Vivo

Vivo bills its food as "healthful Tex-Mex" and has brown rice and tofu on the menu. I'm not sure how healthful it really is, but I can vouch for the taste. The first thing the diner is presented with -- a smoky, garlicky salsa made with blackened serrano chilies -- is superb. The tortilla soup is hearty and filled with crunchy bits of tortilla contrasting with smooth chunks of avocado. The puffy tacos -- handmade tortillas that puff up when fried (in canola oil, of course) -- are messy to eat, but are a little-known Tex-Mex classic. They come filled with spiced beef or chicken, lettuce, tomato, and cheese. The enchiladas verdes, stuffed with chicken and topped with a nicely spiked tomatillo sauce, are quite good. The sauce is plentiful, as it should be (often not the case in other restaurants). The service is good, and the margarita menu is complete (and includes an interesting cucumber margarita with black Hawaiian sea salt).

Vivo is a date place and gets crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. Indoors, the walls are painted bright yellow, purple, and red, and hung with provocative modern art, including a fun version of the usual mounted head of a longhorn bull. Outside, you can dine on a deck decorated with tropical plants and a gurgling fountain.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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