New Upscale Restaurant Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina Galleria Mall St. Louis
Lunch : Dinner : Happy Hour : Brunch : Late Night
The old Houlihan's restaurant at the north end of Galleria Mall in St. Louis was finally replaced, and with a restaurant that was totally worth the wait. It's was really nice to see the Galleria's addition of a great upscale restaurant (and one that wouldn't hurt your wallet very much) to their venue. Two words: totally impressed. And I do mean totally. From the finest made to order tequila drinks to street tacos that were to die for.
Unfortunately, Vida has closed their doors (more on why if we find out why), just a scant eight months later. Which is quite a shame, as their chips and salsa were a favorite and I'll never again have another one of their perfectly tantalizing margaritas. Such is the restaurant biz in St. Louis, however. There was a definite boom in upscale restaurants, and not all could survive. Vida should have.
Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina in Charlotte, North Carolina, the original restaurant, is still alive and well however. And I'm guessing that their excellent food is not far off from the Vida I was fortunate enough to experience here in St. Louis. So I've decided to go ahead and keep the articles, let my mouth water, and start saving up all my change for a trip to Charlotte. Viva la Vida!
Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Photo courtesy Vida Cantina St. Louis on Facebook.
St. Louis has it's share of Mexican restaurants, but it doesn't have one as perfect as Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina. When St. Louisan Drew Graefe was asked if he would be interested in running Vida here in his home town, he was hesitant. But after visiting the original Vida in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was so impressed, there was no question in his mind that St. Louis was lacking. There was a definite need in St. Louis for the type of food and dining experience Vida has to offer. Great for family dining (high chairs available), celebrating a new venture, going on a date, showing off that new pair of shoes, or just getting together with friends.
Vida in St. Louis serves terrific, authentic, Mexican dishes made from quality ingredients, house made, fresh from their kitchen to your table.
“The atmosphere we’ve created embodies food and drink the way it should be made – by hand, from scratch, with real, quality ingredients – and we believe that’s exactly what locals are looking for when deciding where they want to eat and drink,” said Drew Graefe, Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina’s Operating Partner.
Looking for pork, beef, steak, chicken, fish and seafood, or eggs? They've got you covered. Choose from quite an intriguing array of starters, soups and salads, combo plates, featured specials, sides, and lunch and dinner foods. Feast on divine deserts, your choice from hundreds of drinks, and even enjoy a nice brunch on Sundays AND Saturdays.
Looking for something not so traditional? Vida has the biggest, tastiest, and most unexpectedly wonderful burritos. And for those seeking non traditional Mexican foods, they offer... delicious certified Angus beef cheese burgers.
Something else not so traditional is their ambiance. You won't find sombreros or jumping beans. You will find modern decor and an American playlist that includes artists like The Beatles, Pink, and other favorites.
photo courtesy Black Twig LLC
Best of all you can fit dining at Vida St. Louis right into your dinner and a movie experience, your pleasure shopping, or your happy hour plans.
About twenty dollars a person should do the trick, including tip, for a shared appetizer, main course, desert, and soda or coffee. Bring extra cash for specialty drinks. Right now their weekly line up includes Margarita Mondays, Taco Sociale Tuesdays, Tequila Therapy every Thursday, and Fiesta Fridays.