’s true: Eddie’s Lunch is no more. The final stages of the year-long renovation of Eddie’s are in progress, and the old Eddie’s Lunch name has given way to Vivas (Vivian, I am led to believe, being the name of the friendly capable post-Eddie hostess).

As much as I loved Eddie’s Lunch as a name, I am quickly becoming very fond of the new name. This is mostly because I am fond of short names that can be said declaratively.

Tantor (the name of Tarzan’s elephant), for example, is one of my favourite names.

“To Vivas!” is something I can imagine shouting in exultation in the same way the Bruce Wayne would shout “To the Batmobile!”

There is the added bonus of “Vivas” meaning “Alive” in Spanish and Portuguese.

To go with the name change comes a small menu addition — meatless Boca Burgers join the burger family — and the final absence of any vestiges, save the under-counter chocolate bars, of Eddie’s former life as a variety store cum restaurant.

To Vivas!