Reviews of Mi Vida Restaurante (Restaurant)

Mr Chatterbox

Food was good and our server was great. The food is a little pricey for Mexican food but I expected it to be based on the restaurant's location. I came to celebrate my wifes birthday party with my 4 and 5 year old kids. We were seated next to the bar on the third floor. It was so loud in the room that I had to shout everything. I would not suggest a family meal during happy hour.

Georgia Lagoudas

Would have loved to give a higher rating, but the service and wait time for our food made the experience uncomfortable. Servers were friendly and helpful, but we ended up waiting over 45 minutes for our food, with other tables nearby getting their food even though they were seated after us. It was a pretty quiet time as well. Food was good but prices too high for what you get. Highly recommend the guacamole - but it is twice the price it should be.

Janice Overbeck

This restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere and the food was amazing. I had the meal with large scallops and shrimp over half green and half red sauce...I forgot the name. It was perfect.

Brittany Schneider

Went in for happy hour. Great happy hour price for margaritas and tacos. Steak tacos were our favorite and vegetarian nachos. Nice ambiance and attentive service at the bar from Zach and Kelly! Thanks guys!

Rudy Scott

Watch out for some spicy food! Ask how spicy things are if you're unsure.. unlike me that decided to wing it. I had the salmon which was perfectly cooked. The spinal was way too spicy for me and I ended up getting rice to calm my mouth down. I wish I'd gotten the corn my partner had...it was a much better side for me. Service wise our waiter was really nice and accommodating so overall a good experience for sure.

M Lawson

I have been to Mi Vida twice now and can say I have only had positive experiences. The tacos redefine love! I have never had better tacos and, even living an hour and a half away, I will be back for more!! The Queso Fondido is also amazing.

Hope Wright

great ambiance right on the waterfront. a small group from work went for a birthday lunch. able to eat outside and enjoy the view and weather. the free SW DC circulator bus meant it was a quick ride over from the national mall. great steak salad! will visit again.

Lev Agranovich, EA MSA CFC PA CDFA

A Mexico City native, author and acclaimed Chef/Owner of New York City’s FONDA restaurants, Roberto Santibañez has served as an ambassador of Mexican cuisine for over three decades. MI VIDA is the evolution of Chef’s culinary journey as he continues to explore his beloved Mexico.

Mike

Menu for the Restaurant Week dinner attached. Everything was very good. It was a Friday night so the place was packed. We sat inside so the room was loud. Take warning if you're going on a first date, very hard to hear the other person talk. Also, pretty expensive. Food was fantastic, service was top notch. I liked it very much.

Marico Hawes

This place has a nice location with plenty of waterfront views and the food was great. They have a tequila/mezcal menu. The service staff was attentive and we had a good time at the wharf.

Ashley Benjamin

Delish food, went for a working lunch a enjoyed a seasonal frozen margarita. Can't skip the guacamole!

Kristi Alfonso

Everything was fabulous! The french toast was to die for! Great service too!

Jay To Tampa

Never got a chance to eat. Waiter upstairs 2 floor 1pm friday had no patience for people that didnt understand the menu. Kept walking off when we were asking about menu it was wierd and uncomfortable. We left and spent money elsewhere.

Rob Link

Impressive restaurant with nice views of the water. Service was OK and the food was good but I ordered the mole enchiladas and the sauce was overwhelming - too much sauce and too strong. Left me with heartburn later on.

Melissa Rhea

We parked near The Wharf to walk up Maine Ave and see the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin (15 min walk). On the way back, I got hungry and Mi Vida was close by. The views and restaurant itself are beautiful. There are 3 levels (bar on 3) and a patio in addition to first floor indoor seating. On a Wednesday evening at 7:30 we were seated immediately and our server came shortly after. It has a nice ambiance and I really liked that the ambient noise wasn't so loud you couldn't have a conversation. The food is not authentic Mexican, but is delicious and errs on the spicy side. Don't hesitate to ask questions - our server knew his stuff! I had guac. Enchiladas, and a frozen margarita - all delicious.

bart2strong4u

amazing the recommendations and the drinks was good I have no complaints , they are doing an outstanding job

Mango MANGO

Random stop by with the lady and we were disappointed with the 90 min wait time and the upstairs bar being packed. As we got ready to look for an alternate place to eat, the guy doing security, helped make space at downstairs bar. We only had tacos but they were amazing!!! Between A-Aron and the security guard, they made the experience even better. As a general manager myself, I'm happy to say these guys purified m provided wonderful customer service!

Shannon Godfrey

This meal hit the spot. We ordered the beef brisket enchilada (lots of tender meat and mole), the tuna ceviche (a small serving but wonderful fresh flavours with a solid kick to the sauce), and the side salad (pretty good). We ate on the balcony for an early dinner with a delightful glass of Modelo. Top views of the wharf and almost too comfortable in the shade on a hot afternoon. Lovely staff and no wait to be seated outside.

Paula Carter

Great restaurant on the Wharf! Went with friends and shared lots of appetizers and entrees. Everything was fresh, delicious and the service was wonderful. The salmon and short ribs were amazing. A great view of the water from the 3rd floor and the decor is beautiful. Hope to go again soon!

Cody

Aaron my bartender got this evening was unbelievably respect and accommodating. Very respect with a very welcoming atmosphere. This restaurant exceeded my expectations from the food to the service provided. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Kendra Wright

Not your average Mexican food. Fresh, light and original. The way it should be. Beautiful space.

Aari Evert

Great service and place to go with kids. So many upscale places in the area that make you uncomfortable with kids, this place serves both groups really well. Loud enough inside you won't feel like you're bothering anyone else.

Anthony Konka

I've been here at least three times that I can think of off the to of my head and I've never left disappointed. Service is good, food is amazing and being on the waterfront makes it that much better. My family and I loved it and will return :)

Mustafa Said

Food was good and service was good BUT the one thing that kept poking at me last night was how the hosts handled my reservation. I made a reservation for a table OUTSIDE and we saw a few available as we entered the restaurant. It was a beautiful day out and it was one of the reasons why I even chose this particular restaurant but of course when I arrived they weren't really prepared for my reservation at all. The host took us upstairs and sat us at the back corner wall table inside. I asked the host about our outside request and showed my reservation on my phone. Immediately her body language while I was explaining it read *this is not gonna happen and I will not walk up these stairs again to move you*. Whereas her words were "oh the other host didn't tell me anything let me check with her". Yep, she never came back to even follow up as I figured with the negative body language I read. Me and my date were both pretty annoyed by it enough for me to write this review and threw off the night a bit as great as it was. We didn't complain to move as the server had already went out of there way to greet and take care of us. Probably would have given this place a 4 stars otherwise.

Khurram Hassan

Excellent, high quality Mexican food. Very good value for the quality of food. Excellent service. Staff are so helpful and friendly. The location is unbeatable. I also bought some books at the fantastic bookstore nextdoor. I had the cod with a yummy, tangy tomato sauce with rice and beans. I had the soup of the day which was a delicious and nicely spiced lobster soup. I ordered a side of cornbread which so moist and delicious.

Antrease Brown

Alex waited on my table and his service was outstanding!!!!! The food was flavorful and appropriately price.

Robert Rosa

Food was great and oscar really made our experience even better. Highly recommend.

Leslie Taylor

Amazing!!! You do have to watch what you order because there is some spice and kick depending on what you get. I can’t say enough.... the mojitos are incredible. Very fresh ingredients. The guacamole dip is a must have ( ask for the extras to be added!). I had the salmon dish.... fabulous. My husband had the pork shank... equally has good.

E S

Tacos are the best deal. Entrees are expensive . No sides included. Regular , Americanized Mexican food. Guac is good , chips are supposed to be unlimited. We asked for a refill and our server didn't say anything but her body language said it all.

jason nuzzo

Wonderful service and solid food. Service from the bar was impressive. Bartenders worked the floor as well as the bar. Efficient and professional.

Nichole Meyer

Stopped for lunch and so happy that we did! We ordered the guacamole and chips, carne tacos and the wings and everything was delicious! We sat in the bar area and our server was super friendly and attentive. If we ever come back to DC we will definitely be back!

Eddie Ishak

Service and food were excellent. We had the fish tacos, lamb tacos and kids quesadillas.

Dena Mcdonald

The restaurant is beautiful and they were able to seat us right away on the patio. We ordered several different tacos and nachos and everyone enjoyed their food. Very tasty!

BarbaraRose Flemming

Love this place. The atmosphere matches the cuisine. Always accommodating and appreciate the honest reccomendations. Many thanks to our server for stearing us away from the non-traditional flan. The trio of sorbets was the perfect way to finish off our meal. Fresh food. Fresh cocktails. Never disappointed when I visit. Many thanks to the manager and waiter who made this meal as good as all of the other times we have been there.

Fabian Soto

Went to Mi Vida for Happy Hour with wife and friends. We live in the area and we normally sponsor our local businesses. We’re all in for our local folks, try to buy local, help creating jobs, and all that. The food is normally good for such …

Dave R

Absolutely amazing experience. Wonderful staff, excellent food, and beautiful atmosphere! I am normally very picky with food, but everything that we tried was fantastic! The mixed drinks were fresh and crisp as well. We highly recommend.

Peyton Doyle

Beyond impressed with Mi Vida. Drinks were all delicious, the space was well lit and unique in its decor. The staff was friendly and ever-present, but not overbearing. Manager was extremely friendly. Food was great. The salsa was so so good. Make a reservation and eat / drink before a show at the Anthem. You won’t regret it!

donna coghill

The atmosphere was relaxing and plesant. My niece and I were satisfied thats one of her favorite places. While sitting I was able to watch America's Women Soccer Beat

Ashley Bryant-Baker

Service was great but the food was lackluster. Prices were really high for the food to be so disappointing.

Lora Mitchell

I enjoyed this lunch date with my coworkers! The food was delicious...bold flavors and good presentation. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. This was a cool experience, the atmosphere was really cool...definitely will be returning !

A Cruz

Good service, good food, but it is not cheap. I like the plantain with cheese, the guacamole, the refried beans, and the shrimp cocktail. I don't like the fish fried tacos.

Robin Bohanan

We had a party of ten for a special occasion. From the hostess to the desert everything was perfect! The meal was served family style. Each course was amazing and unique. Definitely try out the special quacamole with blue cheese...so different and so good. Kenny was our server. He made us feel special and welcomed. The atmosphere was great too...details paid to music and lighting and even the bathrooms. So glad we went here.

debie lachman

Great wine selections and outdoor seating. Good vegetarian selection. The food was also delicious.

D Bullock

Food was very good. Service was lacking.

Diane Rosington

We were playing tourist for the day. After enjoying a meal during Restaurant Week and a water taxi ride, we landed at The Wharf. The weather was overcast but muggy. And we were in need of refreshments. Cute place. Really enjoyed the wall decor, the 'flowering tree' and the bottle wall. We asked our server about the white and black bottles on the wall. We were told they were individually hand made in Mexico so no two are exactly alike, originally contained tequila that was served at the bar. Now ya know!

rose pola

The location is ideal, the service was good, but the food left a lot to be desired. I order the enchiladas con mole. I received what looked like mole cake. The mole was to much overwhemling you could not taste the brisket that was inside. I understand because of the location 21.00 for 3 enchiladas $$$. I was not impressed with the food but loved the location.

Stephen Starr

It's good, but not five stars. The location and interior decor are spectacular, and premium guac good too, but flavors are not robust. Not sure if flavors dialed back for Americans, as the meals were good- but not notable. Mole sauce was flat, chicken enchiladas timid. Granted - the churro dessert was best I have had. So, go there for views, and ambiance- but foodwise is overpriced "ok."

Shari Morris

Superior customer service, excellent food. Audrey was our server. She deserves special recognition.

Rene Diaz

How it was???? Excellent like it has been since they open. The best food and drinks. And customer service a A+ thank you so much for making out of our 7 year anniversary brunch a wonderful memory. Thank you for our waiter and the one of the mannager who stop by and congratulate us on our anniversary. Love this place and definitely will keep coming back. And thank you for the complimentary appetizers n drinks.

Lisa O

Delicious food, friendly staff, great atmosphere

Pete Heine

Expensive and bland. Not flexible or accommodating. For example, tacos must be ordered in quantities of 3 or more. Ordering 2 is not possible. All 3 must be the same. Mixing is not possible.

Sami Wallace

Food and service were awesome. They only do happy hour at the bar which gets packed quickly and their regular menu is a bit expensive, but on par with The Wharf.

Tally Koren

Amazingly delicious and beautiful food! Highly recommend the salmon and plantains.

Jessica Patterson

Great service and amazing food. I had oysters and the enchiladas souizas and would definitely recommend both!

Robert Albro

A restaurant serving Mexican-inspired cuisine, with fanciful decor, congenial staff, very nice cocktails -- including creative variations on the margarita -- and creatively prepared, delicious, food. Plus there are nice river views. A nice dining option on the wharf.

Daira Djuric

Fun place, great staff and delicious food.

BouvBrain

The food is really good and flavorful. The service was very quick. We got to see a love mariachi band during our lunch which was so fun. The food is a bit pricey, but that's expected in the wharf area.

Will VanDuzer

Service was excellent. Food was fantastic

Joel Sidwell

We got seated outside immediately and the service was decent. I had the skirt steak which was pretty good, except that the meat was drowned in toppings, although they were tasty. The corn side was delicious. My date had the creamed spinach, which was too spicy to the point of being inedible. That was really the only negative we experienced.

Brandon Johnson

Nice decor and excellent glassware that brings a very calming vibe. I went in for a drinks with a friend and say at the bar. It's at the wharf so there's bound to be lots of traffic, but on a Saturday afternoon it was crazy. We thankfully found 3 seats but it was packed

Angel Harris

I had the Carne tacos and chips with salsa; everything tasted fresh. The only downside was we sat outside, and the mosquitoes bit us up

Yaksh Pachchigar

Food was delicious and service was awesome too. Our host was Javier and he was really nice and happily served us and even gave good suggestions for food and drinks.

Christina Biekaszk

Food arrived before drinks. Fish tacos were dry and cold. Service was very neglectful. Our dishes stood stacked in front of us while the waiter passed by our table several times. Skip it, seriously.

Scott Secamiglio

I had lunch here and the enchiladas were great. Not spicy. The cactus salad was tasty. They have the friendliest staff I’ve been around in a long time.

Harry Chand

A great meal upstairs.. Really enjoyed the mole. A noisy environment - it got very loud and it was hard to hear conversation so this may not be the best place for certain dinner dates.

Pascale Lemaire

Mi Vida is a casual Mexican restaurant at The Wharf DC. The decor includes faux trees in the lobby, a wooden bar area and colorful orange accents. I recommend the frozen mango/passionfruit margarita and the fish tacos.

Beth Argaw

The restaurant Manager JoJo is amazing. Food is delicious and worth every penny. He was professional and provided great customer service. We will definitely come back.

Noland Granberry

Excellent service (Orlando was awesome) along with exceptional food and drink. The guacamole was a starter for us and we had to order two as one definitely was not enough for the three of us. The starter we had was a shrimp cocktail ( Cocktail de Camelonnes). It was unbelievably good. Our main course consisted of three entrees; the Salmon, the Pork Shank and Shrimp and Scallops. Each of these were cooked to perfection. The drinks were a little pricey but definitely well done and flavorful. I have no regrets. Overall, I highly recommend Mi Vida. We will be back.

Kate Abrey

Amazing experience last night. JoJo took impeccable care of us! From welcoming us warmly to the best advice on what to order, he made our visit unforgettable. I love Mi Vida!

Robert A

Overall pretty impressed with Mi Vida. This was our first time coming here. The hostess up front was a little rude and our waiter was a little odd. The hostess up front wanted to give us an attitude that we didn't have a reservation anymore since our opentable reservation only lasts 15 the time reserved a table for. However, the garages were full and there was a ton of traffic getting into the city. And we were only 5 minutes past opentable opening. Kind of uncalled for, but I get their perspective too. As for the food we started out with la frozen, De la casa and the Mi viejo. Everything one in our party throughly enjoyed our drinks. For our lunch we ordered guacamole with chips, carne asada and rice. However, our waiter wanted to give us a little bit of attitude over having our rice separated from our carne asade since my wife doesn't eat rice. He said he had to "talk with the kitchen about it." What is the big deal seriously? It's an extra bowl. The total came to $107 before tip which is slightly pricey in my opinion. The restaurant is clean and well maintained and definitely had a great Mexican vide they were going for. Other than a few small little issues it was great. We'd probably come back in the future.

Victoria O'Donnell

Delicious!! Decent drinks, reasonable prices considering location. Our server was awesome, and the mole negro was divine! Real mexican options

Barbara Hunt

This restaurant gets 2 stars only because my daughter liked the quesadillas but how can you possibly mess that up. The tacos were bland and shell mushy. The house margarita was packed ice so much so you couldn’t sip the drink for ice …

Matt Boehne

Not only is it a spot with a great view, the excellent food and service make it an all-around great choice!

Jamaica Peralta

Went for brunch. Delicious food.The kid's steak tacos had a peculiar taste to it though

Mostafa Jubayer Khan

Food is good (moderate) but not enough in size if you are hungry. Nice crowd and festive decorations. Food service time around 20-25 minutes in total to get the main dish. Cool place for family or date to and chitchat.

Bill Rawlinson

Good food and great service. The guacamole is very tasty. The beer selection is limited but they did have an IPA on tap to offset the bleh beers from Mexico. The staff was excellent. The architecture and decor are interesting.

Andrew Lutz

Exhalent friendly and accommodating staff. Vary busy during the dinner rush so I suggested making a reservation. If you do not have a reservation the staff will take your number and text you when you table is ready. This makes is easy to have a nice walk around as you wait.

Matthew Lane

The food was incredible! Everything was amazing! The service was on point. Our server really knew the menu and everything he recommended was delicious.

Carla Fer

Very good food and attentive service. Food was delicious although a little spicy for my taste. Anyway, the waiter was took very good care of us accommodating our preferences. Too noisy inside but amazing if you get an outside table.

Kevin

Went to Mi Vida for lunch last week and the service was great and very attentive. Our lunch was even better. Guacamole was the best we ever had along with the soup, fish tacos, and enchiladas being equally great. The flan, with just a hint of espresso, was the best.

Tanisha Gordon

Drinks were good and someone recommended the food too.

Karamchand Misra

Good food, great ambience and a panoramic view of the Wharf. The service is also great.

Susana Martin

AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE! My family and I were visiting dc and decide to have lunch at this place, my 5y old son is a picky eater so we bought for him a pizza slide, long story short.. we weren’t able to have lunch because we brought a pizza slide from another place.. please! Really!?!?! Not even considering that it was for a child!!!! Bad bad moment after we were sitting in the table to stand and leave, also my son was sad for a while because he felt it was he’s fault! I do not recommend this place!

Anna Grace

Seated for a dinner reservation. Service at first was prompt and we received our chips and guacamole quickly. However, we waited over 45 minutes to receive our entrees. Our waiter kept saying they were coming and then he admitted that the food must’ve been lost. The enchiladas were lacking in flavor and seemed as though they had been sitting out for a while. All in all, an expensive meal for lacking service and food quality. I would return for chips and guacamole, but nothing more.

guy burkholder

It was actually okay A little overpriced the food was not terribly flavorful as I would have expected. Our server seemed a little bothered by us being a table of two. We noticed that everyone else received chips salsa we did not receive the menu was not terribly impressive. We are foodies I have dined out in some of the best restaurants in the world and some total dives. This is trying to be a five star restaurant presentation was nice lacking flavor

Woody Groton

Best margarita I've ever had. Best guacamole as well.

luke ferguson

Really great food. I tried mole for the first time here and I was very impressed. The guacamole is incredible and the house made chips are really good as well. I would suggest getting reservations though because when I went it was packed and there was a pretty long wait. But if you aren’t in a rush then it’s worth the wait I think.

Drew Fernandez

The best enchiladas I have ever had in my life. The chicken with green sauce was my favorite but the pork mole was spectacular too. The mole is a bit heavy especially if you aren't too familiar with mole. The drink menu is inventive and the cocktails are also very good - they do not skimp on your pour which is highly appreciated. Service was good and waitresses/waiters can definitely recommend something specific to your tastes. All of their alcohol is sourced from Mexico which is a really cool touch and shows they really care about putting an authentic meal in front of their customers.

Ana Sabrina George

It's a popular spot for food and happy hour. It's great fusion, but both the mole and the guac were spicy. I would go back, though!

Thomas Lowery

The bartender was excellent. The food is pricey and you get small portions but the food is very good. If you are really hungry and on a strict budget, this may not be the place for you.

Gabriel Hawi

This place is overrated. The quality of their dishes doesn't match the high prices of their menu. You get less than what you pay for. And this place too LOUD, it feels like sitting in a club. The drinks were OK. The services was good. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place to a friend. Why spending $$$$ in such a place while I can get better food, drinks, and service else where.

Tristan Tanner

Heard it was a good place for margaritas. When we walked in to ask for a seat, host/hostess staff at front of house were rude and aggressive. Unfortunately it didn’t go further than that. Went to La Vie, rooftop bar upstairs, which was nice view and good happy hour.

SHIVMA

No doubt there is limited variety of Veg.food but good one.

Oscar Alexander

delicious food recommended for couples dating and more in my opinion romantic place has a second level with a beautiful view. excellent service make the place feel cozy and you can enjoy your dishes with total peace of mind. also have unique decorations that draws attention to enter.

Iam Khalif

The place is cool and it was nice seating outdoors. The staff was great. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is because the food was good but not 5 star worthy. However if you want a nice place to go with good drinks I'd recommend it.

Andrew Coats

Amazing interior with many different themed rooms. Craft cocktails are excellent. Staff was friendly and attentive.

Alysia Fullen

Phenomenal food and service at Mi Vida! We love it and will be back again soon. JoJo sets the standard for a wonderful dining experience.

Ryan Oliver

Excellent food and even better ambience. Great for dates and or meeting your mother in law for the first time. It is however a little more on the expensive side.

Brielle Alfieri

So so delicious! Everything from apps to main meals were perfect. Would definitely come again when back in Washington!

Vivian Lu

The food is great and the service is pretty decent! The only thing that keeps this from being a 5 star place is the bar area. The bartenders are quite unfriendly and it's difficult to get their attention to order anything. I'd recommend the restaurant portion, but not the bar. The prices are generally a little high, but seem really pretty reasonable for the Wharf area!

Vanessa Wilson

This place is awesome, great food and wonderful service. Will eat here again!

Patty Danova

The food and service is awesome. I went with a group of friends.... The waiter never missed a beat. We requested something off the menu and the chef accommodated us. We'll definitely go back.

Drea S

Food was good, but service wasn’t. Waiter took forever the entire time. Red flag number 1 was when our waiter gave another table their waters first, even though we were seated before them. He saw me looking & told me he would be back. Never did. A female waitress came instead .

Liz Ash

MI VIDA Is the place to enjoy amazing food for a fair price. The manager - featured below - named JOJO is honestly the NICEST person. The kitchen is quick and the food is muy bueno!

Robin Frank-Brooks

One of the best, authentic mexican restaurants around. Customer service is great and food is delicious. Enchilada Suizas is my favorite. You will not be disappointed with any of the dishes.

Quicha Jones

I really enjoyed lunch here. The decor is beautiful and the service was excellent. I don't remember the name of our server but she was attentive without being a pest and explained the sauce for the dish I ordered - Beef Enchiladas in Mole Sauce (which was delicious). She even brought me a little sample of the sauce at her suggestion. Since this was a work lunch I wasn't able to try any of their margaritas, but suggested we come back during their happy hour. Will come back for date night with my hubby.

Suhas Chandrashekhara

The location of the restaurant is biggest plus. Especially, if you are seated on the second floor with the view of the river, it's just a beautiful sight. Coming to the food, me being a vegetarian, I had quite a few choices. They were also ready to prepare certain meat dishes in a vegetarian manner. The taste of the chips and guac was mind blowing. Also loved the sweet potato fries.