Vive Sol

I’m struggling to give this place even two stars after today’s meal. I love the food here and, as usual, it was outstanding — the guajillo sauce is divine and the pork enchiladas were wonderful, but the wait staff made us wait for everything. It took forever to place our drink order and when I asked for sugar for ice tea he looked at me weird then went off — eventually after asking again he brought a thing with about four different artificial sweeteners and took off. It took over half an hour to get one pack of regular sugar, by which time it wasn’t really ice tea anymore. Then after the meal we all wanted dessert so we each ordered flan, which apparently is their only dessert — waiter goes off and comes back some time later — «oh, no flan»… Oh well…
The place is suffering big time because of the construction project just before them (you can’t see them from the street right now and the sign is obstructed by construction equipment). When I went there was even a cone blocking the driveway (which I moved to make it more clear). I feel bad for them since this must have been going on for a while and the place was only about ¼ full. I hate to see such a great place tank like this. I hope they can fix this… But honestly a halfway attentive waiter would have gone a very long way…

Mexican food isn’t always cheap, and rarely is pricey Mexican food worth it, BUT I dare say that Vive Sol definitely is. The inside is deceptively nice; the outside has a large brightly colored sign and overgrown vegetation, alluding to cheaper Mexican fare but don’t be fooled. Their ‘bar’ is tiny – it seats four people, so I would assume getting white girl wasted off of their extensive margarita list may be discouraged – this isn’t El Torito. Speaking of margaritas, I got the Sol margarita. It tasted good – not so strong that I felt I was being punched in the face, but with enough tequila to know you shouldn’t sip this in church.
If the margaritas aren’t enough to get you here, the food is delicious. When I came here I had an overwhelming craving for ceviche, and it was the best I’ve had in a while. They give you huge chunks of fish and avocado, which I prefer over a small dice that most places give you because I’m a small girl with a big appetite. I also had a ravenous craving for tacos, but seeing few options for this, I ordered the carne asada entrée which comes with tortillas and all the taco fixins so you can make your own damn tacos. I willingly forfeited this option because the carne asada was so. Damn. Good. I couldn’t quite pinpoint what they used to marinate it, but that just means I’ll have to keep returning until I do. The date got the bistec ranchero or something I don’t remember because I was too infatuated with my food. The portion is also veryyyyyyyy generous. Unfortunately I was wearing a pencil skirt that was threatening to unravel itself if I ate any more.
In regards to ambience, it’s dark and has candles and soft overhead lighting and whatnot so I guess it’s romantic, but it’s hard to be sexy when you’re scarfing down enough meat & beans to compromise the tailoring of your clothing, but hey, priorities.

I came here today based on a friend recommending this place to me, and the good Unilocal reviews, however, I was somewhat disappointed.
I ordered a vegetarian burrito and it really was nothing special. I thought the sauce on top was too spicy, even though I had gotten the «mild» one.
My total, with tip was $ 18.26. For one so so burrito?! I think I’ll go somewhere else! I can get three, tastier burritos from somewhere else in that price!
Additionally, they didn’t let me take the chips and salsa home, which were almost untouched. I had wanted to share them with my siblings, but no, when I asked to pack them, they said «sorry, these are for dine-​in only.» What the heck… So they would rather throw them away then let customers take them with them and enjoy them.
What I liked about the place was the décor inside.
I won’t be returning. Wayy overpriced for mediocre food.

I’ll start by saying I never eat out Mexican, well at least not on my own choice. It’s usually a decent option to satisfy multiple people though.
Came here with a very large group and the staff was incredibly sccomodating.
The menu was pretty standard, very enchilada and burrito heavy. Seems a bit too easy and simple in my opinion. Not a bad price point for the area, but a bit more than I thought the quality of the food warranted.
Portions were generous. Salsa was ok, a bit bland and runny.
The pitcher drinks were incredibly weak and sweet. We ordered. A few solo margaritas and they were much more respectable.
I’d go again if it was a group thing or I wanted to take my grandparents out. But personally I think there are better and more creative options around.

Fantastic Margaritas, fresh nacho’s, enchiladas made with a wide variety of unbelievably tasty sauces.
— Srini’s Culinary Exposures

We eat here regularly and it’s consistently good. I had the chicken soup — great on a chilly night. Hubby had pollo Guajillo which comes in a thick orange sauce and loved it. Service was fine. Good margaritas too.

It was great food. Why only 4 stars? We came here for a few bdays and brought our own cake. What we were not told was that they charge $ 10 as a serving fee. I’m not tripping about $ 10 but you should let your customers know beforehand, and if it’s a SERVING fee, at least serve us the cake. They only brought out the cake and left it on our table.

When it’s good this place is incredible, but when it’s bad it’s awful. I’ve had some truly mind-​blowing dinners here, but my last visit (about two weeks ago), I choked on what appeared to be a few small bones in my chicken enchiladas; went to wash it down with water and realized that my water smelled and tasted strange. Couldn’t bring myself to finish my dinner after that. I will eventually come back and give them the benefit of the doubt because Vive Sol really is five stars-​worthy most of the time, but with the last experience leaving a rough image I won’t be back for awhile. I noticed later on that the menu cautions against possible bones in your food. Pay attention to what you’re eating as you’re eating here! Cut up your burritos and enchiladas prior to eating and look at your food!

Stpped in late and waited 45 min to be seated. Cold inside and outside. The free chips are a little flat in taste. The sauces and service are good. Nice looking place with no parking.
The bottom line is some food items are above average and others are below. The drinks are ok. I give this place 3.5 stars.

This wasn’t quite the Mexican I was looking for (Southern CA style). As a vegetarian, I’m generally on the hunt for super tasty refried beans and flavorful rice. I got a plate that included a chili relleno, but wasn’t too on-​board with what I got. For me, the batter on the relleno was too thick. The beans and rice also weren’t the best. I did really love the chips and salsa they brought in the beginning, but I’m not ready to call this my neighborhood Mexican restaurant yet.
Perhaps, I just should have ordered something else from the menu. For now, I think I’ll have to continue my sojourns to the Mission in the city for Mexican food…

Place: Ambience is nice. It has a small bar. It’s hard to find parking because the parking lot is small.
Service: We waited awhile for our server but he was friendly. Had to ask for water a few times.
Food: There’s complimentary chips; however, it was a little stale. The guacamole was mediocre. The main dish was good; I ordered steak and it was flavorful.
Overall, it was a good experience. I think the guacamole is overpriced though.

From 5 stars to 2 stars, how?
a. poor service
b. increased prices
I went back on at least two occasions. My friend and I received such poor service from the waiter. It’s understandable if you’re busy. It’s not acceptable to be rude and uncourteous to your patrons. Our waiter was very short with us and seemed irritated the entire time. Sorry if you’re having a bad day. You’re in a service job. Don’t show up, or fake it. Especially if we’re trying to be very pleasant and strike up conversation with you.
The prices noticeably increased as someone mentioned.
A burrito for lunch is listed at $ 14.50. A burrito. $ 14.50.
Ridiculous. I notified my friend. We stood up, walked out, headed to another local Mexican restaurant.
Rincon Sabroso, a mere 5-​minute drive away, has burritos on the order of $ 5. That’s one third of the price. So instead of paying $ 20, I paid $ 7 including tax and tip. The service there? Oh they are very friendly as always.
So what are you paying for at Vive Sol? I guess it’s the fancy light fixtures and atmosphere. So you can either enjoy that $ 13 hot air and poor service. Or feel free to go enjoy good food and good service somewhere else at literally one-​third of the price. You choose.

How this place gets higher than a 3 star rating on Unilocal is beyond me. The décor is nice, but other than that, this place has nothing going for it.
I came in earlier today with my fiancé. We both received a cold welcome from a waitress that looked very uninterested in being at the restaurant. The chips and salsa were pretty good, which gave us an impression that the food would be great.
I’m a huge fan of mexican food and have eaten at many taquerias and upscale mexican restaurants, including spots in Mexico. The meal I had tonight from Vive Sol was probably one of the worst mexican dishes I’ve had. I ordered the pork adobo burrito and was extremely underwhelmed. The burrito (which costs $ 15 dollars) consisted of the flour tortilla, pork and adobo sauce. The sauce itself barely had any flavor. The pork was tough and flavorless. Absolutely disgusting. The best part of my meal was the flour tortilla.
I can think of atleast 10 – 20 places in the South Bay area to get better better Mexican food for a fraction of the cost. The restaurant has a cool ambiance and the chips/​salsa are great, but beyond this, Vive Sol is simply flavorless.

Love love love this place. Beautifully decorated with a really nice outdoor eating area, equipted with its own bar. Never a long wait and top-​notch margaritas to pass the time. The margaritas come in large red wine glasses and are made with freshly squeezed juice.
We have had excellent service everytime, from the beautiful, welcoming hosteses to the superb servers. Ask for Jose, who also goes by JJ. He has been there a long time and has great recommendations and a cool vibe.
Summing up the food would be high-​end, traditional Mexican food. The three salsas that come to your table with chips are soooooo good. My favorite dish, is a vegetarian enchilada plate, that is smothered in black beans. The mixture of the veggies inside, how they grill the corn tortillas and the the yummy toppings on top, make for lots of deliciousness. We always order the guacamole, also really good. My boyfriend ovders veggie fajitas (not on the menu), quite often and they are just as delicious.
We come to Mountain View at least once a week and I almost always opt to eat at ViVe Sol, you can’t go wrong!

THE MOLE SAUCE. To die for. I come here for the chicken enchiladas in mole sauce. This mole sauce can change your life. I never knew how much I liked mole sauce until I tried it here. You have to order this! You can order anything, but make sure it has the mole sauce! The chicken entrée in mole was good too, but I prefer the enchiladas. The chips, salsa, and Guac are all wonderful too. Great starter if you decide you want something to start.
The margaritas are pretty strong so it’s a good place to come for dinner with friends! It’s a really cute place so could be a great date spot too. And it is always packed when I get there around 530 – 6. Service is top notch here too. I’ve ordered take out a few times and they’re always prompt!

Came here with my boyfriend after his dad had recommended it. We both got enchiladas and margaritas, and the food was absolutely delicious! The service was great and we will definitely be going back!

Came here due to the great Unilocal reviews!!! Thanks guys because this place was not a disappointment! Such good food and the location is hidden but the more you drive in the the place gets bigger! There’s a ton of parking at the back of the restaurant! And the restaurant has two buildings with outside seating. The severs were nice and attentive! I loved their blush margarita! I think I went overboard had 3! Luckily I wasn’t driving because those things are strong! Cant wait to come back for more !

Not up to par with the Sol network of restaurants that I know and adore, those being Palo Alto Sol and Quinto Sol (Redwood City). Thus, this was of upmost disappointment on Date Night.
Our experience entailed poor service, mediocre food (one incorrect order; sans apology from waiter, but blamed the cook instead… not a good look), mediocre drinks, and all around not a good experience.
They get one star for their patio, but we will not return. We’ll stick to our beloved Palo Alto Sol and Quinto Sol.

3 ½ stars
I like getting the enchiladas here. However, I will say that I’ve never had enchiladas before going to Vive Sol so I have no idea if they are considered «good» or «authentic.» The tacos, I don’t like so much. The tacos were a bit too big and packed to overflowing. I appreciate getting the most out of my money but this was difficult and messy to eat. The meat in the tacos were literally chunks of meat and lacked flavor. Heaping on the salsas that came with the chips at the beginning of the meal helped a bit.
Overall the food is very filling so I don’t mind (too much) spending about $ 15 for a plate of food. I would rather get just a half of the plate for a lower price so I’m not trying to fight a food coma, though.

Eh. Major letdown given the reviews… but I guess that’s on par for the area.
The whole experience was very mediocre. Service wasn’t bad, but it was generally slow and the entrees took 40 minutes to come out. Our ceviche was sent to the wrong table, and they didn’t notice until we asked about it. Then the waiter moved it from that table to our table without offering us a new dish. Hm. They were also pushy about drinks, when we just wanted to order food.
The food itself was very average. The complementary chips and salsa trio fell flat. I’m usually easy to please with salsa, but found all three to be very forgettable.
The ceviche was the worst ceviche I’ve had in recent memory. The rockfish was tough, not fresh, and tasted off. There wasn’t enough seasoning either.
Chilpachole De Mariscos (seafood soup) — This had more of that iffy fish from the ceviche, only three jumbo shrimp, and way too much miniature shrimp as filler. The depth of flavor just wasn’t there. Did I expect it to be as good as the seafood soup I had in Playa Del Carmen? No, but Vive Sol’s version wasn’t even on the same playing field. Disappointing.
Pollo Guajillo — Chicken was way too dry with no seasoning. The sauce was tasty, but the flavor was completely separate from the chicken. It tasted like they reheated plain chicken and poured the sauce over it.
Lomo De Puerco (pork tenderloin) with chorizo and manchego cheese — This was the only tasty dish. Good flavor on the pork and from the Poblano sauce.
Rice and bean sides were below average.
We didn’t try any of the staples — enchiladas, burritos, etc, because we wanted to get a feel for the Puebla specialities. Seems that like was the wrong call.

Anyone remotely near the Bay Area needs to visit Vive Sol — hands down the best chile rellenos I have ever eaten in my entire life!
I used to make chile rellenos from scratch — a culinary endeavor that requires a good amount of patience and time — and these taste even better than homemade!
They are as fluffy as a cloud and so incredibly tender that every time I eat them I want to eat them for every meal the rest of my life.
I have even had foodie dreams about eating at this restaurant. That’s how good it is!
The margaritas are on deck and the salsa trio with chips is excellent as well
Keep up the good work! Please open a location in Orange County!!!

Came here for my first time the other day.
We were greeted nicely at the door and seated promptly. Our server was courteous and always made we had water and fresh chips and salsa at the table!
My friend and I had their house margarita and habanero margarita. Both were delicious with a decent amount of tequila inside.
I had their enchilada with molé sauce, and I was so pleased with how it turned out. Their molé is rich, creamy and delicious!
I would definitely recommend this place to a friend and plan on going back soon!
Only bad part we didn’t enjoy was the jerk that decided to block us in our parking spot. Not sure why employees didn’t seem to mind the random parking in the middle of the lot with no spots that ended up blocking customers in, but they let it happen. My friend had to complete a 87 point turn through bushes to get out. That was annoying, but besides that, we had a good experience.

On my mom’s birthday, we all headed to Chevy’s to celebrate. Unfortunately, the Mountain View location is apparently closed so we decided to go here instead since it was very close by.
You can park in the back and walk in that door, which is what we did. We were seated immediately since we got there early, the place quickly filled up after that. Our server seemed rushed, but was friendly enough. They start you off with chips and salsa, none of which were that amazing in my opinion (including the chips). I can’t find an online menu to recall the exact name of my order, but I got two vegetarian enchiladas, one with a mole sauce which was just okay and one with a cream based sauce which was better. The rice and beans were good! My dad also got enchiladas and seemed to like his, while my mom and brother got quesadillas which they felt «meh» about.
The waiter popped by several times to see how we were doing which was nice and all but it can be irritating when you’re having a conversation that keeps being interrupted. I prefer to eat in peace and signal the waiter/​waitress if needed. At the end, he also handed us the bill saying to take our time but we could tell he was ready for us to leave so our table would be freed up.
The atmosphere was cozy and nice, but the restaurant was quite loud with lots of families with young children. Then again, we went out early. I’m not sure I’ll be back, it was pretty overpriced: $ 14.50 for a burrito and $ 15 for my enchiladas, which were just okay for the price. The patio seems nice for warmer days, however.