Vivo

Vivo is one of the latest Manor hotties, so to speak. It's nicely and wildly decorated, it's got a wonderful outside patio with a beautiful fountain and it's got good food. What more do you need for a trendy spot on Manor? Well, not much but Vivo adds to the list by having some of the better puffy tacos around Austin. Their salsas are also spicy and smoky. My only down-point is that Vivos is ALWAYS crowded. You have to show up at 11 AM to be able to have a table and be able to leave an hour and a half later. Not very work-lunch friendly. But their food makes up for the tardiness. more

Vivo is a place that has a very interesting and unique selection of dishes, all of which are very appetizing and filling (among the ones I have tried). Try their puffy tacos--they're great and inexpensive. Their hours are somewhat limited, so check ahead of time--I believe they're closed on the weekend. Also, on Fridays, for lunch, they give gorgeous, multi-colored long stem roses to all the females who come in, and they have rose petals in the bathroom. The decor is neat and modernistic, and the bathrooms are very clean (a plus!). more

I'm reserved to offer up my hearty endorsement of Vivo simply because I'd rather not wait longer for a table! But the secret is already out: once a hidden east Austin gem, Vivo is cranking out the best mexican food and tastiest margaritas in a sophisticated setting and people have noticed. The wait might be long on weekends, but it's certainly bearable with a Sangria Margarita in a hulking glass garnished with a fresh cut flower. It might be the only drink you need. Live entertainment and DJs also set the tone on weekends with an elaborate outdoor patio for dining with enough plants and waterfalls makes you feel like you're on vacation. What's great about Vivo is the healthy fresh mexican food with an authentic mexican flair: a fresh air from the typical tex mex. Don't pass up the puffy tacos! Females in your dining party get free roses when leaving and I'm told of special touches in the girls' bathroom. more

I've just come from Vivo. The Eastside hot spot offers a lovely deck full of brightly colored plants. But quite frankly, it's too hot to sit outside, and no amount of water -- misted, drunk, poured directly over your head -- can cool the body down enough. Fortunately, Vivo has an inside drinking area. A dozen chairs line the bar, a quartet of tall tables provide plenty of room to nosh, and a pair of large brown leather loveseats complement an ottoman or two and low wooden rustic coffee table. Instead of tropical flowers, vivid paintings of vibrant women match the colors of patrons' margaritas, which come in strawberry, raspberry, mango and prickly pear flavors, along with the more traditional lime. Of course, drinking at Vivo can be expensive: the house margarita is $8.95 (for $21.95 you can have a liter to share with friends-- or daintily sip a small for $4.95), and all 'ritas (except the small ones) come with a orchid in them as garnish -- a gesture so extravagant and gorgeous you forget you've paid $10 for your drink. more