Viva Taqueria & Cantina

Sure! Here’s a polished Google review you can use for Viva Taqueria in Ithaca: ⸻ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We stopped in at Viva and tried the Macho Nachos—delicious! Generous, fresh toppings and great flavor. We added a side of guacamole, which was a perfect match. The service was friendly and quick, making the whole experience enjoyable. Would definitely come back!

Been going to Viva for years. The place has become a community institution. It looked like were doing great business—even after the pandemic, and their move across the street. BUT....it seems like new owners have chosen to suddenly change things up and now all hell has broken loose. We went tonight and it was completely chaotic. Badly under-staffed, very slow, and the menu has been aggressively changed. The restaurant was half empty but we still waited 45 minutes for carry-out. We were told the wait for a table was 25 minutes. Was there a mass layoff? Or walk-off? The new owners need to hold on to the business' valuable assets. IMHO these including the customer base, the menu, and the experienced staff. On the up side, the food, once it finally got made, was good. The staff and management who were there—especially the more experienced folks—were doing their best with what were clearly a tough situation. Please correct course.

We had a couple cocktails and a snack of nachos. Nachos were very good. Atmosphere was bright and cheerful. We sat outside. Our server was busy, and was okay. She could've been a little more attentive. Overall, everything was good.

Our server was super kind, but the food? Yikes. Easily the worst Mexican food I’ve ever had. We even asked if the guac was made fresh — they said yes, but it tasted straight-up like bagged guacamole, definitely not fresh avocados. I could not even finish my 3 tacos, the meat on it was horrible and the beans tasted like they came straight from a can.

We visited Viva on Valentine's Day 2023 and it was a wonderful experience! Our table wasn't quite ready when we arrived, so we sat at the bar and enjoyed an order of Mini Nachos. I like this smaller sized portion which was perfect as a starter. The fresh squeezed orange-limeade was refreshing. My husband enjoyed a soft taco plate while I enjoyed the hard shell tacos! (one of our only debates in our home!) To Crunch or Not To Crunch... that is the question! We celebrate our anniversary each week, and Viva Taqueria made our 93rd Taco Tuesday together very memorable. Thanks for a wonderful Valentine's experience.

Pretty tasty food. Got the chorizo quesadilla. Fair portions for the price, and very friendly staff.

The enchiladas were likely the best I have had in years — super tasty. Tacos were tasty but the soft tortillas did disintegrate such that they ended up better to eat with a fork and knife. That was the only negative. The draft beer selection was 7-8 options but the margarita selection was large. The service was a little slow the day that we were there, but the folks were all super friendly. I recommend this place but maybe avoid the soft tacos.

Flavorful tacos! We tried chicken, black bean, and shredded beef soft tacos - all well seasoned. (Beef had quite a zing that caught us by surprise, but still tasty!) Casual atmosphere with colorful indoor decor. Outdoor seating is also available with energetic music. Easy to get seated (weeknight, spring) Will return next time we visit Ithaca!

After spending a few hours outdoors performing, we kicked back here for a late lunch. It was positively delish. Bonus points for accommodating gluten free & vegan! Every plate (generous serving size) was finished.

Subpar taqueria with an oddly memorable aesthetic. We were first drawn in by the quirky decor, especially the masks with their tongues sticking out (see photos). Sadly, the vibe was the best part of the experience. When we asked our waitress a few basic questions about the menu (it was our first time), she looked visibly irritated. You'd think if you're in food service, answering a few clarifying questions wouldn't be such an ordeal. Later, we watched her jog over to another table, forget their order, and then loudly declare "That's what I thought" when the customer reminded her. My girlfriend and I looked at each other, stunned. I got the green enchiladas; she got the quesadillas, which were more bean than anything else. The Tequila Sunrise we ordered was watery beyond belief. My girlfriend compared the food you'd get at Trillium, aka dining hall food but more expensive.

I believe things must have changed recently, based on our experience. Food was awful, all four entrees. Chips and salsa, offered but was not told they cost $5 .. each refill! Waitress was rude. Service slow. No ice in the water, no ice for sodas.. beer came in a water glass. Very slow service, unfriendly staff.. put us in loud bar, when there was room at the restaurant side. Not busy.. so not an excuse!

I absolutely love Viva! I always have a great experience and it's one of my top choices when going out to eat in ithaca. The food is fresh and as close to authentic as you can get without being authentic. The servers are generally inviting, friendly, and check in often. The ambiance gives you the feel of a Hispanic restaurant with culture surrounding you. One of my top favorites. And their new spot is proving to be better than the original place they were at across the street.

We are hosting a graduation party this weekend, and my sister's favorite food in Ithaca is Viva tacos. She really wanted tacos from Viva for her celebration, so we followed their instructions to place a catering order and emailed twice with all the details--only to receive no response. I then called two more times asking to speak with a manager and was completely disregarded. Finally, when I got through on my third attempt, the manager casually told me, "Yeah, I saw that email. We're going to be too busy to do your order," with no apology and no effort to inform us earlier. They had no intention of letting us know they couldn't fulfill our order until I chased them down. This was incredibly disappointing and unprofessional. Terrible customer service, and truly not what you'd expect from a local favorite. They had a chance to make someone's special day better...and completely dropped the ball :(

The food was great and so was the staff this is one of my favorite Mexican places and every time I visit my family friends it's always a must visit

Very mediocre. There are so many stellar restaurants in Ithaca, this one was a disappointment. The black beans had zero seasoning- we think they took them out of a can, rinsed them and put them on the plate with no seasoning. The rice was dry and boring. Felt like instant. The curtido- pickled carrots, onions and peppers- should have been pickled longer (days/weeks, not minutes). The guac was boring, blender made, no chunks of avocado, no cilantro... the chips were the highlight but scant for four people. Around the table, we had enchiladas (1 vegan and 1 chicken mole)- they were meh. Our friends had burritos (one fajita and idk what the other was). They like their meals. Desserts looked nice in the case but we skipped it. One huge plus point- you can have a conversation as the ambiance is nice and allows it. Wish the food was up to par.

I've been a loyal customer of Viva's since it opened. Food is always fresh, margaritas are delicious and the atmosphere is welcoming. Service used to be stellar as well. Went for dinner last night with a friend and had probably the worst service I've ever had in a restaurant. Server took forever just to take our drink order, then I guess he just forgot about taking our food order. Same thing with the check. I had to actually get up and go find him so I could pay the bill. He was hanging out in the back with friends and didn't seem the least bit concerned that I had to track him down. Wow. I hope they find better staff soon!

Great margheritas. I've been coming here for 12 years and I still like their food when I have that Mexican food craving. Grew up in California but this is still my "go to" for Mexican food. Consistently good and fulfills my craving every time! Also like the atmosphere both old and new. Good service and if you have to wait there's always chips and margaritas to please your palate. They have a large bar for drinks while you wait for your table. Definitely recommend!

Definitely check out Viva Taqueria if you're ever in the south of the border mood, or need your spirits lifted. The three of us had a really wonderful meal. Tacos were great, margaritas were delicious and the deserts were killer. Definitely ask the hostess to seat you in Madegan's section, if possible. She's magical, and made sure we had everything we wanted, exactly as we ordered. She also checked on us regularly, and moves a gracefully as a ballerina. Definitely worth the money! Rick

We stopped in here while we were visiting downtown Ithaca. The menu looked so good and I was excited to meet my in-laws here. Overall experience was just average, but to be fair we came on a Friday night at 5 pm when it was busy. The waitstaff seemed...disinterested. Food was average, nothing especially out of this world. The restaurant had a nice drink menu and we did enjoy our margaritas. Another heads up, parking is tough in this area and it's mostly on street. Be sure to give yourself an extra few minutes to park.

Food is always delicious and service is good. We did take out once. It was also fantastic bit we missed the good drinks. lol

Food was great! Highly recommend the quesadillas! Service was excellent and we were seated quickly. Has a great vibe and overall atmosphere for a Mexican style restaurant.

Delicious . Try the smothered burrito with the tomatillo sauce and shredded beef . The escabeche is absolutely fantastic as well as the cilantro lime slaw. Their orange limeades are also fantastic ! The new location is just as awesome as the last with much more space ! Check it out , you won't be disappointed. However ,I'm giving it 4 stars because as MANY others have stated.....The staff are snooty and could be more attentive to their customers . We waited almost 5-10 minutes before anyone even greeted us and there were a million workers on staff that day ( so please spare me that you are short staffed, because you're not. Staff literally walking around with their head in the clouds ignoring us. This is NOT a good way to run a business , unless your goal is to run it into the ground, then you're on the right track! Your staff really needs hospitality training for your loyal PAYING customers!!! ‍

Just had dinner at Viva Taqueria with some friends. Food ingredients not fresh, enchilada green tomatillo gummy, filling except for the chicken was questionable, beans and rice no particular taste dried out. Pomegranate margherita had a refrigerator smell. My modelo negro beer was good. Chips were greasy. Enough.

Our food was fantastic, service was quick and they have plenty of outdoor seating. Lovely place on the commons.

Probably more like 3.5 stars. Vegan nachos were really tasty and different. Basic burritos was good too! Would come back in a pinch, nothing was bad but also not amazing

The wrapped burrito was excellent. It was hot and well filled. Service was good. It was a great day to sit outside too.

Let's start with the positive. The outdoor dining here is excellent, with plenty of people watching to go along with your food. The prices are fair, the portions plentiful. The only true issue we had was service. It was lunch, and not overly busy. The server was absent for the most part, and would forget the items that we requested. (Like napkins when eating fajitas...). This didn't detract from enjoying lunch, but did add some annoyance to our visit.

Long wait and the hostess seemed annoyed at us asking for updates. They also don't take down phone numbers. Once we were seated food came out very fast and drinks were strong. I got the vegan nachos with tofu which were filling- no vegan cheese though so don't except actual "nachos". Friend also found a hair in her burrito.

Please do not patronize this restaurant! I had been going here for the last 15 years and once or twice a month for the last two years. Something has changed and I will never go back. About two weeks ago, I stopped in as I usually do, as a lone, single late 50's white woman. I asked for a table outside. Mind you, it was 2:00 in the afternoon on a weekday, and there were no more than 3-4 customers in the place. The host, who was not the usual gentlemen who seats me, informed me that " I was told not to sit single people at a table or outside. You are welcome to sit at the bar or get it to go" (said in a very condescending tone). Apparently he could tell by the look on my face that I was not okay with that and he offered to go "double check". When he came back he told me he could seat me, and took me to a table outside. I proceeded to order my usual of vegan nachos and an iced tea. As I ate my meal, my anger at this treatment grew. By the end, I couldn't even finish my meal and felt that I couldn't be cordial to discuss this treatment with the manager. A few weeks went by and I was in town again and decided to go back and talk to the manager and see if this is just a one-off or in fact a new policy. The same host was there when I walked in and again, condescendingly asked " Can I help you?" I asked to speak to a manager and he walked away and came back after a few moments to inform me that no manager was available. He asked what the issue was and I told him. He offered no apology for the treatment and would not assure me that I wouldn't encounter the same treatment if I returned again. He did offer to have someone call me. I left my name and number and never received a response back. If this had been a busy, full house Saturday night, I could well understand asking a single person to sit at the bar or get a "to go". But on an empty, weekday afternoon this treatment is insulting and rude. I will never go back and I would hope that others would not patronize an establishment with such an overtly discriminatory policy toward single patrons.

When returning to Ithaca post-graduation, Viva was the first spot my husband and I had to hit up. I feared that my memory of their nachos were better than they would be upon returning but I was wrong! The Macho Nachos were, and still are, the best nachos I have ever had. It is THE item to get here. Don't leave without ordering it. They also have vegan nachos, which I haven't tried, but they sounded delicious! I also got The Purist margarita and it was delicious. Our waiter recommended it as something less sweet and it totally hit the mark. The service was absolutely fantastic. Our waiter was helpful in guiding our choices, super friendly, and attentive to checking in on us. Viva is my favorite restaurant in Ithaca and I cannot recommend those nachos enough!

Delicious fresh foods. The service is fast, friendly and attentive. Crowded and loud because everyone is having a great time.

I have been passing Viva Taqueria for years and never stopped to eat. Last month I met my cool aunt and her husband for lunch at this fun restaurant. The wait staff is really nice, they didn't rush us and we had a delicious meal. Hope to return soon. Great for dates !!

Located in downtown ithaca, viva taqueria serves up Mexican food. We got a Super Smothered Burrito veggie style and a chicken taco. The burrito was good but not so much on the taco. I've had Mexican food from a lot of places and I wasn't that impressed. I felt that it lacks some core taste. This taste is very average to me.

First time here and I thought this place was okay. Food: I got the super platter, which comes with 4 soft taco skins, guac, salsa, rice, beans, cheese, and sour cream. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not a big fan of tacos, but the taste wasn't anything amazing. It was sort of bland and I should've used some of the hot sauces to add more flavor. Service: It was okay. Wait time was relatively long. Besides that, there was not much interaction as we ordered the food, waited to be called, grabbed the food, and sat down. Price: I would say for the super platter, it's not worth the $8.50. However, I'm also not surprised that it's priced this much. Portion size was okay. Ambiance: Inside is somewhat nice in terms of decoration. The seating area is somewhat small and lacking. Would I come back? Maybe, but there are probably better options out there. For a first time? Sure, give it a try if you're a vegetarian. There are definitely a good amount of options for you. They can also make things vegan was well, so in terms of accommodating to specific diets, they are pretty good.

Viva serves some seriously amazing food! One of the best Mexican places I have tried so far in Ithaca. The super smothered burrito with shredded beef brisket was so amazing. The flavors truly went so well together, from the soft tortilla to the delicious pinto beans and tender/flavorful brisket. Additionally, the sides of pickled jalapeños, carrots, and garlic perfectly cut through the flavor of the burrito with its acidity. We also had an amazingly kind waitress that allowed us to try some of her favorite sauce (the Mole sauce) and she was extremely helpful in helping us make our decision when ordering. Just make sure if you come on a busy night to get there early because you will likely have to wait around 30ish minutes!!

Amazing experience here :) very chill and nice service and we had a comfortable seat by the window overlooking the street. The vegan nachos were a great choice. Burritos and tacos are very affordable. Odd mechanism to get water out of the sink.

Food was really tasty. The service with our waitress was great and quick. Sat outside and enjoyed the Ithaca Commons.

Stopped over here twice - once on a busy Sunday night in the area dedicated for quick eating (taqueria), and then again on Monday afternoon for a relaxed sit-down meal (cantina). Generally inviting decor and lots of bustle with waiters/bartenders doing their thing. First go around, shared the Super Nachos ($8) - a pile of warm chips, salsa, guac, sour cream, jalapenos, and cheese. Chips were a little burnt but everything on top covered that taste. Washed it down with a Mango Frozen Margarita ($8) which always helps matters. For the sit-down meal, ordered the Steak Fajitas ($17) - several slices of steak, grilled peppers, onions, and a pile of soft tortillas. Okay collection of ingredients, could have used some cheese or sour cream. Can be a little hectic at night; way easier to get around in the morning/afternoon.

My friend who attended Ithaca College, as well as our Airbnb host recommended Viva, and I am so glad they did! We ordered chips and guac, and I had the red sangria. Both were delicious, and the sangria came in two sizes. I ordered the larger one and it was only $10 for a huge glass! For our meal I ordered two chicken tacos, rice, and beans. My partner, Chris, had the smothered burrito. We both really enjoyed our meals, which were also very reasonably priced. Our server was lovely and the outdoor seating set-up is very spacious and cute! We hope to visit again whenever we are back in the area.

Was looking forward this , unfortunately the waitress never waited in us, took order for two other tables that arrived after us. Those tables food arrived and we were still waiting . A waitress finally ask us if we were ready and I said "yes we've been waiting a while . She said " good for you " first of all not a nice thing to say and not appropriate. Food came and was cold . We spent 90 dollars. Will not be returning and as others have said in comments before me Staff has a attitude .

Either the restaurant is straight up closed, the bar is not open for seating that particular day (weird) or there's a hour wait for a table. There is no in-between. Take my money dammit, I need a margarita!

My husband has been going to Viva for over 25 years since it was a little take out only joint. We live about an hour away and have been there a few times per year until the pandemic. And we have always LOVED it...until now. We went yesterday, and sadly it was quite average. The chicken mole was so spicy it was hard to enjoy, the calabacitas vegetarian filling which I always loved was bland, and the red sangria tasted more like juice than wine. The best thing we had was the shredded beef tacos, and our kids liked the chicken burritos and chorizo quesadilla they had. Viva has also moved across the street and although the space can accommodate more people it just didn't have the same cozy, energetic vibe. It was 5:30 PM on a Saturday and it was kind of quiet and half empty. Our service was friendly, attentive and fast. We will try it again in the future because you can always have an off night, and hoping yesterday was just a fluke.

The music being played was about food, witch made me hungry. The burrito I ordered ended up being just refried beans and rice. Strange but tasty.

Viva is an institution to me. Being an alum of Ithaca College, this place is a must if you're a college kid, parent of a college kid, an Ithaca local, just passing through, and more. Their tequila selection is extensive. Their food is fresh. Service is always polite and courteous. There's options for most dietary restrictions, and all are delicious so bring your friends! A rather small establishment, it can be a wait to grab a table and it's almost always packed to the gills, so call ahead if you can. My absolute favorites are the macho nachos, chicken fajita quesadilla and the Goat Margaritas. Order any one of those and I promise you can't be too disappointed in me.

Viva Taqueria is a pretty passable Mexican place in the Commons - the food is pretty mediocre and the service is almost nonexistent, but what it lacks in frills it compensates for by being pretty inexpensive. Most entrees are around $10, and the portion sizes are pretty massive - a smothered burrito could almost be shared by two people. The last time I came, my sister and I were seated immediately outside. I had a super smothered burrito with chicken, which came with all the bells and whistles (sour cream, cheese, guac, rice, beans, etc.) and I ordered it with ranchero sauce. It also came with some slaw and pickled vegetables on the side, which proved to be a nice and acidic contrast to the heavy, savory burrito. I thought the chicken in the burrito was fairly bland, and my other major qualm is that the ingredients weren't mixed very well inside. However, the ranchero sauce was yummy, and again, for $10 it's hard to complain (although I have to say, gun to my head I'd rather have a Chipotle burrito). Service was fast and friendly but very minimal. Also, our server split our check without us asking, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing in our case since we most likely would have gone dutch anyway but would have been kinda annoying if we had wanted to pay together. Other complaints include the fact that chips and salsa are an additional charge; in my opinion, they should be complimentary at a Mexican restaurant like Viva, and usually are. I've only had the margaritas once and didn't think they were very good at all, but they're very inexpensive and it's possible it was just the bartender on that given night. TL;DR: Better than a lot of the other cheap food in Ithaca, but there are so many great spots in the Commons that I'd rather pay a little more and have a nicer experience.

Chipotle has better quality food. They messed up my order. It's just overall mediocre.

I got take out, and it was quite good, but it's hard to fully evaluate as it was not fresh when we ate it. But it was ready pretty quickly and very tasty.

Not friendly to senior citizens. Neither the new facility or the service. The interior stairs are difficult for those with hip or knee problems. When I walked in, four or five young women at the hostess station just stared at me. I said I would like a table. One at gave me a nasty look, picked up a menu, and pretty much ran down those stairs. As I made my way down, I saw that plenty of tables were available. When I got to the bottom of the stairs I turned as the hostess had, but she was nowhere to be seen. I saw a menu on a table and realized that was where she had seated me. It was a tiny table in a dark windowless corner at the back of bar and we'll away from the actual dining area. Lots of personnel ran back and forth and it was noisy. The waitress seemed to find the situation amusing. The loud and clear message was that old people are not wanted.

Entire place was staffed with very young kids, not very professional. The food did not taste that good; you could get a better burrito from Chipotle. Music didn't match the restaurant. Definitely would not come here again.

Love the Chicken Mole Burrito! Great atmosphere, friendly service and good food. Will often get takeout and it's always quick.

I lived in San Diego so I know I can't quite compare Mexican food but like....Viva is not it. I've tried Viva twice since being back in Ithaca and both times the food has been incredibly bland. Tastes like there is no seasoning or they forgot to season the food and the salsas are also bland and tasteless. I know they say they aren't authentic Mexican but I feel like some type of seasoning could be used to give it some type of flavor. Disappointed.

Great, authentic Mexican food in a fabulous, colorful space full of Mexican treasures to admire.

Great food, quick friendly service, excellent guacamole and the prices were reasonable. Definitely would come back next time we are in town

A friend told us to try this restaurant while we're in town visiting, so we did. To start with we ordered the queso fundido and let me just tell ya we could stop there. Never have I seen "queso" that looked like this. It was pure liquid with some chunks of cheese in it, non edible. Should just stick with slamming margaritas down.

Service took forever .food was bland for mexican food and it was extremely noisy ..did not like this place ...I don't get all the hype

An Ithaca Staple. If you can snag a spot on their patio on a summer day, you better make the right choice and mine is usually the taco salad with buttermilk dressing and chicken. Once I switched it up with beef and that was a bad move but just because it was super salty. Spent my 21st birthday here with my family years ago and I remember eating the enchiladas with mole sauce and those were goooood. Can't imagine not having this place in town.

I'll start by saying that I like how this place is decorated. The other thing that I really liked was the multiple options in the menu that also included vegan and vegetarian. I went there on a Friday evening and it was packed but the waiting wasn't long for a party of five. We tried out the nachos and they were superb. However, the food that I ordered (cantina platter and house margarita) was lacking in seasoning/spirits. Since I liked how some of the plates from my friends looked, I hope to try something different on my next visit.