UnaVida - CLOSED

We stopped in to try this place before shopping. Super cute decor and patio, damn good margaritas and chips but just OK service. We were the only ones seated inside and we had to ask for more chips, I didn’t get a refill of water and it took a while for the server to get our check. Probably would have stayed for another drink and maybe lunch if the service was better.

I went in wanting to love it. Preparing myself for the inevitable submission of an effusive review, on par with those that were so well deserved by Matt McCallister’s previous restaurants—all of which I’d visited and loved. But alas, this was not to be. The restaurant itself is in a great area of town and is well decorated with a great vibe. We were the only table at dinner on Sunday night, so had the place virtually to ourselves. But the meal got off to a rough start almost immediately, with slow service and multiple apologies from our (very kind) server. Drinks and food took a long time to arrive, and the two appetizers we ordered were forgotten altogether. When the entrees arrived, we inquired as to where our appetizers were, and were told they had been overlooked and the orders would be put in immediately. So we ate our entrees, and the appetizers came toward the end of the meal. The food itself was hit or miss—the enchilada plate was good, the prawns were so-so, the carne asada tacos were excellent, and the long awaited appetizers (salmon ceviche and another appetizer) were not particularly good. Overall, our server was very nice and seemed to be having an off night, but the errors on the orders and delay in receiving our food was hard to explain because we were the only table. And we were still charged for the appetizers, notwithstanding that they had been forgotten entirely and were finally brought only after we finished our main courses. Those issues and the quality of the dishes themselves made for a disappointing (yet expensive) night. I remain a fan of Matt McCallister and I’m grateful for all he’s done for the food scene in Dallas over the years—hopefully these are just uncharacteristic bumps in the road that can be leveled-out over time.

10/10 I highly recommend this place to anyone. I came with my family today and the service from the minute we came in was spectacular! Actually from the minute I called to make a reservation. The young lady in the front was super sweet and accommodating! Rafa our server was amazing.

Food was fresh and delicious. Portions seem smaller at first glance, but don’t worry because the dishes are filling, and ingredients are clean. The churro banana split is so tasty. We arrived a little late for our reservation, but they took us with grace even though the kitchen was closing soon. The ambiance is lovely, especially during the day. We were celebrating our mom’s graduation, and the manager was warm and hospitable. She made our experience really special! Thank you, Abigail!

We had an amazing Sunday brunch on the porch. It's a super cool environment and the food is amazing. I'm obsessed with the burger, juicy and perfectly cooked on a brioche bun with crispy cheese and grilled veggies. Obsessed!

Adorable place in Uptown! Beautiful decor. Great outdoor dining area! The food is amazing! They brought out golden beets to help cut the spice if we needed. I just loved the beets. They were delicious. I had the tacos. The sweet potato tacos were so so good! The corn tortillas were great. The chicken was delicious; it was not what I expected, but I am glad I tried it!! It was moist and tender. The barbacoa was good. Having all three types of fillings was not a menu choice, but the manager popped by to check on us and suggested it. The staff was super nice. Our server was great. The stacked enchiladas were definitely delicious!

Very cute and cozy place to spend Saturday evening with your significant other. Modern interior, catchy but quiet, comfortable couches and chairs to sink into. Want to say thanks to bartender Sosa for being quick-witted and offering me similar cocktail because they didn’t have ingredients for what I order and it came out great! Also a big shout out to Jose for being extremely welcome and checking on us all the time! Great place! We will be back!

Great food and experience! I really enjoyed the rainbow trout. The skin was delicious and crispy. The portion sizes were not large except for the generous salad. My partner really liked the heartcakes.

I absolutely love this place! The location in west village is great (with free parking close by) and the entire menu is delightful. I am a vegetarian with a lot of allergies and I have had over 5 different entrees with a lot of success. The patatas bravas are a must for me every time I go because they have the best sauce. The staff has been kind even when the place is packed and I am a really big fan of this place overall.

My husband and I had lunch here and we stumbled into a hidden gem! Amazing place for vegan foods, and they had options for meat eaters too! The guac was the best I ever had, and the vegan queso delicious. We also ordered the street tacos & stacked enchiladas. Both were very good. I loved that we left not feeling heavy, or overwhelmingly sleepy like most Texmex restaurants. This is what i absolutely love about UnaVida! Fresh & light ingredients made for un-guilty pleasures to indulge. The service was excellent, and very friendly. Cannot wait to come back!

Excellent food and healthy choices! Also great margarita and salsa too... I recommend this place 100% and the price points were really amazingly reasonable! $7 dollar Cinco de Mayo margaritas right now so go get yours! Hurry and get there this weekend!

Why is Dallas sleeping on this place?? Why was I able to book a weekend evening dinner reservation just a few hours in advance?? THIS IS INSANITY. Y'all need to get your butts over to West Village (I know, I know, ugh) and try some of the best TexMex that's happening in Dallas right now. Things to know: 1. The website is not a fair reflection of this place. The website gives "fast casual" vibes. That's not what UnaVida is. (If anything, service was a bit slow...the weirdest part being that we stood at the hostess stand, ungreeted, for almost 10 full minutes before someone acknowledged our presence. They were clearly understaffed that evening, but once we were seated, things moved along at more of a normal pace.) 2. The barbacoa brisket tacos (served with chihuahua cheese costra, rajas con crema, blistered corn, and chipotle aioli) is $16 for three tacos. Does that sound overpriced? Well, I'd pay twice that for these tacos, which were THE BEST brisket tacos I've ever had. Brisket tacos are one of the standards by which I measure every TexMex restaurant. I don't know if I can eat them again anywhere else. Truly, the flavors of the UnaVida brisket tacos are an exceptional reminder that Matt McCallister crafted this menu. (Another reminder: guacamole with dried blueberries, which is bizarrely delicious.) I'm not a Matt McCallister die-hard...I loved FT33 but thought Homewood was overrated. UnaVida is drastically UNDER-rated. 3. The DRINKS. Wow. The house margarita is a spicy one, with serrano peppers that pack way more of a punch than the standard jalapenos. The "island time shrub" is a fantastic combination of mezcal and pineapple shrub (a vinegar-based syrup) with a splash of coconut water. Unexpected, refreshing, and delicious. But it's the "cactus caiprinha" that I'd come back for...holy shit. Best caiprinha ever, and I once spent a week doing nothing but downing caiprinhas in Brazil. It's not a classic caiprinha, with the additions of kiwi and jugo verde, but those additions only enhance the drink. It's actually LESS sweet than a normal caiprinha, super balanced and refreshing. You haven't had anything like this...and you need to. I'd come back with a bigger group to try more of the starters , all of which sound divine, and to steal bites of other dishes. Right now, my heart is set on nothing but those brisket tacos on repeat, but knowing Matt McCallister, I'm sure there are a LOT of other exquisite dishes on the menu that sound ordinary but will blow your mind. So, suck it up, Dallas. Go fight the battle of the West Village one-way streets and shitty parking, because THIS PLACE IS WORTH IT. It's a large menu full of creative, inventive dishes that are truly gourmet, at a fraction of the price of places like FT33 or Homewood. UnaVida is fine dining in disguise: approachable, relaxed, affordable (especially for the phenomenal creativity and quality), and absolutely delicious.

The quesadilla was sooo good. I loved how they put cheese on the outside bcs it added more flavor and a nice crunch. I got mine with the like shrimp and it was delicious. The veggie has was pretty basic but still a solid choice. Loved the ambiance and the service was really good. They have a very nice patio. The servers were also Very friendly! I would go again when in Dallas!

I really wanted to love this restaurant. We met at 1:00 for party of 6 to celebrate a birthday. We had to sit outside. Ugh! High 90's and outside on the patio. Well . . . ok. We were greeted somewhat quickly by a sweet and talkative server. We got about 10-12 chips and 2 tiny cups of salsa for the group and water where the ice had already melted. Did I mention it was hot?! We ordered 3 aquas frescas (they were out of all but cantaloupe and cucumber) and a shareable salsa trio for the table. About 10 minutes later, our aguas came out delivered by the hostess. They were amazing!!! The cantaloupe one had amazing creaminess and strong cinnamon. Fabulous! He took our order and disappeared. We were quickly out of the room temp water and the chips. It took almost 30 minutes for the salsa trio to arrive at the table. Another 10-12 partial chips and 3 different salsas, a little over a tablespoon of each. Serious!! The waiter overhead my husband's honest shock at this "shareable" and came back in about 10 minutes with an additional one -- his treat. Very kind and very unexpected. But, still no water. Did I mention it was 95?! The manager (we believe) came flying out to our table at about the 1 hour mark and was profusely apologetic about the time and could she do anything? Yes, thank you and water with ice PLEASE! Still, our server was not there. He was deep in chat mode telling his story to the two young ladies near us. About 5 minutes later, the manager reappeared with 2 carafes with water and ice. Woohoo! You know by now, it was hot out there! So at about 1.25 hour mark, part of our food arrived and within 10 minutes, the other two arrived. Not our server, but it arrived. Manager arrived and said she was so sorry again about the delay and would love to comp us a dessert. Well, we were really hot by then and thanked her with a resounding yes. Ice cream sounded good if it lasted out there long enough to eat and not drink. Our server showed up and we paid him and he told us a long/short story of his life since 2015. Then he disappeared. 20 minutes later, still no dessert so we were melted by then and just left. Promising look to the restaurant. Service (except the manager) was just not there. The food portions were extremely small as well. I'm so sorry as we really wanted to love this place. Poor service, long long wait time and extremely small portions are not compelling us to return. Wishing you well and hope you get things together there.

Phenomenal! Great vibe, ambiance, staff, and (most of all) food. Quesadillas crusted with cheese to die for! Margarita selection (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) was amazing. Great staff and they embrace the open kitchen concept! Highly recommend and will be back!

When I saw Chef Matt McCallisters name attached to this place, I was immediately drawn to come here. That man turns everything to gold in my book. From FT33 to Homewood, he always wows me. So I had to check this place out. The interior design is beautiful here. While I feel this place looks even better during daylight, it still looks great at night. It definitely has that open Yucatan feel by the layout and furniture. Service is friendly, but our waitress was stumped several times by some of the questions that I had. These were not the most obvious questions, but I felt this was her first waitress gig. Weird she would be working on a busy Friday night. The horchata is fantastic! Cozy in its clove and vanilla, and surprisingly creamy for being milk free. The whipped queso fresco tastes great. The crudite is refreshing and crisp, but I do like me some tortilla chips with it. The shrimp cocktail was just as good as what I had in the Yucatan. It does feel like there's more veggies than shrimp, but its excusable when overall it tastes good. The heart of palm cakes are something I don't see on many menus, so they intrigued me right away. They remind me of a black bean burger or a salmon croquette in regards to texture. They have a deep flavor with I appreciate. Of course they give you half of an avocado with this dish. For an entrée, I ended up with the stacked enchilada with both sauces and sirloin as my protein. The sirloin was cooked just right, as they were tender but not overcooked or raw. The salsa verde was definitely fresh, like they roasted the tomatillos and blended it that day. The structure of this dish did throw me off, as I didn't think too much about the stacked aspect. To me it seems like the lazy way to make enchiladas, but I admire the decision, since it still came out tasty. Think of this more as a casserole rather than typical enchiladas. Overall, this menu is much more veggie focused then I would have imagined, but it fits really well with the uptown vibe. Middle/Upper class folks that want something artisnal, yet still healthy and refreshing. While this is not as great as Matt's previous restaurants, I still think its great.

I made reservations to come on Saturday night for dinner. I accidentally booked the reservation for soft seating which is like couches and thankfully the staff were able to get us an actual table!! It was slow when we first came in but got very busy throughout the night as it was the night before cinco de mayo and they had $7 margarita specials which was a nice surprise! Unfortunately our server was a bit of a mess. Our first round of drinks I received the wrong one. I didn't even notice until the second round when I received the correct one. Our server never came to check on us after the food arrived and didn't come back until we were done. We did order another drink at this point just because they had the special but it took another 20 minutes to get them and even longer to wave him down again for the check. I still have no clue what the first one I was given even was or if it even had alcohol. The food was good definetly a nice spin off of Mexican with the vegetarian and vegan options. The kitchen was also able to accommodate a request for non habanero shrimp so it must be fresh! The guacamole was delicious so I'd probably go back for that and some drinks because the outdoor area is very pretty. I'm hoping once they get into the feel of things the service improves.

We've been here many times! Always great food, great drinks & a knowledgeable staff. We will continue to come back!

First visit in Dallas and we didn't expect to find such good food! This place not only does Mexican food, they have refined it. Our waitress was super friendly and personable. The seating was spacious and comfy, with the interior design standing out. This place is a treat! Overall a great place for a date, great music too.Try the guacamole with chips, the topping of dried blueberry adds depth to the palate (though a lil' more chips would be welcome!) Treat yourself to this! ;)

The restaurant is very well designed. The decor is very modern and beautiful. We walked in and were told we could order at the counter, sit down and be waited on or scan a QR code to order via an app. All the different ways to order and pay were a little confusing but I do appreciate the effort to accommodate everyone. The food was delicious! Everything tasted really fresh and lite. For the salad, we requested shrimp and that was initially forgotten and then took a long time to be delivered to the table but was delicious once we finally got it . I think once they work out the initial logistics, this place will be super great! I recommend Una Vida to anyone looking for Mexican food that is healthy and lite. I need to go back and try a margarita!

Found this place on the Seed Oil Scout app. I have been on an intense mission to avoid unhealthy cooking oils, which unfortunately rules out pretty much all Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. Despite the massive improvement in health since, I have been craving good Mexican food. I was delighted to find this place. Ordered the steak enchilada, guacamole, rice, black beans, and the potatoes. Let me tell you, when the food comes out, the portions seem a tad underwhelming, BUT when you are consuming high quality ingredients, it's so filling. By far the most interesting and flavorful Mexican food I've had and this place is now my absolute favorite. The guacamole was incredibly flavorful with such complexity in the flavor, even including dried blueberries. The steak enchiladas had a wonderful mole that had a great kick, and even the mushrooms which were unexpected went so well. The beans and rice were spot on and the potatoes had great flavor. Will definitely come back! One last thing, for those that mention price, it's important to understand this establishment uses very high quality ingredients and avoids unhealthy cooking oils. Unfortunately, that comes at a cost. However, later in life, I've really grown to appreciate restaurants that put themselves out there and take the risk of falling into this rare category because you genuinely feel like they understand the importance of food as medicine. Healthy food doesn't have to be boring salads!

For the most part the experience was just okay. The food was good but the service was very much lacking. They were extremely short staffed and it affected our dining experience.

I came to Una Vida today with two friends. I would say it is not your typical Mexican type style food. It is more Mexican with a healthy aspect type twist on it. The service was great, fast with refills and the food was prompt. It just wasn't what I was expecting. I sat on the patio and really liked the vibe. It is great for a sunny afternoon to stop by.

We had an amazing time as a family with teens. Food is unique and very flavorful - the burrito was a very pleasant surprise and the mezcal drink outstanding- definitely coming back to try more! Ambiance is gorgeous and inviting... next time we will be dining on their beautiful patio.

Everything here was amazing! I'd definitely have this place on my list to visit again if I'm ever in the area again. From the service to the food and drinks....PERFECT!

The guacamole is the best in the world it may sound like a weird combination but trust. I love this place the service is so nice, kind, and you can tell they love what they do. Perfect outside seating and even inside as well, a lot of pretty decor and natural light.

YUM! UnaVida was sooo good the atmosphere on the patio was cute and chill and the interior of the restaurant is gorgeous also. We had the poblano queso, carne asada, Sedona bowl (add chicken), an agua Fresca and hibiscus marg! Our waitress Tina was so sweet and brought me samples of all the aguas frescas to help me decide. Loved it all and would definitely recommend!

Had a great experience here today. Poblano queso is cashew based and amazing. Had the Texas caviar followed by a smothered vegan burrito topped with guacamole. Sat on the patio and ordered off the QR code at the table and had my order in 10 minutes.

Great place for Vegetarian food and awesome service !! The drinks, apps and main course all were very delicious, highly recommend!

Ok this new Dallas modern Mexican exceeds expectations. I had the poke bowl and street corn fritters. Both had incredible flavor. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and extremely attentive. The atmosphere is lighthearted and welcoming. 10/10 will be back. They also have all day breakfast & brunch on the weekends!!

This place was phenomenal!! We went for brunch and the food was so good. The melon margarita was amazing and the staff were so friendly and kind. The patio was a really cool vibe. Their salsa was one of my favorites I've had in Dallas.

Such a fun and unique restaurant! The food tasted fresh and had tons of flavor. The restaurant has the vibe of a Mexican fusion restaurant with a new take on some traditional favorites. I tried a taco bowl and loved it! UnaVida is worth checking out!

This place is so good it's different it's unique it has good service great food it looks like you're in Tulum Mexico, so beautiful. Everything was excellent. Go Here West Village a Matt McAllisterCreation

A super chill, breezy, and tropical ambiance right in the heart of Dallas. No complaints about the food, drinks, or service. I would eat here again and recommend it to friends.

This place was so good! You can tell the food is incredibly fresh and everything is like organic or grass fed. Nothings like oily or greasy, you actually feel good leaving there. It looks like they have a great happy hour as well.

Went to UnaVida for a girls night. We were a little hesitant after reading the menu, but everything was absolutely delicious and fresh!

My husband and I have loved Matt McAllister's food since we discovered him at FT33. We were thrilled to try his new adventure at UnaVida. The food did not disappoint and although it is a pivot from Matt's typical fare (if you can call anything he does typical) it was still very creative and tasty. We started with the whipped queso and patatas bravas. Both excellent. I had a custom bowl and my husband had the mole bowl. I'm keto so I loved the cauliflower rice option. Lots of great vegan and gluten free options too. The restaurant is also beautiful inside and it has a great patio. We can't wait to go again.

20 mins to get our drinks, I believe they are understaffed, food was ok but portions are very small, I had the carne asada tacos and it comes with 3 but are very small with no sides, ambiance is good but service and food were not the greatest

The food was good but the service was horrible. My party had a reservation set for two weeks, and when we arrived they led us to our table only for it to not be ready. We stood awkwardly in for about 8 minutes waiting to be seated. Once we were seated, we ordered our drinks which took at least 20 minutes to get to the table. Ridiculous. There was a very small bowl of chips and Salsa on the table that we ate. My party went through them pretty quickly and when we asked twice for more it took about 15 min to bring to the table. The manager ended up giving us some free appetizers which was very kind (and tasted delicious). Eventually we ordered and the food came out in a timely manner, which was good. Overall just because of the service I give this place three stars. The food and drinks tasted great though and the vibe was cute.

Food was wonderful and so fresh! Chef is very creative. The staff went above and beyond, service was amazing! Love the decor and ambiance. It's the little things that also made it special. Sat in the outdoor patio, there is casual seating and regular tables and each table or sofa area had a blanket or two for cooler days or evenings. Heaters were there as well. Lighting was great Will definitely come back!

I'm a big fan! The decor and feel of the space is great! The service and professionalism is warm and on point. And the food and drinks are very good. I feel like the price point is good too. I loved the Caesar salad with arugula, kale and shaved Brussels. So delicious. I can't wait to try the outside patio on a nice day. Well done team!!

Great food and gorgeous space! Service was excellent too, love everything Matt M touches!

We stopped in just for a margarita late in the afternoon. Service was excellent, could not be nicer. Drinks were spot on and the queso was the best I've ever had. We're visiting Dallas but do so regularly. We will definitely return.

Great Ambience and vibe . Truly well decorated and inviting. The three stars is because they do not offer chips and salsa .All I am saying is this restaurant may not last long if it doesn't off this basic thing.

Food was amazing and all dairy free which was great for me! They had unique options and it seems like they aren't afraid to try new things. I would for sure go back!

The food was meh....but the service was fantastic! It had a cool vibe and everyone seems happy to be there. I don't think I'd go back though. The food was just mediocre.

Cocktails were good. Food was meh, kind of upset I got about 2 oz of "steak" for an upcharge of $8. I had the chilaquiles which was a whole toastada that had sweet potato puree?? I was confused, but hungry so I ate it however it was not like any chilaquiles I have ever had (I have tried plenty in different regions of Mexico and here in the US). The tostadas were covered in a mild cream sauce and mostly cheese. Not authentic chilaquiles but I was open to trying a new spin on the dish. They have strayed too far from the concept of chilaquiles. Starters were pickled beets and they worked as a palate cleanser but I still craved the complimentary chips and salsa most Mexican restaurants serve. Would recommend the drinks not so much the food, I don't think it's worth it based on the price point.

Great menu options, top quality ingredients, and innovative flavors. Highly recommend the crab tostada and the verde stacked enchiladas!

We sat at the bar and Melanie was terrific. While the spirit selection is small it is plenty. Service was great and the food is terrific. The stacked enchiladas is the bomb. We will come back, for sure!

Amazing Food and Awesome Service! Melanie was most attentive at the bar and the food was deliciously creative & flavorful. We'll definitely be back!

Delicious unique dishes made with fresh organic/natural ingredients. The stacked enchiladas with organic chicken, salsa trio, street corn fritters, heart of palms cakes, vegan queso and Caramel rice pudding with apples are all amazing!!

So glad Matt McCallister brought this gem to West Village. Perfect for lunch or dinner. We came in for lunch and had the sweet potato, brisket, and chicken tacos. All were fantastic but the brisket is next level - definitely in my top tacos I've ever had. The salsas are very unique and flavorful. Everything we had tasted fresh, light, and modern. Can't wait for try more.

Y'all. This is wonderful Mexican food. Everything is incorporated with veggies and you leave with no the overly stuffed feeling of typical Mexican food. Try the salsa trio and cashew queso. Tina out waitress made it even more special.

What a fantastic hidden gem this place is, you have to try their Enchilada Verde Bowl, those refried lentils are EVERYTHING!! And while you're at it have the Hibiscus Rose agua fresca, so flavorful!! A new Dallas must!!

We stopped in here to grab food before going to the movies. However this was one of the worst decisions ever. Our waiter was very rude. He didn't even bother telling us it was happy hour or even his name. When we got our drinks my friend had asked if it was happy hour. He finally told her yes, so when I found out I asked can I switch my drink out. He flat out told me "no because it was already made." Even though I didn't touch the drink. So right there I was annoyed because he wasn't even trying to give us good service. Then we get our food. My friend didn't like hers and honestly mine wasn't the best either. The cheese was very burnt. So towards the end of our dining when the sever realized my friend didn't eat her food, he was willing to go get it comp'd by his manager but wouldn't let me originally switch my drink out for a happy hour drink! That was so wrong on so many levels! I had to stop the manager to let her know. Long story short, save your time & money. The food is nasty, waiter service is terrible, & it's not worth it.

Disappointing visit to Unavida at 9pm on a Saturday night. We sat outside and the ambiance was great, not too crowded. Heaters were on and blankets on most chairs. Loved the atmosphere, the music was good. Sadly, that's where the good ends. Upon arrival, nobody greeted or seated us, neither inside nor outside. We had to go to the bar, wait for a bartender to look at us (took 3-4 mins) and ask where to sit. We seated ourselves outside. The waiter asked if we wanted water to start and we assumed he would ask for drink orders when he came back. Nope. He took our food order - apps only and never asked for a drink order. We had to flag him down to ask for drinks AND napkins/silverware. We got our apps before our drinks. Drinks were delicious but the food was very mediocre and sizes were very small. The Cashew dip was cool and runny. Their spp of a selection of 3 salsas had about 3 tablespoons in each bowl. The bean dip was tasty. Guac was good if a bit odd with dried blueberries in it. We ran out of chips about halfway through even though the apps were small. We asked for more chips and a small salad plate of chips was brought to us. 4 adults, 4 apps, 4 drinks totaled almost $100. We don't plan on returning. Ambiance 5, Food 2, Service 1.

My mom and I came on a girl's night to Una Vida tonight and it was, hands down, the best dining experience we have had in a very long time. The patio was cozy and warm, with heaters everywhere, comfortable chairs, and nice blankets. My dog took a few long snoozes in between cuddle sessions with employees walking by. The staff was incredible, attentive, and knowledgeable about the food. THE FOOD. It was absolutely divine in every way. I can't describe it in any other way other than it tasted like every dish was a signature dish, with only the cleanest and highest of quality ingredients. Each menu item was meticulously crafted by someone with an incredible mind and knowledge for the different palettes. There truly is something for everyone at this place. I'll definitely be coming back and am excited to watch this new restaurant thrive in the heart of west village. It's the perfect addition.