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Vida Cantina Reviews List
Vida Cantina
Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina is uptown Charlotte's first Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, serving traditional Mexican cuisine alongside handcrafted cocktails, an extensive list of tequilas and signature Skinny Margaritas. Vida is located at Charlotte's most vibrant corner - the intersection of Trade and College Streets - Vida is the perfect location to enjoy specialty Mexican fare for lunch and dinner.
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75 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Rating Breakdown 75 reviews
5 stars
(32)
4 stars
(27)
3 stars
(13)
2 stars
(2)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- hot spot(35)
- good for groups(34)
- fit for foodies(30)
- vibrant bar scene(29)
- great for lunch(23)
- great for outdoor dining(17)
Vida Cantina Reviews List
Review 1 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Repeat Customer!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Vida was such a great restaurant to celebrate my sister's birthday. The drinks were delicious, the food was outstanding (that's coming from a picky eater), and our waitress, Jenny, was spectacular. The salsa before your meal was a tad spicy but since I love spicy, no complaints here. The queso was out of this world! You have to get the queso. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Mexican cuisine."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, late-night find, hot spot, special occasion
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Review 2 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Mother's Day surprise
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"My boys and I took out their mother for a day filled with a variety of uptown events. We started with a great brunch at Vida Cantina.
Diane our waitress was awesome. Endless smiles."
Diane our waitress was awesome. Endless smiles."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: great for brunch, special occasion
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Review 3 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Tuesday $2 Tacos are Awesome!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We were kidding when we asked if there was a Tuesday Taco special but low and behold there was! The Carnita and Chicken tacos were excellent. The guac made tableside is not to be missed!"
Dined on 5/07/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, vibrant bar scene, great for outdoor dining, notable wine list, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, great for lunch, special occasion
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Review 4 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Weekday lunch
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Vida continues to deliver at lunch."
Dined on 04/23/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, great for lunch, hot spot
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Review 5 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
I enjoyed my visit to this
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I enjoyed my visit to this restaurant. I wish the young lady I had taken with me enjoyed my company there more than she did, but the restaurant was a cool place, nevertheless!"
Dined on 04/02/2013
2011
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, late-night find, romantic, scenic view
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Review 6 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Blackened Ahi Tuna is delicious.
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Blackened Ahi Tuna is delicious."
Dined on 04/02/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, late-night find, romantic, scenic view, great for lunch, hot spot
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Review 7 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Possibly the best Mexican ever.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We had a small group all of whom had wonderful food. Best was the one above base margarita, the partita, a little sweet and with wonderful agave. Top notch. Also the crane asana was spectacular as was the corn. I've had a lot of Mexican, and this ranked up there with the best of my life. High praise. Also the service and recommendations were excellent."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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Review 8 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We had a good time the food
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We had a good time the food was very good."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2012
Special Features: good for groups
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Review 9 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Vida is one of my favorite
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Vida is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. I like to come with friends for drinks or with family. It also accommodates large to ups well."
Dined on 03/25/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, good for groups, great for brunch
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Review 10 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Thursday lunch
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I took my fiancee and her mom there for lunch. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The chicken tinga entree is so good."
Dined on 03/21/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, great for lunch
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Review 11 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Food was awesome. Can't wait
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
"Food was awesome. Can't wait to go nack."
Dined on 03/15/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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Review 12 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Very thoughtful and a great
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Very thoughtful and a great great place. Highly recommended."
Dined on 03/08/2013
2013
Special Features: late-night find, romantic, hot spot
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Review 13 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Went to Vida Cantina before
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Went to Vida Cantina before concert at Time Warner Cable Arena. Had seven in our party and were seated comfortably. Food and margaritas were excellent. Easy walk to concert - highly recommend for a fun night out!"
Dined on 03/05/2013
2005
Special Features: good for groups, hot spot
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Review 14 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Everything at Vida is always
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Everything at Vida is always great!!! I always hit this place up before or after Bobcats games, or before a night on the town."
Dined on 02/23/2013
2011
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, late-night find
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Review 15 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The food and the atmosphere
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The food and the atmosphere is excellent. Service was not as good."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, romantic, special occasion
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Review 16 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Thumbs up!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Love the food and Vida's. It's always so fresh. Our server Jenn is the bomb. She makes our dining experience such a pleasure. The manager, Mary always greats us too and makes us feel special. I highly recommend Vida's."
Dined on 02/13/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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Review 17 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Excellent UpTown Treat!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Wife and I took the opportunity to enjoy an uptown treat. Friends of ours had mentioned that Vida has great surf and turf tacos, however, the tacos al pasteur were even better! The valet parking next door was perfect. We pulled up, dropped the car with the valet , and walked right in the restaurant. Everything on the menu looked great. The margaritas and the tequila flights were also excellent! Definitely be going there again in the very near future."
Dined on 02/09/2013
2005
Special Features: neighborhood gem, hot spot
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Review 18 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
As all ways the food ways
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"As all ways the food ways excellent unfortunately the service was terrible.
- Hostess was rude and had applied way too much of here favorite perfume
- We ordered queso and only received one bowl of chips. we tried to get the attention of waitstaff but to no avial.
- We saw our waiter a total 4 times during our seating but did remove the cost of the queso based on not having received ample chips.
- Hostess was rude and had applied way too much of here favorite perfume
- We ordered queso and only received one bowl of chips. we tried to get the attention of waitstaff but to no avial.
- We saw our waiter a total 4 times during our seating but did remove the cost of the queso based on not having received ample chips.
Bottom line, Vida needs to get its act together from a service perspective or they will suffer a slow unrecoverable restaurant death. Downtown is way to competitive for these types of issues"
Dined on 02/09/2013
2012
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Review 19 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Vida is awesome!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"yummy food. friendly staff. positive energy. Highly recommend."
Dined on 01/30/2013
2009
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
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Review 20 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Always a Fun Spot
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Vida has an electric atmosphere! The staff is awesome! The food is delicious and the frozen margaritas alone are a reason for a visit!"
Dined on 02/01/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for lunch, hot spot
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Review 21 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The food comes out very quickly
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The food comes out very quickly -- don't order everything you will have at one time or you'll be rushed through the meal. The food arrived within a minute or two of ordering and it was not evenly heated -- cold in some spots, hot in others. Clearly, this is prepared in advance and microwaved. The food is OK, but their reputation exceed the product's quality. We probably won't return any time soon. Go acrioss the street to Aria if you want a resturant quality meal."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2007
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Review 22 for Vida Cantina
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service was impeccable, food
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Service was impeccable, food was very good-
Wine suggestions from our waiter, Ricky, were excellent and added to the quality experience of the attentive service while the food was very good and delivered quickly and hot."
Wine suggestions from our waiter, Ricky, were excellent and added to the quality experience of the attentive service while the food was very good and delivered quickly and hot."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2013
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Vida Cantina
Based on the average of (53) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
4 out of 4 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic