Feasters, Jan. 30 was a very special day: my birthday! What better way to celebrate than going to a Mexican restaurant that turns into a dance club for your birthday?
Viva La Vida is the most entertaining restaurant I’ve ever been to. With its pink color scheme and bright LEDs, it’s hard not to love this place. Because of its novelty, it is packed in the evenings, so I recommend placing a reservation a few days beforehand.
The food and drink menus have a wide variety of options. One of my favorite parts of the menu is the mocktail section. I ordered a strawberry watermelon margherita that I don’t know the name of, but it was splendid. They blend the fruit until it’s completely smooth and add salt around the rim of the glass. This drink was a tropical explosion of sugary juices, and I’d definitely order it again.
For an appetizer, my table ordered chips with queso and guacamole. This queso was the best cheese I’ve ever tasted. It was creamy and savory, and it paired perfectly with the salty, crunchy chips.
The guacamole was delicious, as well. It was smooth and definitely homemade. The dip had a fresh, organic taste with the perfect amount of seasoning. They also cut a few chips into fiesta strips to garnish the guacamole.
For my main course, I ordered the Grilled Chicken Tacos. The presentation of this dish was sleek with a classic metal taco holder and a pretty cilantro garnish on top of the tacos.
The tortillas were a cross between soft and crunchy, which I really enjoyed. However, on the very first bite, I got a mouthful of onions. This was obviously not the start I wanted, and I had a sickly sweet taste in my mouth the rest of the meal. However, the expertly marinated chicken saved me. I love lime on my food, so this was a literal dream for me. The meat was sweet but also had a kick that enhanced the flavor. Overall, these tacos were tasty. Just ask for no onions when you order them.
Also on the menu is a $35 birthday birthday package, which includes your choice of a free dessert, sparklers, and a birthday celebration by the staff. Honestly, this was money well spent. I chose the S’mores Lava Cake, and a few minutes later, out came the staff with lights, the dessert, and sparklers. They also blast Spanish party music during it, which is a fun touch.
After about two minutes of hardcore partying, the staff returned to their jobs, and I dug into the cake. I have to say, it was good but not what I expected. The cake was a bit dry, and it tasted artificial. I was really looking forward to the chocolate filling, but it was deep inside the cake and took me a while to get to. When I did find it, I was shocked at how rich it was. As a whole, this cake tried to taste like a Michelin dessert, which we all know is overrated and never tastes that good. This dessert would be the talk of the town if it didn’t try so hard to be something it’s not.
Viva La Vida is definitely a restaurant that I’d go to again, and I recommend it to anyone who loves Mexican cuisine and dance parties. The staff was kind and did a great job managing their tasks and the frequent birthday celebrations. Viva La Vida earns a 7/10 from me.
If You Go:
1141 Freeport Rd
Pittsburgh, PA
(412) 408-3242
Hours:
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
IG: @vivalavidapgh
