Came here for the first time for Mother's Day. Very nice place with a beautiful interior and nice lighting. We were seated in the "Garden Room" in the corner by the front window, which is a little area separated from the main dining hall. We appreciated the quietness, it made it very easy to hear each other's conversations. The service was good, but I could tell the server would get busy (it being Mother's Day and all), so we did have a wait a bit in between, but no crazy wait or anything. Our server (I think his name was Caden) did very good and was attentive to our needs and tried very hard to get to us even with the crowd. I believe the owner or person who runs the restaurant also was the one seating people, which I liked and appreciated. It's nice to see the owner care about seeing and interacting with her customers. Food was good, it didn't quite blow my mind away, but was solid. They serve chips and salsa, but we also ordered queso and that's worth getting. That and I just love cheese. I ordered the beef fajitas and my bf ordered the shrimp quesadillas. My fajitas were what I would expect, it's comparable to other Tex-Mex restaurants I've been too. Huge serving though, more than usual. Had to take the rest to go and had it as a second meal! Comes served with guac, sour cream and pico de gallo, and if you want cheese just be sure to ask for it. My bf ordered the shrimp quesadillas, which was different to me but tasted really good! Big thick shrimp and cheese also served with sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole. He finished it real easy and was very full after. Everyone enjoyed their food. Enchiladas were good but again not different from other Tex Mex establishments. My bf's mom and sister however did enjoy the Fajita Nachos which is an appetizer they shared for their meal as well. For desert we shared the Twin Chocolate Mousse Pie which was heaven! Loved it, satisfied my sweet tooth with it's smooth mousse-y-ness. In summary, the food is on par with many other good Tex Mex restaurants. Nothing crazy or out of ordinary, not that that is a bad thing. Solid flavor. They have some crazier food specials that were $35+, so those are probably worth trying if you're feelin' extra fancy. Appreciated the service and attentiveness. Atmosphere is great! So I would definitely recommend for special occasions! Was easy to book reservations online. read more

Via Real - Beef Fajitas -$15, huge serving! They only give you 3 tortillas to start but you can ask for more. Got 3 more for to go. - Mexican Near Me - Irving, Texas

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This is the definition of 5 star dining. Intriguing atmosphere, top notch service, and DELICIOUS food. Everything on the menu sounded good, and we ordered everything from the shrimp pasta, camarones al Diablo, the surf n turf special and the plank filet (make sure to ask about the items NOT listed on the menu!) We could not have asked for a better experience! The owner came over to our table and enchanted us - I sincerely hope I get the chance to come back ASAP! Perfect for celebrations or nice client lunches/dinners. Apparently, it is a much bigger lunch spot than it is dinner, so I would suggest going for dinner so you can be seated right away with no crowdedness. read more

Via Real - My shrimp pasta! Jalapeño cream sauce and pico de gallo on the noodles and shrimp added a Santa Fe taste! Delectable. - Mexican Near Me - Irving, Texas

Such a romantically beautiful restaurant. I was visiting from CA and was told that I wouldn't be able to find good Mexican food in Texas... boy were they wrong! The food was delicious, the margarita was so good that I had to have another, and the service was fantastic. This restaurant was recommended to me by my dad, and I'm so glad I went! My goal of finding good Mexican food in Texas was accomplished! read more

Via Real - House margarita with chambord and beef fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Irving, Texas

Great place! I am in the area on business (from Los Angeles) and decided to come here because of the Yelp reviews and was pleasantly surprised... A coworker and I walked in for a table around 6:30 pm on 11/17/15 and was greeted by the lovely host named Sam... She informed us that unfortunately reservations had booked the restaurant for the evening but that we were welcome to sit in the bar area Upon entering the crowded bar area, we found one lonely stool in the corner which we decided to inhabit... At which point, I noticed Sam speaking to the incredibly accommodating bartender, Enrique.. She then proceeded to come over to me and informed me that the gentlemen next to us had ordered a to go meal and should be leaving soon so that we may have his chair... Which was great customer service! She in no way was obligated to inquire with the bartender on who at the bar may be leaving soon... I felt very taken care of... I'm not sure if this is customary to the Irving/Dallas area but it is definitely out of the norm for LA Thank you for the good food and great service! read more

Definitely a highlight of Las Colinas. I love tex-mex/mexican food and Via Real did not disappoint. I honestly cannot remember what I got, but it was delicious and I would eat there again without hesitation. The staff are on top of it and love the look of the place and its ambiance. ~Carpe Diem~ read more

Via Real has hit it's groove...The competition is pretty decent around here, however they continue to hold their own. Things I really like about Via Real.. NO KIDS IN BAR AREA.. that's bad ass and they actually monitor it. Now we have a nice place for adults, where we can sit in the bar, drink and act like kids.. The seating area is also very comfortable and the interior wall is lined with eclectic decor, interesting touches through out the restaurant. Really cool combination of knick knacks and textured walls. All done very tastefully.. it's kind of like you are hanging out and your eye catches something and you say, "Hey that's cool..." Food is good, solid and their fresh salsa is quite tasty. It varies in heat, which tells me they make this in house and based on the heat index of Jalo's the spice changes - just like it should when you make it from scratch. I have had several dishes to date and most recently I had just simple green echiladas which were as good as I have had anywhere else. Also, ask about the 'Fire Steak'. I can never remember the actual name of the filet that arrives flaming, but it is delicious! It is impossible to eat there without meeting the manager. That is really what makes a place tick.. IMO - get the owner in to check on everyone, as do the managers who all come up and say hello when we pop in. I think this will be a great success in our hood and has already become a favorite for us. read more

Great menu, we had the Chef special with the Red Oak Smoked tenderloin and my wife had the Chilean Sea Bass. Chef Jesus personally came out to our table and said hello. 5-star experience. read more

Eating dinner here with the hubs right now. It's pack @ 8pm but we got a table immediately. I judge a Mexican resturant by its hot sauce and theirs is really good! The service was quick and my chicken enchiladas were great. My hubs got the sea bass and rolled his eyes heavenward after the first bite! I don't even like fish but I tried it and it really was fantastic! I may be converted now. Our server Eddie was great too. Can't say enough good about our first experience here. They nailed it. read more

Via Real - Bread pudding and white chocolate creme brulee. Y..u....m...! - Mexican Near Me - Irving, Texas

Visited this place for the first time on Sunday. We had brunch- amazing. I'm not big on buffets, but it was very nice and the food was soooo good! The staff was friendly and the ambiance was very welcoming. read more

Best food and ambiance in las colinas Edie was great and suggested great dishes and wine Thanks for making our night so pleasant Will be back soon read more

Service was fantastic! Our server Eddie was phenomenal. Food was the best. This is definitely the hidden gem and i would go there again! We are vegetarians and they had perfect food for us. Nice hosts and the best service. read more

I visited Via Real this week. I have been there many times and I have always enjoyed the food. It is an interesting menu with a lot of variety and I have been working my way through it. As usual, I was hungry. If you are a Crab Cakes fan then you have to try them. They are very good and not like any crab cakes you have had anywhere else. The mango salsa really adds to it. Crab cakes with a twist. The Tenderloin Filet was delicious. The service at this place is absolutely amazing. Right from the moment you come in the door they are paying close attention and making sure you have a great experience. I have only been there on week nights. It will soon be time for a weekend visit. Via Real is a great looking restaurant with a great ambiance. It is classy and welcoming. Great for couples. read more

Fairly incredible experience. Ask for the Chilean sea bass. Complete with asparagus, mashed potatoes nestled atop cut out pineapple--even a split order will feed two! read more

Via Real - Mexican Near Me - Irving, Texas

Amazing ambience great food. Excellent menu to choose for vegetarians. Always too busy for lunch so make sure to do your reservations. Must try their black bean soup. Adding some more to it, it was a treat to be at las Colinas Via Real. For special occasions like bday they treat you really well. Nice cake slice with Candel and a wonderful group photo. Always loved the food and the service. read more

My family and I have been patrons of Via Real for over 20 years. That alone is an indication of the quality of this restaurant. I now live out of state but Via Real is still the restaurant of choice for all our special family occasions. I agree with many of the other reviews of Via Real's margaritas. The top shelf margarita is my favorite - not too sweet, not too sour and a nice tequila flavor. The menu is also a nice mix of Tex-Mex and traditional Mexico City style entrees which will make everyone happy. Unfortunately, while we've had many wonderful meals at Via Real, our latest visit (last night) was less than stellar. None of the meals were served hot. The shrimp (Camarones) was over cooked which left them dry and tough. Three in our party (there were 9 of us) ordered the fajitas and all three mentioned the lack of fajita flavor, as i the meat (2 chicken & 1 beef) had not been marinated or seasoned at all. The fajita dishes also lacked green peppers but a plethora of onions - so much so, the beef dish looked more like onion fajitas than beef fajitas. I still love Via Real restaurant and my 4 star rating is more from previous experiences than last night. Yes, I will be back again. I'm hoping last night was an off night. The Rangers were playing the NY Yankees for a place in the world series so maybe Fran had the 3rd or 4th string in the kitchen. Let's hope. If you try Via Real, let me know what you think. Better yet, let Fran know. read more

Gosh the memories! So fun to be here for Mother's Day. Fran is still as beautiful and as amazing as ever. I am so full!!

I was hoping for a much better service, nice place and nice food, but was not as great. My friend's food was seriously delayed and that was not fun. Drinks are good, place is nice. Guacamole could have been much better. Please was busy. I have been there before and I enjoyed it much more. read more

Via Real is a typical, gourmet Mexican restaurant. If you just need something to fill you up, come here. If you're looking for inspired food, it's best to try elsewhere. Menu: The menu is moderately large and offers various steak, chicken, fish, etc. dishes in line with your traditional TexMex. Nothing on the menu is terribly adventurous...the meats are typically seasoned, the tortillas didn't appear to be made from scratch, and there really was no signature dish that jumped off the page. Plain and simply, the food was average. Price: The price is generally expected for a "gourmet" place, running about $12 for lunch and lower $20s for dinner. The salads are generally too expensive for the value you receive. I'd stick with a taco or burrito type entree to get the best bang for your buck. Location: It's easy to find (Northgate and MacArthur, in the strip mall) and valet parking is available. It is near a nice golf course and some lovely homes in a good area of town. Service: The service was good. They keep a large wait staff, so your needs will always bet met. They did ask if "everything was alright" a couple too many times for my taste, but they did a fine job here. Atmosphere: Inside the atmosphere is cozy and does feel upscale. At peak times, though, the noise levels do tend to make conversation more difficult. For the best experience, definitely ask for a seat close to the corner of the restaurant. Bathrooms: The bathrooms are kept very clean and stocked with supplies. No complaints here. read more

I really wanted to like this place. I did. I tried the only Taco dish on the menu which is a "Beef" Taco, but they came out like Enchiladas drenched in some sort of cheese sauce and chili. Not a fan..However, the service was really good. read more

Pros: Ambiance is very nice. Staff is very nice. Food is good. Food is made fresh. That's a solid three stars. Cons: Reason I'm giving three stars is the price for quantity (our table had 5 of us) minor details-I asked if my tortillas were on the side and my food came rolled in the tortillas. I'm a gluten free eater. Another of us asked for soft tacos and received hard shell. We were pressed on a lunch break so we ate and we will survive. Again food was good. Just a tad spendy. I think you pay for the ambiance. read more

I had a terrible experience at this restaurant. I'm not sure if it has drastically changed since the last viewer's visit, but I was not happy. The place looked somewhat upscale, but the food was definitely on the same level as the decor. We ate on a Tuesday night and there was a 20 minute wait, which appeared to be promising. However, we sat at the bar for our wait and it took over 15 minutes for us to get a drink. Then, when we asked to move the tab to the table, the bartender was rude. The food was also bland and dry. I've had much better chips and salsa and the chili con queso could have been melted velveeta. After we ordered our appetizers, it took another 15 minutes for the waiter to tell us the specials and about 10 minutes for him to come back to take our order. My friend had the beef fajitas which were dry and tasteless and I had the "Cancun" which was shrimp and scallops in sauce, with pesto rice and baby carrots and asparagus. Wait, change carrots to a singular, because I received one carrot. The 4 asparagus I had were bitter and over cooked. About the only thing on the plate that had flavor was the sauce the scallops were swimming in. I would never go back to this place nor would I recommend subjecting yourself to it. read more

Went here with a friend who was staying at the Four Seasons next door after I read the Yelp reviews. Great choice! Thin, crispy chips with really fresh, tasty salsa. Our waiter noticed how quickly I downed my first bowl of salsa (I'm kinda a salsa junkie) and came over to offer me 2 other types of specialty salsa. He even suggested how to mix two of them to make it even tastier. Nice touch. Speaking of the server, he was fantastic. The staff was so classy and groomed and friendly. Ambience of a super fancy restaurant but without being stuffy. We both had very basic entrees--chicken fajita for me, quesadillas for my friend. Both were great. If the basics are that good, I'm sure the specialty entrees are amazing. White chocolate creme brûlée was a great way to top off the meal. Yum! Really, I eat tex-mex for the salsa. The rest is just formality. And this place's salsas were all AWESOME. Waiter said their salsa guy has been making salsa for like 15 years... 15 years well spent, my friend. read more

My mother recently had a poor experience on Mother's Day, and I initially left a 1 star review. However, since then the Owner Fran has reached out to my mom and has done everything in her power to make the situation right and has truly displayed the values and culture I expected from Via Real. Although the experience we had didn't live up to expectations, the actions from Fran have been true and thoughtful and have encouraged us to give Via Real a second chance. Thank you Fran for living the values listed on your website. read more

Nice Easter buffet spread. A little taken back by the owners and hostess not in masks. Very crowded, waiting in line for food was not fun. We will skip the Holiday buffets and stick to the normal Sunday thing. read more

Not impressed. WE had a business dinner here with 25 employees in a private room. Our server was rushed and demanded our order for salad, entree and dessert all at once. Very important to her. The entree was (salmon) under seasoned and not hot. Also over done. Would not rush back. Perhaps the food is better at individual tables. All of the front of house staff were very nice. read more

I loooooove this place! From the food to the waiters, everyone is so awesome & friendly, it keeps me coming back!!

A friend recommended that we try this place on a Friday night(we were staying next door at Four Seasons but really wanted Mexican food). The owner, Fran asked if we were celebrating a special occasion (it was our 5th anniversary) and seated us herself at a very nice table. She took the time on a Friday night to ask about where we were from and make some personal menu recommendations. Food and atmosphere were awesome and drinks were great (and strong). Best mexican food we have had since we moved to the metroplex and I loved the personal attention. read more

Oh man, if I had paid for this myself, I would have been SO disappointed. We chose this place for a group dinner near Irving to satisfy both vegetarians and major carnivores in our group, and there were multiple options for both parties. As an omnivore, I appreciate that. Still, everything was SO flavorless and needed salt / anything to make it better. The salsa was terrible. It really tastes like Pace (from the bottle). Absolutely no spice and not fresh-tasting. Yuck. I also had the guacamole, shrimp cocktail, avocado salad, raved-about sea bass with pecan crust, and carrot cake. The sea bass was the best of what I ate, but still just average and also needed salt. I really don't understand how they can charge so much for poor quality. Ambiance is nice / fancy-seeming, but for standard Tex-Mex food, I'd expect it be half the price or MUCH better. It is mind-boggling to me. Drinks and menu selection are the only redeeming factor. Go to Grapevine and check out Mi Dia instead. Better use of your $$. Even Gloria's is a better option. read more

I was here last night for a business function and the food and service were 1st class! Personally I would prefer not to have chips, cheese and salsa as an appetizer, but hey, this is Texas.... I had the Chilean sea bass and it could not have been better! Literally melted in your mouth... Not overly cooked, and perfectly seasoned. I also got a chance to meet and speak to the owner, and she was the definition of hospitable! Thanks for a great meal, and hopefully I'll be back. read more

Margs: watered down, over priced. Ambiance: the sound sucked. Every f'n loud proud mouthed Texan is talking over eachther. Bar service: They were louder read more

Meal was just ok. I had a mexican combo and my friend had the surf and turf. Both were ok. Nothing special but they were priced like they were. Surf and turf was $50! Nothing on the menu was even close so we were a little surprised. Margaritas were a little weak too. Overall OK. read more

This was my first visit, and I regret not visiting sooner. The service was impeccable. Greeted immediately upon arrival, seating me at my reserved table which was already set up was just the beginning. Of course the chips and salsa were great, but the food was delicious! I had the spinach enchiladas, and my guest had the Enchiladas Mexicanas. Ample portions, and photo-worthy (I forgot!). But back to the service. Everyone we encountered were friendly, professional, highly polished service staff, who knew exactly what they were doing. From the people who refilled our drinks, to the person taking our orders and serving our food, to those cleaning up and handling our check. Service was head and shoulders above some of the finest restaurants in the country. I need to come back and try more great dishes!! read more

Always a Pleasant experience. Wonderful food and service. No matter how long it's been, they seem to always remember Your preferences.

Visiting from out of town with friends & we chose Via Real - glad we did. Upscale feel & treatment at good value. Complimentary chips & salsa at the table before the meal were very good. High quality food - would repeat if back in town. read more

Nice recommendation Yelpers! Dined as a single so I sat at the bar for dinner. Via Real is an excellent date night or business dinner venue. They do have a valet service but there is plenty of parking off to the side. Service was excellent with my server providing some good suggestion as I did not want to eat heavy. I ordered the chicken Monterey entree. It was good not great. The chicken was a tad overcooked and the wild rice was raw in some spots. With that being said I watched some amazing food being delivered to other patrons. Will definitely return on my next trip the DFW area. read more

Came here for a dinner date with my husband! Service and staff were incredible! Very friendly and attentive! The food was very good! Would definitely visit again next time we are in town! Make sure and try the Don Julio Margarita! It's worth the $14! read more

A good place to grab some gourmet Mexican food, but not my first choice. Everything on the menu is good, and they have some interesting items that you won't find at most Tex-Mex or Mexican places. That said, their menu is actually fairly limited, in my opinion. The lighting is a bit too low for my taste, and it has to be for me to notice (I always concentrate on the food). The decor is a bit dated too. If you are craving Mexican and you happen to be in the Las Colinas area, then a trip to Via Real is perfect. It's just not somewhere I would go out of my way to visit. read more

Food rundown: - Salmon tacos: A - Ceviche: B - Guac - C+ - Chips & Salsa: B- - Carrot Cake: D Great service from Rickey. read more

Very tasty and quick lunch even when it looked packed. The server was attentive and everything tasted great. No sweet tea but they serve a flavored tea with a small container of simple syrup to sweeten. Swanky! read more

Please note this is not 100% Tex Mex. Some out of towners might be let down. This is definitely a "higher end" mexican restaurant. Can get very busy given the upscale area and proximity to all the corporations in the area. Be sure to make reservations. Excellent selection of tequilas and Mexican beers. Be advised if the waiter asks you if you want the normal size or grande size margarita. The grande size is 28oz and the glass is as big as your head. Looks really cool for two dudes grabbing a business dinner drinking out of these......well, not really. I usually get the fajitas and and on some gulf shrimp. Yum! You might want to opt for self parking as well. Valet can get backed up and the car is literally parked right out the door. Thus, no need for a valet to pull it around for you.....just my two cents. read more