Viva

Wait time was 40 minutes but it was worth every second. Had cauliflower steak, cauliflower tacos, margaritas, crispy brusell sprouts with no shrimp, shishito peppers. Although crispy Brusell sprouts came with shrimp hence we returned that. Rest all food was amazing. Never had such tasty tacos in my life. This was the best place we visited in South Padre. Will visit again for sure when back in island.

Update we came back and the food is consistently good. I added the pictures of the tacos and salads that we got. Another new place!! We love Viva’s!!! happy hour all day and Mondays are $5 margaritas and $5 off of loaded nachos. Wednesdays wine is half off. We will definitely be back. Great service staff super clean fantastic views.

I visited Viva, a restaurant at South Padre Island, because I was quite hungry after the long trip to get to SPI. At the restaurant, I was quickly acknowledged and seated. The waitress was friendly and polite all throughout the visit, always keeping a positive attitude. The restaurant had an ocean view that added a nice vibe to the dining experience, along with the sounds of the waves. The dining area was moderately clean and there were plenty of tables available for seating. The restroom itself was nice and clean. The waitress provided great service. She was attentive and checked on us at the appropriate times. She handled our order correctly and communicated well. She was helpful and professional, even when there was an issue with one of the drinks. I ordered beef tostadas with no tomatoes. The tostadas were good and prepared correctly, however, I felt the price was a bit high at $12 for two tostadas and a side of rice. This is a dish I often eat and prepare at home, so I expected a slightly bigger portion size when taking the price into account. I ordered a lemonade and a friend ordered Dr. Pepper. We were quite shocked to find a dead bee in the Dr. Pepper. Despite that issue, the food was definitely delicious. To improve a guest’s experience, I would definitely recommend improving drink quality control, and a reevaluation of portion sizes for some menu items. The checkout process was smooth, and the payment was efficiently handled. Despite the issue with the drinks, the staff remained polite and thanked us as we left.

We ate at this restaurant for the first time this past weekend and it was great. The food is delicious. The atmosphere is amazing with beautiful bay view and waterfront dining option. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Highly recommend this place. We’ll be definitely coming back to eat here when we’re back at island.

This was the best place we visited in South Padre. The drinks were great, the food was fresh and delicious, service was fast and friendly, and the view on the water was serene. A welcome change from the fried bar food at most places on SPI! We had the street corn, roasted shishito peppers, grilled shrimp tacos, pork belly tacos, fried fish tacos, cauliflower tacos, wedge salad, club sandwich, fish po boy sandwich, and a few drinks. Everyone was very satisfied! If you like mezcal, I thought their mezcal drinks were great; the perfect balance of smoky mezcal and tart fruit without being too sweet. This place also has vegetarian options, though most of them are cauliflower. The vegetarian of our group said the tacos were good, but they would have liked to see some entree options that weren’t cauliflower, like portobello mushrooms, potatoes, or black beans.

Best food! Not spicy but, tasty! A perfect blend of seafood and local favorites to make each meal amazing. Oh, the view! Make reservations for sunset and enjoy both!

What a gem! We went to Viva for our last meal on the island. Everything about our experience was amazing. The food was so fresh and tasted lovely. The service was attentive without being overwhelming. The open-air dining room was comfortable, even when the temperature was 91. I can't wait to come back!

First, ai love a good smoked old fashioned, so when I found out Viva had them, I went specifically for that. It was very good! I also tried the Yellowfin Crudo, that was amazing!

Been to SPI 3 times now and so far this is one of the best places to eat at. Water view? Checkmark Friendly staff? Checkmark Great food? Checkmark Can't wait to eat here again.

This place has an incredible vibe and my coworkers absolutely loved their food. Service was great and they accommodated our party well. Unfortunately my food came out cold so i cant give it 5 stars. They get 4 due to others loving their food and the vibe.

A large group of us went to dinner at Viva. The service was fantastic and quick to wait on us. Most of the group got the 10oz Center Cut Filet, 2 sautéed gulf shrimp, papas. The filets were perfectly cooked, and the potatoes crispy and delicious. We share a side of housemaid guacamole, spicy calamari, and some fantastic Sayulita nachos, which was Gulf Shrimp and Steak, beans, cheese, pickled fresno peppers, with cilantro and fire roasted street corn. Delicious!! I ate the Scallops Veracruz,which was Colossal pan seared scallops with spicy mango relish and cilantro lime rice.The scallops were perfectly cooked, and the cilantro lime rice was fluffy and flavorful. Upon returning to South Padre, we will definitely return!

Super impressed! This was my fav meal on the island. Good drink selection and fun mixed drinks. Service was good and a nice atmosphere overlooking the water (the only thing is the birds were buckwild lol came diving into the restaurant numerous times and caw-ed non stop). I enjoyed my wine and my sister enjoyed her spicy marg. We started with the Brussels which were delicious. The shrimp are def more fishy tasting on the island but the sauce was good. For dinner, my mom got the ribeye tacos, I got fish tacos (blackened fish), and my sister got the redfish with cilantro lime rice. My fish tacos were amazing! Would def get again. the ribeye tacos were a good portion but I stole a piece of the meal and it was a bit dry. My sisters fish was very good as well. Overall highly recommend and would come again!

A nice spot on the island! As expected, there are many shoreline bars and beach huts, but Viva is a little something special. A bit of Culinary Expertise facing the Bay. Bartenders Monica and Luke shared with us some of the origin of creativity behind the menu, especially the cocktails. Mixologists from recognized establishments inspired some of the unique cocktails - such as passion fruit infused chartreuse in a gin drink (Isla del Sur), and a carbonated paloma (Viva Paloma). All juices in drinks are made in house, fresh. Kept things light, in order to try bites around the island. Can't say no to the Gulf shrimp (for obvious reasons) and the highly recommended Yellowtail Crudo. The mandarin cut the soy pozu perfectly, and paired well with the cuts of tuna. One additional comment I'll make - apparently locals say that Wanna-Wanna is the place to go for peel-off shrimp and basket of shrimp.

We stayed in SPI for a week and loved dining at Viva. Our service was very attentive and provided great recommendations! The Ribeye Aguachile was AMAZING and the Shrimp de la Torre was insanely good. Viva is on the pricier side in comparison to other restaurants on the island but is perfect if you want to enjoy some great food and drinks.

WOW. Color me impressed. Im from Austin. I came to south padre with my husband for my birthday week. On the day of my bday, I had only a few conditions for where we had my bday dinner. I wanted a place with an ocean view, and a place where I could have a decent meal (I'm vegetarian) and where my husband could get a seafood dish (bc we was dying to get some seafood while we were on the island). Viva hit all those markers! And not only was there options for me as a vegetarian, but omg the food was DIVINE. I got their cauliflower steak with a potato and leek sauce reduction and I'm still dreaming about it. My husband got one of their shrimp dishes. The presentation was wonderful. My husband says he's willing to drive the 5-6 hours JUST to go back. And I don't blame him. The food was amazing. Not to mention it's an open air restaurant right on the water. And we requested an oceanfront view which they kindly obliged. 100% worth it. Definitely will return when we're on the island again!!

Very unfortunate experience at dinner tonight. Food ZERO stars. Service ZERO stars. Atmosphere ZERO stars. We found not one, but TWO HAIRS in the very expensive meal of, "Scallops Veracruz," priced at $34. Even worse we didn't realize until our meal was nearly finished. One hair was attached to the bottom of a scallop and the second was embedded inside the rice. We asked to speak to a manager who took his sweet time coming over and offered little in terms of apologies. "Maybe the hair blew into the kitchen." Really!!? Just completely unacceptable. Removing that plate from the check was the least he could do. This restaurant as a whole is disappointing. Not sure how they have so many high reviews. SHADY. The pricing is ridiculous given the quality/taste of the food. Cocktails as watered down with too much ice. The watermelon "salad," at $12, is just a bowl of watermelon. The waitress looked at me like I was crazy when I asked where the SALAD greens were. Like it's obvious that a SALAD would not have them? Also, it was room temperature, in an already hot restaurant (there's no AC). WTF. We usually tip 20-35%, depending on quality of service, but given the disaster that was this meal we left 13.5%, which I considered to be very generous of my husband. We should have left zero. My husband, being the gentleman that he is, says "Thank you" as he receives the receipt and all she says is "mmhmm." After ALL THAT, all we get is an attitude and a "mmhhmm"??! If I was upset before, now I am LIVID. At over $40 per person for a meal we expected much more, and this place fell short. Stay away.

recommend this place Outdoor restaurants but adapt to be comfortable and fresh Delicious food And highly serve

Long live this restaurant! I would say this is a must stop when visiting south padre island or the surrounding areas. Service - Someone give Manny a raise! What exceptional service. Manny gave us great suggestions and spend time talking about the best spots in the area. He went above and beyond to make sure we had unforgettable experience. Food- we ordered the Brussels with . Very yummy. And split the scallops that were cooked to perfection. Please do not miss out on the ricotta cake. Even if you are full it is so light your dessert pocket can handle it. So many more things we wanted to try. The cocktails were phenomenal! I love a good mezcal selection and the smoked old fashioned was pretty tasty! Atmosphere- Think elevated but still beachy. No judgement here about what you have on but you could still dress up if you wanted to do something different on the island. Pro tip- come for the sunset and fireworks !

This place was amazing!! So worth the experience. I would say the price was rather high, but we made this our splurge meal and I thought everything was amazing. If we are ever in south padre island again I would come back! Our waitress did well, she kept checking up on us and was professional, and recommended the chef's special which was just amazing. I loved eating right on the water, and if there weren't clouds it would have been a clear view of the sunset sky.

Hands down this is the best restaurant and bar in spi. It is a great place for a romantic dinner with views looking out over docks on the bay. The prices are reasonable for such delectable dishes and cocktails. The service is friendly and efficient. The bathroom was clean.

From the warm and welcoming staff to the generous portions and great prices this has been a highlight of our trip! There's a peaceful view of the Laguna Madre and the music is chill and invites you to linger. We sat at the bar and had attentive yet unhurried service.

Food was great and service was even better. The location on the bay side of the island is amazing. With open doors and windows we enjoy a nice breeze while we had our lunch. Would highly recommend for a family dinner or perfect date night. Prices are moderate to high but you are definitely getting what you pay for. No complaints about price.

We've been a number of times, last night was another great experience. Brussels sprouts, Tuna tartar, and the cooked tuna were all absolutely mind blowing. This restaurant is like no other on the island, the flavor profiles are just different and it should be on everyone's short list. Having said that it's not cheap, so...don't expect cheap.

I had Akaushi burger it was delicious...My husband had fish tacos he said they amazing Wedge Salad was tasty..my son had chicken nuggets they were ok..Guacamole was good...Pricey...Waiter was very friendly and attentive...ambiance was nice, outside though...

Trendy ambiance with delicious high quality food and beautiful ocean view. Everything was delicious from the drinks, apps, entrees, to dessert!

A staple location bought out and redone again. It looks a lot nicer than it used to! The bar is redone and the seating is nicer. The watermelon salad and the pork tacos were both average. The fixin's on the pork tacos totally made them. Really good tacos as a whole, but when you try to pork by itself it's bland and nothing special. Truffle fries and drinks were yummy. Overall very satisfied with our visit and I'd definitely come again!

Serene views of the bay, with seating along the water's edge or inside the open-concept dining hall with roll-up garage doors. It's the perfect spot for sunset by the sea, in a modern space for fine-dining! We were staying in McAllen & drove to SPI (1.5 hour drive) to experience some island life. I am so happy we came here! Husband & I shared: Spicy Calamari, Blue Cheese Ice Berg, Salmon-Shrimp Entree with the Cilantro Rice side, and enjoyed their incredible cocktails: Margarita & Cucumber Martini. The food & drinks were so good, that I got caught up in the awe of our fun evening. I unfortunately left my purse behind, and didn't realize until we were back to McAllen. Thank goodness they have an honest staff & safely stored my purse! The next day we drove back and I was able to retrieve my purse. My husband and I decided to eat there AGAIN because we loved the ambiance & food. Although pricey (at $130+ for 2), it was worth it. This time ordering the Viva Ceviche with Mahi-mahi & 2 taco plates. I love this restaurant's location because it's walking distance to the entertainment district, and viewed some really neat Sand Castles on display.

If I could give no stars I would. Totally disappointed. We ate there last on 5/24/2024 and my wife became instantly sick from their meal. We asked to speak with a manager and they literally refused to speak with us. We obviously won't be back. I have tried to call them and left a message with the "request a manager call you" option as well. Nothing. Eat at your own risk. I notified the SPI chamber of commerce today also Update as of 6/3. Still no reply back from them, no concerns whatsoever about this it seems. I have left a message for the owner as well Ernie Del Rio. Nothing. Eat at your own risk. For sure they won't even attempt to express concern or try to make things right.

We came here for a late evening dinner based solely on the dessert and cocktail menu. We were led to believe that we had until 10pm only to be informed they closed at 9pm so we can be seated but we needed to immediately order. Our server was really great and personable. We picked a couple appetizers and drinks, which arrived 5 minutes later. They were clearly very rushed as the calamari wasn't cooked fully and I have a feeling that the ceviche wasn't cooked fully in line as well. Needless to say, one of these dishes caused some gastrointestinal issues later on in the evening. I probably would not go back based on the undercooked, rushed food. This is sad given the amazing drinks, service, and location.

We are locals and love supporting local businesses but the experience with seating is horrible! They never told anyone that they now accept reservations but what's worse is you never take reservations for the entire restaurant. You need to manage seating better- always keep some seating for walk ins. If you accept reservations this needs to be posted prominently on your website. Food is amazing but front of house needs some work.

Food is very good and beer selection is very limited. It has a great view. We got a reservation for a water edge table and when we got there they tried to put us inside. They said there were no water edge tables available but fortunately for us one opened up as we were talking to the hostess.

Have gone twice and everything has been amazing. The first time I tried the steak. It was so tender, and even though I did like the chimichurri I would recommend asking for it on the side as it's really strong. The second time I had the shrimp a la torre. BEST DISH EVER! It was so flavorful and everything was balanced so well. My husband had the smash burger both times, and honestly best burger we have ever tried. Service was great. Both time they were very attentive, and and knew the menu very well. The restaurant is on the bay. The view is amazing at any time of the day, but keep in mind if you're seating on the water front it will be hot depending on the time of day because of the sun. We have highly enjoyed this restaurant and are happy the island has something different to offer.

All the food I tried was great and staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Ambiance was good for a nice date or casual dinner with friends. Definitely going back.

Our #1 dinner restaurant when we come to the island! We've tried a new dish every time we come and every one has been excellent. A MUST have is the Brussel sprouts, so delicious, we've even attempted to make them at home to no avail. Drinks are yummy and reasonably priced. Add in the sunset view with the open air and it's a great date night or a family night out.

Good food and service. Everything was fresh. Seafood and Texmex are all good. Building was well maintained and very clean.

The food at Viva was excellent! From the appetizer to the desert, every plate was spot on. The taste was delicious and the ingredients were fresh. We started with the guacamole and Brussel sprouts and both were beautifully plated and the taste was delectable. These are best tasting Brussel sprouts I've had in my entire life! For my entree I had the rib eye tacos and the meat was cooked to perfection and so many fresh ingredients were used. You could taste and see the freshness! As for the service...it was outstanding! Our server was a well seasoned server who was friendly and a great conversationalist! We were so pleased with his service. As for the ambiance ...it was a beautiful sunset, spectacular view of the bay and a clean restaurant. What I love best about this place is it's LOCAL! It's owned by a friendly local family who are always present at the restaurant and take great pride in serving their customers! One new important tip, make a reservation!! They now take reservations! Our wait was 1 hour and 15 min. (Walk-in) and although the food was worth it, a reservation is the way to go!

I really enjoyed this place! I used to come here when it was the painted marlin so I was curious to see how it would be now. It's a little on the pricier side but I would definitely say it's worth it. The drinks were perfect! The best Paloma I've ever had. The calamari was great too. The tuna was SO fresh and delicious I could of eaten it on its own. And of course it's a great view while you're eating. Our waiter was also very nice and friendly. I'll definitely be coming back here.

If you want higher end service, atmosphere & food look no further!! We also caught fish that morning & they blackened it for us. Was so good!! This place is amazing! The cocktails, Brussels, red fish, ribeye tacos, etc. you can't go wrong with anything you try! Ask for Manny or Jimmy as your servers! Highlight of our trip!

Love this location, perfect anytime of the day. The shrimp are amazing, we tried both grilled and fried. Large showed shrimp! The service is fantastic and the drinks are pretty delicious

In comparison to the other seafood restaurant we tried on the island (Sea Ranch) this place was much better. My husband and I went on a Weds which had half priced smoked old fashioned which he had and enjoyed. I had a fantastic gin based cocktail. We shared the half pound peel yourself shrimp, and it was fantastic and fresh. He had grilled grouper fish tacos and I had fried grouper fish tacos and they were delicious--the only critique or suggestion would be to double wrap with their fresh corn tortillas as they only had one and fell apart. The salsas that came with it were delicious. 100% would eat here again. The view was lovely, if only it was a nicer day when we went!

Ridiculous good food, drinks and service. Seems like the best managers and staff matriculated here from the previously very popular South Island "Ranch" restaurant. Good reason Ambience, food and bar menu is arguably competing for best on the island. Not kidding. Sauces and add/ons leave the rest to battle for third place. Viva now takes first and second place

Just left dinner. Service was terrible! Server was preoccupied talking at the bar with coworkers. Had an issue with food but he was never around to address it with. Paid $170 for not fresh seafood.

Beautiful upscale Tex-Mex food right on the water. Service was great. They were able to make my pregnant wife a mocktail, which she really enjoyed. Tequila Pollo Asado, and the house guacamole were tremendous.

Even though it was really hot outside, the food, drinks, and nice view made it bearable! The service was decent but the calamari was amazing. Parking is easy and right outside and there was no wait for seating on a Friday afternoon.

Amazing food, it came out fast and we loved the view! The servers and staff were all so friendly and didn't mind my 3 kids. They were all very accommodating. We had the blackened gulf flounder tacos and the pork belly tacos. We preferred the flounder but both were excellent! We also tried the house guacamole and the cilantro lime rice. Everything was great. Would definitely go back.

We were on the island for our yearly beach getaway and we're hosting our friends. When dinner time came around we took to Yelp to find something casual but good for our larger group and kids. Viva popped up and the photos alone sold us. Love that it's right down the road and sits perfectly on the bay side. When we arrived we had about a 30-40 min wait which is pretty typical. Luckily we ordered drinks and took them out to the grassy area so the kids could run around. Before we knew it our name was called and were easily accommodated. In short, the service was spot on, the food was delicious and beautifully plated, and drinks were on point. I had their spicy margarita, our friends had old fashions and Paloma's and each one was perfectly crafted. The appetizers we ordered was: guacamole with chips, Brussel sprouts (omg!), and shishito peppers. So yummy and perfect for sharing! I had the scallops, my husband their shrimp tacos...just do yourself a favor and head over to Viva for a fun night. Also, be sure to catch the fireworks around 9:15pm. Makes for a great evening.

Everything from food, service and ambiance was excellent. Casual vibe with upscale food. Drinks were awesome

We were initially disappointed to learn that The Painted Marlin closed, but pleasantly surprised to find Viva in its place. We got the same freshness, the same amazing sunset views, the same attentive service, and a variety of interesting dishes to choose from. Delish!

Went early. Always a busy place. Especially on a nice day in anticipation of a beautiful sunset. Seated promptly. Waited awhile for our server. Drinks and guacamole were ordered, and again, a bit of a wait. Guacamole was good. Drinks were pretty standard. Ordered skewered shrimp and sirloin and flounder. Food was good. Food was hot. Was just a bit underwhelmed. A bit pricey for what got. Would go back for maybe just drinks and appetizers. But probably not.

Sitting in this open air restaurant right off the shore you have a soothing view. The staff is friendly and helpful. The menus offer a variety of options from sea food to burgers, Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Leave room for dessert and ask for the dessert menu, it includes after dinner cocktails. We had the steak frites, it comes with a generous portion of steak cooked to your favorite temp and you can choose your side; the popcorn shrimp from the kids menu was the right amount for sharing; the watermelon feta salad is a must have, the melon, radishes and feta cheese are a tasty combination; the finale was the moist and delicious brown butter walnut cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it arrived on a plate of chocolate drizzle and toffee crumbles.

The food was amazing, drinks were so good and the service was excellent. We got ceviche for appetizer and it was so fresh and delicious. I got the scallops which were cooked perfectly. Highly recommend the Paloma to drink. Will definitely go again when we are in town

Delightful! Friendly staff, great food, and clean dining facility! Great view of the bay as well. Love this spot! Want to come back soon! Super fresh and well prepared food.

The food was delicious and the view was amazing! Long lines so highly recommend to make reservation!

This al fresco restaurant was recommended to my wife and I and the views were amazing. Everything was made fresh and the taste was of great quality. Certainly a nice spot for a nice date or business team gathering.

Crepes and coffee are just amazing. I always seem to get the same thing because I live the crepes so much! I recommend going early or mid day to avoid long lines, but it's always worth it!!

So grateful Viva has arrived on the island! The food is delicious, the drink offerings are exciting, the employees are charming and the building and decor are quite tasteful. It was so good, we went there for dinner two times during our three day visit!!

What a wonderful experience! From the beautiful view,to the attentive and knowledgeable servers and the absolutely delicious food. The crafted drinks were delicious, the yellowfin tuna and the beet and goat cheese salad were yummy . I has the chimichurri skirt steak, my husband had the smash burger with truffle fries and father in law had the flounder. The chef truly knows his pairings. The owner was attentive and listened to our comments and compliments. Easy to give this restaurant 5 stars.

Hands down the best food on the island, unless you are looking for fried seafood. Playful flavors with plenty of vegetables. Great cocktail menu. Great view!