A happy place for appetizers and drinks. We had the mussels, the stuffed peppers and the homemade potato chips. All were delicious. Wine on the happy hour was awesome and great prices. We will go back definitely for dinner one night. Love the bartender John. Very helpful and friendly. The place has a garden and a gazebo outside that you can take nice pictures for any occasion. Definitely a nice place. read more

Beautiful River view! I decided to celebrate with a $60 Lobster. Bad Choice... The large, fat, and Meaty Bug had tastless, dried out Claws. The Main body Meat was Chewy and had to be spit out. There was Nothing that i could eat on this Lobster. I sent it back. For no extra charge, i chose Lamb Chops as a replacement. They were good. The horrible First Course was hard to get out of my mind. read more

Ordered empanada and it was disgusting. All I could taste was the rancid oil. Vegetable paella was flavorless rice cooked with some few steamed vegetables. A total rip off read more

La Buena Vida, Moriches (formerly Ladakins) We were here a month ago and loved it. Went back tonight. Service was good until the entrees and then everyone disappeared for what felt like forever. And again waiting for the check. We started with baby lamb chops, excellent. Potato croquettes, delicious. A special appetizer, peppered steak empanadas, amazing. My grilled octopus, over grilled. Tender, but only tasted like a charred grill. I had the Paella with half lobster, which I had the last time. Tasted half cooked and rushed. Not great. My husband ordered the pork chopS in garlic sauce. Menu said chopS. He got 1. We questioned it, and they said it was a typo on the menu. Okay? He enjoyed, but it wasn't enough of a meal. Overall, disappointing compared to our first visit. We look for consistency for success. Not sure if we will return. read more

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oh the Good Life! love the food here, the service is excellent, the owners are friendly and dedicated to their customers, and all the bar and wait staff are super friendly. oh, the food? AWESOME! read more

waiter is terrible. I believe he had bad day or he is not happy . I won't never see that guy at all. By the end , I still gave him 20 percent of tips. I wish that hen has to learn how to be a good worker. read more

Im so sorry to say this but wow this place is bad. The only seasoning I could taste was salt. Everything was Very salty. We ordered the grilled octopus, was unlikely the picture shown; there was only one tentacle not two, fresh ingredient but salty and slightly brim; the Paella Valencia was greasy and The clams came with plenty sand, it was inedible. Chorizo was greasy and salty as well. We never finished all the dishes and I got sick that same night, not to mention it was a pricy restaurant. No, I would not recommend this place. read more

Went to a weddings here a few years back, place was great, food was good, the affair was beautiful. Very accommodating staff.

I took my wife for her birthday, we live local but haven't eaten in this building since many years ago. The truth is we had a certain stigma about it owing to the previous restaurant, one we both disliked even before we met. Anyway, today was her birthday, we made reservations at Daphne's in West Hampton but bailed because of the small menu and far drive. In trying to come up with a back up plan I remembered seeing the parking lot of La Buena Vida often packed, so I looked it up and saw almost 300 reviews averaging 4.5 stars. So I looked at the menu, I saw Paella, Tapas, I was sold. When I sent her the menu she was sold. We arrived and it was a beautiful early fall/late summer night so we decided to dine out on the deck, it was a great decision. Our server, Julissa, couldn't have been more accommodating she offered to re-seat us if the flies from the pond were too much, they weren't and we enjoyed the ambiance. After looking at the drink menu, we were again very impressed with service. My wife really wanted a la buena vida margarita, but wanted it made blue. She graciously had the bar tender add the blue liquor to change the color. When time came to order we stared with the avocado crab bruschetta, it was a great decision and service was very quick. Next was the entree order, so we both ordered paella marinera. Again our server made a suggestion and informed us its a big serving, we could easily share it an order another tapa (which means she was also a mind reader). So after seeing how torn we were, she suggested an off-menu item - stuffed sweet plantain - and upon hearing I didn't want meat graciously swapped out beef for shrimp. Our food was hand delivered and served onto our plates by the chef. This service was phenomenal, but even the amazing service did not compare to the perfection of our meal. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and seasoned, the sweetness of the plantain paired beautifully with the savory of the shrimp. The paella was also perfectly cooked, the saffron rice was amazing, with the generous amount of shrimp, scallops, clams, and mussels. The meal was very satisfying. For dessert the fried cheesecake was highly recommended and "Wow" is all either of us had to say. It was easily the apex of the meal, sweet savory, with a crunch, and a hot/cold temperature balancing to perfection. Dessert even came with a song and "Happy Birthday" in caramel. We strongly recommend this neighborhood gem. There is nothing like it around, the chef is talented, the staff is amazing. if you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for!? read more

I just celebrated my birthday in La Buena Vida with my besties. The company was AWESOME, but let me tell you the food was unbelievable. It was so delicious and the presentation was outstanding. The sangria was so tasty and the dessert was phenomenal. The service was better than I have experienced in a long time. We wanted to try a different type restaurant for this occasion and this place hit it out of the ballpark. Our waiter was exremely attentive and definitely catered to us. We will definitley be returning to this restaurant read more

Very good for a local spot. Cocktails are very fresh and properly made. Chef came out to make sure food was good. Meat and cheese board and garlic soup were really tasty. Definitely will be back to his place. read more

La Buena Vida - La Bonita margarita - Spanish Near Me - Moriches, New York

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Great service and cleanliness We were warmly greeted and seated immediately upon arrival We had the seafood paella and the filet mignon . Both were delicious and filled with flavor . Our waitress was very friendly and attentive the entire night and even the chef even came out to ask us about our meals It's obvious that the ownership is attentive to the details that matter Cleanliness Great food And great customer service Outdoor lighting could use improvement, other than that , not one complaint We would definitely recommend this place and eat there again ! read more

What an amazing all around place! Party of 2 on date night. We just moved to the area and in search of places to go. First off the team that works there, all of them has such great attitude that makes the air feel light. Our server was Nile, great guy, not overwhelming and was able to recommend from the menu based on our likes and dislikes. Food was so fresh and delicious. Cooked to perfection to our very detailed requests. I will definitely come here more often. Prices are great, portions are big. Seating available outside with a nice relaxing water view. read more

There are very few restaurants that I will repeat visit within a short period of time but since my first visit I've now been there three times!! Yes the food is that good! I've never ordered the same food twice and every time it's been delicious. This time we ordered the stuffed lobster and the veal chop and it was amazing! read more

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Lovely atmosphere, can sit indoors or outside. Food was delicious and service was awesome read more

La Buena Vida - stuffed mushrooms - Spanish Near Me - Moriches, New York

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At the last minute we went for dinner at La Buena Vida for the first time! the host greets you at the door and you have an option to sit outside or on. The outdoor area is very nice and you definitely wouldn't think it's as nice as it is from the road! We sat inside and it was very clean and spacious. The bar was super nice too! Our waiter was friendly and there were plenty of staff. We never had to wait for water, refills, or anything! Our food came out quickly too! We had grilled octopus and fried calamari to start- both fresh! For dinner we had a fresh green salad, steak, and stuffed salmon! All so good! For dessert we had flan cheesecake, churros/ice cream, and chocolate gelato! The manager or owner checked in 2x to make sure we were happy with the service and meal too! It was a great experience and we will definitely be back! read more

The Restaurant is lovely..... very clean...the staff extremely friendly.... we had appetizers of Beef Empanadas that were delicious... My husband & our friend had Octopus salad which they really enjoyed. We all had main courses of Paella with Shrimp, Mussels, Scallops, Chicken & Chorizo.... fabulous.... The owner was very attentive...::We will be back..... definitely a new favorite read more

Place has really good seating and great for big parties and closes late compared to a lot of restaurants around. The drinks were okay here nothing special. I wish they had more vegetarian options. They has plantain chips which were kinda soggy and the veggie pallela which was just just unflavored rice with some steamed veggies. And it was unnecessarily pricey. It did not taste like pallela at all. Price to flavor ratio here did not match. read more

So happy to have a nice new restaurant in our area. Food was delicious, Angelique our server was amazing. She gave great recommendations from the menu. Decor is very nice and atmosphere is great. We will be back and definitely recommend this place for a nice dinner out. read more

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This restaurant I have been here a couple times before and I always come back Because the food is amazing and the service is incredible the owner is super nice and funny and the food just makes it better. read more

La Buena Vida - Good and drinks - Spanish Near Me - Moriches, New York

The tables were bended. We asked to move but apparently all of the tables were bended. While my glass of wine kept sliding. There's no sides, only rice potato chips & sauce. The empanadas were basic, which I could've just made at home. Not a place I'll recommend to friends & family. read more

We were so happy to see new owners take over the old Ladikins/Watami restaurant. It is in such a beautiful place on the lake. Can't wait until it the deck opens in the summer to sit out overlooking the water. I have taken my family here twice since it has opened and we all loved it. Here's a rundown of what we had Peppered steak empanada special - Amazing Homemade potato chips - Amazing Filet Mignon - Amazing Seafood paella - Amazing Stuffed flounder - Excellent Churro with vanilla and chocolate syrup - To die for!! We plan to call in this order instead of going out for ice cream. The restaurant is clean and wait staff was great. Can't wait to go back. read more

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The food and drinks here are amazing. We had a baptism here for my daughter and the service was great. I definitely recommend them for hosting an event. The view on the back deck on a sunny crisp fall day was everything. read more

Went for dinner with our friends over the summer. The staff were friendly and greeted us when we arrived. We had a drink at the bar, it was happy hour. The drinks were delicious. We were seated and ordered some apps to share and the paella. Everything was delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

Great food and service.the bar has a great atmosphere, and the bartender is very generous with his pour

I don't know why the rating are so good because the food wasn't. The only reason it gets a 2 star is because the place is decently nice and the staff are very nice. Loved the hostess! Food was reheated, over priced and over all taste was mediocre. read more

YOU cancelled our large room catering party three days before by a return text. He didn't even reach out to me initially. He didn't even show back up to the restaurant to speak with me where he said he was. I was two seconds away from the lot! Owner is not reliable at all! I've eaten there before but very small portions and pricey. We won't be eating there again. He lost out on a large, fun , happy catering event. He claimed last minute that he didn't check with his partner and double booked it even though a few calls took place . It turns out he didn't have another party that day- loss for him and an extreme win for us! We had a great time out our new fantastic location. You shouldn't do that to people. All of our guests had to be called and know what you did to nice people who were counting on you ! You are aware of this conversation that we had as well.... after you finally returned a call. A potential outdoor party in the rain would have been better than how we were treated. Poor business relations. read more

Had a wonderful dinner we took our daughter and grandchild for her birthday. We loved the appetizers we had the clams with chorizo killer! Also had the shrimp with garlic sauce was to die for. We ordered a pallea and shrimp with green sauce both were delicious my favorite was the pallea! read more

If you like authentic Spanish cuisine you will love La Buena Vida! Their Grilled Octopus and there empanadas was superb. I had the lemon chicken as an entrée and I gave it five stars. The churros for desert was excellent! The wait staff was attentive and personable. The four of us enjoyed a great night of eating. read more

This place has been amazing! Every bite was awesome! Perfect date night or tapas night!!!

What a local gem we have found! Greeted at entry to a friendly hostess. Seated right away to a clean dining room with linen on the table, not paper. Was approached quickly by our waiter Nile, and drink order arrived quickly. Nile was very knowledgeable and polite and friendly. Our food was amazing. My husband ordered the Mariscato, with a side of spinach, and I ordered 2 tapas specials for my entree.... this place does not disappoint. If you Spanish cuisine, this is the place... now we have to go back and get the Sunday brunch! read more

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Food is always good and the staff are on point. I recommend this restaurant. The restaurant is very clean.

Just had an amazing meal here for the second time! The Pulpo a la Plancha was so tender and delicious you could cut it with a fork! We decided to try to Empanadas de Carne and they were moist and the dough was nice and flaky. My husband had the Paella Valencia which is his favorite and he raved about it through the whole meal because the flavor was spectacular. I had Camarones en Salsa and the shimp were not overcooked and the sauce was soooo good. I am so happy that they brought over some fresh HOT rolls to sop it up with. Thank you to Dina and Julisa (sorry if the spelling is wrong) for being attentive throughout the whole meal. You and La Buena Vida made my husbands birthday really special!! read more

Excellent Spanish rice / tostones/ scallops and lobster - would def recommend and order again

So glad there is a new option to eat in our area. Spanish cuisine that had a nice variety on the menu for a decent price. Lovely decor, great bar and super friendly staff. Food was very good but could have used just a tad more spice to offer that authentic Spanish pop. Understand that the clientele may not necessarily like to much pop or Spanish spices but maybe there should be an option of mild and spicy. Just a thought. Overall it was great experience and my family enjoyed everything we ordered. The Long Island ice teas were delicious too! read more

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I wanted to surprise my fiancé by taking him out to a new spot for his birthday on a Saturday night. He's not a seafood guy, so I scoped the menu out in advance to make sure there were plenty of options. When we got there, the menu was super abridged. He really only had two non-seafood entree options to choose from, which was frustrating because I specifically looked into this in advance. read more

I ordered the seafood paella, my wife got a salad and my buddy got a nice clam dish. The service was excellent. We had Nile as our waiter, and even the chef came out to see us and explain how he made the paella. BYOB as they don't have a liquor license, but there's no corkage fee, so we didn't mind at all. Nice outdoor seating overlooking the Forge River. read more

My husband and I had an enjoyable meal at la Buena Vida the other night. We sat at a table overlooking a river and the view and setting were lovely. When we were given the menus, my husband was disappointed that it was a limited version of their full menu, but our server graciously offered to have them make almost anything on their full menu. She couldn't have been nicer. Dinner began with an appetizer of dates stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon and drizzled with honey. Yum! We also had an appetizer special of 6 mini empanadas - 2 chicken, 2 beef and 2 pork. They were tasty, but were more similar to a fried wonton than an empanada. Entrees were arroz con pollo and seafood paella. Both were good and very plentiful, lots of leftovers to take home. The restaurant is currently BYOB so we brought our own wine. We will definitely return! read more

Don't bother going to one of their mystery night dinner events! They overbook the room, food is mediocre at best and not served hot. The entertainment is a joke. Can't understand what's going on because of the overcrowded room. This was a total waste of money! read more

The food is amazing! We have tried many tapas dishes and the paella. Every dish was top notch. The empanada sampler is always a favorite. The shrimp in garlic sauce is full of flavor. The stuffed avocado is served warm, which is an interesting twist, and tasted great! We had a special tapas...the guacamole and plantains. Soooo good! No shortage of seafood in the paella. The rice was cooked perfectly. The white sangria is excellent. Nice atmosphere and great food!!! read more